English Language Arts
Peek into the Modules:
Grade 3: Students will engage in module 6where students will answer the Essential Question, “What behaviors help animals survive?” In this module, students will continue to build knowledge about collaboration as they learn about the way animals utilize behaviors and characteristics, or traits, to help them survive.
Grade 4: Students will engage in learning for module 6 where students will answer the Essential Question, “What makes Earth's natural wonders exciting and unique?” In this module, students will continue discovering about the powerful impact of various types of artists and art forms. Ultimately, students will learn how different art forms impact people in different ways.
Grade 5: Students will engage in learning for module 6 where students will answer the Essential Question, “How do different art forms impact people in different ways ?” In this module, students are discovering the powerful images of various art forms and how they impact people in different ways.
Module Assessments
The optional writing prompt from the module assessment has been replaced with the required Performance Task Writing Prompt. The 12 point scoring rubric that is linked on the ELN under each Performance Task Writing Prompt will be used to score student responses and report data in myProgress. The 12 point rubric has been chosen to keep the scoring total consistent within grade levels. However, it is acceptable to score responses a second time using the FSA Writing Rubrics or HMH Performance Task rubric.
The Module 6 assessments will be released for printing on December 13th, and the testing window will open on December 15th should you choose to assess your students prior to Winter Break. If you choose to assess students after the break, the testing window will remain open through the end of Semester 2, May 25th. However, the recommended testing window is December 15th through January 7th.
DIBELS Training on Additional Measures
During the ELA Coaches Power Hour, the ELA team facilitated a train-the-trainer for the additional DIBELS measures that will be administered in the Winter and Spring. We also spent some time explaining the Discontinue and Gating Rules outlined on pages 43-46 of the DIBELS Administration and Scoring Guide. Please connect with your coaches about the guidance provided. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact a member of the ELA Team.
Participant materials and a recording of the training can be found here. The recording can also be accessed on the Elementary ELA PD Hub.
Assessment Window: November 29th through December 16th
All data must be entered by end of business day Friday, January 7, 2022.
Progress Monitoring: Your schools have access to DIBELS measures for Progress Monitoring. Directions for entering data can be found here, Contact a member of the ELA Team and/or Larry Porter if you have any questions.
Revisit ELA PD:
Fall PD Session Recordings:
Summer PD Session Recordings:
Mathematics
A special SHOUT OUT to Bexley, Calusa, Dr. Mary Giella, Moon Lake, Pasco, and Pasco eSchool for having the highest average % of students (70% or higher) logging in to Zearn over the past 4 weeks! These 6 schools are getting closer to our district goal of 3+ on-grade lessons per week. Awesome job!
On an even more exciting note, there are some specific grade levels at a few schools that are already meeting our 3+ lessons per week district goal. Congrats to all grade levels at Pasco eSchool, as well as Grade 2 at Deer Park and Grades 3 & 4 at Trinity Oaks! WAY TO GO!!!
To all schools, keep up the great work! Every lesson matters!!!
Elementary Mathematics Core PD:
Thank you to all of the amazing teachers and coaches that joined us for our 11/2/21 Elementary Mathematics Core Action 2 & 3 PD session. It was a wonderful night of collaborating & learning. We are sharing the recorded session and resources below for those that were unable to attend. Please be on the lookout for information regarding our upcoming PD sessions starting in January 2022 as we prepare for our transition to the B.E.S.T Standards for Mathematics for the 2022-2023 school year.
11.2.2021 Core Action 2 and 3 PD.mp4
Science
Science Academy Evenings
We were so excited to see so many of you at our Science Academy evenings. We appreciate your commitment to supporting our young scientists as they learning to explore, investigate, ask questions and build knowledge about their world. Participants have access to all Academy materials in the Science Academy course in MyLearning. Additionally, everyone can access the materials and recordings of the sessions at the PD Hub on your MyPascoConnect Dashboard. The next Academy is scheduled for February 9th.
Student Facing Courses
Remember to access the Studio Board links through your MyLearning SFC. The Teacher Resource page in that SFC serves as a lesson plan with links to any resources you need. This is the best way to plan for using the Studio Boards. Since the Studio Board links on the curriculum maps bypass the SFC Teacher Resources page, we will be removing them. Having the board links on the maps has created confusion. Please use the Teacher Resource page to access the links.
Elementary Showcase Challenge
Thank you for engaging our curious thinkers in seeking a solution to a problem they are curious about. As students shift from research to recording/presenting, keep encouraging them to dream big and share their ideas. Your school coordinator will be receiving more information about the Regional Event right after the Thanksgiving break. The stories that have been shared about students excitement for the Challenge energize us. We are looking forward to seeing the amazing ideas our students have developed.
WE NEED YOU!
Our next generation of successful scientists and engineers needs you! Volunteering to judge at the Pasco Science & Engineering Showcase is a rewarding and uplifting experience that is actually best realized when a student researcher is presenting their project and realizes their judge both understands and cares about their research. By judging, you are providing encouragement and opportunities for our future scientists and engineers to grow and succeed. This inspirational afternoon is also a great way to spark ideas for your own classroom next year. If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, click the link below. The link will take you to the Pasco zFairs website where you can use the "Create an Account" feature to the right and then select "Register as a Judge". All judging will be done virtually this year so you don't even need to leave your house!
Social Studies
Congratulations on making it to the home stretch of the first semester! As you tackle the next few weeks filled with excited students, may you find the peace in the season and finish out smoothly. Sending you the warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year. May your holiday be warm, peaceful, and safe.
At this time of year – we often focus on holidays and celebrations around the world. Please feel free to use this map with your students to also help build on essential geography knowledge and allowing students to see their place in the world. Another way to connect to geography standards around the United States is to have students label the map of the United States with the state name and their holiday traditions and what they are known for.
3rd – TCI - Social Studies Alive! Our Community and Beyond -text that supports community diversity and cultural traditions. Please login to access.
Unit 2: Lesson 6 - Diversity in the United States
Explore cultural diversity by looking at the contributions of different cultures in the categories of foods, languages, holidays, traditions, and the arts. Play a game to brainstorm cultural contributions in your community.
Unit 2: Lesson 8 - Cultures Around the World
With a partner, travel around the world to meet students like you from six different cultures. Then share what you have learned with the class.
4th grade– TCI- Social Studies Alive! Florida and Its People -text that supports community diversity and cultural traditions. Please login to access.
Lesson 8 -The Peopling of the United States
In a Social Studies Skill Builder, students work in pairs to read about one of five ethnic groups — American Indians, Latinos, European Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans — and draw images and symbols to represent that group's experience.
Essential Question: How have different groups contributed to the United States?
5th grade -TCI - Social Studies Alive! America's Past-text that supports colonial diversity and cultural traditions. Please login to access.
Unit 2: Lesson 9 Life in Colonial Williamsburg
Visit six exhibits representing sites in colonial Williamsburg to examine aspects of colonial life such as government, society, and religion. Collect memories to use to write a letter about your experience.
Online Resources
C3 Inquiry – Cultural Diveristy
CPalms – Family Traditions Lesson Plan
Teacher.Org – Overview of Holidays
Discovery Education Video – Holidays Around the World
Read Works: Let’s Celebrate Tis the Season Hanukkah
Connecting Holiday Traditions to Florida History
You can use the following graphic organizers to help analyze documents found on these web links.
Governor’s House – Colonial St. Augustine holiday traditions
Connecting Holiday Traditions to Colonial U.S. History
Jamestown Settlement Colonial Holiday Traditions Video
Christmas in Colonial America- Virginia
Compassionate Schools
Road to 40
Beginning in 2025, educators with specific certifications will be required to have 40 reading points to renew their certificate. To begin acquiring reading points and being prepared for renewing your certificate, the Office for Leading and Learning will continue to offer bankable reading point professional development to teachers. You may have already begun to earn these points if you participated in the ELA B.E.S.T Standards asynchronous PD, the ELA PD during Together We Learn, the ELA early release PD, as well as future offerings. These opportunities will be highlighted with our “Road to 40” logo in our monthly teacher newsletters.
Elementary Team Contact Information
If you have any questions or need any assistance please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us on the elementary team.
- Elementary Programs: Kim Hedgspeth - kfoster@pasco.k12.fl.us
- ELA K-5: Roshonda Royster - rroyster@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Mathematics PK-6: Tracy Miller – tamiller@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Science K-8: Lesley Kirkley – lwade@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Social Studies K-12: Tina Stavrou-Klem - astavrou@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Art & Music: Tom Viking – tviking@pasco.k12.fl.us
- PE & Health: Matt Wicks – mwicks@pasco.k12.fl.us
- SEL: Lesley Wilson - lrwilson@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Reading Prof. Dev. & Learning: dvarcard@pasco.k12.fl.us
- K-12 Literacy Intervention: clough@pasco.k12.fl.us
- K-12 Mathematics Intervention: janderto@pasco.k12.fl.us
- Instructional Coaching: jdblair@pasco.k12.fl.us
