K-5 Curriculum Maps and resources in Canvas!
Please check out this introductory PowerPoint about our K-5 Canvas ELA Blueprints
Elementary ELA Curriculum Updates (K-5)
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Author Archives: Melissa Linton
ALASKA WEEK OF CODE December 4th – 8th
What is coding?
Simply put, ‘coding’ is giving instructions to computers to do something. It is what makes it possible for us to create computer software, apps and websites. Your internet browser, the apps on your phone, Facebook, and this website – they’re all made with code, by people who code.
Why learn coding?
Computer science informs almost every aspect of our lives, from communications to shopping to national security and government. Coding is the basic foundation of computer science, and an area that every public school can benefit from teaching. And the best thing is that ANYONE can learn to code.
Learn from the Experts
How to participate in The Alaska Week of Code
Our goal is simple: Introduce more Alaskan students to coding! Check out the following links for fast and easy ways to get you or your students coding today:
- Coding Activities (by grade level) – A great place to start!
- Hour of Code for all Ages – An overview of the Hour of Code Program
- Hands-on Exploration of Computer Science – A list of fun hands-on activities, with links
Going beyond The Alaska Week of Code
- Extended Courses on computer science
- Girls Who Code Clubs
- Beyond the Hour of Code
- Everyone Can Code (Apple)
- Made With Code (Google)
- Micro:bit
- Sphero Education
Register your school’s participation! Let’s fill up the Alaska map!
Show your work!
Let us know on social media how your class, school, district is participating with the hashtags #AlaskaWeekOfCode and #aklearns.
2016 – 2017 Common Quarterly Writing Assessment/Narrative Q1
2016 Common Quarterly Narrative Writing Prompts, Rubrics, and Directions have been updated.
Quarter 1 Narrative Common Assessments
Please check to be sure you have the most recent rubrics and prompts. Note: Some prompts have remained the same and others have changed. There are some grade levels that overlap – for example, Grade 6 teachers may choose the elementary prompt or the middle school prompt. Please choose the best prompt for your students and collaboration teams.
The Middle School ELA CQA Committee met, and since the AMP is no longer, the committee decided to reinstate the Narrative Writing Prompt for first Quarter! Please note this change. The grade 7 and 8 grade Narrative Rubric has been added to the Quarter 1.
The ELA Writing Committee encourages all teachers to use the standard-reference rubrics throughout the school year, not just for the common assessments.
Click here for Quarter 1 Scoring Guides
If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Linton at ext. 8861
CQA K-8 Math Assessments discontinued
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Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! After reviewing assessment calendars and requirements for students, the district instructional team decided that administering KPBSD Common Quarterly Math Assessments in grades K-8 were no longer a requirement. We encourage teachers to work at the school level to develop common assessments that meet the needs of your students and your PLC goals.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Linton at x8861.
2015 Quarter 1, Common Quarterly Writing Assessment Prompts and Directions
Please click HERE to view the 2015 Common Quarterly Writing Assessment Prompts, Directions and K-6 Scoring Guides.
Our common writing assessments have changed to an on-demand performance task so that our students can have experiences similar to those they will encounter on the State AMP Assessment.
This information will also be posted to the KPBSD Common Assessment Webpage at: http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/departments.aspx?id=26368
Please email Melissa Linton if you have questions or need assistance.
Assessment Literacy Course Opportunity
The KPBSD Curriculum and Assessment Department is offering certified teachers the opportunity to participate in a 3 credit graduate course to enhance professional practice in the area of assessment design. Teachers will learn how the assessment experts from AAI (our AMP developers) create high-quality, standards-based, common assessments. Teachers are encouraged to work in teams to build our bank of common assessments. All content areas are invited and teachers should seek approval from their school administrator before applying.
Click HERE for more information or contact Melissa Linton at extension x8861 or email mlinton@kpbsd.org
Think Central – Journey’s Update
Think Central ran a content update to their online materials recently, and as a result, some online resources have been moved. For example, the Critical Thinking and Thinking Beyond resources have been moved to the Leveled Reader Teachers Guide.
If you find other variances in the online material, please notify Melissa Linton at mlinton@kpbsd.org.
Thank you!
Reminder: How to find online Pearson Products
Good Morning! I hope everyone is having an amazing first day of school! I just wanted to send out a friendly reminder that if you are looking for instructions on how to access online Pearson Products such as Successnet, Successnet Plus, and Realize you can find everything you would want to know on our district website at:
http://www.kpbsd.k12.ak.us/departments.aspx?id=31360.
Have a wonderful school year!
Melissa Linton
Curriculum and Assessment Coordinator
x8861; mlinton@kpbsd.org
Updated Narrative Standard Referenced Writing Rubrics – 2015
Good afternoon!
The Narrative Standards Referenced Writing Rubrics have been updated. There has been a slight change for grades 7 and 8 in the quarterly writing assessment sequence. The ELA Standards shift their emphasis from narrative to informative writing and to support this shift, we will assess informative writing in both first and second quarter.
Click here for Narrative Rubrics
Click here for 7/8 Informative Rubrics
Argument Opinion Writing will remain in place for all grade levels for the third quarter.
Quarter 1: K-6 – Narrative, 7/8 Informative, 9-12 Narrative
Quarter 2: K-12 – Informative
Quarter 3: K-12 Argument/Opinion
*Research – W.4 is assessed when it makes best sense for the teacher to do so.
Prompts, directions and scoring guides will be updated shortly. Information regarding the quarterly writing assessments will be posted on the Instruction Blog, the web page and emailed directly to principals, PD Liaisons, and School Assessment Coordinators.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Linton, ext. 8861 or mlinton@kpbsd.org
NEW Middle School Science Units and Resources
This summer, a cadre of dedicated KPBSD Middle School Science Teachers collaborated to design coherent units of instruction to support our middle school science curriculum. This is the District’s first attempt to create and purposefully share teacher made materials that will be utilized as the core material for our curriculum. EXCITING!!!
Below are draft unit resources we have developed and we invite you to use them. The science teachers will continue to add and revise these units, so please send feedback and suggestions to Melissa Linton. Finally, we hope to add formative and summative assessments starting this fall.
Additional resources can be found in the KPBSD Shared (S:) – District-wide staff shared – Middle School Science Folder
We hope these materials and resources are helpful! Have a wondering school year.