Category Archives: K-12 Schools

ALASKA WEEK OF CODE December 4th – 8th

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AK week of code

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:

Going beyond The Alaska Week of Code

Register your school’s participation!  Let’s fill up the Alaska map!

https://code.org/yourschool

Show your work!

Let us know on social media how your class, school, district is participating with the hashtags #AlaskaWeekOfCode and #aklearns.

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.

Common Quarterly Math Assessment Memo

2015 Quarter 1, Common Quarterly Writing Assessment Prompts and Directions

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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

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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

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Think Central

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

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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

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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

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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.

GRADE 6 MS Science Units

GRADE 7 MS Science Units

GRADE 8 MS Science Units

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.

 

 

Mathematics Compacted Sequence

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The following Mathematics Sequences have been drafted assist schools who offer accelerated math courses in grades 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.   We hope they are helpful to your planning.  This is a pilot project, so if you do use these sequences, please send feedback and recommendations to Melissa Linton, mlinton@kpbsd.org.

Grade 4/5 compacting Priority and Mymath Pacing Guide

 

Gr7/8 Course 2 and Course 3 Priority and Holt McDougal Pacing Guide

 

What’s New in Curriculum for KPBSD?

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Welcome Back!

New Health Curriculum and Materials

HEALTH CURRICULUM WEBPAGE – CLICK HERE

The Great Body Shop program will be the core curriculum material used for Health Education in grades K-8.  Over 40 teachers have been trained in the new materials this summer.  Teachers who have not attended a summer training will receive an email in August to access the online materials. Student subscriptions will be pre-loaded via PowerSchool once student schedules are active. Teacher and student materials have should have been delivered to your schools.

High School Health Course can be taught using the Pearson Health or the Health Course in Canvas (a course developed by our KPBSD teachers in an electronic format)

Health Modules for grades 10, 11, 12 have been identified.  Training for these modules will be offered on September 22. Ideally, each high school will send 1-2 teachers to this training.  Lessons from The Fourth R Plus and Common Sense Media have been chosen as the core material.

Digital Citizenship Program – Common Sense Media replaces ISafe for grades K-12

Common Sense Media Resources – CLICK HERE