k-8 math and ela curricula · k-8 math and ela curricula: proposal for adoption 3 what exactly is a...

Richmond Public Schools | 301 North 9th Street | Richmond, VA | www.rvaschools.net

K-8 Math and ELA CurriculaProposal for Adoption

Presented by: Tracy Epp, Chief Academic Officer

Venue: Richmond City School Board Meeting (Virtual)

Date: May 18, 2020

K-8 Math and ELA Curricula: Proposal for Adoption

2

Part I

Richmond Public Schools | May 18, 2020

The “What” & “Why” of Curriculum


3

What exactly is a curriculum?


A curriculum goes beyond standards or even textbooks. It is a comprehensive set of resources that frees teachers to focus on teaching, not content creation. We do not currently have this at RPS.

A high-quality curriculum provides:

• A scope and sequence that articulates a roadmap for the year, often made explicit in the form of a pacing guide;

• Units of instruction that group instructional tasks and experiences that culminate in not only the acquisition of knowledge and skills but the application and authentic use of them;

• Daily lessons that give a range of tools and strategies to support student learning;

• Assessments that align to grade-level standards and check for student learning;

• Instructional resources that include texts, media, and other tools; and

• Professional development that is tailored to the content being taught and that helps teachers support all learners, especially English learners and students with IEPs.


4

Why is a high-quality curriculum critical for students?


Our primary responsibility as a school system is to prepare all children for success in college and career, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to pursue their fullest potential. A high-quality curriculum is essential for this.

• A high-quality curriculum sets the foundation for what students should master at each grade level, preparing them for each subsequent stage of their education journey. Put another way: what happens in 2nd grade affects what happens in 6th grade, and so on.

• A high-quality curriculum is written by master teachers and curriculum experts who deeply understand the progression of learning. Following this progression is critical if students are to develop lifelong understanding, not fleeting mastery.

• A high-quality curriculum sets high expectations and provides meaningful learning experiences for students that intellectually engage their minds and truly prepare them for college and career.

• As the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy noted in a 2017 paper: “The research base is unequivocal: a strong curriculum boosts student learning and a weak one can actually cause students to lose ground.” (See data on next slide.)


5

Why is a high-quality curriculum critical for students?


Source: The Opportunity Myth (2018)


6

Why is a high-quality curriculum critical for teachers?


Respecting teachers means – at a minimum – giving them the tools they need to do their jobs effectively. One of the most essential tools is a high-quality curriculum.

• A great curriculum means a teacher doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, she has a coherent, comprehensive, and research-based set of resources to guide her work. This frees time to focus on adapting –rather than designing – resources for her particular students.

• Turning again to the 2017 Johns Hopkins paper: “When a school division fails to adopt and consistently support a high-quality curriculum, teachers lose the essential foundation from which they design and deliver instruction. At best, teachers are left to their own devices to figure this out…and at worst, what students learn day to day, classroom by classroom, year to year, is highly variable.”


7

Why is a high-quality curriculum critical for teachers?



8

Why is a high-quality curriculum critical for equity?


If we’re truly going to pursue equity, we must ensure that EVERY RPS student in EVERY classroom has access to the same high-quality curriculum.

• The Education Trust, a nonprofit whose mission is to close opportunity gaps that disproportionately affect students of color and students from low-income families, found in a 2018 study that, absent a high-quality curriculum, school districts struggle to ensure that all students have access to high-quality instructional materials. This negative consequence disproportionately affects children from low-income families and children of color.

• Another recent study called The Opportunity Myth showed that students of color and students living in poverty experience significant differences in what they are exposed to academically. They found that students in mostly white classrooms were three times as likely to be exposed to academic assignments that met grade-level expectations than students in classrooms composed primarily of students of color – despite the fact that the two groups tend to perform similarly on such assignments. (See data on next two slides.)


9





10





11

Part II


The Curriculum Adoption Process


12

Review and Feedback


Curriculum Committee RFP Evaluation Committee Community Feedback

• Comprised of teachers, school-based coaches, principals, parents, and division instructional staff

• Developed the criteria for the RFP scoring rubric

• Reviewed finalists and provided feedback to the Evaluation Committee

• Comprised of teachers, school-based coaches, principals, parents, and division instructional staff

• Evaluated all proposals against the scoring rubric

• Selected finalists

• Reviewed and considered input from the Curriculum Committee, the Community Conversations, and the Curriculum Website

• Held four community meetings for teacher and family feedback

• At each of the meetings, the finalists presented key features of their curriculum, showed samples, and responded to questions

• Meeting participants were encouraged to submit feedback via online survey


13

What the Curriculum Committee Prioritized (General)


The Curriculum Committee prioritized curriculum that:

• Is based on rigorous, grade-level content;

• Includes instructional strategies that address the 5 C’s (collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, communication, and citizenship);

• Shows alignment to the Virginia Standards of Learning;

• Has lessons that include suggestions for scaffolding and enrichment;

• Embeds assessments to monitor formative and summative student progress;

• Provides opportunities to assess students’ mastery of content through standards-aligned performance tasks;

• Includes digital availability, with ease of downloading and editing, including the ability to make pacing/sequencing adjustments and connections to standards; and

• Provides an analysis detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum in terms of instructional planning and support.


14

What the Curriculum Committee Prioritized (Content-Specific)


Mathematics English Language Arts

• Includes concrete, representation, and abstract math strategies;

• Incorporates the explicit use of mathematics vocabulary;

• Builds student’s computational fluency, conceptual mastery, critical thinking, and mathematical reasoning;

• Provides for gradual release while promoting independent thinking and learning; and

• Is vertically-aligned to enable readiness for Algebra 1 by the 8th grade.

• Spends majority of whole group instruction on reading, writing, and speaking about text;

• Includes complex texts written on or above grade level to build comprehension, develop conceptual knowledge, and build academic vocabulary;

• Teaches literacy standards through a meaningful connection to science, social science, and literature;

• Has a balance between fiction and non-fiction texts;

• Represents authors of diverse backgrounds;

• Enables students to critically analyze texts; and

• Includes systematic phonics approach for K-2.


15

Scoring Rubric


Evaluation Criteria Maximum Weight

Quality of Curriculum & Adherence to RFP Requirements as outlined by Statement of Needs: Content aligns to standards; is vertically-aligned; follows a clear progression of knowledge, concepts and skills; and is presented in a user-friendly manner

40%

Quality of Implementation Plan: Coherence of curriculum implementation, professional development, sustainability, and on-going support

20%

Research & References: Demonstrated ability to deliver services as proposed; and demonstrated impact through research on student learning outcomes

20%

Overall Cohesiveness of Proposal: Seamless integration of the curriculum, implementation, and supporting resources components

10%

Pricing Model: Includes all associated costs 10%


16

Timeline


• March/April/May 2019 – The Curriculum Review Committee (composed of teachers, parents, principals, and division instructional staff) developed the scope of work for the RFP, which outlined the key expectations for curricular submissions.

• December 2019 – The RFP was published.

• February 2020 – The RFP Evaluation Committee reviewed the submissions using the scoring rubrics in the RFP.

• March 5, 2020 – The Curriculum Review Committee reconvened to review and provide feedback on the finalists.

• March 9-12, 2020 – The finalists presented the key features of their curricula and provided samples for reviewduring four Community Curriculum Conversations. The materials were also made available online for all teachers and parents to review.

• March 2020 – The RFP Evaluation Committee reviewed all input from the Curriculum Review Committee and the Community Curriculum Conversations and finalized their scoring, producing a selection for ELA and math.

• April/May 2020 – Contract negotiations.

• June 2020 – Formal adoption; begin implementation.


17

Part III


ELA Selection: EL Education


18

EL Education – Background



19

EL Education – Three Dimensions of Student Achievement


Mastery ofKnowledge and Skills Character

High-Quality Student Work


20

EL Education – Additional Notes


Cross-CurricularEL Education helps students build a deeper understanding of science, social studies, and literature by using texts from those disciplines. Thus, students learn new content while acquiring the key skills related to reading, writing, researching, and communicating.

InclusivityEL Education recognizes that students learn from one another – and learn to respect one another – when they learn together in the same classroom. That’s why the curriculum provides extensive supports and resources for differentiation, including for English Learners and students with IEPs.


21

Features Texts that Explore Diverse Cultures


“Inspired by the writers of the Harlem Renaissance, bestselling author Nikki Grimes uses ‘The Golden Shovel’ poetic method to create wholly original poems based on the works of master poets like Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Jean Toomer, and others who enriched history during this era.

Each poem is paired with one-of-a-kind art from today’s most exciting African American illustrators –including Pat Cummings, Brian Pinkney, Sean Qualls, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, and many more – to create an emotional and thought-provoking book with timely themes for today’s readers.”

“Young Nasreen has not spoken a word to anyone since her parents disappeared.

In despair, her grandmother risks everything to enroll Nasreen in a secret school for girls. Will a devoted teacher, a new friend, and the worlds she discovers in books be enough to draw Nasreen out of her shell of sadness?

Based on a true story from Afghanistan, this inspiring book will touch readers deeply as it affirms both the life-changing power of education and the healing power of love.”


22

Features Paired Fiction/Non-Fiction Texts that Highlight Social Justice


“When Byron gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they'll be in Birmingham during one of the darkest moments in America's history.

Every so often a book becomes a modern classic almost as soon as it arrives on bookshelves. That happened in the mid-'90s when Christopher Paul Curtis released his first book, ‘The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963.’

“Told through unforgettable first-person accounts, photographs, and other primary sources, this book is an overview of racial segregation and early civil rights efforts in the United States from the 1890s to 1954, a period known as the Jim Crow years. Multiple perspectives are examined as the book looks at the impact of legal segregation and discrimination on the day-to-day life of black and white Americans across the country. Complete with a bibliography and an index, this book is an important addition to black history books for young readers.”


23

Features Paired Fiction/Non-Fiction Texts that Explore the World


“Eight-year-old Garang is tending cattle far from his family's home in southern Sudan when war comes to his village. Frightened but unharmed, he returns to find everything has been destroyed. Soon Garang meets other boys whose villages have been attacked. Before long they become a moving band of thousands, walking hundreds of miles seeking safety – first in Ethiopia and then in Kenya. The boys face numerous hardships and dangers along the way, but their faith and mutual support help keep the hope of finding a new home alive in their hearts. Based on heartbreaking yet inspirational true events in the lives of the Lost Boys of Sudan, ‘Brothers in Hope’ is a story of remarkable and enduring courage, and an amazing testament to the unyielding power of the human spirit.”

“The New York Times bestseller ‘A Long Walk to Water’ begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about two eleven-year-olds in Sudan, a girl in 2008 and a boy in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours’ walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.”


24

Features Paired Texts/Media that Address Current Events


“’A PLASTIC OCEAN’ begins when journalist Craig Leeson, searching for the elusive blue whale, discovers plastic waste in what should be pristine ocean. In this adventure documentary, Craig teams up with free diver Tanya Streeter and an international team of scientists and researchers, and they travel to twenty locations around the world over the next four years to explore the fragile state of our oceans, uncover alarming truths about plastic pollution, and reveal working solutions that can be put into immediate effect.”

“Millions of tons of plastic slip into oceans every year. Some floats and travels slowly with the currents, endangering the health of marine animals. The rest is hardly visible but is far more dangerous. Tiny bits of plastic sprinkle the ocean's surface or mix into the sandy seafloor and beaches. It ends up inside birds, fish, and other animals, harming them-and ultimately humans. Experts struggle with fear and hope as they work to stop the flood of plastic threatening living organisms across the globe.”


25

Part IV


EL Education Mini-Lesson(We will review and discuss a sample text at the School Board meeting.)


26

Part V


Math Selection: Eureka Math


27

Eureka Math – Background


Eureka Math is the foundation of our current math pilot, Richmond Math. Thus, adopting Eureka would provide continuity, not change, for students and teachers alike. In addition, Great Minds, which produces Eureka, is in the process of developing a Virginia-specific edition, based in part, on the work that RPS did this past year.

• Eureka is a rigorous and engaging math curriculum that follows a research-based progression from kindergarten to the 8th grade.

• It address the three critical components of a rigorous mathematics curriculum: conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application to real-world contexts – and it treats all three with equal intensity, recognizing that all are vital.

• It helps students deeply understand mathematical concepts, not just memorize rules. This helps students think flexibly about numbers, understand why the steps of an algorithm work, know when to apply certain strategies, and build mathematical confidence for new problems.

• It is built on “Universal Design” principles, which provide a structure for meeting the needs of ALL learners, especially English Learners and those with IEPs.


28

Eureka Is Now Part of GoOpenVA (VDOE Online Education Platform)



29

Eureka Data – Memphis, TN



30

Eureka Data – Detroit, MI



31

Eureka Data – RPS


83% (19/23) of RPS elementary schools that were fully piloting Richmond Math (Eureka) this year

saw gains according to the MAP mid-year assessment.


32

Part VI


Eureka Mini-Lesson


33

Multiplication of Fractions


Please draw a diagram or tell a story to explain what 2/3 x 3/4 equals.


34



Here’s the rule you likely learned growing up:

“Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.”

So 2/3 x 3/4 = 6/12 (which is the same as 1/2).

But WHY is the answer 1/2?


35



1/3 of 3/4

1/3 of 3/4

1/2 of the original rectangle


36

Part VII


Curricula Implementation Plan


37

General Implementation (ELA and Math)


Timeframe Content Audience

May 18 - May 29

Curriculum Previews (Virtual for Now)) • Why Curriculum?• Why EL Education?• Why Eureka Math?• Vendor Presentations• Q&A

• Principals • Teacher Leaders • Teachers• General Public

ImmediatelyAfter Adoption

Alignment Meetings (Virtual for Now)• Meetings to align on the implementation of the ELA and math curricula

• Principal Directors• Key CAO Directors

& Coordinators

Immediately After Adoption

Readiness Feedback (Virtual for Now)• Principals and teachers will have the opportunity to provide input on implementation

plans and identify needed supports.

• Principals• Teachers


38

General Implementation (ELA and Math)



Bi-weekly (May –August);Monthly (Sept –May)

Cluster Meetings (Virtual for Now)• Bi-weekly and then monthly meetings to discuss the implementation of the ELA and

math curricula

• Principal Directors• Principals• Key CAO

Directors & Coordinators

Monthly(Beginning Week of June 1)

Pulse Check Meetings (Virtual for Now)• Monthly meetings to check in on the implementation of the math and ELA curricula

• Specialists• Coaches • Coordinators

June 2020

Technical Meetings (Virtual for Now)• Develop visuals for ELA and math blocks• Develop assessment schedules• Develop FAQ

• Partners• Specialists• Coordinators• Teacher Leaders


39

Math-Specific Implementation



June 2020

Initial Training for Instructional Leaders (Virtual for Now)Key topics:• Becoming oriented to teacher and student facing materials

• Supporting teachers to prepare, customize, and deliver lessons that meet unique students’ needs

• Engaging the school community

• Principal Directors • Principals• APs• Coaches• Specialists

June 2020

Launch Math PD (Virtual for Now)Key topics:• Exploring and analyzing the curriculum to learn how each lesson component

contributes to students’ understanding of mathematics• Practicing strategies for lesson preparation• Exploring additional resources to support English Learners and students with IEPs

• Principals• Teachers• Coaches


40




June 15, 2020 -June 30, 2021(Ongoing PD)

Launch “Navigator” (Always Virtual)• This is an online platform that helps teachers to prepare for their instruction. It includes

demonstration videos of daily lessons, links from lessons to the standards, and scaffolding for Response to Intervention (RTI) efforts.

• The simple interface makes it easy to access and navigate the entire math curriculum online and download lesson files.

• Principals• APs• Teachers• Coaches• Specialists

June 15, 2020 -June 30, 2021(Ongoing PD)

Launch On-Demand Video-Based PD (Always Virtual)• These videos explain mathematical concepts and instructional strategies. • Each grade of the video series contains 18 one-hour sessions organized sequentially by

module. • The on-demand format allows for viewing anytime, anywhere, individually, or in teams.

• Principals• APs• Teachers• Coaches


41




June 15 – July 3

“Focus on Fluency” Session (Virtual for Now)• Fluency practice is designed to help students develop speed and accuracy to allow

them to solve complex problems efficiently. • The session includes interactive demonstrations, analysis of classroom footage, and

tips on how to customize fluency sequences to meet individual student needs.

• Teachers• Coaches

August 2020

“Understanding the Major Work of the Grade Band” Session (Virtual for Now)• This session provides a deeper explanation of the progression of mathematics within a

given grade band, and prepares teacher-leaders to more effectively support other educators across the district.

• Teachers• Coaches


42

ELA-Specific Implementation



June 2020

Self-Paced Online PD Modules (Always Virtual)• Introduction to the EL Education curriculum• Preparing to Teach the EL Education curriculum• Introduction to the EL Education K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block• Leading Implementation of the EL Education curriculum

• Principals• APs• Teachers

June 2020

“Fundamentals” Online PD Mini-Modules (Always Virtual)• "Fundamentals” are prerequisites for any of the “Essentials” or “Workshop” modules.• They are available for viewing any time prior to beginning the more advanced

modules.

• Principals• APs• Coaches• Teachers


43




June 15 - 30, 2020

Leader “Essentials” (Always Virtual)• Leader Essentials are trainings conducted in a large virtual setting for leaders. They are

designed to provide training on the most critical pieces of the curriculum.

Leader “Workshops” (Virtual for Now)• Leader Workshops are interactive sessions conducted in groups of about 50

participants. They provide the opportunity for participants to apply their learning from Leader Essentials by engaging in reading, thinking, talking, writing, and planning.

• Principal Directors• Principals• APs• Coaches• CAO Team

June 15 - August 2020

Coach & Teacher ”Essentials” (Always Virtual)• Same as above, but designed for coaches and teachers.

Coach & Teacher “Workshops” (Virtual for Now)• Same as above, but designed for coaches and teachers.

• Coaches• Teachers


44




August 2020

K-2 Reading Foundations Skills Block “Fundamentals” (Always Virtual)• These sessions are designed for anyone who is supporting K-2 curriculum

implementation. They build a basic understanding of the curriculum’s approach to explicit and systematic phonics instruction.

• "Fundamentals” are prerequisites for any of “Essentials” or “Workshops” sessions.

• K-2 Principals• K-2 APs• K-2 Coaches• K-2 Teachers

August –September 2020

Reading Foundations Skills Block “Essentials” (Always Virtual)• Essentials are trainings conducted in a large virtual setting. They are designed to

provide training on the most critical pieces of the curriculum.

Reading Foundations Skills Block “Workshops” (Virtual for Now)• Workshops are interactive sessions conducted in groups of about 50 participants. They

provide the opportunity for participants to apply their learning from Essentials by engaging in reading, thinking, talking, writing, and planning.

• Coaches• Teachers


45

Additional Implementation Items



Monthly (October 2020 – March 2021)

ELA/Math “Master Class” Series (Virtual for Now)• These classes will bring together a range of participants to learn about a complex and

in-depth topic relevant to implementing the curriculum.

• RPS staff who have completed all other trainings


“Coaches Corner” (Virtual for Now)• These sessions will focus on a variety of topics designed to help coaches enhance their

ability to support teachers.• Coaches


“Learning Walks” (Virtual for Now)• These sessions will aim to provide school teams with a better sense of how curriculum

implementation is actually playing out. • School teams


CAO Analysis (Virtual for Now)• Visits to a broad sample of classrooms• Interviews with teachers, principals, and other instructional staff• Review of assessment data

• CAO Team

k-8 math and ela curricula · k-8 math and ela curricula: proposal for adoption 3 what exactly is a...

Documents