Instructional Insight

MARCH 2013

Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher. ~ Japanese Proverb

OTSEGO DISTRICT MEAP REVIEW Fill the Gap Fall

Next Fall, for grades 3-9 (in subject areas tested by the MEAP,) the entire district will fill the gaps for students beginning at the start of the school year until October testing. As we know from research, learning loss occurs over summer break. In order to support our students in the battery of tests they will all have to take and ensure that they are as prepared as possible, we are formally announcing Fill the Gap Fall. To make this as targeted as possible for our students, the following PLC process will be used by all teachers this fall in grades 3-9. Melissa and Heather will work with PLCs this spring and help to clarify what is needed to make this possible. 1. Create a pretest based on deficiencies in this years MEAP item analysis. 2. Create a series of mini lessons to target those item groups. 3. Formatively assess those mini lessons to ensure learning is occurring. 4. Two weeks prior to the MEAP give the post test. 5. Fill any last gaps.

Important Dates: Early Release #5 for Secondary: April 24th Next PLC Date for Elementary Staff: K & 3rd April 30 1st & 4th May 1 2nd & 5th May 2

Otsego Mapping Project

Representatives from every grade in the district have been working hard to kick off the Otsego Mapping Project for Mathematics. With the adoption of CCSS for Math, it became very clear that we needed curriculum maps across the district to start the 2013-14 school year. The teams have been learning how the trajectories and progression of learning work through the common core and have been working hard to identify performance tasks and problem solving activities that embody the 8 mathematical practices. The framework for the maps come from Oakland Countys MAISA units. We will continue to work on the project and see it through so that teachers feel prepared to start the 2013-14 school year. An enormous thank you to the following people for leading the way on this project: Kindergarten Betsy Whalen Andrea Weiss Sheryl Cramer First Grade Nicole Knight-Lucas Dawn Griffith Shannon Bower Second Grade Jessica Hoekstra Karen Todd Mary Megan Heinz Fifth Grade Shannon TerMeer Jen Evans High School Katie Wideen Bruce Esterline Josh Modert Thom Schacher Rachel Holwerda

Learning Targets
Classrooms where students understand the learning outcomes for the daily lessons see performance rates 20% higher than those where learning outcomes are unclear. Marzano, 2003

Upcoming OSIC Dates: March 25 May 15

Whats New
PLC Website celebrate your work!
otsegoplcs.otsegops.org

Third Grade Fourth Grade Mary Reitenour Susan Kloster-Larkey Jen Shearer Catherine Moore Michelle Holmes Middle School Martha Roelofs Brandy Goodwin Ronda Conner Sue Dedos Heather Sokoloski

Send any additional PLC updates to Heather Kortlandt for posting. Twitter -Follow us on Twitter at: OPSCurriculum Smarter Balanced TestingDIX & Alamo will be participating in the Smarter Balanced Assessment pilot in April. for 3rd-5th. grades.

Next District Writing/Math Meeting: Writing March 20 MathMarch 22 8:15-3:15 in Board Room

MAISA unit frameworks can be found at: gomaisa-public.rubiconatlas.org Note: When you search you must: 1. Select your grade level 2. Mathematics 3. Common Core- map