
All Things CURRICULUM
Fall 2023 Semester 1
Connecting Our Work & Ensuring Student Success
The district launched a new educator evaluation system. The system is based off the Missouri DESE model evaluation system which was created, field-tested and piloted, and refined by hundreds of educators across the state. The system is founded on general beliefs about the purpose of the evaluation process. Central to these beliefs is a theory of action which maintains that improving student performance is predicated on the improvement of educator practice. The primary purpose of the teacher evaluation system is to promote growth in effective instructional practice that ultimately increases student performance. The district has selected to focus on four of the standards for the current school year with all educators creating a growth plan focused on actions that will improve student learning outcomes and improved teacher performance.
A message to remind us of our commitment to our scholars!
Mr. Stan Tucker, Author, Speaker, Educator
A video message from our JSD 2023 Convocation Speaker.
Creator of the TV show, The Very Airy Library
Nurturing the Unknown Through Kindness
The Instructional Coherence Model developed for the 2022-2023 school year was grounded in John Hattie’s research. Originally, Hattie studied six areas that contribute to learning: the classroom, student, the home, the school, the curricula, the teacher, and teaching and learning approaches. As of 2018, Hattie has identified 252 influences related to learning outcomes. But Hattie did not only provide a list of the relative effects of different influences on student achievement. He found that the key to making a difference was making teaching and learning visible. Thus, the cornerstone for curriculum and instruction in the district is grounded in best practices using high yield strategies, high leverage practices and Teach Like a Champion techniques. The district has identified focus standards for the current school year along with the alignment of the strategies and techniques that connect to each.
Principals
Engaged in learning about a five-course framework for accelerated learning.
Secretaries & Administrative Assistants
Coach Dagne sharing the art of customer service and understanding personalities.
Safety & Security
Every JSD employee learning that "if you see something, say something."
Frontline Professional Growth
Frontline is our new hub for professional growth and development! Not only can you track your absences, you can now sign up for professional development as well as track your growth as an educator. There are many professional development opportunities offered by the district and online. Take a look at the activity catalog to view your options!!!
Check-Out Professional Learning Playlist in Frontline
JSD Curriculum & Professional Development Committee
We are looking for teachers and administrators!
If you would like to serve on the curriculum or professional development committee for the 2024-2025 school year, please complete the form..
Thank you!
Creating opportunities for educators to showcase their skills & share with a community of learners!
Teachers Learning the Warrior Way!
AI Coaching Pilot & Feedback December 1, 2023 - January 26, 2024
Welcome to AI Coach
- You'll examine your own teaching practice.
- You'll set personal goals for change.
- You'll try new things in your classroom with students.
AI Coach
- You may be wondering about the AI in our name... Yes, AI stands for artificial intelligence.
- The AI Coach platform is your guide-on-the-side to help you be successful.
- Everything in the platform is self-paced.
By educators, for educators
- AI Coach was designed for teachers by former teachers. We've been in your shoes!
- AI Coach is on-demand PD designed to fit your schedule — flexible and available to you anytime, anywhere.
- The process is anchored in academic research about how teachers continually increase their effectiveness.
JSD AI Coaching Pilot
Try the AI Coach platform here and log in with your Google Apps email.
Friday, Dec 1, 2023, 07:00 AM
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Embarc: Curriculum Mapping Software
Jennings School District has partnered with Education Advanced to move all curriculum materials to a new platform: EMBARC. Embarc curriculum mapping connects learning objectives to a continuous cycle of development, delivery, assessment, and refinement across teachers, classrooms, and grade -levels. It will house all of our pacing guides, keep track of standard coverage, and allow teachers to make recommendations for updates to our curriculum materials.
Circle of Adults Focused on Education
C.A.F.E. Recap
Our next Curriculum Cafe will take place on Thursday, November 9th. It will be focused on academic vocabulary. We can't wait to see you there! See the flyer below for more details.
Teacher Spotlight
Mrs. Brittney Dickson Continues E. Des. Lee partnership to receive new display case
World Music LLC is a program that was provided to Jennings School District through connection with the Des Lee Fine Arts Collaborative. The program delivers a display case and fills it with different instruments and artifacts each month that correlate with the curriculum. September 15-October 15th display celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. The current display covers Native American history along with artifacts and instrument. The World Music LLC coordinator, Dr. Aurelia Hartenberger, who has collected many of these items from around the world in her music studies and travel.
Community Partner
Supporting Our Teachers
Our friends at Emerson donated $250 to your classroom. Emerson is adopting elementary classrooms in Jennings School District to thank teachers like you for your hard work by helping you purchase school supplies for the second half of the school year.
Emerson is also donating headphones to each elementary school classroom. The headphones will be shipped to the District Office for them to distribute.
Thank Emerson by tagging them on these social channels:
- Facebook - @EmersonCorporate
- X/Twitter - @EMR_Automation
- LinkedIn - @Emerson
Strategy of the Quarter: RACES
Science Curriculum Pilot: Mosa Mack
Science Teachers in Grades 4-8 Are Piloting a new curriculum resource
Mosa Mack is an innovative, culturally relevant, and science inquiry-based curriculum resource. We are currently piloting it in grades 4-8. It is our science adoption year so we will be testing it out along with OpenSciEd.
Social Studies Curriculum Adoption
Savvas Realize: New American Government Curriculum Resource
This year the American Government teachers are adopting the Savvas Realize curriculum resource for American Government. It is an engaging and interactive digital program that teachers can use to tailor their instruction to meet the needs of their students.
From EdPlus
Effective Classroom Practices
This resource outlines the 8 most effective classroom practices teachers can establish to increase academic time and decrease unexpected student behaviors. It also includes a self-assessment checklist for teachers.
Upcoming Professional Development Dates
New Teacher/Facilitator Meeting: November 9, 2023
Academic Vocabulary C.A.F.E.: November 12, 2023
District Professional Development Full Day: November 10, 2023
Building Professional Development Full Day: February 16, 2024
Building Professional Development Half Day: March 21, 2024