Elementary Essentials

FINALLY! If you read the email that came from Dr. Reves on Friday, March 29th, the next elementary ELA resource was announced. YOU selected Wit and Wisdom (K-5), including Geodes for grades K-2. Two-thirds of teachers that voted selected Wit and Wisdom.

This recommendation will be shared with the Board of Education (BOE) during the April and May meetings. Snow/Ice days impacted our resource review and selection process and delayed getting information to the board earlier. Due to the timing of the BOE approval process, we will NOT have the materials to distribute before school closes. The materials will be distributed to teachers in August 2024. However, don’t despair! If you really want to get started using the materials here are a couple of options:

1. The sample bag of materials provided during the review of the Wit and Wisdom materials are still available. If you want to use the sample bags at your school during the remaining weeks of school, please tell your MTSS Support Specialist or Instructional Coach, and we will get the materials for you. Just so you know many of the samples are for units other than Unit 1. These materials are on a first come, first served basis. Once they are all gone from the IRC, you will need to pick option 2.
2. Teachers still have access to Wit and Wisdom online materials. All teacher manuals for each module are available there. In addition, you will be able to download the presentation slides (Don’t forget to download and open in Google Slides – You cannot change the slides created by Wit and Wisdom, but you can add slides to the presentation), links to digital resources, assessment, and other supports. Here is the log in information to the Wit and Wisdom resources:

You can explore the Wit & Wisdom In Sync platform with these credentials:

• Website: digital.greatminds.org
• Email: teacherdemo7@greatmindsdemo.org
• Password: GMTrial24!

The In Sync platform was created during the pandemic to support schools in condensing the amount of content in each module. This platform includes two options for teaching:

1. The first option is to teach the lessons just as they are written in the teacher’s manual using the suggested timing.
2. The second option is a condensed version of the lessons. These lessons can be found in the In Sync part of the platform. We will provide more guidance about using these two delivery modules as we learn how to use all the resources.

You can explore Digital Geodes (K-2 only) with these credentials:

• Website: digital.greatminds.org
• Email: digitalgeodes@greatmindsdemo.org
• Password: GMTrial24!

The most important thing to read is THIS!

During the beginning of June, I will be convening a committee of classroom teachers to create a scope and sequence for next year that integrates Wit and Wisdom, Writing Units of Study, Science, Social Studies, and other content. This document will be distributed at the beginning of the next school year. It will provide a roadmap on how to integrate grade-level content. The people on this committee should have experience using the Writing Units of Study and grade level Science and Social Studies content.

The current plan is to work on developing the first semester guide with follow-up work during November or December. You will be paid for three-four days in early June. If you would like to be a part of this team you can register your interest by using the following link: Elementary ELA Committee for Scope and Sequence Development.

We have been planning to collect and recycle the Journeys materials. This is a huge task and one that will take coordination from district personnel, principals, teachers, and others in order to accomplish this task in an efficient manner. Here is the plan:

April

Elementary principals are notified of the process for disposing all Journeys materials in the Source as well as in person during the April Elementary Principals meeting, including what is required to be disposed of (coming soon) and what may be kept at the building site. Principals should notify and discuss with custodian.

Elementary staff are notified of the process for disposing of all Journeys materials in Elementary Essentials as well as grade level emails, including what is required to be disposed of and what may be kept at the building site (Coming soon).

The ELA website will have a section added that provides information regarding the disposal of Journeys materials.

April 15-18

• Service Center will deliver at least one Gaylord box to each elementary school. It will be assembled and ready to receive books.
• Principals should inform custodians to prepare for the delivery. Determine where these boxes should be placed inside the school.

April 19

• During the Professional Learning AM session, teachers will be reminded of the process for checking in all Journeys materials.
• During the PM Job Embedded Professional Learning time teachers will be given a schedule for checking in Journeys materials. Instructional Coaches and MTSS Support Specialists have been trained to check in all Journeys materials that are registered to you.

The following materials will be scanned and checked into the Destiny system:

• All Teacher Manuals
• All Student Anthology Books
• Other Ancillary materials (see specific list for each grade level)
• Plastic bins with student readers

ALL JOURNEYS MATERIALS IN YOUR POSSESSION MUST BE CHECKED IN (ANYTHING THAT IS BARCODED).

April 19 – May 23

Teachers may decide when to place books in the Gaylord boxes that are available at each school site. All books must be placed in boxes for recycling by June 1.

Here are some commonly asked questions about the disposal of the Journeys materials:

Q: What is being done with the Journeys materials?

A: Journeys materials will be collected and recycled.

Q: Can I send Journeys materials home with students?

A: After the Journeys materials are checked in, you may dispose of them by placing them in the Gaylord box or giving them to students to take home.

Q: Am I required to put all Journeys materials into the Gaylord boxes?

A: No, you will receive a list of materials that you will recycle or recommended to keep at your school site.

Q: When do I place the materials in the Gaylord box to be recycled?

A: If you are currently using the Journeys materials to teach with, you may put them in the Gaylord box at the end of the school year. If you are NOT currently using the Journeys materials to teach with, you may dispose of them after they have been checked in.

IXL offers a variety of video supplements to varying content. Should you have a need for some additional supplemental supports these may be helpful. In this video, you’ll learn how to use IXL’s built-in video tutorials to supplement your lessons and support your students. Click here!

The April issue includes several opportunities for paid summer professional learning as well as many opportunities from around the state- please take a moment to check them out!

KSDE Science Newsletter

• Picture-Perfect Lessons – back by popular demand!!! Participants of Picture Perfect Science will learn straight from award-winning NSTA Press authors Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan. It will be held via Zoom and There is no cost for this workshop. Register here.
• NOAA Planet Stewards – educators can receive up to $5,0000 to carry out hands-on stewardship projects.
• Science Thought Ag PD – science through Agriculture professional development workshop.
• And so much more!!!!

Please check out the social studies newsletter for important social studies related items such as the "Future Voter" Sticker Contest from the Johnson County Election Office. This contest is for students K-8, and with parental consent. Students can enter their sticker design for a chance to be chosen as one of three stickers to be distributed to children at polling sites across Johnson County!

Our Social Studies contest #4 winners are Kim Stith (RR-2) and Kem Selman (SS-1). Congratulations! Your prize is on the way! The next contest will be shared in the next edition of the newsletter, so please check it out. Enter for a chance to win!

Please reach out if I can assist or support you. Thanks for all you do! ~Julie Fishburn