Elementary Essentials

Thanks to everyone who responded to the survey to provide feedback regarding the use of the 2024-25 Scope and Sequence as well as the Pacing Guides. Eighty people responded to the survey with the following results:

Question 1: Which of the following documents did you find useful?

• 48% of respondents found both the Scope and Sequence & Pacing Guides useful
• 3% of respondents found only the Scope and Sequence Guide useful
• 25% of respondents found the Quarterly Pacing guides useful
• 4% of the respondents found neither document useful

Question 2: Explain how the documents helped when planning for instruction.

• Almost 100% of respondents liked the pacing guides and found them helpful when planning instruction.
• Some common responses:
• The documents helped me to know district expectations for teaching content and standards for the entire year and by quarter.
• The documents helped me stay on pace with my instruction.
• The documents helped me plan out my weekly instruction.
• The documents helped me see the big picture of everything I am supposed to teach in a school year.

Question 3: Explain the areas of the documents that need revision to be more effective for your use.

• Several comments pertained to Wit & Wisdom related to time, pacing of lessons, etc.
• Several comments were related to the amount of content that is required to teach and the time that teachers have to teach those standards and content. There is a feeling that there isn’t enough time to teach the content that is expected to be taught.
• Scattered responses with how science, social studies, and writing units of study was being utilized and the recommendations from the planning documents.

Question 4: How would you like to access documents?

• 8% of respondents wanted documents in print only
• 17% wanted digital only documents
• 55% of respondents wanted both print and digital documents

The Scope and Sequence committee will gather again on November 7, to draft Pacing Guides for Quarters 3 & 4. We will start the meeting by reviewing the survey data more deeply to inform the work for the next two quarters.

You will recall that the district recommendation is that you teach three Wit & Wisdom lessons spread across a five-day week and then adjust for shorter weeks. Based on this recommendation, we calculated the number of days that it would take to make it through all the lessons in module one.

The ELA pacing guide for Quarter 2 has a variety of ending dates to Module 1.

• Kindergarten Module 1 should end on November 8.
• 1st Grade Module 1 should end on November 15.
• 2nd Grade Module 1 should end on November 15.
• 3rd Grade Module 1 should end on November 8.
• 4th Grade Module 1 should end on November 15.
• 5th Grade Module 1 should end on November 22.

Now is the time for grade levels to take stock of where they are in the module and plan an exit strategy. All grade levels will start Module 2 no later than December 2. Students and teachers will be ready to move onto a new topic and we should begin prior to the second semester.

This timeline will require you to look at the End-of-Module Task and plan backwards. Think about the following:

1. How many days do you need to allow to complete the End-of-Module Task?
2. What lessons are critical to support students to complete the End-of-Module Task?
3. Identify how many lessons will need to be taught to prepare students for the End-of-Module Task.
4. Map out the lessons for the remaining number of days on the Quarter 2 Pacing Guide and/or the required ending date of November 22.

As you come to the close of Module 1, take notes about how your students reacted to the content of Module 1, what you learned about teaching Module 1 that could apply to Module 2, and what you have learned about teaching to build knowledge.

I will send out a survey in the first Elementary Essentials of December. Your feedback will provide critical guidance during our “learn” year with Wit & Wisdom.

Our district’s Math Multi-Tiered System of Support (Math MTSS) at the elementary level aims to meet all learners' needs in the classroom, starting with the Pre-Module Assessment, often called a "PreMod."

Frequently Asked Questions about PreMods:

Are PreMods the same as Pre-tests?

No. While Pre-tests assess grade-level content prior to instruction and are followed by a Post-test, a PreMod assesses foundational standards from previous grades or units that students are expected to have already mastered.

How are PreMod standards chosen?

PreMod standards are selected based on vertical alignment in the standards' progression. These are the key preceding standards students must master to build the foundation needed for grade-level math standards. For more information, check out the Progression Map Resources file which is located on your grade level page in the Math Curriculum Content SharePoint.

When should PreMods be administered?

PreMods should be given 2-4 weeks before a new module begins to allow time for analyzing data and planning interventions. This approach enables early intervention on prerequisite standards, so students are prepared for grade-level content.

Which Mastery Connect PreMod reports support MTSS Math planning?

While at a glance it's easy to see which students require additional support and which students do not in Mastery Connect, the Item Analysis Reports are valuable tools for MTSS Math planning. These reports help identify specific aspects of a standard for which students need additional support, and which standards may require class-wide reteaching or targeted intervention. Analyzing these reports can guide PLCs in forming intentional groupings and instruction for Tier 1 and Tier 2 support.

If you have further questions about PreMods or want more information about anything referenced above, please reach out to your instructional coach or me and let us know how we can help!

The Kiewit Engineering Group has donated plant seed kits to 2nd graders to engage in a hands-on plant lab! Each kit has two dirt disks, two containers, pea seeds and full instructions to observe and record how the pea seeds grow in light vs darkness – see photo attached. These kits will have everything needed for the seed growing experience, except for the water!

This aligns well with Module 6: Plants and Their Needs, which includes the Performance Expectation 2LS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to grow. These kits could be used now or saved for Module 6, as this would be an activity where students may wonder, ask questions, and collect data via measurement, photos, draw pictures, etc., that could be discussed in your classes. The data collected could then be revisited when doing Module 6.

If you are interested in receiving these, please email me with the number of students in your class.

I hope each of you has had a great week so far. Please check out the 2024-25 social studies newsletter for important social studies related items.

Kansas Council for History Education:

Considering nominating one of your colleagues for the KCHE Teacher of the Year! Fill out this form to nominate a colleague by December 1st!

Special Note for 4th Grade teachers:

The Kansas Day field trip at Mahaffie for this year is FULL. Schedules are currently being made for each date and will be sent out by the end of the week.

Social Studies Assessment for 4th Grade:

Please check the newsletter for more information about the 2024-25 HGSS Assessment.