Elementary Essentials

We are excited to see you, catch up, and get started with a new school year.

All classroom teachers were provided a set of Wit & Wisdom grade level materials that include: 4 teacher’s editions, core literature, one Multilingual Learner Resource, and digital access to Great Minds (Wit & Wisdom’s publisher) through ClassLink. In addition, the district provided the Module 0 teacher’s manual, picture book, and slides to teach the lessons.

ELL and Resource teachers were provided digital access to Wit & Wisdom materials through ClassLink which includes the digital teacher’s manuals as well as lots of other resources to support the concepts being taught in core instruction for comprehension.

If you have questions, comments, and suggestions for the use of Wit & Wisdom, submit them here. I will create a FAQ that will be included in each Elementary Essentials.

Scope and Sequence

In an effort to provide a guaranteed and viable curriculum to students in Olathe, a Scope and Sequence committee was created for each grade level. The goal of the Scope and Sequence document was to connect Wit & Wisdom to other contents. This document is not meant to represent EVERYTHING THAT YOU TEACH throughout the school year; however, it is very comprehensive and provides guidance for the entire school year.

The teachers on the committee started with Wit & Wisdom and added in the information from these materials. We are requiring that all teachers follow the Wit & Wisdom materials starting with Module 1, because the first module teaches routines and scaffolds students through activities that occur throughout the school year.

Several teachers have asked for access to a Scope and Sequence in Word document form so that they could add in more information. Those documents have been posted on the Elementary ELA Sharepoint in the grade level folder.

Pacing Guides

Pacing guides have been created for Quarters 1 & 2. We distributed the first quarter at the August professional learning and the second quarter will be coming out after Labor Day.

Using the Scope and Sequence document as a guide, the teachers on the committee undertook the task of providing more detail about what should be taught each week throughout the quarter. You will see RECOMMENDATIONS for WHEN to teach the content areas (science and social studies), and a note that states teachers have the autonomy to determine the sequence.

In order to remain a GUARANTEED AND VIABLE curriculum, this is the content that should be taught in the first quarter. This is to ensure that if a child moves from Washington Elementary to Walnut Grove Elementary at the end of the first quarter, that they receive the same content.

Information Hub

Check out the Elementary ELA Sharepoint site. New items are updated daily to support your teaching.

There has been a change with how classroom teachers access 95Percent Core Phonics. You will no longer go to the 95Percent website to log in. These materials are now available through ClassLink. After logging into ClassLink, you will see the icon shown here.

When you click on the icon for the first time, it will give you an error message – that means that you need to turn off the POP-UP BLOCKER. Once the pop-up blocker is turned off, then you will have access to the resources. Click on the “95” icon-- on the left side navigation-- and select “RESOURCES”.

Only classroom teachers will see the teacher’s manuals, click on the heart and the manual will move it to the top of the screen under “My Resources” after refreshing or logging in. In the bottom right-hand corner of the teacher’s manual icon, you will see three different pictures: an arrow (presentation slides), notebook (digital teacher’s manual), and two rectangles on top of each other – ancillary materials.

Resource Teachers and ELL teachers will only have access to the intervention materials.

If you are a CLASSROOM TEACHER and cannot access 95Percent in ClassLink, check with your Instructional Coach. They will work with district leadership to get you the materials you need.

I am excited to be joining you as we kick off 2024-2025! As we step into this new school year, I am filled with optimism and excitement for what we will accomplish together. I am grateful for your leadership and dedication to your school community, and I look forward to working closely with you to ensure that this year is a successful one for all. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns, questions, or ideas you may have.

Mastery Connect
As teachers prepare for administering their first round of premodules, we want to ensure they have everything they need to set up their trackers in Mastery Connect. The process has changed slightly from last year, so please share this document with your staff.
Creating a Tracker From Olathe Curriculum Maps; Add a Collaborator

Fact Fluency Application

Research supports that math fact fluency builds number sense and frees up working memory, allowing students to more readily advance in learning more complex skills. Over the last few years, students in the Computer Science Academy at Olathe South have created a resource for students in Olathe to evaluate their fluency in multiplication and division, and most recently, with their addition and subtraction facts. While the multiplication/division facts are organized by research-based progression with a focus on fact families, the addition/subtraction facts are organized by strategy (add 1 or 2 more, add zero, etc.) Encourage your teachers to check it out! Students and teachers log in using the same web address: https://mathfluency.olatheschools.com/

K-5 Eureka Manipulatives List

All K-5 teachers have a guaranteed list of manipulatives per grade level. Please ask your teachers to go to THIS LINK and navigate as shown below to ensure they have the tools indicated on the list. If they are missing any of the resources shown, they should share that with the Textbook Representative at your building who will reach out to John Quinn to ensure they have what they need. If a teacher is unfamiliar with how to use the manipulatives provided with their students, please encourage them to reach out to your instructional coach. From there we will teach, support and empower them to confidently engage with those resources.

I hope each of you had a restful and fun summer break with family and friends.

Please check out the 2024-25 social studies newsletter for important social studies related items.

EXCITING NEWS: We have partnered with the district court in Olathe to create an interactive and enriching mock trial experience for your students. We are so excited to share how we have improved and updated the experience for students. Big S/O to Christy and Becca, OPS Instructional Coaches, for their amazing work with instructional materials. The 2024 3rd Grade Mock Trial information is shared in the newsletter. Check it out!

4th Grade Teachers: Kansas Day Celebration at Mahaffie info shared in the newsletter.

3rd Grade Teachers: City of Olathe Program at City Hall info shared in the newsletter.

I hope each of you has an amazing first week with students! Thanks for all you do!