Teaching and Learning Curriculum Report

Report to the Mount Vernon School District Instructional Materials Committee

Elementary Writing Curriculum AdoptionMay 9, 2017

Elementary Writing Curriculum Adoption

Steering Committee

Juan Gaona, Assist Principal Madison

Shelly Flaig, ISS, Jefferson

Patricia Shanander, ISS, Lincoln

Adriana LoCicero, Reading, Jefferson

Susan Husband, ISS, Little Mountain

Pam Valentine, ISS, Centennial

Susan Hahn, Reading, Centennial

Joni Swanson, Exec. Director for Teaching & Learning

Elementary Writing Curriculum

Recommendation Process

Preparation:• March 24, 2016 - organizational meeting with

ISS/Reading Teachers, Design staff survey

• April 20, 2016 - ISS/Reading Teachers and Principals • Rationale for the pilot

• Results of staff survey on urgency for a unified writing program

• Selection of pilot teachers and committee members

• Process for the adoption

Elementary Writing Curriculum

Recommendation Process

Committee Members and Pilot Teachers:• May 4, 2016 -Overview of process

• Norms and Purposes with Writing Committee Members

• Pilot teachers selected: 30 teachers representing all grade

levels and buildings

• Determine alternative programs to consider in addition to Lucy

Calkins Units of Study

• May 18, 2016 - Presentation of program options • Decision on two pilot programs - Writing Fundamentals and

Lucy Calkins Units of Study

• May 31, 2016 - Committee and Pilot teachers• Responsibilities, Common Rubric, Professional Development,

Meeting Schedule, Materials Distributed to Pilot teachers

Elementary Writing Curriculum

Recommendation Process

Professional Development:• June 20 full day- Lucy Calkins Units of Study training

at ESD 189• All Little Mountain Teachers receive four day training at

LME

• June 22 half day and August 19 full day - Writing

Fundamentals training at MVSD

September 2016- April 2017

• 14 teachers pilot and all LME teachers use Lucy Calkins

Units of Study

• 16 teachers pilot Writing Fundamentals

Elementary Writing Curriculum

Recommendation Process

Teacher Meetings and Discussions:• Sept. 22, 2016 - Review of responsibilities of pilot

teachers• Review evaluation rubric

• Projections for future meetings and involvement of parents

• November 3, 2016 - First meeting with Rubric• Teachers in grade level groups to discuss scoring & interaction

with the program,

• Parent names generated for future meetings

• January 19, 2017 - Second meeting with Rubric• Teachers discuss rubric and student work (high, average, low),

• Discuss use of program and student progress

Elementary Writing Curriculum

Recommendation Process

Parent Meetings and Student Involvement:• Feb 9, 2017

• Parents of students in the Writing Fundamentals classrooms

participate in discussions with teachers about their child’s writing

• March 9, 2017 • Parents of students in the Lucy Calkins classrooms participate in

discussions with teachers about their child’s writing

• Parent Assists: in English, Spanish and Russian

• A student conversation starter and a rubric was sent home with

parents and brought to the meeting- Spanish and Russian

translators present at both meetings

• Mid March - Video of students created

Elementary Writing Curriculum

Recommendation Process

Final Decision and Next Steps:• April 13, 2017 - Discussion by all participants in grade

level clusters (K-1, 2-3, 4-5)• Decision was made by Google Form at the conclusion of the

discussion session.

• 82% Writing Fundamentals, 12% Lucy Calkins Units of Study

• Writing Fundamentals includes Spanish Units K-1, 2-3, 4-5

• April 27, 2017 - Planning for Selection of Units• Writing Fundamentals Pilot Teachers decide on 4 instructional

units

Program supports MVSD K-8 Balanced

Literacy Instructional Model & Workshop Model

Writing Fundamentals Units:

Launch Unit- How Writers Work

Grammar (not included in Spanish program)

Narrative

Opinion

Expository

Program Features:

Interactive Read Alouds

Mentor Texts

Formative and Summative Assessments (Rubrics &

Checklists)

Overall Budget Requirements for

Adoption

Instructional Materials Budget:

• Grade 3 only Practice Packet set of 5 - $19.95 each = 5

per 3rd grade teacher = $2,400.00

• K-5 Classroom teachers - $100,000.00

• K-5 SPED teachers - $34,000.00

• Total materials: $136,400.00

Overall Budget Requirements for

Adoption

Professional Development Budget: Year 1• June 19- $9,000 for presenter expenses

• 6 - ½ day inservice programs for 3 presenters $3,000 each

• August 29-30 - $70,000 for teacher pay and presenter expenses

• 1 full day 158 teachers X 6.5 hours @ $50 = $52,000

• Presenter expenses 2 full days for 3 presenters $3,000 each= $18,000

• During the school year - $76,000 after school and in school coaching

• Subs for teachers to view demonstration lessons =$13,000

• Presenter expenses 3 -1/2 days at each building during the year for 3

presenters @ $3,000 each= $27,000

• Total 1st year PD= $155,000.00

Overall Budget Requirements for

Adoption

Professional Development Budget: Year 2• New Teacher Inservice - 20 teachers X $50 X 6.5 hours = $6500.00

• Presenter Fees - $3000.00 per day X 2 days X 3 presenters = $18,000

• 2nd Year Teacher Inservice - 1 full day 158 teachers X 6.5 hours @ $50

= $52,000

• During the school year - after school and in school coaching -

$76,000

• 158 teachers X $50 X 4.5 hours (1.5 hr X 3) after school debrief with

ISS =$36,000

• Subs for teachers to view demonstration lessons =$13,000

• Presenter expenses 3 -1/2 days at each building during the year for 3

presenters @ $3,000 each= $27,000

Total 2nd year PD= $152,500.00

Overall Budget Requirements for

Adoption

Total Costs:Preparatory Teacher Meetings: $40,000 (FY 16-17)

K-5 and SPED Teacher Materials: $136,000 (FY 17-18)

2 Year Professional Development: $307,000 (FY 17-19)

Total Adoption Cost: $483,000

Writing Fundamentals