2016-2017+Kickoff


 * Where Can I Find Everything? **
 * [|**Instructional Framework**]– DPS’ framework for effective teaching and learning
 * **http://dps68ela.wikispaces.com** Middle School ELA Page for instructional resources
 * [|**http://central.dpsnc.net/ela-secondary**] - Secondary ELA Page for repeat and additional resources
 * [|Middle School ELA standards]
 * [|**Secondary Teaching & Learning Instructional Guide**]** – ELA Blueprint for effective pedagogy **
 * [|**Middle School ELA Today - Newsletter**]** – monthly updates **
 * [|**http://central.dpsnc.net/pd**]** - **Professional development opportunities; Beginning Teachers, etc.
 * Twitter Feed (@DPS_ELA_middle) and Pin Boards (dps_ELA)


 * Curriculum Resources **
 * Course Overviews, Unit Maps, grade level standards, and approved Lesson Plans are available on our Wikipage. This page is continuously updated and serves as a primary resource of information.
 * http://dps68ela.wikispaces.com/6th+Grade
 * http://dps68ela.wikispaces.com/7th+Grade
 * http://dps68ela.wikispaces.com/8th+Grade
 * These documents are housed as PDFs in Google Drive. However, you don’t have to be logged into your DPS Google account to VIEW them.
 * The Secondary Teaching & Learning Instructional Guide provides detailed information on ELA pedagogy and expectations for the classroom.


 * Unit Maps **
 * They are meant to give you clear parameters, but also more autonomy.
 * o **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Stage 1 **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> lays out what students need to **__K__**now, **__U__**nderstand and be able to **__DO__** (KUDos) by the end of the unit.
 * o **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Stage 2 **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">defines the assessments the district will provide (and require) as well as guidelines for creating your own PLC assessments.
 * o **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Stage 3 **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> provides you with instructional support, pacing and suggested resources to teach the KUDos. Some lessons have sample plans.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You and your PLC will work on identifying specific learning targets for each week. Once you have developed those, then you will work on planning your instruction, finding texts and selecting learning activities.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Each unit plan will have suggested texts that align with a literacy and social studies concept.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Morphology for vocabulary instruction is linked throughout each unit map, along with related resources. Vocabulary instruction should be an on-going practice in every DPS classroom.
 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sample Lesson Plans from DPS **
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">o Each grade level has 4 units of study. We have assigned a theme to each unit and written a unit plan based on that theme. These **//Lesson Plans//** are available on each **Unit Map**, found on your grade level page. //<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">**Note: Not every lesson has a plan developed for it.** //
 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">o Lesson Plans are **STARTING POINTS**. They exist to SUPPORT you. They are not meant to LIMIT you.**

<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What are the district assessments? How should I plan to use them? **
 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">CDAs **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (Common District Assessments) are multiple-choice assessments aligned to the focus standards - they can be completed in SchoolNet or printed and scanned directly back into SchoolNet.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">There are two CDAs for each quarter, and assesses all primary standards within each unit. CDA windows are laid out in Stage 2 of the Unit Curriculum Maps.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">CDAs are not required BY THE DISTRICT, but **HIGHLY ENCOURAGED** for all PLCs to use in assessing student learning. They may also be required by your principal.
 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">Midterm Benchmarks **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (CASE 21) is required by the district and administered at every school for EOG classes.
 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">End-of-Year Benchmarks **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">(CASE 21) are optional for all EOG classes.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.5;">What about performance tasks? **
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Performance tasks are **HIGHLY ENCOURAGED** for each quarter, and are an excellent method to assess student learning in writing instruction.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sharing of cross curricular performance tasks between related content teachers will ease the completion and grading of student work.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Google Docs or Google Classroom, along with rubrics for performance, aids in efficiency of task completion.


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.5;">What kind of Professional Development will we be having this year? **
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">True North Logic available through PowerSchool list professional development opportunities available during the school year.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">New teachers will be invited to participate in Teacher Academy professional development in the fall. Additional teachers will be invited based on principal recommendation.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Out-of-the Box <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based  || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Teacher Academy <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Out-of-the Box <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based  || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Out-of-the Box <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based  || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Teacher Academy <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Out-of-the Box <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Early Release – school based  ||
 * || **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Q1 **  ||  **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Q2 **  ||  **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Q3 **  ||  **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Q4 **  ||
 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Year-Round ** || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Teacher Academy
 * **<span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Traditional ** || <span style="display: block; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">Teacher Academy