Proficiency Scales, Grading and Reporting Meetings, Sputnik Returns

This week's blog has more examples of using proficiency scales with students, opportunities to learn more about Southeast Polk's plan for grading and reporting, and a video from the artist who created the sculpture 'Sputnik Returns'.

Curriculum Challenge

This is the LAST WEEK of the curriculum challenge!  

This challenge includes opportunities for classrooms to share, create, and see examples of different types of representations of scales.  

Between now and May 4th, we are inviting teachers to share and or create examples of our proficiency scale designed for the students you serve.  Take a picture of your example and either email it to me, or post on twitter with the hashtag #sepolkscales. Please include your grade level and/or content area.  All examples will be posted to the blog. Let's try to share as many examples as we can to support each other in using the scales with students. On May 4th, we will do a random drawing of all participants of the challenge and 5 teachers will receive a copy of "The New Art and Science of Teaching."

Below are more examples posted this week, including one from a PE class, one from a Kindergarten class, and one from a student teacher!

Grading and Reporting Meetings

We are getting ready to finalize our action plan for next year, and we want to give all teachers the opportunity to provide input and feedback.  We have planned some 1 hour sessions between now and the end of the year. If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, please plan on attending one of these sessions.  Payroll sheets will be provided. All sessions will be held in the district board room.

Afternoon Sessions

May 1st, May 8th

4:15 PM-5:15 PM

Morning Sessions

May 4th, May 11th

7:00 AM-8:00 AM

Sputnik Returns

There was much enthusiasm around the sculpture that was at Southeast Polk on Tuesday of this week as a part of Bravo Des Moines “Every Day, Everywhere Art” initiative.  The artist, Brandon Vickerd, tweeted a video showing how he created the sculpture. He shares his creative process, and current and future student artists will enjoy learning more about his thinking and purpose.

Be on the Watch: Sputnik Sightings!

Southeast Polk has a great opportunity to partner with Des Moines Bravo and their "Every Day, Everywhere Art" initiative.  A sculpture entitled "Sputnik Returned 2" by artist Brandon Vickerd will be on display at Southeast Polk Jr. High School on Tuesday, April 24th.  This artwork will be onsite for 24 hours.  The sculpture will also be at neighboring metro areas for a day including East Village, Valley Junction, and the Drake Relays.

Below is a picture of the art and additional information on the artist:

http://brandonvickerd.com/

Brandon Vickerd is a Canadian based sculptor and Professor of Visual Arts at York University. He received his BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1999) and his MFA from the University of Victoria (2001).

Purposely diverse, his studio work straddles the line between high and low culture, acting as a catalyst for critical thought, questioning a modernist future predicated on boundless scientific advancement. Whether through craftsmanship, the creation of spectacle, or humor, his work provokes the viewer to reexamine the idea of progress ingrained in Western world views.

If you have an opportunity to view this sculpture, you are encouraged to post to social media with the following hashtags:

#bravodsm #everywhereart #sepolk

Updates: Curriculum Challenge, Summer TQ, Grading and Reporting

This week's blog has updates regarding the proficiency scale curriculum challenge, a link to
the TQ application form, and dates for information sessions on next steps for grading and
reporting.

Curriculum Challenge

What a great start to the curriculum challenge! Below is an example of one of the scales that
has been shared and is being used with SEP students at the middle level:

Our ongoing 'curriculum challenge' will include opportunities for classrooms to share,
create, and see examples of different types of representations of scales.  

Between now and May 4th, we are inviting teachers to share and or create examples of our proficiency scale designed for the students you serve.  Take a picture of your example and either email it to me, or post on twitter with the hashtag #sepolkscales. Please include your grade level and/or content area.  All examples will be posted to the blog. Let's try to share as many examples as we can to support each other in using the scales with students. On May 4th, we will do a random drawing of all participants of the challenge and 5 teachers will receive a copy of "The New Art and Science of Teaching."

TQ Application

There will be one window for teacher quality funds to support coursework this year.  
However, this window will extend across the school year (August 23, 2017-August 22, 2018).

There is a $375 limit for teacher quality funding during this timeframe. Each teacher may
submit one TQ Course Application during the 2017-2018 school year.  You may submit an
application through the link below. This link may also be found on the mySEP page under
"Teaching and Learning Resources."

Teacher Quality Course Application 2017-2018

When your course is completed, please submit your transcript and a payroll sheet to
Nikki Christianson in the district office.  Please follow the guidelines below to make sure
you receive your payment in an efficient manner.

PAYROLL GUIDELINES

--Payroll sheets may be found on MySEP under the Human Resources/Payroll link.
--Under the description put "TQ: THE NAME OF THE COURSE"
--Make sure you complete 'time in', 'time out' and the total hours (up to 15)
--If the course is more than 15 hours, only submit up to 15 hours.
--All submitted times must be outside of contract hours.
--A separate payroll sheet should be submitted for each month if the course is held across

multiple months.
--Be sure to sign your payroll sheet.
--Your instructor should not sign the payroll sheet--your transcript will serve as the

verification needed.
Please submit your payroll sheet within 1 month after completing the course.

Grading and Reporting

After our professional learning this year, we met again with the Grading and Reporting
Committee.  Each work group shared a summary of their progress and made
recommendations for actions moving forward.  We have planned some 1 hour sessions
between now and the end of the year to share these recommendations and get further input
and feedback from teachers.  If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, please
plan on attending one of these sessions. Payroll sheets will be provided. All sessions will be
held in the district board room.

Afternoon Sessions

April 24th, May 1st, May 8th

4:15 PM-5:15 PM

Morning Sessions

April 27th, May 4th, May 11th

7:00 AM-8:00 AM

April 9th PD--Supports for Next Steps.

We appreciate the engagement and feedback from our professional learning on April 9th.  This blog will have some resources to support our next steps including:

• A copy of the powerpoint presentation
• A 'curriculum challenge' for proficiency scales

Stay tuned to next week's blog for information on upcoming Q and A sessions to respond to any questions you might have related to implementation of practices related to standards-based learning.

Powerpoint Presentation

Dr. Ruyle provided many resources and examples in his powerpoint presentation. Several of you have asked for a copy of his presentation, so he graciously agreed to share it with Southeast Polk staff.  This presentation may be found at the link below:

Goals, Scales, and Assessments: Putting it All Together 4.9.18

Curriculum Challenge: Proficiency Scales

In the presentation, there were multiple examples of ways to share the overall scale with students.  This might include translating the scale into language that matches where your students are, having students convert the scale in a way that makes sense to them, using visuals, analogies, etc.  

  

   

From our learning on Monday:

Proficiency scales need to be:

• Designed for a student audience.
• Communicated to students.

"Learning targets and success criteria go together. They give students a sense of the purpose for learning and how to get there."

The 'curriculum challenge' will include opportunities for classrooms to share, create, and see examples of different types of representations of scales.  

Between now and May 4th, we are inviting teachers to share and or create examples of our proficiency scale designed for the students you serve.  Take a picture of your example and either email it to me, or post on twitter with the hashtag #sepolkscales.  Please include your grade level and/or content area.  All examples will be posted to the blog. Let's try to share as many examples as we can to support each other in using the scales with students. On May 4th, we will do a random drawing of all participants of the challenge and 5 teachers will receive a copy of "The New Art and Science of Teaching." 

Goals, Scales, and Assessments: Putting it All Together

Our next district professional development will be held Monday, April 9th.  The focus of our day will be around aligning assessments to support implementation of standards-based learning. Dr. Mike Ruyle from the Marzano group will be joining us again to provide his expertise in helping us bring together learning goals, proficiency scales, and assessments. 

Supporting materials for the day have been uploaded to Google Drive.  Please do not make a copy of these materials as handouts will be available on Monday.  We wanted everyone to have access electronically and/or printed copies. 

Goals, Scales, and Assessments: Putting it All Together

Our contract day will run from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. Below is the schedule for the day:

Elementary	Secondary
8:00-11:00-Standards-Based Learning: Taking the Next Step 11:00-12:00-Lunch 12:30-4:00-Mike Ruyle, Marzano Group: ‘Goals, Scales, and Assessments-Putting it All Together’	8:00-11:30-Mike Ruyle, Marzano Group: ‘Goals, Scales, and Assessments-Putting it All Together’ 11:30-12:30-Lunch 1:00-4:00-Standards-Based Learning: Taking the Next Steps

Locations:

• Goals, Scales, and Assessments-Putting it All Together:  JH Auditorium
• Standards-Based Learning: Taking the Next Step: Individual Buildings

We are looking forward to a day of professional learning!