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What materials have been ordered and when will we get them?
A variety of books at each grade level have been ordered to use as examples of specific genres during mini-lessons, to read aloud and use for shared reading in K–grade 2, to support class or individual author studies, and to refer to as professional resources during the units of study. A list of materials ordered for each grade level is available by clicking here. Principals will receive emails updating them on materials that have been shipped to their buildings.
Why haven’t we received The First 30 Days: Writers Workshop for first and second grades?
First and second grades both should receive The First 30 Days: Readers Workshop only. First grade uses the Lucy Calkins’ Launching Writing Workshop unit, and second grade uses the DPS Writer’s Life unit for Writing Workshop.
Why haven’t we received DPS-developed lessons for The First 30 Days for grades 3–5?
Since the Reading and Writing Workshop lessons from The First 30 Days are comprehensive, there isn’t a need to have DPS-developed lessons. Note: In several other grade 3–5 units, DPS lessons have not been developed for Writing Workshop because the unit relies solely on lessons from the new Lucy Calkins’ Unit of Study for Teaching Writing, Grades 3–5.
What is “Let’s Talk about It!” and how should teachers use “Let’s Talk about It!” materials?
“Let’s Talk about It!” is an oral language program that has been purchased for ECE–grade 2 classrooms (ECE uses Level A; kindergarten, Level B; first grade, Level C, second grade, Level D). Teachers use “Let’s Talk about It!” materials in small group instruction during Reading Workshop with students who need additional support for oral language development in English or Spanish. Some students need this language development before they can benefit from guided reading; other students may need this support in addition to guided reading instruction.
When will all of the units of study for planning guides units be delivered to schools?
All units of study have been drafted; some units still need to be reviewed; and all units have to go through an editing process before they are printed and posted to the Web site. They will be sent to the schools within the timeframe designated for those units of study.
What materials should we be receiving for each grade level?
A list of materials ordered for the Skills Block for each grade level is available on the elementary literacy home page at http://curriculum.dpsk12.org/elp_elem_lit_prog.htm. Also available on the Web site is a sample of a week’s organization of the Skills Block for grades 1-2 and grades 3-5.
When will the Houghton-Mifflin teacher editions be available?
The grade 1 and 2 interim guides (2–3 months of lessons) for ELA-E and ELA-S classrooms are in schools or are in transit as of August 23. The kindergarten teacher editions were shipped during the week of September 5. The full teacher editions were available in October. The kindergarten teacher editions, as detailed at the summer trainings, are designed to be implemented during week 7. During the first six weeks, kindergarten teachers are to use the Pre-K Alphafriends letters and Language Kit and resources included in this kit.
Will teacher editions be available for grades 3–5?
Teacher editions will not be customized for grades 3–5, but manuals come with the Houghton Mifflin programs. Teachers in grades 3–5 (mainstream and ELA-E) will receive teacher editions for Houghton Mifflin Spelling and Vocabulary. Teachers are encouraged to teach the units in order using the “Alternate Three-Day Planner” outlined at the beginning of each unit. For the other two days, teachers may use grammar and structure lessons from English: Workbook Plus—Blackline Masters based on student needs identified from Writing Workshop.
Grades 3–5 ELA-S teachers will receive materials to support students in Spanish grammar and word knowledge (Ortografía y vocabulario; Lenguaje), English grammar and word knowledge (Houghton Mifflin English), and English phonics (Skills Block Kits Level A and B—grades 3–4 only). ELA-S teachers will design their Skills Block using appropriate materials based on their students’ needs. No grade 5 ELA-S English phonics—Skills Block Kits—were ordered because so many schools have grades 4–5 ELA-S split grades. If your fifth grade ELA-S teachers need access to Skills Block Kits, please consider sharing materials onsite.
What should we do if we are missing Skill Block materials?
First, cross-reference materials with the order list; second, call customer service at 800-733-2828 to check that materials were shipped to your school, the date they were shipped, etc. If materials are still missing, then compile one complete list indicating missing materials by grade level and send it to karen_stonerook@hmco.com and copy the email to dora_bruce@dpsk12.org .
What materials are back-ordered, and when will they arrive?
As of August 23, the Skill Block Kit B is on back order and will be shipped as soon as possible. The Spanish Sound Spelling Cards are on back order and will be available during the week of September 5.
Why are kindergarten teachers receiving Alphafriends when it is a pre-kindergarten program?
The Alphafriends Letters and Language Kit (red box) is a pre-kindergarten piece that is to be used during the first six weeks (without the customized teachers guide) to help support and evaluate children’s understanding of letters and sounds. It is available in English only. Students will see these again at the kindergarten level in the Alphafriends Kit (blue box).
What are the Phonics Intervention Kits—Levels A and B?
DPS is not using the Phonics Intervention Kit for intervention but rather as the foundation of phonics instruction. First grade (English) will use the Phonics Intervention Kit—Level A; second grade (English) will use the Phonics Intervention Kit—Level B; and English language learners will use the Phonics Intervention Kits—Level A or B to support them as they move from Spanish into English phonics instruction.
Do we need to use the assessments that come with the Houghton-Mifflin materials?
No. Teachers are welcome to use the assessments as instructional support.
How do we pay for teachers to receive the DRA2 training?
On August 23, a memo, titled “DRA2 K–3 Trainings in Elementary Schools,” was sent to principals that outlines the procedures for paying K–3 teachers to attend the training.
What are the expectations for CBLA literacy assessment?
CBLA Literacy Assessment Expectations are available at http://curriculum.dpsk12.org/secure/elem_lit_prog/lit_expect.pdf.
Scoring
What is considered a miscue?
Words that are substituted, omitted, or inserted are considered miscues. Repetitions and self-corrections are not counted as miscues.
Repeated substitutions
If a student makes an error (e.g., run for ran), then substitutes this word repeatedly, it counts as an error every time. The substitution of a proper name (e.g., Mary for Molly) is counted as an error only the first time. Substitutions involving contractions count as one error (e.g., I will for I’ll or I’ll for I will).
Words mispronounced due to a speech problem or dialect may be coded but are not counted as errors (e.g., jump-ed for jumped or pitcher for picture). Miscues of numerals and abbreviations are not counted as miscues, but may be noted for future instruction.
Why haven’t we received The First 30 Days: Writers Workshop for sixth grade?
The First 30 Days: Writers Workshop should be in your buildings by now. Please note: The First 30 Days was only ordered for grade 6. Grades 7 and 8 contain lessons in the planning guides.
When will all of the units of study for planning guides units be delivered to schools?
All units of study have been drafted; some units still need to be reviewed; and all units have to go through an editing process before they are printed and posted to the Web site. They will be sent to the schools within the timeframe designated for those units of study.
What materials have been ordered, and when will we get them?
A variety of books and resources at each grade level have been ordered to use as examples of specific genres during mini-lessons, to use for shared reading or read aloud in grades 6–9, to support class or individual author studies, and to refer to as professional resources during the units of study. A list of materials ordered for each grade level is available online at http://curriculum.dpsk12.org/slp_sec_lit_prog.htm.
Books have been ordered from a number of different publishers. Because of the large number and quantities of titles ordered, the process is slow and partial orders are being received. The Purchasing and the Educational Resources Services departments are organizing materials received to ship them to schools as quickly as possible.
What is Academic Workout?
Academic Workout is a support product for literacy skills instruction for grades 6–9. It contains overheads with mini-lessons, a teacher guide, an optional assessment book, and a three-ring binder with blackline masters for student practice. The middle school kits should have arrived already in buildings.
Grade 9 classrooms will receive pre-production copies of the materials, then full sets once the company has published the materials. We expect to have the grade 9 pre-production materials for Academic Workout in buildings by September 8.
These materials support the use of planning guides in the language arts classrooms in grades 6–9.
Do we need to use the assessments that come with Reading Advantage?
No, but is highly recommended. In our district research, we found that it closely aligns with SRI. Teachers are welcome to use the assessments as instructional support or placement.
What materials should we receive for each grade level?
You should receive a full set of Reading Advantage at your school. Additional levels were ordered based on size of school and number of students scoring below proficient. The shipment should contain a complete packing list.
What are the expectations for CBLA literacy assessment?
CBLA Literacy Assessment Expectations are available at http://curriculum.dpsk12.org/secure/elem_lit_prog/lit_expect.pdf.
If you have technical questions about this Web site, contact Joel' Bradley-Hess at
joel_bradley-hess@dpsk12.org or 720-423-3723.
Page last updated:
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
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