A Closer Look at the A Closer Look at the Written, Taught, and Written, Taught, and Tested CurriculumTested Curriculum

Closing the Achievement Gap in Social Studies

Austin ISD

Secondary New Teacher Academy

August 13, 2008

5

Austin ISD Professional

Learning System

(downloadable from ‘dwsd’)

Closing the Achievement Gap

How do we do this?– Benchmark testing, Six/Nine Weeks testing,

TAKS data analysis– Differentiation– IPGs and Conceptual Overviews– Support Staff and Materials– Teacher-led problem solving through

Professional Learning Communities

Benchmark Testing Social Studies Benchmark Windows:

– November 17 – November 21, 2008

Middle of the Year [MOY] for Grades 4 and 5 and 6th grade at elementary campuses

– January 12 – February 6, 2009

Middle of the Year Grades 6-11

– April 27 – May 22, 2009

End of Year [EOY] for Grades, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 9 (World Geography)

Why? To use data to determine areas of intervention and support for students.

TAKS Objectives Objective 1: The student will demonstrate an

understanding of issues and events in United States history.

Objective 2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of geographical influences on historical issues and events.

Objective 3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of economic and social influences on historical issues and events.

Objective 4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of political influences on historical issues and events.

Objective 5: The student will use critical thinking skills to analyze social studies information.

TAKS Data Analysis

Social Studies TAKS – May 1, 2009 Use of AIMS to analyze data District Wide Analysis School Wide Analysis – ongoing throughout the year Subject and Individual Teacher Analysis Review of Results: item by item District Curriculum Specialists assist with analysis 2006 TAKS released tests and 2007 item analysis available at

TEA website: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/taks/index.html

TAKS 2008 Social Studies Data: Where are the Achievement Gaps?

(Data comparisons from 2007-2008)

Grade Level

All Students

African-Americans

Hispanic White Econ. Disadv.

LEP Special Education

Grade

8

85%

+4

76%

+5

78%

+5

97%

0

76%

+6

55%

+17

70%

+4

Grade 10

85%

+2

74%

+1

79%

+5

95%

0

75%

+5

52%

+17

46%

-12

Grade 11

93%

+2

89%

+7

90%

+4

99%

0

87%

+3

66%

+11

70%

-9

New Social Studies TAKS Accountability

TAKS assesses the statewide curriculum that is composed of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS.

In 2007 and 2008, 65% of all students and all student groups had to meet the minimum standard on TAKS.

Beginning in 2009, 70% OF ALL STUDENTS

AND ALL STUDENT GROUPS

MUST MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARD!

70%

Differentiation Special Education Students

– The Power of Two Training– Co-Teaching– Inclusion Models

Bilingual/ESL– Sheltered Instruction Models (S.I.O.P.)– Incorporate English Language Proficiency

Standards (ELPS) Gifted and Talented Training

– Pre-AP and AP Institutes Economically disadvantaged students Ethnicity

The Curriculum The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

(TEKS) are the State standards The Austin ISD Matrix organizes the TEKS

across grade levels:– Cluster Matrices: (PreK – 6, 5-9, 8-12)– Grade Level Matrices

The State Board of Education will begin refinements to the Social Studies TEKS in 2009-2010

Strands in the Matrices Eight strands based on the TEKS strands:

– 100s: History– 200s: Geography– 300s: Economics– 400s: Government– 500s: Citizenship– 600s: Culture– 700s: Science, Technology, & Society– 800s: Social Studies Skills

The Curriculum

IPGs IPGs (Instructional Planning Guides)

Provide:

– Pacing– Resources

For example:

• Discovery Education Streaming Videos: http://www.streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

• History Alive! Curriculum Activities

– Ideas for activities and assessment– Suggestions for Differentiation– IPGs for each content area are found on the Social Studies

website: http://austinschools.org/curriculum

The Curriculum

Conceptual Overviews Provide “The Big Ideas” for the subject matter Pose questions for the students to consider

while studying the unit Provide a focus for the instruction Challenge the students to make connections

between what they are studying and the real world

The Curriculum

Closing the Achievement Gap: Relevance, Rigor, Relationships, and Results

Provide Relevance in the classroom. Make Relationships and connections between

what is being studied and the real world. Insist on Rigor in order to move the

students’ thinking forward. Achieve greater Results in student achievement.

Secondary Social Studies Support Materials and Training

IPGs, and Conceptual Overviews MPGs (Magnet Planning Guides), and APGs (Advanced Placement Guides) Working in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) “History Alive!, “Geography Alive!”, and “Government Alive!” [TCI] Disciplinary Literacy [DL] Training (Akins, Anderson, Austin, Bowie,

Crockett, I.H.S., McCallum) and, in 2008-09, will be piloted at several middle school campuses

First Things First [FTF] (LBJ, Reagan, Travis) AP and Pre-AP Training Social Studies Curriculum Website at http://www.austinschools.org/curriculum Curriculum team can assist with customized campus professional development

– Contact Us!

• Calendar of Social Studies-related Events

• 2008 Presidential Election Resources• Lesson Planning Resources

• IPGs & other District Curriculum materials• Differentiation & Other Instructional Strategies

• Current State & National News in Education• Content-specific Current Events New Items

• Department Chair Information• Textbook Publishers Contact Info.

• Textbook Publishers Web Resources• Grade-level Supplementary Curriculum resources• Student Contests / Scholarship entry applications

• Teacher Awards applications• Spotlight on Teachers

• Information regarding local Museums / Field Trips• Events News & Contact Info. for Professional Organizations

• Austin ISD Social Studies Curriculum Staff Contact Info.

Instructional Technology

Dave Sanders, Austin ISD Director of Instructional Technology

dsanders@austinisd.org; 414-6555

Arturo Guajardo, Austin ISD Instructional Technology Facilitator

aguajard@austinisd.org; 414-6555

NTA Social Studies Presenters

High School: Andrea Ramirez, Bowie High School Ian Grayson, International High School (ESL) James Fulbright, Crockett High School (Special

Education)

Middle School: Adam Miller, Covington Middle School Clane Hayward, Burnet Middle School (ESL) Megan Mabry, Dobie Middle School (Special

Education)

Austin ISD Social Studies Curriculum Department

Social Studies Curriculum Department– Joe Ramirez – Social Studies Supervisor 414-4690– Terry Loessin – High School Specialist 414-9638– Celeste Smith – High School Specialist 414-1274– Janie Maldonado – Middle School Specialist 414-4223– Jessica Jolliffe – Middle School Specialist 414-4231– Susan Everett – Elementary School Specialist 414-9920– Janie McClam – Elementary Specialist 414-4410– Lisa Ellis – Secretary 414-4361– Arika Ramirez-Cuevas – Secretary 414-4231

Tomorrow…

Day 4: PDAS

• Professional Development and Appraisal System

Looking forward . . . • How does the integration of best

teaching practices promote active successful student participation and learner-centered instruction that are key components of the Professional Development and Appraisal System?

Tomorrow’s Agenda Let’s complete the evaluation!