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Our Vision Springfield Public Schools will produce world-class citizens. JANUARY 11, 2011 Teaching and Learning Focusing the work • Message from Teaching and Learning • 5 Weight Physical Education Class Update • C.A.T.C.H. Program Update • Great Ideas Happy New Year to all of you! We hope that you had a restful vacation and are ready for the important work ahead. We have 87 student days left to accomplish this year’s goals! How will this work get done at your school and what is your role in the accomplishments of your students? So far this year our professional development as a district at Teaching and Learning Symposium has been targeted in the following areas: • Support for development of our teams as Professional Learning Communities • Support of schools as they develop areas of the Framework: Instructional Focus, Promising Practices, Internal Accountability • Support of schools to develop Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals • Schools have learned about Formative Assessments and Common Formative assessments and have begun to work with them in various ways • Support of schools in an external implementation walkthrough which has been conducted at each school. We will continue with this work as the year progresses. At the next Symposium, the focus will be around pulling all of this information together and communicating key messages. It is our goal in Teaching and Learning to support schools with their school improvement goals. Kathy Crum Director of Teaching & Learning 5 Weight Physical Education Class Update During the fall of 2009, a committee was formed to review current efforts surrounding sports medicine. Conversation at one point turned to the possibility of a 5 weight physical education class offered in high school. Last spring, the department chairs from each high school met to begin developing a proposal for the class. During the summer and this fall, we continued meeting and developed a 5 weight PE course that centers around physical fitness (cardiovascular and resistance training) and an academic component focusing on the following units: History of Weight Training, Safety in the Weight Room, Nutrition, Anatomy, Physiology, and a culminating activity where the student will design a fitness program. Assessment will take place via daily participation efforts, quizzes at the conclusion of each unit, and the final project. The proposed course is open to juniors and seniors who must complete an application and gain approval from their Academic Assistant Principal and Physical Education Department Chairperson. It is anticipated that each high school will be able to offer one class per semester. K-8 physical education is currently transitioning from the facilitation of Sue Landgrebe to Brady Burk. We would like to thank Sue for all of her great work as the previous PE facilitator. This year, Brady has scheduled visits to each middle school as well as each elementary PE teacher. We have developed a committee for professional development, all PE teachers have been or will be trained in AED/CPR, and an observation form has been developed to provide feedback for our PE teachers. Please click on the link to view the Top Ten Guidelines that should be observed in each K-8 PE class: http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/downloads/basic/132857/The%20%22New %22%20PE.pdf Standards Aligned Teaching and Learning • Backward Planning using the Standards • Creation of Common Assessments • Differentiated Instruction • Gradual Release Areas of Focus for Professional Learning Professional Learning Communities • Establishing common school Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals • Facilitation of Teams • Development of high-performing teams • Analysis and use of data Danielson Framework • Domain 1 - Planning and Preparation • Domain 2 - The Classroom Environment • Domain 3 - Instruction • Domain 4 - Professional Responsibility
