Empowering Educators to Own Their Greatness - Back to School Keynote

Michael Comella — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 15:17:00 GMT

We'd like to thank Laine Whitaker for helping us start the new school year! You can find her presentation here.

Welcome Back to the 2023-2024 School Year

Michael Comella — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:39:00 GMT

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer! Please click here to learn more about the upcoming school year.

Community 2000 Grant Application Fall Deadline

Michael Comella — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 09:46:00 GMT

The deadline for submitting a grant to Community 2000 has been pushed back to November 1st, 2022. Please see their grants page for more information. Both Katie and I are available if anyone would like support with the application or process, or would like to discuss ideas for their classroom or school. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

AIM Pathway Science of Reading Update

Michael Comella — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 12:31:00 GMT

AIM Pathway Science of Reading Proficiency Training: Thank you to everyone for your participation and engagement in the science of reading proficiency training! We are off to great start. Thank you also for your feedback as we continue to move through this process. I wanted to share some information prior to the upcoming virtual community of practice: Our first Virtual Community of Practice (VCoP) takes place during the early release time on Thursday, September 22. The district is organized into four cohorts in the following way: Cohort 1: Charlestown Cohort 2: Richmond Cohort 3: Ashaway & Hope Valley Cohort 4: Middle & High School You can find the zoom link to your cohort by logging on to the AIM dashboard, then: Participants log into the platform Click 'my courses' Click the pathways to proficient reading tile. Then, they scroll down to VCoP #1 and click 'view'. The zoom link is next to 'location'. Please remember to upload your prework for the VCoP #1: The directions for uploading file submissions are in a separate tile from the 'my courses' screen. Go to My courses Click the 'file submissions' course Click 'start' next to VCoP 1, then read and follow the directions to complete the assignment. You can find the pacing guide for the year here Some teachers have found it helpful to work on the lessons together to be able to discuss and debrief what they have learned Some teachers have also found it helpful to download and print the lessons as a PDF. This may be more helpful than reading the content online, depending on how you learn best. Please reach out directly to me (Michael.comella@chariho.k12.ri.us ) if you have any questions about the platform.

Curriculum and Assessment Update August 2022

Michael Comella — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 15:17:00 GMT

August 22, 2022 Dear Chariho Faculty and Staff, I hope everyone had a restful summer, took some time to reflect and recharge, and is looking forward to returning to school! This past school year saw the successful implementation of two new curriculum resources in math and ELA, revisions to several curricula, embedded professional development, and one-to-one teacher coaching. As a result, we had a very successful first-year implementation that also yielded strong student results. This could not have been done without your dedication to ensuring that the implementation was done with both fidelity and integrity. This upcoming school year gives us an opportunity to collaborate and grow together in several ways. This year we will have opportunities to increase our knowledge and skill as we launch the proficiency training in the science of reading. This two-year professional development will allow our elementary teachers, special educators, and reading specialists the opportunity to learn about the research behind the science of reading and become active participants in implementing this learning in the classroom. In mathematics, we will also continue our collaboration with RIDE in bringing embedded professional development using the i-Ready program and begin our high school math implementation with our new curriculum resource. Science teachers will continue the work with interim assessments, and we will begin curriculum revisions in social studies. Social-Emotional Student Support The district has contracted with Educational School Solutions to provide two clinicians, one at the middle and one at the high school to provide additional support to students and professional development to staff. The clinicians will play a pivotal role in supplementing the supports that are already in place for students. Elementary schools will continue to access and utilize Dr. Pat Meinhold's services for student and classroom support. Parent/Family Communication All teachers and staff are required to use their district-issued email accounts to communicate with students and parents/guardians. For the safety of all, staff may not use their personal emails, cell phone numbers, or any apps to communicate with students and families. Please follow up with your principals if you have any questions. Curriculum implementation As mentioned above, we successfully rolled out our new curriculum resources in math and ELA. We will roll out our high school math curriculum resource (Reveal Math) at the start of this school year. This implementation will complete the district-wide K-12 resource implementation for mathematics. We will also continue to build on the success of our year one implementation of our K-12 ELA curriculum resources, maintaining a focus on implementing the resources with integrity. Research indicates that using high-quality curriculum resources can have huge gains on student achievement. Strong and skilled implementation of our curriculum materials has positively impacted student achievement. We look forward to continuing this momentum with embedded coaching and support in math and literacy. Science of Reading Training On June 23rd, 2022, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation that modified the Right to Read Act. As a result, the training for teachers who need to meet the requirements for proficiency will complete the training over the next two years. You can find the Science of Reading PD Calendar here. We will confirm dates for the SY 23-24 in the Spring of 2023. This change will still allow teachers to meet proficiency requirements within an acceptable timeframe while learning about the most recent research and evidence around the science of reading. We will begin this training on August 31st with an orientation and pre-assessment. More information will follow as we get closer to our start date. We will also utilize our professional development and early release days for this professional learning. Due to some accessibility

Curriculum and Assessment Update

Michael Comella — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 12:48:00 GMT

Friday, September 3rd, 2021 Congratulations on successfully completing the first week of school! I know that this was a very busy week of preparing, planning, and finally welcoming our students back to school. We are off to a great start! Please read below for updates on the curriculum resources and assessments, as well as information about the Right to Read Act. Curriculum Resource Update: Thank you for your participation in the professional development this week on our new curriculum resources! I know that a lot of information was presented in a very short amount of time, and I appreciate everyone's patience and professionalism as we navigate this implementation. Though most of you have received all of your materials and online access, we continue to work with the vendors to ensure that all materials will be at schools within the next two weeks. We will continue to provide professional development with these new resources to ensure that we can implement them with fidelity. As you know, anytime a new resource is implemented, it takes time to learn about and become comfortable with all that the resources offer. That is why it is critical to implement each resource as they are meant to be used, and with fidelity, in this initial year of implementation. Any modifications to the curriculum resources will not give us a clear understanding of the curriculum's impact on the level of instruction and student outcomes. Please reach out if you have any questions. Assessment Calendar Update: You can find the 2021-2022 Assessment Calendar here. Please review important assessment information below: 1. We will continue to use the Fountas and Pinnell Running Record. Into Reading has a version of this that we will learn more about and consider using for the next school next year. 2. We will continue to use KSA for Kindergarten in reading and math in the ESGI platform. 3. Into Reading: Module assessments will be administered at the end of each module (replacing common assessments) 4. StudySync: End-of-Unit Assessments will be administered at the end of each unit (replacing QCAs 6-8). Benchmark Assessments will be used in place of STAR for grades 6-10. 5. iReady: Assessments will be administered at the end of each unit (replacing QCAs). Right to Read Act – Awareness Training To all teachers who are participating in the Awareness Training of the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy: Teachers, please fill out Chariho 21-22 Right to Read Awareness Course Completion Form as you complete the courses for the Awareness Training of the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy. This form will be used to track PLU’s that you receive for each course. Please note that only the first course is live. According to the RIDE website, courses 2 & 3 will go live on November 1st and the final two courses will go live on January 1st, 2022. You will be provided time during upcoming professional development days to complete the courses. Upon completion of all 5 courses you will be asked to submit a copy of your certificate of completion. You can find additional information about both the awareness and proficiency training on the Chariho website under Teaching and Learning-àRight to Read. Thanks again for all you do!

RI Right to Read Act Update

Jane Daly — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 18:19:00 GMT

Dear Chariho Certified Staff, On May 25, 2021, you were sent an email about the Rhode Island Right to Read Act, which is a law requiring ALL educators to exhibit either ”Proficiency” or “Awareness” in the knowledge and practices of the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy. All PreK-5 classroom teachers, PreK-12 special educators, and PreK-12 Reading Teachers, and our PreK-12 ESOL Teacher will need to exhibit “Proficiency”. In order to help you meet this requirement, our RI Right to Read Act Committee has selected AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading, and we are working with the provider to potentially schedule the training to begin in the Spring of 2022. Due to the implementation of the new Gr. K-12 ELA High Quality Curriculum Materials next year, “Proficiency” training would not begin until next Spring. Further information can be found on the RIDE Right to Read Act webpage. Chariho’s Right to Read Act Selection Committee Co-Chairs: Jane Daly, Jen Durkin & Committee Members: Stefani Anderson, Jill Burke, Mary Beth Florenz, Giuseppe Gencarelli, Dana Hall, Sandra Hanley-Stansfield, Jennifer H Krekorian, Paige Leddy, Mary Markovitz, Mary Ann Mello, Iris Ornberg, Kerry Pastore, Karen Pellegrino, Rene Rosivach, Andrea Spas, Mary Ellen Sposato, Jean Westcott

WCCU 2021-2022 Teacher Grant Program

Jane Daly — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 14:06:00 GMT

Westerly Community Credit Union (WCCU) is pleased to offer the Teacher Grant Program for the 2021-22 school year! They will be awarding up to $8,500 in teacher grants. Link to view both the 2021 Grant application updated with a deadline of October 31, 2021 and the Awarding Guidelines.

K-8 Math Ready Classroom Teacher Toolbox Access

Jane Daly — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 19:20:00 GMT

The Teacher Toolbox and i-Ready have been rolled into the one platform. As a reminder, you no longer need to login to a separate website and use a separate login! To access the Toolbox, login to i-Ready Connect and simply click on “Assess & Teach” > choose “Resources” > select a subject under “Teacher Toolbox.”

RI Right to Read Act and You

Jane Daly — Tue, 25 May 2021 16:32:00 GMT

Dea. Dear Chariho Certified Staff, The Rhode Island Right to Read Act was passed in July of 2019. This law requires ALL educators to exhibit either ”Proficiency” or “Awareness” in the knowledge and practices of the Science of Reading and Structured Literacy. Pages 6 and 7 of the RIDE RI RIght to Read Act LEA Guidance identifies which staff need to exhibit “Proficiency”, and which staff need to exhibit “Awareness”. Chariho has created a committee of administrators and teacher representatives to research and then select our provider(s) from the approved RIDE listing, and plan for providing this professional learning. Due to the implementation of the new Gr. K-12 ELA High Quality Curriculum Materials next year, “Proficiency” training and Gr. 6-12 ELA Teacher “Awareness” training will begin no earlier than Spring 2022 or during the 2022-2023 school year. All other certified staff who require “Awareness” training will begin in the fall of 2021. Here are some resources and professional learning groups for further information: RIDE Rhode Island RIght to Read Act Webpage, RIDE RI RIght to Read Act LEA Guidance, The Rhode Island Right to Read Act FAQ You can also listen to the first 25 minutes of RIDE Right to Read Act Presentation for general information: http://media.ride.ri.gov/IAC/Literacy/RightToReadActWebinarRecording-2021-05-04.mp4 RI Science of Reading Group Rhode Island Chapter of the Science of Reading: “What I Should Have Learned In College” Facebook Group. The purpose of this group is to connect the research of how we learn to read to our teaching practice. The Science of Reading: A Defining Moment A coalition developed by The Reading League. From your Right to Read Act Selection Committee Co-Chairs: Jane Daly, Jen Durkin Committee Members: Stefani Anderson, Jill Burke, Mary Beth Florenz, Giuseppe Gencarelli, Dana Hall, Sandra Hanley-Stansfield, Jennifer H Krekorian, Paige Leddy, Mary Markovitz, Mary Ann Mello, Iris Ornberg, Kerry Pastore, Karen Pellegrino, Rene Rosivach, Andrea Spas, Mary Ellen Sposato, Jean Westcott

2021.2022 Elementary Faculty Meeting Calendar

Jane Daly — Wed, 05 May 2021 12:59:00 GMT

Chariho's Elementary Faculty Meeting Calendar is now available to view for the 2021-2022 School Year!

How to update ZOOM to get the latest features......

Jane Daly — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:02:00 GMT

Dear Staff, Our Distance Learning Fellow, Rene Rosivach, recently posted information on her "Friday Finds" about how to update your Zoom account. Here is a link to a video demo on how to update, and here are written instructions. Thank you Rene for keeping us up to date! For more information, you can find the link to "Friday Finds" on the Distance Learning Fellow page of the district website.

K-8 Ready Classroom

Jane Daly — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 19:53:00 GMT

Dear K-8 Teachers of Math: When a student logs in, the first interaction they have is with i-Ready Connect is to take the Diagnostic Assessment. If you would like to administer the Diagnostic, speak with your building administrator first and obtain approval (re: concerns on too much testing, state testing, and making sure there is parent communication etc.). If students take the Diagnostic first, they will be placed on a Personalized Lesson Pathway. However, there is also a "hide assessment" option. The administrator or teacher can select this option. If the teacher was to “hide the diagnostic assessment” then prior to completing a Diagnostic the student will have access to be assigned by the teacher to the following (but not be placed on an automatic Personalized Lesson Plan).: Learning Games Comprehension Checks (teacher assigned) Interactive Practice (teacher assigned) Teacher Assigned Lessons (teacher assigned) Bookshelf Digital Tools To find more information on how to "hide the assessment", 1) Go to https://i-readycentral.com/faq/, 2) Then click on “+Diagnostic and Diagnostic Reports”, and 3) “+How do I manage the Assessment Access setting?” Starting with September, 2021, administering the Diagnostic will not be optional in Chariho.

Gr. 6-12 StudySync PD Resources

Jane Daly — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:11:00 GMT

Dear Gr. 6-12 Teachers of ELA/Literacy: Thank you for attending the 4/8/2021 StudySync Overview Training, presented by Meghan Little and Tahereh Coq. Here is a link to a video recording of that training: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jDgfr4-1EMMpx5JfBrMkg1L1_Xxvs9PJ/view?usp=sharing In addition, please be reminded that Dana Hall recorded a 1-minute video to help teachers in their initial exploration of StudySync content. This video can be accessed here. For your convenience, here is the link to the StudySync Demo Site. The Username is StudySync2021. You have been given the password. Thank you as we continue to learn together, there will be a follow-up training on the May 17th State PD Day.

QPR Training Sign-Ups

Jane Daly — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 12:03:00 GMT

To Chariho Staff: The following message and professional learning opportunity is from Dr. Robert Harrison, Director of the Washington County Zero Suicide Program: QPR (Suicide Prevention) training is a free 75 minute evidence-based community level training that results in participants being certified as "Gatekeepers" for 3 years. It is similar to CPR in that any adult can learn it, and it is easy to remember. It teaches you how to recognize the clues and warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, how to ask the Question directly, Persuade the person to let you help them get help, and Refer appropriately. There is a very brief pre- and post-training survey and you receive a summary review and Resource List of both national and local resources within a week of the training. Help save a life! Dr. Harrison is providing two different opportunities for Chariho Staff to voluntarily participate in QPR training on Wednesday, May 12th OR Wednesday, May 19th, from 3:30-4:45 PM. There can be up to twenty participants per session, so register right away, first come first served! Register for May 12th: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SZiMgMkbTAyIuo0GxOIqOA Register for May 19th: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X4jXbhxzSk23_0GpwGfB5A [For those certified staff looking to fulfill their 3.5 hour contractual requirement, this would satisfy 1.25 hours towards that. Upon completion you will receive a certificate from Dr. Harrison, please submit that to Kristen Merritt as evidence of attendance and participation]. [For those ESP and certified staff that voluntarily attend, time will not be tracked, but they may also submit their completion certificate to add to their PD/PLU district records.]

K-8 Math Ready Classroom Training Webinar

Jane Daly — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 14:28:00 GMT

For K-8 Teachers of Math: Here is a link to Webinar recording of the Chariho teacher training on Ready Classroom Math, Robert Rossetti was the Presenter: (This training took place on 3/24/21 from 3:30-5:30) https://cainc.zoom.us/rec/share/1i9Jvml2R2hZt2TViHsXnldFh6dvH_E_TIPAbQgnZAfA_j16hkhwtZ38D4iT_OBo.IEdjewTmfBcAwUGH During the webinar Robert identified a few resources that you may find helpful: Educator Guide: Digital Components www.readyclassroomcentral.com Try-Discuss –Connect Routine Learning Games Guide (with report information)

K-8 ReadyClassroom Math Now active

Jane Daly — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 13:18:00 GMT

To Gr. K-8 Teachers of Math: You and your students now have online access to ReadyClassroom Math! The purpose of activating this now is to give you the opportunity to explore the program and have early access to the digital resources, which you could use with students if you’d like. Teachers and students just click the Google Apps icon (the waffle) and then click on the i-Ready icon. Here are some quick resources for your reference: Here is a 1-minute introduction video: https://readyclassroomcentral.com/videos/teacher-digital-experience-overview/ For Grades K-5, here is a 1-page document with information on digitally assigning Interactive Practice, something you might try with your students now! For 24/7 access to tips, how-to's, videos, planning tools and MUCH MORE, please visit i-Ready Central Chariho has used Ready Common Core Math for years, and again this year our students in Gr. K-8 have workbooks, and teachers have online access to teacher resources. Those will continue to be used until the end of this school year. In September, 2021, Gr. K-8 Math teachers will implement the NEW updated ReadyClassroom program. Students will continue to receive a consumable workbook, and we will use the corresponding iReady Math Benchmark Assessment (instead of STAR). All teachers and students will have this digital access, that you can preview now. Teachers can start looking at all the benefits this program offers. A K-8 Math Curriculum Launch Task Force was just formed to begin mapping out the Scope and Sequence for next year, and revising the first Quarter/Trimester’s curriculum units. Professional Learning will be provided prior to the students’ first day of school, by the publisher, and teachers will implement this updated program at the beginning of the school year.

RI Core Standards in ELA and Math

Jane Daly — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:42:00 GMT

Rhode Island transitions to the Rhode Island Core Standards for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics from the Common Core State Standards Following a period of review and public comment, RIDE is pleased to announce the endorsement by the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education of new content standards for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics. The Rhode Island Core Standards for ELA/Literacy and Mathematics are directly aligned with the expectations set forth in the Rhode Island comprehensive assessment system of which the RICAS assessment is an integral part. The Rhode Island Core Standards maintain the levels of focus, coherence, rigor, and overall content expectations of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). However, there are some instances in which the new standards enhance or clarify the content of the CCSS. Users of high-quality curriculum materials can be assured their resources are still aligned with the expectations of the Rhode Island Core Standards, but there may be a need for minor adjustments within or across grade levels. To assist users in making these adjustments, RIDE has created crosswalk documents highlighting the instances where expectations differ between the Rhode Island Core Standards and the CCSS. The new standards and the crosswalk documents can be found at Content Standards - Instruction & Assessment - RI Department of Education. Great news! In 2017, Chariho adopted and aligned our curriculum to the MA ELA/Literacy and Math standards, once RICAS was announced. More information on plans for Chariho's ELA and Math curriculum will be sent by the end of March.

K-12 ELA High-Quality Curriculum Material (HQCM) Adoption

Jane Daly — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 18:13:00 GMT

K-12 ELA High-Quality Curriculum Material (HQCM) Adoption approved by the School Committee! At the January 12, 2021 School Committee Meeting, our new K-12 ELA programs were approved for adoption. For the 2021-2022 school year, Chariho will be implementing Into Reading in Grades K-5, and StudySync in Grades 6-12. Here is the slidedeck from the School Committee presentation. From the survey staff completed in the fall, one of the overall concerns from teachers was about the amount of time they spend on developing and curating materials, and consistency of materials used across grade levels and schools. We are so excited to have chosen programs which meet these concerns, and also provide comprehensive programs which include curriculum, instructional strategies and materials, and assessment, and also with enhanced technology features for students. Our ELA Adoption team members have started to present overviews and conduct “deeper dives” of the proposed programs with teachers at each school, and this will continue through February and March. We have also ordered samples of the programs for each school building for teachers to peruse, and you will be notified by your administrator when and how to access these materials for perusal. For Grades K-4, another overview presentation is scheduled for the February 4 faculty meetings, and “deeper dives” will take place at each Elementary School on the March 15th state professional learning day. The ELA Adoption Team is excited to share this information with you in the coming weeks! Jill Burke, Jane Daly, MaryBeth Florenz, Giuseppe Gencarelli, Dana Hall, Iris Ornberg, Kerry Pastore, Andrea Spas, Jean Westcott

Chariho Grant Submission Process

Jane Daly — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:24:00 GMT

For staff who are interested in applying for grants, please refer to the district's Grant Submission Process and download the Grant Budget template. These documents are located on the district website, under Staff Resources/District Forms & Procedures (be sure to have logged in to the website to view). The first step is to speak with your building principal or director.

Great Teachers in Action - PL Opportunities 1/25/21

Jane Daly — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 18:17:00 GMT

More PL Opportunities from RIDE: Great Teachers in Action - 1/25/21 Offerings The RIDE Educator Recognition Program and Highlander Institute have developed a yearlong educator professional development series called Great Teachers in Action (GTA). Our state has a wealth of talented educators who are leaders within their districts, content areas, and or grade span. RIDE’s goal is to utilize the skills and expertise of RI educators to provide opportunities for educators to collaborate and learn from and with one another. The GTA Professional Learning sessions will enable RI educators to collaborate, watch and debrief model lessons, and access resources. The professional learning sessions have been offered on the statewide professional learning days, with the third session of presentations being offered on January 25, 2021. More information on Great Teachers in Action can be found on the RIDE Professional Learning Page, and also below. The Student-Centered Math Classroom. 1:00-2:00PM. Presenters: Chuck Branchaud & Lisa Garcia bit.ly/GTA125session1 Engaging Students Here, There, and Everywhere - Virtual Edition. 2:00-3:00PM. Presenters: Kayla Brimlow & Darshell Silva bit.ly/GTA125session2 Teaching High Level Vocabulary Using TPR (Total Physical Response). 2:00-3:00PM. Presenters: Melinda DeCorte & Carrie Champlin Sorensen bit.ly/GTA125session3

ELL Frontiers Book Talk Opportunity

Jane Daly — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 15:03:00 GMT

ELL Frontiers Book Talk Opportunity for Elementary Teachers, has now been expanded to include all teachers! Joe Lopes and Rene Rosivach are leading a voluntaryELL Frontiers: Using Technology to Enhance Instruction for English Learners Book Talk for Elementary teachers who have provided instruction or support to ELL students in the last three years (including 20-21 SY). We can support participation of 13 staff, and those who are interested will meet between January-May for three times from 1:30-2:30 during state PD days . An outcome of the book talk will be to share out curated resources and learnings, potentially presenting to colleagues during a school or district meeting/pd this year or next year. Information about the book can be found here: https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/ell-frontiers/book246806. If you are interested in participating, please complete this ELL Book Talk Interest Form.

Free Climate Literacy Professional Development for K-12 Teachers

Jane Daly — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 20:06:00 GMT

Free Climate Literacy Professional Development for K-12 Teachers- Approved to count toward 3.5 hr contractual requirement....... The Rhode Island Environmental Education Association (RIEEA) is now accepting applications for their 2021 Professional Development Series, Building Climate Literacy in All Students. ALL K-12 teachers are eligible and invited to apply. Selected teachers will attend the RIEEA Annual Summit, participate in a 2-hour early evening workshop in the spring, and attend a full day of professional development during the summer - all at no cost! Teachers do not have to miss class time and will receive a certificate of participation for 9.5 hours of professional learning units (PLUs) as well as a $100 stipend. All events will be virtual unless COVID-19 guidelines change and we can safely hold events in-person. Learn more and apply at http://rieea.org/teacher-pd-2021/

1/25/21 GEMS-Net Professional Learning Opportunities

Jane Daly — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 19:13:00 GMT

GEMS-Net staff will be providing PD for PreK teachers on 1/25, and will also be available for K-8 teachers on the January 25th statewide PD Day. They will be targeting the grade-levels listed below during the given times. Of course, if a teacher is available at a different time than listed for their grade-level, we're glad to accommodate them. Here's our schedule for drop-in support: Monday, January 25th 8:00-9:00........Grades 6-8 9:30-10:30......Grade 3 11:00-12:00....Grade 5 12:30-1:30......Grades K-2 1:30-2:30........Grade 4 Zoom link for all K-8 drop-in sessions: https://zoom.us/j/96914969207 We'll plan to address topics such as transitioning to the next science course, student engagement strategies, and any science-related questions the teachers might have. GEMS-Net's Teaching STEM in PreK Workshop January 25, 2021 (Monday), 8:00-10:00AM Join us for a 2-hour professional learning session focused on our young learners. You will be introduced to a free, research-based curriculum that supports science and engineering, digital literacy, and outdoor education. We will engage in lessons that were developed for teachers and families and can be used in face-to-face instruction or in a distance learning environment. See J. Gencarelli for registration information.

ELL Frontiers Book Talk Opportunity for Elementary Teachers

Jane Daly — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:56:00 GMT

Joe Lopes and Rene Rosivach are leading a voluntaryELL Frontiers: Using Technology to Enhance Instruction for English Learners Book Talk for Elementary teachers who have provided instruction or support to ELL students in the last three years (including 20-21 SY). We can support participation of 13 staff, and those who are interested will meet between January-May for three times either during state PD days or afterschool (based on the majority of interested participants responses). An outcome of the book talk will be to share out curated resources and learnings, potentially presenting to colleagues during a school or district meeting/pd this year or next year. Information about the book can be found here: https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/ell-frontiers/book246806. If you are interested in participating, please complete this ELL Book Talk Interest Form.

RIDE CCSS Review

Jane Daly — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 18:02:00 GMT

Review of Rhode Island’s Literacy and Mathematics Standards Cohesive and aligned standards, curriculum, and assessment are critical to increasing student achievement. The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is committed to working with our educators to achieving this and invites all educators and other interested Rhode Island citizens to participate in a review of the current Rhode Island content standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) which are assessed by the Rhode Island comprehensive assessment system. Much of this assessment system is based on MCAS which is aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. RIDE is seeking to ensure optimum alignment between the content standards, RIDE’s approved high-quality instructional materials, and the state assessment which will support effective teaching and learning for Rhode Island students. As there is already strong alignment amongst the three, we do not anticipate large changes in the standards to strengthen this alignment. A public comment window is open from Friday, December 11, 2020 to Friday, January 15, 2021 and takes the form of a survey. The survey allows respondents to offer their opinion on the current set of standards and if or how they could be clarified. Content-specific, grade-level surveys can be found on the RIDE website. We encourage you to share this information with your networks so we can obtain a broad cross-section of responses. For additional information, please contact one of our content specialists: English Language Arts: Kari.kurto@ride.ri.gov or Colleen.obrien@ride.ri.gov Mathematics: Christopher.castillero@ride.ri.gov or Susan.pagliaro@ride.ri.gov

Chariho Gr. K-12 Guidelines for Writing Instruction

Jane Daly — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:25:00 GMT

A team of K-12 teachers conducted research last year and this fall to establish Chariho Guidelines for K-12 Writing Instruction. These guidelines recommend a consistent writing program of instruction to be taught across the curriculum in Chariho. We are very excited to share these published guidelines! They will inform our work as we look to adopt a new Gr. K-12 ELA Program in 2021-2022. These guidelines will be published on the District Website and can be found on the following page: Chariho Regional School District / Teaching and Learning / Curriculum Thank you to Dana Hall and Giuseppe Gencarelli for leading this work, and our entire K-12 Team: Kimberly Allen, Stefani Singer Anderson, Jill Burke, Jane Daly, MaryBeth Florenz, Giuseppe Gencarelli, Dana Hall, Shelly McGlinsey, Jenny Parker, Kerry Pastore, Jennifer Schroeder, Russell Venditto, Jean Westcott, and Michelle Whelan.

Freckle (and STAR) PD on 1/25

Jane Daly — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:13:00 GMT

Professional Development Information for Freckle (Gr. 1-4) and STAR (Gr. 1-11): A Freckle Overview live PD Session has been planned for all Chariho Gr. 1-4 teachers for Monday, January 25, 2021 (State PD Day) from 8:30-9:30 AM. A link will be sent out prior to the event. Statewide, there will also be free Freckle 201 live PD sessions on January 25th at 10 AM and 2:00 PM, for those who are interested. Further information can be found at this link, you must register in advance for these statewide sessions. At the link above, there is also information on recorded Renaissance (STAR) webinars available on the Renaissance U tile in the platform, and live PD sessions on the 25th.

Information for Teachers of ELA and SS

Jane Daly — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:23:00 GMT

1) Community Engagement Sessions Planned for New Social Studies Standards In partnership with the Rhode Island History and Social Studies Advisory Committee (RIHSSAC), RIDE has launched the development of new social studies standards K-12 education in Rhode Island. The first stage of this process is to engage with the community about social studies education and collect feedback. To that end, the RIHSSAC is working with community organizations statewide to set up virtual feedback sessions culminating in a statewide survey. RIDE has also set up three virtual sessions for educators and community members to engage in the process: Register online for Tuesday, December 15 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Register online for Wednesday, December 16 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Register online for Thursday, December 17 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. At these sessions, participants will receive an overview of the project, have opportunities to reflect about social studies education, and discuss their ideas in breakout rooms before being provided the survey link to complete. The feedback will be used to inform the first draft of the social studies standards and other supporting materials. There will also be an opportunity in early 2021 for community feedback on the draft of the standards. A pre-recorded presentation, the introductory slides, and the survey are posted on the RIDE website.For more information, please contact RIHSSAC@ride.ri.gov. In 2021-2022, the Chariho Social Studies Curriculum Task Force will be reviewing and updating our SS Curriculum! 2) Write Rhode Island is Open for Submissions RI students in grades 7-12 can submit one original work of fiction, 2500 words or less, incorporating Rhode Island in some way. Winners will be selected in February 2021 and will receive publication, prizes and awards. Visit School One's website for guidelines and a link to submit. Submitting is free. www.school-one.org. 3) RWU Law Presents: How has Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg (RBG) Inspired me? Essay Contest.RWU Law Announces RBG Contest for K-12 Students - Rhode Island elementary, middle and high School students are invited to submit drawings, essays on how iconic U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has inspired them. Details may be found here. Contest Deadline:Friday, January 15, 2021by 5:00 PM ET. Questions may be directed to RBGessay@rwu.edu.

STAR 360 and Freckle Licenses

Jane Daly — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 15:48:00 GMT

11/30/20 Our RIDE Interim Assessment application was approved for Gr. 1-11. This means RIDE will support funding for STAR (this school year only), and in turn RIDE will be able to use our aggregate results along with results from other cities and towns in the state to assess learning during COVID. Due to RIDE’s approval of our application, Renaissance/STAR has activated “STAR 360”. STAR 360 also includes other products and types of assessments which you are welcome to use, but arenot required to use. Please be reminded that STAR 360 (compared to what we have had in the past), will only be available this school year. Chariho’s expectation for teachers in Grades 1-11 is to administer the MOY (Jan 4– Jan 22) and EOY (Beginning in May) assessments in STAR Reading and STAR Math, and continue progress monitoring for selected students as has been done in the past. Here is a link to an updated Draft Assessment Calendar, once finalized it will be posted on the District’s Website. In addition, for Grades 1-4, we also will receive licenses for “Freckle”, again this will only be for the 2020-2021 school year. We hope these tools may provide additional resources for you during this challenging year. Grade 11 teachers may be receiving sign-in information to create an account in the next week, and Gr. 1-4 teachers may be receiving Freckle sign-ons. If you already had a “free” Freckle account with your Chariho email address, it will “merge” any of your records. When a Gr. 1-4 student signs in to STAR, they will see a Freckle Icon. Watch for more information in the coming weeks about related professional learning opportunities. In the meantime, on the Renaissance Platform you will see a link to “Renaissance-U”, where you can find many professional learning resources.

RIDE Fall PL Opportunities

Jane Daly — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 14:36:00 GMT

FREE Professional Learning Opportunities: RIDE continues to commit to helping RI schools and districts strengthen their professional learning systems and practices. As promised, they have compiled and continue to update a diverse list of no-cost options for professional learning available to RI educators throughout the fall of 2020. Note: some of these opportunities take place on the State PD Days - October 19 and November 16.

Updates on School Accountability

Jane Daly — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 15:23:00 GMT

Updates on School Accountability 2020-2021 School Report Cards and the School Accountability System are an essential part of keeping teachers, students, parents, and the community informed on the progress of their schools. RIDE plans to release accountability results for the 2020-21 school year in Fall 2021, but some of the measures will be affected by COVID-19. For example, to support public health guidance that it is especially important to stay home when students and teachers are sick, RIDE intends to remove the student and teacher absenteeism measures from the accountability system for 2020-21. In response to questions about school accountability for 2020-21, RIDE has posted a FAQ document on 2021 school accountability. RIDE will continue updating this document throughout the fall as schools reopen and we receive additional clarity on requirements from the US Department of Education and feedback fromstakeholders.

Teacher Resources for DL

Jane Daly — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 17:05:00 GMT

Subscribe to Rene Rosivach's Friday Finds, which can be found on the Chariho Regional School District Website/Teaching and Learning/Distance Learning Fellow/Friday Finds! You can sign up to be a member of this Google Classroom by clicking on this invitation to join the class https://classroom.google.com/c/MzY3MTE1MzkxM1pa?cjc=7ts6ual, the code to join is 7ts6ual, and have tips sent to you on a regular basis. The most recent posts include information on "Zoom Tips for Breakout Rooms" and "Zoom Roles Templates". All posts are also archived and topics can be easily searched. Also, the Reading Teachers have created a Remote Running Records Google Folder which contains digital versions of the Fountas & Pinnell texts for Running Records. This was created so that Running Records could be administered for those students learning remotely. A protocol for such administration can be found here. Thank you to Kerry, Christy, Tammy, Karen, Kelly, Mary Ellen, Franca, Karrie, Jackie, Jen, and Erica for developing these resources!

2020-2021 District PL Resources Available

Jane Daly — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:41:00 GMT

Links to 2020-2021 Chariho District Professional Learning Resources are now available! 9/2, 9/3, & 9/4 Opening Sessions, Convocation, and Sessions I, II, III, and IV: Links to all Documents and Recordings Anti-Racism Training Part II Date: 10/19/20 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Audience: All District Staff Please register in advance by going to the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkceGpqDwuGt3BFLzfb8rC0pHR6_7jFmbH 9/4 Link to download the Anti-Racism Training Part I Toolkit: https://resistheism.org/antiracism-resources

RIDE August 2020 PL Offerings

Jane Daly — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 14:52:00 GMT

RIDE Professional Learning Offerings RIDE continues to commit to helping RI schools and districts strengthen their professional learning systems and practices. Therefore, RIDE has compiled a diverse list of no-cost options for professional learning available to RI educators throughout the week of August 24-28, 2020. We hope both the synchronous and asynchronous offerings provided around health, safety, wellness, and instruction will enhance opportunities for educators, administrators, and staff alike. To maximize time now afforded to educators due to the later start to the school year, we are working with our providers to determine if they can repeat their synchronous offerings, and/or offer new options, also during the week of 8/31-9/4. Therefore, we encourage users to revisit this list throughout the next couple of weeks for the latest information on professional learning offerings. Please email PL@ride.ri.gov for any professional learning questions or concerns.

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