S.S. Newsletter Nov./Dec. 24
August 27th, 2024
Welcome
Hello, I am Teaven Barnum the District Instructional Specialist for Secondary Social Studies. I'm excited to help you in any way that you need. You can reach me at teaven.barnum@killeenisd.org, text at 254-446-2873 or call my desk phone at 254-336-0253.
WHAT: Spiraling occurs when teachers continue to revisit key ideas throughout the instructional sequence with increasing complexity to reinforce previous learning and make connections to new learning.
WHY: By revisiting TEKS frequently, students gain a deeper understanding of key concepts and can better apply their knowledge to current units and real-world scenarios. Spiraling also improves student retention and understanding, supporting struggling learners by allowing multiple ways to view content and make connections.
HOW: Identify standards to be spiraled using your Progress Check and Benchmark data. Identify when to spiral using the Unit Pacing Calendar, Unit Maps, upcoming Benchmark Blueprints, and the Year-at-a-Glance. Spiraling does not stop or take time from Tier 1 instruction. Rather, it should be intentionally embedded to connect to current unit lessons through warm-ups and whole- and small-group mini lessons.
NOW WHAT? Fortunately because History is linear many of our standards fall into cause/effect and therefore are easy to bring in for spiraling. After collecting formative and summative data, it's important to identify where spiraling for those standards will--or will not--occur. If spiraling of specific or challenging skills does not occur later in upcoming units (or occurs too far in the future), teachers can begin to intentionally embed warm-ups and whole- or small-group instruction that puts previously taught concepts back in the focus of students.
Post Election 2024
With the 2024 Election just days away you may be thinking about the organic discussions that will of course be taking place all over campuses. The Cornell Center for Teaching Innovation has a few helpful pointers for teachers in navigating those scenarios.
