3Rs Newsletter
Research, Reads, and Recommendations
From the Office of Asst. Superintendent: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
May 2024 Edition
Srategic Plan Goal: Portrait of a Graduate Implementation
CLEE invites you to our second annual national gathering — Fall Meeting 2025!
Thank you Ms. Armstrong for the Recommendation
Join educators and leaders from across the country as we explore what student-focused leadership looks like today.
We will:
- Use facilitative leadership tools to drive student success
- Share and gain expertise on adult learning and collaboration
- Build connections with a powerful national community
Registration Fees
- $690 – Group Rate (3 or more)
- $740 – Early Bird (through September 1, 2025)
- $890 – Individual Rate (after September 1)
In honor of our inspiring colleague, Dr. Jonathon Ponds, CLEE is offering scholarships to cover registration fees to lower the cost barrier for Fall Meeting. We have a limited number of full and half scholarships available. We are unable to provide any travel or lodging support.
Please apply if cost is a barrier to attend Fall Meeting. We especially want you to apply for a scholarship if you are paying for yourself, an early career professional, in a teacher or principal preparation program, a graduate student, qualify for a federal entitlement program, and/or are a K-12 student.
Please reply with any questions.
Chris Jones,
On behalf of CLEE Staff and Board
Recommended by Novak Educational Consulting
Something to Read from Dr. Novak:
As the mom of a brilliant daughter with a neurodiverse brain, I often hear people say things like, "Goodness, everyone is diagnosed with something these days."
The reality is, we're not seeing more differences — we're finally recognizing them.
For too long, systems, schools, and supports were designed around a one-size-fits-all model that didn’t account for the full range of human diversity.
The truth is, humans have always been remarkably, beautifully different. We're just finally starting to design with that reality in mind.
Child therapist Amy Cox beautifully highlights this in her powerful image series.
Embracing neurodiversity and understanding how our brains work is beneficial for us as educators and essential for our students as learners.
So, how can we bring this conversation into our classrooms? Here are five actionable strategies you can start using today.
Something to Listen to from Dr. Novak:
Scaffolds aren't always temporary, and they don’t have to be. For many students, scaffolds are essential tools that support ongoing success, not just stepping stones to independence. The key is knowing which scaffold to use, when to adjust it, and how to maximize its impact. Worry not - I've got you! Tune in to the latest episode of The Education Table to learn how to increase the effectiveness of scaffolds.
Something to Watch from Dr. Novak:
When we talk about Universal Design for Learning (UDL), we’re talking about designing environments that minimize barriers — and that conversation goes far beyond education. Corporate America is also focusing on eliminating barriers. In the first two minutes of this video, Wes Kao, CEO of Maven, introduces the idea of MOO: Minimize Organizational Obstacles — a concept that mirrors how we think about reducing barriers in education. It’s a powerful way to reframe why thoughtful design matters for every learner, in every environment.
Strategic Plan Goal: Learning and Academics
Unlocking Algebra, What the Data Tells Us About Helping Students Catch Up
We’re excited to invite you to a briefing on TNTP’s new report, published in partnership with New Classrooms: Unlocking Algebra: What the Data Tells Us About Helping Students Catch Up on Tuesday, May 13, from 12:30–1:30 p.m. ET.
Algebra I is a powerful gateway to academic and economic opportunity. Students who master Algebra by 8th or 9th grade are more likely to access advanced math, graduate high school, and secure higher-paying jobs. But too many students start the course without the prerequisite knowledge they need to succeed.
This report offers new insights into how we can close that gap—right now.
What you’ll learn in this session:
- What national data from New Classrooms’ Teach to One Math platform reveals about essential Algebra I prerequisites.
- Practical ways to integrate Tier 2 supports within Tier 1 instruction to help students catch up while staying on grade level.
- Actionable recommendations for districts and schools to improve instructional coherence in math.
Whether you’re a policymaker, district leader, or school-based practitioner, you’ll leave with strategies to accelerate student success in Algebra I and beyond.
We hope to see you there!
Engaging MLs in Social Studies Classrooms
Our new article on engaging MLs in social studies classrooms explores how inquiry, storytelling and multimodal resources can build bridges between language, culture and content learning and encourage authentic engagement of multilingual learners during social studies delivery and instruction each day.
Bonus learning opportunity: WIDA’s Self-Paced Workshop Teaching Multilingual Learners Social Studies Through Multiple Perspectives takes a deep dive into literacy across multimodal text types, the integration of content and language learning and increased accessibility of materials using technology, inquiry and translanguaging practices.
Strategic Plan Goal: Being and Wellness
Should Smartphones be Banned in Schools? A Growing Number of States Say Yes
Thank You Director Maguire for the Recommendation
Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest school district, has banned smartphones and smartwatches during school hours, with limited exceptions. With 24 states considering similar policies, the debate over phones in schools is heating up. Dr. Stuart Ablon, a child and adolescent psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard Medical School associate professor, joins "CBS Mornings Plus" to discuss.Feb 19, 2025
Quote of the Issue
Thank you for being a champion!
Portrait of a Graduate and MRSD Strategic Plan
MRSD Website: Portrait of a Graduate
We are proud to present Monomoy Regional School District’s 2024-2028 Strategic Plan. This plan will guide the operation of our schools in the coming years with a focus on the needs of our students, providing guidance and identifying priorities for a wide range of actions related to our schools – from professional development to curriculum planning to family engagement.
2023-2028 MRSD Curriculum Review Cycle
Monomoy Regional School District (MRSD) engages in a regular, cyclical process for curriculum review. This process is driven by educators from all levels of the MRSD learning community who collaborate to evaluate, analyze, plan, develop, and implement curriculum and instruction throughout the district schools. To be successful, the following curriculum plan has been developed to provide dedicated time, support, and resources necessary to complete a “deep dive” into the core of each subject area.
WIDA AMS PD Portal Access
All Unit A staff have access to the WIDA AMS PD portal. This PD portal opens up many opportunities for free PD sessions and resources. Thank you to Holly Thyng for finding a way to open this access to all members.