Curriculum Connection
April 2022
Kinder Camp
The Kinder Camp is a 4-week summer learning experience for rising Kindergarten students who did not attend an MSCS PreK program and current MSCS PreK students. The purpose of the program is to engage incoming Kindergarten students with the basic early literacy skills needed to help ensure readiness for the rigor and demands of the Kindergarten standards and curriculum. Student reading development is largely dependent upon their understanding of the alphabetic principle; therefore, Kinder Campers will engage in instruction and activities centered on the idea that letters and letter patterns represent the sounds of spoken language. The Kinder Camps will be hosted in 20 select MSCS elementary or K-8 schools in “high-needs” areas of the city and serve 800 students. Instruction will be provided by 40 teachers and SEAs.
Content Area Literacy Academy
English/Language Arts
All Pre-K to 5th grade, ESL, and SPED teachers should register for the Early Reading Training!
In collaboration with TDOE, Early Reading Trainings (ERT) will be offered again this summer for Memphis-Shelby County Schools. ERTs are designed to develop knowledge and application of foundational skills for Pre-K through 5th grade teachers, including ESL and SPED. The sessions include an asynchronous training (Course I), and an in-person, weeklong training (Course II).
Course I of the ERT counts as an approved course for PreK-5 teachers' new licensure requirements as outlined in the TN Literacy Success Act.
Teachers that complete Course I and Course II will receive a $1000 stipend.
Click HERE to sign-up for Course II and learn more about Course I, including additional ERT details!
Secondary Literacy Training – All Secondary Content Area Teachers Should Register!
For Summer 2022, the TN Department of Education in partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools is excited to launch a new literacy course series for secondary literacy training. The Secondary Literacy Training series will include Course I (asynchronous) and Course II (in-person). These courses are designed for educators supporting grades 6th -12th and focus on literacy strategies for using primary source texts within approved materials, as well as support for literacy-based lessons for struggling readers. Any 6th -12th grade licensed, practicing teacher completing both weeks will be eligible for a $1,000 stipend.
- CLICK HERE for more information regarding course content for Courses I and II.
Course I- training will be available as an asynchronous learning experience on the department's Best for All Central learning management system: https://bestforall.tnedu.gov/ (Course I has not been launched by TDOE yet. Additional communication will be forthcoming.)
Seats are limited for Course II; therefore, all secondary content area teachers are encouraged to register early!
For details and registration, visit https://bit.ly/3LaYjer.
Tom Lee Poetry & Spoken Word Contest
The ELA Team is excited to have brought two great poetry writing opportunities to our secondary teachers and students. Students entered to win prizes for poetry writing and spoken word by participating in the Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Prize, sponsored by Memphis River Parks Partnership. The three finalists have been notified and will be performing at the opening of the new Tom Lee Park in May! 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and prizes will be shared at the celebration!
Memphis Soul Prize
Memphis Soul Prize Thank you for submitting student submissions to the Memphis Soul Prize! The five finalists have been posted to the Memphis Soul Prize website, and everyone is encouraged to go online now to read them and vote for their favorites!
The next step for our finalists is to go into the Made-in-Memphis Studios with celebrity artist David Porter to record their poetry submissions. After their recording, the students will have their films created in Creation Studios to be shared and then awarded at the upcoming awards show! So check out the finalists at www.memphissoulprize.org.
Supporting Blended Learning
On March 30, Mr. Ellis and his team led their PLC groups through the re-delivery of how to implement the Blended Learning Station Rotation Model. This lively team provided a fantastic presentation of the re-delivery. The team took it a step further and provided a school-specific handout of the station rotation model embedded in the district-provided PLC protocols to help support teachers.
Mr. Clayton's suggestion of using the QR code for Clever login will be a game-changer for teachers and students and he is sharing the steps to create the QR codes with us here.
KUDOS to the Blended Learning Implementation Team and the Sherwood Ace Archers for exuding high levels of success with integrating the Blended Learning Station Rotation Model in your classrooms.
Response to Instruction
&
Intervention
i-Ready Diagnostic: May 9-20
- All K-8 students will complete the Spring i-Ready Diagnostic May 9th-20th.
- For more information on best practices for Diagnostic Administration, check out the following pages on i-Ready Central:
- Get Good Data: Get Organized, Prepare and Motivate Students, Actively Proctor, and Track Completion
- Preparing Students for the Diagnostic
- Proctoring Guidance for the Diagnostic
Math
Mr. Neven Holland
Treadwell Elementary
Math Teacher
Congratulations to Mr. Holland, one of three Tennessee teacher finalists for the Presidential Award for excellence in Math and Science Teaching. Mr. Holland believes, "We are all mathematicians, learning and making mistakes together to become better." KUDOS to Mr. Holland and the Treadwell Eagles for going onward and upward for students in our classrooms.
Library Services
Ms. Kim Buie
Idlewild Elementary
Librarian
Mrs. Buie is a recipient of the 2022 Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Award. The Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards offer grants to Title I schools to purchase literary fiction and nonfiction books that inspire a love of math. Presented by Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), in partnership with School Library Journal (SLJ), the award enables up to 25 libraries in K–12 schools to receive $700 grants to purchase titles from the Mathical Book Prize list. Mrs. Buie was one of the amazing 25 librarians across the nation to receive this award. Congratulations and thank you for going above and beyond for your students.
