• NSD focus on Math Common Core State Standards

    The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in mathematics are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. Our goal is to fully prepare our students for the future, positioning them to compete successfully in the global economy.

    The Newhall School District introduced these CCSS for students in grades K-2 during the 2013-14 school year. Grades 3-6 began full implementation of CCSS in mathematics in the 2014-2015 school year. During the 2015 -2016 school year, four schools, two Title I and two non-Title I, are piloting math curriculums: Eureka, Bridges, and CPM. The effectiveness of these curriculas will be reviewed throughout the year by the District Curriculum Council with feedback from the piloting schools.

    A CCSS Transition Team of sixty-seven grade TK-6 teachers and administrators worked in the 2015 summer months to develop and revise the NSD integrated instructional units, assessments, report card standards, and academic vocabulary.  These CCSS mathematics units include Depth and Complexity Icons, Thinking Maps, ELD standards, GLAD strategies, and 21st century thinking skills. The math leads will continue to meet during the school year to guide their grade levels in the implementation of the math California Common Core State Standards.  Six transition meetings are planned during the year for unit roll-outs and collaboration. The first unit was rolled out at the first transition meeting in August.

    The district has hired two teachers on special assignment (TOSA) for the primary grades TK-2 and two TOSAs assigned to the upper grades 3-6. Each school site has been assigned a primary and upper grade TOSA that will act as a resource and support for teachers to increase the quality and effectiveness of classroom instruction. Support may include co-planning, modeling of lessons, co-teaching, and providing descriptive feedback to teachers throughout the school year.  

    Teachers at all grade levels work collaboratively to plan lessons, build assessments, analyze data, and examine areas of relative strength and need within their grade level professional learning communities. Educator’s Assessment Data Management System or EADMS is a data management system used by teachers in the district to drive the collaborative data analysis.

    The district has purchased a license for Dreambox, a research based, CCSS aligned, and adaptive web based program, targeting student learning in mathematics. Dreambox personalizes instruction providing both intervention and enrichment for students. Students have access to this program in the classroom as well as at home.

    Link to California Common Core State Standards site:  http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/