LAC - 2015 - Curriculum & Budget

Published on Nov 18, 2015

CSA Eitner's presentation on the schedule and curriculum changes for grades 5-8 for the 2014-15 school year.

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

LAC - 2015

Our program:

  • Guidance Services
  • An overview of 2014-15 (grades 5-8)
  • Questions, Comments, and any Concerns
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-Crisis intervention
-Supportive counseling
-Peer mediation
-Parent conferences
-Student Placement

Photo by -Reji

Do you remember school?

  • Who was your favorite teacher?
  • What was your favorite subject?
  • What were your friends' names?
  • How heavy was your backpack?
  • What did you wear on your first day?
Photo by Steve Wilhelm

How about these questions?

  • How many TV channels did you have?
  • How many apps on your phone or tablet?
  • How fast can u text?
  • X-Box One or PS4?
  • How many followers on Vine & Instagram?
Photo by Steve Wilhelm

These times, they are a'changing...

Photo by Tobias Sieben

Yes, WE CAN

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Some things will never change, like kids being kids.

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If we teach today the way we were taught yesterday we aren’t preparing students for today or tomorrow.

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We need to replicate in the classroom the world in which students are living.

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We need to prepare students for THEIR future; not OUR past.

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A digital native is a person for whom digital technologies already existed when they were born, and hence has grown up with digital technology such as computers, the Internet, mobile phones and MP3s. A digital immigrant is an individual who grew up without digital technology and adopted it later.

Technology is only technology to those who were born before it.

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“There are times when parenthood seems nothing more than feeding the hand that bites you." - Peter De Vries

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“Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them.”
-Goethe

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“You’re going to be an administrator? If that is not the epitome of justice, I don't know what is.”

My Mom

Middle School = A school setting specifically designed to meet the unique needs of students 10-14 years of age.

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“…These are the years when youngsters crystallize their beliefs about themselves and firm up their self-concepts, their philosophies of life and their values - the things that are the ultimate determinants of their behaviors.”

“Understanding and Appreciating the Wonder Years” John H. Lounsbury

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Middle Schoolers want:
-Increased independence. -Increased peer dependence. -Movement from concrete operational thinking to formal operational thinking.

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5th - 8th graders rapidly move through the stages of growth.

FACT: The growth and development during the adolescent years is so rapid that it rivals that of the first year of life.

Stages of growth

  • Physical
  • Psychological
  • Social 
  • Intellectual 
  • Moral Development
Psychological Growth: “During early adolescence (ages 11-13), development usually centers around developing a new self-image due to these physiological changes. Adolescents need to make use of their newly acquired skills of logical thinking and ability to make judgments rationally.”
- Professor Joseph Lewis, Yale

Social Growth: Adolescents tend to be intensely self-conscious. This process of “self-evaluation” leads to the beginning of long-range goal setting, emotional and social independence, and the making of a mature adult.

Intellectual Growth: Nearing “middle adolescence” (ages 13-15), students strive to loosen their ties to their parents as their emotional and intellectual capacities increase.

Moral Growth: Within the contexts of peer, adult and internal conflict, adolescents begin to develop their own moral compasses.


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teacher characteristics

  • High School = mentor and guide.
  • Middle school, the teacher = advisor.
  • Elementary school, the teacher = parent substitute.
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Middle School Teachers:

-Work within a team of teachers to foster community.
- Homeroom provides sense of security and stability.
- Monitor emotional adjustment as well as academic progress.

Photo by Joybot

The LAC Middle School Program will offer:

-CST / I&RS services
- Counseling services
- 1:1 Chromebooks / BYOD
- Wireless campus
- a NEW Extra-Curricular program
-Art, Music, 21st century Tech, Spanish, Physical Education

NEXT YEAR, LAC (GRADES 5-8) WILL:
-Share students amongst small groups.
-Provide smooth transition from self-contained classroom of elementary school to the departmental structure of high school.
-Responsible for social, emotional, and cognitive growth of pre-adolescent students.
-Team planning for thematic teaching and learning.

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students in grades 5-8 will have:

  • Emphasis on skill maturation and exploration.
  •  Subjects taught aligned to the NJCCCS Standards.
  • Wellness activities consistent with pre-adolescent needs. 
  • Arts experiences allowing enrichment and exploration. 
  •  Subjects taught aligned to the Common Core Standards.
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CORE ACADEMICS:
English-Language Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies

ADDITIONAL CLASSES:
Spanish
Art
Music
Library
Physical Education
Health
Computer Science
Industrial Arts

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ELA (Co-Teaching):
Thematic Units - focusing on “Essential Questions,” students practice literacy skills within common context.

Writing– reading nonfiction, exemplar, and fictional texts and writing about what students read.
Additional APP - MyOn Reading
Novels – Engaging reading selections taught in Literature Circles, class discussions, & activities.

Photo by englishsnow

MATH (Co-Teaching):
-Basic numeracy skills
-Concept Development
-Problem solving strategies
-Authentic mathematical applications
-APP: ST Math

Science:


-Earth Science
-Life Science
-Physical Science

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Social studies

  • Grade 5: American History basics
  • Grade 6: World Civilizations
  • Grade 7: Us History I
  • Grade 8: US History II
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2014-15 SCHOOL SCHEDULE:

-Provides for a 90-minute daily rotation for all academic classes.
- Provides 45 minutes for Specials

-Allows time daily for students to seek academic support, study, or participate in music lessons, etc.

Photo by Kaba

Proposed schedule

  • Three 100 minute academic blocks (rotating)
  • Two 50 minute "specials"
  • 30 minute lunch
  • 20 minutes of Academic Support
  • THE SCHOOL DAY TIMES REMAIN THE SAME 
Time Period
8:10 - 8:20 Homeroom
8:20-9:50 Academic Block
9:52-11:22 Academic Block
11:22 - 12:08 Specials / COMMUNAL - academic support,clubs, tech time, chorus, character ed, etc
12:08 -1:38 Lunch: 12:10 - 12:40 / Special 12:42 - 1:38
1:40-3:05 Academic Block
3:05 - 3:12 PM Homeroom

I know what you’re thinking - what do we do to help LAC students meet success?

Photo by Leo Reynolds

OFFER SUPPORT!

We are all in this together.
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ADDITIONAL SERVICES

  • Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS)
  • Interventions are to help provide academic assistance.
  • The Team includes: Teachers, Counselors, Administration
  • LAC will also have a Child Study Team on hand.
  • The CST is responsible for special education services.
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learning resources

  • Wireless campus
  • BYOD policy
  • 200 chromebooks, 100 iPads
  • Two computer labs; Promethian Boards
  • Tech-Time / Support offered DAILY

CLUBS for 2014-15

  • $10.00 participation fee
  • Art club, Music club, MINECRAFT club
  • Nature Club, FBLA, Student Council
  • Intramural sports
  • Others available as demand rises
Photo by Great Beyond

www.lacschool.org

Your one-stop-shop for all things going on at school!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

-Use of Agendas / QR codes

-Schedules- posted online (mid August)
-Bookbag / item storage

Questions?

just a click away: jeitner@lacschool.org 

GROWING. LEARNING. ONWARD.

 
Photo by Dietmar Temps