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If you have been reading the
different features in the Blue and Gold over the
past several months you probably have read about
how the district has been "aligning its curriculum"
and how staff have been writing
curriculum.
The word curriculum is often
used in a generic fashion. A curriculum is an
operational plan for instruction which has specific
learning outcomes and specific tasks which if
learned will will lead to the desired outcome. A
curriculum also describes what teachers are to do
to help students develop their knowledge and skills
and the context in which the learning occurs
(available support systems, delivery systems,
facilities etc.).
The task of examining the
district's curriculum began in 1999 with an
external audit of the entire K-12 instructional
program. The audit was conducted by a curriculum
expert from BOCES. An audit is basically a snapshot
of a district's instructional program which focuses
on the instructional system rather than the
individuals delivering that instruction. It is not
a blue print for implementing a change to the
existing instructional plan.
Kevin Mack, Cazenovia's
curriculum coordinator, said the results of that
audit produced several tasks for the district to
address in concert with the newly established
Regents' Learning Standards. One task was to
review, develop, and implement K-12 curriculum
goals for all content areas, complete with exit
outcomes and benchmarks for all grade levels and
subject areas.
A second task which resulted
from the audit was the development of assessments
that are aligned with the New York state Standards
as well as the establishment of links between
assessment tools and in-service programs. A
byproduct of this effort was the goal of increasing
the in-service program for faculty. Connecting each
of the previous tasks is the challenge of expanding
the opportunities for coordinated communication
between grade levels and buildings to discuss
assessment results, diagnose needs, and develop
strategies to improve student learning.
To facilitate action in these
task areas, the district established a curriculum
advisement team with administrative and faculty
representation from each of the district's three
buildings. That team began meeting in the spring of
1999 and they continue to meet once a month.
Shortly after the advisory team
began meeting the schedule of work in the different
subject areas was established. The previous summer
the social studies department began an examination
of their instructional program. During the summer
of 1999 the English and language arts department
became first of the post-audit curriculum projects.
This past summer the math and foreign language
departments began their curriculum improvement
project while the, science, health and physical
education, occupational studies, and home economics
departments are scheduled for curriculum work this
summer. The initial cycle will conclude in the
summer of 2002 as the music and art departments
conduct their project and the social studies
department returns to assess efforts from the 1998
review.
"The goals for the curriculum
revisions were fueled by the new learning standards
established by the Regents," Mr. Mack said. "At the
same time, the goals of the curriculum initiatives
were derived from the audit. The entire curriculum
process should never end. It should be an ongoing
process. It goes full circle."
The results of the various
department curriculum projects vary by subject
area, One component that has benefitted all subject
areas has been the added opportunities for
in-service experiences for faculty
members.
Following are some examples of
outcomes from some of the curriculum projects by
department.
Math
*Developed a curriculum
document
* Implementation of a K-12 math
in-service curriculum
*Development of parallel
assessment (grades 5-7)
*Implementation of the BOCES
"Mathivators" program.
*Implementation of the BOCES
"Math Game".
Science
*Articulation of grades
5-8.
*Grade 8 curriculum alignment
with new assessment (in-service).
*Creation of an 8th grade
science activities booklet.
*Creation of a laboratory manual
for students in AP chemistry.
*Written curriculum for the new
honors earth science course.
Social Studies
*Refinement and implementation
of K-8 Social Studies Curriculum.
*creation of document based
question packets.
*11th grade history and
government
*Attended BOCES
in-service
English and Language
Arts
*Implementation of K-12 language
arts curriculum.
*Design of classroom assessments
that parallel New York State
assessments.
*Creation of rubrics for K-4
listening activities.
*Creation of leveled book set
for ELA to be used by 1st grade
teachers.
*Implementation of the "Wee
Deliver In-School Postal Program".
These are just of few of the
results of the efforts thus far. Many other
activities and events have resulted from the
curriculum review process for those departments
that have completed their first cycle.
School Notes
Spelling Bee Tests Student
Skills
The decision as to who would represent Cazenovia
Middle School at the next level of competition in
the Area Spelling Bee Championships sponsored by
the Syracuse Herald -American came down to the word
"bouillon."After six rounds Jackie Kellish provided
the correct spelling and earned the right to
advance the next round scheduled for next month at
the Skydeck at Carousel Mall.
Students Address DARE
Classes
Several student athletes from Cazenovia high
School took time out from their busy class
schedules last month to speak to fifth graders
during their DARE Class. the students talked about
how they stay on top of their classes while
pursuing athletics as well as some of the
strategies they use to ward off peer pressure to
use alcohol and drugs.
School Play Preparation
Continuing
The cast and crew for the Drama Club's
production of Bye Bye Birdie is going full speed
with stage work and nightly rehearsals. the play
will be held on Friday and Saturday, April 6-7.
1 .... 2 ... 3 ... Let's Go
Lakers
Jenny Costello, senior captain of the varsity
volleyball team, rallies the squad between points
during the Lakers first round sectional match
against Chittenango.
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