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Meeting Date:
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5/31/2018 - 6:30 PM
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Category:
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Report of the Committee on Student Achievement and School Innovation
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Type:
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Action
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Subject:
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4. Report with Possible Action on Instructional Focus on Vocabulary for the 2018-19 School Year
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Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
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Goal 1 Academic Achievement
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Attachments
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Beyond the Word Wall graphic overview of vocabulary instruction
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File Attachment:
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Background:
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In previous years, informational items have been shared with the Board to preview the instructional focus for Curriculum and Instruction for the upcoming year. For the 2018-19 school year, there will be an instructional focus on vocabulary instruction for all schools, all grades and all content areas. Much like the Year of the Arts’ focus on arts integration for the 2017-18 school year gave a focus to the professional development as a common strategy for increasing student achievement, an emphasis on teaching vocabulary will lead to improved opportunities and outcomes for students.
Vocabulary instruction was selected as the instructional focus as a result of the district leadership’s work at the Aspen Institutes Urban Literacy Leadership Network Retreat in January. Discussions at the Network Retreat around observations and data collected in MPS classrooms led to the identification of the goal regarding clearer expectations on the use of vocabulary and word walls in every classroom. A word wall is a group of words that are displayed on a wall, bulletin board, chalkboard, or whiteboard in a classroom. The use of a word wall in the classroom can be a highly effective teaching strategy to improve literacy skills and encourage active student participation. The objective of going “Beyond the Word Wall” is to display and practice vocabulary at all tiers, to use context and multiple meanings of words including affirming students' own cultural vocabulary, and to promote student discourse with rich academic vocabulary in all content areas.
An instructional focus on vocabulary is:
• Research-based
• Aligned to the Common Core State Standards
• Supportive of all grades and content areas
• Supportive of all learners including students with special needs, English Language Learners and advanced students
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Fiscal Impact Statement:
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None
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Implementation and Assessment Plan
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Recommendation:
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Your Committee reports having received the foregoing report from the Administration. Although this item has been noticed for possible action, no action is required.
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Approvals:
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Recommended By:
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Signed By:
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Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer
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