A Closer Look at the Written, Taught, and Tested Curriculum

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A Closer Look at the Written, Taught, and Tested
Curriculum

• Closing the Achievement Gap in Social Studies
• Austin ISD
• Secondary New Teacher Academy
• August 11, 2009

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Closing the Achievement Gap

• How do we do this?

• Benchmark testing, Six/Nine Weeks testing, TAKS
  data analysis
• Differentiation
• New online IPGs for Grades 5 9
• Support Staff and Materials
• Teacher-led problem solving through professional
  learning communities

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The Curriculum

• The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
  are the state standards
• Eight strands based on the TEKS strands

• History
• Geography
• Economics
• Government
• Citizenship
• Culture
• Science, Technology, Society
• Social Studies Skills

The State Board of Education will begin
refinements to the Social Studies TEKS in
2009-2010.
(View 1st draft, click
here)
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TAKS Objectives

• Objective 1 The student will demonstrate an
  understanding of issues and events in United
  States history.
• Objective 2 The student will demonstrate an
  understanding of geographical influences on
  historical issues and events.
• Objective 3 The student will demonstrate an
  understanding of economic and social influences
  on historical issues and events.
• Objective 4 The student will demonstrate an
  understanding of political influences on
  historical issues and events.
• Objective 5 The student will use critical
  thinking skills to analyze social studies
  information.

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IPGs

• IPGs (Individual Planning Guides)
• Provide Pacing
• Resources
• Model lessons in Grades 5 9
• Social Studies Website http//austinschools.org/c
  urriculum
• Discovery Education Streaming Videos
  http//www.streaming.discoveryeducation.com/
• History Alive! Curriculum Activities
• New Interactive IPGs available 2009-2010 on
  AIMS website (Grades 5-9 only)
• Ideas for activities and assessment
• Suggestions for Differentiation

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Benchmark Testing

• Social Studies Benchmark Windows
• November 16 November 20, 2009
• Middle of the Year MOY for Grades 4 and 5
  and 6th grade at elementary campuses
• January 11 February 5, 2010
• Middle of the Year MOY for secondary Grades 6
  11
• April 26 May 21, 2010
• End of the year EOY for Grades, 4, 5, 6, 7,
  World Geography

To use data to determine
areas of intervention and support for
students.
Why?
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TAKS Data Analysis

• Social Studies TAKS April 30, 2010
• Use of AIMS to analyze data
• District Wide Analysis
• School Wide Analysis ongoing throughout the
  year
• Subject and Individual Teacher Analysis
• Review of Results item by item
• District Curriculum Specialists assist with
  analysis
• TAKS released tests and item analyses available
  at TEA website http//www.tea.state.tx.us/student
  .assessment/resources/release/taks/index.html
• The 2009 TAKS test is now available on the T.E.A.
  site, at http//www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?
  id3839menu_id3793
• The final draft of the social studies TEKS is now
  available on the TEA site at http//ritter.tea.sta
  te.tx.us/teks/socialstudiesTEKS.html

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TAKS 2009 Social Studies Data Where are the
Achievement Gaps?(Data comparisons from
2008-2009)
Grade Level All Students African-Americans Hispanic White Econ. Disadv. LEP Special Education
Grade 8 87 2 82 6 81 3 98 1 80 4 63 8 80 10
Grade 10 89 4 78 4 84 5 98 3 80 5 62 10 63 17
Grade 11 96 3 93 4 95 5 99 0 93 6 83 17 89 19
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Social Studies TAKS Accountability

• TAKS assesses the statewide curriculum Texas
  Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
• IN 2009 and 2010, 70 OF ALL STUDENTS AND STUDENT
  GROUPS MUST MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARD!
• 70
• In 2009-2010, 80 of students at a campus must
  meet standards for the campus to be labeled
  recognized by TEA. 90 of students must meet
  standards for the campus to be exemplary.

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Differentiation

• Special Education Students
• The Power of Two Training
• Co-Teaching
• Inclusion Models
• Bilingual/ESL
• -- Incorporate English Language Proficiency
  Standards (ELPS)
• Gifted and Talented Training
• Pre-AP and AP Institutes

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Closing the Achievement Gap Relevance, Rigor,
Results, and Relationships

• Provide Relevance in the classroom.
• Insist on Rigor in order to move the students
  thinking forward.
• Achieve greater Results in student achievement.
• Make Relationships and connections between what
  is being studied and the real world.

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August 19, 2009McCallum High School800
a.m.-1200 p.m.
Save the Date!
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• Calendar of Social Studies-related Events
• Lesson Planning Resources
• IPGs other District Curriculum materials
• Differentiation Other Instructional Strategies
• Current State National News in Education
• Content-specific Current Events New Items
• Department Chair Information
• Textbook Publishers Contact Info.
• Textbook Publishers Web Resources
• Grade-level Supplementary Curriculum resources
• Student Contests / Scholarship entry
  applications
• Teacher Awards applications
• Spotlight on Teachers
• Information regarding local Museums / Field
  Trips
• Professional Organizations Contact Info.
• Austin ISD Social Studies Curriculum Staff
  Contact Info.

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NTA Social Studies Presenters

• High School
• Cherry Whipple, Austin High School
• Ian Grayson, Austin High School (ESL)
• Jim Fulbright, Crockett High School (Special
  Education)
• Middle School
• Adam Miller, Ann Richards School
  for Young Women Leaders
• Alejandra Harboure, Dobie Middle School (ESL)
• Megan Mabry, Gorzycki School (Special Education)
  

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Austin ISD Social Studies Curriculum Department

• Social Studies Curriculum Department
• Joe Ramirez Social Studies Supervisor 414-4690
• Terry Loessin High School Specialist 414-9638
• Celeste Smith High School Specialist 414-1274
• Janie Maldonado Middle School Specialist
  414-4223
• Jessica Jolliffe Middle School Specialist
  414-9514
• Susan Everett Elementary School Specialist
  414-9920
• Janie McClam Elementary School Specialist
  414-4410
• Lisa Ellis Secretary 414-4361
• Arika Ramirez-Cuevas Secretary 414-4231
• http//www.austinschools.org/curriculum