Math SAC

Meeting Minutes

USD #374, Sublette

SAC: Math

Date: 9/3/08

Members Present: Becky Brungardt, Andy Short, Deanna Myers, Gwen Simmons, Leigh Bird, Katie Short, Linda Hoffman, Connie Myers, Cesar Pena, Risa Leonard Stevens

Secretary: Kay Williams

Members not attending: Rich Baker, Ellen Marlin

Minutes of previous meeting read? NO

The meeting was called to order by Coordinator Risa Leonard Stevens. Mr. Baker the math chair was unable to attend.

Risa introduced Kay Williams as the new CCC secretary. Kay will be attending the CCC, Math and Language Arts Sac meetings and taking minutes. Thank heavens!! Everyone welcomed her. Linda Hoffman, high school math teacher, also joined the meeting and the sac welcomed her. They look forward to her application for membership. Risa read Brooke Bultena’s letter of resignation stating that she had a change of position within the district and would be transferring her sac membership from Math to Language Arts. Gwen moved and Andy seconded to accept Brooke’s resignation. Risa also welcomed and read Katie Short’s letter of application. It was approved and will be announced at the CCC for final approval.

The meeting discussion turned to State Assessments and student results. Each member looked at the data and discussed where our strengths and weaknesses were and continue to be. Risa gave each member a copy of their online teacher checklist in Math. She advised teachers to copy, hole punch and add to their Math Curriculum guide also. This will give educators in the district a continued and easy way to check the skills they are teaching and continue alignment in the classroom with state standards. The sac members looked at the focus lessons provided and discussed ways the lessons could be reinforced across the curriculum. Risa will share these lessons and interventions with other Sacs. The committee also discussed classroom strategies for improving student learning among our ESL and Hispanic population. Members highlighted strategies that seem to be working in their classrooms. Linda Hoffman shared ideas from her classroom in California. Learners are the same across the nation, we must use teaching strategies that address student needs, which may mean giving information in smaller amounts and easier terms. Language can be a barrier, it is our job to break the barriers. Mr. Pena expressed his concern in reaching AYP next year. We must teach smarter not harder.

Next months meeting will be October 1, and members are encouraged to bring teaching strategies for addressing ELL achievement. Differentiation in the classroom, at all levels, will be the topic for discussion.

Meeting adjourned 4:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Risa Leonard Stevens