DATE: Feb. 09, 2009

LANGUAGE ARTS COUNCIL

EFFECTIVE MEETING ACTION PLAN

Minutes taken by Lyn Baumann

Next Meeting March 9th - Fox

WHAT WAS
DISCUSSED? / COMMENTS & INFORMATION / WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? / RESOURCES NEEDED? / WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? / BY
WHEN?
Elementary Writing Pilot / Feedback indicates all are generally pleased with the “Being A Writer” writing program!
Comments:
  • Trade Books are powerful part of the program.
  • Units guide you to use other resources well!
  • Now have 6th grade program now to review.
/ Evaluate the 6th Grade Units in “Being A Writer “ program / Middle School teachers on LA Council
L.A. Survey:
3rd – 5th
NOTE:
99 elementary teachers (47%) in 3rd-5th responded to this survey / Genre Units
Of those who responded to the survey:
  • 92% use at least 1 genre unit per year
  • 54% teach 2 units per year
  • 20% teach 3 units per year
  • 6% are not using them at all.

Handwriting:
  • 30% “Always” teach cursive
  • 50% “Sometimes” teach cursive
  • 21% “Never” teach cursive
  • 51% teach D’Nealian cursive
  • 70% require cursive(Grade?)

Spelling:
  • 64% use a specific program, 36% do not.
  • 2 most mentioned programs: “Words Their Way” & “Rebecca Sitton”
  • Many say they do not see consistent skills carryover into daily writing.
  • Many are concerned about the lack of a specific program in our district!
  • 66% Middle school teachers have spelling concerns!
/ Research spelling programs & their success / Discuss at future LA Meeting
L.A. Survey
K – 2nd
NOTE:
96 elementary teachers (46%) in K-2nd responded to this survey / Handwriting:
  • Most use D’Nealian
  • No “common” program in use for all
  • Lots of interest in “Handwriting Without Tears”-some are using this program.
/ Investigate “Handwriting Without Tears? Program & who is currently using it.
Spelling:
  • No common program
  • “Dolch Words”, “Rebecca Sitton” & “Words Their Way” most mentioned.
/ Research spelling programs & their success / Discuss at future LA Meeting
Genre Units:
  • Less than 40% of lower el teachers use genre units.
/ Concern-come up with suggestions ? / Discuss at future LA Meeting
GENERAL COMMENTS:
Concerns that the new writing program is taking so much time that there will be little time for genre units.
Teachers want a consistent handwriting program – seems to be a lot of interest in “Handwriting Without Tears”
Concern about how to incorporate everything: Guided Reading, Writing, Genre Units, Handwriting
L.A. Survey
Middle School / Handwriting:
  • 88% MS teachers do not require cursive writing

Genre Units:
  • Units ARE being used
  • Ghost Canoe and Bread Winner are least used.
/ Distribute lists of books in genre units so others don’t use them. / Council will review generating list at next meeting.
Spelling:
A concern: inventive spelling still very evident – this needs to be addressed! / LA Council needs to address this
Common Assessments:
80% want to see this!
High School Information / 11th Grade Curriculum
  • Discussion continued on 11th grade curriculum
  • January meeting with Carrie W from ISD was very beneficial but teachers still indicate that the Literature Units will not be enough for the entire course. They will provide a base but an anthology is requested
  • Discussion of the need for a pilot due to changes in K12 council requirements was mentioned. Questions arose on how teachers can pilot a resource when the course is not in existence yet.
/ Determine if a pilot is needed in the case of a new mandated curriculum. / Ed Skiba
  • Council Reps discussed the difference between the cost of an anthology and the cost of individual novels. Some anthologies have resources that teachers/students can use at home. Most anthologies have the texts required by the MISD Literature Units – one anthology set per teacher, not per student. Online resources may supplement the need for individual texts.
  • Evaluate anthologies and texts to determine material needs.
/ Meet to evaluate resources scheduled for Feb. 23rd. Determine two repres from each HS, Marina AM, Lynn PM
Curriculum/Text Proposal for K12 / HS Reps / Feb 23rd
and future meeting
Other / Guided Reading:
  • How consistent is guided reading being taught across elementary grades?
  • 3-minutes reading assessment – very helpful
/ Survey Elementary Teachers / L.A. Council / Next meeting