Susan Brandt's blog

The K-5 reading curriculum was reviewed and updated in the spring of 2005. The following materials were adopted at that time:
• Making Meaning: Comprehension Program K-2
• Fountas and Pinnell Phonics Program: K-2
• Houghton Mifflin Reading: Grades 3-5

The Literacy Committee met this year to complete the reading adoption for grades 6-8 and to begin work on the language arts review K-8 (vocabulary, writing, grammar, spelling, and handwriting). The Committee brought forward a recommendation at the May 6 Board of Education meeting for the Literacy materials 6-8, Writing and Grammar materials K-8 and a Vocabulary program K-2. We will complete the Literacy review next fall when we address the final areas of spelling and handwriting.


The following materials were adopted by the Board of Education at the May 6 meeting.
• Prentice Hall Literacy grades 6-8

The Kindergarten teachers met to complete their report card sections on science and social/emotional standards.

The new standards based report cards will be ready for implementation next fall. Grade Level Standards and Grade Level Key Vocabulary will be published and disseminated at the fall curriculum night.

Thank you to our Kindergarten teachers for their work on this important project. Communicating student progress to parents will be greatly improved.

The April 22nd meeting focused on identification of students for each of the gifted program options. The committee also developed an Appeals Packet that will be used if placement decisions are questioned.

The Gifted Committee reviewed the screening performance data for all students grades 1-7 in the areas of reading and math and also in science for students in grades 6-7.  Students moving to the second level of identification will be receiving letters this week.  We will be giving the CogAT Test at all three buildings next week.

A sub-group of the Gifted Committee will be meeting on May 15 to make fnal placement decisions. Placement letters will be sent home prior to the end of the school year. 

The ELL specialists met to begin planning classes for next year.  The delivery model for ELL students will be moving to a format where students are serviced according to their English Proficiency Level.  Classes were mapped out and a staffing proposal will be brought to administration for consideration. 

The committee also reviewed the legal aspects for Student Records.  A complete review of student records will begin this fall. 

The RtI Task Force has been working on consensus building. The group has defined what RtI is and will use that definition in informing the staff and community about what RtI is and how it will be implemented in District 74.

The Task Force has designed a brochure to inform both staff and parents about RtI. Presentations will be given at each staff meeting in May and the brochure will be distributed in the final report card for all students. Information will go out to the community in the fall Community Newsletter.

This summer a sub group of the Task Force will be writing the District 74 RtI Plan. The Task Force will review it in the fall and it will be ready to submit to the state before the January deadline.

The Lincolnwood School District 74 Board of Education approved a K-8 Comprehensive Gifted Program at their April 1st meeting.

The new plan adds a gifted position at Todd Hall. This will allow us to implement a K-1 Thinking Skills Program, it will allow us to have flexible reading and math groups for high ability students, and to add a grade 2 pull-out program for identified students.

We are also adding grade 6 to our Advanced Science classes and including a pull-out time for our General Intellectual Ability students at Lincoln Hall.

I have attached the power point presentation given at the Board meeting last night.