The Standards Newsletter is a weekly resource tailored specifically for K-12 educators in Kentucky. Delivered straight to your inbox, it provides the latest updates on educational standards, valuable teaching resources, and professional learning opportunities.
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Simpson County Schools: Cultivating Conceptual Understanding through Intellectual Preparation
https://youtu.be/mKZ3eRQl19U Guided by a strong commitment to academic excellence, Simpson County Schools set out to strengthen coherence and rigor in mathematics instruction across its elementary classrooms. To move this vision forward, the district sought a unified approach that would ensure every student had access to high-quality, evidence-based instruction aligned with the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) [...]
Calhoun Elementary: Shifting the Focus to High-Quality Math Representation
Calhoun Elementary School set out to strengthen Tier I mathematics instruction by aligning classroom practice more closely with the intent of the Kentucky Academic Standards for Mathematics and fostering productive struggle among students. In pursuit of this goal, school leaders selected Illustrative Mathematics, a high-quality instructional resource (HQIR) that received strong ratings [...]
Howell Elementary: Embracing ‘Cognitive Grappling’ to Build Student Mathematicians
https://youtu.be/Q1aNhbH1LCU At Howell Elementary School in the Erlanger-Elsmere Independent school district, a shift in mathematics instruction began with a realization: Teachers were working hard to design their own curriculum, but the lack of alignment K-5 was leaving gaps in student learning. Data revealed a "massive need" for a [...]
Corbin Independent: Shifting Professional Learning to Transform Math Instruction
Two years ago, Corbin Independent Schools faced a realization familiar to many districts: Students were not consistently demonstrating the mathematical practices necessary for deep understanding. Data from district “learning walks” revealed that classroom tasks didn't always provide opportunities for students to engage in the math practice standards. Rather than settling for a quick fix, the district asked "why" until they [...]
New Resource Available! Curriculum Implementation Monitoring Toolkit
As districts across Kentucky work to implement high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs), they have recognized a need to measure the effectiveness of their implementation to ensure the HQIR positively impacts the student experience and outcomes. In response to this need, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) created the Curriculum Implementation Monitoring [...]
Fort Thomas Independent: Phenomena-Based Science Promotes Vibrant Learning in Middle School
An initial professional learning day set the stage for a bigger shift. At Highlands Middle School in Fort Thomas Independent Schools, a session on assessment alignment introduced the sixth-grade science team to storyline instruction. The idea clicked. The team started exploring OpenSciEd, a high-quality instructional resource (HQIR) designed around coherent [...]