This week’s Paw Points, from principal Jeff Slater:

• Intervention Block: We’ve built a 40 minute block of time into our schedule this year for teachers to provide targeted instruction to our students based on different data points. The placement of intervention is time is a little more flexible in grades K-5 and it is set at the end of the day for grades 6-8. Grade level teachers have the flexibility to group students across their entire grade level to target similar needs. Where possible, we’re including specialist teachers and outside partners to provide additional supports during this time.
• Massachusetts is now implementing the new Common Core Standards. All of our teachers are expected to plan their instruction based on these standards. If you are looking for some light bathtub reading, you can check them out here: http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/commoncore/
• Here is just a taste of the exciting learning happening in our wonderful classrooms this week: Students in Kim Daly’s 5th Grade Math workshop were finding multiplication combinations for 18 and 180; Students in Danielle Moran’s 5th Grade ELA workshop were learning to use background knowledge to make inferences, predictions and connections; Students in Jesse Cardoso’s 7th grade Art class were learning about foreground and background.
• I’m joining our 7th grade teachers and students for 3 days and 2 nights on Thompson Island next week! In the classroom at the Curley, students will participate in “hands-on” activities that prepare students for their island experience. While on the island, students work outdoors in teams during the day where experiential, curriculum-based activities are tied to the FOSS curriculum and where challenge based activities are used to create camaraderie.   Classroom/auditorium activities at night extend the learning day.
• On Thursday I attended our monthly Superintendent’s Learning/Information Session. Agenda items included: New teacher evaluation system, highlights of the new contract, and information on the new MA DESE accountability system.
• September 24-28 we’ll be administering the SUPERA (AWC) Spanish test to students in grades 3-5 in ELA/Math; October 1-9 we’ll be administering Terra Nova (AWC) test to students in grades 3-5 in ELA/Math; Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) testing has begun in grades K2-3.