Common Core State Standards comes to EGUSD   

This year, EGUSD elementary teachers will begin teaching students a new curriculum based on California's Common Core State Standards (CCSS). These are new academic content standards that address English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics, with ELA standards including literacy standards for science and history/social sciences.

These new standards will provide greater learning opportunities for EGUSD students. Standards define the concepts and skills that every child will learn. EGUSD will phase in these new standards from kindergarten through 12^th grade over a two year period, starting this year with math in grades K-2 and English Language Arts in grades 3-6. Teachers have been trained and are prepared to teach this new curriculum.

The standards stem from a nationwide initiative to set a clear and consistent progression of learning across all states. In 2010, the California State Board of Education adopted these standards with some additions unique to California. These kindergarten through 12^th grade standards provide a progression of knowledge and skills that prepare students to graduate from high school and be ready for college and careers. The standards are research-based and internationally benchmarked.

Parents may notice the effects of the Common Core State Standards.   One example is that, over time, students will be able to read, comprehend and analyze more sophisticated text. A teacher may encourage a child to choose books that are written at a more challenging level. Also, parents may notice more frequent writing assignments. This includes more writing within core subjects of science and history/social science. In mathematics, parents may see their students making drawings or models to illustrate or demonstrate their solutions to problems. While the learning of math facts (for instance, "times tables") is still important, students will spend more time working through a solution to a "real-life" problem rather than repeatedly practicing the same type of problem. (A "real-life" problem might involve designing alternative shapes for a rabbit pen enclosure if given a limited amount of fencing.)

The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has posted resource guides by grade level to help parents better understand what the implementation of these standards will mean for their student. To view these resources, visit http://www.pta.org/4446.htm. Parents are also encouraged to visit EGUSD's CCSS website at http://blogs.egusd.net/ccss/.   

Can you imagine traveling to a foreign country, sharing educational strategies with different cultures and learning more about teaching abroad?

That's exactly what Arlis Groves, a social science teacher at Toby Johnson Middle School, did this summer. She spent two weeks on the island of Java in Indonesia through the IREX Teachers for Global Classrooms Program.

The IREX Teachers for Global Classrooms Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides funds for qualified and motivated U.S. teachers to travel to one of six countries to exchange information about educational systems, teaching strategies and ways to globalize their classrooms. Participating teachers analyze a variety of articles, videos and lectures, and have an opportunity to author a community global education resource guide as part of a capstone project.

"The goal is to be able to infuse a global perspective into the core curriculum and to affect global engagement in school communities," Groves said. "Beyond content knowledge, the skills and competencies gained by students in globalized classrooms helps them succeed in the world they will navigate as adults."

Before departing on the trip, teachers in the IREX program participated in an eight-week online course of study to prepare for their trips overseas. Groves then spent the first three days of her trip in Jakarta, where teachers in the program were introduced to the culture, history and educational systems in Indonesia. From here, Groves flew to Mojokerto where she and another teacher in her cohort taught cultural lessons, observed Indonesian teachers and interacted with students. They also conducted an English teaching strategies workshop. After teaching in Mojokerto, all teachers in the cohort reassembled in Jakarta to debrief their experiences and plan ways to implement what they learned in their own classrooms.

Middle and high school teachers who are U.S. citizens and desire to globalize teaching and learning in their classrooms may apply for the program. Teachers from a variety of subject areas can and have applied for the program, including mathematics, science, social science, government, English/language arts, technology, ESL and AVID. Next year, Staci Wallace-Ussery, an AVID and health teacher at Johnson, hopes to visit the Ukraine through the global classrooms program. Click here for more information about the IREX Teachers for Global Classrooms Program.

Over $25,000 donated to 19^th Annual ChildSpree

Thanks to a host of generous donors from throughout the community, the 19^th Annual ChildSpree - held on July 28 - was once again a rousing success. A total of $25,825 in monetary and in-kind donations were contributed to the Elk Grove Unified School District's (EGUSD) Healthy Start Family Centers' ChildSpree this year.

Donations were received from the following donors this year: Kohl's, Soroptimist International of Rio Cosumnes, UC Davis Medical Center, Lions Vision Service Plan, Elk Grove Lions Club, Girl Scouts, California Highway Patrol, Elk Grove Police Department, Safe Kids Coalition, Great Clips of Laguna.

A total of 102 EGUSD students in need in grades K-5 were treated to a back-to-school shopping spree at Kohl's. Students participating in the ChildSpree program were identified through Project ACT, Foster Youth and Healthy Start Family Centers at David Reese and Prairie elementary schools.

Participating students were each given $110 to spend at Kohl's and also enjoyed a 10 percent discount. The day included a pancake breakfast, free haircuts for students, backpacks filled with school supplies, free booster seats and fire alarm batteries to families participating in this event, free bicycle helmets for students and free oral dental supplies.