Purpose(s)/Goal:
- Participate in a middle school social studies program review and adoption process for grades 6-8 Social Studies and Core (Social Studies) materials.
Basis for Establishment:
- Establish a program of instruction aligned to the Washington State Learning Standards in Social Studies and Literacy in Social Studies.
Decision-Making Process:
- Advisory group to the superintendent
- Recommend Social Studies materials for grades 6, 7 and 8.
Plan of Work:
- Convene committee, establish timeline and tasks to identify instructional resources
- The committee will take into consideration:
- Students with disabilities, English learners, students who are identified as highly capable,
- Open educational resources,
- Alignment to state standards with the inclusion of tribal sovereignty curriculum,
- Technology use and integration with 1:1 in mind,
- Assessment,
- Recent research in best practices in social studies and literacy to support social studies,
- Feedback from staff, students and parents.
Members:
- One MS ELL teacher – Bethany Barrett
- One MS Principal or Assistant Principal – Shari Walsh
- 6th grade Core or Social Studies teacher – Alisa Sachs, Fairhaven; Glenda Everett, Kulshan; Jennifer Clawson and Stephanie Strow, Shuksan; Shelby (Erica) Ziels, Whatcom
- 7th grade Core or Social Studies teacher – Minh Nguyen and Glenda Everett, Kulshan and Trisia Kulaas, Whatcom
- 8th grade Core or Social Studies teacher – Callie Hart, Fairhaven; Dara Yost, Shuksan; David Ostlund, Whatcom
- Educational Technology Coach – Alex Giebelhaus
- Committee facilitated by Charisse Berner and Keith Schacht, Directors of Teaching and Learning and Minh Nguyen, administrative intern
- Ex-officio: Mike Copland, Deputy Superintendent
Responsibilities:
- Attend meetings
- Actively participate as a representative of your stakeholder group including sharing feedback and collecting information as needed
Timeline:
February 23, 24 – Clarify process/timelines, establish norms, develop/finalize statement of vision and philosophy aligned to The Bellingham Promise, establish screening criteria, screen materials, identify no more than 3 semi-finalists, create staff, student, community feedback form
March 7 – Publisher presentations in the morning and deliberations in the afternoon
March 23 – Examine semi-finalists using concept trace, make recommendation, complete Instructional Materials Committee paperwork including bias screening, develop preferred PD plan
April 13 – Examine semi-finalists using concept trace, make recommendation, complete Instructional Materials Committee paperwork including bias screening, develop preferred PD plan
April 25 – Additional meeting date if needed to complete above tasks
Minutes:
April 13
April 25
Budget Implications:
- Substitute reimbursement for staff committee members to meet
- Budget to purchase materials