On November 8, the East Meadow Union Free School District conducted its second Superintendent’s Conference Day, which continued the theme from September of “Linking the Common Core State Standards.” Workshops were held in each of the district’s buildings throughout the day.
At the Leon J. Campo Center, Heinemann Staff Developer Debbie Clemence and Coordinator of Literacy and Funded Programs Dr. Maria Casamassa facilitated a Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) workshop. The LLI program, designed by authors Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell, has been a focus for staff development for the district’s elementary reading teachers and intervention assistants. The LLI program is a small-group, supplementary intervention program intended for young students who need assistance with reading and writing. It is designed to bring these students up to grade-level performance in as few as 18-24 weeks. LLI is a powerful, research-based early intervention program that can prevent literacy difficulties before they turn into long-term challenges.
At Woodland and W.T. Clarke Middle Schools, staff and administrators worked with renowned middle school educator Nancy Doda throughout the conference day to cultivate learning communities and to create effective curriculum and methods of instruction.
Teachers throughout the district unpacked the Common Core State Standards and created units of study that align with the standards. The teachers in the high schools also worked with the district directors and coordinators on the Common Core State Standards.
Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Cindy Munter said, “As I visited the schools on Superintendent’s Conference Day, it was very exciting to be part of conversations with teachers as they discussed aligning the curriculum to the Common Core State Standards. The standards provide a clear and consistent understanding of what children are expected to learn in order to be college and career ready. In addition, the day afforded the teachers an opportunity to collaborate and think about various instructional strategies that are both rigorous and robust, incorporating 21st century skills.”
In addition to workshops addressing the Common Core State Standards, Executive Director Alane Fagin of CAPS (Child Abuse Prevention Services) conducted a presentation at W.T. Clarke High School entitled “Creating a Safe School Climate and Community: What Educators Need to Know.” Ms. Fagin provided information about bullying and cyberbullying prevention, sexting, and Internet safety to staff and administrators.
Superintendent’s Conference Day was once again a great success, providing teachers from across the district with new and innovative ideas to infuse into their teaching for the 2011-2012 school year.
↧