Blog Archives

Coding Beyond Kindergarten: Empowering Creativity at Fillmore Central

3/4/2024

Forget the stereotypical image of lines of code on a black screen. At Fillmore Central School in Fillmore, NY, a vibrant classroom pulsates with the creativity and problem-solving skills of 5th and 6th graders, their minds diving into the world of code. Leading the charge are Desi Miller, a passionate STEAM teacher, and Rick Weinberg, a collaborator sharing the vision of empowering young minds through digital creation.

But why coding, and why at this age? The answer lies in the transformative potential it holds. Coding isn't just about writing commands; it's about unlocking a creative language that allows students to translate their ideas into interactive experiences, games, and even animations. As Desi puts it, "Coding sparks a fire in students. It becomes more than just learning a skill; it's about expressing their individuality and having a voice in the digital world."

But how do you bridge the gap between eager minds and complex concepts? This is where the work of Jean Piaget, the pioneering developmental psychologist, becomes crucial. He emphasized the role of concrete experiences in early learning, highlighting how children build mental frameworks ("schemata") through exploration and experimentation.

Desi and Rick have embraced this philosophy. Instead of dry lectures, they use Scratch, a visual programming language where colorful blocks represent commands. Students manipulate these blocks, crafting stories, animating characters, and even designing games – all while grasping underlying coding principles.

This "learning by doing" approach aligns perfectly with Piaget's theories. Through trial and error, children observe, adjust, and refine their understanding. Each successful execution of code becomes a mini victory, fueling their curiosity and encouraging them to push further.

The impact is remarkable. Students aren't just mastering coding; they're honing essential 21st-century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. They learn to break down problems, think logically, and work together to achieve their digital goals.

Naturally, challenges arise. Translating complex concepts requires adaptation and patience. Rick emphasizes, "It's all about fostering a growth mindset. We celebrate small wins, encourage exploration, and create a safe space for experimentation."

And the results speak for themselves. From intricate digital art pieces to creating their own video game, students showcase their newfound skills and confidence. They're no longer passive consumers of technology; they're creators, actively shaping their digital experiences.

Desi and Rick's collaborative effort at Fillmore Central School is a shining example of the power of coding education. By harnessing Piaget's insights and the engaging nature of Scratch, they're nurturing a generation of digital innovators equipped to tackle challenges and shape the future, not just consume it. Who knows, perhaps these young minds will be the ones building the next groundbreaking technologies that change the world!

By: Rick Weinberg, CA BOCES Professional Development

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Exploring the Literary Landscape: A Comprehensive ELA Curriculum Review

3/4/2024

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In the world of education, we strive to ensure our curriculum provides the highest quality of instruction to our students. The Olean City School District has committed to this objective and is currently reviewing their ELA curriculum to ensure the needs of their students are met. The district started an ELA curriculum review at the beginning of the year led by a team of general education teachers, reading teachers, and administration. This team of educators have used the guidance of The Reading League’s Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines to measure the effectiveness of the current curricula being used in the district. Currently the committee is reviewing new curriculum to implement in the 2024-2025 school year that follows the guidelines outlined through this evaluation.

Why use The Reading League’s Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines:
The Reading League's Curriculum Evaluation Guide offers a comprehensive framework for assessing ELA instructional materials that is grounded in research and practical experience. Designed to aid educators in evaluating components such as phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, language comprehension, reading comprehension, writing instruction, and assessment, this guide provides a systematic approach to curriculum analysis. By leveraging this resource, districts like Olean can conduct thorough evaluations, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in their ELA curricula.

Want to know more about The Reading League’s Curriculum Evaluation Guide or look further into the process of ELA curriculum selection? I’d love to help! Email me at [email protected]

By: Janelle Freer, CA BOCES Professional Development

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Five shifts from balanced literacy to the Science of Reading

3/4/2024

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Let’s explore a few changes you can make as you implement Science of Reading instruction.

Use decodable readers, not leveled readers. Decodable readers—simple books that focus on the letter-sound correspondences that students have learned—support students in developing their phonics knowledge, rather than guessing or using picture cues. They support the systematic approach to instruction aligned with the Science of Reading.
Provide all students with dedicated, systematic phonics instruction, not mini-lessons or isolated phonics instruction. Effective phonics instruction—for every student—takes time and is deliberately sequenced. (At least 60 minutes a day is required for solid, systematic foundational skills development.) Phonics instruction should also be part of a comprehensive Science of Reading approach to literacy instruction.
Help students with phonics-based scaffolds, not three-cueing or word guessing. This is the part where learning to decode rewires students’ brains for reading. It requires that you provide scaffolds and ask students to practice sounding it out rather than responding to context clues.
To build comprehension skills, develop students’ knowledge. The Science of Reading shows that literacy skills grow best on a foundation of knowledge. In other words, the more you know, the easier and faster you can understand texts you encounter in the world. Spend two or three weeks on focused literary, social studies, and science topics. The topics should build on each other and deepen understanding and vocabulary. This approach can replace studying disconnected topics and practicing comprehension skills without attention to background knowledge.
Follow a clear instructional path, not a choose-your-own-adventure model. The Science of Reading supports a cohesive curriculum with explicit teaching and guidance. It gives students multiple instructional pathways and gives every student the support they need now without waiting for intervention.

By: Tessa Levitt, CA BOCES Professional Development

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Grade 5 and Grade 8 NYSSLS Science Tests 2024

3/4/2024

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Forty-five educators attended the most recent informational session about the new NYS grade 5 and grade 8 science assessments. For those that were unable to attend, this article will serve as a summary of that day.

What will be on the test?
The Grade 5 test will include all science standards from the 3-5 grade band and the Grade 8 test will include all science standards from the 6-8 grade band. According to the Science Test Guidance document released by the state, each domain of science (Life, Physical, Earth & Space, and Engineering) will be represented on the test proportionally to its appearance in the standards. These two documents (ELS and ILS) can help to see the breakdown of what Science Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and which science domains will be emphasized most on the respective exams. Test questions will be written at a level 2, 3, and 4 from the Performance Level Descriptions (PLDs).

How can we prepare our students?
Many teachers are looking for a vocabulary list, a set of practice questions, or a list of “what our kids need to know”, however the new science standards (NYSSLS) do not operate as a factual list of what students need to know, rather how they figure things out.

Teachers should be using the Science Practices and Crosscutting Concepts (two of the three dimensions) regularly in class to have students figure out the “facts” of science. If explicit teaching of these two dimensions has not been happening up to this point, NOW IS THE TIME TO START. If nothing else, teachers should be using the Science Practices and Crosscutting Concepts language as they engage in science content leading up to the exam.

Science Practices (SEPs)

Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)

Asking Questions (and DefiningProblems)
Developing and Using Models
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Constructing Explanations (and Designing Solutions)
Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Patterns
Cause and Effect
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Systems and System Models
Energy and Matter
Structure and Function
Stability and Change
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Patterns
Cause and Effect
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Systems and System Models
Energy and Matter
Structure and Function
Stability and Change

There is not a review book that can be purchased with practice questions. The state has released 4 clusters of questions that strongly resemble the way questions will look on the actual exam. Teachers can have students access these questions and work through them on the site – probably the best method to practice CBT skills as well. Teachers may also print these out, or they can be found in Castle Learning. Other ways to practice questions directly related to NYSSLS is using Inner Orbit, an online assessment-building platform accessible to all students and teachers at the 5th and 8th grade levels.

I have also gone through the NYS Science Learning Standards with a comb (not necessarily fine-toothed) to create vocabulary lists at each grade band level. I have created this more as a vertical alignment tool than a test-prep tool. I would strongly encourage teachers to start with the SEP and CCC vocabulary before worrying as much about the DCI (Disciplinary Core Idea) vocabulary.

Other preparation resources:

How do the NYS Science Investigations tie into the exam?
The NYS Science Investigations that were released in October 2022 are to be used as performance activities at the end of the unit of study related to the tasks. These should be run as any science activity is run with all students in the classroom – including scaffolding for a variety of needs and appropriate modifications for students with IEPs. Every student should have exposure to all four of these Investigations prior to taking the Grade 5 or Grade 8 NYS Science Assessment. It is in the student’s best interest that they are proficient at these activities, however it is not required. Approximately 15% of the test will be indirectly related to the Investigations. The questions will NOT directly ask about the Investigations, but rather will be within the realm of the content in the Investigations, as well as the skills that are practiced by the students.

By: Kelli Grabowski, CA BOCES Learning Resources

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OVERView: New Algebra I Regents Exam

3/3/2024

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On June 4th, 2024 New York State will welcome the new Algebra I Regents exam based on the Next Generation Standards! The full list of June Regents exam dates and times can be found here. With COVID pushing the start time for all Next Gen assessments back a few years, this assessment will be the first High School Math adventure after Common Core. The good news is that not much will change according to NYSED Math representatives. In fact, before with any new test implementation they would keep the old test around for an extra year for those that need to retake it. Since the change is so minimal, the January 2024 Common Core Algebra I test was the end of that exam. We’re now moving forward to Next Gen.

Why the early administration of this exam?
The state will get the data on all students and set the scaled score (it will still be out of 100). Unlike the 3-8 assessments where the scaled scores go up to 500+ and is different in each grade, Regents exams are scaled to 100. New York State will set the thresholds for the 5 levels of proficiency (grades 3-8 have 4 levels of proficiency) and the results will be known by the last rating day, Wednesday, June 25th. In other words, there will be a total of 82 points on this year’s Algebra I exam and then a student will get a scaled score out of 100. If they get 82 out of 82, they’ll get a scaled score of 100 and for each point they miss their scaled score will drop, or in some cases stay the same. You can find more details in the Algebra I Educator Guide, however, the cut scores for those 5 proficiency levels will not be known until the end of June.

What are districts doing to prepare for this new test?
For the most part, using old Regents questions, being aware of the changes by using the Algebra I crosswalk comparison to the Common Core standards or the Snapshot of the year (which also includes Highlights/Instructional Considerations noted by NYSED). Teachers in our region have come to the face-to-face 6-12 Math CLC sessions and the online Zoom sessions to stay in the loop, however, nothing new has been added. During the CABOCES December Curriculum Forum, the NYSED math reps re-emphasized that the change is very little and that there will be no more released questions to help prepare, just the five questions at the end of the Algebra I Educator Guide. CABOCES has also shared other items to help teachers prepare off of the NYSED Math page, like the Performance Level Descriptions (PLD’s) to understand the level of questions that could be asked by each of the five performance levels. For all of the New York State Next Generation Math standards (Grades PreK-Algebra II) you can use this enhanced document.

We will be offering summer trainings for Math, you can find them in this pamphlet. Along with our July 9th day with Paul Riccommoni from Penn State around the importance of Vocabulary in Math as well as retention of information for students. If you have any other Math questions feel free to reach out to Jillian Putnam for elementary Math at [email protected] and for middle/high school, Mark Carls at [email protected].

By: Mark Carls, CA BOCES Professional Development

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Unveiling the CA Today Podcast: Your Gateway to Instructional Innovation

3/3/2024

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Exciting news is brewing in the realm of instructional support and professional development! The CA Today Podcast is halfway through a fresh new season, packed with invaluable insights, innovative strategies, and engaging updates tailor-made for educators across the region.

This podcast serves as a beacon of inspiration and knowledge, featuring several members of the Instructional Support Services Team who rotate as hosts. Each episode is meticulously crafted to display a diverse array of instructional tools, strategies, and updates pertinent to teachers and administrators from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

Throughout this podcast, you can expect to embark on a journey of exploration and discovery, delving into diverse topics that shape the landscape of modern education. From the mesmerizing world of robotics to the transformative power of educational technology, the CA Today Podcast leaves no stone unturned in its quest to empower educators with the insights and resources they need to excel in their roles.

In the episodes released so far this season, our hosts have covered a wide range of captivating topics:

VEX Robotics: Join hosts Rick Weinberg and Lindsay Simpson as they highlight the benefits of robotic programs in schools through interviews at a 2023 VEX tournament, showcasing the creativity and critical thinking skills fostered through VEX competitions.
Mock Scholastic Challenge: Clay Nolan and Karen Insley unravel the mysteries of Learning Resources available to educators, offering invaluable support and guidance to enhance the learning journey.
Transforming Science with the NYSSLS Standards: Lindsay Simpson and Kelli Grabowski explore the evolution of science instruction in alignment with the New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSLSS), shedding light on innovative methods and essential resources to enrich science education.
Back to Basics: The Evolution of Teaching Writing: Sarah Cartmill engages in an insightful discussion with a university professor, examining the evolution of writing instruction amidst the digital age and technological advancements.
Meet Summer Tech Camp 2023 Keynote Speakers: Nate and Angie Ridgeway: Brooke Neamon and Rick Weinberg delve into the world of educational technology with Natie and Angie Ridgways, uncovering best practices and groundbreaking insights to engage students in the classroom.
FETC Tech Highlights: Lindsay Simpson and Brooke Neamon provide a comprehensive overview of tech tools highlighted at the FETC Conference, offering a glimpse into the innovative innovations shaping the future of education.

The CA Today Podcast releases new episodes on the first Monday of every month, ensuring a steady stream of inspiration and knowledge for educators everywhere. You can tune in on various platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more!
Remember, your feedback is invaluable! Be sure to rate and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to stay updated on the latest episodes. Follow this link to explore your favorite podcast platform: (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ca-today)

Embark on a journey of instructional innovation with the CA Today Podcast. Let's transform education together, one episode at a time. Happy listening!

By: Lindsay Simpson, CA BOCES Professional Development

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Houghton University Opportunities Continue!

3/3/2024

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The great opportunity for our participating district students to take advantage of earning college credits early is continuing this Spring and Summer!!

Learning Resources is continuing to partner with Houghton University Early College program which allows high school students to earn college credits to transfer with them as they graduate and enter college.

Spring Session is offering 11 courses, beginning May 13th and a registration deadline of May 3rd. If you are interested in any of the courses below, follow this link to check into the course summary that is available.

Houghton Early College page: https://www.houghton.edu/early-college/

Biblical Literature
Introduction to Nutrition
Interpersonal Communication
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Principles of Macroeconomics
Enduring Questions: The Modern World
History of Rock and Roll and Commercial Music
In Search of Justice
Introduction to Psychology
Science and Society: Video and Board Games
Professional Writing

Summer session is offering 9 courses beginning July 8 and a registration deadline of June 28. If you are interested in any of the courses below, follow this link to check into the course summary that is available.

Houghton Early College page: https://www.houghton.edu/early-college/

Marketing Principles
Women in the Bible
Introduction to Communication
Introduction to CS Lewis Deep Magic lecture
Introduction to Film music
American political System
Developmental Psychology
Social Psychology
Introduction to Sociology

With that many courses there is certainly some topic that will appeal to many students, so be sure to contact the participating district Guidance office to get any students interested registered.

The classes have filled up quickly in the past sessions, so be sure not to wait until the last minute and miss out on this great opportunity!!

Please reach out to any of us at Learning Resources if you have any questions, we look forward to helping you. Below are a few of the available Learning Resources contacts to reach out to:

Clay Nolan: clay_nolan @caboces.org
Justin Shumaker: justin_shumaker @caboces.org
Lisa Scott: [email protected]

By Lisa Scott, CA BOCES Learning Resources

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Innovative Teaching

Coding Beyond Kindergarten: Empowering Creativity at Fillmore Central

Exploring the Literary Landscape: A Comprehensive ELA Curriculum Review

Five shifts from balanced literacy to the Science of Reading

Grade 5 and Grade 8 NYSSLS Science Tests 2024

OVERView: New Algebra I Regents Exam

Unveiling the CA Today Podcast: Your Gateway to Instructional Innovation

Houghton University Opportunities Continue!

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Archives

Innovative Teaching

Coding Beyond Kindergarten: Empowering Creativity at Fillmore Central

Exploring the Literary Landscape: A Comprehensive ELA Curriculum Review

Five shifts from balanced literacy to the Science of Reading

Grade 5 and Grade 8 NYSSLS Science Tests 2024

OVERView: New Algebra I Regents Exam

Unveiling the CA Today Podcast: Your Gateway to Instructional Innovation

Houghton University Opportunities Continue!

Follow us on ​social media

Categories

Archives

Follow us on
social media