The Office of Curriculum and Instruction
3202 N.Wisconsin Avenue
Peoria, IL 61603
(309) 672-6536
(309) 681-8565 Fax
The Office of Curriculum and Instruction is housed at the Administration Building, but you will often find our staff members out and about at our schools facilitating trainings, observing classrooms, and working with school's teams on identified goals. Our Department follows and has added our own goals to the district's four Remarkable Rules as we strive to respect our customers, learning, finances and individual differences in everything we do.
Dr. LaToy Kennedy, Chief Curriculum and Instructional Officer Dr. Trish Guinee, Mathematics and Science Coordinator Shameika Sykes-Patterson, Social Studies/Literacy Coordinator Vanetta Phifer, Professional Development Coordinator Nicole Burrell, Administrative Assistant | Lisa Kokos - Regional Technology Facilitator Chatea Geen - Regional Technology Facilitator Michelle Coconate - Comprehensive System of Student Support (CSSS) Facilitator Kristen McElligatt - Comprehensive System of Student Support (CSSS) Facilitator Joan Sick - Curriculum Facilitator Linda Bartak - Curriculum Facilitator |
Our Mission
The mission of the Office of Curriculum and Instruction is to improve student achievement through the creation of a professional learning community that provides high quality professional development opportunities by supporting the districts improvement plan, exploring current research in education, promoting more effective teaching and learning, and fostering personal and professional growth.
As a district we have been working this year to refine best practices through such activities as monthly Teaching and Learning Sessions, Grade Level Leaders Meetings, New Teachers and Mentors Check and Connect professional development sessions, Content Area Specific School Improvement Days, and numerous other professional development opportunities developed to help teachers to continue to grow and learn as we strive to implement current district programs with fidelity.
We have also continued to work on our District Improvement Plan through Wednesday Professional Development Days planned and facilitated by each school's Universal Leadership Team. Teachers have also been working in Professional Learning Communities within each school to problem solve and have student achievement discussions focused on the culture of the school, the learner and skills.
As a district we are also very excited about two main initiatives this year that will give both teachers and students across the district a common language to also help us to continue to Make Remarkable Happen Every Day:
More About....Reading in the Content Area and Using Best Practices in Reading Across Disciplines (w/ Dr. Bobb Darnell )
Why Is Reading Important in the Content Areas?
· One concern teachers express is that students do not have the skills to read and comprehend content-based text. Therefore, content area teachers need to be skilled in content-based reading strategies (Billmeyer, 1996).
· Skills needed depend on the content and text. Content teachers are best qualified to help students comprehend the material presented by developing prior knowledge related to the topic.
· If all teachers provide reading opportunities for students, students will be better prepared to meet identified standards in all areas.
· Background knowledge and content provide an essential link between what students understand and what they read (Anthony and Raphael, 1989).
http://www.achievementstrategies.org/Instruction/instructionaltable.php
More About....Thinking Maps®
The Thinking Maps® model program consists of eight maps that correspond with fundamental thinking processes. The Circle Map is used for defining in context; the Bubble Map, describing with adjectives; the Flow Map, sequencing and ordering; the Brace Map, identifying part/whole relationships; the Tree Map, classifying/grouping; the Double Bubble Map, comparing and contrasting; the Multi-Flow Map, analyzing causes and effects; and the Bridge Map, seeing analogies. These maps are a "common visual language" for students in all subject areas (Grades Pre K-12).
