My name is Addie Kelley, and I teach third-grade reading and ELA at Elm Grove Elementary in Bossier. Three of my colleagues - Carrie Culpepper, Meredith Starks, and Lorrie Sussdorf - and I recently had the honor of representing Louisiana at the
TeachtoLead
conference in Baltimore as one of 29 teams selected from across the United States.
Our project, Northwest Louisiana Teaching Lab, is part of a grassroots movement to offer professional development, guidance, and support for teachers, by teachers that helps them hone their skills and navigate this ever-changing world of education. While at the conference, we had the chance to discuss our plan with the Interim U.S. Department of Education Secretary, Dr. John King. It was definitely a career highlight!
We brought home a wealth of knowledge and ideas for Louisiana and are ready to assist other teachers in achieving their utmost potential in the classroom. Teachers in Bossier who are interested in participating, or teachers in other parishes who are interested in starting a similar program, should contact us at
addie.kelley@bossierschools.org
. I also encourage you to
apply
to lead a session at the 2016 Teacher Leader Summit so you can take advantage of the opportunity to share your wealth of knowledge with fellow educators.
May good luck be with you wherever you go, and may your teaching blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.
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2016-2017 Louisiana Student Standards for ELA and Math
Over the past ten months, Louisiana has undergone a professional review of the state's academic content standards for English language arts and mathematics to ensure that they maintain strong expectations for teaching and learning and that they continue to prepare students to successfully transition to postsecondary education and the workplace.
In February 2016, the standards review committee voted to approve the proposed new Louisiana Student Standards for
English language arts
(ELA) and
mathematics
; these standards were subsequently approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in their meeting on March 4, 2016.
These standards:
- provide developmentally appropriate content for all grades or courses while maintaining high expectations;
- give teachers freedom to determine the most appropriate method of instruction;
- provide teachers with more clarity about what is expected of students by making the standards less vague and less open to multiple interpretations;
- include the study of money in earlier grades; and
- divide the high school math standards more appropriately into cohesive courses for Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
Unless vetoed by the governor, they will be effective for the 2016-2017 school year. The Department of Education is working diligently to support educators with a seamless transition to these new standards.
These supports will focus on:
- curriculum and resources;
- teacher training and professional development; and
- state and local assessments.
The Department will share additional information about these resources in upcoming Teacher Leader newsletters and at the 2016 Teacher Leader Summit.
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Download 2015-2016 Assessment Resources
- LEAP Assessment Guides: The LEAP Assessment Guides provide teachers with information about test design, test scheduling, and test features.
- Online Testing Tools (OTT): The Online Tools Training, available within INSIGHT, is a great way to help teachers and grade 3-8 students practice using the online tools that are available for all students when taking the ELA and math LEAP tests online. It is imperative that students who are taking the LEAP online this year practice using these tools before the actual testing window. Students who are not taking the LEAP online this year should also become familiar with these tools in preparation for next year.
- Online Practice Test: The grades 3-8 ELA and math online practice tests, available within INSIGHT, help teachers and students become familiar with the format and content of the tests prior to engaging in the operational assessments. Teachers can find answer sheets and scoring guides here. The Online Practice Test Overview covers the online practice tests and steps required for preparation, administration, and scoring.
- Paper Practice Tests: The ELA and math Paper Practice Tests and Scoring Guides help teachers and students become familiar with the LEAP ELA and math assessments. The LEAP ELA Practice Test Guidance and LEAP Math Practice Test Guidance provide guidance to grades 3-8 teachers on how they can use the practice tests to support their instructional goals.
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2016 Teacher Leader Summit
The 2016 Teacher Leader Summit will be held at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 1-3.
- Wednesday, June 1: 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Thursday, June 2: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, June 3: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Department will release additional information about the summit, including the specific sessions that will be offered, in early April.
The Department is currently looking for knowledgeable educators to share their resources and best practices with others around the state by designing and facilitating a session at the 2016 Teacher Leader Summit.
Click here to apply to lead a session.
Applications must be submitted by Friday, April 1.
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*This e-mail has been sent to all nominated Louisiana Teacher Leader participants.
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