News and updates about YOUR online curriculum, the TEKS Resource System | EOY 2020
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Social Studies Twitter

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TCMPC Site

A Note from the TEKS Resource System Director, Ann Graves
Welcome to summer! What a different and sometimes difficult past few months we have experienced.  
We applaud your flexibility, quick learning curve and devotion to the students of Texas! 

In planning for the start of school, which will look different for so many, our goal is a continued effort to provide tools to help with possible learning gaps, new and updated documents for new standards and a seamless curriculum for student success. Thank you for supporting the TEKS Resource System.

We hope everyone will join us on July 14, 2020, for our new Virtual TEKSCon 2020. Registration is now open! The cost has been reduced to $175.00 per person but our app will allow you to login and view all sessions available and at your own pace. You may register on Region 13's E-Campus. Please join us on this virtual journey!
Take some time to rest and renew this summer. It is an honor to serve those in the field of this great profession. We love teachers!

Ann Graves
Director, TEKS Resource System
512-919-5313


TEKSCON has changed to an ONLINE format. Join us from home!
ONLINE
Save the DATE!!
July 14, 2020
TEKS Resource System is excited to present the 2020 TEKS Resource System Curriculum Conference (TEKSCON 2020) as a virtual experience -TEKSCON Online. The TEKS Resource System and its parent TCMPC collaborative know you will enjoy this event from home.

Please consult the FAQ document below for questions.

We will continue to work hard to bring you the events you love. Though it's true that our July 2020 event will no longer take place in person, we will always strive to fulfill our purpose - leading the way to student success.

Registration is now open! The cost has been reduced to $175.00 per person. Please use the link below to register.
TEKSCON Online
COVID-19 Support: Resources and Gap Implementation Tools
We hope the COVID-19 Resources have been helpful as you have taught remotely the last nine weeks. In addition to the resources added to the system, we are also working to support you with Gap Implementation Tools to start 2020-2021.

In order to support foundational understandings of concepts within the last nine weeks of 2019-2020, the mathematics team of TEKS Resource System has designed the Mathematics COVID-19 Gap Implementation Tool for district considerations during the 2020-2021 school year.
Our goal is to encourage the inclusion of previous foundational understandings when appropriate throughout the year rather than beginning the 2020-2021 school year reviewing the last nine weeks of the previous year. We are not asking teachers to teach an additional nine weeks of school, but to use instructional techniques such as pre-assessing and wrapping of standards to connect vertically aligned grade level understandings seamlessly. Or, districts may choose to spiral previous foundational understandings prior to the current grade level unit of instruction.

Science will have a similar tool, and ELAR is working on a tool to highlight gap considerations as well. A gap tool will be released shortly for Social Studies, but given the lack of spiraled content in social studies courses, the focus will be on the social studies skills that may need reinforcement.
Upcoming TEKS Implementation -
The TEKS RS has your back!
The SBOE voted for an adjusted implementation schedule for the K-5 Streamlined Social Studies TEKS. See the implementation schedule below for the changes. 
Please know, the TEKS Resource System is working to make sure you have the curriculum and assessment documents you need for implementation!

2020-2021:
  • Implement NEW ELAR TEKS for High School
  • Implement Streamlined Social Studies TEKS for Grades K-5
2021-2022:
  • Implement NEW PreK Systems
2022-2023:
  • Implement NEW PE/Health 
     
2023-2024:
  • Implement NEW Science TEKS
2024-2025:
  • Implement NEW Tech Apps TEKS
2025-2026:
  • Implement NEW Math TEKS
Did you know?
You can use the linked TCMPC Rubric to self-assess and grow your administrators, leaders, and teachers in the use of the documents in the TEKS Resource System. We are aiming for Level 5 Implementation for each column. Are your administrators, leaders, and teachers at Level 5 Implementation?
Do you need support with implementing your curriculum at level 5? Please contact your regional ESC for support! Texas Instructional Leadership supports data driven instruction and instructional coaching to help you move the needle on student achievement by helping you implement your curriculum with fidelity and by supporting teacher growth.
Content Updates:

ELAR/SLAR Update
Posting Update
  • All K-8 curriculum and assessment components have been published.
  • All first semester feedback on high school documents have been entered, and we have removed the "Draft" status. You will still need to access these documents through the TCMPC Resources folder.
Recently
  • Our team provided training materials to all ESCs in regards to the new high school TEKS and TEKS Resource System Curriculum. Please contact your local ESC to learn more about trainings they are offering. 
Currently
  • The Language Arts Team is working on a "gap" tool that will provide information about standards that were supposed to be taught in the last nine weeks. The good news is that it is very minimal for Language Arts. The majority of SEs were taught prior to the shut down due to COVID-19. We are also very fortunate that our new standards have great vertical alignment so if a student missed an SE in one grade, they will most likely receive the same or similar instruction the next year. We are more worried about slides in reading level and writing ability as students may not have had sustained time to practice (and less direct instruction for their exact needs). Pre-assessment will be critical for next school year.
  • We are also working on processing feedback for high school second semester documents. High school documents will start going "live" in July.
Summer work
  • We will be working on Elementary PA rubrics. Our goal is to have first semester ready to go for the beginning of the school year.
  • We will also begin the process of developing popular resources for K-8 such as the Backward Design Document and the Conventions Alignment Tool.
  • High school assessment will also be underway. We will roll this out throughout the summer. We are looking at have first and second six weeks ready prior to the start of school with third six weeks being published early September.
Please let us know how we can be of service during these unusual times. Give us a shout through feedback if you need anything.

ELAR Content Advisory Group
Math Update
Accolades to each of you during COVID-19 at-home instruction. Parents are so appreciative of you and the efforts you put forth daily in educating their children! 

New Resource: Mathematics COVID-19 Gap Implementation Tools
In March 2020, school districts across the state experienced school closure due to COVID-19. Although schools were closed, districts transitioned to online instruction. The design and content of the at-home instruction model for districts varied across the state. Some taught review units of instruction, while others continued to teach the next units of instruction within their scope and sequence. Although some districts continued to teach the next units of instruction, the depth of concept expectations within the units may not have been met by all students. In order to support foundational understandings of concepts within the last nine weeks of 2019-2020, the mathematics team of TEKS Resource System has designed the Mathematics COVID-19 Gap Implementation Tool for district considerations during the 2020-2021 school year. The Mathematics COVID-19 Gap Implementation Tools are available for Grades 1 - 8, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, MMA, Precalculus, and Algebraic Reasoning. Note: Since these tools highlight the standards of the previous grade level(s), there is not a Kindergarten Mathematics COVID-19 Gap Implementation Tool. Also, since these are teacher tools, we did not translate these tools in Spanish. However, the English version of these tools are included in the Matemáticas Resource section.



Our goal is to encourage the inclusion of previous foundational understandings when appropriate throughout the year rather than beginning the 2020-2021 school year reviewing the last nine weeks of the previous year. We are not asking teachers to teach an additional nine weeks of school, but to use instructional techniques such as pre-assessing and wrapping of standards to connect vertically aligned grade level understandings seamlessly. Or, districts may choose to spiral previous foundational understandings prior to the current grade level unit of instruction.
To better understand the design and purpose of the tool, please see the Mathematics COVID-19 GAP Implementation Tool Instructions PDF.

Once you sign into TEKS Resource System, you can access these tools in the following locations.
* The Resource section for each grade level/course, see the Mathematics COVID-19 GAP Implementation Tool Grade XX/Course and the Mathematics COVID-19 GAP Implementation Tool Instructions.

* There is a link to the Mathematics COVID-19 GAP Implementation Tool Grade XX/Course in each Unit IFD in the Unit Overview section.

* There is a link to both the Mathematics COVID-19 GAP Implementation Tool Grade XX/Course and the Mathematics COVID-19 GAP Implementation Tool Instructions in each Unit IFD in the System Resources section.

For training and support with these tools, please contact your local Education Service Center.

Update on Algebraic Reasoning
This HS mathematics course is now live in the site like all of the other HS mathematics courses. The resource section now only includes the Algebraic Reasoning resources.

Update on Assessment New Development
One last update, the mathematics team is continuing the work on expanding the item banks for Formative Assessment Items for English and Spanish Kindergarten - Grade 5 and Unit Assessment Items for HS Algebra II, Geometry, MMA, Precalculus, and Algebraic Reasoning. These items will be live for the 2020-2021 school year.

Math Content Advisory Group
Science Update
IFDs
  • Updated with Developing TEKS Tables (any process student expectations not on the YAG)
  • Updated with 2019 STAAR Analysis links in System Resources for Grades 3-5, 6-8, and Biology
Assessment
  • Added 352 NEW Unit Assessment Items for the 2019-2020 school year - Grades 2-8, Bio, Chemistry, and Physics
  • Added 214 NEW Formative Assessment Items for the 2019-2020 school year - Grades 6-8
  • Adding 50 NEW Unit Assessment Items for the 2020-2021 school year - IPC
Resources
  • NEW Covid-19 Gap Implementation Tool for Grades 1-8 and Biology.
2019 STAAR Analysis
  • Published Grades 5, 8, and Biology EOC - available in the Resource section and linked on the applicable IFDs
CTE Updates:
  • Anatomy & Physiology
    • Added NEW Assessment Items to TCMPC Assessment Bank and revised many Unit Assessment Items to increase the cognitive complexity
  • Forensic Science
    • Added NEW Sample Guiding Questions for each unit to the Resource section - Accessible through links on IFDs under System Resources
    • Added 130 NEW Assessment Items to TCMPC Assessment Bank - Continuous additions throughout summer and the 2020-2021 school year
    • PA Rubrics coming soon
New K-12 Science Development begins Summer 2021 - Keep an eye on the ESC 13 website for upcoming employment opportunities. 

 
Science TEKS Review and Revision 
  • Science K-12 is part of Proclamation 2023. The new Science TEKS will be implemented in 2023
    2024.
  • The SBOE was on target to complete the Science TEKS review by November 2020 with the
    adoption of revised TEKS planned for the 2020-21 school year. The COVID-19 pandemic may
    result in delayed actions of the board. A staggered adoption cycle has been proposed.
  • The TEKS Review and Revision will follow a process that will consist of multiple
    steps and involve a number of stakeholders. Stay tuned for opportunities to participate in the
    feedback process with your local ESC.
  • The SBOE is still accepting applications for science TEKS review work groups.
  • As part of the SBOE's review process, TEA surveyed educators regarding their opinions of
    the current Science TEKS. Work Group A synthesized the findings and submitted their
    Work Group A Recommendations for moving forward. Follow the instructions on this page to
    submit feedback to TEA.
  • Work Group B has been selected and they will work on the four core high school courses. Their
    work is currently postponed due to COVID-19. Working backward for vertical alignment is a top
    priority.
  • Work Group C will work on Grades 6-8 and other high school courses. Work Group D will work
    on Grades K-5.
  • Follow the progress on the Science TEKS Review page at TEA.
  • The CTE courses eligible for science credit will also undergo review, revision, and adoption on a delayed schedule as compared to the science TEKS review schedule. 
  • Subscribe to updates from TEA.
  • Questions regarding the application or TEKS review process may be sent via email to
    [email protected].
  • Follow the Science Teachers Association of Texas STAT Guide to the Science TEKS Review .
Science Content Advisory Group
Social Studies Update
Curriculum
  • Elementary streamlining - Background work is complete for elementary grades and we are busy uploading updates. Our current goal is for the elementary 2020-2021 curriculum to be ready June 12, 2020.
  • The late release of the translated Spanish version of the TEKS may delay the release of Estudios Sociales to later in June.
  • Secondary tweaks - Our team annually reviews the curriculum to respond to feedback issues as well as improve curriculum pacing through minor changes such as improving language of a performance assessment, moving a student expectation to a better unit, or flipping the position of a unit understanding within the unit. These revisions are complete and the secondary social studies curriculum is ready for 2020-2021 planning.
  • A new Vertical Alignment Document is being prepared and reviewed by ESC social studies specialists. We have adopted a conceptual approach for building a true K-12 alignment. This improved design will require a redesign of the VAD website for social studies. Regardless of whether the site is complete, the conceptual VAD will be released in a draft form by August.
Resources
  • Elementary Backward Design documents have already been posted for the 2020-2021 school year to facilitate the planning many districts have already begun.
  • Secondary grade levels now have a visual vocabulary flash card set. Elementary flash cards will be added with the publishing of streamlined elementary grade levels.
  • A gap tool will be released shortly. Given the lack of spiraled content in social studies courses, the focus will be on the social studies skills that may need reinforcement.
  • Region 13 has published a series of History Labs developed by ESC social studies specialists. These labs are free and even available via Canvas courses. See these at https://store.esc13.net/search?type=product&q=history+lab.
Communications
  • Follow our Twitter updates via @TEKS_RS_SS.
  • Follow our blog covering challenging TEKS and providing instructional strategies at https://teksrusss.edublogs.org/.
Social Studies Content Advisory Group