Instructional Coaches

CLICK HERE to access the Instructional Coach Scope of Work overview. 

Instructional Coaches will convene on Monday, August 12, at 8:00am, at the TLA.  See the following flyer for additional details: CLICK HERE for Instructional Coach Flyer

This flyer has also been shared in email with all Instructional Coaches.

Please connect with your Network Leader, Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Myracle, or Dr. Maples with any additional questions.

Audience: Directors of Schools
Contact: Kristian.Dennison@tn.gov

The state department is excited to announce the release of five additional on-demand professional development modules focusing on statistics for middle and high school math educators. The modules are designed to continue building teachers’ knowledge around concepts in statistics with a focus on the vertical progression of statistics standards from grade 6 through high school. Each on-demand module will cover an hour of content, and upon submission, teachers will earn a certificate of completion that can be used toward professional development points and TASL credit.  

The modules will be released in three stages and can be accessed directly on TeachALL. 

• The first three modules, which focus on the statistical problem-solving process, asking questions, and univariate data, were released in June. 
• The second round of modules is now available. The topics include bivariate data, study design, and probability definitions, sample space, and rules.  
• The final round will be released in the fall. The topics will include probability towards inference, types of distributions, and comparisons across distributions. 

Any middle or high school math teachers, and those leaders who support them, will benefit from this on-demand, asynchronous learning opportunity. Additional resources to support teachers and leaders in implementing the revised statistics standards can be found on the Statistics landing page on Best for ALL Central.  

Audience: Directors of Schools
Contact: Donna.Shope@tn.gov

Tennessee is dedicated to engaging and empowering families to participate in their student’s education. Best for ALL Central offers numerous resources to assist families that can be used in various ways, including open house events, parent engagement events, and more. Additionally, they are excellent tools for parent-teacher conferences or as additional support for parents of students needing extra help.

Please visit Best for ALL Central or click the links below to access these updated resources! 

• Family Reading Resources (Including the Interactive Decodable Book Series) 
• Understanding Student Testing: A Toolkit for Families 
• Understanding Response to Intervention (RTI2): A Toolkit for Families 
• A Guide for Parent-Teacher Conferences and Engaging with Your Child’s School: A Toolkit for Families 
• *NEW  Understanding Literacy: A Toolkit for Families 
• *NEW  Understanding a Sounds-First Approach: A Toolkit for Families 
• *NEW  Supporting Literacy at Home: A Toolkit for Families 
• Family Math Fluency Resources 

Additionally, we would love to hear from your educators and families using these resources to better understand which ones are most helpful and identify any additional resources needed to support students. Please share the brief surveys below with your educators and families to provide feedback. 

• Interactive Decodable Book Series Feedback Survey 
• Families as Partners Toolkits Feedback Survey 

Welcome back, K-12 ELA teachers!

As we begin this exciting school year in ELA, please check out the  Curriculum Maps and Supporting Documents folders found on the MSCS SharePoint. There teachers can acess curriculum maps, unit/lesson preparation guidance and more.  Simply click the link below and select the Curriculum Maps tab found in the gray Menu section.

http://www.scsk12.org/ci

Additonally, "Getting Started" curriculum guides for K-5 Wonders ConnectED and 6-12 Savvas myPerspectives online platforms are available. These guides provide new and returning teachers tips on how to access the online platforms, navigate your digital teacher account, create and edit online calendars, manage digital assignments and assessments, access on-demand videos, and more!

K-5 Wonders Getting Started Guidance

6-12 Savvas myPerspectives Getting Started Guidance

Textbooks:

• Consumables
  • The following consumables were ordered based on projected enrollment and are continuing to be delivered:
    • Delivered by MSCS Warehouse
      • 3rd Grade Social Studies
    • Delivered by TN Book Company
      • K-5 Wonders Reading & Writing Companions
      • K-5 Envision Math
      • K-5 Inspire Science be a Scientist Student Journal
      • K-2 Social Studies Weekly
      • 6-8 iReady Math
      • 6-8 HMH Tennessee Science
      • 9-12 Tennessee Reveal Math Algebra 2
• Inventory
  • As you receive the non-consumable deliveries, please update your inventory spreadsheet accordingly.  Principals and Textbook Coordinators have access to the Textbook SharePoint.
• Mathematical Reasoning for Decision Making – High School Course
  • Curriculum & Instruction is currently working with TN Book Company to finalize the purchase of the adopted textbook, because the state-level textbook committee finalized the adoption at the end of the summer.  In the interim, the Q1 Curriculum Map for this course includes the login credentials for the demo account.  Virtual access will be prioritized once the purchase is finalized.
• Textbook Support
  • If you have not received your consumables by COB, Monday, August 5, contact Dave Barrett (901-416-5870, barretdr@scsk12.org).
  • As textbooks are being distributed to teachers and students throughout August, ensure the textbook distribution is being documented.  The distribution documentation will need to be uploaded to your Textbook folder by August 30.

Virtual Textbook Access:

• Virtual textbook access is forthcoming.  The previously utilized Thrivist Classgather purchase was not renewed for the 2024-25 school year; therefore, IT is currently working to align course codes and textbooks in Clever. As virtual access becomes available, updates will be provided.  In the interim, please refer to each content area’s Getting Started Document available in the Curriculum & Instruction SharePoint (Curriculum Tools-Content Area-Supporting Documents), which includes the generic demo account login credentials.
• Access to the Social Studies textbooks is the current priority since non-consumable copies are no longer available for purchase.  Additionally, access for Memphis Virtual Schools is prioritized.  Click the following link to review the list of currently prioritized textbooks: SS Virtual Textbook Priority and MVS Virtual Textbook Priority.
• Additional textbooks will be prioritized according to student and teacher usage during the 2023-24 school year.

School principals are asked to identify a a MTSS (formerly RTIA) Lead and Co-Lead who will support your school with remaining On Target for Success with strong RTIA implementation while working closely with RTIB staff.  

You should only complete this Form if you need to make updates to what you previously submitted in July.  

Access to the On Target for Success SharePoint will only be granted to principals and MTSS Leads and Co-Leads.  These same people will be who will receive any communication related to RTIA so that they can communicate with other school staff as appropriate.

August 2024 PD.pdf

There will be two opportunities for new and returning MTSS Leads, Co-Leads, and principals to engage in TNPulse Back to School Training via Microsoft Teams. 

TNPulse Back to School Training
This Microsoft Teams virtual session is intended to provide an overview of the TNPulse platform and will support with creating and updating RTIA plans as well as with ILP-Ds.

Audience: New and Returning MTSS School Leads (K-12) 

Register in PLZ#36896

The Fall Universal Screener Window will be open August 12-30, 2024.  Students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade should complete the iReady ELA and Math Diagnostic as well as Written Expression.  For any student who is flagged at risk for Characteristics of Dyslexia falling below the 15th percentile (guidance updated by TDOE), you will follow the screening guidance for the additional assessments and steps.  

Remember that the Teacher of Record should not administer the universal screeners.  Check with the MTSS Lead for the school universal screener schedule. MTSS Leads and Principals should monitor the progress to ensure completion.

Questions can be emailed to RTI2@scsk12.org.

To support the work of connecting students to meaningful experiences through school-based clubs and organizations, school teams are asked to host at least Power of One Day within the first three weeks of school. During this time, school teams will provide opportunities for students to sign-up for school-based clubs and organizations. School teams may consider structuring these opportunities in a scheduled club day, sign-up fair, during homerooms, lunches, etc. Please submit the date for your school’s Power of One Day here. 

On or before September 4, students are asked to complete the Power of One Day survey to provide feedback. Click here to view the survey. 

Additionally, by September 4, school leaders are asked to submit a list of available clubs and organizations to: mscsstudentexperience@scsk12.org. Click here for a sample template.