School Board Shines Spotlight On Science
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The focus was on the science department on Monday evening as the Garden City Board of Education and public listened to a presentation led by Gail Bennington, district coordinator of science.

Science teachers are currently integrating open-ended questions to allow students to respond analytically, providing exemplars for lab reports and assigning current event articles from periodicals to enhance science awareness. They are addressing the need for diversity by: teaching note-taking skills for science, using demonstrations, providing handouts to support lesson, utilizing PowerPoint presentations, video resources, group tasks other than labs, and hands-on activities and using self-directed learning programs such as School Island and interactive Web sites.

Goals for next year include administering a survey prepared by the science curriculum coordinator and a Hofstra University professor to the primary and elementary classroom teachers. The data will be analyzed over the summer. A "buddy system" will be established between primary and elementary school teachers and staff development will be provided to enhance content knowledge.

Other goals include establishing a pilot data warehouse at the high school level, reviewing New York State Science Core Curriculum for grades 5 through 8 to look for gaps and overlaps, comparing final grades to assessment scores and analyzing grade 4 ELS assessment data to identify possible gaps/overlaps in elementary curriculum.

Since starting as superintendent in 2005, one of Dr. Feirsen's goals has been to find a systematized way of looking at curriculum to ensure that it is aligned with what is learned in the classroom. Several things influence curriculum, including budget, state mandates, developmental needs, what we know about learning, college/work requirements, community expectations and standards.

Dr. Feirsen has been integrating five phases of the curriculum cycle into the school district. The first phase, which is known as the "spotlight year," is a time to collect and organize information. In phase II, which is scheduled for 2007-2008, the data is reviewed and analyzed and a strategic plan is established. The third phase involves actual implementation. In phase IV, implementation continues, but is closely monitored and adjustments are made. Phase V is a time to evaluate and reflect.

In other news, School Board members discussed the Educational Records Bureau Writing Assessment Program, known as WRaP. It is a writing assessment that differs from other tests because it is scored analytically using a six-trait, six-point rubric. If the Board decides to move forward, the assessment will be given to students in grades 3, 7 and 9. It provides a direct assessment of a student's writing ability by requiring a writing sample. The results can help teachers target instruction in writing. For more information, visit www.erbtest.org/schools/achievement/wrap.