Minutes
Quincy School Committee
Teaching & Learning Subcommittee Meeting
March 6, 2017
A meeting of the Teaching & Learning Subcommittee was held on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 5:00 pm
in the Coddington Building. Present were Mr. Paul Bregoli, Mrs. Kathryn Hubley, Mrs. Emily Lebo, and
Ms. Barbara Isola, Chair. Also attending were Superintendent DeCristofaro, Deputy Superintendent
Kevin Mulvey, Ms. Elizabeth Hallett, Ms. Maura Papile, Ms. Erin Perkins, Ms. Kimberly Quinn, Ms.
Madeline Roy, Ms. Bridget Vaughn; Quincy Education Association President Allison Cox; and Ms.
Laura Owens, Clerk.
Director of Special Education Erin Perkins and Elementary Curriculum Team Administrator Kimberly
Quinn presented on Guided Math at the elementary school level. The goal of Guided Math is
meeting student needs based on their zone of proximal development: what a learner can do with
guidance. Guided Math is flexible, data-driven, small group instruction for all students, not just those
who are struggling. It is independent, meaningful practice; hands-on learning; and differentiates
instruction. Ms. Quinn reviewed a typical Guided Math block: teachers will begin with an activator
(an activity to engage students in math), followed by a mini-lesson on the topic for the day. Small
group instruction focused on where students are in their learning occurs at the teacher table,
followed by independent, differentiated hands-on activities. The lesson concludes with a wrap up
where students share and reflect on what they have learned. Students may complete an informal
assessment (exit ticket) and this assists in forming groups for the next day. For some grades, the
formal assessment is the normed MAP Benchmark Assessment which provides data on achievement
and growth, the learning continuum where students are performing against a certain standard.
In reviewing the Guided Math implementation with teachers, challenges cited include time to
develop materials and centers (addressed through professional development opportunities where
teachers shared materials); classroom management (keeping students not involved in the small group
instruction focused on their tasks); and organization of materials (evolving over the school year,
teachers may group by standard or month to match scope and sequence). Ms. Quinn shared the
website developed to share Guided Math tools and materials for assessment, fluency, and math apps
and websites. Reference materials and resource links are also found here, including the common
pacing guide.
Mrs. Lebo said this is an incredible endeavor for our students, thanked the presenters. Mrs. Lebo
asked about assessments, the MAP is the formal assessment, exit tickets are teacher-created informal
assessments. The Go Math! program has assessments, and teachers are also asking for time to
develop assessments. Mrs. Lebo asked about what percentage of elementary teachers are using this; all teachers are have implemented this model. Schools have the goal to do this twice per week and
this was part of School Improvement Plans; many teachers are doing it every day.
Mrs. Hubley asked if students at the younger grades have issues with the multiple transitions. Ms.
Quinn said that teachers are developing flexible approaches to allow for individual students to move
quickly or slowly through the options as students feel comfortable, but for most students this is an
amazing demonstration of independence.
Mr. Bregoli asked about engagement of students, will some students not be self-motivated when
they are not in the small group with the teacher. Mrs. Perkins said there are students who have a
more difficult time with independence, teachers can support them more by directing the rotation.
Mrs. Perkins said that the activities are engaging so that assists with the reluctant student. Some
teachers are having students self-assess as a way towards reinforcing the expected behaviors. Mr.
Bregoli asked about how much time is allotted for Math. Mrs. Perkins said, depending on the day,
60-90 minute blocks. In the shorter blocks, the teacher may not be able to spend time with all
groups, will schedule time with them over two days.
Mrs. Lebo asked how will Mrs. Perkins and Ms. Quinn will determine the success of the program.
Mrs. Perkins said through the assessments. Guided Math was piloted in Title I schools last year, Snug
Harbor in particular showed high growth in Mathematics.
Senior Director of Curriculum Madeline Roy and Middle School Curriculum Team Administrator
Bridget Vaughn presented the Close Reading skills being implemented at the elementary and middle
school levels. In consultation with literary consultant Dr. Nancy Boyles, teachers are instructing
students on recognizing author’s tone or perspective, the implications of the author’s word choices,
and why a text is structured or organized as it is. Additionally, readers should go beyond a text,
evaluating its quality or value, comparing it with other text, or determining its implications. By using
purposeful annotation during close reading, students are learning to pause after reading a section
and leave a “trail of breadcrumbs” that will assist them in constructing an essay.
Ms. Roy said that new text resources at the middle school level supported by School Committee’s
budget allocation is the Collections program, available in print and digitally. This program is a balance
of complex texts with collections of fiction, nonfiction, informational, plays, and short stories. There
are interactive lessons and student resources. The program is fully implemented at Grade 8, where
curriculum alignment is underway. Grades 6 and 7 are piloting the digital resource. In a lesson Ms.
Roy observed, students participated in collaborative discussions, analyzed the text, speaking and
listening, and there were opportunities for the teacher to add information. Special Education
teachers can provide lesson scaffolding, accommodations, and support during the inclusion block. An
additional resource is Inside the Text, a supplemental resource full of high interest informational text
for Tier II support in fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Next steps include creating flipped
classroom activities, professional development and training for new users, and teacher-created professional development for advances users. Grades 6 and 7 materials will be purchased this
summer for fall 2017 implementation.
Mrs. Lebo asked about moving towards the digital components and asked about online annotation.
This is a private feature that students are able to utilize. Ms. Isola said she likes to hear how we are
integrating technology, especially these sidebar features, into classroom instruction to assist
students.
Mrs. Perkins presented an update of the Kindergarten Report Card rollout; the first term of report
cards and parent conferences are completed. Teacher feedback about the efficacy of assessment led
to the creation of a standards spreadsheet that teachers can print and use as an observation
checklist. At the end of the school year, feedback will be incorporated as
Mrs. Lebo asked to see a Kindergarten report card and asked about surveying parents about their
thoughts. Ms. Isola agreed and said she’d like to hear from parents who have Kindergarten students
and older children for a comparison of newer Kindergarten report cards to former system.
Ms. Roy presented an update on the upcoming Digital Learning Week, March 27-31. This is a week to
celebrate the things happening every day in QPS classrooms. Digital learning lessons will be featured
on SchoolTube. After school trainings will be scheduled for teachers where veteran technology
educators can share technology insights with their colleagues.
Ms. Isola introduced the last item on the agenda, Homework Assignments During School Vacations.
Dr. DeCristofaro said that a reminder will be shared with all principals about not assigning projects or
homework due immediately after vacation per the School Committee Policy.
Ms. Isola agreed and said it is important that the policy be consistently implemented; we request
parents not take their students out of school for vacations so we need to respect the need for family
time during the scheduled breaks.
Mrs. Hubley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 pm. Mrs. Lebo seconded the motion and
on a voice vote, the ayes have it.