Educator Effectiveness

Teachers' Top Three from ESE - August 13, 2015

1. Resource: Over 130 Model Curriculum Units Available
   In collaboration with Massachusetts educators and school districts, ESE developed over 130 model curriculum units (MCUs) through Race to the Top. These units are intended to help educators implement the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. The MCUs cover grades PK-12 and include English language arts and literacy; history and social science; mathematics; science, technology and engineering; and career/vocational technical education. All MCUs use the Understanding by Design process developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe.
   
   Massachusetts educators are encouraged to adopt the units as they are, adapt the units to meet their curriculum needs, and/or use the units as models for developing their own curriculum units. You can download the units and curriculum maps, view videos, and read about districts' implementation on the MCU website.

2. FYI: RETELL Registration Open
   The Department started RETELL approximately four years ago after noting the growing numbers of English language learners in classrooms and the proficiency gaps between them and their peers. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice had informed ESE that Massachusetts had failed to take appropriate action to overcome ELLs' language barriers by not defining and mandating the training that educators must have to provide effective sheltered English immersion (SEI).
   
   Thousands of teachers have found RETELL training useful in their everyday work. In a survey of more than 9,000 teachers who were trained in 2013-14 and 2014-15, most felt that they:
   

   • learned skills they could apply directly to their practice
   • increased their understanding of how to meet ELLs' needs in the classroom; and
   • learned how to differentiate instruction for ELLs who are at different proficiency levels.
   
   Fall 2015 registration for RETELL (Rethinking Equity and Teaching for English Language Learners) is open until Sept. 25. Teachers register according to the cohort to which their district was assigned.
   
   Spring 2016 RETELL registration will open Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. and close Jan. 15.
   
   Individuals who need help with registration or issues related to Blackboard Learn should call the RETELL Helpdesk at (888) 789-1109, use the Helpdesk's online chat, or submit a ticket.
   
   Anyone with inquiries about RETELL that are not related to registration can submit a ticket through the COMiT Inquiry System.

3. The Buzz: ESEA Reauthorization
   With both the House and Senate passing bills to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the most recent version of which was No Child Left Behind), education has been a hot topic this summer. Congress is in recess, and the conference committee will resume discussions in September. In CommonWealth, Michael Jonas writes about Congress' efforts, the Massachusetts delegation, and whether the reauthorization will hold states accountable for intervening in the lowest performing schools.