ODE K-5 Educator Newsletter
June 13, 2024
June is a time of celebration– with students graduating, the school year ending, Pride Month, Juneteenth, and much more. It’s also a time to look ahead to the next school year. This newsletter includes resources intended to help you navigate these important occasions and transitions, as well as to provide you with some announcements and opportunities.
We hope you will find this newsletter helpful, alongside the newly launched Learning Standards for K-5 website.
Photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash
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The Oregon Department of Education is excited to share the Transformative Social Emotional Learning Framework and Standards Implementation Guidance. This resource is designed to support district and school implementation of Oregon’s TSEL standards and framework.
As you plan to integrate Transformative SEL into your K-5 schools and classrooms, please consider the CASEL 3 Signature Practices. These practices include an Inclusive Welcome, Engaging Strategies, and an Intentional Close. They provide opportunities to build strong, healthy relationships with students and to create equitable and just learning environments that elevate the identities and perspectives of all students. Engaging students with the CASEL 3 Signature Practices helps build social and emotional skills and helps to foster a climate of belonging and care for all students. Please review strategies and activities that reflect the 3 Signature Practices and consider their relevance for K-5 classrooms.
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Science
The Going 3D with GRC is a collection of vetted, three-dimensional lessons that support Oregon Science Standards (NGSS). The Gather, Reason, Communicate (GRC) framework is a student centered instructional approach that provides a structure to engage students in making sense of a phenomenon through the science and engineering practices. The GRC Framework may also be used within a 5-E model lesson plan to connect analogous phenomenon.
By organizing instruction around phenomenon, students figure out why or how something happens instead of learning disconnected facts. The elementary links below provide examples of how to utilize phenomena driven instruction in a lesson that could be organized by grade level.
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Language Arts
The ODE Jumpstart Kindergarten Toolkit was newly released in Spanish. Jump Start Kindergarten is an evidence-based kindergarten transition program that occurs in the summer before kindergarten starts. Jump Start Kindergarten serves as an important bridge for young children and families, building on their strengths and lived experiences to secure belonging and promote early learning. On pages 29 and 30 of the toolkit, you will find a section dedicated to early literacy program planning considerations along with a wealth of resources to help support. The information found in this section can provide children and families a chance to ease into kindergarten routines, activities, and learning time with fewer children and more adult support, the conditions for belonging, success, and learning take root.
Social Science
Although Juneteenth is commemorated when most K-12 schools are on summer break, this state and federal holiday is a valuable part of American history. The end of the school year is a fantastic opportunity to discuss this upcoming holiday.
There are many resources available this month to celebrate Juneteenth and Pride month, and to close out the year with strong social science instruction.
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OHS Workshop for K-5 Primary Resources and Professional Development Opportunity
- OHS offers a variety of classroom-ready primary sources, featuring historical images, objects, and documents, for elementary classrooms that highlight the experiences of the diverse groups that have called Oregon home since time immemorial to today.
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Ethnic Studies through a Geographic Lens, a three-day institute for K-12 Oregon educators on teaching the new Oregon Social Science Standards Integrated with Ethnic Studies through a geographic lens, by the Center for Geography Education in Oregon (C-GEO) and OHS.
- Pride Month History Background from Library of Congress
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Local Community Events Celebrating Pride Month
Section image of the Juneteenth Flag
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Math
Registration is now open for the 2024 OCTM Oregon Math Leader (OML) conference, held August 7-9, 2024, at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR. This year’s theme is Community & Belonging, underscoring the power of collaboration and the joy of shared learning among mathematics educators.
OML 2024 is an opportunity for math educators to come together and share ideas, resources, and best practices. The conference features a variety of sessions, workshops, and keynote speakers, focused on improving math education in Oregon.
Physical Education
The benefits of physical fitness for kids spill over into their mental health, new research shows. Getting plenty of exercise may guard against depressive symptoms, anxiety and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found.
Educators can support students to increase their physical activity by providing Oregon State University (OSU) Activity Take Home Sheets. The Activity Sheets are available in both English and Spanish and are a fun way for students to incorporate movement and interact with their family members.
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Health Education & Sexuality Education
Pride month gives chances to celebrate, learn, and reflect on ways to better support students. By exploring LGBTQ2SIA+ affirming books, art, age-appropriate videos, and TV shows, educators, students, and families can join in honoring various ways that communities identify, love each other, and form family.
When planning for next school year now and throughout the summer, consider how to integrate LGBTQ2SIA+ inclusive content, aligned with Oregon’s 2023 Health Education Standards, into health and sexuality education lessons. K-5 standards such as, “4.GD.3: Discuss the importance of treating people with dignity and respect in regards to their sexual orientation, including other students, their family members, and members of the school community” help students see themselves and their families in their lessons and feel connected to school and engaged in learning. More resources to explore include:
Arts
Arts Access Toolkit Highlight: Communicating the Benefits of Arts Education
It’s almost summer and time for celebrations, performances, art shows and opportunities for students to showcase their arts learning! This time of year is a beautiful opportunity to highlight the story of your programs and demonstrate the value they hold for your students and your community. ODE’s Arts Access Toolkit Resource, Communicating the Benefits of Arts Education, may come in handy in conversations about the benefits of arts education for your students. Click to edit this placeholder text.
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