Academics
Benchmark Assessments
- Administer twice a year: in first 9 weeks of school and again before the last day of the school year
- Administer to all students in grades K-8 Benchmark assessments must:
- measure proficiency in reading and mathematics
- be aligned to Michigan’s academic content standards
- complement Michigan’s summative assessment system
- Assessment results must be shared with parents within 30 days of test administration
State of MI Assessments
College Board
The College Board assessments consist of a series of standardized tests designed to evaluate students' academic readiness for college. These assessments include the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and SAT.
- PSAT 8/9: This assessment is intended for students in grades 8 and 9. It measures skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, helping students understand their college readiness while providing practice for future assessments.
- PSAT 10: Administered in grade 10, the PSAT 10 is similar to the PSAT 8/9 but is tailored for older students. It assesses the same areas—reading, writing, and mathematics—and offers insights into academic performance and potential.
- SAT: The SAT is a college admission test typically taken by high school students in their junior or senior year. It evaluates a student's readiness for college through sections on reading, writing and language, math, and an optional essay. SAT scores are used by colleges and universities as part of the admission process.
MSTEP
The Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) is a standardized assessment administered to students in grades 3 through 8 in Michigan. It measures proficiency in key academic areas, including English language arts and mathematics, as well as social studies and science for certain grades. The M-STEP is designed to evaluate student understanding of Michigan's academic standards and inform instruction and educational decisions. The assessments are typically conducted in the spring, and results are used to gauge student performance, school effectiveness, and guide curriculum development.
WIDA
WIDA, or the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment, is a consortia aimed at supporting the academic achievement of multilingual learners. It provides resources, assessments, and professional development for educators to ensure that English language learners receive the necessary support to succeed in their educational environments. WIDA's framework focuses on language development as a critical component of learning across all subjects and grade levels, facilitating a comprehensive approach to teaching diverse student populations.
Elementary Curriculum
District MICIP Plan
35j Literacy Grant
In the spring of 2024, the Michigan Department of Education awarded a grant to Vestaburg Community Schools $85,236 to "improve literacy instructional practices by investing in quality, research-based best practices, and professional learning."
VCS Elementary Literacy Plan Components:
Assessment (Pre-K-5):
- Students take Acadience to conduct initial assessments to determine current literacy levels
- Benchmark Assessment NWEA MAP
- Staff continue to use running records, phonics assessments, and comprehension checks to determine if interventions are needed.
Instruction:
- Use a balanced literacy approach incorporating reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities in all elementary classrooms.
- Provide a reading coach to support classroom instruction at the tier-one level.
- Implement small group instruction for targeted interventions across all elementary classrooms.
- All PreK-2 teachers are using UFLI within their classrooms to support the learning gaps in reading.
- 90% of our elementary teachers are LETRS trained. This provided the reading foundational background knowledge for teachers. It helps them understand the why behind reading.
Reading Strategies:
- Teach a variety of reading strategies such as predicting, summarizing, visualizing, and making connections.
- Encourage students to engage in independent reading and provide opportunities for book discussions.
- As an elementary staff, we will take a deep dive into one of the literacy essentials.
Phonics and Vocabulary:
- Integrate systematic phonics instruction to develop decoding skills.
- Teach vocabulary through context clues, word study activities, & exposure to rich language.
- Identifying and closing skill gaps early is essential and provides a strong foundation for reading success. With our new digital platform, you’ll ensure all students receive the targeted instruction they need to quickly graduate from intervention. This online training provided by the 95% group would support the intervention team in matching the correct intervention to the right students based on their academic needs. Each training is provided virtually.
Writing Skills:
- Teach writing processes including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
- Provide opportunities for creative writing, journaling, and responding to texts.
- Writing Revolution is a program that is designed to bridge the gap between Benchmark Reading/writing programs. It is designed to support our upper elementary students with learning loss. This method builds from sentence to compositions and it is embedded in curricula across all content areas and grade levels.
Technology Integration:
- Utilize educational technology tools for literacy activities and assessments.
- Incorporate digital resources for reading comprehension, vocabulary building, and writing practice.
- Integrate the use of interactive white boards to improve student learning and engagement.
Professional Development:
- Provide training and resources for teachers to enhance their literacy instruction skills.
- Encourage collaboration among educators to share best practices and strategies.
- Professional development for the 95% Group is all done virtually. Our intervention team can support and gain a deeper understanding of the necessary concepts based on our student's data.
- Writing Revolution professional development is also done virtually. It starts with foundational skill building for staff then advances into a deeper thinking about writing and how to best teach writing. This will be used to support the writing process at the upper elementary level.
Literacy
- Michigan K-12 ELA Standards
- ELA Crosswalks: Claims, Targets, and Standards
- Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy
- Essential School-Wide Practices in Disciplinary Literacy: Grades 6 to 12
- Achieve the Core - ELA / Literacy: Text Complexity & Analysis
- Achieve the Core - ELA / Literacy: Text-Dependent Questions
- Achieve the Core - ELA / Literacy: Foundational Skills
Mathematics
- Michigan K-12 Math Standards
- Mathematics Crosswalks: Claims, Targets, and Standards
- Essential Instructional Practices in Early Mathematics: Prekindergarten to Grade 3
- Essential School and Center-Wide Practices in Literacy and Mathematics: Prekindergarten to Grade 5
- Achieve the Core Math Focus Documents by Grade Level
Science
- Michigan K-12 Science State Standards
- Next Generation Science Standards
- Open Sci Ed
- Mi-STAR Middle School Science Curriculum
- ML-PBL OER Grade 3-5 Science Curriculum
Social Studies
- Michigan K-12 Social Studies Standards
- MC3 Framework
- Michigan Open Book
- MC3 Units: Oakland Atlas Rubicon
- Michigan Social Studies Hub