Whitman Elementary - Tulsa Public Schools

Whitman ES District Capacity
District: Tulsa Public Schools
Learning Center.
While curriculum units for mathematics, science, social studies and other contents have not been fully
developed to the CCSS, we have informed our district schools of the rigor these standards require by bringing
to TPS Skip Fennel during the 2010 school year. These mathematicians are highly knowledgeable of the CCSS
mathematics standards. All mathematics teachers and principals were invited to attend sessions.
We are exploring mathematics “look‐fors” to assist teachers and leaders in recognizing and informing rigorous
instructional practices.
Further, a video prepared by our curriculum department with a facilitator’s guide was prepared and delivered
electronically to all principals in the district at their request. This tool better equipped the principals as
instructional leaders as they prepare their staffs for CCSS and rigorous standards.
The district curriculum department prepares writing prompts for schools to utilize as instructional materials.
During the Principals’ Leadership Conference, staff conducted sessions to support principals and leadership
teams as they collaboratively score students’ work and developed a common understanding of the
expectations for quality student writing using a rubric.
Creating content teams in 2012, the curriculum department will work with mathematics, science, social
studies, arts and literacy to further the development of quality, rigorous curricula using the research from Larry
Ainsworth to unwrap standards and write quality common assessments. This further advances the continuous
work of creating a strong instructional program that is research‐based, rigorous and aligned with state
standards.
DETERMINATION OF CAPACITY BY REVIEWERS AND COMMENTS
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