ISDs Collaborate to provide science and social studies leadership

By Mike Yokum, Oakland Schools

Two projects initiated by Intermediate School Districts, and intended to assist local districts in curriculum work, have gained significant momentum in the state.  One project is developing a complete Kindergarten to grade 12 social studies curriculum and the other is writing priority expectations for science curriculum. 

Michigan Citizenship Collaborative Curriculum

The social studies project, which is named the Michigan Citizenship Collaborative Curriculum, is an online curriculum (www.micitizenshipcurriculum.org) supported by 40 ISDs.  The curriculum includes units of study, lessons, teacher and student materials and videos which help explain how the units and lessons can be taught.  The project is working with the Michigan Assessment Consortium (another ISD collaborative) to develop assessments for the curriculum. The project is managed by a steering committee of ISD social studies consultants who work with writers and editors to develop the materials and place them online.

The project also includes a professional development component. Five ISDs have come together to share professional development using videoconferencing technology. The professional development brings together networks of teachers at a specific grade level.  The teachers are introduced to the curriculum through a series of professional development sessions that take place through the school year.

At each session the teachers are introduced to a new unit of study and the accompanying materials. The teachers also share their experience in teaching earlier units as well as student work. Video clips from each session are posted on the website so that teachers who are not able to attend the sessions can hear an explanation of the unit and lessons from the website.

Science Priority Expectations Project

The science project also involves 40 ISDs working together. On this project, referred to as the Science Priority Expectations Project, ISD science consultants are developing a document that will help local districts identify the most critical content in the science content expectations. 

One of the criticisms that has been targeted at science standards across the country is that the lists of things students should know are so extensive it is hard for teachers to prioritize and forefront in their teaching the learnings that are most important. The science priority expectations will highlight those critically important learnings and demonstrate they are connected to the remainder of the content expectations in science.

If you are interested in either project contact your local intermediate school district.

Michael Yokum is Director of Learning Services  at Oakland Schools. Contact him at Michael.Yocum@oakland.k12.mi.us.