Meeting Notes: Language Arts SAC Meeting from September 26, 2007
Members present: Sally Neil, Jen Wright, Tammy McMarrow, and Kelly Walton
Guest: Melinda Hibbard
Melinda Hibbard [KHS] met with the LA SAC Committee to share course proposal changes for sophomore language arts and for senior AP language arts.
The changes to the sophomore class involved adding several novel selections [Summer of Kings, Rules of Survival, Touching Spirit Bear] to the existing curriculum. The purpose of these additions was to add more choice for students while offering more opportunities for differentiation. These books would be utilized both semesters by sophomore teachers. Melinda will seek funding from the high school principal at the building level. The SAC committee members unanimously voted to approve these additions without consulting the DCC as the changes did not involve a change of curriculum.
The changes to the senior AP class do involve a change to the existing curriculum. The proposal calls for the addition of two books, The Kite Runner and Tuesdays with Morrie. Melinda provided rationale, course descriptions, learning targets, and assessments for both books. These will be presented to the DCC at the October meeting. If the books are approved, Melinda will seek funding from her principal at the building level and then publish titles and make copies available to the public before using the books in the second semester.
Other Discussions:
- Because of Melinda’s proposal, we agreed to collect book lists to share and publish on the district website. Each member will collect a list of books read as whole class reads as well as those read as literature circle selections.
- The Vertical Writing Project was discussed. We agreed to begin reviewing the notes collected during the summer when a K-12 group met and reviewed the student writing collected during the project. The language arts SAC will make a recommendation about the next steps with these notes.
- Members will informally ask teachers about needs to direct our work for the year.
Next Meeting:
- Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 3:30 PM in room 210 at KMS