Curriculum and Instruction Update

Saraland City School System employees have attended numerous trainings during the summer months to gain scientific research-based strategies to ensure the curriculum, instructional practices, and assessments are rigorous and relevant for the 2012-2013 school year. Central Office employees, teachers, and administrators attended Mega Conference, conducted by the State Department of Education, to ascertain the most current information concerning curriculum and instruction. In addition, Saraland’s teachers participated in trainings offered through the South Alabama Research and Inservice Center. These trainings focused on the new Common Core English/Language Arts Standards and other relevant topics.

Secondary teachers attended several Pre-AP and AP trainings, offered by A+ College Ready and College Board. These trainings enable teachers to teach the Pre-AP/AP curriculum correctly and effectively and assist high school teachers in adhering to the guidelines of the A+ College Ready Grant they received during the 2010-2011 school year. Middle school and high school teachers will continue to meet to align instruction for the core content subjects during the upcoming school year.

Elementary and middle school teachers attended Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) trainings to acquire innovative strategies for teaching mathematics. Kindergarten, first, and second grade teachers will continue training with AMSTI throughout the school year. These trainings assist teachers in implementing hands-on math instruction to strengthen students’ procedural and problem solving skills and motivate them to embrace math at an early age.

During the pre-inservice days, Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) presenters will train all special education teachers at Saraland Elementary School in best practices for teaching content literacy. The strategies presented in this training will strengthen students’ reading comprehension skills and enhance vocabulary development. In addition, fourth and fifth grade teachers will continue their intense study and application of best practices for content literacy.

The Saraland City School System looks forward to working throughout the year with students, parents, and the community.  Welcome back!