On May 20, the Salisbury Township School Board’s Curriculum and Technology Committee held its monthly meeting via Zoom. The main order of business was to discuss the adoption of a new plan for teaching mathematics concepts for students in grades kindergarten through eighth throughout the district.

Director of Teaching and Learning Kelly Pauling discussed the culmination of over a year’s worth of work looking into best possible curriculum options for Salisbury students.

Over the discovery period, the team looked at programs for all grade levels and developed criteria, administered surveys and assessed available math programs. Looking outside of their team, they sought guidance by visiting other schools and attending presentations by publishers of different curriculum options.

The result of this vetting process will be the adoption of the combination of Zearn and Eureka tools for teaching math. Envisions, the current math curriculum, ends their licensure with the district June 30 with staff members in agreement the curriculum presented significant issues and would not be renewed for the 2020-2021 academic year.

“It is unusual that we would recommend two programs,” Pauling said, but continued by explaining the benefits found in using the dual-program approach. Zearn works in concert with Eureka, by designing the content found there as digital components for smaller groups. “The combination of Eureka and Zearn is very powerful - they each offer something,” Pauling noted.

Since these programs are open education resources, the district does not need to pay for the intellectual property and it allows the teacher to pick and choose components they find work best. Another major benefit to the combination of programs for kindergarten through eighth graders is they offer extensive intervention supports and all content aligns to current district standards.

Math fluency activities and “number gym” exercises are adapted to individual student needs based in the digital environment. New math concepts are introduced through teacher-led instruction, with lessons taught across four “core-days” which allows time for every student to participate in small group instruction. Instructors then choose where to focus students, based on their performance in digital lessons.

On the fifth day, further individualized content is generated, based on student performance throughout the week.

Many concepts are brought from the digital realm into the real world using concrete manipulatives, or physical objects such as 10 blocks, pictures, counters, etc. which then translate to written/abstract concepts and allows for a seamless blending between digital learning and pencil-to-paper skills.

The lessons also include “exit tickets” which provide closure, which is noted as best practice for math instruction.

The cost to move to the Zearn/Eureka curriculum would come in at about $17,000, some of which may be grant-funded. The board approved this switch, as well as a transition for the high school from the Alg/Geo series which was not serving students well, to an Algebra 1, 2 and geometry curriculum across grade levels nine through 12.

The teaching and learning update for this month focused on how the continuity of learning plan in the district connected with English Language Learners and their families. Teams worked to provide translations of Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss’ community letters posted to the website and added a translation button there as well. ELL teachers maintained daily check-ins with families, created instructional videos, offered a homework club and conducted small group and individual Zoom tutoring sessions.

While teachers offering support to this group of students did run up against challenges, such as loss of adult support due to family members working outside the home, great successes were also realized. ELL instructors noted increased bonds between families and teachers, as well as increased participation by many students - some students felt energized by using distance learning.

The meeting closed by covering end-of-year plans for students. The last day of learning will be June 1 and each building will schedule and notify families of curbside device drop-off times and windows for personal item pickup.

The next curriculum and technology committee meeting will be held 7 p.m. June 8 via Zoom.