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District highlights new K–12 art curriculum, iPad classroom work and teacher training
Summary
Staff reported the district adopted a comprehensive K–12 art curriculum, renewed music and computer-science materials, expanded kindergarten–third-grade writing training and shared examples of iPad-enabled classroom work and student projects.
Cheryl Wilkinson (staff member) updated the Bixby Public Schools Board of Education on curriculum adoptions, professional development and classroom technology.
The district has completed the state-required materials review for fine arts and computer science. Staff said the board will be asked to approve contracts on the meeting agenda to adopt a comprehensive art curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade from Art of Education, to renew Quaver for music, and to continue existing career-technical and Project Lead The Way materials for computer science.
Why this matters: Adopting a single, districtwide art curriculum would be the district’s first comprehensive K–12 art adoption, standardizing instruction across schools. Staff also described a multi-year effort to train kindergarten through third-grade teachers in a writing workshop model; the board was presented with a summer training proposal to complete training for teachers who have not yet participated.
Classroom technology and student work
Wilkinson described interactive lessons at the high school using iPads and Adobe Aero to create virtual gallery walks and highlighted math classroom work where students use iPad tools inside Canvas to draw, measure and submit geometry assignments. The district’s secondary digital learning coach, Sierra Thompson, led training on those tools in February, staff said. Wilkinson said the iPad tools allowed students to annotate images, construct shapes and submit work electronically through Canvas, enabling new forms of student interaction and documentation.
Instructional coaching and classroom examples
Wilkinson showed short classroom videos produced by the district’s instructional coaches that spotlight teacher practices across elementary and secondary sites. One featured first-grade teacher Toby Campbell at West Elementary working with a nonverbal student using SnapWords (picture-based sight words with actions). In the video, Campbell introduced the method and described progress: “She’s up to 35 of these [with pictures], and she’s up to 25 without the pictures,” Campbell said. Campbell said the next step is to create a custom book the student can take home.
Staff told the board the district will offer eight days of summer training to finish writer’s workshop training for kindergarten through third-grade teachers who have not yet completed the multi-year rollout. Wilkinson said after this summer, trained staff will be able to provide follow-up training in-house.
Ending: Wilkinson invited questions; none were raised during the meeting. Staff will present formal contract documents for curriculum materials on the agenda for board approval.
