So, my district announced yesterday that we are scrapping our
curriculum and doing CSCOPE next year. Since I help write the kindergarten science curriculum and we just rewrote the ENTIRE THING three weeks ago, um I was a little upset.
curriculum and doing CSCOPE next year. Since I help write the kindergarten science curriculum and we just rewrote the ENTIRE THING three weeks ago, um I was a little upset.
Do you use CSCOPE? I used it in my last
school and I was not a fan. I am kinda heart broken. Why do things keep sucking
my summer joy? LOL! Back from Oklahoma. No passing out or falling down. We had
a great time. On the way home I made a to do list a mile long. I have a week
and a half to go before I leave for I Teach K and Frog Street Press Splash.
OMG! Just typing that is giving me anxiety. I haven’t been able to work on
class themes in a few days which is stressing me out too. Dang you to do list!
Haha! This is how I feel today. You are NOT supposed to feel like this during summer!
school and I was not a fan. I am kinda heart broken. Why do things keep sucking
my summer joy? LOL! Back from Oklahoma. No passing out or falling down. We had
a great time. On the way home I made a to do list a mile long. I have a week
and a half to go before I leave for I Teach K and Frog Street Press Splash.
OMG! Just typing that is giving me anxiety. I haven’t been able to work on
class themes in a few days which is stressing me out too. Dang you to do list!
Haha! This is how I feel today. You are NOT supposed to feel like this during summer!
And, get this! I am THREE episodes behind on The Bachelorette. Geez
Louise! Ok, sorry this has no educational benefit today. I am kinda in a funk
today and am trying to work up the strength to throw myself on the treadmill. I
worked out yesterday and didn’t fly off the treadmill so odds are in my favor
for tonight. I need a swift kick in the rear. J I need to
finish my charts for my Writer’s Workshop Presentation. I am not sure why I
didn’t just take the ones from school that are already made. Instead I thought
I would make new fresh ones. Silly girl!
Louise! Ok, sorry this has no educational benefit today. I am kinda in a funk
today and am trying to work up the strength to throw myself on the treadmill. I
worked out yesterday and didn’t fly off the treadmill so odds are in my favor
for tonight. I need a swift kick in the rear. J I need to
finish my charts for my Writer’s Workshop Presentation. I am not sure why I
didn’t just take the ones from school that are already made. Instead I thought
I would make new fresh ones. Silly girl!
Okay, I am going to go work out. Before
I go, back to this CSCOPE situation. Do you use it? Do you love/hate it? I need
feedback to make me feel better…or worse…or I don’t know.
Haha! I will be back tomorrow with something hopefully meaningful in the
teacher world. Have a great night! Love and virtual hugs!
I go, back to this CSCOPE situation. Do you use it? Do you love/hate it? I need
feedback to make me feel better…or worse…or I don’t know.
Haha! I will be back tomorrow with something hopefully meaningful in the
teacher world. Have a great night! Love and virtual hugs!
Don’t forget..comment please. CSCOPE! Focus. J
Heather says
My school district is slowly adopting CSCOPE. We used the Math last year and are adding Language Arts/ Reading this year. And then the following year, adding science and social studies. Even though we are only adding 1 subject a year, I am still feeling overwhelmed by it all and I even attended the state CSCOPE conference last week. This probably doesn't help much, but I can at least relate.
Heather (heathernnance@yahoo.com)
Lori Rosenberg says
(((Krystal))) I'm so sorry that all your hard work is going to be wasted. I don't have any insight about CSCOPE, but, I just wanted to say that I LOVE the picture you posted of that poor, overworked doggie. It put a big smile on my face! And, congrats for not flying off the treadmill. As an avid treadmill user, I have to clip myself to the treadmill so I don't go flying. Truly, I do!
Ѽ Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com
Jennifer Tilton says
I don;t use CSCOPE, but we are having an overhaul of our pacing due to the Common Core Standards. I feel your pain!
Jennifer
kindertrips
Freckleteacher says
Hi Crystal! I hope you went on your treadmill and worked off some of your stress. I know it feels good to do that! No advice on CSCOPE because I have never heard of that here in the Bay Area of California, but I can tell you I have a hard time with curriculum changes too! Just when we think we have it down, things get changed. I can't believe you worked on the K curriculum and then they pulled this on you. How frustrating!!!!
i will be at the I Teach K conference in Vegas on the 10th and 11th! I can't wait to meet you at the Blogger Meet Up night.
Good luck with your TO DO List! I admire all of the teachers here who are doing so much in their summer for their class and fellow teachers. If people only knew…
Vickie says
Ummm…I am going to sound dumb here, but I have no idea what CSCOPE is! However, if I had just spent time writing something 3 weeks ago only to have it scrapped, I would be just a *little* annoyed!
Is CSCOPE something that goes along with common core? Nevermind, as I typed that I remembered Texas isn't doing common core.
You're so creative, I'm sure you'll do great with whatever you are given 🙂
Vickie
TammySF. says
I have never heard of CSCOPE either?!?! Sorry…no help here.
I do want to invite you over to my site! I've got some great resources that I just posted and I know you would love to have them for your little ones….there's going to be a giveaway EVERY Day for the next 5 days!! WooHoo!!
Tammy
1…2…3…Teach With Me
nvaille says
Our district (in Texas) uses C-Scope for math, science, and social studies (c-scope is beyond awful)- not a fan at all. It is primarily used for the pacing calendar because we are not required to use c-scope lessons (thank goodness). You are completely justified in being a little (really you should be a lot) upset about the change. I'm sorry:(
EveryNewBeginning says
We are also implementing common core… You live in Texas, correct? I know that is one of the few states that isn't.
Good luck! I thought I was the only one who had to re-create the wheel when it came to presentations 🙂
Every New Beginning
Janine says
I have never heard of CSCOPE, but I would die a little if my district decided to change its course at this point. Does it work with Common Core? I would love to help out, but I can't help out with this one. Sorry!
Faithful in First
Kim says
I have used CSCOPE…I don't hate it. It will depend on how exactly your district requires you to use it, but my experience has been using it as more of a pacing reference (what should I be covering this week). My district did not require us to use the exact lessons CSCOPE suggests. As long as we covered the TEKS and objectives we were allowed to make our own lessons. CSCOPE lessons are pretty boring so I hope you all are allowed to do something similar. Hope that helps a little!
Heather's Heart says
We are moving in the direction of CSCOPE and I have looked at some of the lessons and all I can say is BLAH, BLAH, and more BLAH! We won't be required to use them as any more than a resource. We are also moving towards lessons through VBrick which actually sounds pretty amazing.
I am so sorry you did all of that work and now have to work again.
Go have a drink! =)
Heather
Heather's Heart
Kaydi Shaw says
My district has been using Cscope for 5 years. When we first started, we were only allowed to teach Cscope lessons. Now they are optional to us we only have to use the Insructional Focus Documents, Year at a Glance document, and performance indicators as a guide of what to teach when. Hopefully you'll be able to find a way to add the lessons in wrote in with Cscope or as a replacement. Cscope is blah. I'd rather just be given my TEKS and let me teach.
Jessica Stanford says
I'm still stuck on the picture! It's so pathetic hehe
Blessings,
Jessica Stanford
Mrs. Stanford's Class
I need your help! Please check out my last post ♥
Anonymous says
My school uses it. It has its positives and negatives. It is better than nothing and you found out now and not right before school starts.
Katie Lawson says
My school district (in Texas) uses Cscope. At first, as a new teacher it was very confusing to navigate.
We are allowed to tweak the lessons as needed as long as we are following the basic framework.
Some of the concepts are taught for a very long time but I just keep telling myself there must be research backing this.
The only area that has really been a hassle for me is Math. For 2011-12 they did not move the files- resources, attachments, etc…over. We have to go to the previous year & find those resources in the particular unit/lesson. It was really frustrating for me at first. I had to ask another teacher where to find it. When I asked someone who was involved in Cscope & the changes, I did not receive much support-basically "that's just the way it is" vibe.
On the positive side- It is nice to have something to follow especially as a new teacher while you are getting your footing. The guiding questions are pretty helpful. I also like that it provides a list of vocabulary. You can NEVER have too much vocabulary! Good luck! http://kindergartenfunn.blogspot.com/
Mary K says
Hey we have been using CSCOPE for the past 5 years, I am not going to promise you that it is the perfect curriculum, but what I will say is it makes sure each grade level is teaching what they need to be teaching. I teach in a small Texas town and we are not required to use the lessons, they ask us to use the IFD( which by the way will become your best friend) and the sequencing. They really do have some amazing lessons but many times the prep work is just overwhelming. My first year because I am severely OCD I about killed myself going over every document, in the years that followed I have learned to take baby steps as there is A LOT of information. I have given up on trying to print out things for an extended period because they(CSCOPE) is always making changes to improve the "program".
Good Luck
If you ever have any questions feel free to email me, I can try to help you!
mkroll@ascisd.net
Mary 🙂
Christina Collinsworth says
I am not familiar with CSCOPE but my district provides us with National Geographic but even with that they tell us that is not our curriculum… Our curriculum is our standards and we use the NatGeo as supplement to teach the standards and we should not use everything in it but use bits and pieces
Crystal says
Thanks Jeannie! We use Lucy Calkins too. I use golf pencils because kids cannot erase with them and they are small, which makes it easier for them to write. I start my WWS using pipsqueak markers too. The kids love it. I think I will try pens this year too. 🙂
<>< Crystal
The Science Penguin says
CSCOPE is a Texas thing. It is great for scope and sequence, but if you are reading directly from the script as you go through each lesson, you are not doing your students justice. In the past, I look through what lessons they have, pull a couple of things (maybe), then use my own materials, teammates' materials, or other resources.
I know in some districts/schools, they were required to use the lessons and be on a particular lesson each day and admin would check on it!
CSCOPE really doesn't allow for differentiation when used as is, but I did pull some things out for RTI groups in math.
Overall, it's okay… as long as you still have professional freedom to determine what is right for the students in your classroom. 🙂
The Science Penguin
Heather Lamia says
Our school district uses CSCOPE as well and we are also only required to follow the Year at a Glance documents and IFDs. There is a LOT of information on the website!! Don't get too bogged down with all the details!! Hopefully they will allow you to adapt it to your style!! It can be very overwelming if you let it.
Dawn Hilburn says
We use C-scope in our district too and thankfully we are given the choice of pulling our own stuff and not having to follow every lesson. I use the Year at a Glance and IFDs. I teach first grade, every subject, so it can be extremely overwhelming. Since we use Journeys and Envision math, I don't really use much in C-scope for those subjects. The first year I taught it, it was interesting to see the things my son (who was in 5th grade at the time) brought home and I could see where C-scope was going with alot of their stuff. He would be doing the same concepts at the same time. I do like the science and social studies. Not a fan of the rest of it.
Anonymous says
We use CSCOPE in my district and I do not like it! I'm sorry to burst your bubble even more! I don't use the lessons, just the skill pacing. Hopefully you will have the same freedom and things will be o.k.