Curriculum & Instruction

What we do

Curriculum & Instruction provides assistance, support and expertise in delivering the district’s K-12 instructional programs aligned with the Iowa Academic Standards. Other functions of the department include developing quality assessments that ensure rigor and consistency of instruction across subjects and grade levels, collecting and reporting district data, establishing staff development programs to help raise the level of instructional performance and student achievement, and selecting instructional materials

Primary Contact

Joelle McConnaha

Executive Director of Teaching & Learning

Call Me

563-263-7223

Email Me

joelle.mcconaha@mcsdonline.org

Departments

Assessments

Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress

The Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) measures student achievement and understanding of the Iowa Core Standards in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science. Indicators of student proficiency and growth from grade-to-grade are provided.
Formative Assessment System for Teachers (FAST)

FAST assessments are highly efficient assessment tools designed for universal screening, progress monitoring, and program evaluation as part of a Response to Intervention (RtI) or Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) model of service delivery. Iowa has recently adopted the FAST literacy suite of assessments to assist districts in the implementation of MTSS practices and in meeting the requirements of the Early Literacy Initiative as part of Iowa Code Section 279.68.
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is assessment FOR learning. It is a process used by teachers and students as part of instruction that provides feedback to adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve students’ achievement of core content. Formative assessment practices provide students with clear learning targets, examples and models of strong and weak work, regular descriptive feedback, and the ability to self-assess, track learning, and set goals.
Summative Assessments

Summative Assessments are assessments OF learning and are given at a point in time to measure and monitor student learning. They provide the feedback to educators, students, parents, and community members and are used to make adjustments in instructional programs, report student progress, identify and place students, and grade students.