1. The “TOWER” Activity

2. OBJECTIVE (Part 1) As a result of this section, Participants will…
Identify the significance of the 4 parts of the TEKS and their interconnectedness.
Explore the format of the TEKS (introduction, strand, KS, SE, and numbering).

4. TEKS: Foundation Areas
English Language Arts & Reading
Spanish Language Arts & ESL
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
English Language Proficiency Standards

5. TEKS Format: The Four Parts
Introduction/Basic Understandings
Provides key contextual information and a brief overview of the essential knowledge and skills for a grade or course.
Strands
Organizers for the Knowledge and Skills statements.
Knowledge and Skills Statements
Concepts and skills to be learned
Student Expectations
Demonstration of the concepts and skills learned.

6. Understanding the TEKS Format
[Bracket] the Introduction/Basic Understandings
Box the Strands
Underline the Knowledge and Skills Statements
Circle the Student Expectations

7. 3) Step-By-Step Instructions
Introduction — Bracket the Introduction
Use paragraph 1 of the Introductory Paragraphs to discuss the “primary focal points.” These are unique to the mathematics TEKS. The focal points are ideas that should be integrated across strands, are developed more deeply, and are more visible throughout the content. Primary focal points exist only in the K-8 TEKS.
Explain paragraph 2 as a descriptive overview of the concepts and skills that students are expected to learn and master over time spanning the specified grade levels.
Use paragraph 3 to illustrate evidence of the revision process…
Paragraph 4 describes the underlying processes and tools that students need to engage in order to develop the proper depth, complexity, and rigor.
Strand 4.1
Box strand 4.1
Reiterate that the strand is the organizer for the content to follow.
Knowledge & Skills and Student Expectations 4.1
Underline the K&S statements & Circle the Student Expectations for 4.1.
Stress that the K&S and SE’s are “married.” A combination where neither one can be looked at in isolation from the other.
Strand 4.2
Box strand 4.2
Knowledge & Skills and Student Expectations 4.2
Underline the K&S statements & Circle the Student Expectations for 4.2.
4) Instructional Approach
Presentation
5) Critical Points
Make sure this info is clear
Primary focal points are unique to the mathematics TEKS
6) Words of Wisdom
You’re just practicing the process of finding the elements of the TEKS.
It’s understanding the format, not understanding the content.
7) Time
2-4 min.
8) Participant Handbook
format packet
box/underline/circle/bracket instruction page
Paragraph 2
is a descriptive overview
of the concepts and
skills that students
are expected to learn
and master over time
spanning the specified
grade levels.
Paragraph 3
Illustrates evidence of
the revision process.
Paragraph 4
describes the
underlying processes
and tools that students
need to engage in order
to develop the proper
depth, complexity, and
rigor.

9. TEKS Format: Reflection
What? What did you learn as a result of this
format activity?
So What? What is important about what
you learned?
Now What? What actions will you take as a
result of your learning?

10. BREAK TIME!!!

11. Objectives (Part 2) As a result of this section, Participants will…
Develop a common understanding of alignment as process not a product.
Understand that alignment requires responsibility and ownership.
Gain a sense of urgency around alignment.
Learn a structured process to study the content and processes of the TEKS.
Determine implications for the district, campus, grade/course, and classroom.

19. Collects, organizes, displays and interprets data
Use tables of related pairs to make line graphs
Describe characteristics of data in tables and graphs including mean, median, mode and range.
Graph data using picture or line graph
Collects, organizes, displays and interprets data with bar graphs
Collects, organizes, displays and interprets data from pictographs and bar graphs
Organizes data
Contructs and draws conclusions about picture and bar-type graphs
Collect, sort, display and use data to construct real-object graphs, picture graphs and bar-type graphs
Construct graphs with real objects or pictures to answer questions

23. TEKS VERTICAL ALIGNMENT ACTIVITY
As partners build a vertical alignment tower for your assigned topic.
Decide how to organize the content
Pull the ideas from the TEKS
Record the ideas, one grade per strip
Post your strips
Read, discuss, and reach a consensus, this is not a “divide” and “conquer” activity.

24. TOPICS OF STUDY: Addition and Subtraction Multiplication and Division
Fractions
Compare and Ordering
Place Value
Patterns
Area

26. Programmatic Nature of the TEKS
How will learning from this research affect the classroom teacher?
How will learning from this research affect the conversations at the grade level?
How will the learning from this research affect the conversations at the school and district level?
How will the learning from this research guide our work toward a guaranteed and viable curriculum?

27. If you only taught… What is eligible for testing
What was on the released tests
What is necessary to earn a passing score
Test Tricks

28. LUNCH TIME!!!