Academics

Voss Farms Elementary utilizes curriculum and instruction that is aligned with NBISD's Scope and Sequences that are based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).  NBISD curriculum specialists work directly with teachers to ensure that the best and most current resources and materials are readily available for teachers to plan for the differentiated needs of our students.  

Training and professional development opportunities are provided during the summer by district personnel, and staff attends campus-funded professional development throughout the year to meet individual professional growth needs. Staff are also allowed to attend staff development outside of the district when applicable to their position and approved by the campus principal.  

In order to ensure our students are learning and retaining information, a strong focus is placed on instruction development through effective curriculum planning. All of our teachers are provided planning periods on a regular basis that allow them to collaborate with one another, as well as receive support from both district curriculum specialists and campus instructional coaches. Together, they spend time analyzing and disaggregating campus, grade level, student-group, and individual student data. In addition, these collaboration times allow for all teachers to better-develop lessons while researching and discussing best practices.
 

Focusing on overall student progress is how Voss Farms gauges its overall success. All of our programs and supports are designed to add value to the student over the span of each school year, regardless of their academic abilities. Voss Farms utilizes a set daily schedule that includes a common intervention time for all grade levels for academic support from their classroom teachers and/ or with a campus academic interventionist. This allows for teachers to address the specific needs of each of their students.

We measure student progress through a variety of tools:
State and federally required assessment information
STAAR current and longitudinal results, including all versions
STAAR released test questions
Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) and TELPAS Alternate results
SSI: Think Through Math assessment data for Grades 3-8 and Algebra I (TEA approved statewide license) Local benchmark or common assessments data
Observation Survey results
Texas approved PreK - 2nd grade assessment data
Texas approved Prekindergarten and Kindergarten assessment data
 

We also determine any needs for adjustment in academic supports, intervention programs, and/or instruction.  Students in need of extra support are discussed at campus-level intervention meetings, or Response to Intervention (RtI) meetings.  Parents are notified if their student has been identified as a student in need of additional support, and explained the intervention support that is being offered.
 

Teachers implement iPads through the use of the Learning Management System (LMS).  All students access the LMS on their iPads and are able to submit assignments and complete assessments through these systems.  Through the use of the LMS and supplemental apps, teachers are able to see students' learning in real time and provide timely feedback.  iPads are also used as a vehicle to enhance and extend students' learning.  The ultimate goal of this technology integration is to promote College and Career Readiness through "real world" skills and interactions.