Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
NC Writing Test Info
Most of us are aware that there is a new approach to the 4th and 7th grade writing assessment.
Just posting: FYI. This came as an email to NCAE members...
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/writing/writingpilotfaqs
Dear NCAE members
Please note that the state HAS NOT MANDATED teachers in grades 4 and 7 only to participate in online Professional Development, nor has the state MANDATED that teachers complete the courses by October.
The link above has a series of Q and A that will help you better understand the intent and process of the new writing assessment and instructional support.
The reason DPI is using moodle online, is to allow teachers access to the PD when their schedule allows time.
If your LEA is requiring you to complete a session by a certain date, please contact Angela Quick, Deputy Chief Academic Officer at AQuick@dpi.nc.us to inform her of the local mandate to complete a session by October. She has contacted several LEAs that members have shared major concerns over in regards to the quick turn around time for completing a session.
When must the Professional Development courses be completed and the assessments be conducted?
o It is important for all involved in this new writing process at grades 4 and 7 to understand that it constitutes a huge paradigm shift from the way writing has traditionally been assessed in North Carolina . The system is designed for maximum flexibility at the local level. The professional development courses are self-paced and can be accessed 24/7. The courses do not have to be completed in one session, nor is there a specified date as to when the courses must be completed. While the NCDPI recommends that one content-specific writing task/assignment and one on-demand writing task/assignment be completed by each student in the fall and in the spring, there are also no dates specified as to when the two content-specific writing tasks/assignments or the two on-demand writing tasks/assignments must be completed. On-demand writing tasks/assignments will be provided by NCDPI through the LEA test coordinators; however, all students need not be assessed on the same day or the same time in any LEA, school, or individual classroom.
Just posting: FYI. This came as an email to NCAE members...
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/writing/writingpilotfaqs
Dear NCAE members
Please note that the state HAS NOT MANDATED teachers in grades 4 and 7 only to participate in online Professional Development, nor has the state MANDATED that teachers complete the courses by October.
The link above has a series of Q and A that will help you better understand the intent and process of the new writing assessment and instructional support.
The reason DPI is using moodle online, is to allow teachers access to the PD when their schedule allows time.
If your LEA is requiring you to complete a session by a certain date, please contact Angela Quick, Deputy Chief Academic Officer at AQuick@dpi.nc.us to inform her of the local mandate to complete a session by October. She has contacted several LEAs that members have shared major concerns over in regards to the quick turn around time for completing a session.
When must the Professional Development courses be completed and the assessments be conducted?
o It is important for all involved in this new writing process at grades 4 and 7 to understand that it constitutes a huge paradigm shift from the way writing has traditionally been assessed in North Carolina . The system is designed for maximum flexibility at the local level. The professional development courses are self-paced and can be accessed 24/7. The courses do not have to be completed in one session, nor is there a specified date as to when the courses must be completed. While the NCDPI recommends that one content-specific writing task/assignment and one on-demand writing task/assignment be completed by each student in the fall and in the spring, there are also no dates specified as to when the two content-specific writing tasks/assignments or the two on-demand writing tasks/assignments must be completed. On-demand writing tasks/assignments will be provided by NCDPI through the LEA test coordinators; however, all students need not be assessed on the same day or the same time in any LEA, school, or individual classroom.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Music, Math, and Technology
Just recently received this via email. It is a 6:35 min. video where a renowned drummer breaks down rhythms into fractions! He shows how technology is used in creating music. Listen carefully, he says something quite profound about technology and creativity towards the end! I am passing this one on to some of my Math teacher friends!!! :-)
The Futures Channel / Hands-On Math___________________________________________________________________________________
The Rhythm Track
When students ask, "Why do I need math? I'm going to be a musician!", introduce them to world-renowned drummer Ndugu Chancler. This six-minute movie contains amazing drumming, a breakdown of the mathematics of rhythm and a professional's opinion on technology and creativity.
Watch this classroom favorite: http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/realworld/the_rhythm_track/
The Futures Channel / Hands-On Math___________________________________________________________________________________
The Rhythm Track
When students ask, "Why do I need math? I'm going to be a musician!", introduce them to world-renowned drummer Ndugu Chancler. This six-minute movie contains amazing drumming, a breakdown of the mathematics of rhythm and a professional's opinion on technology and creativity.
Watch this classroom favorite: http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/realworld/the_rhythm_track/
Sunday, September 28, 2008
StudyWiz Spark Survey
I found this survey interesting, yet not surprising at all. Most parents want technology integrated into their childrens' lessons and those parents are often quite involved. My experience with using Gaggle net proved that most of my parents wanted access to online updates on classwork, homework, and projects. With that in mind, I feel that school districts that have prohibited the use of emailed progress reports, should reconsider the decision. As a parent who gave teachers permission to email my child's progress reports, I felt it was a very useful tool. When teachers updated my child's grades, they were able to send the updated progress report immediately. I saw the emailed progress report as an effective use of technology as a parent communication tool.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
New Technology Standards: Administrators, Teachers, and Students
New technology standards for administrators should reflect the direction in which all globally competitive schools should go. I feel the administrator should model the use of technology, thereby raising the bar of expectation for the use of technology throughout the school. In the end, it will be the administrator who seeks funding for a globally competitive, state of the art school.
No, administrators have enough to consider without additional standards outside of the School Improvement Plans. As a future administrator, my overall reaction to the current administrative standard is just a concern over what the revisions may mean for me as an administrator, teacher, and friend.
No, administrators have enough to consider without additional standards outside of the School Improvement Plans. As a future administrator, my overall reaction to the current administrative standard is just a concern over what the revisions may mean for me as an administrator, teacher, and friend.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Gaggle Net
www.gaggle.net is a safe, free website that I used with all my classes last year. Its use had to be approved by Central Office, but once we got it, I used it!
Gaggle allows the teacher to set up accounts for students. The teacher sets the amount of access the students have to other classes or students throughout the school. Students can send email, chat, blog, and use the message board (which is similar to our Blackboard discussion board.) Another wonderful feature is that parents can use Gaggle to view the teacher's blog.
Students could set up profiles and blogs using their own photos. All photos were sent to the teacher's email for approval, so very few inappropriate photos were submitted. Any questionable language used on a blog, in an email, or in a chat was sent to the teacher. Many students lost their chat privileges because of the language they used.
I set up a profile and blog on Gaggle net for parents and students. I used my blog to post homework assignments, projects, rubrics, and as a means of communicating with parents. My blog had a few thousand hits over the course of the school year.
In the message board, I assigned literature discussion questions and writing assignments. Students could email their assignments and post their writing assignments to their digital lockers provided by Gaggle. The digital locker provides students with a place to save and store their work for any class.
Once one teacher sets up accounts for students, the students could use that account for any and all classes. Teachers have full access to each student's account, so if any problems arise, teachers can suspend student privileges.
Just wanted to share information about Gaggle net. Teachers liked it, students and parents loved it!
Gaggle allows the teacher to set up accounts for students. The teacher sets the amount of access the students have to other classes or students throughout the school. Students can send email, chat, blog, and use the message board (which is similar to our Blackboard discussion board.) Another wonderful feature is that parents can use Gaggle to view the teacher's blog.
Students could set up profiles and blogs using their own photos. All photos were sent to the teacher's email for approval, so very few inappropriate photos were submitted. Any questionable language used on a blog, in an email, or in a chat was sent to the teacher. Many students lost their chat privileges because of the language they used.
I set up a profile and blog on Gaggle net for parents and students. I used my blog to post homework assignments, projects, rubrics, and as a means of communicating with parents. My blog had a few thousand hits over the course of the school year.
In the message board, I assigned literature discussion questions and writing assignments. Students could email their assignments and post their writing assignments to their digital lockers provided by Gaggle. The digital locker provides students with a place to save and store their work for any class.
Once one teacher sets up accounts for students, the students could use that account for any and all classes. Teachers have full access to each student's account, so if any problems arise, teachers can suspend student privileges.
Just wanted to share information about Gaggle net. Teachers liked it, students and parents loved it!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Welcome!
Hello everyone!
I am excited to have a little fun with this blog business! Looking forward to exchanging ideas through blogs!
See you!
I am excited to have a little fun with this blog business! Looking forward to exchanging ideas through blogs!
See you!
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