Waiting For Superman

I loved this movie, for many reasons. It clearly put faces to the issues of school choice and competition. There were parts I disagreed with, and parts that I found myself grabbing my wife's arm in response. I fundamentally believe that competition has improved education across the country and the St. Vrain Valley School District in particular. Was there some exaggeration? Yes. Was it warranted? YES!!

I think the education debate in the our current political environment is interesting. We all went to school, thus we all have an opinion about school.

If you are in the mood for a documentary, you'll enjoy this one.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid!

Just saw the movie! I loved it. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is based on a series of stories, very popular with middle school students. After seeing the movie and breezing through the first "book" I know why. The story illustrates how kids percieve middle school. Check it out some time!

Yum!

SCHS Feeder PST

I need to meet with all of the principals before finalizing our plans for the 2011-11 year. Committing to meet 3 times will be a big undertaking, but worthwhile. We will focus our efforts on 21st skills, which is a nice transition while the state implements the revised standards, and our district implements pacing guides.

Please have your reflection to me via email by August 27th so I can turn everything into the PD department ASAP!

Great start, and a solid PST!

Thanks and I look forward to our future work together!

Joe

Altona 3.0 PST

Reminder: tomorrow's meeting is cancelled.

I just emailed the entire Altona staff the revised agenda including Monday's Agenda, CSAP Scores, and the latest Faculty Calendar.

I think we have it figured out.

Please email me you reflection by August 27th, so I can turn everything into the PD department!

Great PST!

ALTONA 3.0

The Summer is almost over, I'm hoping you are enjoying the break.

We have read the books, unpacked the standards, and some of you (math and L.A. teachers) will be receiving the district's curriculum frameworks.

This summer I have learned a very simple truth. No matter who gives you what... you will ultimately be the decider! The teacher in the trenches that cuts and chops and focuses like a laser on the essentials. It is a zero sum game and you only have X amount of days to reach your students.

Next Wednesday, I'll present our new agenda, for commentary and input of course!

See you soon, I'm off to CASE, but I'll be back in the building full time beginning next Monday!

SCHS Feeder PST

Sorry, its been a few weeks, I can't believe my Summer is over as I'm heading off to CASE today!

Our last meeting had some really great ideas. What struck me was how much as a feeder we need to spend developing relationships! Another particularly great idea (IMHO) was having the top 10 feeder instructional strategies... implemented K-12!

Our next meeting is Monday the 2nd.

I know this is appearing to be one big brainstorming session, but I don't see any issues with that... to a point!

See you Monday.

Altona 3.0 - Assignments

In case you have missed a meeting, by the 14th, read through chapter 10 of UBD. Josh put a little template in your email box.

Reading this book and a few others, is really stressing to me the importance of planning, big picture through small picture.



Thanks,

Altona 3.0 2 weeks for 1!

Last week I posed an interestinq question regarding DSOAH.

Would this be possible:
Date
Outcome
Essential Question(s)
Activities
Homework
Ticket Out The Door (Daily Formative Assessment)

This reflects UBD and the Revised State Standards

What do you think of this as best practice and reality collide?

Let's see what you think!

Altona 3.0

Meeting #1

Our first meeting's agenda was packed!

We Reviewed the District's SBE Philosophy, we began unpacking our individual revised standards, and we read through Technique #7 - The 4 MS.

1. What were your initial thoughts regarding the District's SBE Philosophy?
2. What were your initial thoughts regarding the revised State Standards, particularly 21st Skills?
3. When we begin thinking about best practices regarding: objectives, outcomes, essential learnings, etc. (whatever we decide to call it) do the 4 MS crystallize your thoughts or muddy the waters? If asked minutes before instruction, could you articulate your goals for that day of instruction using the 4 MS?

Next Week:
UBD Review!

Thanks,

SCHS Feeder Meeting #1

SCHS Feeder PST

This is the last email, please visit blog below:

Notes from meeting #1.

We began our conversation by outlining our purposes and intents.

This past year the 4 principals began meeting on a regular basis and we began discussing how to become a stronger feeder system. As we developed ideas it was clear that we should have a PST to brainstorm other initiatives with elements from our respective faculties.

Our PST purpose is to identify, plan and implement some common areas to work on together. Most importantly, to have a plan in place by the end of the PST to begin working together for the 2010/11 school year.

Yesterday we compared/contrasted two schools goals, and we will continue that with the other two schools goals next week.

Ideas:

School Goals (keeping in mind goal setting and accountability will change with the new state accreditation requirements). We will have CSAP results before the PST ends.
PBS
Closing gaps
Summer Schools
Tutoring
Homework Clubs
21st Century Skills
Leadership
Vocabulary – I’ll have selected readings next week
Adopt a feeder charity
College in Colorado
Transitions
Increased communication (IEP, ALP, ILP, At-risk, etc.)
Teacher swap days

Questions or thoughts?

Did anyone come up with other ideas?
What should a true k-12 feeder experience be like?


Next meeting:
Compare/contrast school goals
Vocab Readings
Narrow the possible things to work together


As a reminder: when you attempt to post you will need to activate an account.

Another Year Has Come and Gone

I have been very remiss in posting this Spring. Part of it is the absorption of all of the new things at Altona MS this year. A new Parent Portal (Infinite Campus & Virtual Campus) and other new district systems: RTI (Response to Intervention), Alpine Achievement (new student data tool), Galileo (new student diagnostic tool), Accelerated Reader (next year's 6th and 7th grade will implement fully), and I became a Beekeeper!

Look forward to some new activity as the majority of the Altona Staff will participate in a Professional Study Team via this blog during the summer.

Thanks

Education Reform

The latest U.S. News and World Report devoted their entire print issue to education reform (again). The lead editorial is linked here:

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/editors-note/2010/01/07/the-challenge-of-school-reform.html

After 15 years spent in the trenches I am becoming increasingly frustrated to read the latest trends, guesses, data, etc. It is really not as difficult as we make it out to be. What we lack across this country is the willpower to implement the necessary things.

What do I see as the keys to meaningful reform:

1. A guaranteed an viable curriculum (State driven at the least, and now is the time to really discuss and implement National Standards).
2. Accountability at all levels (from the custodian through the Superintendent).
3. Reward at all levels - Yes, I mean perfomance pay.
4. Focus - schools are asked to do too many things that serve too many masters.
5. Longer school years or at least a move away from an agrarian calendar (students do not need 3 months of summer).

Take a look at U.S. News and World Report's Education website. Great articles from multiple perspectives.
5.