Texas ASCD

The TEA’s Long-Range Plan for Technology – Is it still Feasible in today’s Economic Climate?

2011-05-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

In 2006 The Texas Education Agency (TEA) published their “Long-Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020,” which they presented to the 80^th Legislature. The Plan was designed to raise overall performance by students using 21^st century technologies, increase involvement by parents, improve teacher performance through technology-focused professional development, and promote a more effective and efficient use of fiscal resources. According to the report, “Texas must consider extending the traditional boundaries of the school year, scholastic age, and geographic location, and the state must provide both the technology and human infrastructure to facilitate, support and maintain information.”

The Plan is broken into three phases: the first began in 2006 and ended in 2010, the second started in 2011 and last until 2015, and the final phase ends in 2020.

We just began Phase 2 - so, how did your district do at meeting the TEA’s expectations? The expectations listed below were pulled directly from the 2006 report (download it here).

· Continue to refine and align curriculum content standards to reflect current research and meet the needs of the 21st Century workplace and higher education

· Continue to provide quality instructional materials, aligned to content standards, and delivered in print and digital formats to meet the needs of all students

· Continue to align assessment instruments to content standards and measure student progress

· Provide equitable access to technology tools for students and teachers, such as student and teacher workstations, productivity tools, online resources, interactive whiteboards, projection systems, and printers

· Provide on-going quality professional development for educators to ensure proficiency in using technology tools to personalize instruction and in using data effectively to inform instructional practice

· Provide opportunities for teachers to implement new strategies for enhancing teaching an learning through the use of quality instructional resources and technology tools

· Provide adequate connectivity in schools and classrooms to ensure effective use of technology resources

· Provide necessary technical support to ensure availability and reliability of technology resources

· Increase the Technology Allotment to at least $50 per student per year and fund from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund

According to the 2010 Progress Report (download it here) presented to the 82^nd Legislature, we did well overall, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. And we are only in the beginning stage of Phase 2. In light of expected budget cuts, how will we reach the expectations laid out in the Plan? What are you doing in your district to reach the goals of the Plan in light of sever budget cuts? Is Technology at the top of your priorities list, or do other areas take precedence? Does the TEA need to reevaluate its plan to be more realistic with today’s financial realty?

HB 400 – What Does it Mean to You?

2011-04-11T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Federal Government is not the only one under the microscope right now. While we hear about potential government shutdowns and stalemates in Washington, here in Texas we are waiting to hear from Austin about our own budget crisis. The 82^nd Legislature is in full swing, and the House is actively discussing a number of bills around the State’s budget. Texas ASCD, obviously, is most concerned with what is going to happen to funding for public education. We want to start a discussion to hear what you think about what is going to happen and how it will affect you and your districts.

The House Public Education Committee approved House Bill (HB) 400 by Committee Chairman Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands) on April 5, 2011. The vote to approve the bill was 6-4 along party lines.

Some of the provisions in HB 400 include:

Eliminating the minimum salary schedule for teachers, nurses, counselors, and librarians
Requiring districts to develop new salary systems based on factors such as student test scores and teacher evaluations
Eliminating the 22:1 student-to-teacher class-size limit and replacing it with a 22:1 district-wide average and a hard cap of 25 students per classroom
Reducing teacher contract and due process rights
Eliminating in-service days and Professional Development from district calendars
Allowing districts to furlough employees

HB 2484 by Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston), which would change the property tax and school funding system fix put in to place in 2006, was also brought to the floor. The 2006 fix reduced school district maintenance and operations property taxes by one-third. It requires that state funding be used to pay for the property tax reduction before using it for education funding. HB 2484 would make it so that current education formulas are fully funded and left over funds can be used to reduce property taxes. The bill was left pending.

What do you think about HB 400 and HB 2484? What other issues up for debate during this legislative session has you talking at the water cooler, at the dinner table, and to your friends after working hours? Chime in – let’s get the conversation rolling!

Texas School Honored!

2011-03-11T06:25:00.000-08:00

ASCD has honored a Texas school for their Vision in Action: The ASCD Whole Child Award. On March 8th, in Humble, Texas, Quest Early College High School received this award. The award goes to one school that takes action on ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative. The school, which receives the award, moves past the academic focus and works on learners who are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged through learning, teaching and community engagement.

The application process for this award was based on 5 tenets:

Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle.
Each student learns in an intellectually challenging environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.
Each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected to the school and broader community.
Each student has access to personalized learning and is supported by qualified, caring adults.
Each graduate is challenged academically and prepared for success in college or further study and for employment in a global environment.

Quest Early College High School is a little different from your normal high school. “Imagine a school where you attend college while you are still in high school. Imagine a school where your dreams of tomorrow are started today...Quest Early College High School...We are hope; we are dreams; we are the future now.
In partnership with Lone Star College-Kingwood, Quest Early College High School is a small school located at Summer Creek High School where qualified students can earn both a high school diploma and an Associate's degree or up to two years of credit toward a Bachelor's degree -- for FREE.” You can find this description and more information on the schools website: http://www.humbleisd.net/22712061012425530/site/default.asp.

Some of the activities Quest Early College High School provides for their students is a service learning program, where they spend 2-hours every Friday working with community partners; another program is their family groups and also they have a National Honor Society. Upon entering the Quest school, each student is placed in one of the 10 “family” groups. These groups participate in a wide-range of activities from team building to sports to academic advancement. These are just a few of the new ideas that this high school is implementing.

For more information on the award and ceremony, check out this month’s Leadership.

We would like to invite you to join us in congratulating Quest Early College High School in receiving this great award!

Please feel free to respond to the questions below:
1. Does your school work on the Whole Child Initiative?
2. What kind of unique programs does your school or district provide?

What is to come of Texas Education?

2011-02-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of concern these past couple of weeks about education in Texas. This past week it came to a head when TASA and TASB held a news conference during the TASA Midwinter Conference. The big push is to put education first and make it a priority this year during the legislative session.

Over half of the Texas school districts have committed to the Make Public Education a Priority pledge. The pledge is a chance to give legislators insight into the different districts. It talks about the funding cuts, what the cuts will mean to that particular district, what the district has done in the past and what the district plans to do in the future with school funding. This information will help legislators have first hand knowledge of what the funding cuts are doing to each district.

During the news conference last week, the blame for the budget cuts was put on the 2006 legislative session, when legislators altered the state code by reducing property taxes and revised business franchised taxes. The complaint is that business franchised taxes could not offset the property taxes, creating a smaller pool of money for schools.

Representative Rob Eissler, who is the House Public Education Committee Chair, met with superintendents last week. He said the budget shortfall may not be as bad as previously mentioned. He is hopeful for federal money that Governor Perry had passed up on last year. Representative Eissler is also in support of additional changes that will help educators, such as changing the cap of 22 students to one teacher in kindergarten through 4^th grade classrooms; giving districts the ability to reduce pay for teachers to avoid layoffs, and to stop unfunded mandates for districts.

There will be changes to Texas education made during this legislative session. Stay tuned to see how they will affect you and your district.

Please feel free to answer the questions below:

1. What is your district’s plan to cut its budget?

2. How will your position be affected by the decisions that are being made in the 2011 Legislative Session?

How many children could you educate?

2011-01-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

Budget cuts, budget cuts, budget cuts is all we are hearing in preparation for the 82nd Legislative Session here in Texas. What does this mean to you and your districts?

The 82nd Legislative Session convened on Tuesday, January 11th. One issue that has been brought to many people’s attention is the proposed increase of the student to teacher ratio in each classroom. In 1984, the law was passed that in each classroom there would be a 22:1 ratio of students to teachers. In the 80’s there was much talk about having fewer students per teacher in each classroom. In some states, they were keeping the number of students the same but increasing the number of teachers (example: 30:2) per classroom. Now, due to the budget crunches here in Texas, people are talking about more students in classrooms K-4, thus eliminating teachers and saving money in their district’s budgets. Some educators are concerned with a larger number of students in the lower grade levels, sighting that this time is crucial in a young child’s life when they are learning the basics. Some lawmakers want to see the 22:1 ratio take the shape of more of an average number per district. They say some teachers maybe able to handle more students in their classrooms, where as others may not.

What are your views on this issue? Should the whole state have a student to teacher-regulated ratio? Should each principal know his/her teachers and be able to determine the number of students that would best benefit in each classroom?

KTRK-TV in Houston, posted their newscast at http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7881833, if you would like to view it.

This week in ASCD’s Smartbrief was an article from MercuryNews.com, on how larger class sizes in California are affecting students. If you would like to read this article, please click here: http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_17050096?nclick_check=1.

Feel free to answer the questions below:
1. What budget cuts is your district talking about for the next budgeting year?
2. How do you feel about the proposed increase in student to teacher ratio?

STAAR – What do you think?

2010-12-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) the new assessment program for the state of Texas and one of the most talked about issues in Texas education. From our understanding the STAAR assessment testing will include the end-of course (EOC) testing as well. The new assessment will cover the same core subjects in grades 3-8 and EOC of STAAR’s will cover the core content areas at the high school level as the TAKS did. The high school EOC will be a series of 12 assessments. The EOC testing is going to slowly be phased into the graduation requirements. Students starting 9th grade in the 2011-2012 school year will be required to pass the assessment to graduate. For grades 3-8, STAAR’s testing will begin this year.

The STAAR assessment is different from the TAKS assessment in that the STAAR assessment will be aligned within a content area across courses. Information for the assessment will also be gathered from other states, national assessments and international assessments. It is proposed that the majority of the test cover what is learned that year in the classroom, so that they can better align what is taught and tested. The STAAR will focus on Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Readiness standards taken from the TEKS will be emphasized. The following are the proposed readiness standards:

Preparedness for the next grade or course.
Support college and career readiness.
Necessitate in-depth instruction.
Address broad and deep ideas.

*This information is from Proposed New Assessment Model pdf found on the TEA website.

Not too much is confirmed about the STAAR testing. This month (December) a detailed plan with the transition from TAKS to STAAR will be posted on the TEA website by the Texas legislature.
For more information on the STAAR testing, please visit the TEA website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/.

Please feel free to answer the following questions:
1. How do you feel about the new STAAR testing?
2. Have you heard any more details about this assessment?
3. How do you think this new assessment will effect students and teachers?

Electronic Textbooks

2010-11-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

What is your school/district doing about electronic textbooks? This past month at the Texas ASCD Annual Conference, it seemed like the buzz was around electronic textbooks both in sessions and in the exhibit hall. When you have come across electronic textbooks, has it just been in a portable document format (a PDF) or has the textbook been interactive? Is it really worth the money to go digital if you are just reading the same print on a screen instead of in a book? Shouldn’t these textbooks be offering more?

Digital (or Electronic) Textbooks as defined by Wikipedia is “… core textbooks for students, with which students can learn contents that are tailored to their abilities and interests. Digital textbooks offer various interactive functions, and provide the learner with a combination of textbooks, reference books, workbooks, dictionaries and multimedia contents such as video clips, animations, and virtual reality, both at school and at home, without the constraints of time and space. In other words, digital textbooks are alive and in motion, and as such are literally “living and moving” textbooks that construct and create the knowledge not only of individual learners, but also the community, and support and manage the teaching and learning activities of teachers and learners.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Textbook). There is a ton of different companies that offer electronic textbooks and after reading the definition above, why wouldn’t you start looking into this for your textbook option.

Colleges are also starting to jump on board with this idea of electronic textbooks. As you already know, a college student can spend up to $1,000 or more in one semester on textbooks. Bellevue College has won a federal grant for electronic textbooks. They have managed to lower the cost for students to $35 a semester that will include a netbook and classroom materials. Would your school and/or district be able to see the same savings? To read more about Bellevue College’s grant click here: http://www.seattlepi.com/sound/429066_sound105682338.html.

An article in Forbes Magazine states, “While some students may be using notebooks or their more portable cousins, netbooks, to read textbooks, some experts predict that within the next 10 years, most U.S. college students--and many high-school and elementary-school students as well--will probably be reading course materials on an electronic device instead of in a paper book. And, that will have a broad impact on students and teachers, not to mention the $9.9 billion textbook-publishing business.” The article titled, Electronic Textbooks? You Bet, also talks about the Apple iPad being a great alternative to the paper textbooks schools are currently using. To read more of this article, please visit: http://www.forbes.com/2010/03/05/electronic-textbooks-ipad-entrepreneurs-technology-wharton.html.

Electronic textbooks - we know they are in our future. Have you started to look into getting them for your school or district?

Please feel free to answer the following questions:
1. Are you currently using electronic textbooks?
2. What companies have you researched for electronic textbooks?
3. What is your take on electronic textbooks? Should we be getting them for our schools?

Another Change to Textbooks in Texas and Across the US

2010-10-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) has passed another resolution for our children’s textbooks. The most recent resolution from Friday, September 24th was for the Social Studies textbooks. The SBOE passed a resolution on the balanced treatment of religious groups in textbooks (as stated on the official agenda). The minutes of this meeting have not been posted on the TEA website, but you can listen to the meeting by visiting http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3876.

You can also read this resolution that was approved 7-6 by the board members, by clicking here, http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=2147487178&libID=2147487176.

The resolution states instances where Islam is mentioned more times in the text than Christianity. Also, it talks about the wording used to describe events in history.

On the ABC News website, Gail Lowe, President of the Texas Board of Education: “…said she's been told that the textbooks treat other religions, such as Judaism, Confucianism, Sikhism and Buddhism, in the same light as Islam, but only Christianity seems to be demonized. The resolution however, does not mention any other religions besides Islam.” Lowe also commented: "’Possibly, since 9/11 people are very nervous about terrorist groups. Regrettably, most of those individuals came from Muslim countries," she said. "But I think that textbooks show that the bias existed before 9/11.’" You can read more of this article at http://abcnews.go.com/US/textbooks-pro-islam-anti-christian-texas-state-education/story?id=11697738.

What is the role of our SBOE? This is the second time this year, they have passes a resolution dealing with curriculum content in the textbooks. The Texas SBOE website states the duties of the board:

Establishing policy and providing leadership for the Texas public school system are the responsibilities of the State Board of Education. By adopting policies and setting standards for educational programs, the Board provides the direction necessary to enable Texas public schools to prepare today’s schoolchildren for a successful future.

Feel free to answer the questions below:
1. What do you think, should the Texas SBOE be able to decide what goes in textbooks?
2. Is the SBOE role to change curriculum?

Poverty and Education

2010-09-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

The school year has begun, and slowly we are getting to know the children that pass us in the hallways. We are starting to notice the children that are tired, malnourished, scared, mad, and with low self-esteems. According to the Center for Public Policy Priorities, a website that tracts children’s statuses in each state, states that 23% of our children here in Texas are living in poverty. (http://www.cppp.org/category.php?cid=10)

Poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau is if a family’s total income is less than the family’s threshold. The family threshold is based on the actual family unit. This number is dependent on the number of people in a family and their ages. In 2008, the census shows 13.2% of Americans, which works out to be 39.8 million people, were living in poverty.

While researching poverty and education, I came across a website called Open Education. On this website they had a video that talks about a little boy named Tiberius, who attends public school in Green Bay. If you get a chance, you should really visit this website and view this video. You can see what one school is doing to help the children and their families through this hard time. (http://www.openeducation.net/2009/04/01/poverty-and-education-the-challenge-of-improving-schools/) The United States is facing a time of change. Shouldn’t we be helping our children through this?

In January, the Houston Chronicle did a story titled “Poverty Growing in Public Schools.” You can read this article at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6795211.htm l. The article talks about the advantages of securing more money into early education and trying to close the gap in learning. With such high numbers of poverty in schools, we definitely need to do something for these children.

Dr. Eric Jensen, will be talking about “Teaching with Poverty in Mind,” at the 2010 Texas ASCD Annual Conference. Join us as he discusses how kids who come from poverty families are different, and what we can do to help them succeed.

Please feel free to answer the following questions:
What percentage of the children in your district/school/classroom living in poverty?
What are you doing to help them succeed?

Back-to-School – Are you prepared?

2010-08-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

When we say back-to-school preparation, we aren’t talking about the tax-free weekend on August 20-22, 2010 here in Texas. We are talking about classrooms/offices straight and in-order, lesson plans/schedules up-to-date, goals set for the year, and pure excitement. Are you prepared?

One way to be prepared is to start out with a plan and what better way to set a plan then to consult with your mentor? How many of us are mentors or have one? No matter the years of experience you have in education, it is always a good idea to be involved in a mentor-ship. The word mentor, as described by the on-line Merriam-Webster Dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor), is a “trusted counselor or guide.” Now, who doesn’t need a guide? When we think of educational mentors, most of us think of new teacher mentors. In many schools, a new teacher mentor is someone on staff at the same school that will work with a brand new teacher for a semester or maybe a year. This is great for brand new teachers, but it would also be great for teachers who have been teaching for a while, and even administrators. Creating morale and building teamwork could only help schools/districts. How else are newer teachers able to learn tried and true best practices? How are teachers who have been teaching for 15+ years going to learn from newer (younger) teachers about how 21st Century students are learning through technology? Mentor-ships are great for both the mentor and the mentee. In this setting everyone is learning.

On a website called BNet (http://www.bnet.com/article/how-to-start-a-mentorship-program/212133), is an article called “How to Start a Mentor-ship Program.” While the website is meant for businesses, I think we can get a lot out of the information provided. For example they state: “People who mentor often are more productive, better socialized, and less stressed, Scandura says. They also tend to develop a loyal network of supporters, gather valuable perspective from younger employees, and gain insight into other parts of the business.” Does this sound like something that would be good in schools and districts? The website goes on to list the key elements of a mentor-ship:

Decide what goals you have for the program – what results you are looking for.
The essential aspects of a program like this.
The pairing process of a mentor and mentee.
Tips.
Setting Rules.
Receive updates on program so you can change and alter the program to meet everyone’s needs.

As the school bell rings to begin school for most of us towards the end of the month, are we prepared? Now is the time to prepare our teachers/administrators for a successful year.

We hope your 2010-2011 school year is wonderful!

Please feel free to answer the following questions:

Does your school/district currently have a mentoring program?
If your school or district has a mentoring program, is it just for new teachers?
Are your mentoring programs being monitored?

Standardized Testing - Where did it come from and is it right for our students?

2010-07-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

In order to understand standardized testing, you must see how it has evolved.

The timeline below is a composition of information from the following websites:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1947019,00.html,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111301007.html,
https://www.msu.edu/~youngka7/history.html, and
http://www.essortment.com/all/standardizedtes_riyw.htm.

Standardized testing dates back to around the 7th Century A.D. in China. To apply for a government or civil service jobs, you had to take knowledge-based tests.
Greece in the 5th and 4th Century B.C. Socrates started to test his students verbally.
In 1803, written exams were prevalent in Europe.
In the United States, 1845 started the written test phenomenon.
By 1905, Alfred Binet developed the test of intelligence (IQ).
Frederick J. Kelly created the first multiple-choice test in 1914.
During WWI the U.S. Army had its cadets take IQ tests.
The first Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was given in 1926.
The auto test scanner was invented in 1936.
In 1957, due to the Russians launch of Sputnik, American started to question U.S. education.
In 1959, the first American College Testing (ACT) was given.
1969 brought with it the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) the assessment for all of education.

Now to the point of whether or not students should be tested in this way. The website http://www.essortment.com/all/standardizedtes_riyw.htm states:

“Just how reliable are Standardized tests? As long as the same test conditions as the original test group sample is maintained, the test should be reliable.” The website goes on to state, “Many states have begun to develop standardized testing to meet state standards. Arguments in support claim that there needs to be some proficiency that a student should demonstrate after a year of education. The student, teacher and school need to be accountable for test results. Opponents of standardized testing claim that a single assessment will reduce the quality and levels of learning. They say that students will be trained to take a test because teachers will be forced to ‘teach the test.’” Essortment.com also says, “The question of fairness in comparing is a factor to be considered...Opponents point to the great discrepancies between wealthy school districts that have vast resources and poor districts that can barely maintain their buildings.”

So, what do you think, should students be tested by standardized testing? Should States be developing their own state tests? In the 21st Century, where we are talking about competing globally, is there another way to ensure our students are up to the tasks that lay ahead?

Join us at the 2010 Texas ASCD Annual Conference as Andrew Hargreaves discusses, “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and 21st Century Skills are on Mercury: Leadership and Change in School Reform.”

21st Century Readiness

2010-06-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

21st Century Skills…now where have we heard this? It seems to be the new catch phrase in education…really this phrase is used in the workforce as well. Everyone across the U.S. is trying to gear up and prepare for our future as a nation and everyone as individuals. Now is the time to enhance our skills to keep up with the rest of the world.

You know this and we know this, so why is Texas ASCD writing a blog entry about 21st Century Skills? Well, one reason is the theme for the 2010 Texas ASCD conference is “Designing Boundless Futures for 21st Century Learners,” and secondly, do we really understand the skills and know how to prepare our youth to use these skills? Ken Kay with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) will be presenting a keynote session at the annual conference on “21st Century Readiness for Every Student.” So what are these 21st Century Skills he will be discussing? If you visit the P21 website: http://www.p21.org/index.php, you will be able to view framework that Ken Kay will be basing his session on. During this presentation he will be going into details on the 3 R’s (Readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic) and the 4 C’s (communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity) of these skills. The P21 group believes that it is very important for us to fuse these skills together to be able to compete globally.

While doing some research about 21st Century Skills on the Internet, I came across a blog entry titled, “21st Century Workforce Readiness.” (http://21stcenturylearning.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/newport-news-public-schools-is-moving-quickly-to-address--learning-in-the-21st-century-its-barriers-and-its-possibilities.html) The author of this blog participated in a focus group made up of business, education, political and community leaders. The reason I found this blog entry interesting is because, not only did they discuss skills and barriers of 21st century skills, but they also came up with recommendations on what we can do as educators to prepare the students and ourselves. I have highlighted a few of their suggestions below:

Put together on-line learning communities for leadership. This system can be used to discuss problems and barriers collaboratively. As a school or district you can address needs and how others are able to help (provide ideas). This community should be available for administrators, staff, teachers, students and business leaders.
Use technology whenever you can. Discuss global connections with current events.
Allow and teach educators how to build their own online personal learning networks. They should know the importance of this online community and how allowing students to communicate this way would prepare them for the workforce.
Look at the technology skills you have on your campuses/districts. Have teachers teach other teachers what they know and how they are using technology in their classrooms. Don’t reinvent the wheel; just modify it to address gaps in the curriculum.
Don’t be afraid to ask students to show you how they are using technology. Let them help you develop skills and tools they are familiar with.

Please feel free to respond to the questions below:

1. What do you think of the suggestions above?
2. Is your school/district doing something else to meet these needs?

Integration of Technology into Your Curriculum

2010-05-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Integrating technology into your curriculum seems to be the new buzz saying in education, but what does this really mean? We hear that students are spending countless hours on their cell phones, computers and iPods at home while multi-tasking but what are we doing in the classrooms to keep their attention and preparing them for the work of tomorrow? If you have not viewed the YouTube videos titled: “A Vision of Students Today,” or “A Vision of K-12 Students Today,” please do so, you will find it very enlightening.

Integrating technology into your curriculum no longer means to have a separate classroom dedicated to typing and computer skills. This means you need to enhance the learning going on in the classroom by adding new ways to research, explore, engage, participate, interact, and assess your lessons. On Edutopia’s website,http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction , it states; “Technology is ubiquitous, touching almost every part of our lives, our communities, our homes. Yet most schools lag far behind when it comes to integrating technology into classroom learning. Many are just beginning to explore the true potential tech offers for teaching and learning. Properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy.” Is your curriculum currently helping students to acquire these skills? Technology should not solely be your curriculum but it should contribute to the already great teaching and learning that is going on. A great website about integrating technology in curriculum is http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/antifaiff/antifaiff.htm.

Texas ASCD is offering a new summer conference titled, Integration of 21st Century Skills Across the Curriculum, to be held in Dallas on June 28^th-30^th. We hope you can join us for 21st Century skills on the web, aligning technology to curriculum through rigorous and motivating assignments in core areas, and collaborative tools for sustainable improvement. To find out more information on our conference, visit our website at http://www.txascd.org/development/index.html.

In closing, I ask these questions:

Why not? What would technology do to our learning? What are we afraid of?

The Impact Texas Textbooks Have on America

2010-04-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

Textbooks across the country:

America currently doesn’t have a nation-wide standard for what is taught in schools across the United States. For this reason, each state has its own set of curricula. In order for textbook companies to make the best profit possible, they do not make a different textbook for each individual state. Instead they base their books off of the curriculum their biggest clients are using. So the smaller clients (or states in this matter) purchase textbooks based off of the bigger states curriculum.

Current Uproar in Texas (and across the country):

At the beginning of March, the Texas State Board of Education met to vote on what curriculum would be for the Social Studies Textbooks. The criteria that was discussed during the March meeting passed in a vote 10 to 5 in favor of all the changes. A final vote will take place in May. Many newspapers and news sources have eluted to what was discussed in the sessions.

To find out more, visit:

MSMBC - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35839979/:

“Hostilities flared and prompted a walkout Thursday by one of the board's most prominent Democrats, Mary Helen Berlanga of Corpus Christi, who accused her colleagues of "whitewashing" curriculum standards.

By late Thursday night, three other Democrats seemed to sense their futility and left, leaving Republicans to easily push through amendments heralding "American exceptionalism" and the U.S. free enterprise system, suggesting it thrives best absent excessive government intervention.

"Some board members themselves acknowledged this morning that the process for revising curriculum standards in Texas is seriously broken, with politics and personal agendas dominating just about every decision," said Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, which advocates for religious freedom."

Click the link above to read more.

New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/education/13texas.html:

“After three days of turbulent meetings, the Texas Board of Education on Friday approved a social studies curriculum that will put a conservative stamp on history and economics textbooks, stressing the superiority of American capitalism, questioning the Founding Fathers’ commitment to a purely secular government and presenting Republican political philosophies in a more positive light.”

Click the link above to read more.

If you are interested in influencing the Texas State Board of Education, contact them at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index3.aspx?id=1156 or contact your district State Board of Education Representative. Let your voice be heard.

Please feel free to respond to these questions:
1. Is your school or district using textbooks as a resource for your curriculum or are you working with curriculum on the web?
2. How will the new state standards affect your school or district?

Advocacy and You

2010-03-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

A presentation was given to the Texas ASCD Board of Directors last week about The New Advocacy: Technical & Adaptive Approaches. During this presentation, we were given some legislative basics/guidelines to follow when advocating. Below are informal notes taken at the meeting, which we would like to share with you:

Knowledge:

Know the process - know how committee meetings and legislative meetings are run, and how a bill becomes law.
Know key players - know your legislators, their staff, and what committees the legislator is a member of.
Know your message - know how your message is perceived, know the facts, and who else supports/rejects your cause.

Relationships:

Get to know your legislator. Make those connections early, so they will turn to your for your opinions in times of need. Going by and visiting your legislator’s staff is also a good idea. They are the key to getting the information you are interested in relaying to the proper person.
When your legislator does something you like or supports you, let them know what that means to you and thank them for what they do.
Relate your cause to a story. Don’t just set-up a meeting with your legislator and go over facts and figures. Relate the data to stories. They need to remember what you are telling them and be able to convince others to join your cause. The best way is to relate your issues to a story they will remember.

Time Frame:

The best time to contact your legislator is during their non-legislative season, which is now. If you wait until the legislative session, then it is too late. Legislators are in and out of their offices at this time, and there are many people trying to get in touch with them. If you start your relationship with them early-on and an issue comes up during the session, they are more willing to hear what you have to say and even call you up to ask your opinion.
Re-election time is very vital to legislators. If you can spare some time to help with their re-elections, then legislators are more willing to build that relationship with you.

Attend:

Before you go to testify at a hearing, you need to attend the committee meetings first, so you will be apprised of the protocol. These meetings are very different than what one would expect.
Pay attention to the meetings and look for, distractions, verbal attacks and any additional tactics they can use to get what they want accomplished during the meeting. Be aware of these.

Above are just a few basics in advocating. For more information on advocating and stimulus money updates, come to the Critical Issues Influence Institute in Austin. Contact the Texas ASCD office for more information and to RSVP.

Presentation by Dr. Dawson Orr, February 24, 2010

Please feel free to answer the following questions:

Are you currently involved in advocating? If so, what do you do to connect with your legislator?
What other useful information would you give to educators who are interested in having their voice heard from our governmental officials?

Designing Boundless Futures for 21st Century Learners

2010-02-12T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Texas ASCD’s Local Arrangements Committee for the 2010 conference met in December to begin planning for the annual conference. After much discussion on expectations, wants and needs of the conference, the committee came up with the following theme:

Designing Boundless Futures for 21st Century Learners.

What does this mean to you?

First as educators, we need to focus on the student. This aspect was glaringly obvious. When a student leaves high school there are many paths they can choose from. Wouldn’t it behoove us, not only as educators but also as citizens, to prepare each student for whichever path they may want to select? The committee then decided that we needed not only to focus on the student, but to also focus on the educator. To be successful in the 21st Century, we all need to be learners. With the world changing constantly, where will we all be if we don’t move and change with it? With this said, the committee choose the focus (or strands) of the conference. The strands of the 2010 conference will be:

Curriculum and Technology Integration
Curriculum Design
Addressing Challenges and Change
Multiple Measures of Assessment
Instructional Coaching and Leadership
Building Community
College and Career Readiness

Please feel free to comment/answer the questions below:

What does designing boundless futures mean to you?
What kinds of 21st Century skills have you learned as an educator in the past 10 years?

Texas ASCD would like to invite you to join us October 24-26, 2010 at the Westin Galleria in Houston, for three days of learning.

Are you ready for the next technology leap?

2010-01-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

Texas Instruments (TI) is a global analog and digital semiconductor IC design and manufacturing company. TI develops analog, digital signal processing, RF and DLP® semiconductor technologies that help customers deliver consumer and industrial electronics products with greater performance, increased power efficiency, higher precision, more mobility and better quality.

You are probably telling yourself: “I thought this was an education blog.” Well it is. Texas Instruments invited the Texas ASCD Board of Directors to do a site tour of its latest display technology to enhance the learning environment in the classroom. Basically, TI wanted to show us the DLP 3-D ready projectors, along with many of their other inventions. The main focus of the tour was the use of 3-D ready projectors, and staying up with technology that is soon to be released. (If there is such a thing as staying up with technology.)

For many of us, technology and those developing the equipment for technology are always one step ahead of us. Once we decide what we need, we have to get bids, approval and finally apply for a purchase order. Once this process is completed, the technology guru’s have already developed the next new item we need. Well TI, is trying to help us. 3-D ready products are just now starting to come out and will be the state-of-the-art for now.

You can get a LCD projector for approximately the same price as a 3-D ready projector. The only difference is that the LCD projector will soon be outdated. TI uses tiny digital mirrors, microscopes, and light to create these images. The new 3-D ready projectors can be used for regular projection (just like the Infocus projectors) and when/if you get the software for 3-D the projectors will be set and ready to go. One only has to see the 3-D projected software to know that students can receive so much more in their learning experience. This same technology is starting to be used in televisions. Soon all of our home TV’s will have the ability to do 3-D images.

For more information on this type of projector, please visit: http://www.dlp.com/projectors/find_dlp_3d_projector.aspx

Also, Texas Instruments is doing a pilot program with these projectors with a few different schools around the country. To view a blog from one of these programs visit: http://bvsd.org/iteach/BlogCentral/Lists/Categories/Category.aspx?Name=Future%20Talk
Len Scrogan with Boulder ISD gives a lot of definitions and explanations on the different aspects of the 3-D projectors. He also writes about the future of these projectors along with the content. If you are interested at all in these new projectors, make sure you visit this blog.

Please feel free to answer the following questions:
1. Does your school/district have 3-D ready projectors?
2. Is there any other technology updates that you know of that are about to hit the market?
3. What kinds of new technologies are you using in the schools?

Critical Issues Influence Institute

2009-12-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

Are you up-to-date on reforming your district? The Obama Administration has laid out reform priorities for education:

Higher standards and better assessment;
More effective teachers and more equitable teacher distribution;
Enhanced data systems and improved collection and use of data; and
Turning around low-performing schools.

Many of these reform efforts have been included in stimulus packages and funds that have been set-up for school districts.

Texas ASCD hosted its first of 5 one-day institutes, at the beginning of December, focusing on critical issues for influence. Are you taking advantage of the funds available through stimulus money? In this session we discussed:

Who is leading the U.S. Department of Education – their roles and priorities
ARRA – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – to help with state budgets and to prevent teacher layoffs
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) – known as No Child Left Behind during the Bush Administration
Stimulus dollars - where they are going
The Race to the Top Fund – to help promote state reform programs based on the reform priorities that the Obama Administration has laid out
and the Innovation and Improvement Fund (i3) – promising and innovative practices in the reform priorities.

So what are these acts/funds saying? We need to start reforming our schools to address these standards. After a presentation of all this information, we had discussions with representatives from legislative aides, Superintendents, Assistant/Deputy Superintendents, the State Board and central office staff on what to do with this information and how to distribute this information in our districts so that Texas Districts can apply for these fundings.

This influence institute is a new program Texas ASCD is doing to help districts get the information they need. To find out more about these funds, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website at http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html. Texas ASCD is trying to help you lead the way in influence. Stay up-to-date on critical issues and to be notified of legislative issues. Join the Texas ASCD’s Educator Advocates Action Center: http://capwiz.com/ascd/tx/home/.

Technology Literacy: Are we using it?

2009-11-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

As you sit here reading this blog entry you are exhibiting the new age of communication. Today more and more people are turning to the Internet for research, new ideas, and best practices. Just as you sit here today, our students sit at home doing the same thing.

In the September 23, 2009 issue of Education Week, Paul Barnwell discusses Literacy Accountability In a New-Media Age. Barnwell says, “Accountability in literacy must be measured in how well all students are able to navigate the sea of information now available through the Internet and how effectively they can interpret and disseminate information in a multitude of forms.” He later asks, “…what if new multimodal forms rival traditional literacies in their usefulness to individuals and society?”

Are we, as educators, asking ourselves the same questions? Are we adding in curriculum to help students navigate their way through the Internet? Are our students learning what types of medias are out there and why someone chooses to use one form over another? The last quote I would like to take from Barnwell’s article is “It’s time for the accountability movement to demand that schools teach and foster responsible student use of new literacy forms.” Are you demanding this?

Please feel free to answer the questions below:

1. Why type of curriculum do you have in your districts to help students navigate through the Internet?

2. Are your schools/districts researching with the Internet?

3. What kinds of projects are you doing with your students using the Internet?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

November 13th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
El Paso, TX

November 13th, 2009
Teachers, Change Your Bait - Differentiated Instruction
Martha Kaufeldt
Corpus Christi, TX

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

November 19th, 2009
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

December 1st, 2009
Critical Issues Influence Institute
Hyatt Regency - North Dallas
by Invitation

December 8th -9th, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Allen ISD

January 11th - 12th, 2010
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinski
Northside ISD (San Antonio)

January 14th, 2010
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

January 18th, 2010
Teachers, Change Your Bait - Differentiated Instruction
Martha Kaufeldt
Canyon ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

January 2010
Critical Issues Influence Institute
the Berry Center - Cypress Fairbanks ISD - Houston area
by Invitation

January 28th - 29th, 2010
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session Two of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

February 11th and 18th, 2010
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Fort Worth ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

February 15th & 16th, 2010
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
RESCHEDULED for this date

February 17th, 2010
Critical Issues Influence Institute
San Antonio ISD
by Invitation

February 17th - 18th, 2010
Connecting Content and Kids: Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction
Jay McTighe
Keller ISD

February 22nd - 23rd, 2010
Curriculum Leadership Academy III
Pat May Center - HEB ISD (Dallas area)
(First session of 3 sessions)

February 24th & 25th, 2010
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Fort Worth ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

March 11th, 2010
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

March 31st, 2010
Critical Issues Influence Institute
Austin
by Invitation

May 6th, 2010
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session Three of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

From Innovation and Leadership to Smart Schools

2009-10-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

Dr. Raymond McNulty will be presenting a keynote presentation based on Building Innovation and Leadership Density, at the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference taking place at the end of the month in Frisco.

Where do we go from here? Wikipedia defines innovation as: “The term innovation refers to a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental and emergent or radical and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations.” So what does this have to do with schools and leadership? It is 2009, we are in the 21st Century and we are just now looking at how to prepare for it in our schools. Is it time to make changes to help our students? Building leadership or leadership density is one way to lead the way with these changes. Dr. McNulty will share five leadership lessons and strategize how to build innovation and leadership density during his keynote presentation on Monday, October 26th. We hope you can join us.

Dr. Alan November will present, From Smart Toilets to Smart Schools, at the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference.

Dr. November is going to help us understand how technology and innovation can help prepare our children for a global economy. He will discuss not only technology, but how you can use technology to seek new information and communicate with others. Are your schools innovating and combining new technologies into their lessons? If not, how is this affecting your schools/students? Are you preparing your students for the world outside of your school district?

Join Texas ASCD, our members, and educators from throughout the state as we lead, learn and influence October 25-27, 2009!

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
TO BE RESCHEDULED

October 15th, 2009
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

November 2nd -3rd, 2009
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session One of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

November 3rd & 4th, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Doubletree Hotel - Houston

November 11th & 12th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
El Paso, TX

November 13th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
El Paso, TX

November 13th, 2009
Teachers, Change Your Bait - Differentiated Instruction
Martha Kaufeldt
Corpus Christi, TX

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

November 19th, 2009
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

December 8th -9th, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Allen ISD

January 11th - 12th, 2010
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinski
Northside ISD (San Antonio)

January 14th, 2010
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

January 18th, 2010
Teachers, Change Your Bait - Differentiated Instruction
Martha Kaufeldt
Canyon ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

January 28th - 29th, 2010
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session Two of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

February 11th and 18th, 2010
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Fort Worth ISD, TX
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

February 17th - 18th, 2010
Connecting Content and Kids: Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction
Jay McTighe
TBD

February 24th & 25th, 2010
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Fort Worth ISD, TX
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

March 11th, 2010
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

May 6th, 2010
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session Three of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

HB 1287

2009-09-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a bill for schools to offer an elective Bible class in high schools across the state of Texas. The bill is to be in effect as of the 2009-2010 school year. This elective is to focus on the literature and history brought on by the Old and New Testaments, without advocating a particular religion.

Below is the bill that was passed. Because of the news media coverage about this bill, please let us know what your schools are doing to enact this legislation, or how you feel about this particular bill.

**Bill has been updated with the final wording**

AN ACT

relating to public school elective courses providing academic study of the Bible. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 28.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.011. ELECTIVE COURSES ON THE BIBLE'S HEBREW SCRIPTURES (OLD TESTAMENT) AND NEW TESTAMENT AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION. (a) A school district may offer to students in grade nine or above:
(1) an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and its impact and an elective course on the New Testament and its impact; or
(2) an elective course that combines the courses described by Subdivision (1).
(b) The purpose of a course under this section is to:
(1) teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; and
(2) familiarize students with, as applicable:
(A) the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament;
(B) the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament;
(C) the literary style and structure of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament; and (D) the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament on law, history, government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture.
(c) A student may not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament and may use as the basic textbook a different translation of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament from that chosen by the board of trustees of the student's school district or the student's teacher.
(d) A course offered under this section shall follow applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views, traditions, and perspectives of students in their school district. A course under this section shall not endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. Nothing in this statute is intended to violate any provision of the United States Constitution or federal law, the Texas Constitution or any state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States Department of Education or the Texas Education Agency.
(e) Before adopting rules identifying the essential knowledge and skills of a course offered under this section, the State Board of Education shall submit the proposed essential knowledge and skills to the attorney general. The attorney general shall review the proposed essential knowledge and skills to ensure that the course complies with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and the board may not adopt rules identifying the essential knowledge and skills of a course offered under this section without the attorney general's approval under this subsection.
(f) A teacher of a course offered under this section must hold a minimum of a High School Composite Certification in language arts, social studies, or history with, where practical, a minor in religion or biblical studies. A teacher selected to teach a course under this section shall successfully complete staff development training outlined in Section 21.459. A course under this section may only be taught by a teacher who has successfully completed training under Section 21.459.
(g) For the purpose of a student earning credit for high school graduation, a school district shall grant one-half academic elective credit for satisfactory completion of a course on the Hebrew Scriptures, one-half academic elective credit for satisfactory completion of a course on the New Testament, and one-half academic elective credit for satisfactory completion of a combined course on both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. This subsection applies only to a course that is taught in strict compliance with this section.
(h) If, for a particular semester, fewer than 15 students at a school district campus register to enroll in a course required by this section, the district is not required to offer the course at that campus for that semester.
(i) This section does not prohibit the board of trustees of a school district from offering an elective course based on the books of a religion other than Christianity. In determining whether to offer such a course, the board may consider various factors, including student and parent demand for such a course and the impact such books have had on history and culture. (j) This section does not prohibit a school district from offering a course, other than the course authorized by this section, in the academic study of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, or both for local credit or for state elective credit towards high school graduation.
SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.459 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.459. BIBLE COURSE TRAINING. (a) The commissioner shall develop and make available training materials and other teacher training resources for a school district to use in assisting teachers of elective Bible courses in developing:
(1) expertise in the appropriate Bible course curriculum;
(2) understanding of applicable supreme court rulings and current constitutional law regarding how Bible courses are to be taught in public schools objectively as a part of a secular program of education;
(3) understanding of how to present the Bible in an objective, academic manner that neither promotes nor disparages religion, nor is taught from a particular sectarian point of view; (4) proficiency in instructional approaches that present course material in a manner that respects all faiths and religious traditions, while favoring none; and
(5) expertise in how to avoid devotional content or proselytizing in the classroom.
(b) The commissioner shall develop materials and resources under this section in consultation with appropriate faculty members at institutions of higher education.
(c) The commissioner shall make the training materials and other teacher training resources required under Subsection (a) available to Bible course teachers through access to in-service training. (d) The commissioner shall use funds appropriated for the purpose to administer this section. SECTION 3. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:
(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:
(A) English language arts;
(B) mathematics;
(C) science; and
(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United States, and world history, government, and geography; and
(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:
(A) to the extent possible, languages other than English;
(B) health, with emphasis on the importance of proper nutrition and exercise; (C) physical education;
(D) fine arts;
(E) economics, with emphasis on the free enterprise system and its benefits; (F) career and technology education; [~~and~~]
(G) technology applications; and
(H) religious literature, including the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on history and literature.

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

September 1st & 2nd, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

September 15th & 16th, 2009
Understanding By Design
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

September 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hays CISD

September 28th, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

October 15th, 2009
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

November 2nd -3rd, 2009
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session One of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

November 11th & 12th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
El Paso, TX

November 13th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
El Paso, TX

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

November 19th, 2009
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

December 8th -9th, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Allen ISD

January 14th, 2010
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

January 18th, 2010
Teachers, Change Your Bait
Martha Kaufeldt
Canyon ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

January 28th - 29th, 2010
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session Two of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

February 17th - 18th, 2010
Connecting Content and Kids: Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction
Jay McTighe
TBD

House Bill 3 – Graduation Requirements

2009-08-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

This month, Texas ASCD wanted to create a forum for districts to share ideas/thoughts on the new House Bill 3.

The following information came from the TEA website: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/comm070609.html

With the passage of House Bill (HB) 3, new graduation requirements will take effect on September 1, 2009. These new requirements supersede the graduation requirements in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 74.

Recommended High School Program (RHSP) and Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP)
For the recommended (RHSP) and advanced (DAP) high school programs, the total number of credits required for graduation and the requirement of 4 credits in the 4 foundation areas of mathematics, English language arts, science, and social studies/economics did not change. HB 3 changes include:

providing more flexibility in the enrichment areas of the RHSP by increasing the number of elective credits to 6, requiring 1 credit of physical education, 2 credits of a language other than English (LOTE), and 1 credit of fine arts; and

providing more flexibility in the enrichment areas in the DAP by increasing the number of elective credits to 5, requiring 1 credit of physical education, 3 credits of LOTE, and 1 credit of fine arts.

Minimum High School Program
Permission to graduate under the minimum high school program must be agreed to in writing and signed by the student, student’s parent (or other person standing in parental relation to the student), and a school counselor or school administrator.
Under HB 3, to graduate under the minimum high school program, students must:

be at least 16 years of age;
have completed 2 credits required for graduation in each subject of the foundation curriculum; or
have failed to be promoted to the 10th grade one or more times as determined by the school district.

Students already in the minimum high school program do not have to meet the HB 3 requirements to enter the program, but must be given the choice of opting back into the recommended high school program.
Local districts may continue to adopt additional graduation requirements that go beyond the state requirements for graduation.

Typically, new graduation requirements take effect with the incoming freshman class. However, the flexibility in the new HB 3 graduation requirements impacts all high school students beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. All students are able to graduate under the HB 3 high school graduation requirements beginning in the 2009-10 school year, unless the district has adopted additional local requirements.

How is your district preparing to implement HB 3? Let us know your thoughts.

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

August 20th, 2009
Teachers Change Your Bait
Martha Kaufeldt
Aubrey ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

September 1st & 2nd, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

September 15th & 16th, 2009
Understanding By Design
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

September 16th & 17th, 2009
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinski
Northside ISD

September 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hays CISD

September 28th, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

October 15th, 2009
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

November 2nd -3rd, 2009
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session One of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

November 9th - 11th, 2009
Traditional Block Scheduling
Dr. J. Allen Queen
Eagle Pass ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

November 11th & 12th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
El Paso, TX

November 13th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
El Paso, TX

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

November 19th, 2009
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

December 8th -9th, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Allen ISD

January 14th, 2010
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

January 28th - 29th, 2010
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session Two of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

February 17th - 18th, 2010
Connecting Content and Kids: Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction
Jay McTighe
TBD

March 11th, 2010
Understanding By Design - Follow-up
Judith Hilton
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

May 6th, 2010
Using Graphic Organizers and Assessment Tools to Make Mathematics Content More Accessible to Struggling Students
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Session Three of Three
Galena Park ISD (Houston area)

Feedback and Grading

2009-07-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Back in March, on this blog, we discussed Formative Assessment, what it means and ideas of how to use it in your classrooms. At the 2009 Annual Conference, Debra Pickering will be presenting, “Providing Feedback through Classroom Formative Assessment and Grading Practices: A Commitment to Students.” Her keynote presentation is based on the work of Robert Marzano on classroom assessment and grading.

Is your grading scale based on formative assessment? Are you continually evaluating students? Feedback is the number one clue teachers have as to whether or not a student understands. If a student does not understand a particular idea, how can they build on it? Once the teacher has moved on to the bigger idea, how is the student who didn’t understand the basic concept able to catch up with the rest of the class? The student may feel they are standing on the first step of the twenty story building.

How long has it been since you last looked at and maybe tweaked your grading system? Sometimes grading systems measure the knowledge the student has on a particular subject, but does not measure the student growth of knowledge and skill over the semester. Marzano suggests a scale of 0-4. The score a student would get is based on what was taught (if they understand the concept) and if they can apply the concept (going beyond the basic concept). Are you using the grading scale of 0-100%? If a student doesn’t turn in their homework but can elaborate on the concept and really understands what is being taught, should they receive a zero?

Come hear Dr. Debra Pickering’s keynote presentation on “Providing Feedback through Classroom Formative Assessment and Grading Practices: A Commitment to Students.” On Monday, October 26, 2009 at the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference in Frisco, Texas.

Please feel free to answer the questions below:
1. What type of grading scale are you using in your class/school/district?
2. Do you believe this is the best way to assess your students?

Upcoming Texas ASCD events:

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Austin, TX

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

August 10th - 12th, 2009
Traditional Block Scheduling
Dr. J. Allen Queen
Eagle Pass ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

September 1st & 2nd, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

September 16th & 17th, 2009
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinkski
Northside ISD

September 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hays CISD

September 28th, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Moore Luchin
Palo Duro High School, Amarillo ISD
CLOSED - SCHOOL EXCLUSIVE TRAINING

October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

November 11th & 12th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
El Paso, TX

November 13th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
El Paso, TX

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

December 8-9, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Allen ISD

February 17-18, 2010
Connecting Content and Kids: Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction
Jay McTighe
TBD

Should Texas Have Accepted the National Education Standards?

2009-06-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

The latest buzz in Texas education is that Texas turned down the option of joining 46 other states (and 3 U.S. territories) in accepting the National Education Standards as an effort to join English Language Arts and Mathematics standards across the United States. The other states that are not participating are Alaska, Missouri and South Carolina. The Reporter News based in Abilene, states in their article Texas Rejects Education ‘Yardstick,’ that “the movement, spearheaded by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), is aimed at generating a yardstick for U.S. children to be judged and have their performances compared with students around the world.” What do you think? Would Texas be better off with national standards? Would this give us a chance to have common content across the curriculum in the United States? If all 50 states accepted these standards, would a child who moves with their family, be able to stay connected with their studies due to everyone having the same outcomes/standards?

Some people argue that if we nationalize all education standards we would make the United States competitive in a global economy. They believe we would be doing this by raising the bar and preparing students better. CCSSO President-Elect and Maine Education Commissioner Sue Gendron states on the National Governors Association website: "Only when we agree about what all high school graduates need to be successful will we be able to tackle the most significant challenge ahead of us: transforming instruction for every child.” She also states “Common standards will provide educators clarity and direction about what all children need to succeed in college and the workplace and allow states to more readily share best practices that dramatically improve teaching and learning. Our graduates and frankly, the future of our economy, cannot wait any longer for our educational practices to give equal opportunity for success to every student."

While others feel that education should be the responsibility of each state. The acceptance of these standards would in Texas cost the taxpayers billions of dollars and the Texas standards would change again. They feel that the TEKS and TAKS are great for Texas because they have input from Texas educators in public schools and higher education establishments, as well as people from the community and businesses.

See where Texas ranks in public school and higher education, by clicking this link.

Please feel free to answer the questions below:

1. What are your feelings on National Education Standards?
2. Do you think Texas should join the other states in this journey?
3. How do you feel about the TEKS and TAKS?

Texas ASCD Upcoming Events:

June 16th, 2009
Elementary Science Tutorial: Start With Vocabulary and Measurement
Annette Venegas
Goose Creek CISD

June 18th & 19th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Austin, TX

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

August 10th - 12th, 2009
Traditional Block Scheduling
Dr. J. Allen Queen
Eagle Pass ISD
CLOSED - DISTRICT ONLY TRAINING

September 16th & 17th, 2009
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinkski
Northside ISD

September 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hays CISD

October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

November 13th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
El Paso

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

December 8-9, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Allen ISD

February 17-18, 2010
Connecting Content and Kids: Understanding By Design and Differentiated Instruction
Jay McTighe
TBD

Transformation or Reform

2009-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dr. Phillip Schlechty will be presenting “Transformation or Reform,” at the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference. What does Dr. Schlechty means by transformation and reform? To get this answer we went to his book, Leading for Learning: How to Transform Schools into Learning Organizations. Dr. Schlechty wrote, “In the context of recent efforts to improve schools, reform usually means changing procedures, processes, and technologies with the intent of improving the performance of existing operating systems.” He describes transformation as, “Transformation is intended to make it possible to do things that have never been done by the organization undergoing the transformation. It involves metamorphosis: changing from one form to another form entirely.” Basically, what he is saying is to reform something is to enhance what you are currently doing, and transformation is to create a new process or procedure.

What are some of the issues we are looking to transform or reform in schools? Some issues that come to mind are engagement, achievement, innovation, graduation rates, and communication. According to Project Appleseed, the ways to start reforming are by first looking at the classrooms/subject matter. What you can change and/or add to the teaching methods currently going on. Then secondly, look at the administrative procedures. The steps for transformation are different. If you decide to transform, you must first look at what you are doing in your district, what is not working and why. Then research other procedures/processes. What are others doing in their districts? See if this meets the needs of your students and district.

So what is better for your district, to reform the current process and procedures already in place or to adopt new ones? Each individual district is different. Come hear Dr. Phillip Schlechty outline transformation for schools from “government-dominated bureaucracies to community-oriented learning organizations.”

Please feel free to respond to the questions below:
1. Is your school or district taking steps to reform or transform? If so, what are some ways you are approaching this?
2. How will the end result of your school’s or district’s reform or transformation look like?

Texas ASCD Upcoming Events:

Rescheduled to:
May 20th, 2009
Elementary Science Tutorial: Start With Vocabulary and Measurement
Annette Venegas
Fort Worth ISD
CLOSED

June 1st & 2nd, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Luchin
Amarillo ISD
CLOSED

June 8th, 2009
Traditional Block Scheduling
Dr. J. Allen Queen
Tyler ISD

June 16th, 2009
Elementary Science Tutorial: Start With Vocabulary and Measurement
Annette Venegas
Goose Creek CISD

June 18th & 19th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

September 16th & 17th, 2009
Five Keys to Reading Success
Tim Rasinkski
Northside ISD

September 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hays CISD

October 1st & 2nd, 2009
Mapping Active Literacy
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

November 18th & 19th, 2009
New Essential Curriculum for 21st Century Learners
Heidi Hayes Jacobs
Frisco ISD

TAKS Score Rewards

2009-04-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

The TAKS and the TEKS are big tests for administrators, teachers and students. Scores on these standardized tests determine if schools are exemplary, meeting standards, or below standard. They also determine if students can graduate. To me, these tests seem like a make or break deal. So what are your schools doing to ensure success on these tests?

An article in the Austin American Statesman discuses a school that offers trips paid for by the district, to students who score high enough of the TAKS. To read “Poor district buys students trips to Hawaii, LA, Washington” by Eric Dexheimer, please click on this link, http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/17/0317testtrips.html. Another article found in the Austin American Statesman talks about giving students days off of school for doing well on the standardized tests. You can read “Students get days off for passing TAKS.” by Eric Dexheimer at http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/17/0317testrewards.html.

Are you giving your students rewards for doing well on the TAKS and TEKS tests? We have heard of principals shaving their heads, kissing pigs and giving pizza parties to students who pass these tests, but is there a point where you cross the line? Is there a point where rewards turn into bribery? I read an article about a school in Florida that pays their students cash for passing certain portions of the FCAT, which is the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. If you are interested in reading this article, you can find it at: http://712educators.about.com/od/assessments/a/high-stakes.htm.

Is paying for students to fly to Hawaii, giving students 10 days off of school or giving them $50 per subject they pass, going too far? Let us know what you think.

Please feel free to answer the questions below:
1. Is your school giving rewards to students who do well on standardized tests? If so, what are students receiving?
2. How far is too far to go when giving out rewards to students?

Texas ASCD Upcoming Events:

April 15th & 16th, 2009
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Luchin
Amarillo ISD - Caprock High School
CLOSED FOR REGISTRATION

May 7th & 8th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Keller ISD

May 14th, 2009
Elementary Science Tutorial: Start With Vocabulary and Measurement
Annette Venegas
Fort Worth ISD
CLOSED

June 8th, 2009
Traditional Block Scheduling
Dr. J. Allen Queen
Tyler ISD

June 18th & 19th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

August 13th & 14th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)
Rescheduled from a Previous date

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

Formative Assessment

2009-03-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

What is Formative Assessment? In a classroom setting, it is when teachers and students alike can evaluate the ongoing understanding of what students are learning, and then judge how lessons need to change to meet the needs of the students. This type of assessment involves both the teacher and the student.

Formative Assessment involves students to be able to think, process, and then react to what is being taught in the classroom. They must be able to process the information being taught and link it with the knowledge they already have on the subject. The teacher should be watching the students as they learn to see if they understand the concepts. There are many different ways that a teacher can do formative assessment. They can ask questions, watch how students interact with each other in groups, see how they link the new information to existing knowledge, create models or there are many other ways to collect feedback. Once the student gives feedback, the teacher should then adjust the lessons to meet the needs of the students.

Dr. W. James (Jim) Popham will be presenting “Formative Assessment: Can It Be Truly Transformative?” at the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference. Come hear Dr. Popham give seven critical components of how to be successful when implementing formative assessment.

Dr. W. James Popham will present on October 25, 2009 at the Texas ASCD annual conference. Register now to receive discounted registration!

Please feel free to answer the questions below:
1. Are you or the teachers in your school performing both summative and formative assessment?
2. What kinds of training have your teachers and you had in formative assessment? Can you tell if it is working in your schools?
3. Has formative assessment changed your views of assessment in general?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

May 7th & 8th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Keller ISD

June 18th & 19th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

August 13th & 14th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

2009-02-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, February 4th, the Texas ASCD Board of Directors and staff met with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and key people from Texas associations and businesses. The meeting consisted of learning about the framework for 21st Century Skills and how to incorporate these themes into our core subjects. The whole idea of 21st Century Skills is to have our students on the same top competitive field as other students throughout the USA as well worldwide.

The 21st Century Skills framework is a rainbow of the following skills:
• Life and Career Skills
• Learning and Innovation Skills
• Information, Media, and Technology Skills
The above skills are held up by school core subjects and the 21st Century Themes.

The 21st Century Skills Themes are:
• Global Awareness
• Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy
• Civic Literacy
• Health Literacy
Each of these themes can easily be incorporated into our current curriculum.

The outcome of incorporating these skills, and themes is for students:
• To be able to be create, innovate, critically think, problem solve, communicate, and collaborate
• To have information literacy, media literacy, and information and communications technology literacy
• To be flexible, adaptive, self-directed, initiative, social, cross-cultured, productive, accountable, responsible and a leader.

These are the skills our students need to be competitive in the work place. Are our schools meeting the needs of our students? Can your students compete in a global economy? Texas ASCD and other Texas associations and businesses are considering working together to bring this type of framework to Texas and to our students.

*The source for the above information is The Partnership for 21st Century Skills organization.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below.
1. Is your school currently adapting these skills to the curriculum and instruction?
2. Should Texas be one of the states that is adopting this framework and how?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

February 18th, 2009
Success With TAKS - Mathematics
CaLandra Pervis
Caprock HS - Amarillo ISD
(EXCLUSIVE CAMPUS TRAINING - CLOSED TO REGISTRATION)

May 7th & 8th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Keller ISD

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

August 13th & 14th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)
Rescheduled from a Previous date

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

Lead, Learn, Influence in a 24/7 World

2009-01-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

With the age of technology came different avenues of learning. We have, as we have had for a while, schools/teachers and books that teach our students. Now we also have television, computers, the Internet, telephones, cell phones, planes, trains, automobiles, iPods, and radios. Students are learning in and out of the classroom. We, as a society, are also always learning. When Texas ASCD’s Conference Committee got together to choose a theme for the 2009 annual conference, we kept coming back to the idea of leading, learning, and influencing in and outside of the classroom. With these new outlets of learning we can lead, learn, and influence anywhere in the world at any hour we choose.

The world is changing and we need to change with it. There is global competition everywhere. Businesses, as well as everyday people, are able to buy and sell goods/services throughout the world. Big companies are outsourcing their jobs. We need to make sure, that not only are we and our students learning from all of the new avenues but, that we are also leading and influencing through the these portals.

The strands for this years conference are Lead, Learn, Influence through integrated technology, through best practices pre K – 16, through serving, for accountability, and through collaboration. The conference has outstanding presenters contracted: Dr. Philip Schlechty, Dr. James Popham, Dr. Debra Pickering, Dr. Raymond McNulty, and Dr. Alan November. The conference will also include many great concurrent sessions brought to you by educators throughout the state of Texas. If you are interested in presenting one of these concurrent sessions, please check the Texas ASCD website and send in your proposal.

Mark your calendars to attend the 2009 Texas ASCD Annual Conference, October 25-27, 2009 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below.

1. What form of learning/leading/influencing are your students using the most? Are you incorporating this avenue into your district/school/classroom curriculum?

2. What types of “new” learning are going on in your school?

Upcoming Texas ASCD events:

January 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
First Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

January 28th, 2009
Success With TAKS - Research-Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS/TAKS (Grade Focus 5-9)
with CaLandra Pervis
Hudson ISD (Lufkin area)

May 7th & 8th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Keller ISD

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

July 27th & 28th, 2009
Jumping Hurdles & Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Greenville ISD

August 13th & 14th, 2009
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)
Rescheduled from a Previous date

October 25th - 27th, 2009
Texas ASCD Annual Conference
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

Should we spend our money on students who wear bigger shoes?

2008-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have you heard the saying “Spend our money on students with bigger shoe sizes?” What this means is we are spending our money on middle school and high school students and not on Pre-K and K-6. Districts are so concerned with graduating students, that most of their time, money, and effort are spent on older students and their teachers. Why are we waiting?

What about the Head Start program, pre-kindergarten classes or even kindergarten classes? Would our money be better spent on the young children? Starting from birth, children are learning social skills, relationships, and trust. Younger children are learning the skills that will help them through life. This is the time to build on these skills. If we put more focus on them when they are young, we won’t need to spend all of our money on them when they are in middle school or high school because they will already have the skills and knowledge foundation to learn. We would be eliminating a problem before it was formed. Young children are like sponges, waiting to soak up any information we provide for them. Once they get older, there are many more distractions and issues to compete with other than school. By the time they reach middle school and high school, students are in extra-curricular activities, they have a social circle, some have jobs, household chores, and they are preparing for the real world. Where does education fit in? If they already have the skills and knowledge to build upon, that won’t just be another item on their plate.

Some can argue that if we start concentrating on students in their early years, the focus, attention, and self-esteem they would gain, would in turn lower the number of students not graduating. This would mean we would be graduating more students, our initial goal. So, if our districts are concerned with graduation rates, would focusing on the younger students not benefit this cause as well?
Which direction should we be heading in the 21st Century? Should money be evenly disbursed or should we concentrate on a specific age group?

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below:

Are your districts supporting Pre-K initiatives?

What do you think of spending more money for Pre-K and K programs in the state of Texas?

Would you rather see budgets spent on Pre-K and K or for older students in middle and high schools?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:
January 2009

January 5th, 2009
Secondary Reading Comprehension : Removing the Fluency Barrier
Eric Walker
Corpus Christi ISD
DISTRICT EXCLUSIVE

January 22nd & 23rd, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
First Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

May 2009

May 7th & 8th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Keller ISD

July 2009

July 14th & 15th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Second Session of Three
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas Metroplex area)

August 2009

August 13th & 14th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)
Rescheduled from a Previous date

October 2009

October 27th & 28th, 2009
Curriculum Leadership Academy
Third Session of Three
Embassy Suites - Frisco (Dallas Metroplex area)

New Administration for Education?

2008-11-13T06:10:00.000-08:00

On November 4th American citizens elected a new President. What does this mean to education? Below is a summary of the new President-Elect’s plan for education. This information was summarized from barackobama.com, Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s official website.

Early Childhood Education:

• Zero to Five Plan – create grants to fund voluntary, universal pre-school.
• Expand Early Head Start and Head Start – increase funding for Head Start and increase Early Head Start by four times.
• Affordable, High-Quality Child Care – make childcare affordable.

K-12:

• Reform No Child Left Behind – put funding towards No Child Left Behind. Obama also wants to improve assessment, college readiness and help support schools that need improvement.
• Support High-Quality School and Close Low-Performing Charter Schools - funding for charter schools will be given to states that improve accountability and have a process in order for closing under-performing schools.
• Make Math and Science Education a National Priority – recruiting efforts to get math and science graduates into the education field. Have a stronger science curriculum.
• Address the Dropout Crisis – provide funding to school districts for middle school intervention.
• Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities – double the funding for these programs.
• Support College Outreach Programs – support these programs and encourage low-income families to participate.
• Support College Credit Initiatives – increase 50% of students lacking AP or College level classes by 2016.
• Support English Language Learners – Hold schools accountable for graduating limited English students.

Recruit, Prepare, Retain and Reward America’s Teachers:

• Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit – refundable credit of the first $4,000 spent in the college of education. There is also a requirement of 100 hours of community service.
• Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid – eliminate financial aid forms and instead have box to check on tax forms.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below:
What do you think of these plans?

Do you think what is listed above is enough for education?

If you had 10 minutes to spend with President-Elect Barack Obama what would you discuss?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:
November 2008
November 18th & 19th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD

December 2008
December 1st, 2008
Jumping Hurdles and Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
(for Elementary School teachers - Grades 2-5)
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Mansfield ISD

May 2009
May 7th & 8th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Keller ISD

August 2009
August 13th & 14th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)
Rescheduled from a Previous date

GPA’s. Should All Districts Rate the Same?

2008-09-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Grade-point average (GPA’s) is used to rank students in schools on how they are doing in their classes compared to their peers. The score is mainly used for college and university admissions. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is proposing a legislation to require all school districts calculate all high school students GPA’s the same.

What does this mean to schools across Texas? This means subjects such as band, orchestra, or any physical education courses will not count in the figuring of GPA. Also, honors classes, Pre-Advanced Placement, and Pre-International Baccalaureate course will count the same as regular course work. The only classes that will get 1 extra point will be Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.

Below are some highlights of the TCHEB’s proposal according to Texas Education News:

- GPA’s would be calculated on a four-point scale.
- Regardless of when a course is taken, the plan would include all academic courses in the TEKS curriculum.
- There would not be any credit for failed courses.
- There would be no credit for local-credit courses.
- They would only allow credit of out-of-state courses if they were awarded Recommended and Distinguished for these courses.
- They would only grant an extra 1-point each for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.
- GPA’s for college and university purposes only would be rounded to no more than three decimal places.

Please share with us how you feel about this.

How does this affect students that move to Texas?

Will this proposal affect students interested in Pre-AP and Pre-IB?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

September 23rd, 2008
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Luchin
Greenville ISD

September 30th - October 1st, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Northside ISD (San Antonio)

October 19th - 21st, 2008
Texas ASCD 2008 Annual Conference
Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston

October 20th & 21st, 2008
Curriculum Leadership Academy (Session 2)
Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston

October 27th, 2008
Success with TAKS : Research Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS & TAKS
Beatrice Luchin
Mesquite ISD
Exclusive District Retreat

October 30th, 2008
Jumping Hurdles and Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
(for Middle School teachers)
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Alvin ISD

November 18th-19, 2008
Maximizing Student Success
Tim Westerberg
Frisco ISD

Preparing for the 2008 School Year

2008-08-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Do you remember walking into your classroom as a new teacher on the first day of school? What kind of anxieties did you have? Were you ready for the new school year?

Every year we have more and more teachers (2-5 years experience) not returning to the classroom. As we prepare for the 2008 school year, have we made sure to meet the needs of our new faculty? What kind of support do new teachers need and what can experienced teachers do to help?

Outside of the teaching profession, colleagues support one another. Whether it is working on a project, bouncing ideas off of one another, mentoring, or just building an interactive working community, there is support within offices. In schools it is different. Many teachers are not working together and teaching the same things in each classroom. They aren’t lending each other support. As new teachers start the school year they are concerned with many of issues. Most new teachers are recreating the wheel. They enter their classrooms with no advice, ideas or relationships. They are expected to thrive in classrooms where students need additional help and expertise that they don’t have yet.

New teachers are looking for a mentor to discuss curriculum, problems with students, new ideas, and will give advice. There is a great amount to learn from experienced teachers. Many of the problems that new teachers will face are not new to the field of education; they are just new to that person. Experienced teachers will be able to walk new teachers through processes, share best practices, give them tips, teach/show time management, and help organize classroom and instructional activities. New teachers are looking for a community and shared responsibility for students and the school.

Are you making the effort to help fellow colleagues adapt to teaching? There are many resources that you as an experienced teacher have that can be handed down to new professionals. One is you can have the new teacher observe your class. Not everyone has a chance to experience different ways of teaching. This may give the teacher new techniques and confidence. Another way of helping is to share your experiences and best practices.
There are many ways we can help each other in education. Let’s start working together more in 2008-2009 to make it a fantastic year for students and teachers alike.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below.
1. What was your experience as a new teacher?
2. What are your expectations for the new school year?
3. Do you have a mentoring program set up for your district/school?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

August 19th, 2008
Success with TAKS: Research Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS & TAKS
Beatrice Luchin
Mesquite ISD
Exclusive District Retreat

August 21st & 22nd, 2008
Success with TAKS: Research Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS & TAKS
Beatrice Luchin
East Central ISD (San Antonio area)
Exclusive District Retreat

September 3rd, 2008
Jumping Hurdles and Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
(for Middle School teachers)
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Alvin ISD

September 11th & 12th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)
NO MORE REGISTRATIONS - COMPLETELY FILLED

September 23rd, 2008
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Luchin
Greenville ISD

September 24th & 25th, 2008
RTI: Teaching for the Next Century and
Don't Teach Harder, Teach Smarter! Differentiation to Meet and Exceed AYP!
William Bender
Beeville ISD

September 30th - October 1st, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Northside ISD (San Antonio)

October 19th - 21st, 2008
Texas ASCD 2008 Annual Conference
Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston

October 20th & 21st, 2008
Curriculum Leadership Academy (Session 2)
Moody Gardens Hotel, Galveston

October 27th, 2008
Success with TAKS: Research Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS & TAKS
Beatrice Luchin
Mesquite ISD
Exclusive District Retreat

Special Sessions - Who and what are they?

2008-07-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Texas ASCD Annual Conference is made up of three main learning elements: general sessions with keynote presenters, special sessions, and concurrent sessions. Special Sessions are 2-hour in length and go more in-depth on a particular subject. This years special session presenters are Jay McTighe, Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Alan November, Steven Feifer, and Criss Cloudt. They will address issues dealing with 21st Century Skills and TEA updates on assessment and accountability. Please join us at the Texas ASCD Annual Conference October 19-21, 2008 to see these great presentations.

Special Session Schedule:
Sunday, October 19: Special Sessions Jay McTighe and Steven Feifer
Monday, October 20: Special Sessions Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Alan November, and Criss Cloudt

Jay McTighe – 10 Components of an Understanding-Based Curriculum
Dr. McTighe will be describing 10 key components in understanding-based curriculum. He will talk about assessment, grading, standards, responsive teaching, learners’ perspectives, and accountability. These components are featured in his new book Schooling by Design. He will be presenting a keynote presentation on his book as well.

Steven Feifer – The Neuropsychology of Reading Disorders: Diagnosis and Intervention
Dr. Feifer will discuss the four distinct subtypes of reading disorders and evidence based interventions. He will also include reference testing and curriculum-based measurements. All who are interested in Response to Intervention (RTI) should enjoy this presentation.

Heidi Hayes Jacobs – Mapping Active Literacy: Seven Essential School Wide Strategies Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening in Every Classroom K-12
Dr. Jacobs will be discussing strategies to be implemented school wide. She will cover subjects and grade levels through vertical planning with curriculum mapping.

Alan November – Back to the Digital Farm
Dr. November will discuss how to engaging students through technology. He will give examples of different projects that students can do with technology to prepare them for real world jobs. He will talk about easy-to-use tools that will get your students excited about learning.

Criss Cloudt – The Impact of New State and Federal Legislation on the State Assessment Program and State Accountability System for Texas Public Schools
Ms. Cloudt will discuss the changes that have been made, the ones that will be made in the near future, and how to implement these changes to education here in Texas. She will also talk about the state assessment and accountability programs.

Please feel free to comment or answer the questions below:
1. What 21st Century skills are you incorporating into your curriculum?
2. What kind of reaction are students and/or teachers having to the new skills?
3. What new legislation is affecting your school/district the most?

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

August 12th, 2008
Relationships, Respect and Responsibility: A New Teacher's Pathway to Success
LaDonna Polston
Birdville ISD
Exclusive District Retreat

August 19th, 2008
Success with TAKS : Research Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS & TAKS
Beatrice Luchin
Mesquite ISD
Exclusive District Retreat

August 21st & 22nd, 2008
Success with TAKS : Research Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS & TAKS
Beatrice Luchin
East Central ISD (San Antonio area)
Exclusive District Retreat

September 3rd, 2008
Jumping Hurdles and Raising the Bar Toward Achieving Excellence in Science
(for Middle School teachers)
Gloria Chatelain and Courtney Williams
Alvin ISD

September 11th & 12th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Sheldon ISD (Houston area)

September 23rd, 2008
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Luchin
Greenville ISD

September 24th & 25th, 2008
RTI: Teaching for the Next Century and
Don't Teach Harder, Teach Smarter! Differentiation to Meet and Exceed AYP!
William Bender
Beeville ISD

September 30th - October 1st, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Northside ISD (San Antonio)

The Opportunity: From "Brutal Facts" to the Best School We’ve Ever Had

2008-06-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

Dr. Mike Schmoker will present “The Opportunity: From ‘Brutal Facts’ to the Best School We’ve Ever Had,” on Tuesday, October 21st at the Texas ASCD Annual Conference. Don’t miss our last keynote session; it will be a great closing to issues discussed throughout the conference.

Are you ready to hear the facts on college readiness, low-income students, assessment, and curriculum? These are the problems facing our schools today. Dr. Schmoker will confront these issues and get you thinking on ways to solve them. I know most of you are thinking, these issues are not new, we have had these issues brought up and nothing changes. We must work with one another to set goals, and assess them. We can’t not improve curriculum and teaching if we are not sure what is going on in the classrooms and how it is affecting the students. This is why goal setting is key, even if the goals are small, you will still be able to set marks where you should be and see if you are reaching these marks. We must work together as a team; teacher with teacher, and administrator with teachers to set goals, measure them, and then adjust the curriculum. Dr. Schmoker will touch on curriculum mapping, and design, teacher effectiveness, and learning communities.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below.

1. What methods in your schools have you been working on to address these issues?
2. In your opinion, what other problems are facing today’s schools?

Please join Dr. Mike Schmoker on Tuesday, October 21, 2008.

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

June 25 & 26th, 2008
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas/Fort Worth area)

July 14th, 2008
Mathematics TEKS Revisions K-8: Putting the Pieces Together
Beatrice Luchin
Region 16 ESC (Amarillo)

July 14th & 15th, 2008
Curriculum Leadership Academy (Session 1)
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD

July 15th & 16th, 2008
Success with TAKS: Research Based Strategies and Activities to Improve Student Performance and Teacher Understanding of the TEKS & TAKS
Beatrice Luchin
Region 16 ESC (Amarillo)

July 22nd & 25th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Greenville ISD
Exclusive District Retreat

July 23rd & 24th, 2008
Maximizing Student Success (in collaboration with ASCD International)
Tim Westerberg
Mesquite ISD
Exclusive District Retreat

A New Essential Curriculum: What to cut? What to keep? What to Create?

2008-05-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs will be presenting how curriculum mapping changes with time at the Texas ASCD Annual Conference. What is Curriculum Mapping? Curriculum Mapping is a program that helps you see the whole curriculum picture. Curriculum Mapping is one way to assess curriculum in a school or district. Now the way a program can work is teachers enter information into an internet-based program. Each teacher writes about what they are teaching as they are teaching it, a daily account of what is taught in the classroom. The program allows teachers and administrators to view all entries. All personnel in the school/district have the access to map what students are learning across the grade level and throughout the entire school.

A united curriculum is what we should all be working towards in our schools, districts, states and nation. Curriculum mapping is not the only program to unite/link curriculum. Just think about the ability to link ideas and key components to what students have already learned. This process is essential for them to understand and to build on concepts. Curriculum Mapping allows teachers to see what others teachers are doing in their classrooms and the key elements on which they are focusing. They will then be able to compare and contrast what they are teaching in their own classrooms and adjust accordingly. Administrators can see what teachers find important and are teaching as well as what ideas are being repeated as children move grade levels. The decisions made on what to teach our youths will affect tomorrow’s world.

Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs will explore this idea during her keynote presentation at the Texas ASCD Annual Conference. She will present “A New Essential Curriculum: What to cut? What to keep? What to Create?” on Monday, October 20th. Follow the link to our website to find out more about the conference: http://www.txascd.org/development/index.html or check out Dr. Jacobs’ article in Leaders of Learners.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below.

1. What do you think of curriculum mapping and the need to change when necessary?
2. Have you been involved in curriculum mapping?
3. What kind of changes have you seen in your school during this process?

Attend Heidi Hayes Jacob’s presentation on “A New Essential Curriculum: What to cut? What to keep? What to Create?” on Monday, October 20th.

Upcoming Texas ASCD events:

June 2nd, 2008
Reading Strategies for Secondary Math Tutorials and TAKS Retesting
Beatrice Luchin
Amarillo ISD
EXCLUSIVE DISTRICT RETREAT

June 25 & 26th, 2008
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas/Fort Worth area)

June 26 & 27th, 2008
Successful Instructional Math Strategies for Students
CaLandra Pervis
Region 16 ESC (Amarillo)

What Great Teachers Do Differently: Fourteen Things That Matter Most

2008-04-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

What Great Teachers Do Differently: Fourteen Things That Matter Most; will be presented by Todd Whitaker at the 2008 Texas ASCD Annual Conference. What are 14 strategies you, and your school can do to have a great school year in 2008?

This session will show you what “great” teachers are doing versus the normal everyday teacher. Growing up, we all remember having that one teacher that we enjoyed, learned a lot from and as we entered the next stage of our life, we always went back to visit them. What did that teacher do differently from all the other teachers we had? Teaching is no easy task, but there is something that can be said for those teachers that have passion and transfer that passion onto our youth.

A sneak peak at 1 of Todd Whitaker’s 14 things that matter most is: Great teachers establish clear expectations at the beginning of the school year and then follow-through with these expectations as the year continues. Great teachers are prepared and organized; they know what to expect during the school year and are able to overcome whatever is thrown their way. How many times have you been in a situation where you didn’t know what you were suppose to be doing or what you were going to gain by being somewhere or doing a particular task? People like to know what the big picture is and how they will reach an end point. Being able to let students know what you, as the teacher, expect and what they will be doing throughout the year will make a big difference in the classroom.

Please join Todd Whitaker on Monday, October 20 at 2:45 p.m. to hear more of what matters most.

Please feel free to answer the questions below or make a comment on this subject. We would like to know how you feel about the topic.

1. Do you consider yourself to be a great teacher?
2. What things do you do differently from the rest of your colleagues?
3. What characteristics do you think “great” teachers have?

Upcoming Texas ASCD events:

June 25 & 26th, 2008
Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators
John Crain
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (Dallas/Fort Worth area)

June 26 & 27th, 2008
Successful Instructional Math Strategies for Students
CaLandra Pervis
Region 16 ESC (Amarillo)

Schooling By Design

2008-03-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Jay McTighe is a published author, educator and a featured presenter. Dr. McTighe has served as a classroom teacher, resource specialist, program coordinator, Director of the Maryland Assessment Consortium, and has coordinated efforts for statewide instructional strategies, curriculum models, and assessment procedures. On Sunday, October 19th, Jay McTighe will be speaking to the educators of Texas about Schooling by Design.

The presentation that Jay McTighe will present at the Texas ASCD Conference is based on Dr. McTighe’s latest book, “Schooling By Design,” published by ASCD in 2007. He will talk about school’s mission statements, how the mission statement should guide what teachers and administrators are doing in their classrooms and schools, “backward design,” teaching beyond the test and depersonalizing our educational practices. The mission of a school is very important, because it is a path for teachers and administrators that leads them to the expectations/goals of the children, parents, and community. In order for teachers and administrators to be in total control for achievement, they must have a plan to reach the goal.

A school that has a plan, goal, and control can only move ahead in education for our students. In order for everyone to buy into the future of our children, everyone who works in the school should be able to state the mission and explain their long-term goals. If not everyone can do this, then how can they work together to succeed? If you were playing for a basketball team, and not all the players knew which basket you were shooting for, then what potential problems can there be? For one, the person holding the ball can be running towards the wrong hoop, just like many of our teachers who are holding on to the knowledge but are running away from the goal of what we trying to teaching our children. Secondly, if they don’t know the plays, then how can other team members work together to reach their goal?

“Backward design” is another idea that Dr. McTighe will speak about in his presentation. In the case of a mission statement, you must identify what you would like to provide for your students (a goal), decide how to determine if you reached your goal, and then finally come up with steps to succeed. Many of us do “backward design” on a daily basis, we just need to start considering this way of designing for our schools and our students. These are just a few of the topics that Dr. McTighe will touch on in his present,ation at the Texas ASCD Annual Conference.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below.

1. What are some of the problems you are encountering when working on your mission statement?
2. The mission statement of your school/district is just the first step in designing your school. What other steps have you taken?

Attend Jay McTighe’s presentation on Schooling by Design on Sunday, October 19th.
*To hear more from Jay McTighe, please go to http://www.txascd.org/downloads/leaders_0308.pdf to read his article in our publication.*

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

John Crain’s Boot Camp for Curriculum Administrators in CyFair ISD April 2-3, 2008 and Tim Westerberg’s Creating the High School of Our Choice in HEB ISD April 15-16, 2008. Contact the Texas ASCD office or visit our website for more information.

21st Century Skills

2008-02-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

Mark your calendars; the 2008 Texas ASCD Annual Conference is coming up on October 19-21, 2008. Our first Keynote Presenter is Dr. Gene Carter. In 1992 Gene Carter became the Executive Director of ASCD. He will be speaking about ASCD’s Whole Child program, and 21st Century Learning.

The Whole Child Program promotes all children to be knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, motivated, civically engaged, prepared for work/economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world. Basically, ASCD would like to produce well-rounded individuals who will thrive in and outside of the school doors. There is a known gap between the skills and knowledge that children learn in school and what they will need after high school, when they are out in the communities, work places, and colleges. Children who are not healthy physically or emotionally have a hard time blocking this out while trying to learn new and exciting information. In order for the whole child program to work teachers, parents, and the community must buy into this program and help give children what they need.

The 21st Century came with many great ideas, information, technology, communication, and careers. Students need to be prepared for this infrastructure. Factual information is not the only thing needed in today’s society. Skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, global awareness, and direction are needed to succeed. We can’t keep teaching the same way that we learned in school; we must work with all the new innovations to keep our students motivated and on par with the rest of the world. Gene Carter will be the first keynote presenter, but there are many more experts that you will hear from during this 2 ½ day conference.

Please feel free to comment or answer any of the questions below.

1. Are you familiar and agree with the 21st Century Skills: Career and Life Skills, Learning and Innovation Skills, Information, Media, and Technology Skills which are supported by the core subjects as stated by The Partnership for 21st Century Skills?
2. What is your reaction to these skills and what they mean?

Please join us on Sunday, October 19th to hear more about 21st Century Learning from Gene Carter.

Upcoming Texas ASCD Events:

Improving Mathematics in the Elementary Grades in Cedar Hill ISD on March 13th. Call the Texas ASCD office for more information or visit our website at www.txascd.org.

Welcome

2008-01-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new Texas ASCD Blog! 2008 is going to be an exciting year for us and you can hear all about it here on this blog. The Texas ASCD office opened up after the holidays this past Monday, January 7th and the staff has been busy ever since.
On Wednesday, January 9th the Local Arrangements Committee (LAC) met in Dallas to discuss the upcoming conference. The 2008 Annual Conference theme is Leading for 21st Century Learning. The strands for the conference will cover subjects such as: technology, literacy, engaging instruction, capacity building, and multiple assessment measures. The LAC is committed to getting teachers, schools, and students ready for the ever-changing world. The 21st Century brought with it many new ideas and resources, but no explanations of how to change our way of understanding and teaching. The committee hopes that by committing to helping leaders prepare for the future, our children will in turn be ready for what the world throws their way.
The 2008 Annual Conference will be held at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas over October 19th through October 21st. Please continue to check back with our blog to learn about our conference as well as what Texas ASCD can do for you. Also, let us know if you have a suggestion or comment for Texas ASCD or our annual conference.