GPA’s. Should All Districts Rate the Same?

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

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?

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

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?

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

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

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.