Lead, Learn, Influence in a 24/7 World

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?

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?

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?

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