The positive we can find in the above mentioned list is the state aide figures should reflect a stable funding formula for the 2013-2014 school year and with that the promise that we will not see a decrease in state aid for next year. Even the possibility... remote as it might be... that we may even see more $. I am holding my breath on that thought as I write, which is why i have to end this blog soon, in case I pass out....
We are hosting a Bear Safety assembly here at OCS on Monday, March 4th. The program is presented free of charge by the NJ Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, and since the bears will soon begin to stir from their hibernation, we felt it would be a good time of the year to hold this assembly.
I came across an interesting article in the winter edition of Scholastic Administration magazine:
The article, entitled: "Kentucky, The First Domino" details the results of the state assessment scores from last spring. Kentucky was the first state to give an assessment that reflected the Common Core Standards... scores dropped dramatically. The NJDOE is alluding to this as a possibility here in NJ as well. In order to combat a drop, we have been doing the following things here at OCS.
First, here is the link to the article found on page 10:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/scholastic/administrator_2013winter/#/12
Our action plan going back to last school year....
Common Core Standards and NJ State Assessments
As we discussed at our work session meeting on February 14,
2013, there has been some concern from the NJDOE about test score results dropping
in 2013. The NJDOE has told us that the
2013 NJASK assessments in grades 3-8 will be built around NJ Common Core State
Standards (NJCCSS), however, there are still remnants of the old New Jersey
Core Curriculum Content Standards on the assessment as well. I shared an article from the winter 2013
issue of Scholastic Administrator magazine (article copied to the back of this
handout) about the test score results in Kentucky and the results they saw with
state assessments based on Common Core.
I presented the idea that I would provide a summary to the school board
outlining those things we have done to try to meet the challenges of the new
curriculum and be better prepared for the state assessments. Here is what we have done:
1.
Teachers,
with funds provided by the BOE, were provided with the Lucy Caulkins book,
“Pathways to the Common Core.” This book
has been the focus of a book club discussion of 12 teachers as part of their
Professional Learning Community (PLC).
2.
Second year of articulation meetings being held
in the Warren Hills Cluster to develop activities and connections between
cluster curriculum and national standards.
3.
Staff Meetings devoted to Common Core – two
meetings during the 2011-2012 school year and seven days (10 hours) of meetings
this school year (2012-2013).
4.
NJDOE PowerPoint presentations shared with staff
on teaching the Common Core.
5.
Websites with suggested activities and a lesson
plan checklist for staff.
6.
NJASK PowerPoint presentation developed by the
NJDOE provided to teachers.
7.
All staff provided with writing samples form
2012 NJASK and Individual Student Reports (ISR) which highlight strengths and
weaknesses on specific skill components of the NJASK.
8.
Staff Professional Development provided for
NJASK trainings provided by the NJDOE and attendance at the Spring 2013
Tri-County Reading Association.
9.
National Common Core writing exemplars provided
to all teachers in grades KG-8.
10.
Study Island program offering increased to
include Language Arts and Math for grades 3-8
11.
Study Island Benchmark tests – Week of February
25 and April 15. Skill levels can be
identified and worked on as needed.
Program is available for home as well.
12.
MyAccess writing program for grades 5-8. MyAccess is a nationally-recognized program
to develop writing skills. The scoring
rubric is the New jersey Holistic Scoring rubric used to assess NJASK writing.
13.
Marzano teacher evaluation process provides more
timely feedback to staff after walkthroughs and formal observations.
14.
Additional pool of students identified based on
NJASK scores for after school tutoring.
15.
Potential switch to Genesis student information
program including the lesson planning feature which monitors the standards
being used in classrooms and streamlines lesson planning process.
Till next time....
