Board members Michelle Dumbsky and Jeff Mescal and I attended an all-day meeting in Indianpolis with State Superintendent Tony Bennett on Monday. Much of the session was devoted to boardsmanship and the necessity of setting goals and allowing those goals to guide how money is spent in the school corporation particularly in these challenging economic times.
Dr. Bennett lauded the Indiana Growth Model of which he is very proud. He believes that it may be adopted as the national model. It is certainly a step in the right direction. However, it is still has a norm- referenced base as opposed to measuring on a criterion base. Since it is norm-referenced, students still have a baseline to meet before their growth counts for the school. Struggling schools find that problematic.
If you have not yet reviewed the Growth Model for grades 3-8, please check out the Helpful Links section.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
TCSC Connection
Inspired by the new Lowell Middle School blog and the ease of use of this application, the TCSC Connection will be your new communication with the superintendent.
It is accessible and will allow both internal and external communication. In addition, I will be able to provide more timely information than has been presented to staff in the weekly internal communication Good Monday Morning!
I think we are on to something here! Let me know what you think.
It is accessible and will allow both internal and external communication. In addition, I will be able to provide more timely information than has been presented to staff in the weekly internal communication Good Monday Morning!
I think we are on to something here! Let me know what you think.
Watch Know
Check out this website which will search YouTube for materials that are appropriate for students by age level. Thanks to Pat Larsen for sharing! This works for K-12. HTTP://WWW.WATCHKNOW.ORG/
Common Core Standards
If you have not yet taken the time to review the new Common Core Standards Maps, please do so at the site listed below. From my perspective, they are really well done. Check out the maps, and let your principals know what your assessment is. HTTP://WWW.COMMONCORE.ORG/MAPS
Becker New "Energy Czar"
John Becker has replaced Kent Hess as the new “Energy Czar” in Tri-Creek. Please continue to show John the great cooperation that you have shown to Kent. We have had phenomenal success with energy cost avoidance in the past years and have every expectation to continue to do so under John’s leadership!
California Open Source (FREE) Textbook Project
Digital textbooks are coming! Read about California’s attempts to develop open-source (free textbooks) at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Open_Source_Textbook_Project.
You can find free downloads of the following books at this site: www.ck12.org/flexr/.
Featured Flexbooks are Life Science, 21st Century Physics, Earth Science, Geometry, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Calculus, Trigonometry, and Chemistry.
Coming this fall are Middle School Math – Grade 6, Middle School Math – Grade 7, Earth Science – Middle School, Life Science – Middle School, Basic Algebra, Basic Geometry, Basic Probability and Statistics – A Full Course, Algebra I – Second Edition, Geometry – Second Edition, Advanced Probability and Statistics – Second Edition, Earth Science – High School, Biology, Chemistry – Second Edition.
Check them out, math and science teachers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Open_Source_Textbook_Project.
You can find free downloads of the following books at this site: www.ck12.org/flexr/.
Featured Flexbooks are Life Science, 21st Century Physics, Earth Science, Geometry, Calculus, Probability and Statistics, Calculus, Trigonometry, and Chemistry.
Coming this fall are Middle School Math – Grade 6, Middle School Math – Grade 7, Earth Science – Middle School, Life Science – Middle School, Basic Algebra, Basic Geometry, Basic Probability and Statistics – A Full Course, Algebra I – Second Edition, Geometry – Second Edition, Advanced Probability and Statistics – Second Edition, Earth Science – High School, Biology, Chemistry – Second Edition.
Check them out, math and science teachers.
The Technology Imperative
From the student point of view! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8
Please use Control and Click to access.
Please use Control and Click to access.
Warning from Spectrum Health Systems
Our wellness plan is with Spectrum Health Systems. Recently, they informed us that there is an apparent prevalence of the use of the hCG diet weight loss method in our district. Our account manager has said the following:
“The hCG diet is extremely unhealthy and potentially dangerous. This diet is not approved by the FDA and involves a dangerously low calorie intake and the use of the hCG hormone. If team members with chronic conditions (for example, diabetes) attempt this diet, there could be serious side effects. Spectrum Health Systems does NOT endorse the “hCG diet.”
“As you know, the healthiest approach to weight loss is to eat healthy and exercise. Diets like the one I have described in this email are very unhealthy and could do much more harm that good to the individual.”
“The hCG diet is extremely unhealthy and potentially dangerous. This diet is not approved by the FDA and involves a dangerously low calorie intake and the use of the hCG hormone. If team members with chronic conditions (for example, diabetes) attempt this diet, there could be serious side effects. Spectrum Health Systems does NOT endorse the “hCG diet.”
“As you know, the healthiest approach to weight loss is to eat healthy and exercise. Diets like the one I have described in this email are very unhealthy and could do much more harm that good to the individual.”