Will Computer Testing Affect Student Achievement?

Re:  New computer writing testing from NAEP.  This article is noteworthy for two reasons:  (1) our nation's students perform poorly on writing skills, (2) the writing test evaluated details about what, and when word processing tools were accessed.  Although we in Title I are not involved with writing skills, we will be using computers for student testing for the first time. There is a natural evolution to test students using computers so all of us need to pay attention to what details our students seem vulnerable.  Soon, all sections of the NAEP test will be comuterized as well as state testing. 
After our first experience with MAP testing, what have you noticed about our student's facility with computers?  What might need to be addressed with our testees?

NAEP Shows Most Students Lack Writing Proficiency.  Nora Fleming.9.13.12.  Education Week - Premium Week
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/09/14/04naep.h32.html?tkn=RYTFPWOwkrlFhJJvB3C%2BxZ%2BaN4iVhknWc4rj&cmp=ENL-DD-NEWS1

How Does It Feel for Homeless Student?

This is a "Wow" article and an eye-opener for some of our teachers in our schools who have students living in poverty and sometimes homeless.  Armando Gutierrez writes this sensitive piece from one student's point of view.  Not to be missed! 
What ideas can you share with your colleagues that may help other students like this?

You Don't Know Me. Armando Glutierrez. 9.19.12  Education Week
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/09/19/04gutierrez.h32.html?tkn=NSSFNJfWnYttAFmAubpWQp5rHROnks5eBscz&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS1

What is Deeper Learning? Can We Assess It?

In a study released by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science in Washington, deeper learning was examined carefully.  (See The National Academies Press http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13398)

The study focused on what skills are important to learn for the world outside school and how we can teach students to use deeper learning to apply what is learned in one situation to another.  James Pellegrino one of the authors of the report defines the 3 areas of competence as: cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal.
I have posted similar articles on this subject, so you might want to explore more Common Core articles.
The questions to ask in our Title I classes are key:  Are we relevant?  Are we giving enough students enough time to explore meanings and relationships?  Are we connecting concepts to process?  Are we asking probbing questions?  Is teamwork or other means of collaboration offered?
As we experiment with these adaptations this year, please offer your thoughts.

How Do We Define and Measure "Deeper Learning"?  Tina Barseghian. 9.13.12.  Mind/Shift
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/09/how-do-we-define-and-measure-deeper-learning/

Global Awareness - How Are Our Students Doing?

This study by World Savvy measured high-school graduates', aged 18-24, competency of world knowledge.  This quote from William Gaudell, of Columbia University concludes that...

..."the work that remains to be done in terms of preparing young people for the global future they are inheriting. The US can no longer be satisfied with an education that is not world class both in character and caliber. The time to reorient our focus is upon us."
 

World Savvy: 2012 Global Competency Survey. http://worldsavvy.org/about/why-need/world-savvy-global-competency-research-results/    (available download pdf )

Erick Robelson, blogger for Education Week - Curriculum Matters expands on future implications of the lack of world knowledge in high school graduates.  He notes that students themselves wished they would have had more opportunities to discuss world events and spend more time taking foreign languages.  Some students, did say that teachers tried to incorcorate a more global approach in their classes.
LEX, Title I has global awareness as one of the 21st Century Skills we are trying to cultivate with our students.  Is this a difficult "add-on" to an already crowded curriculum in our 2 hours per week?  Given our access to more technology available to us, how can we incorporate global happenings in our everyday lessons?  Is it possible?
Comments please.

David Who?  Survey Finds Young Adults Lack World Knowledge. Erik Robelsen. 9.12.12. Education Week - Curriculum Matters
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2012/09/british_prime_minister_david_c.html?cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS2

Dogs Help Struggling Readers

While I don't recommend bringing your dog to your Title I class, this story reminds me of several situation where dogs were used as silent, gracious listeners.

1. Our neighorhood library brought a calm golden retreiver and his handler to the library once a week so that children could read to him.  Great success and very popular with young children.
2. For several years when we had the prescriptive program at Atlas, the teachers recognized that Hmong children were very reluctant to read aloud to their teacher, mainly because of cultural respect for persons in authority.  Hmong children even have difficulty giving their teacher eye-contact.  I took it upon myself to dress up a big, old stuffed dog from my daughter's childhood and added a hat and a tie around his neck.  He was "Fred."  Fred had his own private space in the room.  Children went to him to read and often brought Fred back to their table.  Worked wonderfully!
3. Two of our participating schools in the past had a time-out corner in the "office" where students needing a 'time out' came to stay.  There were stuffed animals, books, and chairs.  In no time, children were reading to the stuffed animal and calmed themselves down.

We certainly could renew "dogs" in reading sites with young children if there is enough space.  Struggling readers do not like to read aloud alone and much prefer choral reading, much like my tone-deaf self who needs a good singer next to me to carry a tune.

Any similar ideas?  Share them with us.

Education assistance dogs help students with reading.  Angela Ward. 9.9.12. news-journal.com. Longview, Texas.
http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/education-assistance-dogs-help-students-with-reading/article_a3980e51-6373-500a-b259-cc0b5958b58b.html

Evers Announces New State Test Plans

Tony Evers, state superintendent of public instruction announced a new approach for testing Wisconsin high school students.  He is requesting $7million from the state to fund  ....

• all 11th graders to the the ACT standardized college admissions exam
• a separate career skills test startin ghe the 2014-15 school year
• all 9th and 10th graders would take a pre-ACT test starting that year - also....EXPLORE test in 9th grade, PLAN test in 10th grade, and WorkKeys skills test in 11th grade.

WorkKeys measures skills such as reading, math, listening, locating information and teamwork to help students understand how they can improve their skills for better-paying jobs, according to ACT.

There will be new computer-adaptive standardized tests for elementary and middle-school students to be fully implemented in 2014-15.

We'll just have to wait to see how these plans work out.  We live in interesting times, don't we?  Question is, how prepared are we as Title I teachers?  Is Wisconsin on the right track?

Cluster of new exams proposed for all high schoolers – Wisconsin would use ACT, pre-ACT tests to gauge progress.  Erin Richards 9.12.12. Journal Sentinel.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/cluster-of-new-exams-proposed-for-all-high-schoolers-h16r0r5-169466086.html

 

Minnesota State Math Test look a Lot Like MAPS

The new online state math test piloted in Minnesota shows shows increased student achievement.  Computer access was a problem for small schools: one principal says he bused his students to use the computer lab 3 times a year in a nearby high school.  Seems like students are taking these tests seriously.  Students received results immediately which led to their incentive to improve. Teachers have been able to target instruction for those having difficulty. [Interestingly, unlike Tennessee, test results did not count in student grades nor count in teacher evals.]  Inequalities in testing environment will be strategized, as well as which of the potential 3 tests will be used as the measure of student achievement.
There are lessons here for us in Title I, I'm sure.  After we've gone through testing this year, let's evaluate strengths and weaknesses in MAPS.  Keep you thoughts in mind and let us know.

Minnesota's online math tests earn high marks.  Magan ad Webster. 9.12.12. Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_21519042/minnesotas-new-online-math-tests-help-teachers-boost