Friday, February 27, 2015

Learning Environment

Do you think education has changed? What about the ways in which students learn? As I was walking through our high school one day, I came across this student. This picture was not staged; this is in fact how this student was studying. He was fully engaged in his work and I hated to bother him but I just had too. Take a good look at his setup and his learning environment...what do you notice? He has everything going for him: three devices, ear buds, book, paper, pen and a highlighter. Now think back when we were in school.  The first thought that comes to my mind is we didn't have any devices. The second thought is if we did we would have gotten in trouble for having a device or our technology out! 

Let our students fly and be creative!  As I told this student, there will be a day when classes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. inside a school building will change drastically . Oh by the way, I was curious.... so when I got back to my office, I looked up this student's cumulative grade point average and it is 3.75! 


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Boycotting State Mandated Tests

What an interesting read...a school votes to boycott state mandated test! Is this a good idea or bad idea? We all agree school districts need to be held accountable but when do we draw the line on too much testing? Is all this testing really helping our students?

I would really like to hear your comments on this hot topic!

New post on I AM AN EDUCATOR

New Seattle Test Boycott Erupts: Nathan Hale High School votes to refuse to administer a Common Core test

by I AM AN EDUCATOR
 
Today, I found out from my good friend Doug Edelstein that his school community decided to collectively refuse to administer the new Common Core test, the SBAC, to 11th graders. Doug teaches at, and graduated from, Nathan Hale (in fact, my step-dad was a classmate of his).  The Nathan Hale Senate--a body made up of the teachers, administrators, parents and students--voted nearly unanimously that this test was inappropriate. The vote was taken after careful consideration and much discussion and inquiry, including two school community forums -- one of which included University of Washington professor of education and renowned scholar on high-stakes testing, Wayne Au.  This is the first year that the SBAC is required in the Seattle Public Schools, and this action represents an escalation of the high-stakes testing resistance that erupted against the MAP test in 2013.  In taking this action, Nathan Hale has became the latest focal point of what has now become the largest ongoing revolt against high-stakes testing in U.S. history and an important new escalation in the national resistance to common core testing.
Doug wrote the following announcement of Nathan Hale's courageous decision to take a stand against the testocracy:
This afternoon the Nathan Hale Senate (functions as Building Leadership Team) voted nearly unanimously not to administer the SBAC tests to 11th graders this year.
The Senate also recently voted not to administer the PSAT test to 10th graders at all in the future.
Reasons for refusing the SBAC for 11th graders included (summary):
1. Not required for graduation
2. Colleges will not use them this year
3. Since NCLB requires all students pass the tests by 2014, and since few if any schools will be able to do that,  all schools will therefore be considered failing by that standard. There is thus no reason to participate in erroneous and misapplied self-labeling.
4. It is neither valid nor reliable nor equitable assessment. We will use classroom based assessments to guide next instructional steps.
5. Cut scores of the SBAC reflect poor assessment strategy and will produce invalid and unreliable outcomes.
6. Student made this point: "Why waste time taking a test that is meaningless and that most of us will fail?"
7. The SBAC will tie up computer lab time for weeks.
8. The SBAC will take up time students need to work on classroom curriculum.
This is an important step. Nathan Hale is asserting its commitment to valid, reliable, equitable assessment. This decision is the result of community and parent meetings, careful study of research literature, knowledge of our students' needs, commitment to excellence in their education, and adherence to the values and ideas of best-practice instruction.
This resolution does not mean NHHS will refuse the 10th grade SBAC assessments, sorry to say. But the way the school went about the decision is a powerful model for other schools, and means that anything is still possible in that regard.
Yay.
Doug Edelstein

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Open Enrollment/NPSD Building Video Cast



It's open enrollment season in WI!
Students can attend any public school in the state of WI  as long as you live in WI.  Many great opportunities are available in the Northland Pines School District. Watch this 8 minute video to learn more about our schools. We are always ready to give you and your family a tour of our great facilities. Great Students, Great Staff, Great Buildings, Great District, Great Test Scores, Great Community and Great Opportunities! 






Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Effective School Leader


I have been a Rotarian for 14 years and what a great service club. The men and women in our Rotary club and clubs all around the world are truly outstanding community leaders. I see a lot of similarities in the Rotary Four-Way Test and being an effective school leader... superintendent or principal. When we make tough decisions we need to ask ourselves; will this decision benefit our students?

If you are a school administrator, at what capacity are you serving your community? It's not enough to only serve your school district or building; you must also take an active role in serving your community!