3 posts tagged “school”

If you work in the school system and even touch a lower ability student you have probably heard of Alternative Assessment. The AA is a way for the government to see we have progressed learning for these students. The problem is that, just like state assessments, every state gets to make their own rules for it. When I worked in CA I had a state made AA and it changed and grew as the state better understood what testing needed to look like for these kids. When I moved to FL I was told "We can use any assessment we want, like the Brigance" and I said "Just WAIT!" and I was right.

This past October we were given instructions to test a certain student (black, male, in 3rd; white, male in 8th; etc.) so that the state could have a test of the test. The problem was that they wanted to real test administered in March and that did not give them enough time to get all the results accounted. They did listen and change the test some but you can really tell NONE of them are administering the test and they don't, or haven't ever, taught this population.

I administered the October test to three students and the March test to aporoximately 10 students. I was nominated to to to the Alternative Assessment Review Committee for our county. I was selected and went this past week during my Spring Break. Of course there is very little I am allowed to share but I do know that the company designing the test is trying to listen to all comments that teachers send in. I also know that the test is still in it's infancy and a work in progress. I have found out that we won't get the scores on our student probably until next fall.

It was exciting to be a part of the State changing and I have applied for the Content Review Committee and another Assessment Review Committee that will happen during the summer. I hope I get at least one of them!

Dear all that know Miss Minda,

Yesterday, Friday, around 11am she fell going down the outside steps at a county building. A police officer happened to watch the whole thing and was over to her within minutes. She knew she had broken something and the county building insisted on calling an ambulance since it happened on their property. To make a long story as short as possible she was operated on last night. She basically blew out her ankle. It was broken in three or four places, they had to insert a four inch plate of metal at six or seven screws to hold it all together. She spent the night and might spend tonight as well. She won't be working for at least a week, probably two, since she can't have a cast for two weeks. Getting into her own home will be a problem since they have stairs to get into ANY door in the house; there is a chance she will be staying with my parents since this is where she is anyway (she lives about an hour away from here). If anyone needs to contact me fee free to send a message and I can give further details as I know them.

Prayers and thoughts are always welcome.

Sirena

As of this moment I am finally wireless! It took over an hour with the rep on the phone line to get it working but now my home computer, my school laptop computer, and soon the printer are online. I am in heaven; this also saves me from buying a brand new computer until my tax money arrives. I am also looking into some office rearranging since I am not tied to my desk anymore.

School is going well. We are having many IEP meetings to start talking about transistions for students moving from elementary to middle and middle to high school settings. Each move is scary for the parents as well as the students to this is the time to give all a chance to see the new school and classroom as well as give everyone the chance to meet the teachers of the programs. I have a student that is blind and autistic moving to middle school next year and the meeting is Friday. It will be quite the way to end the week before spring break next week.

Sis is visiting this weekend. The boys can't wait until the cousins arrive. They all get along pretty well and really enjoy the sleepovers. I hope we can do something creative. I am itching to get my hands are art of some kind. Maybe clay or even drawing. I'm not sure but I know I want to create something visual.

Cub Scout night tonight - it was Pack night. The room was way too hot so it was frustrating. We learned how to adjust the temperature after the meeting so it never happens again. There were many Tiger badges handed out today and that worries me. We usually try to have the den leaders postpone these until June so that the boys have a reason to continue coming to meetings. Many boys and parents drop out once that badge is awarded even though there are many other patches, belt loops, and pins that can be earned.

I am signing both boys up for Cub Scout camp this summer. It is a day camp for the week and I will volunteer this year. If I like it I will probably go to training to run our own camp in our own county (this one is south of us). The current summer camp leader announced this was going to be his last summer and the council has offered to send Jenny and I to training if we would hold a summer camp for our district. Sounds like lots of work but also lots of reward. I will keep you all posted as the summer gets going.

Well, I'm off to bed. Look forward to reading all the posts from all those from EFX and those that I am learning from VOX. Good night!

Sirena