tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3386988436399729974..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Performance Management Advisory Committee wMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37631144536307069962009-04-16T14:09:00.000-07:002009-04-16T14:09:00.000-07:00good one, Solvay!
Maybe it's a short book about e...good one, Solvay!<br /><br />Maybe it's a short book about eggs (promoted by Oprah)<br /><br />And on the other end of the spectrum from eggs, WV tells us that when you are dead and buried, you become wormiuseattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29202249301754220662009-04-16T12:17:00.000-07:002009-04-16T12:17:00.000-07:00"WV has been watching too many medical commercials..."WV has been watching too many medical commercials: Ovella! for healthy eggs! "<br /><br />Or, perhaps...short novels promoted by Oprah!<br /><br />Couldn't resist that one.SolvayGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12709893209963350066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15757168520832043622009-04-16T09:02:00.000-07:002009-04-16T09:02:00.000-07:00I think the theory is that it is in middle school ...I think the theory is that it is in middle school that it's easiest to "catch" a student before they start to make trouble (for themselves or others). It's a matter of prevention, not protection, per se<br /><br />WV has been watching too many medical commercials: Ovella! for healthy eggs! (sideeffectsmayincludeitching,stitching,crampsanddamps.TakingOvellamayalsocauseyourheadtoexpand.PeoplewhoarebreathingshouldnottakeOvella.Peoplewhoareshorterthan8'6"shouldnottakeOvella.TakingOvellacausesdeath;ifdead,consultyourphysicianbeforecontinuinguse.)seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64752196730617324662009-04-16T08:35:00.000-07:002009-04-16T08:35:00.000-07:00Odd. Isn't it the high schools that need police of...Odd. Isn't it the high schools that need police officers most? HS is where we the majority of violent crime happen (rapes, assaults, weapons), and drug and alcohol usage.<br /><br />The majority of middle school crime is petty theft (ipods, phones), skipping class, vandalism.... <br /><br />And white, middle class, suburban high schools seem to be at the highest risk for very violent crime (mass shootings, etc).anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716725891562757052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87921978046491141542009-04-16T08:10:00.000-07:002009-04-16T08:10:00.000-07:00article about police in middle schools (all in cen...article about police in middle schools (all in central/south) in today's Times:<br />http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009059303_webcops16.htmlseattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33307400957382519362009-04-15T22:42:00.000-07:002009-04-15T22:42:00.000-07:00Spaced repetition that sure sounds like John Saxon...Spaced repetition that sure sounds like John Saxon's idea of shuffling rather than the pointless spiraling of Everyday Math etc.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81081630726861159912009-04-15T19:26:00.000-07:002009-04-15T19:26:00.000-07:00Because CCs don't accept/require SAT scores, they ...Because CCs don't accept/require SAT scores, they have had placement tests for English/Math for decades.<br />They don't use the transcript at all, which I think is interesting since that is what 4 yr schools generally do ( except some publics).<br /><br />One of the concerns as I see it is a fairly new one.<br />We have many more student snow attempting to attend college than in the past.<br />More students with learning issues, more students who perhaps have attended 6 or 7 different schools, students of all backgrounds.<br /><br />We have less math( more spiral math) taught in the K-12 schools at the same time that college courses and employers are looking for those with more math.<br /><br />One child had math courses that used Mathematica in the classroom- it seemed to work well enough, she took precalc in junior year and stats senior year- still when she wanted to take a math class at the community college, she didn't place into college level.<br /><br />( which was IMO- because the advisor at the college ( seattle central) insisted on her using the timed computer test- instead of paper and pencil as we requested- when she went to a different community college ( North) and was able to retake the test on paper, she placed into a more appropriate class- she does have a learning disability which qualifies her for the paper and pencil test- ) I include this info, because I think it would be helpful for parents/students interested in the CC classes.<br /><br /><br />Her high school math teacher Gary Anderson, is currently working on a Moodle activity based on theory of Spaced Repetition.<br />He's pretty smart , you might check it out.Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82412527161098046382009-04-15T11:27:00.000-07:002009-04-15T11:27:00.000-07:00Speaking of CPPS..got an email from them containin...Speaking of CPPS..got an email from them containing a letter to the Supt. It had to do with upcoming union contract negotiations. Here is what they'd like:<br />"<br />During the contract negotiations, we want to work with the district to achieve the following goals:<br /><br />Implement a parent and community outreach and communication process during the negotiations <br />Develop an analysis of potential tradeoffs required by all stakeholders to prevent additional budget cuts that impact classrooms <br />Ensure transparency in all decisions to make tradeoffs clear to parents and the community <br />Assure the retention of quality teachers <br />Create an exit strategy for underperforming teachers <br />Include parent priorities in contract negotiations"<br /><br />This seems vague. What do they mean by "parent and community outreach during negotiations"? How would parents contribute to contract negotiations?<br />What do they mean by<br />"include parent priorities..."?<br />Should the district negotiate contracts while considering various parents' desires (regarding hiring, I assume, regarding which jobs are worthwhile?)<br /><br />What are the trade-offs required by all stakeholders during union contract negotiations?<br /><br />I'm sort of confused by this letter to Supt. What does CPPS want?seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62466716621749646312009-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:002009-04-14T13:12:00.000-07:00Huge problem, Dan, even more so now. They need to...Huge problem, Dan, even more so now. They need to get students in and out in 4 year flat. Too many others are chomping at the gates to get in. When you have enough numbers of students lagging behind because of remedial courses, then you have a problem. If it gets bad enough, they might make students take a basic English/math test before they let you in. (My son has to do this before they let him take Running Start courses and that's for community college.)Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-11794105060641936442009-04-14T09:32:00.000-07:002009-04-14T09:32:00.000-07:00From the PI article:
Many college freshmen can't d...From the PI article:<br /><I>Many college freshmen can't do basic math, and some instructors are dumbing down their classes to accommodate them, a group of University of Washington math, science and engineering professors warned in an open letter released Thursday.<br /><br />"<B>This is a big issue for us at the University of Washington</B>," said Cliff Mass, a professor in the UW's atmospheric sciences department.</I>-----------<br /><B>Our problem is that, as Charlie points out, this is not a big issue for the Seattle Schools Central Administration.</B>....nor is this problem even noticed by Director Chow.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68883810071963474422009-04-14T08:59:00.000-07:002009-04-14T08:59:00.000-07:00The Calc and Pre-Calc students are doing fine. Tha...The Calc and Pre-Calc students are doing fine. That may be true, but I wonder where they got their math instruction. Did they get it in school or did they get it outside of school, either from a tutoring service or from a family member?<br /><br />Since the introduction of the reform math pedagogy, the only math my children learned they learned from me. The lessons they got at school were bewildering.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48418182841230361642009-04-14T08:54:00.000-07:002009-04-14T08:54:00.000-07:00But seriously folks...I agree with Dan that the ch...But seriously folks...I agree with Dan that the cherry-picking of committee members to achieve the desired outcome is quite troubling.SolvayGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12709893209963350066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23370541101250610732009-04-14T08:53:00.000-07:002009-04-14T08:53:00.000-07:00Charlie and Melissa..."He and She Who Must Not be ...Charlie and Melissa..."He and She Who Must Not be Named"<br /><br />You should be pleased you strike such terror in the hearts of District staff! Keep up the good work.SolvayGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12709893209963350066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91112982404737262112009-04-14T08:49:00.000-07:002009-04-14T08:49:00.000-07:00Is anyone surprised at the continued attempt to gu...<B>Is anyone surprised at the continued attempt to guide the groups to pre-determined outcomes?<br />Selection of individuals for public input is a really important part of this.</B>This parallels the Central Administration's use of research.<br />Instead of looking through research to find a direction, research is mined to support the pre-determined direction.<br /><br />Mr. Mas and Ms. Westbrook just fail to appreciate the vast wisdom in how the district operates.<br />--------------<br /><br />The district failed to put a Mathematician on the Core-Committee for HS Math materials. Only a UW mathematician, Dr Jack Lee, applied and he was an unknown quanitity.<br /><br />Given the UW letter about the decline of math achievement in incoming frosh ... it was best to stay away from unknown quantities from UW.<br /><A HREF="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/353199_math29.html" REL="nofollow"> http://www.seattlepi.com/local/353199_math29.html </A>Especially true when the plan is to continue with the current math direction. The fact this direction is failing is apparently of little concern.<br /><br />Director Chow at the last board meeting made a big speech about how "Hello .. the Calc and pre-calc students are doing fine."<br />... the data shows at UW over the last decade things are continually worsening.<br /><br />Director Chow supports the recommended materials because they came out of the process.<br /><br /><B>Sorry Charlie and Melissa .... with folks like you involved there would be no telling where processes might go </B>... they might even lead to improvements.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50433899794252549842009-04-14T05:50:00.000-07:002009-04-14T05:50:00.000-07:00Here's some irony to sprinkle on top: instead of c...Here's some irony to sprinkle on top: instead of coming from CPPS, the student family representative will come from the School Family Partnership Advisory Committee - a Committe on which I serve.<br /><br />The SFPAC is meeting this evening and getting a presentation from... you guessed it, the Performance Management Working Group. So tonight I will be angling at a second chance to get myself appointed to that Working Group, this time as the representative of the SFPAC instead of CPPS.<br /><br />Ah! I forgot to mention... the person who appears to be running the Performance Management work is Carol Rava-Treat.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17168040359028996542009-04-13T19:28:00.000-07:002009-04-13T19:28:00.000-07:00Join the club, Charlie. I learned from a source I...Join the club, Charlie. I learned from a source I can't name that I was going to be asked to be on a taskforce through an education group but someone in the district(named to me but I won't name)didn't want me on it and told them so. (And kind of funny that the person who didn't want me on the taskforce was someone I thought I did have some rapport with.) I did receive the invitation but was unable, at the time, to join the group. Interesting that the district will speak up if they don't like the group membership even if it isn't their own group. <br /><br />Charlie, you and I both know that we ask questions they don't like. It may be our questions, our refusal to give up or our manner or all of the above. I think that when these groups are formed they want people who they perceive will further the group goals along and if they support those goals, all the better.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79971928197006749682009-04-13T18:10:00.000-07:002009-04-13T18:10:00.000-07:00Either way it is pathetic...
Way 1: sorry we are ...Either way it is pathetic...<br /><br />Way 1: sorry we are unable to count and have no idea how to connect invitations with an actual predetermined number.<br /><br />Way 2: sorry we are only interested in statutory yes men to fulfill a meaningless role. Mr Mas is disqualified as he will spend too much time thinking and contributing instead of just nodding and saying yes.<br /><br />Have I missed something? Are there more than two ways?dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73727760881299404452009-04-13T16:32:00.000-07:002009-04-13T16:32:00.000-07:00I should note that CPPS has, like the Alliance, un...<I>I should note that CPPS has, like the Alliance, undergone some changes in leadership. And, as with the Alliance, those changes came with changes in focus and operation as well.</I>^<br />I expect the district was not as aware of this as they could have been, and were really just looking for someone who would fill the position of " family representation" without you know actually expecting them to retain information on accountability.<br /><br />When they heard <I> your name</I> dear sir they recoiled in "horreur" frantically backpedaling all the way.<br /><br />Why in heck is there only ONE teacher and ONE principal on what sounds like a very important process?<br /><br />Do they actually want meaningful work accomplished or not?Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.com