tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3731439303746207773..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41180534640995632012015-11-10T22:02:19.137-08:002015-11-10T22:02:19.137-08:00@ more feedback
I was a half time Math Specialist...@ more feedback<br /><br />I was a half time Math Specialist at North Beach Elementary about 5 years ago. We were one of the first elementary school to do school wide math blocks. The math blocks was implemented by Principal Nikki Hayes in 2000. Our math block allowed us to have "walk to math" beginning in first grade. I taught the advanced first grade and fourth grade math classes. There were two math blocks, one for primary grades 1-3 and a second for intermediate 4-6th.<br /><br />I taught 2 lessons per day to my first graders. By the end of January, the class started second grade math. Since the first 25 lessons of most math textbooks are review of the previous year's content, we dove into the second grade book starting at lesson 25. We felt it was important to not skip the foundation so we covered every lesson of the first grade curriculum. First grade math establishes base ten, place value, single digit addition and subtraction. By the end of first grade, students begin to add two-digit with two-digit and are introduced to carrying (regrouping). They also are introduced to the idea of 2 digit subtraction. <br /><br />The advanced second graders went into third grade math directly the following year and so forth. We din't fudge with the curriculum. The advanced kids use the next grade textbooks. It was a good system. Placement was reconfigured at the end and beginning of every year based on teacher recommendations, our own in-house end of course assessments, MSP, and MAP test scores. We still had some parent complaints but the placements could be justified with multiple data points. Letters was sent at the beginning of every year explaining math placement.<br /><br />You could use MIF or any other textbooks the same way as we did. Put the kids working at the advanced level in the next grade up. North Beach used Saxon but has switch to MIF. Linh-Conoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30267653491617565122015-11-10T00:08:52.369-08:002015-11-10T00:08:52.369-08:00There's a K-8 in Seattle that teaches calculus...There's a K-8 in Seattle that teaches calculus?<br /><br />Half FullAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50625805477531727502015-11-09T06:53:48.053-08:002015-11-09T06:53:48.053-08:00Anonymous at 7:15. Can you tell me the name of the...Anonymous at 7:15. Can you tell me the name of the school? Is it elementary or K-8?<br />Reposting for anonymous<br /><br />Our elementary school has a math block when all the classes do math at the same time. Each teacher teaches one level, the kids walk to the classroom for the level they're at. The levels went all the way up to calculus - there were kids who were very advanced in math. The PTSA raises money to pay tutors for the higher level math classes/groups. I believe the scheduling can be challenging because math block time can't be used for the teachers' prep period.<br /><br />11/8/15, 7:15 PM<br /> Math LoverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59904426002619123912015-11-08T23:18:03.832-08:002015-11-08T23:18:03.832-08:00Oh yeah ...
This parade of excuses for the disappo...Oh yeah ...<br /><i>This parade of excuses for the disappointing NAEP scores, notes Kevin Welner and William Mathis of the National Education Policy Center, is loaded with irony. It comes from “those who have been vigorously advocating for ‘no excuses’ approaches” that <b>insist schools are failing and can only be improved through “a high-stakes regime” and the competitive pressures of charters.</b></i><br /><br />The Wall Street Journal tells us that Common Core cost is at least $7 billion.<br />If the big boys had spent more, would the scores have fallen further?<br />Fine example of Billionaire Ed Leadership through federal cheerleaders. Duncan will soon be replaced by the equally if not more incompetent John King from New York's Common Core disaster.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58922458982190998822015-11-08T19:15:57.505-08:002015-11-08T19:15:57.505-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20240075135203335782015-11-08T16:52:54.964-08:002015-11-08T16:52:54.964-08:00I am wondering what happens at K-2? Do they walk ...I am wondering what happens at K-2? Do they walk to math as well? How do you identify high primary kids? Do you pull second graders into third and some third into fourth? Can six-and seven-year-olds do all that math in one year? <br /><br />I'm also wondering considering how MIF is set up if skipping a year's curriculum is advisable? I guess it takes a pretty mathy person to answer that one. Linh-Co? <br /><br />more feedback?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-83281063012150877272015-11-08T12:34:42.773-08:002015-11-08T12:34:42.773-08:00The proposed changes to the Advanced Learning proc...The proposed changes to the Advanced Learning procedures include more than changes to the appeal process. They put into policy some of the changes that have been happening at Spectrum and HCC schools, such as no longer having fully self-contained HCC classes in middle school. Another change is the removal of "pathway" from the language about HC high school pathways. It went from, <br /><br /><i>HCC students may choose to attend an accelerated AP pathway at Garfield or an accelerated IB pathway at Ingraham.</i><br /><br />to, <i>"HCC students may currently choose accelerated access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses at Garfield High School or an accelerated International Baccalaureate (IB)Program (IBX) at Ingraham High School."</i><br /><br />Notice the addition of the word "currently." What will it be for next year's cohort? Parents were assured that loss of explicit pathway language in the Student assignment plan was immaterial as the language was in the procedures, yet the proposed procedure is removing pathway terminology. The addition of the word "currently" makes the future pathway somewhat nebulous, doesn't it?<br /><br />-ch-ch-ch-changesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61191832973582735512015-11-08T10:04:33.858-08:002015-11-08T10:04:33.858-08:00Math info wrote this:
"I think this is a fair...Math info wrote this:<br /><i>"I think this is a fairly good system, for the most part - BUT it requires a commitment for every class in two entire grades to all teach math at the same time every day. And the assistance of the math special aid to pull the kids who need the most help to reach grade level is also key - <b>because then no teacher has a too-broad range of the band, and those kids have a good chance of getting individual attention for their personal math challenges. I think by having 2 grades do it across all the classes, it really makes it a norm and the school culture supports it and doesn't just leave 'differentiation' up to the teacher/grade.</b> Teachers collaborate a lot in this model, it seems."</i><br /><br />My very first teaching at a small school in Idaho, used this structure for reading. The principal started it at the beginning of my first year.<br /><br />There was one classroom per grade level that ranged from 20 to 30 students (usually closer to 20). Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 had all students in a "walk to situation" for reading. It was a one hour class and each teacher taught two levels.<br /><br />It worked really well especially for 7th and 8th graders who were above or well below grade level. The principal had a masters in the teaching of reading and really knew how to make this work.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30991212946614949152015-11-08T08:32:22.770-08:002015-11-08T08:32:22.770-08:00To channel Trump, Monday's C&I agenda &quo...To channel Trump, Monday's C&I agenda "is HUUUUUGE". Many policies up for review and action, including the district's belated revision of 3246BP to comply with state law. The district's changes to Use of Restraints and Seclusion/Use of Reasonable Force do not hew to the spirit of Pollet's SHB 1240.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65640359519971958722015-11-07T23:05:08.133-08:002015-11-07T23:05:08.133-08:00@ math info, is a math aide a specialist? My child...@ math info, is a math aide a specialist? My child was in a small group that got pulled out for more advanced work in 5th grade, but they worked with the intern--who clearly didn't know how to teach math.<br /><br />Math Mess<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25766072405760189052015-11-07T20:48:03.942-08:002015-11-07T20:48:03.942-08:00So my kid's walk to math school has this confi...So my kid's walk to math school has this config: <br /><br />3 classroom teachers at kid's grade, plus a math aid (big school, part pta paid, I think)<br /><br />math aid teaches small group needing extra scaffolding to reach grade level, drawn from all 3 classes. This is nominally 'grade level' but it's grade level with extra effort, smaller groups, etc.<br /><br />2 teachers teach grade level in basically class-sized configuration - but they've moved around the kids for 'fit' and to make it less 'you're pulled out' = it's just something everyone does.<br /><br />1 teacher does 1 year ahead, with some of the kids from the older grade walking to the class too - so the 1-yr-ahead math class is a blend of 2 age cohorts but taught by younger cohort's teacher and it's at least half or more younger kids. The older kids joined once numbers firmed up, and the older grade level saw that there was a little overflow space to readjust. (Which I assume has the ripple effect of letting them have one class that is smaller at their grade too, and thus better to help the struggling students).<br /><br />One or two kids walk "up" 2 years by attending the class that is students who are one grade level older, and also working 1 year ahead of their grade - so two years up. <br /><br />I think this is a fairly good system, for the most part - BUT it requires a commitment for every class in two entire grades to all teach math at the same time every day. And the assistance of the math special aid to pull the kids who need the most help to reach grade level is also key - because then no teacher has a too-broad range of the band, and those kids have a good chance of getting individual attention for their personal math challenges. I think by having 2 grades do it across all the classes, it really makes it a norm and the school culture supports it and doesn't just leave 'differentiation' up to the teacher/grade. Teachers collaborate a lot in this model, it seems.<br /><br />-math infoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42677816972577655092015-11-07T20:18:11.548-08:002015-11-07T20:18:11.548-08:00One instructional level per class is necessary for...One instructional level per class is necessary for Math in Focus too. (As the curriculum requires most of the time be spent on whole group instruction.) Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85177442234337998802015-11-07T18:05:23.747-08:002015-11-07T18:05:23.747-08:00One of the arguments that charter boosters use has...One of the arguments that charter boosters use has to do with the public schools' failure to adequately serve the talented students. Note the regularly occurring highly capable controversies in the SPS.<br /><br />It seems that "Walk to Math" serves students better than a belief in "differentiated instruction".<br /><br />About multiple groups in teaching a class... more groups means less direct instruction time for each group. JUMP Math I think likes one group per classroom, which would also work best with "Walk to Math".<br /><br />Read up on ITIP by Madeline Hunter.<br />Instructional Theory Into Practice.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66696656281040647922015-11-07T16:12:46.374-08:002015-11-07T16:12:46.374-08:00We do walk to math starting in first grade. When t...We do walk to math starting in first grade. When the numbers don't work out, one teacher might have a larger class for math than the others. If the numbers are too far off for that to work, one teacher per grade teaches two levels of math. It seems to work out well.Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48183440004223793392015-11-07T13:32:11.816-08:002015-11-07T13:32:11.816-08:00We do walk to math. We use walk to math to teach d... We do walk to math. We use walk to math to teach different grades of math within one grade level. For third graders, we have a couple of sections of grade level math and a couple of sections of 4th grade math. 4th grade math is mostly Spectrum. There are pros and cons. <br /><br />The pro is that it is a much easier way to teach differentiated math. Instead of having to teach several levels of math in one class, you only have to teach "one". The reality is that no matter what group you are teaching there are always different levels you need to teach, but it is easier with walk to math. I feel like we meet the children's educational needs much better with walk to math.<br /><br />There are a few cons. Once a child is advanced to a higher level in walk to math, it is hard to put them back down a level if they don't do well. So a child might have to do 2nd grade math twice, once in first grade and once in second grade. <br /><br />Also, sometimes the spectrum numbers don't work out well. It becomes a dilemma. Do you advance gen ed kids who are really good in math? If you do, you need to be prepared to keep them in advanced math for all of their elementary years.In theory that sounds great, but sometimes it becomes a problem with classroom configurations. If you have four second grade-teachers, you can only have four walk to math classes. You need to somehow split all the kids up with the four teachers. The numbers don't always work well. You don't want some teachers having huge math classes and some having small math classes.<br /><br />Overall, I like walk to math. I do think it is better model, even though it isn't perfect.<br />Math LoverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30297089309416995952015-11-07T13:08:34.587-08:002015-11-07T13:08:34.587-08:00Seattle Times did have a short story about last we...Seattle Times did have a short story about last week's events at Ballard High School, though it did not seem to provide any more detail than had already been reported or posted elsewhere. <br /><br />fyiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61598573375555294702015-11-07T11:09:54.339-08:002015-11-07T11:09:54.339-08:00To "get" the report it is a matter of fi...To "get" the report it is a matter of filing an FOIA request. It must be very specific and detailed or you will get the generic stuff, not the actual phone calls, the 911, the transcriptions of interactions<br /><br />Let's find out why floor 2 was released but floor 1 held longer for another 20 minutes or so in the gym with no information as to why?<br /><br />Why was attendance records not taken to ensure that all kids were accounted for? What is the protocol for that? <br /><br />Were all the classroom searched after removal or just lockers? Were any lockers opened? Were warrants issued to do so? Why or why not<br /><br />What was the Taco Bell story? <br /><br />How are people in the building, say volunteers, etc that are not full time staff accounted for? How do they know what to do and are they trained in the procedure and communicated with?<br /><br />I have a lot of questions <br /><br />- In the Building <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42242095035074480812015-11-07T10:46:54.743-08:002015-11-07T10:46:54.743-08:00MW. The 2014 parking lot incident with a BHS footb...MW. The 2014 parking lot incident with a BHS football player was a shooting and a murder by a student. Are we seeing a pattern? How about some social skills instruction? How about community engagement instruction for students? How about something besides glib blather? Parents weren't even alerted to the evacuation this week, until long after it was over. And students have had 0 followup. 0. Pathetic really.<br /><br />Leaveit 2beaverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52269254687080616202015-11-07T10:16:15.798-08:002015-11-07T10:16:15.798-08:00A lot of schools are beginning walk-to-math progra...A lot of schools are beginning walk-to-math programs. I'm at a school contemplating the same and am wondering what you all think about these programs. Are they working? I'd like to hear some feedback. <br /><br />Feedback pleaseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74779281584018514912015-11-07T09:57:07.957-08:002015-11-07T09:57:07.957-08:00You can get the police report about the Ballard in...You can get the police report about the Ballard incident. It's a public record.<br /><br />That incident in 1994 was not just a shooting but a murder. Pretty horrible and yes the Times' story is that after 20 years there is a feeling that the shooter's age wasn't considered enough.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39995013292884344922015-11-07T09:45:08.748-08:002015-11-07T09:45:08.748-08:00There isn't information coming-out of Ballard ...There isn't information coming-out of Ballard High School regarding the gun incident. The incident that brought us the SWAT team.<br /><br /><br />In 1994, there was a gang related shooting at Ballard High School. This story was in the paper, on the same day that Ballard High locked down. Ironic.<br /><br />Ballard Parentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-60476311869458306282015-11-07T08:16:13.435-08:002015-11-07T08:16:13.435-08:002 years ago, a BHS student murdered a man with a ...2 years ago, a BHS student murdered a man with a gun. Nothing said at the school. Not a peep about guns, safety, behavior. Nothing. Suicide attempts at the school. Similarly. Nothing said. Now, complete lockdown... and all we get is. "It's always great to be a beaver.". How about "It's always great to get a clue!"<br /><br />LeaveitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39943395454463803492015-11-07T07:04:27.695-08:002015-11-07T07:04:27.695-08:00THIS
Why don't we have more information from ...THIS<br /><br />Why don't we have more information from either SPS or local news media about the incident at Ballard HS yesterday.<br />Did the student actually have a gun either on school grounds or outside of the school during school hours?<br />Did the police locate the gun - if not why not (was there never actually any gun present or did the student or someone else dispose of it?). It was reported that the student was arrested - what was the student arrested for exactly?<br />Did the student threaten anyone?<br />Who did the gun belong to (owned by parents vs illegally obtained by student or associates?)<br />Was there any kind of incident at the Taco Bell or was this unrelated or misreported?<br />We got all the headlines about the school on lockdown and pictures of the SWAT team there. It was a big deal but there has been zero followup reporting about what actually transpired.<br />If anyone had been shot by this allegedly gun-toting student, the new media would be all over it - with days of coverage. But this potential near-miss - nada. I don't believe this is the first time there has been issue of student with gun at Ballard HS and that was similarly kept quiet.<br />To my mind - its not just the school shootings that warrant discussion, action, media attention - it is also all these instances (many of which we probably don't even hear about) that could have turned out just as bad but did not, either because of luck, vigilance, or lack or real intent.<br />It is HUGELY concerning to me if a child takes a gun to school even if no one is injured or killed and it warrants just as much examination as to why, how, and how to prevent it happening again.<br />So - why the SPS and media silence?<br /><br />- From one in the Building <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35792782737699549612015-11-07T00:02:52.130-08:002015-11-07T00:02:52.130-08:00King, just imagine if Michael Christopherson had ...King, just imagine if Michael Christopherson had also won? That would have been an even bigger bonanza for sped families. We'll just have make do with the new board without him. Let me see. You want Geary's"strong arm" but no "friction". That makes a lot of sense! <br /><br />Great House of Mirrors. Ha! That's a great description.<br /><br />Sped readerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85504541970190417772015-11-06T23:28:57.119-08:002015-11-06T23:28:57.119-08:00"...we must put forth the idea that we are al..."...we must put forth the idea that we are all "equal," even if we don't understand what the word means."<br /><br />Equal: <i>is the same as</i> = at least that's what we teach in math. :) <br /><br />So each student is <i>the same as . . . </i> every other student I guess. No diversity and no differences. <br /><br />Everyone "equal"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com