tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5151725351049592531..comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: SPS Needs a High School CzarMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8316627748308806032017-05-18T10:59:58.999-07:002017-05-18T10:59:58.999-07:00Poor test design didn't slow down SBA and PARC...Poor test design didn't slow down SBA and PARC one bit. These test peddles don't care if children miss items due to test design flaws or knowledge deficits, so long as they get a decent little bell curve in the end. Since no one is allowed to see the tests, they can use all sorts of manipulation in grading to get the scores that they need.<br /><br />WestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69781893189576355212017-05-17T18:37:12.284-07:002017-05-17T18:37:12.284-07:00Wow. I know Seattle is behind the times, but real...Wow. I know Seattle is behind the times, but really? The state timeline for NGSS alignment is to be fully aligned by this year. The NGSS test is piloting this spring, with full roll out scheduled for '18 (against NSTA recommendations, they wisely want the test to wait until there's been a full k-11 progression by students), to be taken by juniors as core-24 also implements the 3 credit science piece. There were released items for 5th, 8th, and 11th grade made available last year that gave a sense of how the test intends to be integrated and it feels a little more process (CCC's and SEP's, see below) heavy than content, though the content was definitely still rough.<br /><br />The standards are designed around a series of performance tasks that apply the content knowledge (DCI's), Cross-Cutting Concepts (the CCC's--basic things found in all disciplines such as patterns, equilibrium, etc), and Science and Engineering Principles (SEP's -- models (draw a cell), questioning, using data). It doesn't have to be "student discovery" the way a lot of people wrongly interpret (and implement) inquiry, but it should be student centered, with students formulating questions and leading their own process as much as possible. There are some science and engineering standards that are somewhat stand-alone that are huge overshoots as far as easy implementation, but because Washington was pretty heavily involved in the creation of of the NGSS it's not a huge shift. There are some grade-band shuffles, and a bit of new content around stand-alone Engineering standards (variations on solve a real-world problem, which can bundle with any content), but that's about it.<br />Presentation is the real shift, not just that students do the investigations, but in how science disciplines and "skills" connect to each other and how it connects to engineering and technology (but engineering skills doesn't mean building bridges, it can be extrapolating from graphs, data analysis, draw a picture model, etc) in order to solve a problem or accomplish a task.<br /><br />The biggest question is how the test will be written, and how we get students to be able to apply the information in the way that the test is looking for. The preview items went down in flames, and I haven't seen anything since, though I can't say if that's silence on the NGSS side or my district having re-organized. The major concerns I had about the test items were organization on the page (scrolling, remembering where things were, messy presentation), disjointed questions, lack of clarity around note-taking, and that you couldn't go back and check work after leaving a page. It really broke all the rules of test-taking, and was stressful just in understanding the directions. Additionally, questions that were student-answered on one page were correctly answered on subsequent pages (label the axes on the graph, then the same graph used with correct labels), so students will know immediately if they get some questions right or wrong. For my lower-skills lower-tenacity students, or any with test anxiety, they will have a really hard time not completely shutting down if this is kept.<br /><br />Outta SeattleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70946999776181296712017-05-17T17:11:47.662-07:002017-05-17T17:11:47.662-07:00Or, there is a point person about high school issu...Or, there is a point person about high school issues from Enrollment, Transportation, T&L and Capital, all coordinating together.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73708036910377973152017-05-17T14:22:25.636-07:002017-05-17T14:22:25.636-07:00No, Priorities, I meant an existing staff member w...No, Priorities, I meant an existing staff member who would be directly responsible for all aspects of high school changes.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38914367087587086202017-05-17T12:59:52.647-07:002017-05-17T12:59:52.647-07:00Regarding the "test they will have to take se...Regarding the "test they will have to take several years from now," does this mean HCC students should be saving their 7th grade notebooks for a test they'll take at the end of high school? <br /><br />Thanks Melissa for bringing up the high school issue. There are many overwhelming issues to contend with now as capacity/equity/contract/state requirements converge. This is one admin position that would be worthwhile.<br /><br />good fitAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28184282172721354392017-05-17T12:15:26.183-07:002017-05-17T12:15:26.183-07:00A high school "Czar"? More SPS administ...A high school "Czar"? More SPS administrative overhead? I'd go along with it if we started with a 30% reduction in central administration staffing and then added back in one high school czar. Otherwise, I vote for putting our resources into the schools, not the administrative money pit. <br /><br />PrioritiesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17622922215430160822017-05-17T12:10:53.271-07:002017-05-17T12:10:53.271-07:00Wallingofordian, I think you are probably right on...Wallingofordian, I think you are probably right on all counts but the issues is the clarity of what access Lincoln will have to parking. It was noted by the hearing examiner that some parking spots were being used for storage. <br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5143166460851186762017-05-17T11:15:41.369-07:002017-05-17T11:15:41.369-07:00Just a little context on the Lincoln parking issue...Just a little context on the Lincoln parking issue, I believe you're talking about the lot for the Solid Ground building. That building houses Solid Ground, which used to be Fremont Public Association. Frank Chopp was their ED before heading into politics and lives in Wallingford, so of course he supports it. But there's more. The building also houses the neighborhood food bank and family center, FamilyWorks, and also a branch of the Seattle Public Library. There's quite a lot of activity going on there during the weekdays. After hours the lot isn't used as much as most of the building occupants are 8-5ish type operations. Shouldn't be an issue for after-hours events. The lot attached is pretty small, and it is fenced off from the much larger Lincoln parking lot. I don't know why the larger Lincoln lot isn't sufficient for staff parking. It remains in the current plans, doesn't it? It certainly seems bigger than the lot at Roosevelt, which will basically disappear completely next year when more portables are added.<br /><br />WallingfordianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9595574910713248982017-05-17T10:47:15.259-07:002017-05-17T10:47:15.259-07:00The NGSS Standards were already on the mind of my ...The NGSS Standards were already on the mind of my Ballard 9th grader's Physical Science teacher. At parent night, she discussed that these new standard coming and the teachers were guessing as to what would be tested so they are teaching as broad of content as possible. The students are being advised to keep their notebooks as reference for the test they will have to take several years from now. <br /><br />For students who started HS in Biology, they may be at a disadvantage by NOT having had Physical Science in HS as many of the topics on the NGSS aren't covered in Biology, Chemistry, and other typical science course pathways.<br /><br />QA Parent<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2911498936241047442017-05-17T09:53:38.521-07:002017-05-17T09:53:38.521-07:00Parent, all good questions that should be addresse...Parent, all good questions that should be addressed.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-81025929203434082112017-05-17T09:19:23.346-07:002017-05-17T09:19:23.346-07:00NGSS’ motto is having students figure it out rathe...<i>NGSS’ motto is having students figure it out rather than telling about.</i><br /><br />Is that an SPS interpretation? SPS tends to embrace "inquiry" yet dismiss the needed content. How does one "figure it out" without some base level knowledge? <i>Part of the NRC’s intent is to better explain and extend what is meant by “inquiry” in science and the range of cognitive, social, and physical practices that it requires.</i> Well, hooray! <br /><br />NGSS use words and phrases like "explicit," "coherent," "scientifically-based," and "knowledge." Core ideas should be "teachable and learnable over multiple grades at increasing levels of depth and sophistication." All well and good. So why do I not trust SPS to use these standards to improve science instruction? <br /><br />One question I have: How will they ensure coverage of content during the transition? Will students still have a pathway to cover physics, chemistry, and biology if courses change mid-high school?<br /><br />-parentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com