tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post6343100020867093034..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Teachers Strike ActivitiesMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27634585476232140512015-09-14T21:10:53.256-07:002015-09-14T21:10:53.256-07:00There is a lot of unity amongst school staffs, esp...There is a lot of unity amongst school staffs, especially after four days on the picket lines together. Certs know about, or are learning about, special ed case loads, nurses, etc etc. My feeling is that many, many teachers are willing to vote "no" on a contract that includes even a substantial raise if it disses other staff or otherwise does not address some of these staffing and caseload issues.<br />It really isn't about the money for certs: it's about their colleagues and their students.<br />I hope the union and the district understand this. General membership could still vote "no" on a contract after the bargaining team passes it to RA and strike is temporarily ended. I hope the city will back up rank and file if they have to go back out on strike to make sure caseloads, etc are lowered to the benefit of students through better staffing.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-62381619736795131702015-09-14T15:57:02.344-07:002015-09-14T15:57:02.344-07:00Thanks Lynn for clarifying the extended day propos...Thanks Lynn for clarifying the extended day proposal. What you described is what I thought, but then I heard something on King 5 that made me think I had it all wrong!<br />Frustrated MathAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79811764143551373132015-09-14T15:23:44.019-07:002015-09-14T15:23:44.019-07:00@frustrated MATH teacher
Glad you clarified that! ...@frustrated MATH teacher<br />Glad you clarified that! I hope the union knows how much we teachers support sped needs.nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-26827379153917820292015-09-14T12:58:24.580-07:002015-09-14T12:58:24.580-07:00* many MORE things SPS is doing... not in best in...* many MORE things SPS is doing... not in best interests of students.<br /><br />We parents and even non parents need to support teachers in demanding that money is spent on schools, where the STUDENTS are, instead of at HQ where there's already a huge glut of highly paid personnel who aren't contributing much to students' education and welfare.<br /><br />CCAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27616554550912078282015-09-14T12:49:13.680-07:002015-09-14T12:49:13.680-07:00SPS has increased the offer on salary, but what ab...SPS has increased the offer on salary, but what about IAs, counselors/therapists student load, WSS budgeting (schools shouldn't have to choose between librarians and art and music teachers, PTAs shouldn't have to pay for counselors!), family support workers, career counselors, Sped support in school for inclusions etc.<br />There are MANY things SPS is doing that isn't for students' best interests than low pay for teachers and school staff! Many teachers would be willing to accept lower pay if SPS didn't keep cutting funds to schools. When other school staff (family support workers, counselors, IAs, speech therapists, librarians, office staff etc.) are cut, TEACHERS and PARENTS and even STUDENTS end up having to do those jobs!<br />Maybe that's why they're still on strike. I'm just a parent so I don't know. When I had kids I thought about teaching K-12 so I could have same schedule as my kids, then I saw how teachers are treated now in this country! Disrespect, low pay, blamed for things they have zero control over, treated as easily disposable & replaced, second-guessed on every decision by people without training or experience in education, ruled over by greedy politicians and business types. Well, chickens, roosting etc., we now have national teacher shortage crisis and desperate districts are hiring people with no credentials/experience. <br />Greed, envy, billionaires buying politicians and a brainwashed angry public looking for easy scapegoats is why we can't have nice things.<br /><br />CCA<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31432264894747114602015-09-14T09:35:24.199-07:002015-09-14T09:35:24.199-07:00Melissa ... sorry I just posted before your requ...Melissa ... sorry I just posted before your request. Will do.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58291818949522674252015-09-14T09:33:52.026-07:002015-09-14T09:33:52.026-07:00In April and May of 2014 the Seattle Times ran sev...In April and May of 2014 the Seattle Times ran several pieces on Gildo Rey<br /><br />Here are the links in chronological order:<br /><br />April 27 7PM<br /><a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/high-poverty-high-test-scores-auburn-school-is-a-shouting-success/" rel="nofollow"><b>High poverty, high test scores: Auburn school is a shouting success</b></a><br /><br />A decade ago, few would have predicted that Gildo Rey, a collection of brick buildings tucked between apartment complexes and aging trailer parks in the South King County city of Auburn, would become one of the top-scoring public elementary schools in Washington state. ...<br /><br />Just as important, teachers conduct class at a quick clip, starting sentences that students promptly finish, or telling them to raise their hands when they know an answer or whisper it to their neighbor. ...<br /><br />That style — and much of what Gildo Rey has done — draws heavily from the principles of a much-debated, <b>50-year-old teaching method called direct or explicit instruction, which is based on the idea that children learn best from a highly structured approach to teaching, with a lot of teacher-guided practice. </b> ...<br /><br />He eventually developed a system he calls balanced math, which has many features of direct instruction — the fast pace, the constant review, the teacher modeling how to solve problems and the monitored practice. But it also includes teaching math concepts and problem solving, with the latter taught mainly in small groups now used in math as well as reading. ...<br /><br />One of Gildo Rey’s mantras is: <b>“Without data, you are just another person with an opinion.”</b><br /><br />Second link in next comment.<br /><br />-- Dan Dempsey<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76096894597225198712015-09-14T09:24:19.335-07:002015-09-14T09:24:19.335-07:00I would ask that the discussion of math stop. I wi...I would ask that the discussion of math stop. I will create a new thread (which you can ask for rather than diverting another thread). It is a very important topic but it's not the subject of this thread.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-39063777027418773942015-09-14T09:11:59.291-07:002015-09-14T09:11:59.291-07:00The two really big questions are ....
Why do the ...The two really big questions are .... <br /><b>Why do the SPS and UW ignore what is happening at Gildo Rey to produce these results?</b> and why does the Seattle School Board not nudge its one employee in this direction. Of course who knows what the SEA ever does on math. I lost interest in 2007 when SEA failed to object to Everyday Math and yet approved of Test Scores to be used in teacher evaluations at the same Board meeting.<br /><br />The Data.<br /><br />Gildo Rey demographics <br />82.5% Free and reduced lunch<br />41.6% Transitional Bilingual<br /><br />Quick Summary of Gildo Rey results and Seattle results:<br /><br />MSP 4 year average differential above state MSP average in Math<br /><br /><b>Gildo Rey</b> -- Seattle (2010 - 2014)<br /><br />grade 3<br /><b>+9.30%</b> -- +7.18%<br /><br />grade 4<br /><b>+29.48%</b> -- +7.28%<br /><br />grade 5<br /><b>+28.75%</b> -- +5.73%<br /><br />The SBAC math results SY 2014-2015 pass rates<br /><br />Gildo Rey -- Seattle<br /><br />grade 3<br /><b>+9.30%</b> -- +7.20%<br /><br />grade 4<br /><b>+12.60%</b> -- +9.40%<br /><br />grade 5<br /><b>+15.40%</b> -- +7.90%<br /><br />It appears that Gildo Rey has figured out that closing of the "Opportunity Gap" which Seattle always talks about.<br /><br />The big question:<b> why are the practices that work at Gildo Rey completely ignored by UW Math Ed and UW Math Ed followers?</b><br /><br />Answer: <b>Because Gildo Rey is not doing what the UW recommends.</b><br /><br />Improvement would begin with the intelligent application of relevant data rather than choosing to ignore it.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88009861110418541262015-09-14T08:45:46.495-07:002015-09-14T08:45:46.495-07:00-Parent wrote about Anna Box:
"Her central f...-Parent wrote about Anna Box:<br /><br />"<i><b>Her central focus was concern over alignment with common core.</b> However, she clearly didn't know WHAT that entails because she didn't comprehend the topics covered in different curricula - even when I laid it out for her. She appeared to me to be policy-obsessed.</i>"<br /><br />I have never met Anna Box but I will say that SPS elementary math scores have been improving over the last three years.<br /><br />The fixation with alignment pervades far too much of math decision-making. Decisions made after the production of the 2008 Washington State Math Standards about materials were way to focused on alignment. It seems that decision-makers believe alignment trumps "materials that are effective in maximizing student learning".<br /><br />After the five year (run through UW) NSF professional development that produced the 3-year school-wide experimental math disaster at Cleveland using IMP (Interactive Math Program) books and materials with 4 student discovery groups, I filed a complaint with the Office of the Inspector General of the NSF asking about accountability.<br /><br />Here is what I learned:<br />#1 .. Results are NOT important.<br />#2 .. The only accountability is to spend the money as outlined in the original approved grant proposal.<br />#3 .. Publishers and Colleges love NSF grants because of the money involved.<br />#4 .. Grants that are about "innovation" and "cutting edge thinking" are much more likely to get funding than proposals that would produce improvement. In short grants need to be politically correct to have a good chance of getting funding.<br /><br />There has been a bit written about Gildo Rey in the Auburn School district and its incredible math success. However this incredible success is largely ignored because Gildo Rey Math produced success by a different approach than the one pushed by UW and NSF programs.<br /><br />Anna Box if she is focused on alignment will never arrive at anything close to Gildo Rey's success. I will see if I can find the link to a Times piece on Gildo Rey that includes a statement by Dr. Elham Kazemi of UW Math Ed.<br /><br />Gildo Rey data comes in my next comment.<br /><br />-- Dan Dempsey<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79218094535654909682015-09-14T08:41:24.300-07:002015-09-14T08:41:24.300-07:00Interesting article in the Weekly about where Scho...Interesting article in the Weekly about where School Board candidates stand - several quotes from Ms McLaren<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/960648-129/in-race-for-seattle-school-board" rel="nofollow">In Race for Seattle School Board, No Candidate Dares Cross the Picket Line</a><br /><br />reader47Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20529928498047658372015-09-14T08:36:09.064-07:002015-09-14T08:36:09.064-07:00Meh, the SEA showed no solidarity to me when I nee...Meh, the SEA showed no solidarity to me when I needed them. two meetings at HR that they promised to show up for that they never did. Three teachers in our building falsely accused that never received SEA support.<br /><br />I don't think the poster is incorrect. Access students refer to a very specific program--not all special Ed<br />D students. <br /><br />Where would I have read that SEA negotiated for lower ratios for all sped and not just Access?Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29921894010077067142015-09-14T08:18:27.492-07:002015-09-14T08:18:27.492-07:00I do think at this time, it is important to mainta...I do think at this time, it is important to maintain solidarity with your negotiators.<br />That said I will impart some information.<br /><br />TouchCabals wrote:<br /><br />"<i><b>WEA is insular and out of touch</b>. WEA is incapable of sending a survey monkey link out, so, of course SEA is incapable.</i>"<br /><br />In the fall of 2010, I contacted WEA leaders with huge concerns about WEA supporting Common Core. I was informed that WEA leadership supported Common Core. I questioned how the decision to support CCSS occurred.<br /><br />I was informed that leaders can decide positions without any contact with general membership. That is how the decision to push CCSS occurred. No input from the general membership needed or required. Surely general membership input NOT wanted in regard to CCSS by WEA leaders.<br /><br />SEA fell right in line with the WEA top-down CCSS decision.<br /><br />I could go on to many other lousy decisions made by SEA and WEA in the same authoritarian fashion but not today.<br /><br />Maintain solidarity at this time, because it is way better than not maintaining it.<br /><br />-- Dan DempseyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-428213701858843422015-09-14T08:14:06.707-07:002015-09-14T08:14:06.707-07:00With regard to the math discussion - I am very con...With regard to the math discussion - I am very concerned to hear that the SPS Math department is involved in undermining the MIF curriculum. I spent close to an entire summer arguing with Anna Box (SPS math dept. head) over math class accessibility for middle school students. I found her to be very illogical and unfamiliar with standard math curricula. I have quite a collection of emails from her that illustrate how out of touch she is. Her central focus was concern over alignment with common core. However, she clearly didn't know WHAT that entails because she didn't comprehend the topics covered in different curricula - even when I laid it out for her. She appeared to me to be policy-obsessed. We need a complete turnover of administrative personnel at the central office (Nyland included) if we really want to "save Seattle schools".<br /><br />-ParentAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-79785618069650455472015-09-14T07:54:14.643-07:002015-09-14T07:54:14.643-07:00If teachers are going to be evaluated and rated on...If teachers are going to be evaluated and rated on student growth scores, the math curriculum is certainly part of the discussion. If Dan's numbers are any indication, MIF has the potential to improve math performance...except the district seems intent on changing things once again. They tried to do an end run around with the waivers, now it sounds like they are making another attempt at sidestepping the MIF adoption. <br /><br />-beyond frustratedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45719798544342990552015-09-14T07:36:26.614-07:002015-09-14T07:36:26.614-07:00My post got eaten. No time to rewrite it, so I'...My post got eaten. No time to rewrite it, so I'll link to the projected salary schedules that I calculated. I knew it would be looooong, so I threw together a blog to house it all. I'll be fixing some things and adding more. Melissa, take anything from there to repost here if you want. I'll get the actual spreadsheet to you when I get a chance.<br /><br />So, if you want to see what the percentages actually mean to real salaries, click through and read. Teachers, you can get a decent idea of how your salary would change based on SPS' offer and SEA's proposals. I posted projected salary schedules based on the numbers from last week plus two schedules with SEA's newest proposal from yesterday. SPS' new proposal was too vague to do anything with -- they reduced the percentage for year 3 from 4% to 3.75% but added some other funds to compensate teachers for the extended day? I don't know if anyone really understands that one yet.<br /><br />Have at it! <a href="http://seattleschoolsdata.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"> Seattle Schools Projected Salary Data </a>GarfieldMomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88373230576346571362015-09-14T07:13:14.468-07:002015-09-14T07:13:14.468-07:00Math Frustrated,
You are currently required to be...Math Frustrated,<br /><br />You are currently required to be at school 30 minutes before the student day begins and 20 to 30 minutes after the student day ends. 20 minutes of that time will become instructional time. Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57596310018051796892015-09-14T06:51:23.600-07:002015-09-14T06:51:23.600-07:00I just want to say that there are two different pe...I just want to say that there are two different people posting as Frustrated Teacher. I am Math Frustrated Teacher. <br /><br />I support the strike, though I too would like more specific info. about what is happening. However, I don't think that the reason we are still at the table is just because of differences in raises. I think sped issues and extended day issues are still blocking agreement. <br /><br />BTW, as an elementary school teacher I still can't figure out how they would do the extended day without lengthening the school day. My kids are with me all day except 10 min recess in am, 10 min recess in pm, 30 min lunch, and 30 min PCP. High school has 55 min of PCP during the day. Elementary school only has 30 min of PCP.I just can't get the numbers to work.<br /><br />Math Frustrated Teacher<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66477695762944750962015-09-14T06:00:05.667-07:002015-09-14T06:00:05.667-07:00From the Soup for Teachers community page on faceb...From the Soup for Teachers community page on facebook:<br /><br />Nightly Bulletin!<br /><br />ACTION FOR MONDAY 9/14/15:<br /><br />EVENTS<br /><br />Event: Show your support! The news cameras will be at Rainier Beach High School 5am -7am! http://www.facebook.com/events/1119958961366661/<br /><br />Event: SIT IN at John Standford! 8am to 12pm http://www.facebook.com/events/1642374522706741/<br /><br />Event: Inclusive Education for all 8:30am to 12pm http://www.facebook.com/events/514093172090417/<br /><br />Most schools are picketing in the morning and then joining the picket lines of nearby high schools. Check with your local school organizer or Soup for Teacher Facebook page to verify.<br /><br />Parents and community members are organizing daily delivery of food, refreshments, and picketing support to their neighborhood schools. Join Soup for Teachers (see below for links) if you'd like to help out!<br /><br />RESOURCES<br />Map: Here is the map we created that shows every school in the district (as best we know), marked by a pin. If you want to help out near your home, look and choose a school that's easy for you to get to. You can also see where more help is needed all around the district. A pointy pin means there's not currently a group that we know of serving that school. A lighter circle means there is a group dedicated to helping that school - click on it and you'll see a link to that group's page. Green = Elementary, Blue = K-8, Yellow = Middle, and Purple = High. <br />http://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer…<br /><br />SOCIAL MEDIA <br />Follow us on twitter - @soupforteachers<br /><br />Follow us on Instagram - http://instagram.com/Soup_4_Teachers<br /><br />Our group page if you want in on the discussion - https://www.facebook.com/groups/SoupForTeachers/<br /><br />Our community page - share far and wide! http://www.facebook.com/soupforteachers?fref=ts<br /><br />A tremendous thanks to every single person involved in this exciting grassroots movement. Teachers we support you!<br /><br /><br />HPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80289099417429046472015-09-14T05:57:57.164-07:002015-09-14T05:57:57.164-07:00Those frustrated with SEA processes - a fish rots ...Those frustrated with SEA processes - a fish rots from the head. <br />WEA is insular and out of touch. WEA is incapable of sending a survey monkey link out, so, of course SEA is incapable. <br />Having worked in Corp-0-rat America for decades, after a few years in SPS I expected, and got, slick soundbites from highly paid bureaucrats pretending it was for the kids, not for their next career move along the $120,000 to $150,000, to $180,000 to ... annual pay for useless bureaucrat ladder.<br />It is galling and distressing and annoying to have union leaders pontificate about "democracy", to have teacher union leaders pontificate about public schools being the foundation of "democracy", and our unions are run by insular, purposely out of <br /><br />TouchCabals Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-29574613813508328072015-09-14T00:49:00.222-07:002015-09-14T00:49:00.222-07:00
@Voiceless SPS teacher, @Frustrated teacher and @...<br />@Voiceless SPS teacher, @Frustrated teacher and @Teacher/Parent,<br /><br />Did you all fill out any of the bargaining surveys before the summer began or over the summer? I know I did.<br /><br />That said, yes, I agree that we have internal association matters that we must continue to deal with. Just like all organizations.<br />I send emails about those issues and I will not go away...<br /><br /><br />On that note, does your building have reps? I know that there are a few buildings that do not because no one wants to be elected or desires to attend the union meetings. <br />If you have reps, do they call for SEA building meetings to discuss your issues to take back?<br />Keep in mind that even if you are not a rep, you can attend rep assembly. You cannot vote, but you can speak.<br /><br />You can attend Board of Directors meetings (except for executive session) even if you are not a board member. You can get someone on the Board to yield the floor to you to allow you to speak. You can ask to present an issue to the Board.<br />You can even submit resolutions to the Board to be voted on at the Rep Assembly.<br />You can look at how Board members voted.....<br /><br />As far as the math curriculum is concerned, are your grade level Board members responsive when you contact them?<br /><br /><br />We are all busy, and there is always one more thing. <br /><br />--Baile Funk <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22524884075870616752015-09-14T00:42:42.627-07:002015-09-14T00:42:42.627-07:00Could someone please address the following issue:
...Could someone please address the following issue:<br />Secretaries will be greatly impacted by students being in school an additional half hour.<br />The office calms down once the students have left for the day, and that time is used to work on the many projects we have that are time sensitive.<br />Has anyone thought about compensating secretaries not just teachers for this additional burden?????Fairness for allhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09658177803747929987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-28903886957624849022015-09-14T00:06:56.353-07:002015-09-14T00:06:56.353-07:00Voiceless, are you able to read???? Medically fr...Voiceless, are you able to read???? Medically fragile students have significantly improved ratios. SM4, now called "distinct", have improved ratios (slightly). EBD mostly the same. You sound like another SPS inclusion hater. SPS hates inclusion so much, they had to change the name to ACCESS, as if it were something different. ACCESS was supposed to provide"access" to general education... for all students, including the SM2,3, and 4. So, ACCESS really is for everyone. And, so are the specific ratios negotiations for other programs. <br /><br />SpeddieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24849892885277433752015-09-13T23:56:12.923-07:002015-09-13T23:56:12.923-07:00Here's the info for the 10 AM March on Tuesday...Here's the info for the 10 AM March on Tuesday from Pioneer Square to JSCEE: https://www.facebook.com/events/1495868097400202/<br /><br />"We are marching to support our teachers! Parents, student, teachers, and all those who wish to show your support, let's keep the pressure on the district to come to an agreement.<br /><br />We will gather in Pioneer Square, at the corner of Yesler and 1st, at 10am. We will march down 1st Avenue to Lander Street (about 1.7 miles) to end at the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (2445 3rd Ave S) as a demonstration of support for our teachers who are asking for changes that are fair and reasonable, as well as in the best interest of our children. Families are encouraged to stay for a "play-in" on the district lawn until noon. Please bring toys/musical instruments/chalk/etc. <br /><br />We are wearing red to support our teachers. Bring signs with your school's name and colors to show the district how many families and teachers are affected by their inaction."<br /><br />NW Voter<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77024046459108198972015-09-13T23:54:32.575-07:002015-09-13T23:54:32.575-07:00Is SEA even bargaining for other Sped students oth...Is SEA even bargaining for other Sped students other yah Access? Our building<br />Ng made it very clear that Sped was our priorit. Does anybody see anything about bargaining for the good of our nonAcess program Sped students?Voiceless in Seattlenoreply@blogger.com