OSP Connected
March, 2017-Office for School Performance-Volume 7
Message from Dayle
There are a lot of issues that are bubbling in our community and our schools that leave us all wondering, "Do we talk about this? How do we help our kids work through these concerns?' I wish the answer was easy. It's not. Schools are a microcosm of our larger society and the questions and perspectives that are present outside our school walls are also present within our walls. So, how do we proceed?
First, remember we are a public institution that serves everyone. As HSD employees are pleased to do so. Second, we are an educational institution; we teach. But what should we be teaching? Certainly not our own political perspectives or our own thoughts. We teach our students how to conduct themselves in a democratic society where their rights as a citizen are balanced with their responsibilities. In our schools, our rights end when they become out of balance with our responsibilities as a member of our school community. We must always remember that when we consider our actions- time, place and manner matter.
In the school walls, this may mean facilitating a structured discussion with students about different perspectives in the context of an article review in social studies. It may mean validating a student's feelings without judgement. It may mean teaching a student about respectful tone, words and volume as they express their ideas. And, it may mean teaching our students to hold space for different ideas about a topic and not finding a middle ground right away. And it always means doing our best for the students in our care.
I wish the answer regarding how to negotiate the concerns of our students and community members was easy. It's not. It does help, however, to remind ourselves that all our students' and their families' voices are valid, and as an educational institution for all, we will keep teaching at the center of our work.
HSD Focus 2016
INSTRUCTION: Why should Notes be Interactive?
Imagine a world without writing, without a record of all the learning that has developed throughout human history. How would we ever remember it all? We would have to continually start over. This is what life is like for students without notes. They have no record of their learning, and start each day back at square one. Based on the research of Cornell University professor Walter Pauk (inventor of Cornell notes), students with no notes or students with shoddy notes only retain about 59% of the material. But students who take copious notes, add questions, write summaries, and INTERACT with their notes through repeated revisions retain 90-100% of the information. Repeated interactions with notes moves information from short term to long term memory in order to beat the "curve of forgetting." Pauk suggests the "10-24-7" rule: interact with notes (review, revise, chunk and add questions, summarize, etc.) within 10 minutes of taking notes, within 24 hours of taking notes, and 7 days after taking notes in order to retain 90-100% of the material at the 30 day mark. Interactive notes allow our K-12 students to build on their learning each day. Taking the time to take, make, interact, and reflect on notes is certainly more efficient than starting over. Do we want our kids stuck at the starting line, or do we want them to stand on the shoulders of giants?
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS: Connecting with Students
"He asks me about my life outside of the classroom."
"When I am confused, she walks to my desk and helps me. Sometimes she checks in on me even when I haven't asked for help."
"He likes being a teacher. He is happy and is excited to teach."
"She sits with me and shows me how to do the work."
"She says "Hi" to me personally every day."
"He doesn't give up on me learning, even when I want to give up."
"She tells us about her life outside of school- she's human."
These sound like pretty easy things most of do all the time. But are we doing them daily, with purpose, for the kids who need us the most?
Make the effort. Our kids deserve it.
COLLEGE & CAREER READY: Dual Credit Expands
It is an exciting time - we are continuing to grow the dual credit opportunities that students currently have in the district. All of our high schools, including Miller Education Center, offer dual credit and have a dual credit coordinator who works with the dual credit teachers and the counseling staff in order to better inform families, students, and staff about what is available. This year we have expanded our dual credit partnerships to not only include Portland Community College, Mt. Hood Community College, Portland State University, Southern Oregon University, and Western Oregon University through the Willamette Promise, but we now offer dual credit through Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) and transfer model credit through the NW Promise. To see a list of dual credit course currently offered at our high schools, click here.
Thoughtful Third Thursday @ South Meadows
K-12 Classified and Licensed staff are welcome to register and will be paid extended contract.
WHAT
Check out the February session descriptions in this link. The topics for this month are: K-6 ELA, Number Talks & Subitizing (K-6), AIM4Scubed Refresher, Spanish Foundational Skills K-6, AVID Site Team Support, A Balanced Approach to Staff and Student Safety, FBA/BSP, etc.
HOW
Sign up through Serebra!
Thursday, Mar 16, 2017, 04:00 PM
South Meadows Middle School, Southeast Davis Road, Hillsboro, OR, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
ESSA- feedback requested for ODE
Our state has recently completed their draft of the Oregon Plan for ESSA requirements. As you know, ESSA (every student succeeds act) replaced NCLB (no child left behind). Oregon's plan is due the first of April and they are currently welcoming feedback on the plan. See the link for more information or to provide feedback.
Website: http://www.oregon.gov/ode/rules-and-policies/ESSA/Pages/default.aspx