Comments on: No Child Left Behind http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/ A community of practice inspired by Peter H Reynolds' Book "The North Star" Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:07:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: The North Star Community » Blog Archive » No Child Left Behind: Friend or Foe? http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-192 The North Star Community » Blog Archive » No Child Left Behind: Friend or Foe? Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:07:35 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-192 [...] A few weeks ago I found an interesting article on the renewed, and slightly altered, No Child Left Behind bill.  The article looked promising.  As the vote draws near, more and more is being written about it, and everywhere I look I find more stories, many from teachers, about the affects of the bill on technology and creativity, and therefore hands-on learning. [...] [...] A few weeks ago I found an interesting article on the renewed, and slightly altered, No Child Left Behind bill.  The article looked promising.  As the vote draws near, more and more is being written about it, and everywhere I look I find more stories, many from teachers, about the affects of the bill on technology and creativity, and therefore hands-on learning. [...]

]]> By: Marli http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-183 Marli Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:41:46 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-183 Check this out!! http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/aera-tss073007.php Check this out!!

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/aera-tss073007.php

]]> By: Maribeth http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-178 Maribeth Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:30:31 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-178 <i>All parties seem to agree (finally) that it’s not simply a lack of funding that’s the problem, but fundamental flaws in the original bill.</i> How wonderful it would be if the authors of the bill, and those who "approved" it in the past, had open minds and actually paid attention to what educators and administrators had to say about how the NCLB act was not working - to learn from what didn't work, and implement changes that would really support educators, schools and most importantly, student learning... and in the spirit in which NCLB was intended - which always at least seemed like it should be about the individual child, and how to best serve the individual child. All parties seem to agree (finally) that it’s not simply a lack of funding that’s the problem, but fundamental flaws in the original bill.

How wonderful it would be if the authors of the bill, and those who “approved” it in the past, had open minds and actually paid attention to what educators and administrators had to say about how the NCLB act was not working - to learn from what didn’t work, and implement changes that would really support educators, schools and most importantly, student learning… and in the spirit in which NCLB was intended - which always at least seemed like it should be about the individual child, and how to best serve the individual child.

]]> By: JohnL http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-176 JohnL Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:03:49 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-176 There was an article in the Boston Globe today (July 16) about how the authors of the bill are rewriting it. There are many changes under consideration, including giving schools more options for showing student improvement, and not penalizing entire schools for the low scores of some students. All parties seem to agree (finally) that it's not simply a lack of funding that's the problem, but fundamental flaws in the original bill. You can read the article online at www.boston.com There was an article in the Boston Globe today (July 16) about how the authors of the bill are rewriting it. There are many changes under consideration, including giving schools more options for showing student improvement, and not penalizing entire schools for the low scores of some students.

All parties seem to agree (finally) that it’s not simply a lack of funding that’s the problem, but fundamental flaws in the original bill. You can read the article online at http://www.boston.com

]]> By: Marli http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-169 Marli Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:30:38 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-169 @Maryann <i>For example, a child at the beginning of second grade might have the skills of a child who is half-way through first grade. However, if, at the end of second grade, the child shows that he is at the half-way mark of second grade, he has made one year’s progress (although still needy). </i> Good point. I am reminded of stories of one-room school houses and (more modern-style) multi-grade classrooms, where students MUST be graded on individual progress as opposed to the state of the class! As a student I used to wish I could be with the older and younger kids, to get an idea of where I was in the grand scheme. And later, as a teacher, I wondered what might happen if more advanced students and more needy students were to partner. Teaching, they say, is the best way to learn a concept! (Imagine what might happen to the test scores THEN!) Overall, that looks like a great tool. Do you plan to use it in the classroom? @Maryann

For example, a child at the beginning of second grade might have the skills of a child who is half-way through first grade. However, if, at the end of second grade, the child shows that he is at the half-way mark of second grade, he has made one year’s progress (although still needy).

Good point. I am reminded of stories of one-room school houses and (more modern-style) multi-grade classrooms, where students MUST be graded on individual progress as opposed to the state of the class! As a student I used to wish I could be with the older and younger kids, to get an idea of where I was in the grand scheme. And later, as a teacher, I wondered what might happen if more advanced students and more needy students were to partner. Teaching, they say, is the best way to learn a concept! (Imagine what might happen to the test scores THEN!)

Overall, that looks like a great tool. Do you plan to use it in the classroom?

]]> By: Maryann http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-167 Maryann Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:55:51 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-167 Check out this assessment system. I attended a Discovery Educator Network (www.discoveryeducatornetwork.com) Summer Institute a few weeks ago and learned a bit about this system. It is called Think Link (http://www.thinklinklearning.com/). The assessments are linked to state tests, but there is so much you can do with the information--it is more than just a test. You can find strengths and weaknesses for an individual or class, you can see progress for individuals. For example, a child at the beginning of second grade might have the skills of a child who is half-way through first grade. However, if, at the end of second grade, the child shows that he is at the half-way mark of second grade, he has made one year's progress (although still needy). I haven't totally explored the program, and there is a cost involved for using it, but it certainly is an interesting way to look at and use assessments. I will never understand why we compare two different groups of children from different years to exmine if a school is progressing, and I will never understand the value in returning the tests to the children a year after they have taken them, which is what happens in our state. I think there are many educators out there who have some wonderful ideas about how to best assess and use assessments with children. I hope their voices are heard. Check out this assessment system. I attended a Discovery Educator Network (www.discoveryeducatornetwork.com) Summer Institute a few weeks ago and learned a bit about this system. It is called Think Link (http://www.thinklinklearning.com/). The assessments are linked to state tests, but there is so much you can do with the information–it is more than just a test. You can find strengths and weaknesses for an individual or class, you can see progress for individuals. For example, a child at the beginning of second grade might have the skills of a child who is half-way through first grade. However, if, at the end of second grade, the child shows that he is at the half-way mark of second grade, he has made one year’s progress (although still needy). I haven’t totally explored the program, and there is a cost involved for using it, but it certainly is an interesting way to look at and use assessments. I will never understand why we compare two different groups of children from different years to exmine if a school is progressing, and I will never understand the value in returning the tests to the children a year after they have taken them, which is what happens in our state.

I think there are many educators out there who have some wonderful ideas about how to best assess and use assessments with children. I hope their voices are heard.

]]> By: Marli http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-164 Marli Mon, 09 Jul 2007 15:58:19 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-164 Hi Maribeth, Yes, it does appear that there is at least a movement towards turning NCLB into a more individualized program. Whether or not this will become something official in the ballots, but here's hoping! Marli Hi Maribeth,

Yes, it does appear that there is at least a movement towards turning NCLB into a more individualized program. Whether or not this will become something official in the ballots, but here’s hoping!

Marli

]]> By: Maribeth http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-163 Maribeth Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:36:31 +0000 http://www.thenorthstarcommunity.org/home/2007/07/06/no-child-left-behind/#comment-163 Marli, Yes, it will be interesting to see the final version of the "amdended" NCLB act. In reading your post, are you saying one of the proposed amendments is what some of the schools in NY state are doing? That would be almost too good to be hope for. It would be a wonderful thing if NCLB made a paradigm shift that looked at individual progress, but that seems so contrary to what NCLB has been about so far. However, I guess anything is possible! Maribeth Marli,

Yes, it will be interesting to see the final version of the “amdended” NCLB act. In reading your post, are you saying one of the proposed amendments is what some of the schools in NY state are doing? That would be almost too good to be hope for.

It would be a wonderful thing if NCLB made a paradigm shift that looked at individual progress, but that seems so contrary to what NCLB has been about so far. However, I guess anything is possible!

Maribeth

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