School Improvement

This is an episode dedicated to the growing trend of parents wanting books to be banned at school. The other side of this issue is parents and staff who want to have everything be available. This is a suggestion on a policy and some ideas of how to mange the growing issue.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This is a short podcast on things to prepare for next school year.  I call it Summer Food for Thought.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This is a brief background on the science and history of the English Language. It is very important to know what the elementary does to teach reading. I refer to an expert named Trish Martin ( Unlocking the Reading Code ).  I also refer to a book used in high school for a long time that is great for struggling reader called Word Clues as well as SRA Laboratory products and Read Naturally.

English levels are important in secondary schools to work on issues not just water down the content.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This episode is about how to use special education paraprofessionals in a different way in the building to be more efficient and effective.  There is a growing need in trying to find and retain paras in schools. The job market has tighten and wages and benefits are high for schools to afford. This is an option to consider when making the para assignments for next year.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This episode is about how to help motivate students to perform on standardized tests that they are required to take. The episode is for secondary schools to use on state and national tests. (State Exams, SAT, ACT, ASVAB, etc.)

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This podcast is about the graduation rate that schools are held accountable to. All of the rating system use it but it does not give any real information. Special Ed., colleges and most post secondary training don't use a timeline, they use standards. It would open a whole world of options to schools for alternative education, CTE, reducing special education numbers and severing the kids better. 

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This is mostly an Op-Ed on my part about what we did well and poorly during the pandemic. I made an effort to go back and forth with good things and things that did not go well.  As usual please feel free to disagree and let me know.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This episode talks about the 3 problems in teaching secondary math. The scope and sequence of the courses is critical for students. Problem 1, When to the students take Geometry. Geometry on standardized tests only include plane and coordinate geometry and is about 7 questions on the ACT out of 60 questions. Problem 2, When and where do you teach statistics and probability? A small part of the tests, but it does not fit into Algebra or Geometry. Problem 3, What do you do with the students who do poorly in 8th grade math when they get  to high school? The easy solution to these issues are implementing a trimester schedule and require 3 blocks of math in the junior year. (9th Algebra Concepts - less than a B in 8th grade - 10th Grade Algebra 2 - teach all part A in the Fall and require a "B" to go to Part B or Algebra Essentials in the Winter -  Junior Year - Advanced Algebra, ACT Math, Geometry A - Senior Year - Geometry B and Personal Finance).  In semesters, 9th grade must be Algebra Concepts, 10th grade is Algebra 2, 11th grade is Integrated Alg/Geometry, 12th grade is Personal Finance and elective or even better College Algebra. Statistics and Probability have to be bell work in the classrooms during grades 9-11.

Remember algebra skills are the deal breaker for students in college. As long as college degree in social work requires College Algebra, we need to give the students in high school the Willy Wonka Gold Ticket to a BS degree.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This is an overview of what quality instruction should look like in the classroom. There are multiple models to use and some work for teachers and some don't. The bottom line is that engagement and purposeful organization are the key. I have attached a document on the 12 ways how to use homework in your classroom. The art of teaching is figuring out how to use your personality in front of students to engage them.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091

This episode talks about how to evaluate what literature should be used in ELA classes. Although other classes my require novel reading, it is mostly ELA courses where we get issues from. There are 4 levels of books. Level one is where every student has to read the book and has it attached to their grade. Level two is where there is a set of books to choose from and they pick one to do the graded assignment. Level three is a choice book not graded in anyway and is similar to a library book. Level four are books that are controversial and only designed to change opinions (Op-Ed) and should be seldom used in school. The key concept on level 1-3 is reading level which if it varies use the highest level.  Does the public library have the book? Have a process in place to appeal a book that is questioned. In rare cases have an alternate book for a student to use if there is a compelling reason to do so. In conclusion, in our current Left/Right American culture this problem is only going to grow, be prepared.

Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trimesters.org
Text: 269-449-6091