Highlights from AMSTI Project Administrators Meeting
( I've lost parts of the BLOG 3 times today and half of it yesterday at 530. I apologize if the formatting is not perfect but every time I edit, parts disappear today. )
NAEP
From Steve Ricks:
Directors,
Good morning.
I wanted to again state that Dr. Bice had indicated that AMSTI’s normal implementation appears to be effective at raising NAEP scores. Good implementation is the “best” thing we can do to prepare students for NAEP. The only reason we are providing you the NAEP workshop material is that several of you had asked if we had materials. With the knowledge that “one shot” events usually have very little impact, you may find your time is better spent working with regular implementation.
I do think it important that we communicate to teachers at NAEP schools that the NAEP test is important-so they and their students take it seriously. That said, the best way they can prepare for NAEP is to effectively implement AMSTI –not try to do something “special.”
Remember BIG ROCKS- I’d say extra NAEP workshops are pebbles.
Steve Ricks
Director
Math and Science
The NAEP CD from the SDE is here. NAEP is the what compares us to the rest of the nation and Dr. Morton takes it very seriously. We want to communicate that to our schools that it should be taken seriously but that we believe that the best thing to we can do to prepare for all standardized test is full implementation of AMSTI. We can offer assistance, provide copies of the CD, refer the teachers to the AMSTI handouts and helps for teachers. NAEP is going to be correlated to the TIMSS study and therefore comparing the US
I also emailed a list of NAEP schools to everyone. Please let me know if you did not receive any of these emails.
From Steve - Big Rocks - Pebbles
Following our statewide staff meeting and a subsequent SDE leadership retreat, it was suggested that I provide you with a summary of our discussions to provide clarity and focus to your work. Points are summarized below in bullet format. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
· Our #1 focus this year is working in schools providing on-site support through coaching and ASAP. This means that the site director’s primary focus is on working with central office and local principals to pave the way for specialists to perform these functions in the schools. While New Hire training may occur, it is secondary to on-site support. Specialists #1 priority should be coaching, ASAP, and on-site support.
Project Administrators identified Big Rocks
v New Hire
v Coaching
v ACHE
v MSP
v Compressed Training
v Statewide Staff meeting
New Hire Training
New Hire Training is completed. I will meet with K-5 Math and K-5 Science to plan follow up visits with the teachers who attended New Hire Training. Please review the New Hire Plan. I am available October 7 and October 12, 13 and 14. Please let me know what day works for K-5 math (Sandra, Kay and Donna) and what day works for K-5 science. (Polly and Carol). THANKS
GLOBE
v The K-5 Science teachers who completed New Hire Training need one day of GLOBE Training. I have asked Lynn Vaughn to provide this training in the Summer. Robin has given it her blessing with the understanding that the specialists serving that grade level will be with Lynn
v We will offer K-5 GLOBE training this summer. Polly and Carol, please let me know 3 days you will be available in July for GLOBE training.The days can't overlap but they do not have to be 6 consecutive days. We need to "schedule" Lynn and also reserve rooms at the InService Center
SPECIAL TOPICS for K-5 MATH
v The special topics for K-5 Math New Hires will need to be a one day training as well. Sandra, Kay and Donna, please let me know a day in July you will be available to offer this training. Grade levels can't over lap with math because the same teacher who needs 2nd grade GLOBE will need 2nd grade special topics.
Math Journaling and Science Notebooks
v Online training for Journaling and Notebooks should be ready by January so the teachers attending New Hire should be able to complete those modules on line and not need an extra day in the summer for that training.
6-12 NEW HIRE
v Auburn , Athens Athens
There is a lot more to consider with 6-12 new hire than K-5.
STATEWIDE STAFF MEETING DATE
v November 2—Dec. 2 (Mobile ) drive in on Monday morning early
v January 31 – Feb 3 –(Tuscaloosa
v March 28-31 (possibly UNA ??) drive in on Monday morning
v June 27 - July 1, 2011 is 5 full days of training - leave on Sunday [K-12 math will participate in 3 days of OGAP training]
v Math will meet in October 2011 (not science)
v Spring 2012 math and science will participate in a statewide staff meeting
COMMON CORE STANDARDS
November is the earliest we will know if the Common Core Standards are adopted. Pearson has developed some handouts and helps and are posted on the AMSTI staff pages. Do not duplicate or give out electronically.
Pearson has a book (for sale) with their curriculum that matches up the COS with the Investigations. Specialists will have access to this but can't share the book with teachers. Several PDFs on the handout and helps will address standards not addressed by the Investigation units. According to the SDE- specialists have been trained on the material and can use the resources with teachers just don't distribute copies.
SDE wants to collect resources or trainings developed so that can be shared among the sites. On line resources will help us help all teachers even when we aren't able to be at their school.
According to the SDE, there is a CD that will be or has been given to the specialists about pacing training and all the resources from the last statewide staff meeting.
SITE REPORT and MSP CONTACT HOURS
The AMSTI assistant directors are working on creating a form to collect contact hours and other data needed for reports and by the SDE. Therefore, please keep your contact hours on your personal calendar or how ever you choose until this new form is developed. I had said that I would have the MSP contact hour form up on Google by Sept 15 but since this was a topic for the Project Administrators Meeting with Steve, I didn't proceed with that plan. SOOOO GLAD! Also, the Assistant Directors are working with the SDE to revise the site report form to collect the info the SDE needs for reports. AMSTI has changed a lot since 2002 when the site report was developed so there will be some significant revisions. But until the new forms are in place, please continue to use the current forms.
MSP
We will partner with Eric to again offer some technology training to our teachers.
October 27, January 19 and January 26. By January 26, all JSU AMSTI schools will have had the opportunity to attend The "T" in AMSTI and Telling it Digitally.
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
AMSTI administrators will be visiting with you in the near future to discuss and help capture your ASAP plan on paper or to help you develop a plan. Our AMSTI Administrator Liason is Tod Beers. -- GLAD we are already addressing this. We are definitely in Quad 2
PHONES
Once you have made a decision on a phone and have a phone number (whether it is a new number or one you had (personally or through JSU) please share that with me. I will make a chart with new contact information for everyone. I will make copies for everyone, and share it with Vicky, Dr. Carr and the SDE. I have already sent my information to Vicky, Dr. Carr principals, administrators, and the SDE.
School Improvement Coach.
I am still waiting to hear from the SI coach serving Handley and Sardis.I will make contact again next week. Sometimes they are on the road all week without Internet access.
TRAVEL
Please see Lynn
WHEW, I think that is all. Have a great weekend.
