February 25, 2011

Principal visits:
I have met with DeArmanville, White Plains E, Sardis HS, Etowah HS, and Weaver E.

Next week I meet with:  Ashville MS, Moody HS, Centre MS, Etowah HS, Coldwater E and White Plains M.

I will begin notifying all other AMSTI schools next week.  We will mail packets of info to them as well and email information to them concerning the 2011 New Hire Training.

Summit
For the Summit in May, we will not stay at the hotel where the Summit is taking place.  When I thought I reserved two rooms, (2 doubles), the only reserved one room with 2 queen beds.  Evidently in hotel speak that means 1 room, 2 queen beds since I guess 4 guest could stay in a room.  They wouldn't give me another room at the conference rate and wouldn't let me extend the stay at the conference rate since Kay and I have tot stay there until the 5th.  Anyway, we will be at the Springhill Suites in Montgomery.   Rate is less there anyway and we don't have to pay for parking there!

February 18, 2011

• If you do not have anything scheduled for July 5-22, please hold.  More info as I am allowed to share.  Waiting on word from SDE. 
• Important Dates
  September 13-14, 2011  - Material Managers Meeting - Huntsville
  September 27, 2011 : Director's meeting - UM
  October 11 - 13, 2011 :  OGAP training: Math Specialists - ??
  November 29, 2011:  Director's meeting - UM

I will be at UM AMSTI for meeting all day on this Friday,  February 18 and in Montgomery all day Tuesday, February 22. 

• Math Specialists: 

Do not schedule anything for April 15th.   All AMSTI math specialists, directors and assist directors will participate in a PD by Ban Har  , “A Day with Ban Har.”  MOre info as it is shared with me. 

• Science Specialists: 

DeArmanville and Coldwater have both responded.  Please contact Mr. Gover and Ms. Copeland to plan for sustainability cycles.  Please remember to "cc"  Maniscalco, Michael; Mitcham, Clay; Nothdurft, Debbie; Bennett, Roy; Goodwin, Khristie, and Dr. Goodwin.   During any planning sessions where you are aligning the curriculum to the standards please invite Ms. Goodwin.    Mr. Maniscalco is the assistant principal at Coldwater and Mr. Mitcham is the assistant principal at DeArmanville.   Let me know if you need email addresses.  

• Spring Break:

Please let me know which Spring Break you will be following.  The one in March (JSU is closed and some of our schools) or the one in April (when some of our schools are closed. )

• March, April and May Staff Meetings: 

We need to move our April Staff meetings of some conflicting dates.   Unless there is something I'm unaware of, lets move our April Staff meetings to April 11 and April 25. The March 7th staff meeting will be a normal staff meeting.  We will move Planning for Sustainability with Joanne to April 11 so that it can be connected to our training at the Statewide staff meeting March 28-31.  

• For your March PD planning sessions: 
• ·         Science specialists attended content deepening session at ASTA and can develop workshops to deliver to teachers in summer and or September
• v  MSP workshops
  v  Need pre and post test
  v  Order training materials but can’t check those out to teachers
  v  Sandy Ledwell developed one for the ACHE grant
  Ø  Talk with Sandy before starting from scratch
• Math specialists - Gadsden city specifically Donehoo wants a professional development on more math strategies and how and when to incorporate them into Investigations

• Director meeting updates: 
• Reminder from Cathy Jones
• o   Pre test and post test
• §  Required as part of the reporting process
• ·         Pay attention to the direction
• ·         Recognized as an indicator of success of PD
• ·         Must be able to match pre to post
• ·         We want to document teacher growth
• ·         We need to do a good job of administrating the test
• o   Get better information when they fill out the id info on pre and post at the SAME time
• o   Suggest phone number
• §  Pre and the number
• §  Post and the number
•    Run on a different color
• o   Or write “pre” and “post”  before running off test
•   Need to pre and post for anything in MSP proposal
• o   Compressed training (if not in your MSP proposal, then do not use MSP money)
• o   New hire
• §  Some of the questions are not covered in new hire training
• o   Ensure that all specialists are well versed in the administration of pre-posts
• o   Give a week or two notice
• o   Check behind trainers/participants to organize materials
• Math COS
• ·         COS for 2010 official version not posted yet  implementation date is 2012
  o   Stay with 2003 COS (testing stays with)
  o   Few more testing items in 2009 – if you go with 2009 then you will be ahead of the game
  o   If at 2009, then stick with it
  o   In trainings, if schools are using 2003 then use 2003, if schools have adopted 2009 then use 2009
  o   2009 tested differently at 3^rd , 5^th, and 8^th
  ·         2010 COS
  o   Alabama 2010 COS for mathematics includes the Common Core State Standards
  o   The 2010  COS for math adopted by state board in Nov 2010
  o   A committee at the SDE is working collaboratively to develop training for the 2010 COS for math
  o   The grade K-8 standards for AL COS in math is identical to the CCSS for math (Common Core State Standards)
  o   Om grades Grade 9-12 there are Alabama Added standards for some of the course
  o   Alabama adopted the traditional course structure of Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II, etc
  o    The CCSS Committee has discussed setting a training date for SDE and field staff to participate in the training developed for the CCSS prior to the LEAs receiving the training beginning with the Mega Conference
  o   MORE in MARCH
  
  
  I will be at UM AMSTI for meeting all day on this Friday,  February 18. 
  
  
  Important Dates
  September 13-14, 2011  - Material Managers Meeting - Huntsville
  September 27, 2011 : Director's meeting - UM
  October 11 - 13, 2011 :  OGAP training: Math Specialists - ??
  November 29, 2011:  Director's meeting - UM

October 15, 2010

Power Outage
The power will be cut off on Wednesday, October 20 from 6 AM to 10 AM.


Dates for Summer Workshops


I didn't include any Alphabet Soup.  We will let that be by request.  If a system ask for help with curriculum, AMSTI materials and COS.   InService Days for schools systems will be by request.  


Please check the email sent on Thursday for compressed training.  I will submit the schedule to the InService Center next week.  

The days I have listed are days we will need rooms at the InService Center. 


I changed the name of Oreos and MIlk to Math and Science, making the pieces fit together. 


GLOBE new hire needs to be in July in order to take care of new hires from 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.  The dates do not have to be consecutive so I need 2 days from Polly and 2 from Carol and I'll fill in 2 days for new specialist.


I need dates from K-5 Math for Special topics for new hires.  Those days also need to be in July.




7-Jun-11 Tuesday Formative Assessment JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30-11:30 K-12
14-Jun-11 Tuesday Differentiate Instruction - Strategies that work in EVERY classrom JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30-11:30 K-12
16-Jun-11 Tuesday Math, and Science, making the pieces fit together. JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30-11:30 K-8 math and science
21-Jun-11 Tuesday "E's" on Down the Road, Inquiry in Math and Science JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30 - 11:30 K-8 math and science

October 8, 2010

Staff Meeting Monday, October 11
In preparation for the staff meeting on Monday, please review the reflection questions:

Please place short answers to questions 3 – 6 on sticky notes and place the sticky notes on the chart paper in the meeting room (in-service center) on Monday morning. We will begin at 9 am at the in-service center.

1. What is your current understanding of coaching and AMSTI’s expectation of you?

2. What do you think coaching should “look like” in your work?

3. How would you rate yourself in terms of coaching abilities at this time?

4. What are your strengths?

5. What are your needs?

6. What coaching skill(s) do you want to focus at this time?

7. What is your “next step”?

8. What else do you need in order to do this?

Proposed Change in scheduling:

Can we move the October 25, 2010 staff meeting to November 1^st and move the November 8^th meeting to November 15^th?  AND Delete the November 29^th?

Reminder from Steve:

Has anyone sent out any information concerning NAEP? If so, please let me know. If not, please do not do so without consulting me first. All communication concerning NAEP must be approved through the SDE beforehand.

From STEVE:

Gang,
I need for you to let us know BEFORE you send anything out regarding NAEP training. We will also give the Assessment Section at the SDE a copy so they will know what is going on.

September 22, 2010

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 to the World so it is important. Please see the emails I forward to math specialists from Tod and to the science specialists from Martha Ann.    

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 for the day of the GLOBE training.  

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.   These are 6 hour days.  

        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 and  UAH is offering a few sessions.  Barry and I need to evaluate our kit situation and refurb situation before we send anyone to those sessions.  I'm hesitant to ask a teacher to miss 4 days of class and drive 3 hours each way to Athens or UAH and each day is an 8 hour training. Also, extensive embedded training is needed for 6-12 new hires so that may be BIG ROCK for the next school year.  Maybe offer some kit training in the summer. Maybe we can plan to offer new hire GLOBE in July for 6-8 in preparation for offering new hire kit training.  Please review the new hire plan. GLOBE for 6-8 is an 8 hour day.

        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) drive in on Monday moning

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 to make sure you are following JSU's instructions for submitting travel reimbursement concerning the end of the fiscal year 2010 and beginning the fiscal year 2011

       WHEW, I think that is all.  Have a great weekend.  

September 3, 2010

Reminder:  Up date your resume  and submit to Tanya by email by: September 15.   This is an earlier date but in re-reading his email, he must turn them in Sept. 17 so I want to get them to him earlier than Sept. 17.  THANKS

Hokes Bluff Principal  Marguerite Early is not the Principal at Southside High School.   Dena Cook is the new principal at Hokes Bluff Middle School.

811 videos are in Barry's office.  Remember to let us know if you have an idea of how to get those to schools.  Otherwise we will send them with the next rotation.

Advisory group will meet at 10 AM at the Inservice Center.  Please remember we are discussing Friday visits and protocal for beginning sustainability.  THANKS.

August 27, 2010

Compressed training:
Sign in sheets go in a folder on the desk in Lynn's office.
Everyone enter their own date for compressed training for the MSP contact hours.

MSP funds:
We should in the near future hire a science specialists as well as material workers.  For the K-5 science specialists position, please send Tanya names of anyone you think will be interested in applying.  The position may be "on loan" from their system if they system will agree to it.  There will be interviews at some time.  Position is not even posted yet.  But they will be posted soon.  The posting has been submitted to JSU (HR, VP, and Pres) for approval.

Updated Teacher Information: 
Please remember to complete an orange form for any teacher who has changed schools, grade levels, systems, etc...   The orange form is needed to keep accurate records in the material database, the teacher PD database and the permanent file we keep on each teacher.

October Statewide Staff Meeting  October 4 - 7
October 4 the meeting begins at 3 PM so we will have to leave EARLY.  Make plans now to leave EARLY. :)

Proactive: 
It has been requested that we supply dates that we will need rooms at the inserivice center for any trainings we will sponsor during the Summer of 2011.  Titles are not needed but for example,  will we need three rooms on June 14 for half day or three rooms on June 14 for  a  whole day? So, if we base it on what we did this summer, I think we can come up with some good estimates.  If it's ok with everyone, I will use the same compressed training schedule but change the dates so the dates fall on the same day.  Example... Tuesday August 24, 2010 will become Tuesday, August 23, 2011.  The dates for June and July must be set by you.  Please submit by our staff meeting on September 13th. Remember, not specific tittles but give thought to how many rooms will be needed each day.

AYP
A weakness is showing state wide, AMSTI and non AMSTI schools is  in the areas of special ed reading and special ed math.  For the workshops you will develop this year, one of the focus should be strategies to help special ed math students, by teaching all teachers strategies to address special ed math.  I know you all have a differentiated instruction PD and I'm sure parts of that can be used but we need a specific K-5 and a specific 6-12 PD that the focus is teaching teachers to address special ed math scores.

Sardis HS, Handley Middle and Sansom Middle did not make AYP because of Math proficiency Special ed.  I will contact both principals to schedule a visit so we can make some plans to help them. I will offer sustainability cycle to them in math.   Anniston Middle didn't make it because of math participation.  According to:

AMSTI Plan for Addressing AYP in AMSTI Schools

Revised on 8/23/2010

If Math:

Directors will increase specialists’ visits to school to provide on-site support.

Specialists will work with teachers to ensure that AMSTI math is being fully implemented, including, coaching, modeling and team teaching.

Alexandria HS, Ohatchee HS,  and Cherokee County HS because of Graduation Rate.  The plan doesn't address grad rate.

Ashville Middle, CE Hanna, Centre Middle, Gadsden Middle, Moody HS,  Moody Middle, Pell City HS, and Rainbow Middle did make it because of reading proficiency in at least one subgroup.

AMSTI Plan for Addressing AYP in AMSTI Schools

Revised on 8/23/2010

If Reading:

Specialists will encourage and promote use of science notebooks, math journaling, and use of trade books.

NAPE
While at the Calhoun County Roundtable, ARI reported that they knew which schools were "NAPE" schools and they would hold training and asked that Calhoun County provide subs for the teachers to attend the training.   At the Key Leader Network meeting, I asked Tod about it.  Tod said they knew the NAPE schools and would send us the info soon.   We will need to conduct NAPE workshops for those schools.  The InService Center/SDE sponsored them last time.  I think it will be on us to sponsor them.  So, please review the NAPE workshop stuff and we will discuss this at the Sept. 27 staff meeting and make plans for a workshop in Nov/Dec/Jan for the schools involved in NAPE.