Are Our Schools in Crisis?: Literacy

CAPA REVIEW  (Collaborative Assessment of Planning and Achievement)

This review was conducted by the New Jersey Department of Education: 2008 - 2009  This post includes the state's recommendations for improving the achievement of Dwight Morrow High School students in the area of Literacy. The next post will help you to become familiar with words that are used by teachers and school administration that you may not know.

DMHS East Wing

Governor Christie has introduced plans to augment the current New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards with  a new set of rules. The current standards are expected to become the Common Core State Standards. This change is slated to take place within the next 5 years. Each district is charged with selecting an assessment system. It is called the Transition to Next Generation Assessment Systems.  This new system will require 4 assessments (tests) during the course of the year. That is a test at the end of each marking period. I have written the person indicated in the letter requesting more specific information.  Are we ready for this? Do we even have Mid term and Final Exams?

LANGUAGE ARTS LITERACY  (English & English Literature)

State Recommendations:   This is what the School should do.

1.  Implement an authentic portfolio process for reading/writing for ALL students in core English classes.

2.  Develop a curriculum committee to create a standards based curriculum with benchmarks and assessments as well as effective teaching strategies.

3.  Revisit the school schedule so that time is provided to teachers to work on continuous vertical and horizontal articulation within the English curriculum.

4.  Continue professional development in the process needed to differentiate instruction for all students.

State Recommendations:  This is what the District should do.
1.  Provide a designated high school literacy supervisor/coach to support instruction.
2.  Staff the media specialist position in order to implement a formal library program which integrates with the literacy program.
3.  Share up-to-date and, preferably, disaggregated data with teaching staff on a regular basis, and analyze results for impact on classroom teaching practices.
4.  Create a structure to support ongoing curriculum development, revision, and implementation.

(#2 under what Schools should do. You will notice that I do not define vertical and horizontal articulation in English Curriculum. That is a very vague recommendation and it does need clarification. Those terms are generally associated with businesses. I also found a lot of references to the field of medicine and dentistry. It needs clarification.)

The clickable links in the text above lead to books at Amazon.com. The books provide more information that will aid in understanding the recommendations. These books may be available in the Library. Look below the book images. You are allowed to preview contents on some of them. Other books on these subjects are available in the library.

"How are the children?"

Do We Need Midterm and Final Exams in the HIgh School?

Crocus - the first spring blossoms

Did you ever wonder what happens in a high school during the spring months? Have you ever seen "Spring Fever" in a teenager up close and personal? I have.

I question the legitimacy of a school system that does not have students on task throughout the 180 days that they are required to be in the classroom. So what are the students at Dwight Morrow High School doing right now? Some say they have projects. That is not enough. Projects are rarely worked on in class. What are they doing on a daily basis for the last two months of school? Seniors everywhere are usually mentally gone anyway, because of prom and the general senioritis. What are the rest of the students doing?

If Final Exams were in place in the high school, there would be no reason to ask that question. The answer would be obvious. "They are preparing for finals." A former colleague refers to  it as "Benign Neglect". Students must be actively involved in learning these last months of school. They are already facing 2 months of "no time on task".

I read the CAPA REPORT for Dwight Morrow High School 2008 - 2009. It did not present a glowing description of our educational program strategies. I  do not see indicators that any of the New Jersey State Department of Education suggestions are being taken seriously. Englewood has a reputation of "not" having documented Curriculum. It is time to change that reputation.

What is Curriculum?

Public Domain photo

Curriculum is a document. In this document each subject area has a clear set of goals and objectives. The course of study is broken into units (or other module) and lists specific activities, materials, textbooks, magazines, online and off line resources, guest speakers and media that will be used throughout the year. It contains examples of tests and other assessment systems.  It is simply a collection of documents from each department detailing objectives for student achievement. It explains the strategies to be used to impart information to the students. The best curriculum is like a road map to  teachers. It keeps them centered and this helps to center the students. Having good Curriculum that is aligned to the NJCCC Standards is tied to student achievement. Poor test scores in Englewood students is a direct result of the absent curriculum. Without curriculum, there is no big picture. Without a standard curriculum in each subject area it is difficult to establish benchmarks for development as the student passes from grade to grade.  How do we determine if the student has learned all that is required, if all that is required is not documented?

Without exams, the last 2 months of school are wasted. The climate is too lackadaisical. Idle time breeds problems. We see the end result of NOT having a rigorous learning environment. Now it is time for everyone to embrace change.

"How are the children?"

What Every Parent Must Do In Order to Stay Informed....

"How are the Children"

It has come to my attention that there are programs in place that are theoretically open and free to all Englewood school children.. Notices for these programs may be on the counter of the main office in the building of the school that your child attends. 

It has also come to my attention that people think we don't care about our kids, because we do not attend back to school night, parent conferences, parent teacher meetings and do  not respond to repeated calls in our homes or on our cellphones from conscientious staff informing us of problems. The word is that you don't care.

WEBSITE for the Board of Education

Click here to see the Official Board of Education Website if you have never been there before. Get to know the site and the way that it is set up. Hopefully, there will be some improvements soon. Use the email addresses there if you are not satisfied that it is keeping you informed. The word is that you don't care.

LIBERTY SCHOOL Brick and mortar home of the Board of Education and The Eagle Program

Russel C. Major Liberty School

Visit here for the first time If you have not already done so. Check the windows and doors for flyers advertising school and community activities. Look into each office and make a mental note of the purpose of each. Check for flyers on a regular basis. It seems this is the method they use to inform you of programs and activities for your child. While you are there, visit the Superintendent's office and sign up for the "walking tours of the Englewood School Buildings" that are now playing out of Central Office. Get to know your School System. Did you know that there are tutorial sessions open to your child taking place upstairs in this building every single day? The word is that you don't care.



We all need heroes

 ATTEND at least one School board meeting (they are listed with the agenda on the calendar on the BOE Website) If you never attend again, go and meet the board members and the Superintendent. Important decisions that will shape the life of your child are made everytime they meet. Get to know the faces of the people who call the shots. Become more to them than just a demographic. Be counted. The word is that you don't care.

THE MAIN OFFICE of your child's school building...

• Step into the main office of your child's school at least every 2 weeks. 
• Take a copy of each handout or flyer on the counter. There is important information that you need in order to make sure that your child is up to date in school
• Get acquainted with office personnel. (keep a log of who is whom)
• Meet the principal and shake his hand at least once. Look him/her in the face.
• Make an appointmet to see your child's guidance counselor (What is a GPA?)  Know Guidance well.
• Find out how your child is being TRACKED...
• Meet the school Nurse. Make sure she has all of your contact information
• Get to know Secretaries, Office Assistants, and Security. (know who your child may depend on in a time of crisis, if help is needed)
• Check out the School Library at least once in a while 
• Find out what type of extracurricular activities are available (after school activities including clubs and sports)
• Please do not forget the Fine & Performing Arts. Children must begin to embrace more of the fun things in school.
  

AT HOME with your child or children

• Check bookbags for flyers with announcements and homework strewn about carelessly. Fix that.
• Check notebooks for homework assignments, tests, quizzes with grades, classwork with grades, notes from the teacher
• Supervise homework. Make an Official Parent Notebook Check for organization once a week.
• Keep a Teacher/Subject Log: collect communications from teachers, print out emails, make written note of any teacher contact by subject. Documentation is key.
• Talk to your children about school. You will be surprised that they want to talk about their experiences. Keep dialogue open so you will know when your child needs your help. Listen.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

There is one for each school. Find out who they are, what they do and when, where and why  they do it.

The word is that we don't care.

"How Are The Children?"

The Right To Read: Censorship in the School Library.

Under Construction

The reopening of the Library at Dwight Morrow High School has been announced. The celebration honoring the reopening was noted casually at a board meeting and on the District website with a number to call in order to RSVP.  Some people have even gotten written invitations in the mail. Did you receive one? The systematic dismantling of school libraries in the Englewood Schools has been so damaging that a letter should go to every home apolozing for the disruption in intellectual stimulation. This apology should have come inclusive of an invitation to the re-opening ceremony. Such significance should have been given to this occasion that students should have been encouraged to research the history of the school and town in order to find a noteworthy scholar for which to name the newly renovated facility. For whom is it named? (The question has been answered. The Library is The Ellen S. Bindman Library)

I stand strong for developing powerful Libraries. The Janis E. Dismus Middle School library pictured below is back in focus. We can only hope that the literature and media offered reflects and represents the many cultures of students in the school and the district. Click the main title of this article and learn about the battles being waged by School Librarians in regard to what is put on Library shelves across America.

Is the avid recreational reader a dying breed?

Janis E. Dismus MS Library

Sometimes students need to hear what various groups outside of the
classroom have to say on the subject of reading. The Motivation to read needs a lot of work. Perhaps more should be done to demonstrate that teachers, parents, and administrators are active readers and writers. We should stop trying to control the reading material that is rigorous and interesting to students. Who knows where I would have ended up if my Mother had stopped me from reading comics, the Grit Newspaper, or my older brother's school books. That is where I met Charles Dickens. Everyone involved in encouraging students to read must read themselves. Why should students take reading seriously when everyone else seems to get along okay without doing so? We must begin to model the behavior that we wish to see emulated.  We all know that works, afterall, that is where a lot of negative stereotypes originate.

American Association of School Librarians  

 (note to principals in their guide to libraries)

"It is the season to look around, regroup, and plan ahead. What needs a fresh start? What needs repair? What needs just a little fine tuning? The enclosed Principal’s Manual is designed to guide you in assessing and planning for your school library media program. AASL offers this manual as an aid as you prepare with your school library media staff, district administrators, teachers, students, and parents for the next school year. There are valuable tools that will assist you every step of the way. So take your manual in hand and enjoy the journey!"

Special Public Meeting of The Englewood Board of Education

Thursday, May 20, 2011:  Special Public Meeting of The Englewood Board of Education

• call to order
• Open Public Meeting Statement
• Roll Call, all present
• Pledge
• Privilege of the floor given first (this had been suggested by one of the parents) 



Mr. Popkin spoke on the fact that a 48 hour notice must be posted prior to Board of Education Meetings.  It seems that he had noticed the event was published in various ways that he thought were intentionally misleading the public. He said it was listed as a closed session on the website. Mr. Popkin regularly alludes to the fact that the Board is inconsistent in  notices to the public. He pointed out that there was nothing (no business) really listed on the  Agenda. No New business or Old Business was listed specifically.  He questioned the sincerity of the posted notice and suggested that it was done in order to confuse the public. He accused them of being unfriendly to the public.

Mr. Garrison, the board president stated "that there were issues that came up that must be taken action on in private session. There were situations that they must take legal action…contract, personnel, legal student matter." The word Emergency….was not used but seemed strongly implied.

The Public was dismissed and basically sent to wait in the hallway while they met in private session. It was actually good to network among the public waiting for the resolutions. This is when I noticed that there were quite a few people in attendance for a board meeting that was supposed to be a special/or Emergency Meeting posted at the last minute. After nearly an hour it was obvious that the meeting would take a long time. People left. I went home and got my car. People had come back when I returned. People left until only Mr. Popkin and I remained. We waited them out.

Mr. Popkin timed them to the second. 3 hours 7 minutes, I stopped counting after that. There were two resolutions. They voted with mostly no's on the first one with a couple of yes's. It was difficult to be interested when there was no specific information. Both resolutions were read to us before we were given hand written copies of the resolutions.  The board attorney was asked to explain what the second resolution was specifically. He explained that they had basically agreed to acquire (I assume acquire means hire) a mediator to help settle a dispute between 2 parties disagreeing over problems in construction of Grieco Elementary. The hand written resolution reads 

      "The Board hereby approves the contract with Benchmark Resolution Services, LLC to provide mediation services in the matter captioned Englewood BOE vs. Dobco, Inc..."  The 2 parties are the Board of Education and Dobco, Inc.

It was a very weird Board of Education Meeting. The buildings are fine.

"How are the children?"