Interesting Concept: Meet Rose Sanders

If no Tracking, then we must have the following according to Rose Sanders.

• High Expectations
• B. Heterogeneous and Skill-based Grouping
• C. Providing Compensatory Education in Heterogeneous Classes
• D. High-level (Unified Required Core ) Curriculum for All Children
• E. Student Aspirations and Detracking
• F. Steps to Detrack Schools

Rose Sanders, Selma Alabama

·         Rose Sanders is a civil rights attorney, education activist, songwriter, and playwright living in Selma, Alabama. She is the mother of three children.

·         She is president and co-founder of the 21st Century Leadership project for youth across the South. 21st Century uses the L.A.C.E. (Leadership - Academics - Culture - Economics) philosophy.

·         Rose Sanders was Alabama's first African American woman judge.

·         Rose Sanders has also co-founded CARE (Coalition of Alabamians Reforming Education). In response to CARE's recommendation, Rose Sanders was appointed by the Governor of Alabama to co-chair the state Commission of Standards, Performance and Accountability which is drawing up a blueprint for education reform in Alabama.

·         Rose Sanders co-founded McRae Learning Center where children learn to read at age 3 and 4.

·         Also, she has co-founded the National Summit Against Tracking and the Miseducation of Children which convened at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, in the fall of 1996.

 This was a very interesting article. Learn more about this fascinating woman and her innovative ideas on educating our youth.    http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/altern.html

Tracking in The Public High Schools

Many educators believe that “tracking” harms students in the mid range who may have done poorly on the 8th grade placement test.

03/02/94
STANFORD - A new study on tracking in high schools shows the system placing some students in college preparatory courses and others in easier math and science courses is "harming millions of students in American society," says Sanford Dornbusch, the Reed-Hodgson Professor of Human Biology, who holds joint appointments in the Department of Sociology and the School of Education at Stanford University.
“In the new study, the factor that most determined a student's first high school tracking placement was his or her eighth grade test score. Other factors that were significantly related were elementary school grades, attendance and negative comments about a student's behavior in his or her files.”
“"This finding upsets me," Dornbusch said. "This set of data points to a systemic pattern of ignorance, and African Americans and Hispanics are even less aware of the extent to which the tracking system is short-changing them. These results help us to understand why so many talented and hard-working minority students are ineligible for four-year colleges and universities.”

Read more...http://news.stanford.edu/pr/94/940302Arc4396.html

Testing is here. Tracking is here. Help your children pass the test. Make sure they are preparing for it. For instance, it is very important if your child has a problem when required to sit quietly and work. The child will be more prepared if required to sit quietly and do homework or other activity on a regular basis. Homework times become practice time for the test.  Acquire a copy of practice test materials and help students prepare mentally and physically. It will help make a stressful time more bearable and lets your child know that you care about his/her academic achievement.

Is Your 8th Grader Ready for the GEPA or the New Jersey Ask?

 The Eight Grade Proficiency Assessment - 8th graders in many NJ districts are preparing to take this test right now. It will be given this spring. Talk to your child. Contact the school. Find out the exact dates it will be given. It is a stressful time for the students. It evaluates whether your child has the necessary skills to enter high school. The resource below will help you and your child prepare for the GEPA. Find out what kind of preparations or practice activities are taking place at school. Check your child's school calendar, if it is not there, check with guidance.

Barron's New Jersey GEPA: Language Arts Literacy   It contains practice and review in:

• Writing picture Essays
• Writing Persuasive Essays
• Writing Narrative Essays
• Test Taking Advice - This practice booklet contains detailed explanations of the (official) test's format,
• Advice on answering multiple choice and open ended questions.
• It also contains 2 full length practice exams with answer keys provided.

This booklet provides you and your child with the tools needed to succeed on the GEPA this spring. Prepare together. Pretend you are giving the test and encourage your child to take the activity seriously.

• Discourage lying about on the floor with a lackadaisical attitude.
• Encourage sitting upright, breathing in and out to relax.
• They should work quietly w/o electronic devices of any kind.
• No music (Create the actual conditions of the test when practicing)
• Encourage writing in cursive.
• Participate in this process by timing student practice sessions. (loosely at first)
• Keep sessions short enough so your child is not tired out. Pat attention. Talk.
• Discuss the purposes of the test and reasons for practice.
• Follow the directions and give the practice test yourself.

The exercises in this book offer students the opportunity to strengthen their literacy and writing skills.
It offers parents the opportunity to get involved in the process. It makes both parents and students aware of what is expected of them. The School District uses the results of this Test to understand the skill levels of the incoming freshman class. The GEPA evaluates 3 major skills:

• critical reading skills
• the ability to write clearly and maturely
• the potential to be an independent thinker

These skills are essential in high school and in life. You can't beat the price. Gently used books begin at 1 cent + shipping and handling. If you don't have the shipping cost, write down the title, go to the school and request a practice copy to be used at home.

Let'a Prepare for the NJ Math GEPA



New Jersey Elementary Students & Parents Need You

New Jersey After 3 and ists Statewide network of evidence-based afterschool programs need your support. The Governor's budget proposal eliminates all support of New Jersey After 3. Please sign this petition and encourage others to sign. NJ's working parents need New Jersey After 3. This program drastically reduces the number of latch key kids. Help keep our children safe.  You may sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/njafter3


Always hope for the best and prepare for the worst. All parents should train children for a time when they will arrive home from school to an empty house. Make sure your children know how to keep themselves and younger siblings safe until you or another adult arrives. Remind them that they should never reveal house  keys to ANYONE except maybe the Police.
Creative Resources for School-Age Programs

                                                                               Disaster Blaster: A Kid's Guide to Being Home Alone

On My Own: The Kids' Self Care Book

Home-Alone Kids: The Working Parent's Complete Guide to Providing the Best Care for Your Child

Millions of American children under age 16 routinely stay at

home for long periods without adult supervision. Sometimes

called ?latchkey kids,? they are usually without parental supervision

during non-school hours, such as before and after school, and when

school is not in session, such as holidays and summer vacations.

If you must leave your child or children at home alone, the following

information will help make your absence safer for them and less

stressful for you.

Latchkey Kids: Unlocking Doors for Children and Their Families

It takes a Village to protect all  of our children. Help keep our children safe.  You may sign a petition that will help save New Jersey's Afterschool Programs here: http://www.change.org/njafter3

Public Meeting of the Englewood Bd.of Education March 3, 2011

The meeting was called to order.

The President gave his opening statement.

They did roll call.

We all pledged allegiance to the flag.

Minutes were approved.

The Bd. Secretary gave his report.

The Superintendent gave his report which ended with a charming video of a "Responsive Classroom from his previous District.

After his report¸ a group of teachers presented an extremely superficial report on a committee designed to help change the climate of our schools. It was well intentioned, but felt contrived for show. The study was called PBSIS or Positive Behavior Support in Schools.

After this presentation, we the taxpaying audience was given “Privilege of the floor” which did not even last 15 minutes.

·         PR person promises to do well by the Englewood students and parents

·         A senior citizen complained that the bd. Is always announcing changes/mistakes in pages of the agenda packet, but they never point out what the modifications are. He did not seem well received by the board members.

·         A dapperly dressed African American man presented a white woman whom he praised for something. I didn’t quite understand what great thing she had done. It seemed rather staged.

·         Curtis Caviness presented several comments. He was concerned with the fact that morale in the system (sports events especially) seems low because we don’t know who we are. (Mr. Garrison had previously asked for a more positive show of support for our teams.)

·         Donna Sumler asked that the board might perhaps move “Privilege of the Floor” closer to the beginning of the program.

·         This blogger told the board of my visit to examine the physical school buildings in the District. I commented on how massive and impressive Dr. Leroy McCloud Elementary School is. I also asked about “Superintendents Day”. I wanted to know why school would be closed on such a nondescript day since we have had so many snow days this year. Needless to say, I was not satisfied with the answer that it was a “Professional Day” for teachers. They have added 2 days onto the calendar in June to make up for the snow days. Being a former teacher, I know what goes on during “Professional Days”. What educational jargon fad is popular this week? I would prefer my grandkids be in school.

·         Donna Sumler tried to speak again on why questions from the last Public Meeting were not addressed. She was told that the floor had been closed.

We were out of time. The Superintendent’s speech, video of “Responsive Classroom” etiquette, and Climate presentation had taken up all of the time. We were basically instructed to sit quietly after this and listen to board members conduct business.  Only one item held my interest after this.  Shirley Smith, one of the board members, noticed that two groups of students were going on the same trip on two different dates. This was interesting because one group of students is from the Academies @Englewood and the other is from our Traditional Dwight Morrow High School.  She wanted to know why the trips were not combined. The response from other Board members was very interesting, because everyone knows why the trips were not combined.

During the course of the evening the public was constantly referred to the district websites as a source.  This was an insult in  many ways. Some of us check the site on a weekly basis. We can read and the navigation problems that were blamed for lack of information were unfounded. The problem is that the information is just not there, because the websites are very seldom updated.

Some of the Board Members did hang around and talk to those of us who wished to discuss certain things later. Although this interchange was informative, public discussion is more satisfactory.

The very best source to answer questions about available resources, programs and materials is the NJ Dept. of Education. Don't be shy. Familiarize yourself with the site.  It may help taxpayers feel more comfortable when holding elected officials accountable.

http://www.nj.gov/nj/education/

Use this form to ask questions of the US Dept. of ED. https://answers.ed.gov/app/answers/list

Other Sources

School Boards, Their Status, Functions, and Activities

Rights of Parents in the Education of Their Children