Things Every Parent Should Know
Ty Duncan, ESC 17 Specialist
Francisco Rodriguez, ESC 17 Specialist
Administrator’s Guide
 http://www.esc16.net/dept/isserv/title1swi/files/Adminis
trator's%20Checklist%20Final%20(Abbreviated).pdf
 http://www.esc16.net/dept/isserv/title1swi/files/Adminis
trator's%20Guide_Checklist%20Final.pdf
Key Stakeholders
 “As we move the authority for decision-making down
to those closest to children, we cannot afford to
exclude parents and community members from the
process of crafting new schools.”
Patrick M. Shields
Why Learn to Communicate Well?
 Communication isn’t just done by talking; it’s also done by
listening and responding.
 Learning positive communication skills will help them
avoid the consequences of poor communication skills.
Communication is an Essential Ingredient in
Parental Involvement
Communication
Phone Calls
E-mails
Classroom
Conferences
Newsletters
Home visits
Open House
Develop A System!!!
Communication
Phone Calls
E-mails
Newsletters
Home visits
Classroom
Conferences
Open House
• What verbiage do you and
your staff consistently
communicate in every form
of communication?
• Get support staff to
include this verbiage in all
forms of communication?
• Use your automatic phone
messaging system to
communicate positive
messages about the school.
• Make your system
consistent with your
mission.
Social Networks
 Great commutation networks for leaders.
 You can post times and event information but also post things
parents needs to know.
 We have several districts using social networks. Ralls ISD
and Muleshoe ISD use it often.
The Bell Curve is Dead!!!!!
 The Bell Curve demands someone fail
 It sifts and sorts kids into labels.
 NCLB and current legislation demands every child be
successful and our school demands that as well.
The Bell Curve
Norm-Referenced Tests
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e.g. ITBS, SAT, GRE, LSAT, Stat9, NAEP
Purpose: To sort, select, classify, compare
Information: How one compares with others
Results reported as percentile (%) rank
Always yields a bell curve
Assumes a non-aligned curriculum
“We reject the bell curve. It tells us nothing about what
students did or did not learn; it tells us only about their
demographic characteristics.”
~ F. English
The J Curve
Criterion-References Tests
• e.g. ExCET, TAAS, license/certification, teacher-made
• Purpose: To determine knowledge of defined criteria
• Information: How much of defined criteria known
• Goal is to yield J curve
• Assumes an aligned curriculum
• Assumes most people can learn most things in time.
Time
You NEED Your Child to Get Post
Secondary Education!!!!
 College Readiness needs to be stamped on every door, email,
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and correspondence you send to parents.
We need to explain clearly that the jobs of tomorrow demand
post-secondary training.
80% of jobs by 2020 will demand some form of post secondary
college.
A college degree means a million dollars over the course of a
lifetime in income.
We must increase this number in Region 17.
Economic Realities
Half of all new jobs in the U.S.
will require postsecondary
degree.
Fastest growth will occur in
jobs requiring an associate’s
degree.
Occupations
2008 - 2018
1/3 of all job openings in the
U.S. will require a
postsecondary degree.
80% of the top 20 growth
occupations in Texas will
require education above the
high school level.
Assessment in Texas Is Changing
 EOC and Graduation Requirements need to be brought up
at every Middle School and Junior High.
 The 15% grading issue will impact grades in a negative way.
 Many kids will be retesting and that is okay given the
changing nature of instruction.
 Parents must understand that we are going to assess your
kids and not just “test” them.
What do we know about STAAR?
 Will begin in 2011-12
 Grades 3 through 8
 First year 9th graders
 10th and 11th graders will still take TAKS
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What tests will students
have to take?
Grades 3-8
Reading – Gr. 3-8
Math – Gr. 3-8
Writing – Gr. 4 & 7
Science – Gr. 5 & 8
Soc. Studies – Gr. 8
High School COURSES
Math
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II
English
Eng I
Engl II
Eng III
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Soc Studies
World Geo.
World Hist.
U.S. History
The high school level STAAR tests are COURSE
tests, NOT grade level tests
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STAAR is an assessment of
ACADEMIC READINESS
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What does it mean to be
an assessment of
academic readiness?
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Rigor is Not A Disease
 Many parents associate rigor with more work.
 The bottom line is classrooms will expect more this year and
you are going to need parental support throughout this
process.
 Expect that teachers demand rigorous, challenging from your
child.
STAAR will be significantly
What does rigor
moremean?
“rigorous” than TAKS
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What does “more rigorous” mean?
 The questions are more complex and require more thinking.
 What is most important for a student to learn in a grade level
will have more questions on the test.
 The test will be longer.
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4th Grade
Things That You Want Your Children to
Say
 “This work is hard.”
 “That teacher really makes me think.”
 “It is really hard in Ms. Jones class.”
It is really a good thing for a child to come home
and say, “Mrs. Jones is one great teacher mom.
Nothing is difficult in her class.”
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Bibliography
 Dr. Ervin Knezek, SIRC Training 2011
 www.lead4ward.com
 Lynn Erickson -- Concept-Based Curriculum and Instruction for the
Thinking Classroom, 2007