Now that school is underway the blog has slowed down a little - down from the peak of 446 page views last Thursday. So where do we go from here?
Within the next two months there will be a public meeting for the Superintendent to lay our his plans for the coming year. The meeting usually has low attendance, but hopefully parents will be more involved this year.
There has also been a move to renew the charter on the AGATE chapter in Conway. Many other districts have an involved parent group who help the district with issues related to the Gifted and Talented programs. As I understand it there are many roles in the AGATE parent groups which allow you to be as involved as you want to be. Maybe someone with experience in that area can comment on the next steps.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Log Cabin Democrat article
There was an article in the Log Cabin Democrat today about the changes in the GT programs this year.
Middle School GT
This blog can serve as an ongoing source of information on a number of education-related topics throughout the year.
Some of the comments in other threads have been referring to problems at Bob Courtway and Carl Stuart so let's carry on a discussion of those issues here.
Some of the comments in other threads have been referring to problems at Bob Courtway and Carl Stuart so let's carry on a discussion of those issues here.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Follow up questions about the adjustments **Link Fixed **
A letter was sent to Dr Murry this afternoon thanking him for the adjustments which he has agreed to make to the GT programs. The text of the letter is available here.
Today's letter includes a few questions clarifying some of the changes. Dr Murry has already sent an email in response:
Today's letter includes a few questions clarifying some of the changes. Dr Murry has already sent an email in response:
Thank you for your correspondence. I am asking Donna [Whiting] to respond to your questions as she will be able to give more technically correct answers. It may take a few days for her to respond as she is working intently on the details of the changes at our intermediate schools.
I appreciate your courtesy and professionalism about this particular matter and look forward to talking with you again in the future.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Ruth Doyle Open House **Updated**
Ruth Doyle has an open house scheduled Thursday the 23rd from 6:00 - 7:30. This will be a great chance to meet all your child's teachers.
I do not see an open house listed yet on Simon's website. If anyone knows when it will be please leave a comment.
**Update** The Simon Intermediate Open House and General PTO meeting will be held Thursday August 30 at 6 pm
I do not see an open house listed yet on Simon's website. If anyone knows when it will be please leave a comment.
**Update** The Simon Intermediate Open House and General PTO meeting will be held Thursday August 30 at 6 pm
Response from the Conway Schools Superintendent
Here is the response we received from the Superintendent after our meeting Monday, as an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file. (You will link to a server I run at UCA, don't worry about it.) Feel free to comment on it.
Letter
Letter
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Followup letter to Monday's meeting
I sent the following letter to Dr. Murry (Superintendent) after Monday's meeting:
Dr. Murry,
Thank you again for meeting with us tonight about the situation for advanced students in the Intermediate schools. Upon reflecting on the meeting after I arrived home, I realized that one point which I needed to make as a representative of the parents of fifth graders at Thursday's meeting was not made strongly, and I wish to expand upon that in this letter. Unfortunately, sometimes I tend to think slowly, and words often only often come to me on a matter after percolating a while.
The rest of the parents at tonight's meeting have children who are sixth graders at Simon Intermediate. I was the only parent of a fifth grader [CORRECTION: there were actually three fifth-grade parents there, but the majority of parents still had sixth-grade children], and the only one whose child is at Ruth Doyle. As such, practically the whole conversation concerned Simon sixth graders, and what their parents see as missing from their sixth grade experience. However, as a parent of a fifth grader, my son does not even get to have this year the experience of being in a classroom of advanced students, except for one period daily in GT/reading class. Instead of the possibility of as many as six periods where he could be stimulated by being in a classroom of advanced students, or even four, we're now down to one. This situation exists at both intermediate schools.
I understand that in the GT/reading class at Ruth Doyle this year the curriculum material will be covered in five or six weeks, and the students will have three to four weeks to investigate a topic of their choosing in depth, which I do appreciate. I and the other parents of fifth graders who were at the Thursday meeting would greatly like to see this model expanded to encompass more classes in the school day, as it will certainly increase enthusiasm for learning.
At the meeting, Mrs. Woosley said that in a heterogeneous class the teacher will extend the lesson for the better students and make accommodations for those who need them. This is good in theory, and, to be fair, in practice for most students, probably 75% or even 90% of the range of abilities you are likely to find in a typical class. But you are not going to be able to address that upper ten percent without making some kind of adjustment. Either the class must be made more homogeneous (i.e., advanced students) or more resources must be thrown at the situation (i.e., a second teacher) because maximizing the potential of the advanced student takes every bit as much work as accommodating the disadvantaged/disabled student. Using computer technology to cover subjects which outpace the class might come to mind, but this isolates the student from the class socially and gives him or her no frame of reference by which to judge true progress. I have seen both of these happen in students about this age, and it can truly sour the experience.
As you are considering what can and should be done for the sixth graders this year, please do not forget the fifth graders. Thank you for your help.
Dr. Murry,
Thank you again for meeting with us tonight about the situation for advanced students in the Intermediate schools. Upon reflecting on the meeting after I arrived home, I realized that one point which I needed to make as a representative of the parents of fifth graders at Thursday's meeting was not made strongly, and I wish to expand upon that in this letter. Unfortunately, sometimes I tend to think slowly, and words often only often come to me on a matter after percolating a while.
The rest of the parents at tonight's meeting have children who are sixth graders at Simon Intermediate. I was the only parent of a fifth grader [CORRECTION: there were actually three fifth-grade parents there, but the majority of parents still had sixth-grade children], and the only one whose child is at Ruth Doyle. As such, practically the whole conversation concerned Simon sixth graders, and what their parents see as missing from their sixth grade experience. However, as a parent of a fifth grader, my son does not even get to have this year the experience of being in a classroom of advanced students, except for one period daily in GT/reading class. Instead of the possibility of as many as six periods where he could be stimulated by being in a classroom of advanced students, or even four, we're now down to one. This situation exists at both intermediate schools.
I understand that in the GT/reading class at Ruth Doyle this year the curriculum material will be covered in five or six weeks, and the students will have three to four weeks to investigate a topic of their choosing in depth, which I do appreciate. I and the other parents of fifth graders who were at the Thursday meeting would greatly like to see this model expanded to encompass more classes in the school day, as it will certainly increase enthusiasm for learning.
At the meeting, Mrs. Woosley said that in a heterogeneous class the teacher will extend the lesson for the better students and make accommodations for those who need them. This is good in theory, and, to be fair, in practice for most students, probably 75% or even 90% of the range of abilities you are likely to find in a typical class. But you are not going to be able to address that upper ten percent without making some kind of adjustment. Either the class must be made more homogeneous (i.e., advanced students) or more resources must be thrown at the situation (i.e., a second teacher) because maximizing the potential of the advanced student takes every bit as much work as accommodating the disadvantaged/disabled student. Using computer technology to cover subjects which outpace the class might come to mind, but this isolates the student from the class socially and gives him or her no frame of reference by which to judge true progress. I have seen both of these happen in students about this age, and it can truly sour the experience.
As you are considering what can and should be done for the sixth graders this year, please do not forget the fifth graders. Thank you for your help.
Report of Monday night meeting
We wanted to let everyone know that this [Monday] evening the Committee on Behalf of Concerned Simon and Doyle Parents met with Greg Murry, the new superintendent of Conway schools, at the Conway Schools Administration Building. The interaction was mostly between ourselves and Mr. Murry, but also attending-and contributing to the discussion-were Ms. Whiting (GT coordinator) and Peggy Woosley (Curriculum director) as well as the principals of both Simon and Doyle schools, and the coordinator of
Special Services for Conway schools. The committee politely but forcefully reiterated our concern regarding the reduction in accelerated classes for the 2007-08 year, stressing to Mr. Murry the benefits of
having high achieving students together in the same classroom and our concerns that by eliminating so many accelerated classes incoming students to Simon and Doyle will not have the same experience that
similar students last year did. Mr. Murry emphasized to the committee his desire to make the Conway school system second to none. He mostly listened but did give Ms. Woosley and Ms. Whiting plenty of time to
explain wide-ranging changes being made to the curriculum across the board in the Conway school system, changes that affect both GT and non-GT students. According to Ms. Woosley, these changes will enhance
academic rigor across the board. The committee appreciated the amount of thought and effort that Ms. Woosley, Ms. Whiting, and others had put into the reformed curriculum but remained unconvinced that the
improvements aimed for had to come at the expense of accelerated courses in the fifth and sixth grade level. It was the opinion of the committee that these two concerns could and should go hand in hand. For
many moments during the meeting, Mr. Murray appeared less than willing to accept our arguments. However, when Ken Spatz explained that we needed some kind of answer that we could relay to the parents we
represent, Mr. Murray indicated that he would meet tomorrow morning with Ms. Whiting, Ms. Woosley, and the rest to determine what kind of accommodations could be made. He indicated that he would email
Stephanie tomorrow late morning or afternoon about their decision. Once Stephanie hears from Mr. Murray she will pass along the news.
Special Services for Conway schools. The committee politely but forcefully reiterated our concern regarding the reduction in accelerated classes for the 2007-08 year, stressing to Mr. Murry the benefits of
having high achieving students together in the same classroom and our concerns that by eliminating so many accelerated classes incoming students to Simon and Doyle will not have the same experience that
similar students last year did. Mr. Murry emphasized to the committee his desire to make the Conway school system second to none. He mostly listened but did give Ms. Woosley and Ms. Whiting plenty of time to
explain wide-ranging changes being made to the curriculum across the board in the Conway school system, changes that affect both GT and non-GT students. According to Ms. Woosley, these changes will enhance
academic rigor across the board. The committee appreciated the amount of thought and effort that Ms. Woosley, Ms. Whiting, and others had put into the reformed curriculum but remained unconvinced that the
improvements aimed for had to come at the expense of accelerated courses in the fifth and sixth grade level. It was the opinion of the committee that these two concerns could and should go hand in hand. For
many moments during the meeting, Mr. Murray appeared less than willing to accept our arguments. However, when Ken Spatz explained that we needed some kind of answer that we could relay to the parents we
represent, Mr. Murray indicated that he would meet tomorrow morning with Ms. Whiting, Ms. Woosley, and the rest to determine what kind of accommodations could be made. He indicated that he would email
Stephanie tomorrow late morning or afternoon about their decision. Once Stephanie hears from Mr. Murray she will pass along the news.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Changes to 5th and 6th grade GT and pre-AP
There is currently a representative committee of parents who will be meeting with superintendent Murry to discuss this year's changes in the 5th and 6th grade GT and pre-AP curriculum. As soon as the meeting time is confirmed we will update this item.
UPDATE: Mr Murry and Mrs Whiting, director of Gifted and Talented programs, are scheduled to meet with the comittee this evening at 6 pm.
UPDATE: Mr Murry and Mrs Whiting, director of Gifted and Talented programs, are scheduled to meet with the comittee this evening at 6 pm.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Favorite education websites
What are your favorite education-related websites ? I'll be glad to share the links by adding them here for everyone's enjoyment.
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