One State, Many Literacies, No State Tests Building a State System of Local Assessments

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One State,Many Literacies,No State
Tests!Building a State System of Local
Assessments
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Doug ChristensenCommissionerNebraskaDepartment
of Education
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Kim LarsonDirector, Reading/Writing
EducationNebraskaDepartment of Education
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S.T.A.R.S.

• S

chool-based
T
eacher-led
A
ssessment and
R
eporting
S
ystem
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STARSA State LevelSystem of Support
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Purpose of School Improvement Planning
District Goals
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STARSA State Level System of Support

• Where did we begin?
• Heartland Community SchoolsHenderson, NE

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Professional Development

• Developing expertise at every level

Scott Middle SchoolLincoln, NE
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STARSImpacts Learning
Papillion LaVista School District
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Because of S.T.A.R.Swe believe in NCLB

• Nebraska ChildrenLearn Best

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Jef JohnstonAssistant SuperintendentPapillion
LaVistaPublic Schools
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It takes 3-6 years to change student performance
if
there are active teams who meet regularly, who
focus on student work through assessment, and
change instructional practice. -Michael
Fullan
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We believe in the power of teams.
Throughout our ten-year study, whenever we found
an effective school or an effective department
within a school, without exception, that school
or department has been part of a professional
learning community. Milbrey
McLaughlin

• We provided time in the calendar
• We provided time for teams to meet

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Classroom Goal TeamsTeams meet monthly on Staff
Development Days

• Analyze classroom data
• Identify strengths andweaknesses
• Set an instructional goal
• Develop instructional strategies
• Implement instructionalstrategies in the
  classroom
• Monitor student learning

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Grade Level/Department TeamsTeams meet weekly
during the school day

• Look at student work
• Identify studentsnot reaching potential
• Identify studentsreaching potential
• Share instructional strategies
• Expand professional learning

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Training Teams

• Training of trainers model
• Topics from district data

• Topics from best practices literature
• Strategies discussed at team meetings

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Professional learningmust improve student
learning.
You cant improve learning unless you improve
teaching.
As a writing teacher, I feel like I am only
getting better. I credited a lot of that to my
involvement in NeWP.
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Nebraska Writing Project
Writing Action Plan Training
P-LV Writing Institute
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Suzanne Ratzlaff4th Grade TeacherHeartlandComm
unity Schools
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Spoon Your Way to Educational Energy

• Do you feel tired, run down . . .too exhausted to
  start another school day?

• Are you lacking that enthusiasm you used to have
  when you began the teaching profession?

• Are you just too pooped to prepare lesson plans
  for your principal?

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What you need is
NCLB
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Spoon Your Way to Educational Energy

• Do you feel insulted by teachers manuals that
  script, word-for-word, what you are to say to
  your students?

• Are you sick and tired of your teaching skills
  being stifled from limited and controlled
  curriculum instruction?

• Have you become angry that your self-worth as an
  educator is dependent upon your students
  performance on one single test?

• Does your heart ache for what has happened to
  education?

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What YouREALLY Need Is . . .

• STARS
• THE NEBRASKA WAY!

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Pioneers

• The vision
• Wrong road
• Side tracked
• Final destination

INCREASE STUDENT LEARNING
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STATE STANDARD
What children must know and be able to
do (Unpacking)
CREATE ASSESSMENT
TEACH TO THE ASSESSMENT
ASSESS
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ASSESS
DESIGN ASSESSMENTS
LOOK FOR THE STANDARDS
SUCCESSFUL, SELF-MOTIVATING AUTHENTIC
LEARNING PROJECTS
STANDARDS STANDARDS
STANDARDS
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WHAT DOES MY CLASSROM LOOK LIKE?
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Plainsman Museum
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Marie Ratzlaff Prarie A Different Place A
Different Time
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Grave RubbingsFarmer's Valley Cemetery
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Welcome to the Fourth Grade PlayBRINGING THE
PAST ALIVE
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Tornado StoriesFrom Nebraska and Beyond
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September 11thMercy Band Bracelets
History Links Us Together
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Research Projects

• Practically Predictable

• Stories of Nebraska

• Personal Research

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The foundation of who we are
is rooted in stories."
Ron Guengerich
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If you don't know where you are, you don't
know who you are."
Wendell Berry
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Personal ResearchGrandpa's Stories
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Immigrant House MuseumStories Told Through
Technology
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Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park
Epp Barn
Fourth Graders Just Love the Epp Barn
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If Barns Could Talk Book
Signing
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Would you write a book for us?
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OUR BEST SELLER
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Consequences ofHigh Stake Testing
When the test defines what knowledge is of worth,
the tendency is to emphasize that knowledge and
de-emphasize all other knowledge. This results
in a narrowing of what students learn.
Dr. Miles BryantProfessorUniversity of
Nebraska-Lincoln
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Data from the classroom (point of activity)
tends to create change by informing the
engagement of the key players. Data from the
classroom empowers.
Dr. Doug Christensen
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There is no discipline in information.
Some of the best informed men I have met could
not reason at all.
Woodrow Wilson
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We must constantly remind ourselves that the
ultimate purpose of evaluation is to ENABLE
STUDENTS TO EVALUATE THEMSELVES
Arthur Costa 1989
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FARMERS VALLEY CEMETERY

• Established in 1876
• Located in Hamilton County, near Henderson,
  Nebraska
• Resting place for over 160 people
• Nebraska State Historical Marker site

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Where is the standardized test that can measure .
. .
Tom McKenna, Educator
Portland, Oregon
NEA Today, March 2003

• Passion for learning
• Respect for others
• Human empathy

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FARMERS' VALLEY CEMETERY
Picnic Time
History Links Us Together
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Chris GallagherAssociate Professor of
EnglishCoordinator of CompositionUniversity of
Nebraska