AIMSWeb

SESI is implementing the use of AIMSWeb to improve the delivery of data driven instruction at the classroom level. Teachers and administrators will be able to effectively monitor learning in meaningful ways that allow target monitoring of student learning strengths and weaknesses.  AIMSWeb is a benchmark and progress monitoring system based on direct, frequent and continuous assessment.  The results are reported via a web-based data management and reporting system.


Burk’s Behavior Rating Scale

SESI will now be implementing Burk’s Behavior Rating Scale as an aid to diagnose behavioral problems in students, grades 1-9.  This manually scored assessment will be administered by trained professionals to identify the nature and severity of behaviors that interfere with school functioning.  The data can be used to pinpoint areas that may need further evaluation or treatment and provide parents with information that is specific, concrete, and easy to understand. 


iPads

SESI is committed to meeting the needs of today’s digital learners.  Select classrooms in school sites in California, Maryland, Washington DC, Connecticut, and Rhode Island will be equipped with iPad technology.  Using free and affordably priced applications from developers such as Pearson Education and Montessorium, students will focus on improving grammar, writing, reading, and math computation skills.  Leaning content for grades K-12 will be provided daily in the classroom setting.

Switching The Channel: TV For Learning

The data makes one thing clear, today’s child is media savvy and consumes large amounts of TV on a daily basis- 28 hours a week to be exact for preteens. Preschoolers ages 2-5 beat even this number as they average 32.5 hours a week infront of the TV. 

What we can do as parents is ensure that at least some of that “tube time” is centered on educational content that will enrich and enforce the lessons and material that students are covering at school.  Television provides a tremendous portal that allows students to discover the world around them, come in contact with diverse people groups and life styles beyond their local communities, and provides them access to “experts” in many different fields that they might not have contact with in any other realm.

For more information about data on the amount of TV that children watch go to:
http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/tv-viewing-among-kids-at-an-eight-year-high/print/

The following list of network shows have some excellent options that can support your efforts as a parent to steer the tide of media beyond the shores of entertainment and into the sea of learning experience.
         

LIST OF TV NETWORKS FOR LEARNING

PBS is a dynamic source for educational programming.  A history of learning achievement gains with a eye for fresh ideas that kids love, PBS shows lead the way for TV learning.



Sesame Street still captivates young audiences.  The show introduces numbers and letters in a colorful format with lots of songs and stories. While teaching important principles for social skills and local community interaction from a child’s point of view.

Cyberchase is a show for children ages 6-12 that teaches discrete math.  The series takes place in Cyberspace, where Matt, Jackie, and Digit use problem-solving skills while going on "quests".

Biz Kid$, created by the producers of Bill Nye the Science Guy, is excellent for a preteen audience.  This educational show teaches financial education and entrepreneurship.

In the Mix is a show for teens that is created by teens.  Each weekly episode focuses on topics and issues that teens can relate to.

Between the Lions is a puppet show for kids, ages 4-7, that promotes reading.  Each episode features a letter and sound.

NatGeo Channel
National Geographic is still home for the best animal, nature, science, and history content.  Many shows are geared toward young audiences, but families can also enjoy some of the wildlife programming.

Really Wild Animals was created in the 90's, but still airs on NatGeo.  This series describes the wildlife that lives on each continent and features stunning photography and cinematography.

Wild Detectives is best suited for children aged 6-12.  This series provides info on a given animal, and the audience has to figure out what animal is being featured in each episode. 

Are We There Yet? is a worldly adventure show that features real-life siblings exploring the world.  Each set of siblings visits exotic locations, such as France, Japan, Mexico, and Germany.
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies is an animated series that airs on both NatGeo and PBS Kids.  Vanessa Williams lends her voice as Mama Mirabelle, who shows her "home movies" of wildlife footage from her African travels.

Toot and Puddle is an animated show for very young children.  The series follows two pigs- Toot, who loves to travel and see the world, and Puddle, who enjoys finding adventures around his home.



Animal Planet
Animal Planet channel was created in 1996 as a channel devoted solely to nature and wildlife.  Most of the shows on AP are suitable for all audiences.

Meercat Manor and Orangatan Island are very popular documentary series that air on AP.  This show features a combination of footage of the animals in their habitats with dramatic narration.



Life is a documentary series that aired for the first time in 2009.  This series takes a global view of behaviors that living things have developed to survive.

Dogs 101 and Cats 101 are informational shows that feature a specific dog or cat breed each week.  Containing advice from experts, such as veterinarians and trainers, kids will learn a lot about the characteristics of various breeds.
 


The Hub
Formerly Discovery Kids, The Hub just launched in October of 2010.  Some special programming includes HubBub, which is a programming block for preschoolers, and Family Prime Time, for families.  Some of the show on The Hub are excellent for both children and their families:



Grossology is an animated series that follows a brother-sister crime fighting team.  Each episode follows the pair on adventures that are based on actual "gross" scientific facts.



The Future is Wild is a seven-part documentary series for young adults and adults.  Originally produced by Animal Planet, the series shows how life could evolve if humans became extinct.

Adventure Camp is a reality show that gives eight kids the opportunity to be Jr. zookeepers at Sea World.  The kids and the audience learn about fish, birds, and marine mammals.

Timeblazers is a show about Sam and Jen, two globetrotters who travel through the ages. The learn about history and explore castles with moats and caves with hieroglyphics.

Family Game Night is part fun and part strategy.  This one-hour game show features some classic Hasbro games, like Connect 4 and some newer ones, like Cranium.  This show is fun for everyone in the family!

Discovery Channel
The Discovery Channel is still the home to some remarkable science and history TV.  There are great choices for adults, young adults, and even very young children.  Many award-winning documentaries and series originated on the Discovery Channel.

Planet Earth is a groundbreaking documentary series that shows never-before-seen animal behaviors and startling views of the world.  Sigourney Weaver narrates this award-winning series that took the filmmakers over five years to create.

Into The Universe with Stephen Hawking  is a 2010 documentary made by the brilliant physicist, Stephen Hawking.  In this ultimate guide to the Universe, Hawking uses computer animation to show us the heavens.

Prehistoric is a series that uses computer animation and narration to teach us about prehistoric times.  This series takes us back to the days of the dinosaurs.

Shark Week is a fan favorite.  During Shark Week, viewers can watch nightly shows that capture the danger and beauty of sharks.



How It's Made was originally was created for the Science Channel, but is aired on the Discovery Channel.  This show is a must-see for anyone who wonders how everyday objects are made.  The series shows us how razors, hangers, needles, and even Nascar engines are made.

Programming in creative, inspiring, learning based TV into your child’s media diet is a creative and fun way to generate interest in the world around them while giving them background regarding the topics that they will likely encounter in the classroom.

Using Social Media in the Classroom

Facebook and Twitter and other sites like them have revolutionized the way that we communicate and stay connected with our circle of friends, acquaintances, and family .  The newest cars even now have voice activated upgrade devices to allow us to post instantly to these sites!!  What about uses for these tools in the most important impact environment of all, the classroom? !?!

Using social media is the way that today’s child things so meet them where they are with some of the fun and creative ways to stimulate learning encounters using these sites.  Here are ten ways to use social media to create exciting lessons to get you started on this today!

1.  After watching a movie, have the class use iPads to create a class blog about the film.  Students can update the blog and have great online discussions.


 
2.  Use Skype to attend a far-away field trip or listen to a guest speaker on a subject you are studying in class.  Students can prepare questions for the guest speaker.


 
3.  Make literature real by having the students create a facebook page about a character from literature.  They can create a "profile" and update the character's "status".


 
4.  Make literature come to life by having students tweet imagined conversations between two characters or historical figures. Romeo and Juliet can tweet each other, or have Sherlock Holmes and Watson tweet about solving a mystery.


 
5.  Create a twitter treasure hunt by tweeting clues to the class.  The kids will love searching for clues and finding the "treasure". You can even use the GPS app on iPads to search!


 
6.  Students can attend a college lecture on a college campus from your classroom.  You can stream the lecture or use Skype.

7.  Students can follow famous people using twitter.  Most authors and politicians, including Barack Obama, use twitter.

8.  Teachers and students can be available to answer questions and discuss assignments by creating  a class facebook page or twitter feed.  This can also be a way to post assignments and due dates.  Classroom websites are also a great idea!!

9.  Students can follow current events using a facebook group like World News Webcast. Many legitimate news groups have facebook pages that provide video clips of events unfolding.
10.  Use polls as an interactive teaching tool.  Try the Poll app for facebook or PollDaddy on twitter.


 
For more information on students as digital learners, check out these YouTube links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFKfXiCbLw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYcWq_GYEN0&playnext=1&list=PLB63F2718EC7B4CD8

Who Has The Answer?! The Internet Does!!!

The internet is a amazing tool for research, when used correctly.  Below are ten tips for researching online safely and effectively and some ways to have fun while using it to complete homework or class projects with easy.
If you prefer to learn while watching- here are two great YouTube videos on learning to use the internet to get your assignments and homework done with ease:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-2hziLTSyU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMshqY69TA

10 TIPS TO BETTER INTERNET RESEARCH

1.  Start with Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a good starting point because it provides an overview of the topic.  However, don't cite it as a source because it is not reliable.  Search for other sources based on Wikipedia's summary.

2.  Use a Search Engine
Yahoo, Bing, and Google are the best choices for conducting research.  Try using Google Scholar to locate scholarly articles and papers.

3.  Understand the Difference between Scholarly and Popular Articles
It is important to know when to use types of articles.  You should use scholarly articles to find cutting-edge research.  Use popular articles, such as those found in newspapers and magazines, to find out what the public thinks about a topic.

4.  Use Caution When Using Blogs and Other Public Forums
Blogs might provide information, but are usually not reliable sources for accurate information.

5.  Explore Online Databases
Some online databases, like EBSCOhost and ProQuest have free trial offers.  If you plan on doing many research projects, it might be worthwhile to subscribe to an online database.

6.  Use Effective Search Terms
When doing an online search, use specific words to find the exact material you need.  Using quotation marks around the search term will help you find pages that contain only that exact text.

7.  Utilize Bibliographies
After you have found a good online source, read the bibliography that follows.  This can help you find more sources to use for your research.
 


8.  Phrase Your Topic As a Question
By phrasing your topic as a question, you might find answers to the question.  Some search question, like ask.com, work only with questions.


 
9.  Only Use Sources That List an Author
It is easier to validate information that lists an author.  If one is named, find that author's web page to see if he or she is employed by a university or research facility.

10.  Check URL Endings
If a site ends in .edu,  it is probably from an education institution.  If one ends in in .gov, it is probably from a reliable government website.  Sites ending in .org are tricky because they are usually from a non-profit organization, which may or may not be a reliable source.

For more information on finding suitable research sources, view these YouTube links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-2hziLTSyU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMshqY69TA

Introduction

During the next two school years SESI will be renewing its commitment to improve student success in the areas of math and science. In keeping step with the national agenda of our nation to improve student performance in these key areas we will be implementing two powerful instructional interventions in our schools, Saxon Math for middle and high school grades in a majority of our school programs and the addition of Key Math 3 to solidify an assessment based approach to remedial math instruction. 

Saxon Math*

Saxon Math is one of the nation's most thoroughly researched core mathematics programs for grades K–12. Saxon's unique pedagogical approach based on instruction, practice, and assessment distributed across grade levels incorporates more than 25 years of research and classroom experience.

Saxon products and programs have a proven record of success in every type of setting - urban, suburban, rural, public, private, charter, and parochial. The success of the Saxon curriculum can be attributed to the programs distinct, effective, and research-based pedagogy, which helps students develop a deeper understanding of concepts and how to apply them. Saxon's innovative, instructional approach breaks complex concepts into simpler increments, recognizing that smaller pieces of information are easier to teach and easier to learn. The instruction, practice, and assessment of those increments are systematically distributed across a grade level. The distributed approach ensures that students gain and retain critical thinking concepts and use them in real-world situations.

Saxon Math is the ONLY major math program in today’s market that distributes instruction and practice across the academic year, instead of concentrating related concepts into individual chapters to be taught over a short window of time. This fact alone makes it the natural choice for students with disabilities as it allows them to practice previous skills taught over time naturally and within the course of their daily instruction.

The US Department of Education has published a highly favorable report on the effectiveness of Saxon Math at the middle grades. Please access this at the indicated link below:

US Department of Education: What Works Clearing House Review of Saxon Math
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/pdf/WWC_Saxon_Math_Middle_040907.pdf

Additional information about Saxon Math as well as research reports on its effectiveness can be found at: http://saxonpublishers.hmhco.com

*information used to describe Saxon Math from Saxon Math’s official websitehttp://saxonpublishers.hmhco.com

Key Math 3*

The Key Math 3 Diagnostic Assessment is a comprehensive, norm-referenced measure of essential mathematical concepts and skills.   The test is designed to access the understanding and application of critical math concepts and skills from counting through algebra.  The five basic concepts subtests parallel the five content standards of the National Council of Teacher’s of Mathematics (NCTM).  Similar to the NCTM Focal Points, the content of the basic concepts subtests represents a carefully selected set of concepts and skills at each grade level that form the foundation for mathematics learning and connections across subtests.

The subtests assess a student’s ability to apply conceptual knowledge and operational skills to solve math problems.  Student’s ability to solve problems is real-world contexts is also assessed as well as their skill and ability in the use of standard and non-standard problem solving strategies.

The KeyMath 3 DA provides a means of monitoring an individual’s progress over time. Growth scale values (GSVs), a type of developmental scale score, enable users to accurately measure progress across the full range of math concepts and skills.

*Information in the summary was taken from the official Key Math website at www.pearsonassessments.com

Learning Network Page

Click here for Presentation

The presentation, Using ipad Technology to Apply the Principals of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to Reading and math Instruction for Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, was presented by Autumn Kelley, Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Adrian Pellew, Director of  Information Technology (IT) on November 5th, 2010 at the International Child and Adolescent Conference IV for the Council for Exceptional Children's (CEC) division for behavioral youth.   The location of the conference was Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
          The link to the division's website is http://www.behavioralinstitute.org/.  At a later date, the presentation materials and handouts will be posted to this site.  A link will be provided when this update occurs. 

District Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QYLR3ZR

Parent Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QD5NDHW