Kentucky Teacher

By Matthew Tungate
matthew.tungate@education.ky.gov

Kentucky Board of Education member Judy Gibbons speaks during the October KBE meeting. Photo by Amy Wallot, Oct. 5, 2011

Acknowledging concerns among state lawmakers and school superintendents, the Kentucky Board of Education agreed last week to delay implementing a proposed world language Program Review until the 2014-15 school year.

The two year-delay means the world language Program Review won’t be included for school or district accountability until the 2015-16 school year.

At its August meeting , the board finalized the structure of Kentucky’s accountability system – Unbridled Learning: College and Career Ready for All – that includes five Program Reviews. Rather than testing students to see what they have learned, Program Reviews require schools to gather evidence about how they integrate subjects across curricula and provide students with high-quality learning opportunities. The schools then use the information to improve programs. Continue Reading

By Susan Riddell
susan.riddell@education.ky.gov

Kim Mooney helps kindergarten student Angel Bellar with an assignment about the five senses during class at Chandler's Elementary School (Logan County). Photo by Amy Wallot, Sept. 8, 2011

Fairy tales and other literary fiction are commonly used to introduce young students to reading.

But those types of texts are not always the best way to teach children about the natural world — a point reinforced for kindergarten teacher Kim Mooney during a recent lesson on the five senses.

“We were listing our five senses and the body parts. A little boy said he could hear with his mouth. I asked him to explain, and he just looked at me confused,” said Mooney, who teaches at Chandler’s Elementary School (Logan County). “Before students catch on to what is real and what is make believe concept, it is funny to hear what they think can really happen and what can’t.” Continue Reading