Kentucky Teacher

Kentucky State University’s School of Education has been awarded a grant from the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development (CCLD) to offer high-quality professional development opportunities that focus on the literacy development of students in grades 6-12. More specifically, the grant activities will provide information, resources and instructional strategies related to the teaching and assessment of literacy (Common Core Standards for English/language arts) when working with diverse students.

Grant participants will be expected to:

• complete four to five online course modules
• attend two online webinars
• attend a two-week summer academy (hybrid model consisting online and face-to-face training) in July 2012
• complete an individual literacy project with a diverse student in his/her classroom
• participate in a “fair share” with other CCLD grant participants across the state Read the full story

The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) has kicked off its second-annual “Capture the Earth” middle school digital photography contest for all Kentucky students in grades 6-8.

This year’s competition centers on the state’s 2012 Earth Day theme of “Celebrating Kentucky’s Forests,” in recognition of the 100^th anniversary of the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

The “Capture the Earth” photo contest is open to all Kentucky middle school students. Judges will look for originality and creativity, photo composition, and how well the photo represents the Earth Day theme of “Celebrating Kentucky’s Forests.”

Students should include a brief paragraph explaining the photo and how it represents Kentucky’s Earth Day theme of “Celebrating Kentucky’s Forests.” 

Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters asked students to be creative and to keep in mind that forestry is more than just trees.

“Kentuckians benefit from forests in numerous ways: forests provide clean air and water, and jobs making products from our timber resources and in caring for our forests to ensure their health and sustainability,” Peters said. “Students need to keep in mind that cities have ‘urban forests’ that provide a canopy for our city streets and downtown businesses. So there are many possibilities for taking creative photographs that show the story of Kentucky’s forests. Students in every area of Kentucky can participate.” Read the full story

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday talks with sophomore Alex Kearns about his future college and career plans during Operation Preparation at Gallatin County High School. Kearns is interested in a science-related field. Photo by Amy Wallot, March 15, 2012

Gallatin County High School sophomore Brooke Dossett enjoys playing basketball and has hopes of a career in sports medicine one day. She is already taking an anatomy class with that in mind.

It never occurred to her, however, that a psychology class also might come in handy or that she might want to look into volunteering at her local YMCA.

“I hadn’t made those connections before, but when Mr. (Terry) Holliday made those suggestions, I knew it was good advice,” Dossett said.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday was one of numerous community volunteer advisors who spent time last week sharing college and career advice to 8th- and 10th-grade students during Operation Preparation.

The voluntary, statewide program was a joint effort of Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and the Department for Workforce Development.

“We want to help students realize their potential, maximize their academic preparation and stay on track for success during and after high school,” Holliday said.

College/career-readiness is one of the measures on which schools and districts will be judged as part of the state’s new Unbridled Learning: College/Career-Readiness for All assessment and accountability system.

College and career plans for each student are identified in their Individual Learning Plans (ILPs). Read the full story

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

First-grade teacher Stephanie Maynard helps a group of Jefferson County Traditional Middle School students find new reading partners at Cochran Elementary School (Jefferson County). The middle school students wrote and illustrated their own books which they later read aloud to Cochran elementary students. Photo by Justin Willis, March 6, 2012

Students in Willetta Stephens’ 2nd-grade class at Cochran Elementary School (Jefferson County) received a special treat last week when hundreds of children’s book authors visited their school.

Before the authors arrived, Stephens told the students they would be “amazed” at the books the authors were bringing.

The 25-year teaching veteran asked her students to pay special attention to the setting in the books and to ask questions about the writing process. She also told them the authors had rewritten their books several times – a sticking point with 2nd graders who don’t believe in the “good writing is rewriting” adage.

When the authors arrived, most were able to read one-on-one with students in Stephens’ class as well as students in other classrooms.

That’s because the authors were 138 7th graders in Donna Duvall’s English/language arts classes at Jefferson County Traditional Middle School (JCTMS). All of the middle school students had written and illustrated books for 5- to 8-year-olds. Their visit to Cochran was the culmination of their project.

This is the second year Duvall’s 7th graders have written and illustrate children’s books to read at Cochran Elementary. The 17-year teaching veteran said she wanted to give her students an opportunity to write for a “real” audience. Read the full story

Next week, students across Kentucky will be getting advice on what they can do academically to prepare for college or career as part of Operation Preparation.

Gov. Steve Beshear has issued a proclamation declaring March 12-16 as Operation Preparation College and Career Advising Week.

During Operation Preparation, 8th- and 10th-grade students are scheduled to meet with trained community advisors to review their college and career plans as identified in their Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) and talk about:

• career aspirations and required education/training
• whether the student is on target to meet his or her goals
• whether the student is taking the courses recommended to prepare him or her for the future

“We want to help students realize their potential, maximize their academic preparation and stay on track for success during and after high school,” said Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday.

College/career-readiness is one of the measures on which schools and districts will be judged as part of the state’s new Unbridled Learning: College/Career-Readiness for All assessment and accountability system. Read the full story

Middle and high school teachers can attend a workshop that focuses on economics March 29, 4 to 7 p.m., at Murray State University.

Free materials and training regarding curriculum aligned with the national and state standards (Kentucky Core Content for Assessment and the Kentucky Program of Studies) as it relates to economics and practical living will be available. Registration ends March 29. Click here for more information.

To register, call (270) 809-4277, e-mail msu.econed@murraystate.edu or register online.

Kentucky’s 8th- and 10th-grade public school students made slight gains in nearly all subject areas on EXPLORE and PLAN assessments administered in the fall of 2011.

In all, 49,310 8th-grade Kentucky students in 325 public schools took the EXPLORE assessment, and 48,955 10th-grade Kentucky students in 230 public schools took the PLAN assessment.

Unlike most other states, all of Kentucky’s 8th- and 10th-grade public school students participate in EXPLORE and PLAN assessments.

ACT, Inc. developed College Readiness Benchmarks in English, mathematics, science and reading and applied those to the EXPLORE and PLAN scores. The benchmarks indicate the degree of college readiness of 8th and 10th graders.

On both the EXPLORE and PLAN assessments, the percentages of Kentucky students meeting benchmarks in English and Reading increased from 2010 to 2011. On PLAN, the percentage of Kentucky students meeting benchmarks in Science also increased from 2010 to 2011

Administration of the EXPLORE, PLAN and ACT assessments, which are provided by ACT, Inc., was mandated by Senate Bill 130 in the 2006 session of the Kentucky General Assembly. The assessments will help schools focus on meeting academic standards across the entire secondary school program. Scores from the assessments will be helpful in measuring student achievement, gauging their readiness for transition and evaluating school programs. Read the full story

Editor’s note: Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), enacted in the 2009 Kentucky General Assembly, requires a new public school assessment program beginning in the 2011-2012 school year. Kentucky Teacher is doing a series of stories explaining the Unbridled Learning: College/Career Readiness for All assessment and accountability system this month. This article focuses on middle school assessment. Future stories will focus on high school assessment and accountability. The system is subject to United States Education Department approval and may be changed prior to adoption.

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

Cole Kaminski reads "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen during Julie Wadlington's 6th-grade reading class at Lyon County Middle School. Waslington tests the students after every two chapters for reading comprehension. Photo by Amy Wallot, Nov. 15, 2011

Kentucky’s previous assessment and accountability system was based on the idea of getting students, schools and districts to “proficiency.” But proficiency was an abstract concept, Kentucky Department of Education Associate Commissioner Larry Stinson said – and it left something to be desired in practicality.

“We have way too many students who would qualify to graduate, but they’re not ready to do anything,” he said. “So we were looking for a way to say, ‘If you are graduating from high school in Kentucky, you have some skills that you can use at that next level.’ And this is the way to go about it.”

So the state is defining proficiency based on college and career readiness, he said, and the ACT is the capstone measurement for determining it. The ACT provides an extremely strong research-based prediction of college readiness and plays a major part in Kentucky’s College/Career Readiness indicator. That is why all 11th-grade students take the ACT. The ACT PLAN test, given to all 10th-grade students in Kentucky, provides a direct connection from its scores to a predicted ACT score, thus linking early high school work to college readiness. Read the full story

The Kentucky School Counselor Association (KSCA) is accepting nominations for outstanding Elementary, Middle and High School Counselor of the Year.

KSCA also is taking nominations for Principal of the Year.

To complete an online nomination form, go to www.kyschoolcounselor.org.

Hands-on physics demonstrations for kids and a free professional development (PD) workshop for middle and high school physical science teachers are scheduled  are for Nov. 19 at the KET Network Center in Lexington.

KET’s physics teacher, Chuck Duncan, will conduct professional development workshops on integrating KET’s Virtual Physics Labs into classroom instruction. Duncan will give out copies of all lab activities currently used in his online courses. Seating is limited. Those interested should contact Darlene Carl.

In addition, families can bring children to the rest of the science and physics activities and meet Sid the Science Kid.

Click here to explore and learn more about Chuck Duncan’s physics labs.