Curriculum & Technology News

Top 10 Things You Don't Learn About Teaching in College!

2010-08-23T13:41:00.000-04:00

CFF Follow-up

2010-04-23T14:51:00.001-04:00

As a follow-up to my last post I wanted to share with you some unique lessons currently underway in the junior senior high school.

First and foremost, I want to congratulate Social Studies teachers Ann Neary and John Chernewski, their students, and CFF Coach Stan Shumski, for having their Civics and Government lesson "Election Headquarters" accepted for presentation at Student Capitol Day. Student Capitol Day is an opportunity to celebrate the success of the Classrooms for the Future program and share with legislators what is happening in schools across the Commonwealth. The event will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on May 11, 2010 in the East Rotunda of the Capitol in Harrisburg. Students invited to attend will have the opportunity to speak with legislators and demonstrate innovative projects they created using the high tech equipment provided through the state grant.

Below are other unique projects as described by Stan Shumski:

This was one of the videos from our Election Headquarters project. Creating a video like this would be a good Earth Day project.

Check out the video projects done by our 7th grade geography students. The New York and Delaware Projects show some good effort by our 7th graders as they are learning how to use Photostory 3 to make and upload videos to their new class Wikispaces. This student did a great job timing her pics to the beat of the music. This student recorded her voice on each picture.

Check out Mr. Callahan's 11th grade class that has just started a "Wedding Planner" Wikispace Site.

Below is a video created by the Plastics Technology class with the assistance of Mr. Shumski. The students in the video are testing a row boat designed and constructed in their class.

You can learn more about North Schuylkill's CFF initiative, and other unique learning opportunities taking place in our district, by visiting Stan Shumski's CFF blog and Wikispace.

The Impact of the Classrooms for the Future Program Revealed

2010-04-03T15:17:00.000-04:00

Penn State's College of Education in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released a Three Year Evaluation Report analyzing the effectiveness of the Classrooms for the Future program in promoting school reform. According to the report the preliminary results indicate that the program has generated significant progress toward achieving its goals. Significantly, the report says that the evidence analyzed so far in connection to CFF indicates that there have been notable changes for the positive in several areas, including student and teacher activity, student engagement and classroom organization.

According to the report, it appears that Classrooms for the Future created a more personalized and collaborative educational experience for students. Students in CFF spent less time listening to a lecture from the teacher and more time working independently, working in groups and talking with the teacher in one-to-one or in small group conversations. Teachers, in turn, spent less time lecturing in CFF classrooms and more time working with individual students and walking through the room observing and interacting with students. Additionally, observers reported that the physical layout of classrooms in the CFF program evolved away from the traditional "desks in rows, teacher up front" design. CFF classrooms typically were arranged in clusters of three to five desks, a layout that promotes student collaboration and group work.

The Classrooms for the Future initiative was introduced to North Schuylkill during the 2007-2008 school year. Since its inception, over $245,000 in equipment grants were received by the district providing 33 teachers and their students with laptops, Promethean boards, printers and other 21st Century classroom tools. The program has led to a shift in pedagogy among North Schuylkill's teachers, which in turn has led to significant gains in student achievement.

Act 80 Day Recap

2010-03-03T15:47:00.002-05:00

On March 1st the district utilized an Act 80 Day to offer professional development and training opportunities to our K-12 staff. Section 1504 of the Pennsylvania School Code, as amended by Act 80 of 1969, authorizes the Secretary of Education to grant an exception to the 180-day requirement or to the daily schedule "when in his opinion a meritorious educational program warrants."

An Act 80 Day differs from an "in-service day" in that the day counts as one of the 180 school days required by the state. With that said, schools must still provide a minimum number of hours of instruction per school year. For example, secondary schools must provide 990 hours and elementary schools, 900 hours.

The following activities were held as part of North Schuylkill's Act 80 Day program:

Saxon Math Presentation and Discussion. The district is piloting Saxon Math in its elementary school. If adopted the program will be implemented in grades K-5. In addition to the K-5 teachers, Math teachers in grades 6-12 attended the presentation and participated in the discussion sessions held afterwards.

Curriculum Review and Study. Elementary and Secondary Social Studies teachers met with Jeff Zeiders of PDE to discuss the framework of a K-12 Social Studies curriculum and components necessary to prepare students for the 21st Century.

Elementary and Secondary English/Reading were trained in use of Curriculum Connector. The teachers will use this curriculum mapping tool to initially create core maps and then diary maps.

Elementary and Secondary Math and Science teachers continued work on their core curriculum maps. Dr. Evelyn Wassel of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 led the teachers through activities which allowed them to compare the core maps thus far completed with the curriculum framework models available on Pennsylvania's Standards Aligned System.

Guidance Counselors, Computer, and Business Education teachers previewed Hands on Banking, a new career development/consumer education program being offered to schools free-of-charge, locally by Wachovia Bank. After this presentation the teachers attended an Adobe C4 workshop taught by Lynn Wiscount of Schuylkill IU 29.

Heath/Physical Education teachers, along with staff involved in extracurriculuar activities, received AED/CPR Training led by colleague Lynn Minalda.

This spring, a student morning newscast will debut at North Schuylkill Elementary. Teachers involved in this project used the Act 80 day to plan for this endeavor and to become familiar with two tools which will be used to create and broadcast the news program, Visual Communicator and EduVision.

A Workforce Safety Meeting for elementary and secondary staff was held.

Title I teachers continued preparation for the Dr. Seuss Read Across America activities.

Elementary staff attended an afternoon workshop led by Dr. Dona Bauman and Sandra Lamanna. Among the topics covered were: The 13 exceptionalities of IDEA; What is intelligence and how do we measure it?; How do we classify children under IDEA?

Technology Education teachers received training in use of AutoDesk software. This CAD program was recently added to North Schuylkill's curriculum and will be introduced to our secondary students during the second semester.

Elementary Students Earn Keystone Achievement Awards

2010-01-14T15:39:00.003-05:00

In 2004, the Pennsylvania Department of Education in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Federal Program Coordinators created a new award called the Keystone Achievement Award. The award is designed "to serve as public recognition of the quality work and commitment shown by Pennsylvania’s students and educators."

Recently we were informed that North Schuylkill’s elementary students, teachers and administrators were being honored with two Keystone Achievement Awards for the sustained academic achievement shown over the past two school years, in both Ringtown Elementary and North Schuylkill Elementary.

According to a press release issued by Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak, “The Keystone Achievement Awards reinforce the hard work our schools are executing and the success they are achieving...Schools are overcoming obstacles by implementing quality instruction, adopting research proven strategies and aligning their curriculum to academic standards.”

Congratulations to our elementary students, staff, and principals on this fine accomplishment!

Keystone Achievement Awards were given to public schools that achieved Adequate Yearly Progress in both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years. AYP is determined, in part, by a school’s performance on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, the standardized test given annually to students in grades 3-8 and 11. Each school that earns a Keystone Achievement Award receives a large, keystone-shaped placard that can be displayed at the school.

Student Achievement at the JSHS on the Rise!

2009-12-01T15:46:00.000-05:00

Recently we received this feedback from a PDE official regarding the increase in student achievement at the Junior Senior High School, "On anther note, I was looking at your achievement data on schooldigger.com. You might want to check out this site for information to help your Board understand the effectiveness of your work. For instance, when I compare the growth in your readers from 7th to 8th grade I find a lot of good news (7th graders in 2006 were 63% proficient in reading but as 8th graders in 2007 they were 74% proficient; 7th graders in 2007 were 57% proficient in reading but as 8th graders in 2008 they were 77.5% proficient (!); 7th graders in 2008 were 60.9% proficient in reading, but as 8th graders in in 2009 they were 73.1% proficient. The 11th graders of 2008 were 56% proficient in reading, but the 11th graders of 2009 were 72.9% proficient in reading. When you use schooldigger.com to sort high schools by rank (based upon PSSA scores) North Schuylkill ranked #249 out of 666 high school. This was an increase of a whopping 232 spots from the school's 2008 ranking. Only 21 of the state's 666 high schools improved more (in PSSA scores) in 2009 than North Schuylkill High School."

We wanted to share this message as it offers a neutral observation of what is being realized in our schools. Congratulations to our hard-working students, staff and principals- keep up the great work!

Social Studies Review to be Completed in 2011

2009-11-12T15:15:00.000-05:00

North Schuylkill's K-12 Social Studies curriculum is currently under review with recommended revisions and adoptions targeted for Spring 2011. Among the concepts we will explore will be to teach Social Studies using a thematic approach. For example, content each year would be organized along 4 themes: historiography, economic forces/geography, career development and civic participation and engagement. This is as opposed to offering World History one year, American History another, and so on.

As we consider changes to our K-12 Social Studies curriculum, we want to ensure it is providing our students with a relevant and interesting course of study which will prepare them for life and work in the the 21st Century. It must also align with the Keystone Exams proposed for American history, world history, civics and government beginning in 2016-17.

AHW 2009

2009-10-23T14:14:00.003-04:00

Above are some photos of Van Wagner's visit with our elementary students during the 2009 Anthracite Heritage Week celebration. As you can see by the students' smiling faces, AHW 2009, was a success!

What Occurs During An In-Service Day

2009-10-16T14:30:00.004-04:00

While North Schuylkill's students were enjoying an extended weekend their teachers were hard at work during two-days of in-service training held on October 12th and 13th. Among the professional development activities provided our staff were:

Teachers in kindergarten through second grade attended a 2-day workshop taught by noted author and educator Dr. Eileen Feldgus. Dr. Feldgus pioneered a child literacy program known as KidWriting. This program focuses primarily on teaching phonics in the context of writing. Many studies, including the Children's Literacy Initiative Project, show that early writing is important to the development of reading skills and that the Kid Writing approach in particular is highly effective.

Math and Science teachers in grades 4-12 continued their work on core curriculum mapping. Special Education teachers received training in development of standards-based IEP’s and identifying which students will be best served by taking the modified PSSA exams. Art, Music, and Physical Education teachers, along with our guidance counselors, participated in cross-district meetings and activities organized by the IU 29. They met with like-teachers in other districts and had an opportunity to share ideas about how they run their respective programs in their districts. Teachers in grades 3-5 received training on the delivery and implementation of the district’s new Reading series, Reading Street and My Sidewalks.

Dr. Dona Bauman of the University of Scranton presented a workshop on inclusionary classroom practices. Inclusion calls for special education and regular education students to receive instruction in the same classroom, at the same time. They are taught collaboratively, by a regular ed and special education teacher. Dr. Bauman guided the teachers in grades 6-12 through various activities which helped answer three key questions: Do we value all children equally? What do we mean by inclusion? Are there some children for whom inclusion is inappropriate?

So now you have some idea of what takes place during an in-service day. As you can see, the teachers are hard at work, working to refine their skills for the benefit of our students.

Second Annual Anthracite Heritage Week Planned

2009-10-07T09:21:00.003-04:00

The week of October 19-23, 2009 will be recognized as Anthracite Heritage Week in the North Schuylkill School District and other Schuylkill County schools. The weeklong event, the second annual, is an opportunity for our school's K-12 teachers to craft lessons which help promote an understanding and pride in the culture and history of the anthracite coal region.

Anthracite Heritage Week is held during a week when October 23rd falls. This date was chosen because of its historical significance. Most historians recognize this date as the end of the 163-day Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902, as the majority of mines resumed operations that day. The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 was successfully mediated through the intervention of the federal government, a landmark in U.S. labor history.

Among the highlights of North Schuylkill’s AHW 2009, celebration will be a tour of the Pioneer Tunnel in Ashland, Pa., by the district’s high school students and an assembly for its elementary students performed by Van Wagner. Wagner, a song-writer and underground coal miner, will perform a program which celebrates the past, present and future of Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Coal mining heritage. A goal of his program is to remind the audience why they should be proud to be from the Anthracite Coal Region!

Official PSSA Results Now Released

2009-09-02T21:37:00.011-04:00

"Well done! This district has performed well this year, and appears to be on track to meet the goal of all students attaining proficiency in Reading and Math by the year 2014."- message conveyed to NS parents by PDE through its AYP website.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education released the post-AYP appeals results for the 2008-2009, Pennsylvania System of School Assessment scores (PSSA's). The results bring much good news, including the attainment of AYP by the North Schuylkill School District. Among the highlights:

The 11th grade PSSA Math and Reading scores were the highest-ever among North Schuylkill's junior students. The students in this Class of 2010, saw their Reading scores improve each year, from 5th to 8th to 11th grade. All totaled, 69.7% of the students were proficient in Reading.

The Class of 2013, this year's 9th grade students, saw their reading scores improve from 61% as 7th graders to 73.1% as 8th grade students.

AYP performance targets were met by students in grades 3,4,5,6,7 and 8. The target was also met in grade 11 through a "confidence interval" as proficiency levels increased from 44.5% to 54%.

Ringtown Elementary and North Schuylkill Elementary met all performance targets and made AYP. With all the good news, there is still much work to be done. Despite its improved scores, the Junior Senior High School did not make AYP. The JSHS met 16 out of 17 AYP targets in 2008-09, but failed to meet the Math performance target among its IEP (Special Education) student group.

If you are interested in a more comprehensive look at North Schuylkill's 2008-2009, PSSA results, please click on the link below:

District Results

District AYP Status is Historic

2009-07-31T21:15:00.003-04:00

The preliminary 2009 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports reveal that the North Schuylkill School District has made AYP for the second consecutive year. This is significant as the district had never before achieved AYP status in consescutive years. Besides 2007-2008, and 2008-2009, the district has made AYP only one other time, in 2005-2006.

More details regarding last year's results will be reported in upcoming posts. For now, I wanted to share the goods news- student academic achievement is on the rise!

Computer Forensics Summer Camp Held for Young Spartans

2009-07-03T07:58:00.010-04:00

From June 15th to the 18th, North Schuylkill high school teacher, Richard Gober, led thirteen curious middle-school-age students through a four-day investigation of Computer Forensics. The camp was sponsored by Bloomsburg University and Luzerne County Community College, financed through a 2+2+2 Workforce Leadership grant.

Students were guided through fun, hands-on and computer-based experiments which allowed them to gain a better understanding of the foundations of this growing field. The camp culminated with a field trip to Bloomsburg University and more activities, this time led by Dr. John Riley, professor of math, computer science and statistics.

A goal of the camp is to spark interest in computer forensics (which is increasingly being called digital forensics)and future enrollment in North Schuylkill's own computer forensics course and the 2+2+2 program available to North Schuylkill students.

New Reading Series Approved

2009-05-15T12:19:00.006-04:00

The North Schuylkill Board of Education recently approved K-12, Language Arts curriculum revisions. Effective with the 2009-2010, school year, students in grades K-8 will refine their reading skills through the use of new reading series. Reading Street, published by Scott-Foresman, was approved for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, while students in grades 6-8 will use Pearson's Prentice Hall Literature: Language and Literacy series.

In addition to the new reading series, students in grades 9-12 will receive new grammar books. Also, approved was a required and recommended reading list for students in grades 6-12. All students will be required to read selected titles on the list while those enrolled in Honors English courses or AP English will also participate in a summer reading program.

Olweus Program Coming in 2009-2010

2009-05-15T11:55:00.003-04:00

The district was recently awarded a grant from the Center for Safe Schools to bring the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to our elementary students and staff during the 2009-2010 school year. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is designed to improve peer relations and make schools safer, more positive places for students to learn and develop. Goals of the program include: Reducing existing bullying problems among students; Preventing new bullying problems; and Achieving better peer relations at school.

A Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee has been formed and will receive training on May 18th and May 19th. The entire elementary staff will receive training during the in-service days scheduled for August 2009. Parent information nights are also planned for August.

The program consists of school-level, classroom-level, individual-level and community-level components. Among the basic school rules against bullying which will be introduced to our students are:

We will not bully others
We will try to help students who are bullied
We will include students who are left out.
If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

Additional information about the Olweus Program can be found at www.olweus.org.

Math Teachers Begin Curriculum Mapping

2009-02-24T20:07:00.010-05:00

During this past week, North Schuylkill's Math teachers have been working in teams to construct core curriculum maps. A core map identifies the skills and content which must be taught in each course. It also identifies where each of the state-mandated standards and assessment anchors are being taught.

Core maps identify and prioritize content at each grade level and will help ensure teachers are successfully navigating through their instruction using the same "map." The goal of this effort is to maximize student learning and to ensure North Schuylkill's students do not experience fragmented, incoherent or repetitive learning experiences.

The Math teachers will continue to refine their core maps throughout the remainder of the year before embarking on "diary mapping." The diary maps they devise will identify the assessments and lessons needed to implement these "core" curriculum maps.

The following photos show North Schuylkill's Math teachers working collaboratively and diligently in building their core maps.

North Schuylkill's Science teachers will begin core mapping in August 2009, followed by the district's Language Arts teachers. Eventually, all courses and departments which comprise North Schuylkill's curriculum will undergo this process.

YES Program Coming to NS

2009-01-12T13:52:00.006-05:00

During the 2009-2010, school year, high school students will have the opportunity to enroll in YES (Your Employability Skills). The 120-hour program is a semester-long, curriculum-based elective course that teaches students skills such as conflict resolution, goal-setting, writing, interview training, resume writing and job application tips. Students who maintain a 95 percent attendance rate, pass the program's literacy and aptitude tests and pass a drug screening will receive a YES certificate issued by the Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Council.

Anthracite Heritage Celebrated in our Schools

2008-10-24T13:27:00.003-04:00

The week of October 20-24, 2008 was recognized as Anthracite Heritage Week at North Schuylkill and other Schuylkill County schools. K-12 teachers crafted lessons throughout the week in ways which helped promote an understanding and pride in the culture and history of the anthracite coal region. This week's celebration was the first of what we hope will become an annual tradition!

2+2+2 Partnership Forged!

2008-10-07T12:24:00.006-04:00

The North Schuylkill School District has formed a partnership with Bloomsburg University and Luzerne County Community College which will allow students enrolled in the high school's Computer Forensics course to earn up to 15 credits of advanced standing at the post-secondary level.

The agreement will allow students to transfer 15 North Schuylkill credits to LCCC as they work toward an A.A.S.Degree in Cyber Security Management. These same students can then transfer to Bloomsburg University for four semesters. Their work at BU will allow them to earn a B.S. Degree in Computer Forensics.

By following this path a student can earn two degrees, an associates in Cyber Security and a bachelors in Computer Forensics! If you have questions about this program please e-mail me or contact our high school guidance counselors.

As a FYI, a Computer Forensics summer camp will be offered to middle school-age students this summer (2009). Times, dates and registration information will be announced later this year.

4Sight Testing Introduced Districtwide

2008-09-16T09:15:00.007-04:00

School districts have a number of different assessments, in addition to the PSSA, that are used to determine student progress. These assessments are intended to be direct, frequent and directly related to academic standards. These assessments also create more opportunities to deliver the most effective and valuable instruction by providing information about how students are performing. In recognizing that the more data we have the better we can measure how well our students are achieving, the North Schuylkill School District has implemented an additional assessment this school year, the 4Sight Benchmark Assessment.

4Sight Benchmark Assessments are quarterly benchmark assessments in Reading and Math for Grades 3 to 11. Developed by Success for All Foundation with items field-tested in PA Schools, 4Sight mirrors the blueprint of the PSSA and provides an estimate of student performance on the PSSA. 4Sight provides diagnostic information on PA Standards and specific sub-skills to guide classroom instruction and professional development efforts.

4Sight is designed to be useful to teachers and school leaders. With easy-to-use scoring rubrics teachers can quickly determine each child’s strengths and weaknesses. Because they participate in scoring, teachers feel that they own the data and can have confidence in it.

North Schuylkill's 2008-2009 4Sight and PSSA Assessement Schedule can be accessed by clicking on this link.

All NS Schools Make AYP!

2008-08-18T08:03:00.002-04:00

For the first time since Adequate Yearly Progress was first reported in 2003, each North Schuylkill school has met its performance targets! The gains the district is making are the result of the effective efforts of our teachers and principals, the support of our parents, district administrators, the board of education and most importantly, the hard work of our students! Congratulations to all!

ACE Program Comes to NS

2008-08-12T07:29:00.004-04:00

The North Schuylkill School District and Bloomsburg University recently completed a memorandum of understanding allowing North Schuylkill students to participate in the university's Advance College Experience (ACE) program.

ACE is designed for college-bound juniors and seniors who seek to "jump start" their college careers by earning college credits over the summer or during the school year. Students receive a reduced tuiton rate for both off-campus and on-campus enrollment. The reduced rate for on-campus courses will be 25% of the regular in-state tuition (75% off) and for off-campus courses will be 50% of the regular in-state tuition.

Typical offerings include courses in composition, psychology, public speaking, political science, languages, music, biology, chemistry, math and geography. The course catalogue for ACE courses is found at www.bloomu.edu/ace.

For more information you can contact the JSHS Guidance Office or e-mail me at pcaputo@northschuylkill.net.

The Educational Benefits of Gaming Technologies

2008-07-15T09:37:00.012-04:00

The North Schuylkill School District is encouraging the use of gaming technologies as a tool to minimize the "digital disconnect" between students and adults. A survey of 147 North Schuylkill teachers shows they are increasingly becoming interested in use of games to increase student engagement (56%), address different learning styles (67%), focus on student-centered learning (39%), and to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills (39%).

Only 7% of North Schuylkill's teachers do not see any value in exploring gaming within education. Over 48% of the teachers said they would be interested in learning more about integrating gaming technologies into teaching strategies and 39% would be interested in professional development on this. 8% said that they are currently incorporating some gaming into their instruction.

An example of gaming technology available today is PowerUp, a free multiplayer game launched by IBM. The game challenges teenagers to help save the planet “Helios” from ecological disaster. It encourages students to investigate, discover, and try science by linking it to engaging, real-world activities.

For the past two years Math teacher Judi Rakowsky has used e-missions in her Pre-Algebra classrooms. The e-missions allow students to role-play and use their math skills to troubleshoot a pending problem. The two e-missions she has used (M.A.R.S. and Fire Scene Investigation) allowed her 7th grade students to learn math while engaging in a student-centered, team-based, fun, interactive "gaming" experience.

New Science Programs to be Introduced

2008-07-01T09:56:00.004-04:00

During the 2007-2008 school year, North Schuylkill's K-12 science program was evaluated and new textbooks and programs were adopted for use at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. Among the programs to be introduced is Full Option Science System (FOSS). The inquiry-based science program will be used in grades K-5. It is designed to spark interest in science and help instill important 21st Century skills in our students.

During last year's Speak Up Survey, 445 of North Schuylkill's third to fifth grade students were asked, "Think of your dream science classroom. What would be a part of your classroom? The top answers were fun experiments (76%), using real tools like microscopes (58%), working with other students on projects (53%) and computers with internet access to research interesting topics (53%). FOSS and the 6-12 materials, texts and programs adopted last spring, incorporate these desired elements and more.

NS Curriculum Cycle Explained

2008-07-01T09:25:00.006-04:00

In an effort to promote a climate of systematic and thoughtful change and K-12 articulation and vision, the North Schuylkill School District has implemented a 6-year curriculum cycle. During the first year of this cycle, programs are evaluated and text or curriculum selections are made. In year two, the programs are implemented and staff development is offered. In year three, curriculum mapping is begun and common assessments are created. The program is monitored and adjusted in years 4, 5, and 6. The cycle begins anew in year seven.

The curriculum cycle allows our programs to stay current and it provides our students with the tools and resources needed to stay competitive in the 21st Century.

Welcome

2008-06-21T09:15:00.002-04:00

Welcome to North Schuylkill's Curriculum and Technology news blog. The purpose of this site is to keep parents, district residents and other stakeholders informed of current or planned district initiatives taking place in our schools. Topics of interest and general curriculum and technology news will also be posted here. We hope you will find this site to be a source you will refer to often to keep abreast of the latest happenings at North Schuylkill.