the TEACH Delta Region

STANDARD

Assessment Made Easy Tiffany Jackson

Often times teachers see the semester break as an opportunity to reflect, regroup, and rethink routines and instructional and management strategies for the coming session. Likewise, the month of January marked a new beginning for our M.A.T. interns in their roles as students and teachers. The TEACH Delta Region staff was delighted to feature one of CEHD’s very own expert voices during its January professional development seminar. Dr. Lynn Clark shared an in-depth, insightful look at assessment and its role in effective, data-driven instruction. Her interactive presentation, entitled, “Teach to the Test: Test What You Teach,” highlighted the importance of creating and administering fair and valid tests. Dr. Clark demonstrated the usage of a standards matrix and specification chart to formulate standards based, criterion-referenced assessment instruments that fairly test concepts and skills that should be mastered.

S P R I N G 2 0 1 2

Seminar Review P.1-2

Announcements P.2

Intern Spotlight P.3

Mentors of the Month P.4

Teacher Toolkit P. 5

Table of Contents

*Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education

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ANNOUNCEMENT

• The upcoming seminars dates are March 21st and April 25th.

• The National Association for Alternative Certification (NACC) intern

scholarship application is due on June 30, 2012. In order to recognize the interns’ important work and encourage their participation in the NACC

Annual Conference, the NACC will award up to three scholarships to

outstanding alternative certification interns. Each recipient will receive $1000, a complimentary registration to the 2013 NACC conference, up to $500 travel

expenses for the conference, and a complimentary one-year NACC

membership. For more information, please refer to www.alternativecertification.org or

Moodle.

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Assessment Made Easy (Continue)

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The interns collaborated with colleagues as they explored examples and practiced using the tools. From the back of the room, I could see the light bulbs coming on across the auditorium as the teachers became the students and experienced an a-ha moment; they realized that the test should be planned first and then inform instruction! It was very exciting to witness the discovery of what the presenter later revealed had been coined, backward design. These novice teachers walked away with a healthy new appreciation for tests and the importance of building a “good” one. Interns could be heard saying things like, “Now this makes sense, “I get it now”, and “I need to start making my own tests.” As we dismissed, it seemed certain that the students of the interns in the room would greatly benefit from their teacher’s participation in the session.

Dr. Lynn Clark is an assistant professor, coordinator of Secondary Teacher Education, and director of DREAM in the College of Education and Human Development at ULM.

She received her B.A. from the University of California Los Angeles, her Master of Education degree from the University of the Pacific, and her Ph.D. from Indiana University.

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INTERN SPOTLIGHTS Brenda Simmons

Theresa Ross Theresa is a Special Education teacher in Bastrop, Louisiana who is a retired Naval officer. She is an outstanding, energetic, and disciplined teacher that goes to two different schools. She starts her morning at Southside Elementary at 7:00 a.m., then travels to Cherry Ridge Elementary to be there at 11:30 until school dismisses in the afternoon. Her students are so polite, and are so eager to please her with their performance. With all of this, she has a family consisting of her husband and three lovely daughters who are active involved in extra-curricular activities. Theresa is such a well-rounded, organized, self-disciplined and lovely teacher and person. I am so blessed to be her mentor. (Nominated by Glenda Redden) Tom Riggs

Tom teaches Chemistry I and II, Biology I, Earth & Space Science, and is the Cross Country Coach at Claiborne Christian. He is extremely knowledgeable in his content area. He worked for the plant in Sterlington and I believe he was a chemical engineer. He makes great use of technology and also allows students to do experiments. His class is very interesting. He maintains high standards and encourages his students to strive for success. I consider him to be a Master Teacher. (Nominated by Mary Reighney)

Angel Coates Angel teaches Language Arts at Calhoun Middle School. She also serves as Cheerleader sponsor at Calhoun. This month, she chaired the Spelling Bee for Calhoun Middle School. She also serves as P.T.A. Faculty Representative and is on the School Improvement Planning Committee at Calhoun. In addition to these extra school activities, Mrs. Coates is also a dedicated teacher in the classroom. It is easy to see why her principal speaks so highly of her as a first year teacher. She sets standards in her room and each student is able to engage in

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Stephanie Miller Stephanie transitioned from a fiscal bean counter as an accountant to a physical bean counter as a second grade teacher. She is an outstanding Intern Teacher Candidate. Upon my arrival on the campus of Beekman Elementary, it is with much enthusiasm and excitement that I retreat to the solace of Stephanie's room. Her lesson plans are neatly placed on her desk with all of the materials and supplementary items that will be utilized for the lesson.

Brenda is the perfect example of the three criteria used for selection- dedication, professionalism, and content knowledge. She was in Baton Rouge during the month of February at the special education Super Conference presenting a program that she developed, (Learning Math Though Music). Nothing less than 100% is Brenda’s goal in academics. On my first visit in September, we discussed the need for including some form of technology in each lesson. The next month the entire group had iPads to work on. Ms. Simmons leaves no stone unturned in her research for answers, does not allow one minute to be wasted, nor does she tolerate her students giving less than total effort during her instructional period. After all these years, I still get excited on the days I go to Jonesboro wondering what miracle will take place in Brenda Simmons’ classroom. (Nominated by Amy Dewees)

class discussions and activities that involve critical or creative thinking skills. Class begins immediately when the students enter the room. There is no time lost in Mrs. Coates’ classroom. All students seem to understand her professionalism. Her enthusiasm for all areas from literature to grammar makes school enjoyable for her students at Calhoun. Angel even made spelling enjoyable as students participated in a dress rehearsal for the Spelling Bee, called “Spelling Speed,” where students raced to the Smart Board, attempting to spell the words correctly. All students in the class joined in the competition while benefitting from a spelling review before the test. (Nominated by Polly Dupuy)

The students in her class eagerly await their lesson. When students do well everyone shows support by giving a thumbs up for excellent performance. Hands are always in the air to participate. Stephanie presents activities that challenge her students. You may hear "if four quarters are equivalent to $1.00, how many nickels does it take to equal $1.00. Stephanie utilizes a timer to give the first graders 3 minutes to arrive at their answer. They have all sorts of manipulatives available to assist. Some students may draw, while others will calculate mentally. At the end of the three minutes a class discussion convenes and would make you think that you were in a 3rd or 4th grade math class based on the responses. Despite this level of excellence, she is always open to suggestions and constantly seeks ways to engage her students while incorporating as many higher order-thinking questions as possible. I have observed Stephanie assist other teachers and extend services wherever needed. She designs a weekly newsletter to keep all of the parents of her students aware of events and assignments for her class. She even goes a step further and makes phone calls just to say "your child is doing a great job, thanks so much for working with him/her at home." What is most paramount for me is if I arrive after lunch there is always an extra snack waiting for me with a little note! (Nominated by Valerie Fields)

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Above & Beyond... Mentors of the Month

Mary Reighney

Polly Dupuy

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I would like to recognize Mary Reigney for outstanding help and support as my supervisor. Mary Reigney is the absolute best mentor/supervisor a person could ask for. I have enjoyed her visits to my classroom so much-and I say visits because I do not feel as if my students or me are being studied but are being visited by a friend there to help. My students dread observations as much as any students do but they do not dread Mrs. Reigney’s observations. They actually enjoy her presence in the classroom and ask when she will be returning. Mrs. Reigney has been a blessing at a stressful time in a new teacher’s life and I will always remember the help she has given me. (Submitted by Bridgette Tannehill)

Mrs. Dupuy is so kind. During my first semester teaching, she would take extra time with me during observations to listen to me worry about what I was/wasn't doing (in my opinion) and gave advice on how I could try doing things. That job was only filling in for a teacher on maternity leave for the fall, so I was panicing for two months - hunting for a new job for January. She called me over the Christmas holidays on multiple occasions to see how my search was going and to talk about was I was up to with my time off. She didn't have to do any of those things, but it has been so nice to know that she really cares and wants to help me become a great teacher. I know I can call her any time, even after my time in the program ends, and she will listen and assist in any way she can. (Submitted by Brittany Taraba)

I would like to recognize Dr. Fields for all of her hard work and dedication. Dr. Fields can give a pretty intimidating first impression. She carries herself with such pride and you can tell this woman is intelligent when laying eyes on her. Needless to say, I was very nervous about what she was going to critique about my first observation, and even more nervous once she walked in the door. However, after my first observation, she sat down and talked with me on a personal yet very professional level. I think it is important for a teacher/mentor (no matter the level) to build a relationship

Dr. Fields

with their students, and Dr. Fields was able to do this quickly and take away some of the built up anxiety I had developed. She began pouring knowledge into me with ideas that opened my eyes to greater possibilities within my classroom. Dr. Fields also gave me advice and study tips to help prepare me for the PLT. Something that Dr. Fields has instilled in me is for me to believe in myself. She never leaves an observation without telling me what a great job I'm doing, and that is something that will follow with me and make me want to strive for higher excellence in my career. For that, I thank Dr. Fields! (Submitted by Stephanie Miller)

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Teacher Toolkit Practical Professional Development to Go

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This Month’s INTASC Standards Focus Content Pedagogy

Ø Science o http://www.csun.edu/science/re

f/measurement/orders_of_mag/index.html

o http://www.msteacher2.org/ Ø Technology

o http://mkoehler.educ.msu.edu/tpack/

Ø Mathematics o http://www.nctm.org/resources/

content.aspx?id=1618 o http://www.msteacher2.org/

Ø English o http://www.ncte.org/

Ø Social Studies o http://www.ncss.org/resources

Ø Special Education o http://www.teachervision.fen.co

m/special-education/teacher-resources/6640.html

Ø Art Education o http://www.intime.uni.edu/mod

el/teacher/pedagogy/Art.html Ø Foreign Language

o http://www.cal.org/resources/archive/rgos/methods.html

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Student Development

⇒ Science o http://www.sciencemag.org/con

tent/332/6032/895 ⇒ Technology

o http://www.sedl.org/pubs/tec26/flash.html

⇒ Mathematics o http://mathwire.com/archives/a

lgebra.html ⇒ English

o http://www.netc.org/focus/challenges/literacy.php

⇒ Social Studies o http://www.ncss.org/positions/s

ervicelearning ⇒ Special Education

o http://www.readingrockets.org/article/5838/

⇒ Art Education o http://www.edutopia.org/arts-

music-curriculum-child-development

⇒ Foreign Language o http://ncssfl.org/papers/index.p

hp?allstudents

University of Louisiana at Monroe

Strauss Hall 260. 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209

Editors Tiffany Jackson Professional Development Coordinator TEACH Delta Region

Cho Yi Sit Graduate Assistant TEACH Delta Region

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Sahara Ricks Graduate Student TEACH Delta Region