Sunday, August 31, 2014

Kids And Screen Time: What Does The Research Say? : NPR Ed : NPR

An interesting study. Seems to suggest we use technology when needed, but that we give plenty of face-to-face interaction between faculty and students and among students. Of course middle school teachers have long known that to be true!



-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Fwd: Welcome back and what's happening at NELMS



-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.


Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: August 27, 2014 at 11:59:00 PM EDT
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: Welcome back and what's happening at NELMS
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

August 27, 2014 blast e-mail
nelms logo

Welcome Back!

NELMS is looking for a new Executive Director

Please click here for a pdf of the job description.

 

Rick Wormeli is returning to NELMS!
Standards-based Assessment and Grading:
Ethics, Pedagogy, and Practicalities

September 23 & 24, 2014
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center
Northampton, MA

With the rise of the Common Core State Standards and the public's call for grading integrity, standards-based assessment and grading have new urgency: grades better mean what they say.  No longer a "gotcha" enterprise, our grades must help us document progress, provide clear and timely feedback, and inform our next steps in instruction.  Absent evidence-based assessment and reporting, however, grades are wildly subjective, relative, and inferential at best.  Many principals and teachers inadvertently hide behind the factory model of schooling, yet they have increasingly diverse classes and their required differentiated instruction. This can make assessment and grading overwhelming. 
 
Join us for a candid and useful two-day seminar assessment and grading in the 21st century.  We'll look at the burning issues of standards-based assessment and grading, including:  what grades really mean, how to report late work and homework, averaging or not, zeroes on the 100-point scale, descriptive feedback, re-do's/re-takes for full, partial, or no credit, separating effort marks from academic marks, setting up the gradebook, 100-pt vs 4.0 scale, extra credit, group projects, grading exceptional students, pre/formative/common/summative assessments, grading inclusion students in the regular classroom, and how to develop the skills needed to determine evidence of mastery.  Very preparatory for the grade levels that lay ahead for middle level students, the principles and procedures presented build student resilience and support Dweck's Growth Mindset.   While offering practical tips, this workshop reveals participants' core beliefs about teaching and learning and has an unusually high incidence of transforming classroom practice. Don't miss it!

For more information and/or to register please click here.

 

scan of wizardNELMS Branded Clothing

For the Annual Conference this year the NELMS theme was "Magic in the Middle". Now you can own a bit of 'magic' with the purchase of a tee shirt, polo shirt, or fleece jacket with "Magic in the Middle" sewn on.
Click here to go to the NELMS bookstore and check out the styles.

 

Interested in presenting at the 2015 NELMS Annual Conference?

If so please click here for more information and/or to apply.
 

Scholarship opportunity from Walden University

Are you considering earning your bachelors, masters or doctoral degree online?
NOW is the perfect time to consider Walden University!
10% discount for NELMS members!
Limited time only: Scholarships are available for NEW students who enroll and start classes between July 14 and Dec 31, 2014*!
• No application fee • Free transfer of credit evaluation • Rolling admissions
For a complete list of degrees offered at Walden University CLICK HERE.
If you would like to receive information about a program and learn more about the available scholarships, CLICK HERE to request information or contact your Walden representative Kim LaMontagne, at Kimberly.lamontagne@waldenu.edu or call 603-479-2415

Rick Wormeli
Standards-based Assessment and Grading

Sept. 23 & 24, 2014
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Northampton, MA
To learn more
click here

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

facebook logo


 

You are currently subscribed to nelms as: gary@hackscience.net
Add nelms@nelms.org to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Fwd: Rick Wormeli coming back in September!



-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.


Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: August 20, 2014 at 7:30:47 AM EDT
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: Rick Wormeli coming back in September!
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

August 20 & 27, 2014 blast e-mail
nelms logo

NELMS is looking for a new Executive Director

Please click here for a pdf of the job description.

 

Rick Wormeli is returning to NELMS!
Standards-based Assessment and Grading:
Ethics, Pedagogy, and Practicalities

September 23 & 24, 2014
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center
Northampton, MA

With the rise of the Common Core State Standards and the public's call for grading integrity, standards-based assessment and grading have new urgency: grades better mean what they say.  No longer a "gotcha" enterprise, our grades must help us document progress, provide clear and timely feedback, and inform our next steps in instruction.  Absent evidence-based assessment and reporting, however, grades are wildly subjective, relative, and inferential at best.  Many principals and teachers inadvertently hide behind the factory model of schooling, yet they have increasingly diverse classes and their required differentiated instruction. This can make assessment and grading overwhelming. 
 
Join us for a candid and useful two-day seminar assessment and grading in the 21st century.  We'll look at the burning issues of standards-based assessment and grading, including:  what grades really mean, how to report late work and homework, averaging or not, zeroes on the 100-point scale, descriptive feedback, re-do's/re-takes for full, partial, or no credit, separating effort marks from academic marks, setting up the gradebook, 100-pt vs 4.0 scale, extra credit, group projects, grading exceptional students, pre/formative/common/summative assessments, grading inclusion students in the regular classroom, and how to develop the skills needed to determine evidence of mastery.  Very preparatory for the grade levels that lay ahead for middle level students, the principles and procedures presented build student resilience and support Dweck's Growth Mindset.   While offering practical tips, this workshop reveals participants' core beliefs about teaching and learning and has an unusually high incidence of transforming classroom practice. Don't miss it!

For more information and/or to register please click here.

 

scan of wizardNELMS Branded Clothing

For the Annual Conference this year the NELMS theme was "Magic in the Middle". Now you can own a bit of 'magic' with the purchase of a tee shirt, polo shirt, or fleece jacket with "Magic in the Middle" sewn on.
Click here to go to the NELMS bookstore and check out the styles.

 

Interested in presenting at the 2015 NELMS Annual Conference?

If so please click here for more information and/or to apply.
 

Scholarship opportunity from Walden University

Are you considering earning your bachelors, masters or doctoral degree online?
NOW is the perfect time to consider Walden University!
10% discount for NELMS members!
Limited time only: Scholarships are available for NEW students who enroll and start classes between July 14 and Dec 31, 2014*!
• No application fee • Free transfer of credit evaluation • Rolling admissions
For a complete list of degrees offered at Walden University CLICK HERE.
If you would like to receive information about a program and learn more about the available scholarships, CLICK HERE to request information or contact your Walden representative Kim LaMontagne, at Kimberly.lamontagne@waldenu.edu or call 603-479-2415

Rick Wormeli
Standards-based Assessment and Grading

Sept. 23 & 24, 2014
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Northampton, MA
To learn more
click here

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

facebook logo


 

You are currently subscribed to nelms as: gary@hackscience.net
Add nelms@nelms.org to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic

Friday, August 1, 2014

Fwd: Summer Literacy Institute is next week



-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.


Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: July 31, 2014 at 7:30:35 AM EDT
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: Summer Literacy Institute is next week
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

July 31, 2014 blast e-mail
nelms logo

keys to literacy logo

nelms logo Summer Literacy Institute
NELMS & Keys to Literacy
Will be held at Keys to Literacy Office
Rowley, MA
August 4–7, 2014

The ANSWER Key Routine for Extended Response (Grades 4-12)
Monday, August 4, 2014

Participants will learn how to teach a student routine for answering extended response question prompts (i.e., constructed or open response) and how to use extended response writing as a classroom tool to help students learn and remember content. Students can also use the routine for writing extended responses to question prompts for on-demand writing assessments.

 

Keys to Close Reading (Grades 3-12)
Tuesday, August 5, 2014

The Common Core literacy standards emphasize the use of challenging text at all grade levels and for students to apply close reading skills. Close reading is figuring out what a text says by thinking critically about the words and ideas in the text. It is sometimes described as deep reading, reading like a detective, and unpacking or dissecting the text. Most students need explicit instruction for how to read text closely. Teachers provide this instruction by planning and conducting close reading lessons when they model through think aloud and provide guided practice.


Keys to Content Writing (Grades 4-12)
Wednesday & Thursday, August 6 & 7, 2014

The Common Core literacy standards emphasize the use of challenging text at all grade levels and for students to apply close reading skills. Close reading is figuring out what a text says by thinking critically about the words and ideas in the text. It is sometimes described as deep reading, reading like a detective, and unpacking or dissecting the text. Most students need explicit instruction for how to read text closely. Teachers provide this instruction by planning and conducting close reading lessons when they model through think aloud and provide guided practice.

For more information and/or to register please click here.

 

scan of wizardNELMS Branded Clothing

For the Annual Conference this year the NELMS theme was "Magic in the Middle". Now you can own a bit of 'magic' with the purchase of a tee shirt, polo shirt, or fleece jacket with "Magic in the Middle" sewn on.
Click here to go to the NELMS bookstore and check out the styles.

 

Interested in presenting at the 2015 NELMS Annual Conference?

If so please click here for more information and/or to apply.
 

Scholarship opportunity from Walden University

Are you considering earning your bachelors, masters or doctoral degree online?
NOW is the perfect time to consider Walden University!
10% discount for NELMS members!
Limited time only: Scholarships are available for NEW students who enroll and start classes between July 14 and Dec 31, 2014*!
• No application fee • Free transfer of credit evaluation • Rolling admissions
For a complete list of degrees offered at Walden University CLICK HERE.
If you would like to receive information about a program and learn more about the available scholarships, CLICK HERE to request information or contact your Walden representative Kim LaMontagne, at Kimberly.lamontagne@waldenu.edu or call 603-479-2415


NELMS & Keys to Literacy Summer Literacy Institute
August 4–7, 2014
Keys to Literacy Training Center
Rowley, MA
To learn more
click here
 

Rick Wormeli
Standards-based Assessment and Grading

Sept. 23 & 24, 2014
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Northampton, MA
To learn more
click here

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

facebook logo


 

You are currently subscribed to nelms as: gary@hackscience.net
Add nelms@nelms.org to your email address book to ensure delivery
Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe
Net Atlantic