HSTW schools should submit their Annual Report online before September 30, 2008. The Web address for the online report is:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/Assessment/assessindex.asp
Instructions may be found by going to: http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/Assessment/2008/Instructions.asp
Allow the completion of this report to help your planning process for the 2008-2009 school year. All your school’s faculty and advisement staff should be involved to discuss accomplishments, obstacles and plans for addressing site challenges. A few important notes:
- Download a hard copy of the Annual Report as a guide for gathering information before completing the report online.
- Sites can log in and partially complete sections of the report and return again later where they left off. The report does not need to be completed in one sitting.
BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE AND READING COMPREHENSION
Knowledge begets knowledge. Students draw upon what they already know to master new vocabulary and content. For example, students who already know something about World War II will bring that knowledge to bear when reading an unfamiliar text on the subject. Research has shown that building and activating students' prior knowledge of concepts and vocabulary can increase reading comprehension.
Some suggestions for building and accessing background knowledge:
http://weta.convio.net/site/R?i=Cpbqt4CbpM00On97ocjq2Q. Use Easy Nonfiction to Build Background Knowledge
http://weta.convio.net/site/R?i=Mo4ta-pBbvPMXAG_dT292Q. Expect Students to Activate, Connect and Summarize Daily
http://weta.convio.net/site/R?i=fPa5VijxNT_ivRy4DnAPvg. Use and Teach Content Vocabulary Daily
http://weta.convio.net/site/R?i=7S3lTNNIicGmWXHyWYXp5Q. Linking the Language: A Cross-Disciplinary Vocabulary Approach
http://weta.convio.net/site/R?i=8jVY_x5qbKR9jokg0Fa9tg. How to Help Students See When Their Knowledge is Superficial or Incomplete
http://weta.convio.net/site/R?i=HyGsRY2T7OuMHRam2pAWKQ. How Knowledge Helps dotted line - section separator
SUCCESS, FAILURE IN FIRST TWO WEEKS SHAPE THE SCHOOL YEAR
Dr. Guskey is a foremost authority in the country on assessment. Carefully think about his remarks, especially in the frame of our at-risk freshmen students.
Posted on Sun, Aug. 03, 2008
By Thomas R. Guskey
http://www.kentucky.com/589/story/478728.html
PARENT TEEN RESOURCES
The Partnership for a Drug Free America just released "A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain," a digital, science-based resource for parents that explains adolescent brain processes and offers tips for communicating and helping teens make good decisions.
With video, humorous interactive segments, role-playing and advice from experts, parents learn that ongoing brain development contributes to the vexing teen behaviors that confound and often put parents off - impulsiveness, rebellion, high emotions, questionable judgment and risk-taking. This might work well with Parent Universities or as a resource you could give to parents.
www.drugfree.org
COOPERATIVE ALLIANCE SPOTLIGHT
Last year, Oklahoma high school students in area technology centers had a very successful year. There were over 4,400 enrollments earning over 31,000 transcripted college credit hours.
Sunday, August 24, Oklahoma Horizon showed the latest installment of Cooperative Alliance Spotlights. You can see when the Horizon show will play in your area at: http://www.okhorizon.com/.
If you missed the video last year, we invite you to view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g21L-6J1Zts or http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d08f1f1e7244f663b470.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
HSTW “NEW” SITE COORDINATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR WORKSHOP
NO registration fee is required. Please email Cheryl Bell at cbell@okcareertech.org if you plan to attend the September 4, 2008 – “NEW” site coordinators and administrators. All new site coordinators and administrators should attend the HSTW Update and Networking Workshop on the Francis Tuttle Technology Center –Reno Campus, 7301 West Reno Avenue, Oklahoma City in Room 2160 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The purpose of the workshop is to learn more about the expectations of your role and to gather information to help prepare for the coming year as you work to implement the HSTW framework.
SEPTEMBER –GUIDANCEFEST 2008
GuidanceFest is an opportunity to learn about the CareerTech System and where we are headed in the future. Speakers will talk about the impact of career clusters moving programs to courses, how CareerTech aligns with Oklahoma’s Promise, and many more topics valuable to you as an education professional.
Learn more and register for an event in your area at http://www.okcareertech.org/techprep/guidancefest.htm.
SEPTEMBER OKLAHOMA EPAS WORKSHOPS
Educators are invited to attend one of the Fall Regional Workshops to assist in using the valuable EXPLORE and PLAN assessment reports (DATA.) Administrators, counselors and
curriculum specialists and other educators are encouraged to attend.
Register at: www.okhighered.org/epas.
For assistance call Marie Ruder at 405.225.9320 or email her at mruder@osrhe.edu.
EXPLORE and PLAN Testing Windows for the next three years are:
August 25 through October 10, 2008
August 24 through October 9, 2009
August 23 through October 8, 2010
If you haven’t received or can’t locate your information for ordering EXPLORE and/or PLAN, please call Alexa Moretsky at 512.345.1949 or email Alexa.Moretsky@act.org.
Please contact one of the following for assistance relative to EXPLORE, PLAN, ACT, or other matters related to student preparation:
North of I-40 - Cari Lousch at clousch@osrhe.edu or 918.813.3199
South of I-40 - Matt Higdon at mhigdon@osrhe.edu or 405.517.0301
Cindy Brown - cbrown@osrhe.edu or 405.225.9156
HSTW DATA WORKSHOP
October 30, 2008 – Mark your calendar and prepare to identify your team. The “Using 2008 HSTW Assessment Data” Workshop will be held on the Francis Tuttle Technology Center-Reno Campus, Oklahoma City. Additional details for registration will become available in September.
The "CD" copy of your 2008 HSTW AssessmentReport should be received by the end of next week.
FOLLOW-UP TO THE SREB ANNUAL HSTW SUMMER CONFERENCE
The purpose of the 22nd Annual HSTW Staff Development Conference was to inform state, district, school and teacher leaders about practices in high schools and middle grades schools that will increase high school completion rates and postsecondary and workplace success of students.” — Gene Bottoms
Complete the evaluation if you attended as well as download session handouts and materials for further learning opportunities.
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/professionalDev/SummerConference/2008ConferenceIndex.asp
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Youth Literacy Grant
Here is an opportunity to supplement your transitional English classes or reading programs. If you live within 20 miles of a Dollar General store, you are eligible for a $3,000 Youth Literacy Grant for programs to support struggling readers--the target students for this class.
Maximum Award: $3,000
Application Deadline: September 24, 2008
http://www.dollargeneral.com/Community/Pages/GrantPrograms.aspx.
