Hello, This year my principal has merged grades 6-8 reading and language-arts together without giving a plan of implementation. How should this be approached using the new frameworks.
I don't think you can merge them without a lot of work. Or at least not without great difficulty. We have been told not to use a book but to just teach the objectives. It seems to me that when you look at the language objectives they are not related necessrily to the reading ones. Of course, if you have lots and lots and lots of time to create materials, then you could relate them.
On 8/20/07, JustRead wrote: > Hello, > This year my principal has merged grades 6-8 reading and > language-arts together without giving a plan of > implementation. How should this be approached using the > new frameworks.
I am tired of being expected to rewrite all my materials to reflect higher dok and pretty well on my own time. Frankly, if I was that smart I would just go to work for a company and write the stuff at home and email it to them. Like you I have found the item specs extremely lacking. My personal belief is that if our districts want us to use higher dok materials then they should buy them or hire someone to write them. But I won't hold my breath to see if it will happen.
On 9/15/07, girl in mathiston wrote: > I know exactly how you feel. I teach math, but at the moment I am > trying to create my own worksheets. I need some sample items to > review and use for help. My district is trying to get us materials, > but as you said it is very frustrating to be expected to teach all the > new things we must teach, and then not have the time to work on it > except for our own personal time. I spend every evening after school > and the weekends doing school work. Like you, for the most part I am > okay with that, but it seems like everyday more time is interrupted > with my own children and husband. > > > On 8/29/07, girl in gulfport wrote: >> On 8/28/07, higher dok wrote: >>> Has your district/school purchased any materials that reflect >>> webb's dok? >>> I am getting frustrated at everything we are being told to do. As >>> it is, we have no time to actually work on anything unless we do >>> it at home. I don't mind doing work at home, but I need some help >>> on rewriting all my materials. I am concerned that when I do >>> finally have time to rewrite everything, I will be told it is not >>> correct. It is very frustrating to think you have it right just >>> to be told it is wrong. And I am not good at creating whole >>> stories, etc. to use for the reading. >>> I am currently trying to teach higher dok but unless and until I >>> rewrite all my instructional materials, I won't have anything on >>> paper to work with. I am basically having to do it orally. >>> Although I teach middle school, the kids still need something in >>> written form to practice with. >>> >> >> >> I am not sure what the district has purchased as I am teaching >> gifted so we are a different creature altogether. I did look at all >> the revisions and have studied Webb's and I don't think you need to >> rewrite things. You can still do the lower levels--you have to make >> sure they understand the basics, but then you extend beyond that to >> make the kids think more. So you could read a story, do some >> worksheets on the vocab and such then create some higher level >> activities to go along with that. Most higher level things are going >> to be interactive at first so student learn how to think at higher >> levels--they need concrete activities. Then you can transition them >> to the higher level test questions.
From what I understand, the state doesn't even completely understand what is going on yet. I heard that sample tests are supposed to be out in November (not sure how true that is). All of the test book companies (MCT Coach, Buckle Down) are scrambling to get things written, but who knows how accurate they will be?
On 9/15/07, just plain tired wrote: > I am tired of being expected to rewrite all my materials to reflect > higher dok and pretty well on my own time. Frankly, if I was that smart > I would just go to work for a company and write the stuff at home and > email it to them. > Like you I have found the item specs extremely lacking. > My personal belief is that if our districts want us to use higher dok > materials then they should buy them or hire someone to write them. But I > won't hold my breath to see if it will happen. > > > > On 9/15/07, girl in mathiston wrote: >> I know exactly how you feel. I teach math, but at the moment I am >> trying to create my own worksheets. I need some sample items to >> review and use for help. My district is trying to get us materials, >> but as you said it is very frustrating to be expected to teach all the >> new things we must teach, and then not have the time to work on it >> except for our own personal time. I spend every evening after school >> and the weekends doing school work. Like you, for the most part I am >> okay with that, but it seems like everyday more time is interrupted >> with my own children and husband. >> >> >> On 8/29/07, girl in gulfport wrote: >>> On 8/28/07, higher dok wrote: >>>> Has your district/school purchased any materials that reflect >>>> webb's dok? >>>> I am getting frustrated at everything we are being told to do. As >>>> it is, we have no time to actually work on anything unless we do >>>> it at home. I don't mind doing work at home, but I need some help >>>> on rewriting all my materials. I am concerned that when I do >>>> finally have time to rewrite everything, I will be told it is not >>>> correct. It is very frustrating to think you have it right just >>>> to be told it is wrong. And I am not good at creating whole >>>> stories, etc. to use for the reading. >>>> I am currently trying to teach higher dok but unless and until I >>>> rewrite all my instructional materials, I won't have anything on >>>> paper to work with. I am basically having to do it orally. >>>> Although I teach middle school, the kids still need something in >>>> written form to practice with. >>>> >>> >>> >>> I am not sure what the district has purchased as I am teaching >>> gifted so we are a different creature altogether. I did look at all >>> the revisions and have studied Webb's and I don't think you need to >>> rewrite things. You can still do the lower levels--you have to make >>> sure they understand the basics, but then you extend beyond that to >>> make the kids think more. So you could read a story, do some >>> worksheets on the vocab and such then create some higher level >>> activities to go along with that. Most higher level things are going >>> to be interactive at first so student learn how to think at higher >>> levels--they need concrete activities. Then you can transition them >>> to the higher level test questions.
This is my first year teaching Pre-Algebra and Algebra1. I teach 8th grade in Mississippi. I am willing to trade, buy, or do just about anything else to get some help with lesson plans. I have to believe there is a pay-site or experienced person(s) out there that provides sample lesson plans.
i found the email address on this chatboard for spms and tried to get into it. i could not as it required a name and password that i had no idea what it was. please,if anyone knows how to get into this site i would greatly appreciate it. i think it would be so beneficial when we are trying to come up with our own test questions based on webb's dok. thanks...brinka
Believe me, SPMS is not all that admin thinks it is. It is true that if you are required to make a test on just one objective then you could wind up with a 20 page test with long passages and 1 question per passage. If you can use multiple objectives then it works out a little better. I have used it for 3 years. After all this time there are still kinks in it. I have also found that even though it is touted as having a lot of passages, there really is a limited number of passages that have enough objectives to make a test of 10 items of various objectives. You can make items and add them but I don't know about the rest of you but I just don't have a lot of "leisure" time to make items. We have burned our students out on SPMS and I believe that is one reason our level went down. If you could use SPMS as one of your tools and use it where you are not hurting kids then it is a great tool. Sadly, that is not the way many are having to use it. On 9/28/07, Not all it's cracked up to be wrote: > The problem is most districts require that you use it and ban teacher-made > tests all together. It's simply not sufficient. > > On 9/28/07, girl in gulfport wrote: >> That is true. It does use alot of extra paper. It is one resource that can >> help though. It can also help teachers create other tests based upon those >> types of questions. >> One problem we had last year was assignments diappearing and then someone >> else's assignment showing up. >> >> On 9/28/07, Not all it's cracked up to be wrote: >>> To use SPMS, you'll need your MSIS number. That is the identifying number >>> the state department has for all teachers and students. >>> >>> There are major problems with SPMS though. There aren't enough questions >>> in the test banks. For example, if your reading skill is author's purpose >>> and you want to make a 10-question test on that skill, you may find seven >>> questions in SPMS on it. Then there will only be one question per >>> page-long passage. That's a seven page test for seven questions. >>> >>> Furthermore, the test format requires you to have many more pages than >>> necessary. If you are in a school or district that limits copies, good >>> luck to you getting them to actually copy the SPMS test you've gone >>> through the trouble to make. >>> >>> On 9/21/07, happy in 4th wrote: >>>> On the bright side, at least you have SPMS. We are going cold turkey. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 9/18/07, burned out already wrote: >>>>> That's exactly what we are doing now-using SPMS and rewriting all of >>>>> our materials. I am just flabbergasted at what we are expected to do >>>>> and on our own time. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 9/17/07, girl in gulfport wrote: >>>>>> Completely insanity! I cannot believe a district would do that. >>>>>> And they wonder why teachers burn out! >>>>>> >>>>>> On 9/17/07, happy in 4th wrote: >>>>>>> Mine would not do it. They want us to write the questions >>>>>>> instead. On our own time of course. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> happy in 4th >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On 9/16/07, girl in gulfport wrote: >>>>>>>> On 9/15/07, JE from MS wrote: >>>>>>>>> From my understanding, your district has to get an account >>>>>>>>> for SPMS in order to use it. They then supply student names >>>>>>>>> so you can load rosters and such for questions. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On 9/15/07, brinka wrote: >>>>>>>>>> i found the email address on this chatboard for spms and >>>>>>>>>> tried to get into it. i could not as it required a name >>>>>>>>>> and password that i had no idea what it was. please,if >>>>>>>>>> anyone knows how to get into this site i would greatly >>>>>>>>>> appreciate it. i think it would be so beneficial when we >>>>>>>>>> are trying to come up with our own test questions based on >>>>>>>>>> webb's dok. thanks...brinka >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Yes, this is correct. This is something the district sets up. >>>>>>>> I would pursue it, though. I can't believe there are districts >>>>>>>> that didn't take advantage of this resource.
I was looking for passages with questions on text organization. The only thing I could find on my grade level was sequential order/chronological order. Now tell me, do you think Vantage, the SPMS people, knows what will be on the MCT2 so all they have included is sequential order??? I think not since MDE is discouraging schools from buying programs that tout MCT2 practice (ex: Buckle Down and MCT Coach). On 9/28/07, girl in gulfport wrote: > That is true. It does use alot of extra paper. It is one resource that can > help though. It can also help teachers create other tests based upon those > types of questions. > One problem we had last year was assignments diappearing and then someone > else's assignment showing up. > > On 9/28/07, Not all it's cracked up to be wrote: >> To use SPMS, you'll need your MSIS number. That is the identifying number >> the state department has for all teachers and students. >> >> There are major problems with SPMS though. There aren't enough questions >> in the test banks. For example, if your reading skill is author's purpose >> and you want to make a 10-question test on that skill, you may find seven >> questions in SPMS on it. Then there will only be one question per >> page-long passage. That's a seven page test for seven questions. >> >> Furthermore, the test format requires you to have many more pages than >> necessary. If you are in a school or district that limits copies, good >> luck to you getting them to actually copy the SPMS test you've gone >> through the trouble to make. >> >> On 9/21/07, happy in 4th wrote: >>> On the bright side, at least you have SPMS. We are going cold turkey. >>> >>> >>> >>> On 9/18/07, burned out already wrote: >>>> That's exactly what we are doing now-using SPMS and rewriting all of >>>> our materials. I am just flabbergasted at what we are expected to do >>>> and on our own time. >>>> >>>> >>>> On 9/17/07, girl in gulfport wrote: >>>>> Completely insanity! I cannot believe a district would do that. >>>>> And they wonder why teachers burn out! >>>>> >>>>> On 9/17/07, happy in 4th wrote: >>>>>> Mine would not do it. They want us to write the questions >>>>>> instead. On our own time of course. >>>>>> >>>>>> happy in 4th >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On 9/16/07, girl in gulfport wrote: >>>>>>> On 9/15/07, JE from MS wrote: >>>>>>>> From my understanding, your district has to get an account >>>>>>>> for SPMS in order to use it. They then supply student names >>>>>>>> so you can load rosters and such for questions. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On 9/15/07, brinka wrote: >>>>>>>>> i found the email address on this chatboard for spms and >>>>>>>>> tried to get into it. i could not as it required a name >>>>>>>>> and password that i had no idea what it was. please,if >>>>>>>>> anyone knows how to get into this site i would greatly >>>>>>>>> appreciate it. i think it would be so beneficial when we >>>>>>>>> are trying to come up with our own test questions based on >>>>>>>>> webb's dok. thanks...brinka >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Yes, this is correct. This is something the district sets up. >>>>>>> I would pursue it, though. I can't believe there are districts >>>>>>> that didn't take advantage of this resource.
My fourth year at this school and we stayed a 3...again. It's depressing. We worked our behinds off this past year. Our middle and high schools got 2's. :( That was a decrease.
On 9/24/07, stayed the same wrote: > My fourth year at this school and we stayed a 3...again. > It's depressing. We worked our behinds off this past year. > Our middle and high schools got 2's. :( That was a > decrease.
Just wondering what you are getting to spend in your classroom. We were majorly disappointed and shocked at our school to find out that despite fully funded education, we are getting *less* than last year. :( After you buy ink and toner, there's hardly anything left.
We are getting $175.00 this year. A couple of years ago we got about $400.00 so our funds dropped also. However, we don't have to buy our paper or toner so that really helps out.
Well We are only getting $187. I learned today that we now have to give up $60 for the faculty copy supplies. Can they do this legally? That will only leave $127. This is terrible. The 1% is not being used as intended.
I am trying to write some questions for grade 6, objective 2b1 identify and infer main idea or topic.... and objective 2b3 infer cause and effect based on sequence of events .... I have looked at the item specs and don't see samples. 6th grade starts on p. 61. Can anyone give me some help??
nfm On 10/02/07, dok 2 wrote: > I am trying to write some questions for grade 6, objective > 2b1 identify and infer main idea or topic.... and > objective 2b3 infer cause and effect based on sequence of > events .... I have looked at the item specs and don't see > samples. 6th grade starts on p. 61. Can anyone give me > some help??
I don't think you can merge them without a lot of work. Or
at least not without great difficulty. We have been told
not to use a book but to just teach the objectives. It
seems to me that when you look at the language objectives
they are not related necessrily to the reading ones. Of
course, if you have ...See More