Underachieving Oregon: 3 West Albany High seniors graduate with extra help getting on track

June 5, 2015 from the Oregonian (OregonLive.com)

Written by Laura Frasier

Audience: Public, Parents, Educators, Students, Government

Link to OregonLive.com article

The Oregonian article shows some things that are going well in the Oregon Education system. West Albany seems to have the resources and made the priority to meeting students individual needs. The article didn't seem to indicate that the students received or did not receive Sped Services. The individual stories highlighted in the new article are part of the story of success for West Albany. The backgrounds of the students were varied and needs were different. What was key to their success was a program that gave them extra academic and organizational support. They benefited use of contracts signed with their teachers and use of non-traditional classes and on-line.

Flipped classroom: Southridge High students learn lessons at home, do homework in class

Flipped classroom: Southridge High students learn lessons at home, do homework in class
Published in The Oregonian on March 25th, 2015
By Wendy Owen
http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2015/03/flipped_classroom_southridge_h.html#incart_river

Oregon and History

Kimberly Melton
Do you know your Oregon history? The Oregonian's quiz reveals mixed results
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/05/quiz_results_test_your_knowled.html
5/9/2011
Topic: History

Oregon senator thinks that students and other citizens will benefit if there was an increase in teaching Oregon history. The argument against is that there is no time, effort, money. The Oregonian offered a history quiz and people did not fair very well.

Key Points: Oregonians don’t know very much about Oregon History

Relevance: The quiz was fact based. How many times have we discussed in class about history, and that it is often thought of as a subject where you must memorize dates, locations, and people? This quiz only added to the stereotype (is it a stereotype if it’s true?) They offered a little bit of information about a pro-slavery governor, but as our Presidents and Slaves chapter in RSS, and in our day of Race Literacy, how much information about Oregon’s legal racism will, or is offered to be taught? Just an interesting read.

Children react to Osama's Death

The Fine Bros
Kids React to Osama bin Laden’s Death
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pkKNPEU8oc
5/10/2011
Topic: kids and current events

This video has a few children watch President Obama’s speech on the death of Osama bin Laden. Afterwards, they are interviewed on their thoughts of the event, along with personal questions on what children really think about Osama, and America. Intended Audience: Everyone.

Key Points: Some children actually have their own (questionable?) opinions on current events, such as the death of Osama bin Laden, while others do not really know who Osama is or why we should or should not care about his death.

Relevance: We often speak about community, and the community of the parents. After watching this video, I wonder how these kids formed their opinion---by mimicking what the parents say? Their peers? This just goes to show you how influential kids can be, something to keep in mind in your own classrooms.

Run. Just Do It.

Casey Parks
Teacher at Hillsboro’s Liberty High inspires unlikely athletes to excel in Liberty Fit running club
http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2011/04/teacher_at_hillsboros_liberty_high_inspires_unlikely_athletes_to_excel_in_liberty_fit_running_club.html
Retrieved 4/18/2011
Topic: Student fitness

Laurie Jenkins, health teacher and leader of Liberty High’s Liberty Fit, inspires and pushes students who don’t normally exercise to train for the Helvetia Half Marathon in June. Students are training for the 13 mile run with the help from a few running techniques, and motivation provided by Jenkins

Key points: teacher is doing a good job in motivating students to run, providing them a goal of 13 miles, offering different options of participation

Relevance: It is neat that this health teacher is getting students involved in running. I think many students would rather lift weights than to go running. Getting students involved in a group activity, and providing a goal is a great way to motivate exercise.

High-performing teachers get more money

Betsy Hammond
Feds insist on giving Oregon millions more to pay for high-performing teachers
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/04/feds_insist_on_giving_oregon_m.html
4/18/2011
Topic: Teacher salaries

A group called the Chalkboard Project was awarded $13 million to improve the quality of teacher for a few Oregon school districts. Federals have urged the group to apply for more money, and the group gained another $11 million to pay for high-performing educators.

Key point: each school district will design their own way of determining who qualifies as high-performing teacher,

Relevance: There is financial hope! (if you are deemed worthy of being a good teacher). What does high-performance mean? Teacher’s who get their student’s to score high on tests? Does that really mean they are worthy of the bonus? Sounds to me like this might cause more damage than good. But we shall see…

Sink or Swim

Wendy Owen
Intel surprises Beaverton and Hillsboro schools with influx of Israeli families
http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/index.ssf/2011/04/intel_surprises_beaverton_and_hillsboro_schools_with_influx_of_israeli_families_sending_principals_and_teachers_scramb.html
4/16/2011
Topic: student influx

Intel has brought around 300 Israeli families as part of a training program to their campus, adding around 400 children to the area. Children are flooding the Beaverton and Hillsboro schools, and with little warning, teachers and administrators are scrambling to accommodate these kids into classes and with supplies. Intended audience: Beaverton and Hillsboro area parents and students

Key points: Intel is offering no amount of funding for the lack of supplies; schools are trying to figure out ESL classes for the kids,

Relevance: We were discussing the pros and cons of a track program and full immersion program for students who do not speak English. I feel like many of these students feel like they are being fully immersed in English speaking culture, it is time for sink or swim right? I am curious how this all turns out…

Hillsboro School District Allows Boy with Autism to Have His Dog in Class

Article Author name: Wendy Owen
Title of article: Hillsboro School District Allows Boy with Autism to Have His Dog in Class
Title of journal: The Oregonian
Date of publication: Friday March 4, 2011

http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2011/03/hillsboro_school_district_allows_boy_with_autism_to_have_his_dog_in_class.html

Intended audience: Policy makers, administrators, educators students and parents

After three years of petitioning the Hillsboro School District to allow 4th grade student Jordan “Scooter” Givens to have his German Shepard companion Madison in class, he has won the right. The Department of Justice formally “requested” that Scooter and Madison be given a trial period after the DOJ, along with Disability Rights Oregon, filed a lawsuit against the district. Scooter’s mom, Wendy, is grateful for the result but can’t help wonder how much Scooter could have accomplished during the last three years had they not had to wait for this result. Scooter often has violent and loud outbursts as a result of his autism which, the Givens insist, can be curbed by the calming presence of the family dog, which will be trained as a service dog. Scooter wears a belt that’s attached to Madison’s harness, and when a meltdown occurs, Madison is able to hunker down which prevents Scooter from flailing and becoming dangerous. Madison often calms Scooter by placing on a kind arm on his arm or leg, or if Scooter has a tantrum on the floor Madison is able to lay beside or on top of him to stop the panic attack. Ultimately, the school district and the Department of Justice agreed that it made more sense to compromise on a practical solution as opposed to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in the litigation of a rights violation.

Anytime a new precedent is set within the schools I think it becomes relevant to people within the community, especially the teachers, parents and students. This change will not only pave the way for other students with similar needs, but it affects the teachers facilitating the class as well as other students participating in the class. Is this going to distract other students, or will it work to advantage other students within special education classes? I’m really curious to see how this policy affects the classroom, and of course my hope is that the service dog will do a great service for the learning of those with disabilities, and prove that the benefit of this exception far outweighs any negative consequences.

Advanced Placement scores increase in Oregon

Kimberly Melton

More Oregon students get high marks on Advanced Placement tests

http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/02/more_oregon_students_get_high.html

Date Retrieved: 2/14/2011

Topic: Advanced Placement classes

2010 held a record high for Oregon student enrollment in Advanced Placement courses. The College Board’s AP Report to the Nation outlines a 6% increase in AP student performance from the previous 2009 year. The article focuses on the increase of performance and enrollment of students in low-income, ethnic and underrepresented communities. Intended Audience: Everyone.

Key Points:

-There has been a gradual increase in Oregon students participating in the AP program since 2001

-US History is outlined as the most popular AP exam, with English as second.

-Oregon has the highest passing rates in exams for Chinese Language & Culture, Studio Art, Calculus BC and Japanese Language and Culture.

Relevance: As future educators, I think it is important to encourage students to participate in AP courses, not to flaunt passing test scores, but to offer students richer and deeper education and subject content—assuming the classes are designed for these reasons. An important thing to keep in mind is that students who pass these exams with scores of 3 or higher are often given college credit, helping their chances in being accepted to colleges and universities, and preparing them for college level work. I am curious to see what kinds of programs schools are using to encourage students of low-income and underrepresented communities to take AP classes. I am also curious to see if these schools are following through completely—helping underrepresented students get accepted to colleges-- not just stopping the encouragement once the test scores come back.

Virtual Teaching of Chinese Language

Wendy Owen

Shortage of Chinese language teachers in Oregon prompts virtual classes with educators in China

http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2011/02/shortage_of_chinese_language_teachers_prompts_virtual_classes_with_educators_in_china.html

2/6/2011

Topic: Teaching Chinese through virtual classes

The Education Service District is planning to offer Mandarin Chinese language classes in Oregon taught by teachers in China, through online courses. The article discusses how Chinese is replacing other foreign languages in many Oregon schools, but since TSPC does not offer an endorsement in Chinese language, it is difficult to acquire licensed Chinese language teachers. Classes will cost $600 per semester, per student, with a maximum of 10 students per class. Intended Audience: the Beaverton school district, students wanting to learn Chinese.

Key Points:

-The program teachers are recent graduates, mostly working out of Beijing University

-State law does not require the teachers to be certified to teach in Oregon; however ESD will ensure all of their virtual teachers will hold a license.

-The Confucius Institute at PSU will provide teachers from China to schools who apply for the program. They will serve as full-time assistants to the Mandarin language teachers.

-myChinese360, the company providing the program, is planning on sending teachers to the United States in the near future.

Relevance: This article is relevant to some of the key ideas we have been talking about in class. The first is the idea of technology. I think this is a great example of how technology can be integrated with education. It is interesting to see how this program will influence the future of virtual classes and teachers. Also there is an interesting idea of cross cultural learning. In this instance, teachers from China will experience what it is like to teach to American students, and not only that, but a I feel a new “virtual culture” will spawn from this program—the idea of a virtual learning and virtual teaching, teaching while not being physically present amongst students.

Tuition Equity Bill

Kimberly Melton

Oregon Students, legislators announce bill to allow undocumented youth to pay in-state tuition at Oregon colleges

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/02/oregon_students_legislators_an.html

Date Retrieved: 2/14/2011

Topic: Tuition Equity Bill

Currently, if you are an undocumented student, you will pay out of state tuition if you wish to attend a college or university. This article discusses the “tuition equity” bill which, if it passes, would allow undocumented students who have attended an Oregon high school for three concurrent years to pay in-state tuition. Intended Audience: Teachers preparing student’s for higher education, undocumented students and their parents.

Key Points:

-In order to qualify for in-state tuition, the student must have attended an Oregon high school for three concurrent years, graduate from an Oregon high school, be admitted into an Oregon University System institution, and be actively working towards U.S. Citizenship.

-The bill will help increase Oregon income above the national average

-The bill stresses the difference between tuition equity and the immigration debate

Relevance: Even though our program is preparing us for teaching K-12 students, this is still relevant to us because we will have undocumented students in our classrooms. Most likely you will encounter a student who you will want to encourage them to pursue a higher education, but they will come across that financial obstacle. If this bill passes, it will help lower the tuition cost, even if by a little, but some help is better than none.

Focusing on Recruiting New Teachers

Susan Nielsen

Oregon’s Other Gap: Teachers vent, and weary public rants right back.

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/susan_nielsen/index.ssf/2011/02/oregonss_other_gap_teachers_ve.html#incart_hbx

Date Retrieved 2/2/2011

Topic: Teacher recruitment

The article discusses the growing opinion gap between teachers and everyone else connected to a school system. In January, the editor wrote about the importance of recruiting newer, more qualified teachers for Oregon schools. Rather than receiving ideas on how this can be achieved, the editor received opposing opinions about the teaching profession, what teachers need, and what teachers are just whining about. The article stresses that both sides need to put their personal vents aside and come together to solve the issue on how to recruit better teachers. Intended Audience: Teachers and anyone else concerned about Oregon schools.

Key Points:

-Teachers join unions to fight against budget cuts and have job security, while the public thinks teacher unions are the biggest obstacles to overcome in education.

-The concept of seniority in schools is outdated, how can we recruit and retain good teachers?

-Gov. John Kitzhaber is proposing $5.56 billion for K-12 schools, which is not enough for future issues such as an increasing rate of students in schools

-Both teachers and the public need to keep their personal vents aside in order to figure out ways to keep better qualified teachers in schools

Relevance: This is relevant to us, as new teachers competing against teachers who have a high seniority status in the schools we want to teach in. This also those who have children in schools; people are always talking about recruiting and retaining the best teachers for your children, how can that be achieved?