PARCC MA Community Meeting at Bridgewater State University on Monday, March 3, 2014 5:00-7:00 p.m.

There will be a PARCC MA Community informational meeting at Bridgewater State University on Monday, March 3, 2014 5:00-7:00 p.m.  All are invited and encouraged to attend.  Liz Haskell will attend the meeting and will plan some informational meetings throughout the month of March.  If you are interested in more information and you cannot attend the meeting, e-mail Liz at ehaskell@middleboro.k12.ma.us

PARCC Informational Meeting Information

PARCC MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Understanding the PARCC Field Test

The best education in the country today is happening in Massachusetts. In English language arts and math proficiency, our students are ahead of all other states and right near the top internationally. 

However, we know that not all students are enjoying the same level of success. That is why Massachusetts has invested in new academic learning standards in English language arts and math; and why we are developing a new testing program to measure student progress.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a multi-state project to develop a new computer-based testing program that will provide clearer signals to educators and parents about students' readiness for the next grade level and for success after high school. 

This spring, students in more than 340 districts will be “testing the test” to ensure that the questions are fair, on grade level, and measure the intended skills. If the “field test” shows that PARCC is successful, then Massachusetts will consider replacing MCAS with the PARCC assessment system.

Please join us at one of these important community meeting to learn more about PARCC, this spring’s field test, and what it means for you, your students, your child, and the entire community.


PARCC Community Meeting Dates and Locations

*Additional dates and locations may be added. Registration is not required, but recommended so that we can better plan the events.

-March 3, 3:00-5:00--Bridgewater State University, John Joseph Moakley Center, 131 Summer St., Bridgewater, MA, 02325

-March 10, 3:00-5:00--Greater Lowell Regional Technical High School, Auditorium, 250 Pawtucket Blvd., Tyngsborough, MA 01879

-March 13, 5:00-7:00--Boston Teachers Union Hall, 180 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester, MA 02125 (entrance is off of Day Blvd.)

-March 18, 6:30-8:30--Framingham State University, Dwight Hall Performing Arts Center, 100 State St., Framingham, MA, 01701

-March 20, 3:00-5:00 and 6:30-8:30--Holyoke High School, 500 Beech St., Holyoke, MA 01040

-March 26, 6:30-8:30--Tahanto Regional Middle/High School, 1001 Main St., Boylston, MA 01505

-March 31, 3:00-5:00--Berkshire Community College, Campus Cafeteria, 1350 West St., Pittsfield, MA 01201

Happy February Vacation!

May everyone have a super-fun February vacation!  Stay safe and warm, recharge your batteries and rejuvenate!  Thank you for all that you do everyday to improve teaching and learning!

Mandarin Chinese offered at Middleborough High School beginning in the Fall of 2014

Top 10 Reasons to Study Mandarin Chinese

1. Over 1 billion people speak Mandarin world wide

2. International businesses prefer to hire  people who speak more than one language

3. Chinese has been deemed a critical language of study by the US government

4. In addition to China, Mandarin is a common language in Taiwan , Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia

5. Chinese has relatively uncomplicated grammar with no verb conjugation

6. China is the second largest economy in the world

7. China is one of the United States largest trading partners

8. Many US companies  do business with China and have long term investments there

9. Basic Chinese word order is the same as English language word order

10. The study of Chinese language and culture is crucial for effective communication and understanding in today’s global economy

Middleborough High School Mandarin Chinese 

Program Features

• Online learning environment that supports college & career readiness
• Online support of a licensed Mandarin Chinese teacher 
• Face-to-face support of an MHS foreign language teacher
• Fulfills MHS graduation requirement 
• Possibility of  future study abroad in Asia

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards!

This year, four young artists of NMS, Peter Colagero, Matthew Crowley, Melissa Foley and Katelyn Harrington have won Honorable Mentions in the Scholastic Art and Writing Contest!Young Artist, Alexa Cushing, from MHS, has earned a Silver Key! This contest has a legacy dating back to 1923 and is the longest running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in our nation.

The Alliance partners with more than 100 visual and literacy-arts programs nationwide to bring the Awards to localcommunities each year. Students in grades 7-12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to have their works published or exhibited.  The Awards are the nation’s largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers. In just the last five years, more than 60 top arts institutes and colleges have partnered with the Awards to make $40 million in scholarships and financial aid available to Scholastic Award winners.

Submissions are juried by a panel of noteworthy professionals, some of whom are past award recipients. The judges look for works that “best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of personal voice or vision”.

Congratulations to our winners!

Pictured from left to right from NMS:  Peter Colagero (who earned two), Melissa Foley, Matthew Crowley. In front:  Katelyn Harrington

Pictured from MHS:  Alexa Cushing

 

Middleborough High School and Nichols Middle School Fall Musicals

Congratulations to Beth Anne Young, Justin Pittsley, and Eliza Thornton for two great productions in our Middleborough secondary schools this fall: MHS's High School Musical and NMS's Once Upon a Mattress.  The students were great!  Thank you all for the time, energy and effort that goes into such entertaining productions!

The Common Core State Standards and Civics Education

"The Common Core State Standards could revive the civic mission of schools, writes Anne O'Brien, deputy director of the Learning First Alliance. In this blog post, she writes about the portions of the common core that speak directly to civic involvement, including its focus on information texts and understanding the ideas of others. She also shares a number of suggestions on how to tie civics to the common core, such as exploring how public-policy issues might be solved through science."

The Common Core and Civics Education

"Blizzard Bags" on another snow day

"A snow day isn’t what it used to be for some students in the Granite State. Many New Hampshire schools are adopting what are known as blizzard bag days."  Check out this story from NPR.  Is this something you would consider as we count down the days until MCAS and AP Tests that will arrive at the same time no matter how many snow days we have?  Share your thoughts!

Blizzard Bags on NPR

Embracing Messy Learning | Edutopia

It is such a shift in thinking for so many of us who were students in classrooms where the learning was planned, instruction was given, we followed the clear guidelines that were outlined for us, and completed the assignment-our best work every step of the way.  The process of learning in the 21st Century is much less shiny and polished, but rather messy, student-driven, and teacher-facilitated.  It can be so uncomfortable at first, but the outcome and learning are worth it!

Embracing Messy Learning | Edutopia

4 Steps to Making Rigorous Discussion a Routine | Edutopia

As we encourage students to speak more and share their ideas in class, take a look at how we can make rigorous discussion part of our classroom routines.

4 Steps to Making Rigorous Discussion a Routine | Edutopia

Teaching the Essential Skills of the Mobile Classroom | Edutopia

As we implement the use of our Acer Tablets at MHS and look forward to tablet technology at NMS, this blog post is worth a look!

Teaching the Essential Skills of the Mobile Classroom | Edutopia

Massachusetts PBS Learning Media

The PBS Learning Media site has some great video clips for teachers and students on a variety of subjects and grade levels.  It is free.  All you have to do is register, and the resources are there!  Please share any videos that you use so we can check them out!

This Week's Theme: Spotlight on Black History

Introduce your students to the African American leaders, artists, thinkers, educators, and influential figures that have shaped our nation's history! Use the featured resources below to inspire your lesson planning and to keep up with special events & downloads from PBS LearningMedia.

Massachusetts PBS Learning Media

The Difference Between Learners and Students | Edutopia

Nichols Middle School Principal, Marty Geoghegan shared this with us last summer, but I thought it was worth another look!

The Difference Between Learners and Students | Edutopia

Project-Based Learning | Edutopia

As we redesign and create our UbD Curriculum Units throughout the district, this resource may be interesting when we look at Curriculum Embedded Performance Assessments (CEPAs) that align with our standards-based units.  Share your successes or stumbling blocks!

Project-Based Learning | Edutopia

Nine Strategies for Reaching All Learners in English Language Arts | Edutopia

Shared by Nichols Middle School Principal, Marty Geoghegan.  Share with us any of the strategies that you try or use, and how they worked!



Nine Strategies for Reaching All Learners in English Language Arts | Edutopia

Seven Ways to Prevent Summer Learning Loss

Summer seems so far away in the middle of our Snowy New England winter, but maybe we will be inspired by this piece as we look forward to sun and fun!

Seven Ways to Prevent Summer Learning Loss