I made up my mind. I'm retiring. Retiring is not an end, but a beginning. I look forward to using the technology skills I've acquired in numerous ways.
When I became a teacher, I truly viewed my career as a 'calling', a vocation choice. After spending 25 years in the classroom, the past 14 years have been spent in technology and the integration of technology into the classroom. I've met so many wonderful people along my 'educational path'. Being a life long learner will not end with retirement.
I'm going out while I still love what I'm doing and still have a positive effect on the folks I work with. I don't know what the future holds, but that's a good thing. I imagine there will be a needed adjustment period, but I am ready. I am retiring!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Friday, April 27, 2012
May is just around the corner
April is nearing an end. I know that May is a busy month for educators. As I look ahead, I can't help but wonder what new challenges the month will bring.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thinkfinity: Florida Thinkfinity: FETC 2012
Thinkfinity: Florida Thinkfinity: FETC 2012
Will you be attending the FETC conference this year? What are you most interested in?
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Students at Ivey Lane Elementary School Achieve Dramatic Increases in Math Performance
MIND Research Institute’s Math Initiative provided pilot grants for a new visual math software program to Ivey Lane and 22 other schools in Orange County Public Schools
ORLANDO, FL, Sept. 7, 2011 – The non-profit education researcher MIND Research Institute announced that third-grade students and their teachers at Ivey Lane Elementary School using MIND’s ST Math® visual math software program achieved a dramatic 26-point gain in grade-level math achievement on the 2011 FCAT 2.0. Ivey Lane also finished 2010/11 in MIND’s top 10% nationally in completion of the challenging, web-based ST Math software, out of more than 1,000 schools in 24 states.
Ivey Lane was one of 23 schools in Orange County Public Schools to pilot the ST Math approach and software in 2010/11, which taps into students’ innate ability to reason their way through visual math puzzles covering Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State math standards. Schools implemented the program at grades 3, 4 or 5. The 23 schools participated in a philanthropically funded Orlando Math Initiative, receiving their software licenses at up to two grade levels free of charge in fall of 2010. Overall, the average results at these schools were also significant and positive, with an average 4-point increase in grade-level performance across all sites on the rigorous FCAT 2.0. The FCAT 2.0 is new, and by design in 2011 showed no net statewide gains.
Third graders at Ivey Lane achieved the most dramatic results. Grade-level math achievement went up by 26 points, from 59% in 2010 to 85% in 2011. And in 2011, the percentage of students at the lowest FCAT achievement level dropped from 9% to zero. These high gains, accompanied by record-high implementation of the new ST Math software program, are signs of outstanding dedication by the school staff to their students’ success with the assistance of the program.
“2010 was our first year piloting our unique program in Florida, and Orange County Public Schools, the pioneer district. So we were anxiously anticipating the results on Florida’s state-of-the-art Next Generation standards and FCAT 2.0 assessment. Thanks to the outstanding reception and implementation our Math Initiative received in Orlando, we are extremely pleased to report these increases in student math achievement,” said Andrew R. Coulson, Education Division President, MIND Research Institute.
“A total of 23 schools in the Orange County Public Schools began our math program last year with two grades enrolled. The Math Initiative continues to make licenses available to expand the program to all of grades K-5 at these sites, adding two grades per year,” continued Coulson. “Public/private partnerships with local schools and our corporate sponsors enabled us to get this pilot going, and great educator partners have shown what is possible in student math achievement gains.”
Funders for this pilot, as part of a scale-up across the United States, include PricewaterhouseCoopers, CISCO, Wells Fargo Foundation, and University of Phoenix Foundation.
“Wells Fargo is proud to support the communities we serve, including Orlando and the state of Florida. Investing in children’s education here is crucial to building a stronger tomorrow for everyone,” said Tim Hanlon, Wells Fargo’s head of philanthropy. “We commend the children and staff at Ivey Lane for their excellent accomplishments in math, as well as the MIND Research Institute for bringing innovative math programs to children across the nation.”
Math Initiative sites received MIND’s award-winning ST Math instructional software, teacher training, and real-time reports on student progress for teachers and principals. MIND Research proactively supports each school’s implementation throughout the year.
MIND Research Institute
The MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education research-based, non-profit corporation. MIND applies its distinctive visual approach to illustrating math concepts and building problem-solving skills as the basis for innovative, research-proven math education programs for elementary and secondary schools. MIND’s programs currently reach over 320,000 students and 13,000 teachers in more than 1,000 schools in 24 states. For more information, visit http://www.mindresearch.net.
ORLANDO, FL, Sept. 7, 2011 – The non-profit education researcher MIND Research Institute announced that third-grade students and their teachers at Ivey Lane Elementary School using MIND’s ST Math® visual math software program achieved a dramatic 26-point gain in grade-level math achievement on the 2011 FCAT 2.0. Ivey Lane also finished 2010/11 in MIND’s top 10% nationally in completion of the challenging, web-based ST Math software, out of more than 1,000 schools in 24 states.
Ivey Lane was one of 23 schools in Orange County Public Schools to pilot the ST Math approach and software in 2010/11, which taps into students’ innate ability to reason their way through visual math puzzles covering Florida’s Next Generation Sunshine State math standards. Schools implemented the program at grades 3, 4 or 5. The 23 schools participated in a philanthropically funded Orlando Math Initiative, receiving their software licenses at up to two grade levels free of charge in fall of 2010. Overall, the average results at these schools were also significant and positive, with an average 4-point increase in grade-level performance across all sites on the rigorous FCAT 2.0. The FCAT 2.0 is new, and by design in 2011 showed no net statewide gains.
Third graders at Ivey Lane achieved the most dramatic results. Grade-level math achievement went up by 26 points, from 59% in 2010 to 85% in 2011. And in 2011, the percentage of students at the lowest FCAT achievement level dropped from 9% to zero. These high gains, accompanied by record-high implementation of the new ST Math software program, are signs of outstanding dedication by the school staff to their students’ success with the assistance of the program.
“2010 was our first year piloting our unique program in Florida, and Orange County Public Schools, the pioneer district. So we were anxiously anticipating the results on Florida’s state-of-the-art Next Generation standards and FCAT 2.0 assessment. Thanks to the outstanding reception and implementation our Math Initiative received in Orlando, we are extremely pleased to report these increases in student math achievement,” said Andrew R. Coulson, Education Division President, MIND Research Institute.
“A total of 23 schools in the Orange County Public Schools began our math program last year with two grades enrolled. The Math Initiative continues to make licenses available to expand the program to all of grades K-5 at these sites, adding two grades per year,” continued Coulson. “Public/private partnerships with local schools and our corporate sponsors enabled us to get this pilot going, and great educator partners have shown what is possible in student math achievement gains.”
Funders for this pilot, as part of a scale-up across the United States, include PricewaterhouseCoopers, CISCO, Wells Fargo Foundation, and University of Phoenix Foundation.
“Wells Fargo is proud to support the communities we serve, including Orlando and the state of Florida. Investing in children’s education here is crucial to building a stronger tomorrow for everyone,” said Tim Hanlon, Wells Fargo’s head of philanthropy. “We commend the children and staff at Ivey Lane for their excellent accomplishments in math, as well as the MIND Research Institute for bringing innovative math programs to children across the nation.”
Math Initiative sites received MIND’s award-winning ST Math instructional software, teacher training, and real-time reports on student progress for teachers and principals. MIND Research proactively supports each school’s implementation throughout the year.
MIND Research Institute
The MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education research-based, non-profit corporation. MIND applies its distinctive visual approach to illustrating math concepts and building problem-solving skills as the basis for innovative, research-proven math education programs for elementary and secondary schools. MIND’s programs currently reach over 320,000 students and 13,000 teachers in more than 1,000 schools in 24 states. For more information, visit http://www.mindresearch.net.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Florida Budget
State and required local funding in Florida's public schools will drop by $1.3 billion. That's a $542.03, or 8 percent!
Courses covered by class size limits will be reduced from 849 to 304. Schools would be required to meet the limits of 18 students in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grades and 25 in high school only when head counts are taken in October. After that classes can exceed the limits by up to three students in kindergarten through third grade and by five in the other grades.
http://bit.ly/lEtEuN
Courses covered by class size limits will be reduced from 849 to 304. Schools would be required to meet the limits of 18 students in kindergarten through third grade, 22 in fourth through eighth grades and 25 in high school only when head counts are taken in October. After that classes can exceed the limits by up to three students in kindergarten through third grade and by five in the other grades.
http://bit.ly/lEtEuN
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