Friday, October 26, 2012

What's up with Pacifica Schools, K through 8



Achievement scores are up, even better than they were last year, and last year they were great.  Supervisor Wendy Tukloff asks Pacificans to vote yes on State Propositions 30 and 38 to protect school funding.
Pacifica Tribune/Wendy Tukloff, Superintendent of the Pacifica School District, 10/23/12.  "October update Pacifica School District preparing students for an evolving world."

Me too
I want to grow up to be an astronaut
 First, a congratulatory shoutout to our students, teachers and support staff for the fabulous STAR results, the state tests that measure student progress. Pacifica School District continues to make progress, with an 857 Academic Performance Index (API), a 13 point increase from last year. 

 ....  Many of our programs are underway -- After-School Robotics and High Tech Earth Awareness (the Pacifica program sponsored by San Mateo County); Academic Achievement Centers (formerly Homework Centers, supported through SMCOE); PEF 21st Century Learning Experiences (all grade levels will be experiencing activities throughout the year); PSV Parent Nights. 

We are truly working to provide the needed opportunities for our students to develop the 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and civility.   

Tuesday, Oct. 9, was the first day of the early voting period. Propositions 30 and 38 are both on the Nov. 6 ballot. Both measures provide needed funding for public education. Should both propositions pass, the one with the most votes will prevail.   Read article.  

Reference - Pacifica School District.

Related - U.S. Department of Education, STAR Schools Program, discretionary/Competitive Grants.
"Encouraged improved instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, and other subjects.
  And.served underserved populations, including disadvantaged, nonreading, and limited English proficient (LEP) populations and individuals with disabilities. Star Schools grants were made to eligible telecommunications partnerships, to enable such partnerships to: (1) develop, construct, acquire, maintain, and operate telecommunications audio and visual facilities and equipment; (2) develop and acquire educational and instructional programming; and (3) obtain technical assistance for the use of such facilities and instructional programming."  Pacifica School District STAR program. 

Related - San Mateo County, Academic Performance Index (API) Report.








Posted by Kathy Meeh

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

Didn't my property taxes get raised because of funding approved for k-8 and recently for 9-12?

I think so. So anything else is for somebody else. Meaning, it goes to Washington, D.C. Not sacramento, to Washington, D.C. Don't believe the propaganda. Vote no on all tax increases.

Anonymous said...

Kids are going to be starting basic algebra in the first grade starting next year.

The kids today are light years ahead of us.

Steve Sinai said...

"Kids are going to be starting basic algebra in the first grade starting next year."

I find that very hard believe.

Lionel Emde said...

"Tuesday, Oct. 9, was the first day of the early voting period. Propositions 30 and 38 are both on the Nov. 6 ballot. Both measures provide needed funding for public education. Should both propositions pass, the one with the most votes will prevail."

While I thought 30 was the more reasonable of the two props, what they don't tell you is that much of the initial funding goes to pay down debt rather than the advertised help for schools. This is true for both of these props.

Prop 38 is ridiculous- people with a taxable income of as low as $8,000 would see an increase in their taxes - only a billionaire would think this is a good idea, and that's who thought this one up.

Anonymous said...

It depends on what you call "algebra."

Anonymous said...

If I have 4 apples and I give away some apples so I only have 1 apple left, how many apples did I give away?

Solve for X apples. That's algebra.

Anonymous said...

http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200301/Algebra.pdf\

http://mason.gmu.edu/~jsuh4/algebrarithmetic.pdf

http://www.math.ccsu.edu/mitchell/math409tcmalgebraicreasoningearlygrades.pdf

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-07-09/math-education-remedial-algebra/56118128/1

Kathy Meeh said...

Algebraic reasoning in the early grades.

What could be more fun? Thanks, Anonymous 5:57 AM.

Steve Sinai said...

The article that Kathy linked to was absolutely unreadable. If the woman who wrote the article, Erna Yackel, exemplifies the thinking of people responsible for developing K-12 math curriculums, it's no wonder kids have such a hard time learning math.

I was looking at the math curriculum for first graders in California, and they mentioned they wanted to teach "algebraic thinking" rather than algebra.

Anonymous said...

The plural of "curriculum" is "curricula"

Kathy Meeh said...

"The article that Kathy linked to was absolutely unreadable." Steve Sinai, 11:12 AM

Just the 3rd article linked from Anonymous 5:57 AM. Note: the Perdue University author apparently teaches students who plan to be teachers. This article appears to be from a professional journal. That said, I understand why elementary educator descriptions would drive any smart guy nuts.

Monkey calculation. Consideration of 6 ways, 6 monkeys can be in 2 trees. That is basic complex thinking.

Rectangle problems. Similar consideration. Requires additional complex, abstract calculation and visual/spatial reasoning. Both are thought problems.

Kathy Meeh said...

The plural of "curriculum" is "curricula". Or "curriculums", Anonymous 12:36 PM. Merriam Webster: "curriculum, plural curricula, also curriculums."

Would it be better to remove your petty comment?

Anonymous said...

ANON1236 has it right.

"curricula" is the proper plural of "curriculum". "curriculums" is the acceptable, lazy English plural. But educated people in the education field use "curricula"

Kathy Meeh said...

Not that anyone particularly cares, but the most contemporary plural of curriculum, appears to be CURRICULUMS, not curricula, Anonymous 2:32 PM. The word people may use in the "Education field" is of interest, but its an esoteric, inconsequential detail, not "lazy" and not as common to the general population.

From Sue Butler, Publisher of the Macquarie Dictionary: "... From my point of view as a lexicographer I would say that the tide has turned on these words at least in the general domain, and that while there may be a few who cling to "curricula" and "referenda", the vast majority prefer to regard this set as properly assimilated into English and taking English plurals.

On a simple count in a large database of AAP news reports, there are 28 "curricula" to 326 "CURRICULUMS", 91 "referenda" to 3746 "referendums". Ten years ago there were 16 "gymnasia", now there are 4. "Vacua" cannot be found anywhere. So the trend is clear.

At the moment however it is still the case that "curriculums" and "curricula", "referendums" and "referenda", are acceptable variants within the community. So "curricula" is as correct, that is, considered to be as much standard usage by the language community, as "curriculums". It is up to each individual to decide what their preference is. But whatever their preference is they should be allowed to use it. Equally they should be respectful of the legitimate choices made by others."

Anonymous said...

What in the world did you just say??

Anonymous said...

law schools and higher education all use "curricula" as the plural. "Curriculums" is acceptable to lazy simpletons.

Anonymous said...

"Curriculums" may be used by AP medium/media types (maybe they SHOULD call themselves "mediums"), but it is correct only in the sense of it being used. If you want to consider usage a sign of a proper plural, even though that usage is technically wrong, I guess that is one way to mangle the language. Typical Pacifica, we just keep doing it wrong until it becomes right.

Anonymous said...

so what do you call more than one CV ("curriculum vita")??

Curriculums vitas??

or the more proper "curricula vitae"?

Anonymous said...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macquarie_Dictionary

this is in Australia. now we go to Australia to fact check our grammar???

Anonymous said...

"curriculums" is only correct because too many people have used it incorrectly in place of "curricula". Higher education and law both use "curricula" as the proper plural.

Anonymous said...

educated = smart

draw your own conclusions. I find it ironic that people criticizing education would use an improper plural of a noun.

Anonymous said...

so Meeh's argument is that because the uneducated lackeys in the media use a word improperly, it is OK. yes, trust the media to guide us!

Anonymous said...

I vant ze proof! ze proof!

Anonymous said...

Also, it's "Purdue" not "Perdue".

Go Giants!

Kathy Meeh said...

"It's "Prudue not "Perdue", same annoying Anonymous 5:31 PM.

That's correct, but your obsessive interest in excellent spelling and perfect grammatical barbs, rather than an ability to think about issues, is of no interest to me.

Kathy Meeh said...

"..this is in Australia." Same annoying Anonymous 5:08 PM

True, the lexicographer and the Macquarie Dictionary are Australian. Didn't notice until the comment was posted. Then it seemed worth waiting to see how long it would take you to open the link. Apparently you did not open the link, but instead you went to "high education" Wikipedia for the answer.

Anonymous said...

This is an article about schools. I guess the ability spell (or lack of said ability) is relevant.

Anonymous said...

http://www.macmillan.com.au/macquarie.html

is that better?

Anonymous said...

curriculums is popular but it is wrong. Just because something is used by a lot of people, doesn't by definition make it correct.

Anonymous said...

people who speak on education should be eductaed. That is my position.