Miami Dade County Teacher of the Year 2011: July 2010

Thoughts to live and teach by...

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandi

"Go forth and set the world on fire."-St. Ignatius Loyola

"Risk more than other think is safe, care more than others think is wise. dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible."- cadet maxim

A Shaman once was approached by someone seeking advice. He said, "who wins, the bad dog or the good dog?" The Shaman replies, "the one you feed the most."----Can we apply this to education? Let's feed our students knowledge, so they win.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

District Interim Assessment review committee

This week I had the opportunity to review interim assessment test items that are being written by ETS. This was a unique opportunity for me to understand testing, test bias, and connections to benchmarks. This was a perfect setting for me to dive into the NG SSS and fully understand them. It was also a perfect time to network with others in my field, make connections, and share wonderful ideas. I suggest all English teachers take a good look at the NG SSS because they really are a little bit different than the old SSS. New task card and pacing guides to accompany our new text books for the 2010-2011 school year are being created as we speak. Best successes this upcoming year.

"In Need of a Renaissance"

Recently, Diane Ravitch published an article in American Educator. Her article, a summary of her new book, is poignant, moving, realistic, logical, and what we need in American education. I find her experiences and truthfulness to be enlightening and motivating. Some of the ideas presented in her article, all teachers and stakeholders in education should take into consideration:

the following are direct quotes from the aforementioned article:

I have tried to show in my work the persistene of our national infatuation with fads, movements, and reforms, which invariably distract us from the steadiness of purpose needed to improve our schools.

Testing, I realized with dismay, had become a central preoccupation in the schools and was not just a measure but an end in itself. I came to believe that accountability, as written into federal law, was not raising standards but dumbing down schools as states and districgts strive to meet unrealistic targets.

It is time for those who want to improve our schools to focus on the essentials of education.

We must make sure that our schools have a strong, coherent, explicit curriculum that is grounded in liberal arts and sciences, with plenty of opportunities for children to engage in activities and projects that make learning lively.

An English language arts curriculum without literature--real, named books of lasting importance--is no English curriculum at all.

Teachers must be well educated and know their subjects. To impart a love of learning, they should love learning and love teaching what they know.

Families must do their part to get children ready for school.

The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How testing and choice are undermining education.
www.dianeravtich .com

FCAT 2010 Bragging time!

There is nothing more satisfying as a teacher when students succeed, show excitment about learning, and of course, pass a state test with flying colors.

I have worked so hard this year to challenge my students and build success with hands on strategies, challenging materials, technology, and lost of high expectations. So, when I received my students' FCAT scores this first week of July, I am so proud of our hard work.

23 of my 8th graders earned a 5 in reading, 48 earned a 4, 34 earned a 3.....see why I am smiling!

29 of my 8th grade students earned a 6 in writing, 32 earned a 5, 42 earned a 4, 8 earned a 3....keep smiling.

10 of my 12 at risk homeroom students, who I mentor, passed the FCAT.

Another reason teaching is so rewarding! with hard work of course.

Miami Dade County Teacher of the Year 2011

Teaching is my Passion!

Cristine O'Hara

Thoughts to live and teach by...

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Question of the year

Saturday, July 3, 2010

District Interim Assessment review committee

Teacher Visitors

Blog Archive

About Me

7 habits of good readers

"In Need of a Renaissance"

FCAT 2010 Bragging time!

What is your favorite book?

Some of My Favorite Books