Here is one more link to a free educational game you may be interested in. If you click on Immune Attack
and use the game, which allows students to drive nanobots through the bloodstream, let me know what you think. If you find other free educational games on the web, let me know. We may use it at SLE. - JH
Posted using ShareThis
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Study: Inexpensive Games Improve Children’s Reasoning Ability
Kids everywhere should love to hear their principal say this, "Students, play your Nintendos!"
Not all video games are bad for kids. It seems that many are very good for them. Japan is on the leading edge of using handheld games to teach and tutor students. Go to Study: Inexpensive Games Improve Children’s Reasoning Ability » Spotlight to learn more. - JH
Not all video games are bad for kids. It seems that many are very good for them. Japan is on the leading edge of using handheld games to teach and tutor students. Go to Study: Inexpensive Games Improve Children’s Reasoning Ability » Spotlight to learn more. - JH
Why Educators Should Embrace Texting, Tweeting and All That Mobile Technology Has to Offer » Spotlight
Here is another thought provoking article about a current trend that all teachers and parents should be interested in. I became interested in using social networking platforms, such as Blogger and Facebook, and emailing as educational tools after attending a workshop last year. I believe teachers and parents should be in the driver's seat when it comes to teaching children how to use these tools responsibly. Young people are going to learn to use them one way or the other, so we adults should learn to show them the correct way.
Click on: PLAYBACK: Why Educators Should Embrace Texting, Tweeting and All That Mobile Technology Has to Offer » Spotlight and give me some feedback. - JH
Click on: PLAYBACK: Why Educators Should Embrace Texting, Tweeting and All That Mobile Technology Has to Offer » Spotlight and give me some feedback. - JH
Can Gaming Change Education?
Here is an interesting article about how gaming IS changing education. Teachers, parents, and students will find it interesting. Click on: PLAYBACK: Can Gaming Change Education? » Spotlight.
If your children received video games and systems for Christmas, tell me what types of games they like. Have you checked into the educational features of your child's games? If you are interested in learning about what kinds of educational games are available for your child's entertainment system, contact me. - JH
If your children received video games and systems for Christmas, tell me what types of games they like. Have you checked into the educational features of your child's games? If you are interested in learning about what kinds of educational games are available for your child's entertainment system, contact me. - JH
Check Out This Free Download!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Teacher Survey
Teachers, if you have not taken the January survey I published with Google docs, please go to this link and try it. Thanks,
JH
JH
Thursday, December 24, 2009
A Call To Arms To Improve Performance Label
I hope you've read the front page article in the November 26 issue of The Carthaginian about our local schools. We at SLE have known for quite some time that the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) would be labeling us as a "Failing" school, but we were not permitted to discuss it publically until now. So, let's start discussing it.
As the article stated, and as your children's teachers have been telling you, the new accountability model that has been put into place by the MDE has truly raised the bar for what we must reach to be labeled "successful." Gone are the Levels 1 through 5. They are replaced by seven categories. Here they are from highest to lowest:
As the article stated, SLE, SLHS, and TAC are labeled as "Failing" schools. I promise you that this is not a reflection of our school's true worth. This does not reflect the dedication of our teachers or the hard work of our students and parents. However, it does reflect how well our students did on the MCT2, the state science test, and the state writing tests. The high schools have additional assessment standards they have to reach. The main thing to note here is that, as much as we love our school and the wonderful people involved in it, no one benefits from our school being labeled "failing."
I encourage you to plan to attend the public meetings that will be announced soon to inform the public of the MDE findings and what we are doing as a result. In the meantime, contact me, the SLE principal, if you have any questions, comments or want to know how you can help your children succeed in school. - JH
SLE Principal Jimmy Henderson shares the school's school improvement plans with the congregations of Truelight MB Church and Jones Chapel MB Church in December.
As the article stated, and as your children's teachers have been telling you, the new accountability model that has been put into place by the MDE has truly raised the bar for what we must reach to be labeled "successful." Gone are the Levels 1 through 5. They are replaced by seven categories. Here they are from highest to lowest:
Star School
High Performing
Successful
Academic Watch
Low-Performing School
At Risk of Failing
Failing
As the article stated, SLE, SLHS, and TAC are labeled as "Failing" schools. I promise you that this is not a reflection of our school's true worth. This does not reflect the dedication of our teachers or the hard work of our students and parents. However, it does reflect how well our students did on the MCT2, the state science test, and the state writing tests. The high schools have additional assessment standards they have to reach. The main thing to note here is that, as much as we love our school and the wonderful people involved in it, no one benefits from our school being labeled "failing."
SLE Principal Jimmy Henderson shares the school's school improvement plans with the congregations of Truelight MB Church and Jones Chapel MB Church in December.
SLE Loses Two Teachers
SLE lost two teachers over the Christmas holidays. Mrs. Farrell will be moved to Carthage Elementary School and Mrs. Landrum will be moved to Thomastown Attendance Center. Students in Mrs. Farrell's class will be relocated in either Mrs. Sistrunk's or Mrs. Watkins' rooms.
This change will also cause Mr. Henderson to move Mrs. Todd from second grade to fill Mrs. Landrum's position in the 5th and 6th grade math position. Mrs. Todd's students will be reassigned either to Mrs. Tate or Mrs. Summers-Jones. These changes will take affect January 5, 2010.
We regret this, but the district has made these moves in order to help balance the district budget in the light of recent budget cuts handed down from Governor Haley Barbour. Visit The Parents' Campaign to learn more about the impact the governor's cuts will have on our district. Contact me, if you have any questions concerning the effects the cuts are having at SLE.
This change will also cause Mr. Henderson to move Mrs. Todd from second grade to fill Mrs. Landrum's position in the 5th and 6th grade math position. Mrs. Todd's students will be reassigned either to Mrs. Tate or Mrs. Summers-Jones. These changes will take affect January 5, 2010.
We regret this, but the district has made these moves in order to help balance the district budget in the light of recent budget cuts handed down from Governor Haley Barbour. Visit The Parents' Campaign to learn more about the impact the governor's cuts will have on our district. Contact me, if you have any questions concerning the effects the cuts are having at SLE.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Free Professional Development for Teachers and Parents
The NASA Educator Resource Center (ERC) at Stennis Space Center announces professional development workshops for teachers for Spring 2010. K-12 teachers can receive CEUs for these free workshops. Home school educators are welcome, too! Topics include physical science, life science, biology, mathematics, technology and much more. Workshops are available for all grade levels and are held on-site at Stennis Space Center. For more information, visit the Stennis Education Web site at http://education.ssc.nasa.gov/workshops.asp or contact the NASA ERC by phone at 1-800-237-1821 (option 2) or 228-688-3338 or by email to ssc-nasaerc@mail.nasa.gov.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers
The Office of Leadership and Professional Development offers low cost on-line professional development workshops through the MS e-Learning for Educators Initiative, a collaboration between the Mississippi Department of Education and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. This initiative provides Mississippi educators with quality professional development opportunities designed to address content knowledge and the skills required to improve student performance.
The workshops are scheduled to begin January 13, 2010 (Spring 1 session) and will run for a total of seven (7) weeks. Registration will end January 6, 2010. Participants are eligible to receive a certificate of participation or 3.0 CEUs. All workshops beginning after October 1, 2009 require a $30.00 registration fee, there is no charge for CEUs.
To download the registration fee form click on the provided link http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/elearn/docs/reg_fee_form.doc . Please visit http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/elearn/ to read about courses and registration instructions for e-Learning for Educator workshops.
Enter the following address into the web browser to register for an online course http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/elearn/docs/Instruct.doc . If you have any questions, please call 601-359-3954 or email elearningsupport@mde.k12.ms.us.
The workshops are scheduled to begin January 13, 2010 (Spring 1 session) and will run for a total of seven (7) weeks. Registration will end January 6, 2010. Participants are eligible to receive a certificate of participation or 3.0 CEUs. All workshops beginning after October 1, 2009 require a $30.00 registration fee, there is no charge for CEUs.
To download the registration fee form click on the provided link http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/elearn/docs/reg_fee_form.doc . Please visit http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/elearn/ to read about courses and registration instructions for e-Learning for Educator workshops.
Enter the following address into the web browser to register for an online course http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/elearn/docs/Instruct.doc . If you have any questions, please call 601-359-3954 or email elearningsupport@mde.k12.ms.us.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
school improvement committee minutes 12.9.09
South Leake Elementary
School Improvement Team Meeting
December 9, 2009
In Attendance: Nettles, Clayton, Weathers, Withers, Ruffin, Rushing, Farrell, Truss, Todd, and Henderson
Time: 1:30-3:20
Place: SLE Library
Agenda
· Review last year’s School Improvement Plan
· Brainstorm ideas for this year’s plan
· Adjourn
Minutes
These are ideas for this and next year’s plans in the following areas:
· Student Achievement
o Math Workshops for parents
o Science Olympiad
o Add an emphasis on science
o Fund RtI
§ Coordinator and assistants
o After-school and Extended Year program
· Professional Development
o Take teacher/parent field trips to successful schools
o Seek workshops for parents and teachers from the Barksdale Group
o Attend grant writing workshops
o How to teacher from the frameworks
· School Context and Organization
o Change 5th and 6th grades to two teachers per grade
§ It will be easier for teachers to meet for planning
§ It will involve less transition time
o Seek a drive around the building for safety when loading and unloading students
· Family and Community Involvement
o Conduct workshops for parent in how to be involved in schools
§ Parents Campaign
§ Parents for Public Eudcation
§ Saturday workshops
o Community educational resource center
§ Boys and Girls Club
§ Mobile classroom
§ Downtown locations sponsored by local businesses
· Bank
· Prison
· Tyson
o Career Day at SLE
· Bank
· Tyson
· Others
o Job Fair for Parents
o Parent Center
o People to Call on
§ Duce
§ Ray Shoemaker
§ Woodards’ son
§ Marcus Mann
§ Arthur Gardner
o Parent Field Trips
§ Pelehatichie Yoga Bear Campground
§ Golden Memorial
NEXT MEETING: January 6, 2010; 1 p.m. at the SLE Library
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
December SLE Newsletter
December
8-Parent Meeting 6 p.m.
11-K Visits Library
14-Exemptions announced
14-K/1st Grade Assembly
15- 9 Weeks Tests Begin
18-Dismiss at 1 p.m.
21-Holidays Begin
January 2010
4-No School
5-Students Return
Take Time to Evaluate Your Child’s Progress
December is a great time to take that “long, hard look” at our children’s academic progress. Talk with your child’s teacher about what the grades on the report card mean. Discuss how the grades reflect your child’s readiness for the MCT2 state assessment. These are serious times for South Leake, and it will take all stakeholders to move our schools back to the “Successful” rating. - JH
Joint SLE/SLHS Parent Meeting Set
SLE will join with Mrs. Mabry and the staff of SLHS for a very important and informative meeting for all parents and community members at SLE on Tuesday, December 8 at 6 p.m. All parents and community leaders are urged to attend as we will discuss the schools’ recent rankings from the Mississippi Department of Education. Both schools have received the label of “Failing” from the MDE. This meeting will be part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed as well as to seek your help in developing a plan to move our schools off the bottom of state accreditation listing.
Student Exemptions to be Announced
Teachers will be notifying parents on Monday, December 14 of students that will be exempt from taking 9 weeks tests. Students are exempt if they have maintained an 80 average or above in a subject for the first two 9 weeks. Exempted students who choose to attend school will have to take the 9 weeks test for a grade.
School Improvement Planning
SLE is looking for able-bodied and interested parents to serve on its school improvement team. There are many opportunities for parents to take part in their child’s schooling at SLE, and one of the most helpful is in serving on this committee. Each year we use this group of people to evaluate our current programs, to identify areas needing improvement, and to create a plan of action for the coming school year. We are seeking a broader support from our businesses and groups in our communities. So, please contact the school at 253-2324 or through our web page (http://www.leakesd.k12.ms.us/Schools/SLE/index.htm) for more information.
Keep Learning Over the Holidays
The holidays are a wonderful time to teach children sportsmanship and skills that can help them in school. We’re talking about old fashion board and card games. Take time to play Uno, Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Battleship and any of a multitude of other classic family games. You’ll be teaching valuable sportsmanship and counting skills.
8-Parent Meeting 6 p.m.
11-K Visits Library
14-Exemptions announced
14-K/1st Grade Assembly
15- 9 Weeks Tests Begin
18-Dismiss at 1 p.m.
21-Holidays Begin
January 2010
4-No School
5-Students Return
Take Time to Evaluate Your Child’s Progress
December is a great time to take that “long, hard look” at our children’s academic progress. Talk with your child’s teacher about what the grades on the report card mean. Discuss how the grades reflect your child’s readiness for the MCT2 state assessment. These are serious times for South Leake, and it will take all stakeholders to move our schools back to the “Successful” rating. - JH
Joint SLE/SLHS Parent Meeting Set
SLE will join with Mrs. Mabry and the staff of SLHS for a very important and informative meeting for all parents and community members at SLE on Tuesday, December 8 at 6 p.m. All parents and community leaders are urged to attend as we will discuss the schools’ recent rankings from the Mississippi Department of Education. Both schools have received the label of “Failing” from the MDE. This meeting will be part of our ongoing efforts to keep you informed as well as to seek your help in developing a plan to move our schools off the bottom of state accreditation listing.
Student Exemptions to be Announced
Teachers will be notifying parents on Monday, December 14 of students that will be exempt from taking 9 weeks tests. Students are exempt if they have maintained an 80 average or above in a subject for the first two 9 weeks. Exempted students who choose to attend school will have to take the 9 weeks test for a grade.
School Improvement Planning
SLE is looking for able-bodied and interested parents to serve on its school improvement team. There are many opportunities for parents to take part in their child’s schooling at SLE, and one of the most helpful is in serving on this committee. Each year we use this group of people to evaluate our current programs, to identify areas needing improvement, and to create a plan of action for the coming school year. We are seeking a broader support from our businesses and groups in our communities. So, please contact the school at 253-2324 or through our web page (http://www.leakesd.k12.ms.us/Schools/SLE/index.htm) for more information.
Keep Learning Over the Holidays
The holidays are a wonderful time to teach children sportsmanship and skills that can help them in school. We’re talking about old fashion board and card games. Take time to play Uno, Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders, Sorry, Battleship and any of a multitude of other classic family games. You’ll be teaching valuable sportsmanship and counting skills.
SLE and SLHS Parent Meeting Planned
South Leake High School and South Leake Elementary will be hosting a Parent Forum Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the elementary gymnasium. Both principals, Mrs. Mabry and Mr. Henderson, will be discussing the schools' recent ratings on the Mississippi Department of Education accountability model.
Parents, community members, and other interested parties are strongly urged to attend to receive vital information that will affect all of our children. For more information, please contact Mrs. Mabry at 601-253-2393 or Mr. Henderson at 601-253-2324.
Parents, community members, and other interested parties are strongly urged to attend to receive vital information that will affect all of our children. For more information, please contact Mrs. Mabry at 601-253-2393 or Mr. Henderson at 601-253-2324.
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