TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007

MAY 10, 2007 - Teachers' Biweekly Message

What will it take to succeed in the 21st century? That question is at the heart of deliberation underway by the State Board of Education as it develops new high school graduation requirements. This month, Board members continued to discuss the Future-Ready Core and four items have consensus at this time:

• The implementation date will be 2009-10 for that year's entering ninth grade class.
• Requiring four units of mathematics with some flexibility for course opt-outs.
• Delaying the second language requirement for all high school students to determine better ways to effectively teach second languages, perhaps earlier in students' school careers in K-8.
• Allowing students to substitute courses for the Integrated Mathematics III or Algebra II requirement based on consultation and permission from parents, administrators and teachers.

Discussion continues about proposals to require a unit of art and a unit of Career Technical Education for all high school graduates. Art and Career Technical Education continue to be identified as two options for the endorsement areas that students would be required to complete. On a personal note - if you have heard that the Board or Department of Public Instruction are interested in diminishing Career Technical Education, please set the record straight. The Board continues to voice its support for the arts, Career-Technical Education, and second languages. The Board has no intention to place schools in a position to eliminate or diminish any of these areas and continues to be committed to requiring an endorsement of four units in an area of concentration such as Career-Technical Education, arts, JROTC, Advanced Placement/IB or a customized area of focus.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Board Approves Credit for High School Courses Taken in the Middle Grades
3. 2007-08 NC Teacher of the Year Named
4. New NCLB Newsletter Edition Posted
5. Social Studies Professional Development Opportunity
6. Course Offerings for Journalism Teachers and Publication Advisers

State Board Meeting Highlights

At last week's Board meeting, members approved revising the North Carolina Mathematics Standard Course of Study, the addition of Personal Financial Literacy aligned to the Civics and Economics Standard Course of Study's goals and objectives, and proposed revisions to Praxis I testing requirements for admission to teacher education programs. Board members continued their discussion of the Future-Ready Core, proposed standards for a Standard Course of Study in American Sign Language at the Secondary Level and licensure in American Sign Language, and proposed revisions to Praxis II testing requirements for Exceptional Children's teachers. Complete Board Highlights are available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org by clicking on the appropriate link.

Board Approves Credit for High School Courses Taken in the Middle Grades

At its May meeting, the State Board of Education passed a policy that allows middle school students in grades 6-8 to receive graduation credit for high school mathematics and second language courses taken while the students are in middle school. To receive credit, students must pass the course and score Level III on any EOC associated with the course. The courses also must conform to the high school standard course of study. The policy will become effective in the 2007-08 school year.

2007-08 NC Teacher of the Year Named

Congratulations to James Bell, an eighth grade English teacher at Chowan Middle School, Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, who last week was named the 2007-08 North Carolina Teacher of the Year at a formal banquet held in Cary. Bell succeeds Diana Beasley from Hickory High School, Hickory Public Schools. To read more about his selection, please go to the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."

New NCLB Newsletter Edition Posted

The May 2007 edition of the NC NCLB News is now posted online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/news. This edition features an interview with Dr. Elsie Leak, who is retiring from the NCDPI. She shares her perspective gained through administering NCLB in NC for five years. Additional articles include DPI plans for 2007 AYP releases and Web resources, parent notifications, school recognitions, and reporting changes reflecting the cohort graduation rate.

Social Studies Professional Development Opportunity

NCDPI's Middle and Secondary Education Division Social Studies staff are sponsoring a year-long professional development opportunity for middle and high school social studies teachers. "Changing the Way Teachers Teach: Integrating Technology in the 6-12 Social Studies Classroom" will address such topics as: GeoCaching (GPS device) and Google Earth (GPS Technology); Internet Usage/Evaluation/Research; Multimedia authoring programs (Microsoft PowerPoint software, digital photography, video streaming, I-movies, etc.); Digital Communication (podcasting, blogging, wikis, and other online collaboration tools, teleconferencing, Digital pen pals); Formative assessment tools (e-instruction); and Intel Teach Essentials training. Please visit http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/socialstudies for additional information and to download the application. Those who are interested will need to email their application by May 31. For more information, please contact Fay Gore (fgore@dpi.state.nc.us, 919.807.3954) or Lewis Nelson at (lnelson@dpi.state.nc.us, 919.807.3835).

Course Offerings for Journalism Teachers and Publication Advisers

The N.C. Scholastic Media Association (NCSMA) will offer two courses for journalism teachers and publication advisers this summer. JOMC 491, "Teaching Broadcast Journalism in the Secondary School," will be offered July 9-19. JOMC 605, "Desktop Publishing and Design in the Secondary School," will be offered July 9-19. (This course offers an introduction to InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator software.) Both courses are offered in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Course completers will receive three hours of credit. NCSMA offers this free tuition opportunity through its NCSMA Teacher Fellows Program. To receive a fellowship covering tuition, residence hall accommodations and books, contact Monica Hill at 888.562.6276 or by email ncsma@unc.edu. Fellowship applications must be received by June 1.

 

If you'd like to review past Teachers' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/teachersarchive/ .