Follow this link to a draft of the Learning Coach Handbook. I am very interested in reading your comments on my blog. I am asking that you direct all your comments, questions, and recommendations to the blog rather than to me directly so everyone can participate in the conversation. I need to send it to the printer on Friday, August 21, so please post whatever comments you have here by August 21 so those comments can be considered as we create a final draft.
Among the sections you might find particularly important are the following:
On page five is the day-to-day working of the school with a list of important dates.
The section entitled, "School Policies, Procedures & Expectations," which begins on page 14. Of particular importance is the discussion on attendance. And in that section is the proposed language on dress code (p. 15). In discussions with teachers and the Parent Advisory Committee, I have not heard much support for school uniforms. Here's your chance to weigh in on this issue.
The requirements for Work Samples are changing, and those are described beginning on page 26.
What we communicate to you in progress and report cards is also changing, and you can read about those changes on page 28.
The date for mid-year course promotions is now mid-year: page 29.
Eighth grade graduation requirements align more with the knowledge and skills students need to be successful in high school. See page 30.
Every high school student will have an Academic Success Plan, as described on page 32.
TheBigThinK is an important new communication tool for CVCS. Read about it on page 40.
We have a Learning Coach Mentor Program, new this year, which is outlined on page 41, and a certification program for mentors, which can be found on page 65.
The Parent Advisory Committee is a new parent organization this year, and they have written an entry describing who they are and what they do, which appears on page 41.
The Appendix, which begins on page 46, has lots of documents we think will be important to you. Please feel free to suggest others you would like. Please know that once this document is in final form, it will be available electronically on TheBigThinK.
Thank you so much for your input! We look forward to reading your thoughts!
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Dr. Law, these are my two cents:
ReplyDeletePage 15 - Dress Code
Students are required to dress appropriately for school. Clothing that
distracts students, disrupts the educational
process, or poses a health or safety threat to anyone will not be
allowed. Students are required to wear clothes that
cover them from their shoulders to below their waist.
Question:
Just below the waist…?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Page 38 heading - Illinois Standard Achievement Test (2nd-8th graders)
Should that be 3rd – 8th graders?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The requirements for Work Samples are changing, and those are described beginning on page 26.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the detailed explanation of what is required for the writing work samples, however a question was raised as to whether we will be able to submit a rubic we utilize as a guide with our student's writing assignments? If so, which rubic? We learned several through the learning coaches session during the 2008-2009 school year.
I just want to note that the handbook is so well detailed & parent/student friendly. As a second year parent, I'm feeling much better about the upcoming year.
ReplyDeleteI like the new writing rubric -- is it for all grade levels?
ReplyDeleteWith minor adjustments to fonts and spacing, you could save an entire page at these spots: p. 43-44, 48-49, 53.
Dress Code:
ReplyDelete"Students are encouraged to purchase a CVCS shirt for days they attend the Learning Center and for field trips. Families may purchase a shirt from an identified vendor by contacting the main office to obtain shirt order information. Students are also required to wear a student ID card whenever in the school building."
So, are the CVCS shirt recommended or required? If recommended, then what are the other options? I disn't find any mention of a generic white shirt.
We have asked the printer for extra time to allow CVCS Learning Coaches more time to offer their comments and insights on the Handbook, and now we have until Monday, August 24, at noon.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone who has contributed!
Dr. Law,
ReplyDeleteOn page 14 under attendance, 2nd paragraph line 5:
"Students who do not attend class at the
Learning Center will be marked absent for the entire day. Therefore, virtual instruction does not take the place of
attending class at the Learning Center and missed class will results in an absence."
My comment:
Bummer, but I do understand that if I were in a traditional school and I chose to keep my child home due to illness, etc. I would be marked absent as well.
My question:
Am I allowed to log in progress or do I have to wait until the following day and double up on progress?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I also wanted to say that I do like school shirts and student IDs being worn in the LC.
I would rather receive a Kmail with the vendor info, though, and a Kmail to all families would avoid an influx of calls to CVCS.
Rosa M ;-)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Progress Chart
ReplyDeleteLooks like there is no explanations as to what E, P, M, C marks mean
Attendance
What happened to the points system? It is not used anymore?
Work samples
Do they still need to be marked up by the Learning Couches before submitted to the teacher? Will the same rubrics for LA be used?
Mid Year Course Promotions
What will happen if a student complets his grade work in math or LA after January 12 deadline but before the end of the school year? In February or March? Advanced students can do some enrichments projects, but will those, who are working behind their grade level do? Why not give them a chance to start on a new grade level even if they will not finish it before the end of the year?
Dr. Law,
ReplyDeleteThis is not a handbook question, but do you know if PowerSpeak will be available this year and if so, under what circumstances?
On page 23 it indicates that student course placement will be based on the age-appropriate grade level. CVCS is about the curriculum and learning being based on the child. I thought the child was assessed and the curriculum was adjusted according to the child. This has been the most unique, wonderful aspect of CVCS ~ almost our "selling point". I think we need to choose the course placement based on the child's learning and abilities (an assessment) ~ not on traditional school grades.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that the attendance policy has been changed in order to enforce LC attendance (which is very understandable). However, I am concerned this policy may hurt CVCS' CPS funding ~ which is based on attendance. If a student is ill and should not attend the LC (and is considered an excused absence) but can still put in a full day of progress with the OLS - why can't this still be a full day? We are a hybrid school and have this kind of flexibility. In the past CVCS really felt the funding problem when days had to be counted absent. This policy may encounter this same problem.
ReplyDeleteWhy are we placing the student's course work according to grade level now?
ReplyDeleteDr. Law,
ReplyDeleteAnother non-handbook question.
Do you know if K12 is working on a mobile device compatible format for the OLS? Particularly for entering attendance…
Rosa M
I am a new parent this year, so my input is simple. Thank you for being so informative and organized with this information. There are many areas of info here that I didn't really expect to see until starting day and beyond. I appreciate the efforts CVCS takes in helping parents stay updated and in touch with the school. I can't wait to be a part of all of it!
ReplyDeleteIs there any chance that the school will go back to BEFORE the start of the school year assessments? This way the correct materials can be ordered and recieved in time. When you use scantron for placement, at least three weeks of the study time will be lost, more likely four.
ReplyDeleteI have a comment regarding Page 20 of the 2010-11 Handbook, Titled: K-8 Course Requirements, Advancements & Grades.
ReplyDeleteGo to the subtitle: Course Progress.
My comment is regarding the left column entitled "Monthly Progress % Guidelines.
Here the months are used as headings across the school year.
January is listed as 1/28, February 2/25,
March 3/25 then March is 4/15.
The problem here is April's date.
First of all, students from 3rd to 8th grade are busy taking a week long ISAT test the first week of March. Then at the end of March the school is dismissed for Spring Break.
Students return the first week of April.
Learning Coaches are shocked to discover April's percentages are 10 days away.
Meaning ... a month's worth of percentages is suggested to be completed in 10 days.
April's date of 4/15 should be moved to 4/22 to keep consistent with the dates from January through June.
April's Monthly Progress % Guidelines should be posted as 4/22 not 4/15.
Bernadette Byrnes
Hello my name is Pamela Huggins and I am commenting about student handbook for 2010-2011 school year.
ReplyDelete~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Page 16 - Attendance
Students should be allowed to work virtually if they have an illness or excused absence from the Learning Center.
Page 29 - Study Island
There should be flexibility for Study Island use. It should be used to reinforce material that has been taught. To force it on students that are not working on their grade level can be overwhelming. For other students, perhaps a recommended schedule can be given at the beginning of the school year with those “number of assignments” so LC’s can schedule them into their routine accordingly.
Page 31 - Course Placement
Students should be allowed to be placed ahead if it is clearly shown that they have mastered their grade level in Math or LA. It is clear that CVCS is getting away from “the learn at your own pace” philosophy and that should be publicly stated so that those who are not at grade level will not enter the school with another expectation.
Page 45 - 8th Grade Graduation Requirements
LC’s of middle school students (6-8) should be encouraged to examine the CVCS 8th grade graduation requirements and to develop a personal ILP for their student to meet those requirements at the desired time. This should be the focus of all middle school teachers when working with their students and doubts should be brought to the attention of the LC (especially if the student is not working on grade level) ASAP.
Page 44 - Mid- Year Course Promotion
I understand that it is easier to use the semester cutoff for mid-year course promotions. However, the April 1st deadline may be helpful for students that are not working on grade level and again, helps the advanced learner if they are on schedule or ahead in their other classes.
High School
*Middle school students and their mentors should be trained or ramped into learning to work more independently. This may consist of teaching the student to communicate more via K-Mail with their teacher regarding assignments or clarity. LC’s should also be offered training from HS teachers or mentors on what they could be doing now, I.e., requiring more responsibility and independence, enforcing the use of a calendar and proper scheduling, and trying to master assessments on the first try. These concepts will aid in the preparation process for high school.
*Transfer high school students and mentors should be made aware of the huge difference in a virtual high school vs. a brick and mortar high school.
*My daughter has obtained wonderful assistance from Mr. Toman, who is strong in science and volunteers on Fridays to help HS students with their virtual science classes. She has also received helpful coaching with her writing from Ms. Fromm. It has been very beneficial to have physical people available to help the high school students with their virtual classes
*Past tests should be viewable for students to access so that they can see what they missed and for final exam preparation.
Thank you,
Pamela Huggins