What would happen if a community united in common strategies to impact the youngest citizens?
This blog highlights my fortunate view as a Kentucky Educator. As the Executive Director of NKCES, I have the opportunity to see many great educators in action throughout Northern Kentucky. We are "moving to the edge" and taking positive risks for students. We invite you to join us-- there is always plenty of room! #NKY~TheBestPlaceToLearn
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Early Childhood Forum
While Pendleton County Schools recent test scores show
growth, challenges are in front of them as they prepare students to be College
and Career ready. What we know is that this endeavor begins prior to a child’s
enrollment in school--learning begins at birth. Kentucky’s Common Kindergarten
Entry Screener, the BRIGANCE, provides an assessment of a child’s development
in five areas: Academic/Cognitive, Language Development, Physical Development,
Self-Help and Social-Emotional Development. In Pendleton County Schools the
results of the BRIGANCE Screener show that 68.5% of our Kindergarten students
are not “equipped” with the skills to be successful in Kindergarten. In light
of the recent state Kindergarten Readiness data, Pendleton County Schools is
above the state average on preparing students to be College and Career Ready,
yet below the state average on K-Readiness.
Imagine what could happen in PCS if are actively working to positively
impact early childhood preparation in Pendleton County. As a district we are
challenged to prepare all students to be College and Career Ready and Early
Childhood Education is key.
In an effort to better prepare our youngest community members to be Kindergarten-ready, Pendleton County Schools is engaging the entire community to make a difference for kids. Our first step in this journey was to hold a community forum to share critical information in regard to early childhood preparation. The Forum was held on November 18th at 6:30, PCHS Auditorium and we were fortunate to have early childhood experts, Rick Hulefeld, KY Early Childhood Advisory Council and Brigitte Blom Ramsey, Associate Executive Director, Prichard Committee as key note speakers. During the forum Assistant Superintendent, Amy Razor, presented a challenge for all community members, no matter what role , to actively impact our youngest children. As part of our challenge, we are building a common language for the top five strategies (attached) we can communicate to build early literacy skills. Imagine the power of our uniting as a community to take this first step. If all of our PCS Educational Team promoted the same 5 strategies and then if all of our community members could communicate the same five strategies to our youngest residents/family members....Could we impact 10 more students this year, 20 more students the next and so on with a common message around literacy?
Some of the highlights of the event: Community Agencies
were present to share resources, students were engaged in literacy activities
and received a free book, also door prizes of Thanksgiving turkeys were given to families in
attendance. The keynote speakers'
message was well received by the community and plans are underway for our next
Early Childhood event. Just imagine that
for every community member that shares the "common message", we have
the potential of impacting our youngest students by better preparing them to
begin their school career! We know that a quality early education is the “great
equalizer” – the experience that can set a child, no matter his or her
background, on the path to success. If we can get it right in the first five
years, it changes everything—closing the achievement gap before it starts.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
Service Learning At NES~Sponsored by Heritage Bank
I am so excited for Mrs. Hopp and Mrs. Reis as their
students engage in service learning projects sponsored by Heritage Bank. I do believe
that service learning is an incredible way to get students actively engaged in
the learning and I appreciate the teacher's commitment and positive risk taking!
Early Childhood Forum
We are building momentum with our early childhood message
and as part of our "challenge" we are building a common language for
the top 5 things we can communicate to build early literacy skills. If all of
our leadership team promoted the same 5 strategies and then if all of our
community members could communicate the same 5 strategies to our youngest
residents/family members....Could we impact 10 more students this year, 20 more
students the next and so on with a common message around literacy.
For more information, please come to our Early Childhood Forum on November 18, 2014!!
Early
Steps to School Success 
Sit and read together EVERY DAY
Before
starting school, an average kindergartener should have 1000 books read to them.
20 minutes of
daily reading significantly increases a child’s reading achievement.
Talk using new words
The average
kindergartener should be exposed to 30 million words before starting school.
The size and effective use of a child’s vocabulary is an
important indicator of future literacy ability.
Ask questions as you read
Ask questions as you read
The goal of
reading is to make meaning. Asking your child questions before, during, and
after reading fosters comprehension.
Recite rhymes, sing songs -repeat
Recite rhymes, sing songs -repeat
Rhymers are
readers: Nursery rhymes build memorization, sequencing, voice inflection, and
exposure to new words.
Repetitive
reading builds word recognition and confidence.
Take time to point out print EVERYWHERE
Children who live in print-rich environments and who are read to during the first years of life are much more likely to learn to read on schedule.
Take time to point out print EVERYWHERE
Children who live in print-rich environments and who are read to during the first years of life are much more likely to learn to read on schedule.
Never too early- read to infants because learning begins at birth
One-to-one attention and nurturing encourages a love for reading
With your commitment, the building blocks of literacy are free
With your commitment, the building blocks of literacy are free
Celebration
Test scores are just one measure of student in growth in Pendleton County Schools but we are celebrating exceptional growth for the 2013-14 K-Prep results. We are fortunate to have so many teachers and leaders, along with community members who put kids first. Congratulations to everyone on significant growth!!
|
District
|
2012-13
|
2013-14
|
Difference
|
|
Overall Score
|
64.9
|
66.7
|
+
1.8
|
|
Percentile
|
50
|
62
|
+12
|
|
MET AMO: Yes Needs improvement/Progressing
(Note: Proficiency
67.5=0.8 away from proficiency)
| |||
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
The Zipcode Lottery
THIS IS A MUST WATCH: ZIPCODE LOTTERY !
One of the most important predictors of school success and high school graduation is grade-level reading by the end of third grade. This short video clip puts it all into perspective....AND hopefully lights a spark to be an active part of the solution for your community!
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (www.http://gradelevelreading.net) is a collaborative effort by foundations, nonprofit partners, states and communities across the nation to ensure that more children in low-income families succeed in school and graduate prepared for college, a career, and active citizenship. The Campaign focuses on the most important predictor of school success and high school graduation—grade-level reading by the end of third grade.
Research shows that proficiency in reading by the end of third grade enables students to shift from learning to read to reading to learn, and to master the more complex subject matter they encounter in the fourth grade curriculum. Most students who fail to reach this critical milestone falter in the later grades and often drop out before earning a high school diploma. Yet two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders are not proficient readers, according to national reading assessment data. This disturbing statistic is made even worse by the fact that more than four out of every five low-income students miss this critical milestone.
Although schools must be accountable for helping all children achieve, providing effective teaching for all children in every classroom every day, the Campaign is based on the belief that schools cannot succeed alone. Engaged communities mobilized to remove barriers, expand opportunities, and assist parents in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities to serve as full partners in the success of their children are needed to assure student success.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Little things that make a big difference!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Instructional Rounds for PCS
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Reading with Cardinal Pride
I just had to share my pride tonight for the genuine work SES put into the literacy night for kids. The turn-out was impressive and student engagement was at an all-time high! From reading in a tent with a flashlight to making a "sequencing" s'more--it was great to see so many kids excited about their learning! A big thank you goes out to everyone who helped organize such a quality event! YOU are making a difference!!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Evidence-Based Counseling~National Conferenct
Pendelton County Schools Presented at National Conference
 |
| Mrs. Razor and PCS Counseling Team Present at National Conference Our counselors did an outstanding job sharing their work at the conference. The quality of their work together speaks for itself, along with an overflowing room of conference attendees. They made PCS shine today and by sharing their work as a Counselor PLC to impact student learning. Believe it or not, I was the last car to pull out of the lot today due to questions from colleagues in regard to our work. It was a great opportunity to share how we are using data to show that... "COUNSELORS MAKE A DIFFERENCE"! |
Friday, January 3, 2014
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