The JP RSN Interactive Newsletter for October20, 2011 - What Happens When the Race is Over?

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JP Associates RSN Newsletter for October 20, 2011

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Challenges in Latest Race to the Top Scramble

Sustaining the impact of one-time funds is a significant challenge facing recipients of federal grant monies. The higher the amount of funds, the greater the challenge.

So how can schools, districts, and states make sure that the impact of grant funds is felt long after the money has been spent?

Experts believe the answer to this problem is for state data systems to track children, starting with early education and moving in to elementary and beyond. Another suggestion is strengthening the use of assessments to measure a child's individual progress and the programs they attend.

The new Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge is open to all states and encompasses grants from $50 million to $100 million, depending on state population. The new competition is hoping to improve the quality and access to early childhood programs.

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How Would YOU Describe JP's Impact in your School?

Here's what one long time partner said...

"JP gives you the tools to help your students be successful in reading. The...material is not perfect (no program is) but your JP associate works with you and your teachers to implement the strategies to fill the gaps and cover the weaknesses.

Everything is very individualized to meet your specific needs (or sometimes the need of one specific student).

The JP coaching model is not evaluative, it is support.

Teachers are generally very nervous about the process at first but come to realize the coaches are there to help and true team building begins to take place.

Our school is very focused on the whole child and we care tremendously about each and every student. Our JP associate is just as passionate about our students and cares for them just as much as we do.

It has created an atmosphere where our students and their learning is the utmost priority."

Tricia Johnson

Hamburg School District, Hamburg, AR

JP Partner School for 7 years

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20 Tidbits for New Teachers

As teachers everywhere settle into the rhythm of a new school year, one thing is clear - the experience is likely going to be a challenge for new teachers.

Veteran teachers have the benefit of experience with strategies and ideas that worked...as well as a lot that didn't.

New teachers not only find themselves in a "trial-and-error" situation, they often don't have the time to reach out to their peers. Lesson planning, grading, materials, home-school communication...not to mention a brand new career...all contribute to making that first year so challenging.

Lisa M. Dabbs, M.Ed., the facilitator of Edutopia's New Teacher Connections Group, offers twenty tips to help ease the burden of new teachers. This issue features the first ten tips, and our next issue will reveal the second half. Whether you are a new teacher or an experienced one, read on to see what you might learn.

1. Seek Your Passion

Work to always remember what your passion as a teacher is. Read The Passion Driven Classroom by Angela Maiers and Amy Sandvold.

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"I've learned a lot of effective coaching and modeling strategies especially the process of problem solving from observation through planning and coaching to re-evaluation."

Quote from principal participating in JP's 2011 Institute for

Excellence in Education

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The biggest impact has been the follow-up on behalf of the teachers and consultants with using best practices that have been modeled and discussed during visits.

Student performance is improved academically and behaviorally when simple strategies are modeled and used regularly.

Michelle Riccio

Reading Coach, Buffalo Public Schools

JP Partner School for 2 years

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October 27th Webinar

with

Ken O'Connor

15 Practices to Make Grades More Accurate, Consistent,
Meaningful and Supportive of Learning

Click the banner below and sign up for this ERN upcoming webinar!

New Race to the Top Challenges (continued)

This latest round of education improvement was made possible by the fiscal 2011 budget deal passed by Congress in April, which resulted in $700 million being put into the Race to the Top. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan put the bulk of that money into early education and kept $200 million to give to runners-up from last year's Race to the Top competition.

JP is thrilled with the opportunity this provides to educators. We have known for twenty-plus years education starts with the early learners, and we are ready to assist in any way we can to further a program's chances for success. At JP, childrens' success is what we are all about! Because we know that is where success starts. Where do you think success starts? How do you feel about the latest Race to the Top challenge? We'd love to hear your opinion on this topic! Click the link below to delve further into the topic and also to access a list of resources. Send your thoughts to rsn@jponline.com or post them in the Leadership forum in the Responsive School Network™.

Click here to read the original article.

Twenty Tidbits for New Teachers (continued)

2. Be a 21st Century Educator

Visit this wiki to find out what it means to be a 21st century educator.

3. Build Relationships

Building relationships with grade-level buddies and others at your school is especially critical during the first year. This includes administrators - reach out and let them know you are excited to get to know them.Furthermore, develop relationships with your students and families. Work hard to build trusting relationships with your school community.

4. Communicate

The manner in which you communicate with students and parents and families is a direct reflection of your commitment to them as their teacher. Communication now and throughout the school year is vital to establishing an environment of collaboration.

5. Collaborate

Open yourself up by sharing and collaborating with your grade-level team and your college classmates. Share resources and join planning teams.

6. Get a Mentor

If you are unable to find a good mentor on site, take to the web! The Teacher Mentoring Project has many educators from around the world to support and mentor first year teachers.

7. Ask for Help

Most new teachers don't ask for help. Don't make this same mistake - ask for help! We expect our students to ask for help, and we must do the same.

8. Be Willing to Grow

Don't let your ego stand in the way of the opportunity to grow. Be open and receptive to comments, criticism, advice and any ideas a mentor or administrator may have to offer.

9. Blog for Yourself

A lot of new teachers are blogging, and it is a powerful tool for new teachers to take advantage of. Blogging will help you reflect, receive feedback and collaborate.

10. Blog with Your Students

Once you get on the blogging bandwagon, get your students on it, also. Although there may be confidentiality issues at your school, if you are able to have your students blog, you will gain priceless insight to your students' lives.

Stay tuned for the next issue of the RSN News and Clues to learn the last ten tidbits for new teachers.

Click here to read the original article.Â