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Website of the Week
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This week's featured website is a math site called GoogolPower.com. They have an excellent page on ideas for math activities at Christmas time.
Googol Math
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PEN of Florida
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PEN Website
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PEN of Florida 2009
Classroom Start-up Grant
pictured above: Melissa Kelly (left) receiving grant check from Robin Brown
Each year PEN awards one new classroom teacher with a grant to help with the cost of setting up a new classroom. This year's recipient is
Melissa Kelly, a first
year teacher, from Sleepy Hill Elementary School in Polk County. Melissa
is a Kindergarten teacher. The award was $350.00 for classroom supplies.
"Teaching is such a
rewarding job and as a first year teacher I am anxious to touch the lives of my
students.
"I did not realize
how much money it takes to set up a classroom. I want my classroom to be
print enriched and welcoming.
"Another teacher told me about PEN and she highly recommended
it. I was ecstatic to know that PEN has grants available to help first
year teachers set up their classroom." Melissa Kelly
To find out more about grants and scholarships that PEN of Florida offers, click here:
Scholarships and Grants from PEN of Florida
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Become a fan of PEN of Florida on Facebook!
Click on the link below and become a fan today!
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Florida's high-school graduation rate hits a record
Leslie Postal and Dave Weber
Orlando Sentinel
Florida's high-school graduation rate hit 76.3 percent this year, a record high since standardized calculations began a decade ago, the Florida Department of Education announced Friday.
But that number comes with a qualifier. Hedging its bets, the state figured its graduation rate three different ways, and then settled on one.
The winner: The National Governors Association method of calculation, which gives Florida a better number than using the math called for by the federal government - but less than it would have been using the state's old method.
But no matter how you figure it, officials say, more kids are graduating for the third year in a row.
"Regardless of which of the three rates you look at, this is a remarkable improvement for our district," said Walt Griffin, supervisor of secondary education for Seminole schools.
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Miami-Dade kids hit it big on U.S. math test
Miami-Dade students topped the charts in a national math examination, with Hispanic students scoring higher than those in other major cities.
BY KATHLEEN MCGRORY
KMCGRORY@MIAMIHERALD.COM
Miami-Dade students outperformed their peers in most major U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, on the national math exam, according to data released Tuesday.
What's more, Miami-Dade's Hispanic students had the highest scores of Hispanic students in any of the big cities.
``This is the very best news we have ever received,'' said Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. ``It transcends any regional comparisons.''
State Commissioner of Education Eric Smith also celebrated the announcement.
``These results show that district teachers and administrators are focused on the needs of their students and are committed to improving academic achievement in their schools,'' he said.
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Florida education department asks school districts to sign on to Race to the Top
If Florida school districts want a share of the state's Race to the Top funds (up to $700 million, if the feds approve the state's request for the innovation grant), they need to let the Florida Department of Education know. Soon.
Overnight, the FLDOE sent out documents detailing the memorandum of understanding it wants districts to agree to by Dec. 18 and complete by Jan. 12, assuring their participation in the state's efforts to change policy and procedure in ways that conform to the grant. (See the documents Participating LEA MOU and Race to the Top MOU Package for specifics.)
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Taking art classes boosts grades, test scores - a "powerful correlation," DOE says
Florida high school students who took art, dance and music classes had higher grade-point averages, graduation rates and FCAT and SAT scores than their classmates who did not, according to a study done by the Florida Department of Education.
And the more arts classes students took, the higher their rates of academic achievement, the study found.
The "illustrates a powerful correlation," Education Commissioner Eric Smith wrote in a memo to superintendents.
One of our readers mentioned this study (thanks) in a comment on our post about State Sen. Stephen Wise proposing that arts participation be part of the high school grade calculations. And a music teacher mentioned it to me yesterday (more thanks) as a reason arts programs shouldn't be cut - even in tough budget times.Read more
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