I always think of "Baby New Year" at this time of year (hey, I want to avoid thinking about some needed resolutions I need to set). Let's hope for fun and happiness in the new year and decade like these babies obviously have in the video.
Happy New Year!
Over the past few weeks I’ve had an opportunity to see our students showcase their talents. I’ve enjoyed attending so many holiday and winter performances. I just wish that I had been able to attend events at every school, but someone from our leadership team was present.
I appreciate the hard work of our teachers in preparing and staging these concerts and performances.
Best wishes to all during our holiday break! See you in 2010!
These state agencies took the biggest cuts when the State Budget and Control Board decided to trim state spending for the rest of this budget year by $238 million.
K-12 schools - $101 million
Local schools will take the biggest hit, further diminishing the impact of federal stimulus money that was supposed to save teacher jobs.
HHS - $38 million
Health and Human Services will turn to federal stimulus money to cover cuts.
Corrections - $15 million
The state's prison system is running a $13 million deficit and will turn to furloughs of up to 10 days.
Mental Health - $8.4 million
The state agency responsible for providing mental health care has been shedding employees, instituting furloughs and closing mental health centers to deal with budget cuts.
Disabilities - $7.9 million
The state agency responsible for citizens with severe mental disabilities has been weighing closing some residential facilities.
USC Columbia - $6.7 million
USC anticipated mid-year cuts of up to 10 percent and budgeted accordingly.
Social Services - $6.2 million
The state Department of Social Services, which runs the state's safety net programs such as federal food stamp aid, already has laid off 45 workers and has forced employees to take furloughs.
Juvenile Justice - $4.6 million
DJJ has been closing facilities and laying off employees. There is no word yet on how the agency will absorb the latest cuts.
Public Safety - $2.9 million
Agency in charge of the S.C. Highway Patrol has delayed hiring and curtailed some training.
Tourism - $1.2 million
Agency that promotes S.C.'s largest industry will take another hit.
Source: The State (click here)
I do. I really do love Google.
I think back to my years in college. If you looked up anything you had to use a different kind of sleuthing to find information (e.g., Reader’s Guide to Periodicals). You were also dependent upon whether you could find the journal in the library stacks.
Google keeps expanding their repertoire. I am using Google Chrome as my internet browser to post this blog entry. I use Google Analytics to monitor visits to my blog. I use several Google search engines (basic Google and Google Scholar).
I came across another Google feature last week, and I really think it is cool. I kind of think in tables. I like my data compressed into a table with the essential information. Google now has a search engine that delivers data in a table or database format. It’s called Google Squared. Google Squared extracts data from Web pages and presents them in search results as squares in an online spreadsheet.
Do a search on “South Carolina” and you get a populated “square” or table with an image, description of the state, and the state’s flower. The table is ready for you to type in another bit of information. You can type “governor” in the next column and it is populated.
When you type in “Guam” you get an image, a description, the motto, and national anthem. Type in “Albert Einstein” and you get an image, a description, date of birth, what he’s known for, place of death, etc.
As a former social studies teacher I can think of so many ways to use this tool. Often students don’t have an idea about what may be critical elements on a topic, and this can help in that process. It’s free and internet based.
The other cool feature is that you can share or download the “square” or table you’ve created. Click here to see the square I created this morning on Albert Einstein.
Again, I love Google. I suggest you check out Google Squared.
Friday I visited West-Oak High. With this visit, I’ve now completed classroom observations in all of our schools. I’ll pick up and do a second round of observations during second semester. This is part of my goal to complete one hundred classroom visits before Spring Break.
My second classroom visit was in English I. The students were in two teams for their review session. They were examining Homer’s The Odyssey and Jack London’s Call of the Wild. The teacher was making it into a game, but the most impressive thing was the level of thinking that was required of the students.
I moved to a science class, and another review was in progress. These students were using a review sheet with key content. The teacher was using this review guide as the basis for preparing the students for the exam. It was great that she had planned to provide some extra study sessions before school for students who needed extra help or who had questions.
It was a great visit to WOHS, and I wish the students the best of luck as they complete their semester exams this week.
U.S. News and World Report released its latest rankings for high schools in the United States. Walhalla High made the list again this year.
Academic Magnet High School (Charleston County)
Batesburg-Leesville High School (Lexington County)
Bethune-Bowman Middle High School (Orangeburg County)
Branchville High School (Orangeburg County)
Calhoun County High School (Calhoun County)
Calhoun Falls High School (Abbeville County)
Charleston County School of the Arts (Charleston County)
Creek Bridge High School (Marion County)
Cross High School (Berkeley County)
Fairfield Central High School (Fairfield County)
Garrett School of Technology (Charleston County)
Green Sea Floyds High School (Horry County)
Greenville Technical Charter (Greenville County)
Lake City High School (Florence County)
Lamar High School (Darlington County)
Latta High School (Dillon County)
Mayo High School for Math Science and Technology (Darlington County)
Ninety Six High School (Greenwood County)
North Myrtle Beach High School (Horry County)
Pendleton High School (Anderson County)
Walhalla Senior High School (Oconee County)
Woodruff High School (Spartanburg County)
I haven’t had a chance to review the methodology used for selection. It appears that the list has two distinct types of schools this year: magnet/charter schools and those in somewhat rural areas. I don’t see many suburban schools represented in South Carolina’s list this year.
Both Walhalla High (2008 and 2009) and Tamassee-Salem Middle/High (2007) have been recognized. We’re extremely proud of all of our high schools in Oconee County, and I congratulate Walhalla High for being a repeat honoree this year.
“Caring citizens working together to improve life in our community”I left the meeting with a tremendous feeling of pride in the efforts of folks in our community. These folks are “caring citizens working together to improve life in our community.”
I had a quick visit to the
I visited in three classrooms today. The first stop was the classroom with students who have English as their second language. The instructor was working with the students to overview the three computer programs that teach English language skills. The programs include Open Book, Learning 100, and Rosetta Stone. The teacher can alternate between small group instruction and individual learning with the use of the computers.
I moved on to the English-language arts, and the students were learning about the different types of essays they will need to be able to write as they prepare for the GED exam. This classroom had many adults students, and they were working hard to improve their writing skills.
The final class was a mathematics class. The students were asking for help on homework problems that gave them a little trouble. The math problem areas, which was no surprise to me, was related to fractions and solving word problems. The students were enjoying their interactions with the teacher as he helped set up problems that were to be solved.
I really enjoyed my visit to the Adult Education classes, and I admire the students for coming back to school for additional learning opportunities. I also appreciate the dedication of the staff to support these adults in their efforts to complete their high school education requirements or to learn English.
Our school district has used federal funds (Title II) to fund three master’s level cohorts with Clemson University over the past four years. The final cohort will graduate and receive certification as elementary or secondary principals on December 17, 2009.
We’ve used our federal funds, but the teachers involved in the cohort have also assisted in paying for the program. It was based on a match … the district paid for half and the teacher paid half at the reduced rate for each master’s level class in the program.
Last night, as one of their final course requirements, the educators presented their “action research.” Action research is research that takes place in a school or district setting. It is most often a reflective and collaborative activity among educational professionals. The goal is to look at real problems and programs in place in the school setting with the idea of evaluating and improving instruction to increase student achievement.
The groups examined programs in the district or the school setting (e.g., grading practices, Early Reading Intervention, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). They posed research questions, looked at current research, examined current practices, and made recommendations based on the data they uncovered in the process.
I think this activity was a great way to conclude their graduate study for the school leadership degree. The action research phase is extremely important. Principals, with their staff, look for patterns and seek ways to improve practice. If it is done right, student performance improves and teachers get better at their craft. The entire process requires leadership on the part of the principal.
All of the groups did a fantastic job last night. They provided the district and the schools with data that was transformed into valuable information. I congratulate them on the projects, and I’ll be thinking about them as they walk across the stage to receive a master’s degree from Clemson.
Today, December 7, is the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. This single attack destroyed the Pacific Fleet of the United States and resulted in our joining World War II.
The US Navy website has tremendous resources on this event. Here are links from the site that provide numerous photos of this infamous day in our history:
· Japanese Forces in the Pearl Harbor Attack
· Overall Views of the Pearl Harbor Attack
· "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack
· Attacks off the West Side of Ford Island
· Attacks in the Navy Yard Area
· Attacks on Airfields and Aerial Combat
· Damaged Ships after the Attack
· Remembrance of the "Day which will live in Infamy"
The memorial was designed by Alfred Preis who stated "Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory....The overall effect is one of serenity."
The USS Arizona had over a million gallons of fuel on board, and they say about 1.5 quarts bubbles up from below. This seepage is known as the “Black Tears.” It was eerie to see tangible signs from the 1941 attack, and it provided a connection to the men who rest below.
The history teacher comes out in me on days like today. We've had so many to sacrifice for the privileges we have as citizens.
