Monday, October 15, 2012

New report cards for youngest CMS kids

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is rolling out a new report card for students in K-2,  complete with some  corporate-sounding labels for classroom skills.

Back in the day,  I occasionally got marked down for having messy handwriting or chatting in class.     Today's kids will get a rating on GLO 4:  Quality Producer  ("strives to complete work neatly and correctly")  and GLO 5:  Effective Communicator  ("listens attentively to gain understanding").

The General Learner Outcomes include one with no equivalent for us old folks: GLO 6: Effective/Ethical User of Technology.  I can't help chuckling at the idea of a 5-year-old being rated on how he or she  "uses various technologies to responsibly find information and create new products."

The new report cards can also be emailed,  which seems like a thrifty and green approach.   But what will these kids dig out of the attic for their own children and grandkids to laugh at?

CMS will be rolling out more information about the new report cards this month.  For now,  here's a sample of the new GLO section,  and here's the explanation sent to the school board  (go to Deputy Superintendent Ann Clark's report).

I'm also intrigued by the new Urban Education Academy courses being offered  (keep reading in Clark's report).  If any of you educators take part,  let me know what they're like.

62 comments:

Anonymous said...

GLO 8: Leader (demonstrates effective leadership as a line leader to the boys and girls bathroom).

Anonymous said...

GLO 10: Team Player (shares with others).

BolynMcClung said...

WITH APOLOGIES TO THE MILLS BROTHERS…


Shine little glo-learner, glimmer, glimmer
Shine little glo-learner, glimmer, glimmer
Lead us lest too far we wander
Teacher’s sweet voice is callin' yonder
Shine little glo-learner, glimmer, glimmer
Hey, there don't get dimmer, dimmer….

Bolyn McClung
Pineville

Anonymous said...

GLOAT

What parents of top student in 2nd grate do.



Anonymous said...

GLOOM

The future for students whose parents don't challenge them.

BolynMcClung said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

GLORY

Best grade possible on GLO scale

Anonymous said...

GLO 9: Value-Adder (scores well on standardized tests)

Anonymous said...

GLOBAL1,
GLOBAL2,
GlOBAL3, etc

World-wide GLO Common Core rankings .

Anonymous said...

GLOSS

Zero grade for no homework adjusted to 50.

Anonymous said...

GLOVE (pronouced: gee love)

The grade every child gets on the first day of school.


Wiley Coyote said...

Will the parents of kids in the 9 LIFT schools also get GLOwing reports since they are being taught HOW TO parent?

At least we knoe CMS is ready for National School Lunch Week.

Maybe we'll get the 40 day report on where the poverty rate stands in CMS this year.

Should be interesting.

Anonymous said...

How in the world will parents who have little education themselves understand all this edu and corporate speak? And really--this is how kindergarteners are to be judged? Have we all gone totally crazy?!!!!

Anonymous said...

GLOCKENSPIEL

Eduspeak created by CMS Spinmeisters

Bill Stevens said...

I see no better excuse for breaking up CMS. Just more fiefdom building.

Anonymous said...

GLOCKENFORGEN

Why 8-year-old FLL (Finish Language Learners) and FRL (Finish Reduced Lunchers) can read.

Anonymous said...

GLO Rubrick

Because we don't want our teachers thinking outside of our box.

Anonymous said...

"Culturally Proficient Teaching for Diverse Learners" (Offered through the Urban Education Academy)

Why little Tamika and Jaun can't read.

Anonymous said...

So, exactly what are the "cognitive differences" among "culturally diverse learners"?

Anyone from the Uraban Education Academy?

And why does every CMS urban school with the name "Academy" in it score poorly?

Anonymous said...

What is the grade for "does nothing but cause trouble in the class while constantly bothering other students and affects the teachers ability of those that are in school to learn, and behave?"


or: "is a complete waste of space. comes to school to get free meals and then does nothing but complain, and cuss. Disruptive. Appears to have mental problems, and most likely has absolutely, positively ZERO input from parents while away from school."

Anonymous said...

Does slapping on the name Academy to low performing schools improve academic achievement?

Anyone from the Urban Education Academy (UEA)?

Ann Doss Helms said...

What a GLORIOUS antidote to a rainy Monday morning! But 9:48 must have had a rough weekend if he/she wants to slap those labels on K-2 children.

Anonymous said...

GLO Rubrick

This is how other 5- 8 year old students are evaluated around the world on their report cards? You can't be serious. Really? GLObal competitiveness starts here?

Every Child, Every Day, for a Crazy Tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

The thing that most intrigues me about "culturally diverse" learners--if the desired outcome is for these children to be competitive with the "non-culturally diverse kids" (i.e., those children who come from families that value education and instill discipline, no matter what their ethnicity), why should the "culturally diverse" kids not be required to learn and adhere to a culture that leads to academic success?

Anonymous said...

As an add on to my previous comment about culturally diverse learning. Why should a culture that does not lead to academic or social success be catered to within CMS?

Wiley Coyote said...

Common core means absolutely nothing without common sense and educrats are sorley lacking in that department.

Anonymous said...

So basically they want to eliminate any accountability for the K-2 grades? Makes sense just rate them all high then watch the 3-12 grades crash massively. Who's bright CMS idea was this one? Hang a name on the ignorance.

Anonymous said...

So, the Urban Education Academy doesn't think the "Cultural Understanding" and "Diversity in Education" courses teachers are required to take as part of their training are comprehensive enough? Really? I need ADDITIONAL professional development courses on the subject in order to effectively close the Achievement Gap and raise student test scores to an acceptable level of proficiency? Really?

GLO 12: Culturally Sensitive and Understanding

(understands and is sensitive to the cognitive differences of diverse learners needed to grow effective citizen stakeholders able to function outside of their individual silos)



Ann Doss Helms said...

10:56, as I read it the GLO stuff will be in addition to traditional academic grading, not instead of it.

Anonymous said...

GLO:

What happens when Educrats and Corporate Blockheads conference together.

Anonymous said...

GLUM - the feeling I am having right now after reading about the new CMS report cards

Anonymous said...

What's going to happen is this; CMS is going to make failing grades look just like the grades given to exceptional students. The same way Food Stamps have been made to look like a VISA card. It removes the stigma of "failure" and "welfare" and elevates this scum to the same level as those that want to achieve.

Anonymous said...

90% (give or take a percentage point) of teachers are white. Most are female. Is this the primary problem? I can't effectively teach the Emancipation Proclamation or the Battle of Waterloo without ongoing diversity and cultural sensitivity training? Have these courses been proven to raise student achievement and improve educational outcomes for minority and/or non-minority students? What's the point? Cultural Understanding and Diversity in Education have been taught at the University level for the past 30 years. Where have these courses and "training" gotten us?





Anonymous said...

If I got up in front of the school board and started talking about the "cognitive differences" between blacks and whites, Taylor Batten would write an editorial on the matter and I'd loose my job. Therefore, I'd like to know - from the Urban Education Academy - exactly what the "cognitive differences" are between various "culturally diverse learners". What? Asians are cognitively better at math than whites? Help me here. Should teaching "pedagogy" be "differentiated" according to class, gender and race?

Jeff Wise said...

Ann - my kindergartner won't dig out old report cards from attic boxes, he'll have it posted on a timeline that he curates throughout his life! All those doodles and paper plate face things he's making in class will be photographed and digitally posted.

I imagine the cardboard box industry may not like that.

And for GLO 6, I tend to agree that its description is a little silly, but watching 5-6 year-old's interacting with tablets and phones, I'm continually impressed with how they handle it physically and cognitively.


Jeff

Anonymous said...

Excuse me, "SES" (Socio-Economic Status) not "Class". Should teachers taylor their teaching methods according to a school's primary race, ethnicity, SES or gender? Washington DC experimented with Afro-centric education in the 1980's to address the issue of "cognitive differences" among cultures. It didn't go so well.

Wiley Coyote said...

....keep preaching diversity.

It will make you feel better but has no bearing on which child learns what and when.

Anonymous said...

12:00, ah, you bring back memories of the failed education strategy, "ebonics".

Bill Stevens said...

Bottom line, here is what is killing public education and its credibility with the public, "eduspeak".

Anonymous said...

Speaking of "cultural diversity" I hope all noted that in the Local section article today about Rev. Farrakhan's "uplifting and unifying" Sunday event it was reported that Kojo and Vilma were on stage with him. Which local education activists does Kojo hang out with?

Jeff Wise said...

Regarding the 3 UEA courses...is there something wrong with being even a little more knowledgeable about cultural diversity?

If it helps a teacher reach one extra student to help make them successful, is that not okay?

And hey be careful where you're walking, you might fall off the edge of the world!



Anonymous said...

Jeff,
Of course there is nothing wrong with being a little more culturally informed and having some knowledge about the Inuit culture especially if 80% of your students happen to be Inuit (formerly known as Eskimo). Cultural understanding is relevant. However, how many courses does a teacher need to take to be sufficiently sensitized to the one Amish kid that might be in their class? Does all this diversity training improve student academic outcomes while US test scores for minority kids fall off a cliff?

Wiley Coyote said...

UAE courses... another social justice component.

This is the United States of America, with English being the de facto language and 82% claiming it as the "mother tongue". It doesn't matter what your "culture" is. There are 26 letters in the alphabet, learn them.

Every answer to every math problem is the same, no matter what language you speak.

We need parents who have a clue about the importance of education; no matter what their race, income status or where they live.

Anonymous said...

Years ago when I took the National Teacher's Exam Bubble Test I had to answer the question: "What do native Mexicans living in Los Angeles consider themselves?".

1. Latino
2. Hispanic
3. Mexican-American
4. Spanish

Help me understand why this was important as a teacher on the East Coast? I have to be honest with you, I had no idea what the correct answer was but I'm not sure this negatively impacted my ability to effectively teach my subject area. Had I decided to move to LA to teach Mexican children I think I would have eventually figured out the correct answer without the benefit of a professional development course in diversity and cultural understanding. And what about Canadians? I attended an elementary school in upstate NY a half hour from the Canadian border. My school flew the American and Canadian flags out front. I sang "O'Canada" after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and "God Bless America" every morning. So, what do Canadians who live in upstate NY call themselves? Do I need a diversity training course about French Canadian culture in order to work as a teacher near the Canadian border?

Anonymous said...

Perhaps at some point, Jeff, people just begin to feel enough is enough! And you be careful too, since the self righteous can be so busy admiring themselves for their culturally sensitivity that they occasionally trip over their own two feet!

Anonymous said...

Jeff,
And what about Maine? Did you know how to tell the difference between a poor kid and a rich kid in Maine? Well, I do. Rich kids have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in their lunch boxes. Poor kids have lobster sandwiches in theirs. Seriously, you really have no business being a teacher unless you're fully knowledgable about these sorts of things.

Anonymous said...

Oops. One of the answers was "Chicano" on the National Teacher's Exam (NTE). I forgot Chicano.

Anonymous said...

Watch the movie, "The Blackboard Jungle" with Glenn Ford. I dare any of you to watch it and report your findings on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Parents and concerned community members should look closely at this report card. It is merely a copy if all common core and essential standards in educator speak. There are many many standards and sub-standards. This report card is not parent friendly and uses the exact language that educators use. Anyone can go online and see the common core standards. What the community needs is an abbreviated version without so many phrases that will be confusing to non-educators. There are 4 legal size pages, with two sections each (8 small pages)! Really!? Our teachers and community deserves better than a copy/paste job of what we can already see online. Please, advocate for your/our children and let CMS know your opinion, either way, about this enormous report card in educator language.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps at some point CMS will hold children accountable for work. This is a slap in the face to teachers who acutally care about the children learning. Its complete BS and not a standard common core iniative.

Anonymous said...

2:05
Blackboard Jungle? I haven't seen it in years but I know it was a precursor to West Side Story. "Pow-pow, cracko-jacko" with the Jets and the Sharks going off to rumble in an alley before and after the school dance. Ok, the Bloods and the Crips took gangs to a whole new level. What's your point?

Personally, I liked Sidney Portier in "To Sir With Love" better.

Anonymous said...

Who cares about grades when Johny cant read nor write and has not been taught a trade. What does he have left. He drinks all the water and lives off the government. If he doesnt kill anyone, he will rob and steal. Then he will cost taxpayers over $30 GRAND to house and feed him.

GET TO WORK PROJECT LIFT

Anonymous said...

Jeff Wise is not a teacher. His wife works with band instruments. Jeff is in technology talking with computer parts everyday. Has not kids in CMS either. Basically he is Bolyn only 30 years younger. He lacks knowledge , but can work in the library as a volunteer some day.

Anonymous said...

1:35 pm, I have another word for them, "INVADERS"!

Anonymous said...

"They calle me Mr. Pibbs"

Anonymous said...

Take 2:

"They call me Mr. Tibbs!".

Jeff Wise said...

I looked again the UEA section of Ann Clark's report, nowhere does it say those courses are mandatory - am I missing something there?

If they're not mandatory and teachers can choose to take them of their own accord, why all the negative comments?

And yes it's true I'm not a teacher and my wife does teach band with classes of 50+ students at a time, but let's keep up with the times as we most certainly do have a child in CMS.

Anonymous said...

Gee Jeff, like CMS has enough time, money and staff on its hands to focus on additional diversity training? I loved band in school. CMS eliminated band in elementary schools years ago. Thoughts about eliminating band but having the moo-la to support diversity training?

Anonymous said...

Private schools value and support band at the elementary school level. CMS does not.

Anonymous said...

My Jr. high and high school band teacher was Eric Osterling. I'd bet money your wife's band classes have played some of his compositions. How about prioritizing band over diversity training?

Anonymous said...

Perhaps we wouldn't need as much diversity training if students and teachers were exposed to more art? Art is highly diverse but also universal. Art (visual, music, dance, drama) is a GLO-bal language.

Anonymous said...

I am a first grade teacher and the seven page report card takes 30-49 minutes per kid to fill out on the computer! I just want the school board and Heath Morrison to fill out ONE!