Monday Mustang Memo: No Hands

Excellence in Education: No Hands Up

Did you know, that education research suggests that banning children from raising their hands in class improves classroom performance?

It can.

In a study conducted by Dylan Wiliam students were banned from raising their hands and the results were impressive:

Shy and struggling students did better
Strong students performed better
Expectations were raised for all students
Classroom question and answer sessions were not dominated by a select few

What are some strategies you can use to avoid hand-raising?

Cold call (randomly) on students
Have students write their answers on individual dry erase boards, their desks or on paper
Turn it in to a visible quiz with students either writing their answers down, displaying number of fingers to answer, A-B-C-D cards, or make use of a technology

Do the above strategies take more planning and class time? Most certainly, but it’s time well spent.

In the classrooms where teachers take the time to develop their questions and questioning strategies before the class, student learning increases and academic expectations and rigor are higher.

Useful Links:

Positive Referrals: https://goo.gl/forms/HZtZoQqHoa2SWT0H3

Friday Activity Calendar (Mentorship/Portfolio/Club Day) : portfolios

Portfolio Assistance If you have a student who needs assistance setting up his/her portfolio, click here

Technology / Website Permission Request Form http://go.shr.lc/1HovEA6 Please use this form to request use of a website that requires student log-in if the site is not already on the approved list. DART approved list

Morning Announcement Stream: http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/links.htm Please be sure to have announcements cued and ready to go at 8:55 every morning.

Announcement Request: http://tinyurl.com/requestannouncement

Teacher Handbook

Calendar and Memo Items

Year-end calendar is here.

Final Exam schedule is here

Exams and Alternative Culminating Assignments

Midterm and Final Exams/Alternative Assessments account for 20% of student’s first semester grade (Marking Period=40%, Marking Period=40%, Exam=20%). All students are expected to be present during their midterm exam period and their final exam period unless they are exempt.

Absences from Exams

The expectation is that all students will be in attendance for all exams (unless they are exempt, or unless their teacher has taken advantage of an Alternative Assessment - see below). Under no circumstances will teachers change or cancel exam times. Not including exempt students, all absences from exams require administrative approval. Upon receiving administrative approval, the student and teacher should make the appropriate arrangements.

During exams, students are not permitted in the hallways or cafeteria. Under no circumstances, should students be sent to other locations, including the library, during exams.

Copies of taken student exams will be turned in at the end of the year. For uncompleted exams due to student absences, a copy of the exam should be provided to the appropriate administrator and arrangements should be made to grade these exams.

Exemption from Final Exams

For classes offering final exams, a student is exempt from the exam if he/she meets the following criteria:

A 90% or higher in the class for the FINAL grade
No in-school or out-of-school suspensions

Alternative Assessment

If a teacher elects to use an Alternative Assessment, all students in the class are expected to complete it. All students are expected to attend class until the final class day of school. They do not need to attend the final exam period for that course because students completing an Alternative Assessment will not have a final exam. The Alternative Assessment will be 20% of the student’s semester grade.

Entering Exams and Year-End Projects in PowerTeacher

use the date 6/8/2017 for your final exam assignment. This date will place the assignment in the E4 category.
Select E4, and check to make sure that is the only assignment in that category
For exempt students: