Should our students be Writing their own Tests

Could our students be using tests as learning tools as well as assessments?  For years schools have given tests to students to assess what has been taught.  Students study, take the test and forget it. The information regurgatated for the test was useful to that student only for a short time.  They get good grades, but are they learning anything.  I'll use my loving wife for an example.  She was always a good student. Honor roll, top of the her class.  I on the other hand never made the honor roll, I don't even know where I was in the standings at graduation. And didn't really care.  But, most of  what I learned, I can still remember today.  She on the other hand can not. 
Some of our students are very good at What and When questions.  But the Why somehow eludes them.  Others, can explain why something happens, they can see the relationships among the facts and understand how the facts had become facts.
Most tests our students are given are what and when tests.  They don't give the "why" student the chance to shine.
Maybe we should start having our students write the tests.  They would reflect what the students learned and could be a cooperative experience for the students.  Grouped students would write questions that would reflect their learning style. Everyone would be able to show what they learned.  They could act as learning tools as well as ways to give grades.

Next Week at BAC

Nov. 2  MS BBall Practice Starts: girls @ EEAC; no boys ; 5/6 BBall clinic @ HS 3:30-5:00; HS football at West Branch @ 7:00  GO ROCKETS
         3  Early Dismissal/ P.D. 1-4/ PT Conferenc 4-8  No MS pratice
         5  Early Dismissal/ P.D. 1-4/ PT Conferenc 4-8 No MS pratice
         6  NO SCHOOL

Wed. Oct. 28 P.D. 1-3

Technology in the classroom


Please share/collaborate with a colleague

Make a list of questions or concerns regarding technology. We will do our best to address those at the next meeting.

Let's look at Homework

I know most of you assign homework for your students.  I did almost everyday when I taught.  It was always a good way to have the students pratice the lessons we learned that day.  But, was that home work always fair for all my students.  I realize now that it may not have been.  According to (Rothstein, 2004), middle-and upper-class parents are more likely than lower-class parnets to help with homework.  When lower-class children are unabel to complete homework because of family or economic conditions, teachers run the risk of unfairly punishing those children for factors beyond their control. 
What if the way teachers use homework worsened the achievement gap between rich and poor students?  Would that cause us to consider homework more carefully?  When assigning homework, the following advice should be followed. (Payne, 2008)

• Do not assume the child has a quiet place to do homework.
• Do not assume the child has a parent home in the evening.
• Do not assume the child's parents speak and read English.
• Do not assume the family has money for school supplies.
• Do not asume the child has access to materials such as paper, a pencil sharpener, scissors, glue, magazines, or a calculator.
• Do not assume the child has access to a comupter or the Internet.

I always thought,( they don't have money for supplies, but they have money to buy $150 sneakers!)  That choice is not our call.  How families choose to spend their money is a reflection of family values.  It is not our place to judge families based on our values.
We might want to think about who we are teaching, and where these families are financially, before making homework decisions.

This Week at BAC

This is Red Ribbon week!!!!
Oct. 26 Begin 2nd Quarter in MS
        28 Early out because of HS football
        29 Late start
        30 Halloween Dance in MS/ Party time in Elementary

Getting Bugged???

Well, the Japanese beetles are on the move again.  It won't me long before the Boxelder bugs are joining them in an all out invasion of my house.  Every year they seem to take up residance on my front poarch.  I wouldn't mind that so much if they would just stay there and not invite themselves into the house.
Don't get these beetles mixed up with Ladybugs.  I made that mistake a couple of years ago when my grandson said "These ladybugs are biting me!"  Of course grandpa said, "Don't me silly, ladybugs don't bite."  and placed another one on his arm.  He yelled, and there was a red spot on his arm.  Ladybugs don't bite. Japanese beetles do.  Nothing else to the story. Just another bug moving in only there is no shot for this one.

Next Week at BAC:

Oct. 19  Elem. Hy-Vee fundraiser/ Board meeting 6:00 @ AO
        21  Mr. R gone to Mahaska Tech meeting
        22  Mr. R to Admin meeting in AM/ ESC primary grades @AEA/ Family Reading Night / End of 1st Quarter in MS
        23 No School/ SD, morning at BAC Technology/ afternoon at EEAC

First things first.............  Congratulation Mrs. Ocampo!!!!!!!!!  What a great wedding.  I even got to go visit with my grand kids afterwards.  Can't get much better then that.

As I am sure you are all aware, the H1N1 flu is making an apperance in our district.  We have, as most districts, made changes in our policy regarding absentisim.  Doctors are not wanting people to come to their offices with flu symptoms.  They are asking that people stay home, away from the public for ten days.  Therefore we have eaised up on our policy in reguards students that are missing classes. We will not be closing any buildings unless we are missing staff members in numbers that we cannot cover.  If  that happens, we will evaluate the situation and make changes.  As the T.V. ad says. STAY WELL SOON!!!!

Next week at BAC: 
Oct. 12   7/8 CC @ Centerville; 7:00 P.M. SIAC meeting
        13  A.M. fire drills in both buildings; SAT meetings; 7/8 VBall @ home vs. Clark
        15 A.M. Doug will be here; P.M. tornado drills in both buildings weather permitting; 7/8 VBall @ home vs. Centerville (last meet of the year)

Can you believe we are already more than a month into this school year. Every year seems to move faster and faster. Or maybe I’m moving slower and slower. It’s already the second week of October and I haven’t been drug to the mall to start Christmas shopping yet. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas season. It just feels like Hallogivingmas gets here sooner each year.

I want to thank everyone for making things run so smoothly this first month of the year. I know it’s the most hectic month of the year for teachers, but you all make it look so easy.

Remember, the next couple of months can be very exciting for kids. They can also be very depressing for some people. Keep smiling and doing what you do best. Caring for each other.

This Week at BAC:




Oct. 5 Calendar Committee meeting @ AO

Oct. 6 7/8 FBall @ Scully;7/8 VBall @ Albia;7/8 CC @ Centerville

Oct. 8 7/8 VBall @ DC;Pre School to Fire station; Fire truck to school @ 10:00

Oct. 9 Mr. R to Admin. meeting in A.M.