Language Arts Meeting Minutes 10/03/07

Present:

Robert Bullock

Donna Collins

Paula Collins

Karesa Crockett

Donna Frye

Daniel Hill

Jaclyn Richardson

Debbie Wilson

Debbie Estes – Parent member

Lynn Todd

Jennifer Butcher

Shelly Hargis

Absent:

Meeting began at 3:42.

Old Business:

1. 9/05/07 Minutes were approved as read.
2. Curriculum Maps: 
   1. Each grade level felt that so far they were on target with the timelines.
   2. Reminder: Take them to the test score analysis on Thursday.
3. PD-
   1. Ms. Butcher attended a Abell & Atherton Proficiency training.  She has handouts and a cd from the training.
   2. Ms. Wilson is planning to attend a training Nov. 1.
4. Item Analysis for Assessment
   1. 7^th grade teachers brought a sample ‘Memoir Open Response’.

                                                               i.      The committee found two issues with the Item Analysis Protocol

1.      The verbs on open response prompts are not underlined in the CATS test, so when we give prompts, ours should not be underlined.

2.      The time limit of 15-20 minutes for an OR is not realistic. Students are given more time on the test and in class.

5. Technology Use
   1. The COWs are ready for the teams.
   2. Ms. Richarson pointed out that the clickers do not work unless you put your class lists in the program before hand.

                                                               i.      There needs to be a PD on how to use these more efficiently.

3. Mr. Bullock has been recording his classes and loading them onto his website.

                                                               i.      Parents and students have been giving him positive feedback about this.

4. Ms. Wilson has tried this, but she thought that the files were too large for our websites to handle.
5. Writing
   1. School Writing Plan

                                                               i.      Paula Collins explained that all teachers must have some student work samples that show writing to learn, writing to demonstrate learning, and other kinds of writing.

                                                             ii.      Where and when these writing assignments are to be collected is unclear/unknown.

                                                            iii.      Who is in charge of these examples of writing and/or the plan is also unclear.

                                                           iv.      After the next writing cluster meeting, Paula Collins will bring information including a copy of the policies and laws that apply to this.

2. Conferencing Plan

                                                               i.      Debbie Wilson felt that last year’s plan worked well.

                                                             ii.      Jennifer Butcher and Paula Collins will coordinate the Jan./Feb. and Mar./April dates for this.

3. Ms. Estes had the idea that the YSC newsletter could include examples of student writing (short stories, poems, articles, etc.).
6. Units of Study for novice reduction
   1. The fall academy unit will focus on grammar.

                                                               i.      Jaclyn Richardson is compiling this first unit.

8. Material needs
   1. None at this time.
9. CATS Scores
   1. Reading: 98%
   2. Writing: 86%

Meeting was dismissed at 4:29

Next agenda/ before next time:

8^th grade teachers are to bring an item for analysis of students work for reading