[Englishlanguagearts] 1 APRIL 2009 ELA Update

Wed Apr 1 16:47:41 EDT 2009

Welcome to Maine Department of Education 

English Language Arts Listserv

This service is an attempt to keep Maine educators informed about
current issues, upcoming opportunities and resources in ELA.  

Please send any responses to: patsy.dunton at maine.gov or
diana.doiron at maine.gov  as this is not a discussion forum.

Current Topics:

GRADUATION

MAINE COURSE PATHWAYS

RISC

ELA BLOG

NECAP

Maine High School Graduation 

The bill regarding graduation in Maine now has the designation LD 1325
and is still working its way through the legislative process.  You can
find the text of the bill at
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?ld=1325&PID=1
456&snum=124  A public hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Maine Course Pathways (the syllabus project)

The Maine Course Pathways (MCP) project is still on track.  Several
schools have been working on developing and submitting their syllabi.
We're still planning to open up the tool in September for everyone who
would like to use it.  There will be training sessions in the fall.  

Re-Inventing Schools Coalition (RISC)

Do you know the difference between a standards-based system of education
and a standards-referenced system?  The Re-Inventing Schools Coalition
has developed a systemic approach to standards-based education.  Visit
the coalition's website at   http://www.reinventingschools.org/  or read
Delivering on the Promise: the Education Revolution which can be found
at:
http://www.solution-tree.com/Public/Media.aspx?ShowDetail=true&ProductID
=BKF268 

We have a blog!!  

Finally!  We have a method of holding a discussion without clogging up
your mailboxes.  The first discussion thread is about teaching grammar,
usage, and mechanics.  Please jump into the discussion, offer your
ideas, or suggest new topics.  I am eager to hear from you.
http://maineela.wordpress.com/ 

New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP)

The MEA as we have known it is no more.  Although science in grades 5
and 8 will still be tested using the MEA and will still occur in the
Spring, mathematics, reading and writing will now be tested in October
as part of NECAP.  Writing this October will be a field test so schools
won't get scores.  

Want to know more about NECAP?  Here are a couple of things you can do:

*	Visit the NECAP site at DOE:
http://www.state.me.us/education/lsalt/necap/index.html  
*	Click on the NECAP Standards button which will become our
revised Chapter 131
*	Click on Released Items to see the NECAP items which have been
released since 2005/2006.  Please note that NECAP releases about 1/3 of
its reading items each year; writing is 100% released each year.  
*	Participate in a one-hour web-based presentation.  You call on a
phone and follow a PowerPoint on your computer.    If you and others in
your school would like to participate, please join in one call as there
are limited spots available for each session.  (we have included in this
list all the sessions available)

The Maine Department of Education 

Invites You to Join Us For: 

Introduction to NECAP 

A Live Online Interactive Workshop

The Maine Department of Education will be hosting a series of one hour
sessions designed to orient educators to the New England Common
Assessment Program (NECAP).  MDOE Specialists will facilitate PowerPoint
presentations as indicated in the Sessions section below.  Session
descriptions are located at the end of this notice.  

Virtual seats in these workshops are limited to 100 per session, so we
request that schools join as a group in one location, securing only one
virtual seat, using a speaker phone and projecting the Web image in
order to maximize participation.  Each session will be recorded and
posted on the MDOE website within 48 hours of the presentation.  If,
after participating in the workshop or viewing the recording, you have
remaining questions, email Sandra McKechnie or the session presenter.
To join, you will need to follow the instructions below in order.  

All sessions begin at 3:15. There is no pre-registration for these
sessions. We suggest that you log on 10 minutes ahead of time. 

SESSIONS:

NECAP overview with Susan Smith:  Monday, April 13

            http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap99/ 

Phone Dial-In:  1-866-910-4857

Passcode:  140893

Math, grades 3-5 with Dan Hupp:  Tuesday, April 14

            http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap4/ 

            Phone Dial-In:  1-866-910-4857

Passcode:  985399

Reading and Writing, grades 6-8 with Patsy Dunton:  Tuesday, April 14

            http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap1/

Phone Dial-In:  1-866-910-4857

Passcode: 140893

PAAP with Kim Schroeter:  Wednesday, April 15, 2009 

            http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap5/ 

Phone Dial-In:  1-866-910-4857

Passcode:  985399

Math, grades 6-8 with Dan Hupp:  Wednesday, April 15

            http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap2/

Phone Dial-In:  1-866-910-4857

Passcode:  140893

Reading and Writing, grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron, Thursday, April 16

            http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/necap3/ 

Phone Dial-In:  1-866-910-4857

Passcode:  140893

INSTRUCTIONS  

To join a session, please follow these steps.

1.  Go online to the URL listed above for each session.   Use Internet
Explorer or Safari for best results.  

2.   Enter your name in the box when prompted.

3.   In order to listen and speak during the meeting, you will need to
be connected by telephone as well as the Internet.  To help you connect
by phone, a box will appear asking for your phone number so the Connect
conference room can call you back.

*      If you have a telephone with a direct-dial phone number, please
accept this option, enter your phone number, and we will call you right
back.

*      If you have a telephone with no direct-line phone number (if your
phone is only reached by a switchboard), please click on CANCEL when the
call-back box appears, then dial-in to the meeting using this access
combination:

Dial-In:  see above for session information

Passcode: see above for session information

To participate in the web conference, you will need...

*      A computer with a broadband connection to the internet (Cable,
DSL, or WiFi); Dial-Up will not work!

*      Adobe Flash Player (Flash 7 or later) installed on your computer;
most computers already have the Flash Player installed - however, if
yours does not, or if your Flash Player is in need of updating (version
6 or older), you can download the player for free from Adobe by clicking
on this link: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/?promoid=BUIGP; this is a
safe and quick download.

*      An open phone line; we recommend using a hands-free headset or
speakerphone.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sandra McKechnie:
sandra.mckechnie at maine.gov, 207-624-6770

If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before, test your
connection:

http://stateofmaine.na4.acrobat.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.
htm 

Get a quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview 

Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Acrobat Connect are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United
States and/or other countries.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

NECAP overview with Susan Smith: In October 2009, Maine students in
grades 3-8 will take part in the New England Common Assessment Program,
known as NECAP, in reading, mathematics and a field test in writing.
This presentation is designed for principals and test coordinators and
will provide an overview of the NECAP standards, administration dates,
test design, session lengths, accommodations, administration policies,
reporting, etc.susan.smith at maine.gov 

Math, grades 3-5 or 6-8, with Dan Hupp: The mathematics sessions will
focus on the NECAP math standards and the design/ structure of the math
tests. Other topics addressed in the math sessions include testing
resources, calculator use, released items and reports. Instructional
strategies will be featured throughout the presentation.
dan.hupp at maine.gov 

Reading, grades 6-8 with Patsy Dunton or grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron:
In these sessions, we will introduce the NECAP standards which are
referred to as grade level expectations and articulated with much
greater specificity than our MLR's.  Vocabulary, literary text and
informational text standards are divided into initial understanding and
analysis categories.  Grades 3 and 4 also include a standard
articulating word identification and decoding strategies.  Grades 5-8 do
not include this standard. We will discuss how test items measure the
NECAP standards and suggest possible strategies or focus areas for
instruction.  patsy.dunton at maine.gov or diana.doiron at maine.gov  

Writing, 6-8 with Patsy Dunton or grades 3-5 with Diana Doiron: Writing
is assessed quite differently on NECAP.  In both grade 5 and grade 8,
there are 10 multiple choice items which measure conventions and
structures.  There are 3 short constructed response items and one
extended response item.  We will discuss test design, types of writing,
the difference between a reading CR and a writing CR, and suggest some
strategies for instruction.  patsy.dunton at maine.gov or
diana.doiron at maine.gov  

PAAP with Kim Schroeter: This important session will address revisions
to Maine's 2009-2010 Alternate Assessment Standards for Reading, Writing
and Mathematics (PAAP) due to the adoption of NECAP standards.  This
online meeting will discuss changes to:

*	the PAAP process and materials,
*	grade levels appropriate for the PAAP,
*	the revised time-line of the PAAP,
*	the Task Bank, and
*	materials for this spring's IEP development.

kimberly.schroeter at maine.gov 

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