<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="place"/>
<o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
name="State"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Arial Black";
panose-1:2 11 10 4 2 1 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:Arial;
color:windowtext;}
p.Default, li.Default, div.Default
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-autospace:none;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;
color:black;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Arial Black"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black"'>Welcome
to Maine Department of Education <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Arial Black"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black"'>English
Language Arts Listserv<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Arial Black"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This service is an
attempt to keep <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place>
educators informed about current issues, upcoming opportunities and resources
in ELA. Please send any responses to: <a href="mailto:patsy.dunton@maine.gov">patsy.dunton@maine.gov</a>
or <a href="mailto:diana.dioron@maine.gov">diana.dioron@maine.gov</a> as this
is not a discussion forum.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Our goal is to post
information as needed but not more often than once a week. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>October 6, 2008 Topics:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>What happened with the list in June.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>About grade 8 writing on the MEA<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Upcoming MEA and MHSA workshop information.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red'>Our problem in June:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If you have been with us for a while, then you recall that many
messages got into your box through our list in June. This was undoubtedly due
to a human error which, unfortunately, altered the settings and allowed
responses. It is our intention to keep this line of communication as open as
possible so we will not allow anyone else to post a message. The problem has
been corrected and should not happen again. If you asked to have your name
removed because of the flood, please know that we asked you to wait until we
made this correction. If you still want to be removed, please let us know
again. We apologize for this inconvenience. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red'>Grade 8 Writing<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Assuming that you know that we will not be reporting grade 8 writing
scores for the March 2008 MEA, we would like to offer a little more information
or another way of explaining the situation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In March of 2006, all grade 8 students wrote to a single prompt as part
of a state-wide field test of several writing prompts. Each prompt was
presented to about 1200+/- students. The statistics of these items were
analyzed and two prompts were moved forward. In 2007, all students wrote to
one of those field-tested prompts. Student performance on this item was
consistent with field test data. In 2008, students wrote to another of the
field tested prompts but student performance was quite inconsistent with field
test data. The situation was studied by the Department and our testing
contractor, Measured Progress, but no reasonable explanation for this anomaly
could be determined. Therefore, Commissioner Gendron chose to set this item
aside and not report student scores. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>When an item performs significantly differently than predicted, the
item must be questioned. While there are many speculative reasons for this
outcome, there are none which can be reasonably proven. Without a reasonable
explanation, the data just can’t be used. We will be going forward with
a single-prompt writing assessment at grade 8 in 2009, one which is aligned to
the 2007 Maine <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Learning Results: Parameters
for Essential Instruction, English Language Arts</span></i> writing
performance indicator B 3: Analysis/Argument. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A sample prompt can be found at <a
href="http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/0708materials/sample09prompt.pdf">http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/0708materials/sample09prompt.pdf</a>
and the correlating scoring guide can be found at <a
href="http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/0708materials/gr8scoringguide121807.pdf">http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/0708materials/gr8scoringguide121807.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red'>Professional Development Opportunities
offered by <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red'>Maine Department of Education<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:-22.5pt'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The 2009 MHSA and MEA will measure
and report student academic progress in relation to the 2007 MLR federal accountability
standards and writing standards for the first time. Teachers who are
well-versed in the new accountability and writing standards will be comfortable
teaching the new standards. Students will be able to demonstrate their
knowledge of the content of the standards on the MHSA and MEA. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red'>MHSA Fall Workshop </span></font>information
including link to online registration: <a
href="http://www.maine.gov/education/mhsa/08pdworkshops.pdf">http://www.maine.gov/education/mhsa/08pdworkshops.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>These sessions will include information about College Board tools
including data analysis and free online materials during the morning session
and specific content area instructional models presented by <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place> teachers during the afternoon
sessions. We are combining PSAT and SAT presentations so all teachers should
plan to attend one of these workshops! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;color:red'>MEA Fall Workshop</span></font> information
including link to online registration:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a
href="http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/0809materials/pdworkshops.pdf">http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/0809materials/pdworkshops.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>These workshops are presented as content and grade-span specific
sessions. They will run for the full day in ELA and will address both reading
and writing topics. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-weight:bold'>The training will include</span></font></b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default><font size=2 color=black face=Wingdings><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>􀂾 </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Discussion of the intent and meaning of
accountability content standards and performance indicators of the 2007 <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place> <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Learning Results </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:-.25in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default><font size=2 color=black face=Wingdings><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>􀂾 </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Instructional implications and strategies
directly applicable to the content areas that participants teach <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:-.25in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default><font size=2 color=black face=Wingdings><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>􀂾 </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Orientation and review of the types of
data contained in various MEA reports, including data trends <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:-.25in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:-.25in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Wingdings><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>􀂾 </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Suggestions for preparing students for
the MEA format <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default style='margin-left:-.25in'><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=Default><font size=2 color=black face=Wingdings><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings'>􀂾 </span></font><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Reviewing, adapting, and developing rich,
engaging performance tasks that align with performance indicators from the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Maine</st1:State></st1:place> <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>Learning Results </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>