2009 June at Socrato

Archive for June, 2009

End of “Cut and Paste” to create custom assessments and worksheets for state standardized tests

0 Comments Published by Raju June 29th, 2009 in Teaching, Assessment, Content Email This Post

A good article by Bailey on how to leverage MCAS material to supplement classroom or home instruction.
Teachers and tutors can leverage any state standardized test material, or even National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) material. After each assessment, NAEP releases dozens of sample questions to the public—more than 2,000 questions are currently available to be […]

Partial release of MCAS test items is a step backwards

1 Comment Published by admin June 29th, 2009 in Homepage, Socrato Email This Post

An open letter to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education:
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Dear Commissioner Chester,
I work with a number of schools helping them review MCAS data and results. Thank you for shortening the turnaround time for MCAS results for schools, and for shortening the test periods. Schools will greatly […]

Interesting articles on Educational data analysis, usage and access

0 Comments Published by Raju June 19th, 2009 in Teaching, Intelligence, Assessment, Education Email This Post

How Data analysis is helping raise performance – story covers both good and the bad
Data-Driven Schools See Rising Scores - WSJ.com
Educational data is in abundance – but not in very useful state.
Education Week: Data, Data Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Use
Impact of providing detailed and real time access to student educational and learning data […]

Success is not a one-way street, but a constant journey

1 Comment Published by Raju June 18th, 2009 in General Email This Post

Inspiring presentation and definition on “Definition of Success” by Richard St. John, reminding us that success is not a one-way street, but a constant journey. He uses the story of his business’ rise and fall to illustrate a valuable lesson — when we stop trying, we fail.
If you get a chance check it out at […]

Teachers earning $125,000 a year - Can every school afford to get the best?

0 Comments Published by Raju June 6th, 2009 in Teaching Email This Post

NYtimes posted a story on new charter school. It’s inspiring to see that Mr. Zeke M. Vanderhoek founder of a test preparation company Manhattan GMAT is assembling a dream team of teachers to kick start a charter school.
I agree with the approach that excellent and passionate teachers / tutors are the key ingredients to […]

The future of private tutoring in US – it’s going to be intense

1 Comment Published by Raju June 3rd, 2009 in Tutoring Email This Post

For people who do not believe that private tutoring can help increase SAT scores, this article about South Korean tutoring industry is intense. A recent study by NACAC got coverage in WSJ that private tutoring does not help much in raising SAT scores. At least, that’s how the finding of the report is being projected. […]