Understanding ACT scores
Two reports with ACT data have been sent to Kentucky schools in recent days, “ACT High School Profile Report, The Graduating Class of 2008” and “ACT State Test Profile Report, Spring 2008 ACT-Tested Juniors.”
· The two reports do not include the same students and testing conditions, and data from the two should not be compared.
· The first statewide test administration of all Kentucky juniors in 2008 provides baseline or beginning data.
· Next year, schools will be able to compare data from the ACT-tested juniors in 2008 with data from the ACT-tested juniors in 2009 and identify growth and early trends.
· The statewide ACT administration to Kentucky’s juniors included approximately 35 percent more Kentucky public school students than any previous ACT administration.
The Graduating Class of 2008 report includes:
· public and private school students
· the last or most recent ACT score for a 2008 graduate
· no duplication of students
· students tested on national test date
· students tested using standard time
The report is posted on the ACT Web site at act.org.
The ACT State Test Profile Report includes:
· all public school juniors who tested in the state testing window
· students testing with standard time, ACT-approved accommodations and Kentucky-approved accommodations
The report is not posted on the ACT Web site at act.org, but information about individual Kentucky schools’ and districts’ performance is available here .
What kind of learner is your child?
(The following information comes from the national PTA.)
A learning style describes how a person best takes in, understands and remembers information.
People learn and retain information in many ways. Finding out how your child learns is the first step to helping her become a successful learner.
Visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning styles are three main ways children learn, but there are others that educators describe as well. Your child can be one style of learner or a combination.
Most teachers in the upper grades will spend 80 percent of their time lecturing, which works for auditory learners. College rates are even higher. Yet, 10 percent of students are auditory learners. A visual learner can become frustrated in a highly auditory environment. Kinesthetic learners may be labeled ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Work with your child’s teacher(s) to make sure their teaching reflects all of the learning styles.
DEFINITION OF LEARNING STYLES:
Visual
These types of learners are watchers. They like pictures and handouts. They may have problems with phonics. They can learn through watching a science experiment on a video without having to actually do it.
Auditory
These are the listeners of the group. They learn well through poems and songs. They tend to be the most talkative in the group. They may also read aloud and be very good at it. Math facts may be difficult to learn if they are on a flash card; learning them through a song will be a better method.
Kinesthetic
These learners learn best with hands-on activities. They may like to take things apart to see how they work. They may have difficulty sitting for long periods of time. They have good eye-to-hand skills. They will want to do an experiment versus watching someone else do it.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
How does he or she grow? Is he or she drawn to lights or color movement? Does he or she listen to sounds and words? Is he or she in constant motion and well-coordinated?
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LEARNING STYLES AND YOUR CHILD
How does he or she play? Does he or she like toys that are bright or that light up? Like books but is interested in the pictures? Does he or she enjoy listening to music or picks up on interesting sounds? Does he or she like Lego shapes or puzzles? Does he or she like to take things apart?
How does he or she read? Does he or she have to look at the pictures when you are reading to understand what is going on in the story? When reading to your child, does she listen intently without having to look at the pictures? Does she have a difficult time sitting through a story and want to do other things while you continue to read?
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
· Observe how your child approaches new information or challenges.
· Report to teachers what you know about how your child learns best.
· Encourage your child to try lots of ways to solve problems; reading, listening, experimenting.
· Learn more about learning styles by talking teachers, school counselors, or by doing research on the Web.
More Parent Teacher Association news
PTAs and Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSA) across the state will celebrate KY PTA Kids Day on Sept. 23. This special day was started by Betty Wehner, state president from 1985-87, to set aside a special day for students.
The goal is to send the message to each child that he or she is a special and unique individual who is respected and loved. It also serves as a day to make the public aware of the educational and personal needs of children. Click here for more information.
Students in grades P-12 who are in a school with a PTA or PTSA are encouraged to participate in the National PTA cultural arts program, “Reflections.” This program includes visual arts, photography, film/video, literature, music composition and dance.
Student work may be done either during school or outside of school. Contact the Kentucky PTA at (502) 226-6607 for the upcoming deadline for your area.
Blue Ribbon Schools selected
Four Kentucky public schools have been designated as 2008 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. They are:
· Highland Elementary, Daviess County
· Veterans Park Elementary, Fayette County
· May Valley Elementary, Floyd County
· White Hall Elementary, Madison County
Nationwide, nearly 300 schools will be honored with NCLB - Blue Ribbon Schools awards, which recognize public and private P-12 schools that help students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing achievement gaps.
Library Card Month
September is Library Card Month across the United States.
Libraries offer endless resources for your children. To go along with print books and periodicals, most public libraries today have a large variety of media including CDs, computer software, movies and Internet access.
Public libraries also may provide other services, such as infants, toddler and children storytelling or after-school programs. Programs for homework help, language learning and other community service programs are common as well.
If you haven’t been to your local public library recently, now is the perfect time for a return trip.
National Family Day
“National Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children” is a national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America’s kids substance free. Family Day reminds parents that dinner time does make a difference.
This year, National Family Day will be celebrated Monday, Sept. 22.
The Box Girls Web site recommends these conversation starters for a fun way to get everyone talking at the dinner table on National Family Day. Conversation starters include:
- Where is the coziest spot in your home?
- If you were in charge of the music for your family vacation, which songs would you select?
- Which TV family is most like your own?
- What is your favorite smell in the whole world?
- If you could have a wild animal from anywhere in the world as a pet, what animal would you choose?
- What are your best and worst personality traits?
- What do you think is the greatest invention of all time?
- What are your most and least favorite activities to do with your family?