Focus Group Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 21, 2003
Educational Specialists present: Cathy Anema, Randy Hodges, Marcia Irwin, Julie Lackie, Lecia Liege, Shahnaz Shah, Carol Smith-Dupree, and Tammy Tagge
Parent member: Randy Hodges
Student Member: Emily Stanley
1. Rolff reviewed the intervention suggestions from the September meeting.
2. Group divided in two groups to discuss the Math interventions in one group and the English interventions in the second.
3. After discussion, focus group rejoined and discussed the following suggestions:
English:
1. Reading should be a high priority Ð students should read daily.
2. Reading curriculum suggestions:
a. Best Poems, Best Stories
b. Accelerated Reader Program
**Educational Specialists would like more information on this program.
3. Grammar Ð students need to listen to good storytellers with excellent grammar and
colorful, descriptive language such as on tapes.
4. Reading newspaper and identify parts of speech in various articles.
5. Grammar Ð top priority should be given to teaching grammar in context.
6. Spelling curriculum suggestions:
a. Daily Grams
b. Calvert CDs for 4th-8th grade
c. Building Your Vocabulary
7. Conduct a school-wide Spelling Bee?
8. Writing needs to be meaningful
9. Writing curriculum suggestions:
a. Igniting Your Writing (from Rainbow Resources) 3rd and up
b. Write Source
c. Oak Meadow for High School uses classical literature
10. On-line Writing Suggestion:
a. Movies as Literature (Design a Study)
11. Vocabulary curriculum suggestions:
a. Building Your Vocabulary (Rainbow Resources)
Math:
1. Need to decentralize tutoring Ð as many students will not travel more than fifteen minutes for instruction. Inconvenient for families with more than one child.
2. Strongest tutoring need for Junior High & Senior High students Ð especially for students who may have failed the CAHSEE at least once.
3. Tutoring also strongly needed for Algebra and above. Many parents unable to provide instruction for higher level math.
4. Discussed possibility of school employing more tutors or a Òmath specialistÓ for higher math courses. Effective math class should meet three times a week with students of same math level. If class size is at least 6 students, could be cost-effective. Also, consider possibility of combining some math classes to get 6 students Ð such as Algebra & Geometry, Advanced Algebra & Pre-Calculus. However, students would all need to use same curriculum for same class (all Algebra students use same text, etc.)
5. School create and online Math Bulletin Board for students, parents, and teachers to discuss curriculum ideas and suggestions.
6. CST pushing Algebra for 8th grade. Therefore, most math textbooks need to be taught an earlier than the grade level currently. For example, Saxon 54 should be taught at 3rd grade, etc.
7. Need a person in the school to act as a Curriculum specialist for new and ongoing students. This person could conduct placement tests for appropriate level curriculum as well as discuss and recommend various options. Educational Specialists feel overwhelmed by all the choices and not able to help adequately.
8. Curriculum graph should include a large column for ÒcommentsÓ regarding each item for additional information regarding applications, etc. Would like curriculum organized by learning style (1) then grade level (2) then name of item (3).
9. Math curriculum suggestions:
a. Rainbow Rock software CD (Singapore Math)
b. Quarter Mile Math software
c. Math Shark Ð handheld to help review math facts
d. Myskillstutor.com Ð online service for $100 for first student to help student review math information and prepare for Algebra Ð esp. high school students.
***English work group greatly appreciated input of student member.
Meeting concluded at 6:15PM