01-24-11

Notes from the meeting, Monday, January 24, 2011.
Taking a look at ITED data. Comparing ITED scores with grades. Looking at number of failing students by quarter.

Talking about another book study. Tribes, by Seth Godin, perhaps?
 * @http://amzn.to/h5s67W

Mac version of the Kindle Reader:
 * @http://amzn.to/dLtqLS

Discussing expanding our use of e2020. Does it make sense for kids to flunk a class, and then take the same class again from the same teacher? Wouldn't it make sense for those kids to re-take the course with e2020?

We're a little concerned at the amount of non-instructional, "free" and "fun" time that middle-schoolers have, even when they are on FDA lists or have failing grades.

There's some concern about the amount of time spend by so many of our kids in athletic training. When a large portion of our student body has to lift weights (or other things) in the mornings, year round, even out of season, it makes it really hard to do anything else. Over and over, we're hearing teachers talk about things they'd like to do to, but can't because it bumps into weight trainings, agilities, etc. And why do our students practice on game days? We hear from kids that training time that we call "voluntary" really isn't.

What can we do to stimulate interest in academic activities? What can we do to visibly recognize our academic achievements?