From:  TEA The STARR The Next Generation Information

Beginniing in spring 2011, students will start a new voyage with the launch of the next testing program called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STARR.

What is STAAR?

STARR is a more rigorous standardized testing program that will replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) for elementary, middle and high school students.  The new STAAR program will emphazie "readiness" standards, which are considered most important for success in the grade or subject that follows for college and career.

What tests must you take in high school?

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http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/

Here is the link to learn more about STARR Resources.

As we hear more news about the deails on STARR we will certainly share it with you!

Using Facebook in the classroom seems to be a preposterous idea to some. However, if careful consideration is given to the means of communication that Facebook can offer, one will find that the "good" far out weighs all of the "bad" connotations for Facebook in the classroom/home.

To use Facebook effectively and professionally in the classroom, the educator/parent will need to set certain procedures.

1. A separate account just for the classroom or a separate account for the child at home should be in place. This keeps your Facebook for students at school on a professional level or your Facebook for your child at home on an educational level.
2. Definitely manage privacy settings. Your Facebook page will lead you through the steps needed.
3. Mentor students carefully. As an educator, the utmost care must be given to a professional attitude. Only school related materials may be posted on this Facebook page. Keep a professional distance on Facebook just as you would in the classroom. On the Facebook page, the teacher is not a friend but is a mentor. Parents must remember that this page belongs to the student and respect the student's input and sharing
4. Place students and your child on limited access to their pages. This allows only the information that you are sending and receiving.

Okay! Now that all of the preliminary work has been done, how is the Facebook going to help? Facebook resources are growing everyday at an amazing rate. Therefore, exploring resources is going to be the first step in applying Facebook to education at school and at home.

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In the last blog, the necessary guidelines for using Facebook properly in the classroom were discussed as well as a preview of the plentiful teaching materials to be found by both the educator and the parent.

Here are some of the benefits that may be obtained by using Facebook as a teaching tool in the classroom and at home.

Facebook gives such an imitating atmosphere totally opposite of the formal atmosphere of the classroom or the necessary feeling a student has when doing homework. The student realizes that they are an active participate on a level playing field. There is no judgment, censorship, or preconceived ideas. Facebook isn't owned by any one person but belongs to the group collectively.

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Who is the gifted learner? Often the I.Q. score is used as the projection to measure I.Q. If this is the sole judgment of I.Q, then one may consult the Stanford-Binet Form LM , the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, or the Silverman & Kearney tests. Each of these three tests defines an I.Q. of 140 as the nominal IQ for a gifted child. Estimated statistical occurrence of the children in this range is one or two children per a million children. Highly and profoundly gifted children may be defined as those who score above the third or fourth standard deviation on IQ test, or who are prodigies in a particular domain. (Webb, Meckstroth, & Tolan)

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Finding the right tutor for your child can be a trying process. What does one observe in the person who is the right tutor? What characteristics does the right tutor possess? What are the qualifications needed for being the right tutor? Creative Tutors is an excellent example of how employing the right tutor creates success for your child. What are the qualifications needed for a tutor? Ironically, no state requires a degree for one who wants to be a tutor. That leaves the choice to the interviewer. One thing is for certain, you aren’t just going to choose someone as your tutor that does not have some type of education. You must fit the education to the need. If reading is the subject, the tutor must have knowledge of reading skills. As a concerned parent, you know that someone trained in the field that your child needs is going to give the best results. The Creative Tutor’s teacher will have degrees in the field of expertise needed for the student.

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In order for a person to be a productive leader, they must possess certain qualities that define them as an effective person for leadership.  The first trait of an effective leader is character. Character is developed as a person matures from a child to an adult. It is the sum total of that person’s interaction with other people. Character defines a person’s values. As a leader, one must be able to define one’s values to determine if they have the qualities needed to motivate others and to inspire others to perform to the best of their abilities. Thus, an effective leader knows his values, is comfortable with his values, and will use those values to base decisions and lead. If a leader is not positive about his values, he will be led to self-serving decisions and will fail miserably as a leader. If fact, he will not become a leader but a manipulator. The second trait of an effective leader is consistency. The dictionary defines leadership consistency as a steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, or form. If an educational leader is consistent, they will create an environment that produces security in their followers.  Everyone knows what to expect, how they are expected to perform, and the results of performing to those expectations. Teachers who are clear about their expectations in a classroom have few discipline problems enabling them to spend all their time teaching and very little time solving behavioral problems. Their classrooms are safe and secure. Administrators who, like the teachers, are clear about their expectations will produce high-energy, safe, and productive schools.

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