WRITING
ExcelinEd (C3) & ExcelinEd in Action (C4) Writing Projects
North Carolina: Early Literacy Tweets
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Are you having trouble finding new, fun ways for your kids to learn how to read? Worry no more! Here are some games and activities have quickly become just what children need to begin their successful journey. https://growingbookbybook.com/reading-activities/
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NC state local communities are using the Pathways Measures of Success Framework for collaborative community planning. With this framework, the spotlight is placed on locally and developing strategies for action to improve child and family outcomes #NcEd
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#EarlyLiteracy is so important to us and one great way to ensure your child’s successful future is by reading only 20 minutes every day. This can help your child read on grade level #K3Reading
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Making predictions is an essential part of life and we make them all the time. Help your child begin to see the connection between what he/she does as a reader and what he/she can do as a scientist. Learn about two simple ways you can encourage your child to become a scientist! https://www.readingrockets.org/article/making-predictions
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The NC Department of Public Instruction’s vision for #K3Reading is to improve student achievement and outcomes in #EarlyLiteracy through supporting evidence-based, high-quality literacy instruction alighted to the science of reading.
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Reading regularly with your child can improve his/her language development, early reading skills, and school readiness tremendously #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading
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NC Reads can help you discover programs across the state that support #EarlyLiteracy for students from preschool to graduation. Find a literacy program near you! https://www.northcarolinaread.com/literacy-programs
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Reading can be fun! Some ways to get your child to enjoy reading include writing, asking, and even singing to them. Try these to ensure that your child will read on grade level. #K3Reading #NcEd
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Children who have books in their homes and are read to during the first years of their life are more likely to have higher literacy skills in kindergarten. This improves children’s reading performance and helps them learn the basics of reading at an early start.
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NC Read to Achieve focuses on helping students who are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading #NcEd https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/
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About 41% of NC families reported reading every day to their children in 2016. https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/
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Ever thought of starting a family dinner book club? This could be a new, fun way to bring your family closer together over good books, good food, and great conversation! Here you can find a list of potential books: https://growingbookbybook.com/family-dinner-book-club/ #EarlyLiteracy
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Children typically start to recognize letters as toddlers but, many won’t master identification of all letters until kindergarten. #ExeclinEdTip: Initiate interactive alphabet activities with your child. These activities can be very helpful when children start to write and spell. #EarlyLiteracy
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Reading rocks and so does your child! Encourage him/her to pick up a book and read by having a lot of books stay easily accessible in your home. Keep them readily available in the kitchen, car, and other locations where your child likes to spend time. #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy
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Attention parents! #ExeclinEdTip: If your child is just learning how to read, encourage attention to letters and sounds. This can allow them to become more familiar with the pronunciation of words. #EarlyLiteracy
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#ExeclinEdTip: Play interactive phonological awareness games to allow for your child to learn the alphabetic principle and start understanding the sounds of spoken language. Try it at home!
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Reading just 20 minutes a day keeps the illiteracy away! Leave books for your children in places they typically go to #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy
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Since the #EarlyLiteracy rate is always aiming to improve, the NC Pathways to Grade-Level Reading Initiative strives to give students all over the state the best opportunity for life success. #NcEd https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/
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About 47% of US low-income parents of children under six say that they were told to read aloud to their children from the time they were born compared to 75% of high-income parents #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/
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Use trips to the grocery store, dinnertime chats, and driving in the car as a time to introduce new words and practice their speaking skills. Talking to your child helps! #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy
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#ExeclinEdTip: Dialogic reading is a very interactive way to read picture books with your children. Take turns telling a story based on the pictures you see and ask questions. #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/
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Believe it or not, smart use of technology can support reading with children. This can help them learn how to communicate, as well as allow them to build a foundation for reading and writing. https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/research-based-policies-practices-and-programs/
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#ExeclinEdTip: Repetition is key! Say a word and have your child repeat the word slowly. Then, have him/her write it out in the best of his ability #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy https://www.readingrockets.org/article/beginning-readers-look-i-can-read
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Only 41% of NC families had reported that they read to their children every single day in 2016. Help NC state increase that percentage! Just 20 minutes of reading a day can help tremendously #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/
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In need of a literacy program? NC Reads can help you discover programs across the state that support #EarlyLiteracy for students from preschool to graduation and with the help of NC Reads, you can find a program near you! #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd https://www.northcarolinaread.com/literacy-programs
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Attention parents! There are always fun, new ways to help your children learn how to read. Find one that works for you and your family! #K3Reading #NcEd https://growingbookbybook.com/reading-activities/
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#ExeclinEdTip: When reading with your children, make sure to share your excitement with them and tell them how proud you are. This will boost their confidence and potentially make them more enthusiastic about reading in the future #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd
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Writing can be significantly helpful when teaching children how to read. #ExeclinEdTip: Have your child write small things like grocery lists and notes or letters as a way for him/her to connect spoken words to written words. #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd https://www.northcarolinaread.com/summer-reading-camp
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Children typically start to master identification of all letters once they get to kindergarten. Playing interactive alphabet games with your children can truly be the start of their successful journey #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd
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Do your children enjoy picture books? Dialogic reading is a really great way to not only engage your children, but also to allow them to think outside of the box when explaining what they are visualizing. #K3Reading #NcEd
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#ExeclinEdTip: Download reading apps on either your phone or tablet for your children to enjoy now and in the Summertime. These apps make reading easy no matter where you are! #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd
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Smart use of technology can actually help young children learn how to communicate and can even allow them to build a foundation for both reading and writing #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading #NcEd https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/research-based-policies-practices-and-programs/
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#ExeclinEdTip: Initiating interactive phonological awareness activities can allow your children to learn the alphabetic principle and start understanding the sounds of spoken language. Here are some you can try! https://growingbookbybook.com/what-is-phonological-awareness/
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Although it is important for parents and children to read together at an early age, reading at any age can only further the cognitive skills of children. Check out a list of books for children to read depending on their age https://growingbookbybook.com/books-for-children-by-age/
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Writing can be a great tool when teaching children how to read. Having your children write notes, letters, or even grocery lists could be a fun way for them to connect spoken words to written words #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd https://www.northcarolinaread.com/summer-reading-camp
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#ExeclinEdTip: Silence is never the answer. Have enthusiastic conversations with your children for them to develop cognitive skills on a day-to-day basis.
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Most young children love picture books and really great way to keep them engaged with the story is to point to the words as you read. This way, they can follow along and also form a connection between illustrations and written words #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading #NcEd
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#ExeclinEdTip: Sing rhyming songs and read rhyming books with your children to make the cognitive learning process fun for everyone!
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One book, two book, three book, four! Make books available everywhere your children go, whether it’s in the living room, the car, or even the kitchen! #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd
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Do you want your children to read on grade level? Read with them just 20 minutes a day! #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading
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Reading doesn’t only have to be for your child; make it for the whole family! Sing rhyming songs, reading rhyming books, and saying tongue twisters can help your child learn new sounds in words #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading #NcEd https://www.northcarolinaread.com/summer-reading-camp
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Your children deserve to have the ability to develop their cognitive skills and have a successful future. Help them get there by constantly having conversations with them wherever you go #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd
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Not sure if your child is choosing the right books to read over the Summer? #ExeclinEdTip: Make sure the books are not too hard and not too easy. Your child should be challenged yet not too much where it seems impossible for him/her to understand #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy
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Talking to your children from a young age can help improve their cognitive language development skills and school readiness skills #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/research-based-policies-practices-and-programs/
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#NcEd says that as children learn about the predictable relationships between sounds and letters, they can start to apply those relationships to all words and even begin reading more fluently #K3Reading #EarlyLiteracy https://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/reading-basics/phonics
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#ExeclinEdTip: Make reading for your entire family! Try having book discussions at dinnertime or play word games in the car on your way to school #EarlyLiteracy #NcEd
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Learn how a focus on teacher-child interactions could be extremely beneficial for young children’s language, communication, and reading development. https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/research-based-policies-practices-and-programs/
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Reading matters! NC takes #EarlyLiteracy and your children’s future very seriously. Here are a variety of ways to help your children read at grade level. https://growingbookbybook.com/reading-activities/
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#ExeclinEdTip: As the Summertime approaches, think about signing your child up to a Summer Reading Camp to solidify his/her academic future #EarlyLiteracy
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#ExeclinEdTip: Download e-books or reading applications on your phone or tablet for your child to enjoy reading, even when you’re on the go! #K3Reading #NcEd https://www.northcarolinaread.com/summer-reading-camp
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Helping your children read doesn’t only consist of reading written words. Singing songs together and even attempting to say different tongue twisters can also be innovative ways to teach your child new sounds in words #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading #NcEd https://www.northcarolinaread.com/summer-reading-camp
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#ExeclinEdTip: Keep making reading light and fun. Help your child learn the names of the letters and the sounds of letters make—turn it into a game!
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Why does it matter to read to your children? Reading with them can improve their language development, early reading achievement, and school readiness #EarlyLiteracy #K3Reading #NcEd https://buildthefoundation.org/issue/reading-with-children/
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Summer is coming! #ExeclinEdTip: make books available in locations where your children are commonly in. If they see a book, they might be more inclined to pick it up! #EarlyLiteracy ! #K3Reading #NcEd
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Summer is just around the corner and #EarlyLiteracy is still an issue that is front and center. Download reading apps on your phone or tablet so that your child can practice reading whether you are at home or on the go! #K3Reading #NcEd https://www.northcarolinaread.com/summer-reading-camp
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Here is a list of Summer reading suggestions that your children might enjoy when school is out: https://statelibrary.ncdcr.gov/lbph/read/summer-reading/suggestions
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Consistency is key when it comes to #EarlyLiteracy! Read with your children about 20 minutes a day to help them read on grade level. #K3Reading #NcEd
KANSAS HOUSE BILL 2465: PRESS RELEASE
Kansas House Approves the Expansion of Student Eligibility in Kansas’s Tax Credit Scholarship System
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This week, the Kansas House Rules Committee voted on the legislation to expand the tax scholarship program to more students, giving them the ability to receive the education they choose.
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Kansas House Bill 2465, sponsored by Rep. Steve Huebert, advocates for the expansion of student eligibility in Kansas’s tax credit scholarship program by, not only increasing the income amount for the family, but also by eliminating the requirement of students being mandated to attend one of the state’s lowest 100 performing schools.
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“By allowing more students to qualify for this scholarship, the legislature is recognizing that educational opportunity is a priority and that each family deserves the ability to customize schooling as it sees fit. Thanks to Rep. Huebert and Ace Scholarships, students in the state of Kansas will no longer be held back in excelling.”
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Zach Eckert, Regional Legislative Director, ExcelinEd in Action
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Across the county, tax credit programs are widely supported by families and the public at large. In fact, recent data show 67% of the public support school choice overall. With over 20 programs across the nation, tax credit scholarships are one of the fastest growing school choice programs, including programs in neighboring states such as Iowa, Illinois, Indians, Kansas, and Oklahoma. As of the year of 2016, there have been 25 studies across the country on tax credit scholarship programs showing a positive fiscal impact on taxpayers and districts, three studies showing a neutral impact, and zero showing a negative impact.
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The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
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For more information on tax credit scholarships, visit ExcelinEd’s policy library.
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INDIANA HOUSE BILL 1003: PRESS RELEASE
Indiana Senate Education Committee Approves More Flexibility for Schools to Innovate
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Today, the Indiana Senate Education Committee passed a school innovation and flexibility bill that gives schools the ability to apply for waivers from restrictive state laws that hinder innovation to better facilitate student learning.
Indiana House Bill 1003, authored by Rep. Jack Jordan, allows the State Board of Education to approve flexibility waiver requests from schools for education laws and rules if the school can show it has an innovative program that is hindered by current law. Examples of rules schools can apply for waivers from include seat time requirements, state mandated curriculum, unnecessary reporting, restriction around working with local industry, and unfunded mandates.
“This is an opportunity for Indiana to rethink its education system and transform it into a 21st century learning environment that meets the needs of all students. It truly gives Indiana a chance to completely rethink its educational system and ExcelinEd in Action is excited to see what schools and the state come up with when schools are put in the driver’s seat.”
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Zach Eckert, Regional Legislative Director, ExcelinEd in Action
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With these flexibilities, the future will now be inclusive of a system where students can advance upon mastery instead of by school grade, and where students can earn credit for demonstrating skills as opposed to only being able to get credit for passing a test.
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The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
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For more information school innovation and flexibility, visit ExcelinEd’s policy library.
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#EIE19 NATIONAL SUMMIT ON EDUCATION REFORM:
INTERVIEW SUMMARIES
(Adam Miller, IDEA Public Schools)
Miller discusses how the number of high-performing charter schools, as well as high-performing networks, have continued to allow the education system in Florida to grow exponentially. Miller also elaborates on the benefits of School Choice for not only parents and their children, but also for the teachers themselves. Additionally, Miller speaks on what IDEA Public Schools is and what it's mission and goals are. Adam Miller is extremely well-spoken, which will make it easier to cut footage or pull solid quotes, if needed. Video quality is not the sharpest.
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(Amity Schuyler, TN DOE)
Schuyler discusses more about the implementation of the Education Savings Account (ESA) in Tennessee and the power in giving parents control of their own children's needs when it comes to education. Schuyler is very well-spoken and is clearly very passionate about what she is a part of. The video quality is great.
(Andy Tuck, Florida State Board of Education) Tuck speaks on the issues with opportunity among both urban and rural systems, as well as the importance of more advanced academic programs such as International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), and Dual Enrollment in high schools. This interview does not include an introduction of who Tuck is and it is much shorter than the other interviews.
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(Bibb Hubbard, Learning Heroes)
Hubbard elaborates on the fact that more parental engagement creates a more accurate depiction of how their children are performing academically, socially, and emotionally. She claims that parents are a crucial aspect of their children's success; in her eyes, children would not be able to receive all of the tools to excel if it were simply left to the academic administrators. This interview had a lot of quality content to work from and she speaks very calmly.
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(Bonnie Ybarra, Nevada Parent)
Ybarra speaks on the benefit of opportunity scholarships and the concerns she has--as a parent and member of her community--with these scholarships potentially being removed. This interview was great. It includes a lot of Ybarra's emotions as a mother who simply wants the best for her children. I think this is powerful to see.
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(Dan Weisberg, Opportunity Myth)
Weisberg explains the extent of the research conducted in order to create the “Opportunity Myth” regarding college career readiness. He believes that it is really crucial for 1) students all across the board to have equal access to four major resources and 2) educators to know what their students’ goals and experiences are so that these students can succeed.
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(Hadi Partovi, Code.org)
Partovi strongly believes that every student—regardless of their career path—should have the opportunity to learn how to code because it is important to understand just how technology is evolving and how it changes the world. Lighting of video is off.
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(Joel Vargas, Vice President of Jobs for the Future)
Jobs for the Future pushes for economic advancement. Aligning education and work forces with the demands of future of work is very important, especially because the labor market is constantly looking for individuals to fill positions once previous workers retire; for these positions, students should learn a great variety of skills in order to become a well-rounded individual within the work force. Vargas also discusses the issues that come along with a portion of our population lacking certain skills.
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(Kelly Wilson, High Tech High)
Wilson speaks on teacher and student preparation within K-12 education. There are four major design principals at High Tech High include: Equity, Personalization, Authentic Work, and Collaborative Design. Its mission is to advance equity through deeper learning. Raw video footage is not in dropbox; only audio clips are available. This interview was very difficult to follow along with; Wilson did not know what to say most of the time.
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(Keri Rodriguez, MA Parent Advocate)
Rodriguez discusses the significance in understanding that all students learn differently and should not be penalized for this. She also elaborates on the fact that in order to create radical change within the public-school system, disruption of the status quo must occur.
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(Kevin Bacon, CEO of School Choice Ohio)
Bacon elaborates on the importance of both the use, as well as the expansion of major resources addressing students with learning exceptionalities or students who come from lower income communities.
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(Mike Dudgeon, GA Policy Director for LT Gov Jeff Duncan)
Dudgeon advocates for the public-school system and strongly believes that all students should have the ability to attend the school that is the perfect fit for them and their needs and interests. Dudgeon speaks on the importance of students—in both middle school and high school—and teachers having computer science skills.
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(Mike Mosely, Rocky Bayou Christian School)
Dr. Mosely discusses the significance of every student taking ownership of his or her own education. He also elaborates on the concept of breaking the stigma of separating the “good” kids from the “bad” students. According to Dr. Mosely, Rocky Bayou not only treats its students as individual learners, but it also holds its students accountable in the same way their own parents would.
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(Pete Smith, MS DOE)
Smith commends the newest NAEP results for Mississippi and speaks on the retention rate for students. According to him, Mississippi DOE has implemented strategies and professional development, such as Letters Training, to help teachers have the ability to teach the foundation of reading in schools who are performing well below the proficiency levels in third grade reading.
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(Rep. Jason Elliot, South Carolina General Assembly)
Rep. Elliot believes that school choice can export the ideas that are being implemented in both private and charter schools into public schools. He supports the idea of the same resources being given to families in any under-performing area and says that education should not be “one size fits all”.
(Rep. Terri Collins, Alabama House of Representatives)
Rep. Collins discusses the passing of the K-3 Literacy Act; the passing of computer science classes in elementary, middle, and high schools; and the passing of apprenticeships in high schools working with literacy and computer science. She also says that Alabama received a 9/9 for Code.org.
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(Sen. Linda Rogers)
Sen. Rogers discusses her perspective on students being prepared for not only the work force, but also to be prepared for what they are interested in. She emphasizes the importance of teaching students at a pace that they can handle and of individualizing all education.
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(Tracy Richardson, Parent Advocate)
Richardson speaks on her inspiration after finding school choice and shares how her personal experience with her daughter being a part of the Opportunity Scholarship Program—in 1999—has immensely impacted her views on education.
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(Veronica Ragland, ESA Parent)
As a parent, Ms. Ragland, advocates the importance of having education choice, especially due to the fact that there are so many students who have needs that interfere with their academic opportunities.
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(Jillian Balow, Superintendent and President of the Board of Directors at CCSSO)
Balow discusses the true significance of career and technology education for all students, such as teaching skills in welding, shop, healthcare, coding, and computer science. She advocates for these skills to be taught for students to be well-prepared in the work force, after graduating high school and college.