No Excuses University–Standards Alignment

“The rubric is the lens from which the student focuses, to find understanding. The rubric is the lens from which the teacher focuses, to measure that understanding! – Jackie W. Kyger

In Chapter 7, Lopez emphasizes the importance that standards have on a school’s accountability to its students and their parents. He also acknowledges that many disagree with the need for standards and/or they have different expectations for standards. Consider what the author shares regarding the importance of aligning standards as well as the common mistakes made when aligning. If you do not have direct classroom experience, you may respond to these questions based on your own understanding of what occurs in your own children’s school, or a professional or volunteer position you’ve held outside of a school setting.

Follow the  journal question/ answer format below please. Read the note below too.

Week 3 Journal Structure and Instructor Notes

Title Page

Your response

How has your own viewpoint regarding educational standards changed or been validated by what you read?

Your response

What will you [do] differently and/or add to your current/anticipated professional role to reflect this?

Your response

What can be done to change the mindset of the naysayers the author addresses in his disclaimer on p. 82? 

Your response

Can you name the standard or sub-standard that is your grade level or department’s greatest area of need?

Your response

If so, how do you know?

Your response

What encourages you to make changes?

Your response

References

Lopez, D. (2013). No excuses university: How six exceptional systems are revolutionizing our schools (2nd ed.).  Turnaround Schools Publications.

• Chapter 7:  Standards Alignment
  • This chapter addresses why aligning standards is critical to academic success and identifies common mistakes that are/can be made. It stresses the importance of creating road maps to align standards.

Note.  Please paste this structured format into an APA formatted template (title page, body, and reference page).  I’ve posted a general purpose APA template to the Announcements for your use.

Note.  When referring to the standard or sub-standard, you will need to look these up (www.corestandards.org ) http://www.corestandards.org .  You may also “google” for standards in your state or for early education.

Note.  When presenting your standard, be sure to include the text descriptor and identifying code for the standard.

Note.  The Journal prompt asks “What can be done to change the mindset of the naysayers the author addresses in his disclaimer on p. 82?”   You will find the term “disclaimer” on page 82 of the Lopez text.  If you use the digital version of the text, go to Chapter 7 and then find the Section titled “Common Mistakes in Aligning Standards” and then go to the 2nd paragraph.  You will see the term “disclaimer”.  Note.  A naysayer is someone who opposes or is pessimistic about the use of the Standards – perhaps even refuses to use the Standards.

Note.  Be sure to include an APA reference and the matching in-text citation.  For help, check the Course Materials (in the Modules area), go to the AWC (in the left navigation bar of our course), or google Purd