Thursday, December 23, 2010
Star Sponsorship Program
We have started a new program at Avicenna to help us not only increase enrollment, but to allow us to provide an Islamic education to Muslim students who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford the tuition. Please read more about it here.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
MAP Testing, Differentiated Instruction & Schedule Changes
Beginning in January of 2011, Avicenna Academy will be utilizing Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing to provide us with quantitative, long-term data regarding your child's academic growth. This data can be used not only to determine actual academic progress over the course of several years, but new data can be used to place your child according to his or her ability in any given subject area. MAP is given three times throughout the academic year, so we can track progress during the school year instead of waiting for the annual ISTEP+ scores to tell us whether or not our teaching methods are working for our students.
Specifically, with the MAP tests, we will be using results to place your students into ability groups according to subject areas so that advanced students are not bored and students who may be struggling with a particular subject are not frustrated. For next semester, we will be using this information to place according to ability groups within classrooms. All students in K and up will be tested.
Example: Students A and B are both in fourth grade. They are both 9-year old, male students. Student A tested at a third grade level for Math, while Student B tested at a 6th grade level for Math. The teacher will look at the students' reports and place them into a grouping within their fourth grade classroom so that she may differentiate instruction according to their ability. Specifically, she will teach a topic to all students, but she will alter something about the lesson so that Student A does not feel as if he is lost and not as smart as other students and so that Student B does not get bored and begin to "check out" mentally.
Differentiated instruction is a key phrase in education that implies that the teacher is going to alter her teaching method to fit the students' needs. We no longer live in a world where we expect students to sit silently in their seats and listen while we stand up front and talk at them. Instead, through countless studies over several decades, educators have found out, to nobody's surprise, that we all learn differently. Our current culture is one where children are exposed to things like television and video games which flash thousands of images at them within a minute. Students of today do not learn the same way their parents did even 20 years ago. Because of this, professional educators have created teaching methods to reach students where they are so that they may lead them to where they need to be and beyond, if their ability allows.
In order for our teachers to differentiate instruction in an appropriate way, we must first know where our students are, hence the use of MAP.
MAP is given at the beginning, middle and end of the year so that we can not only track student progress, but if a student's ability changes, he or she may be placed in a different group with instruction that's appropriate for that child.
To accomodate for the long-term goals of the school as they pertain to our students' growth, the school day will be elongated from the current 7 hour day to a 7.5 hour day. We will be dismissing at 3:30pm instead of 3pm. This schedule change allows for a few important modifications to our school day:
1) We can organize the day so that classes that require utilization of particular "parts" of the brain are consolidated, lessening the transition time required for focus between subject areas.
2) We can allow our students a small break in the morning for them to eat their snack and socialize instead of eating snack while working. This provides them with an opportunity to take a break and not become overwhelmed with their studies.
3) We can add time to Arabic, Quran and Islamic Studies, the three classes that parents have specifically requested be elongated.
4) We will add formal computer courses and a more appropriate PE curriculum to our school week. Technology is especially important today as we are a global society, competing for jobs anywhere in the world. And, increasing our physical dexterity and skill will not only provide opportunity for our students to be more active and healthy, but will allow their minds another break from strict academic courses.
I realize that there are many changes coming up, but I assure you that I've worked hard to assess the needs of our students and of the school itself and truly believe that the changes we are making this coming semester will lead Avicenna in the right direction. Our children have an amazing ability level and I want to make sure they are challenged appropriately.
If you have any questions, as always, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my ideas with you and to get your feedback.
Specifically, with the MAP tests, we will be using results to place your students into ability groups according to subject areas so that advanced students are not bored and students who may be struggling with a particular subject are not frustrated. For next semester, we will be using this information to place according to ability groups within classrooms. All students in K and up will be tested.
Example: Students A and B are both in fourth grade. They are both 9-year old, male students. Student A tested at a third grade level for Math, while Student B tested at a 6th grade level for Math. The teacher will look at the students' reports and place them into a grouping within their fourth grade classroom so that she may differentiate instruction according to their ability. Specifically, she will teach a topic to all students, but she will alter something about the lesson so that Student A does not feel as if he is lost and not as smart as other students and so that Student B does not get bored and begin to "check out" mentally.
Differentiated instruction is a key phrase in education that implies that the teacher is going to alter her teaching method to fit the students' needs. We no longer live in a world where we expect students to sit silently in their seats and listen while we stand up front and talk at them. Instead, through countless studies over several decades, educators have found out, to nobody's surprise, that we all learn differently. Our current culture is one where children are exposed to things like television and video games which flash thousands of images at them within a minute. Students of today do not learn the same way their parents did even 20 years ago. Because of this, professional educators have created teaching methods to reach students where they are so that they may lead them to where they need to be and beyond, if their ability allows.
In order for our teachers to differentiate instruction in an appropriate way, we must first know where our students are, hence the use of MAP.
MAP is given at the beginning, middle and end of the year so that we can not only track student progress, but if a student's ability changes, he or she may be placed in a different group with instruction that's appropriate for that child.
To accomodate for the long-term goals of the school as they pertain to our students' growth, the school day will be elongated from the current 7 hour day to a 7.5 hour day. We will be dismissing at 3:30pm instead of 3pm. This schedule change allows for a few important modifications to our school day:
1) We can organize the day so that classes that require utilization of particular "parts" of the brain are consolidated, lessening the transition time required for focus between subject areas.
2) We can allow our students a small break in the morning for them to eat their snack and socialize instead of eating snack while working. This provides them with an opportunity to take a break and not become overwhelmed with their studies.
3) We can add time to Arabic, Quran and Islamic Studies, the three classes that parents have specifically requested be elongated.
4) We will add formal computer courses and a more appropriate PE curriculum to our school week. Technology is especially important today as we are a global society, competing for jobs anywhere in the world. And, increasing our physical dexterity and skill will not only provide opportunity for our students to be more active and healthy, but will allow their minds another break from strict academic courses.
I realize that there are many changes coming up, but I assure you that I've worked hard to assess the needs of our students and of the school itself and truly believe that the changes we are making this coming semester will lead Avicenna in the right direction. Our children have an amazing ability level and I want to make sure they are challenged appropriately.
If you have any questions, as always, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss my ideas with you and to get your feedback.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Where does Avicenna stand?
Avicenna Academy Compared to High Performing Lake & Porter Counties' Public Schools
Percent Scoring Pass or Pass+ on ISTEP+
Spring 2010
Math & English Language Arts
Grades 3-5
Math | |||
School Name | location | % pass or pass+ | number of students tested, grades 3-5 |
Morgan Township Elementary School | Valparaiso | 97 | 157* |
Washington Township Elementary School | Valparaiso | 95 | 185 |
Avicenna Academy | Crown Point | 94 | 16 |
Beiriger Elementary School | Griffith | 94 | 157 |
Wallace Aylesworth Elementary School | Portage | 93 | 243 |
James H. Watson Elementary School | Schererville | 93 | 235 |
Parkview Elementary School | Valparaiso | 93 | 121 |
Northview Elementary School | Valparaiso | 92 | 168 |
Memorial Elementary School | Valparaiso | 92 | 165 |
Kolling Elementary School | St. John | 91 | 282 |
Jerry Ross Elementary School | Crown Point | 91 | 527 |
English Language Arts | |||
School Name | location | % pass or pass+ | number of students tested, grades 3-5 |
Avicenna Academy | Crown Point | 94 | 16 |
Morgan Township Elementary School | Valparaiso | 94 | 157* |
Washington Township Elementary | Valparaiso | 94 | 185 |
Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School | Crown Point | 93 | 232 |
Northview Elementary School | Valparaiso | 93 | 168 |
James H. Watson Elementary School | Schererville | 93 | 235 |
Memorial Elementary School | Valparaiso | 93 | 165 |
Kolling Elementary School | St. John | 92 | 282 |
Jerry Ross Elementary School | Crown Point | 92 | 527 |
Parkview Elementary School | Valparaiso | 92 | 121 |
George Bibich Elementary School | Dyer | 91 | 234 |
Jonas E. Salk Elemenary School | Merrillville | 90 | 238 |
Peifer Elementary School | Schererville | 90 | 215 |
Boone Grove Elementary School | Valparaiso | 90 | 140 |
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Parent Survey
Our parent survey is still available to all parents. It will take approximately five-ten minutes to complete and every parent is invited to participate.
Click here to take the parent survey.
Click here to take the parent survey.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Student Survey Results
The students were given a survey in November to assess their feelings about the school. The toddlers were included in the survey, but did not demonstrate an understanding of the task at hand, so they are not included in the results found below. The total number of students included in the survey below is 51 and the percentages were rounded.
| yes | no | definitely | definitely not | |
| I like my school. | 45% | 4% | 49% | 2% |
| I feel safe at my school. | 53% | 10% | 35% | 2% |
| My teacher likes me. | 47% | 2% | 49% | 2% |
| I like my teacher. | 43% | 4% | 53% | 0% |
| My classmates and I get along. | 59% | 6% | 35% | 0% |
| I like our school's playground. | 35% | 8% | 45% | 12% |
| I like our school's library. | 37% | 12% | 45% | 6% |
| I understand the school rules. | 57% | 2% | 39% | 2% |
| I like our principal. | 41% | 0% | 59% | 0% |
| I like snack sale days. | 47% | 8% | 43% | 2% |
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
ISTEP+ Scores (Spring 2010)
| Avicenna Academy Passing Average vs. | ||||||||
| Indiana State Passing Average | ||||||||
| ELA | MATH | SS | S | |||||
| AA (%) | IS (%) | AA (%) | IS (%) | AA (%) | IS (%) | AA (%) | IS (%) | |
| grade 3 | 88 | 79 | 88 | 75 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| grade 4 | 100 | 77 | 100 | 75 | n/a | n/a | 100 | 75 |
| grade 5 | 100 | 71 | 100 | 80 | 100 | 64 | n/a | n/a |
Each grade level surpasses the state's average for each subject area tested in terms of percentage of students passing (or achieving pass + scores).
In addition, when compared to local schools (Porter and Lake Counties), we had a higher percentage of students passing English Language Arts than any other school tested. Similarly, we had a higher percentage of students passing Math than any other school tested except one public school which has a total testing population of over 200.
Good job, students! :)
ISTEP+ & Iowa Tests (ITSB)
In recent years, Avicenna Academy has given two standardized tests: the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP+) and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). ISTEP+ is given to students in grades 3 and up while ITBS is given to students in kindergarten and up.
ISTEP+ subject area tests are as follows:
Grade 3: English Language Arts (ELA) & Mathematics (M)
Grade 4: ELA, Math, Science (S)
Grade 5: ELA, M, Social Studies (SS)
Grade 6: ELA, M, S
Grade 7: ELA, M, SS
ITBS subject area tests are as follows:
Kindergarten: Reading (R), Language (L), & Math (M)
Grades 1+: R, L, M, Social Studies (SS) and Science (S)
These two tests are assessing similar subject areas, however they are not assessing the same set of standards. That is, the specific topics they cover in the assessments are different. Specifically, ISTEP+ has tested Indiana state standards while ITSB has tested national standards. Indiana's state educational standards are well-known for their quality, so Avicenna has adopted the state, not national, standards. Since Avicenna Academy teaches Indiana state standards, the ISTEP+ scores are much more representative of our students' achievement.
On a related note, Indiana standards are changing to adapt to the new CORE curriculum that is being adopted by most of the states in our country. This new CORE curriculum would make it easier on students who must move between states. Rather than Indiana sacrificing some of the quality of its standards, Indiana is one of a handful of states who have been invited to participate in the creation of the CORE curriculum, thus bringing the nation up to our standards. This is a very exciting time in our nation's educational history.
As Avicenna adopts Indiana's curriculum maps and schedules, ISTEP+ will be adapting to the new CORE curriculum as it becomes available. Therefore, our students will only be taking the ISTEP+ exam this year. I feel that the ITSB is not an accurate assessment of our students' abilities as they are testing a curriculum that we are not following.
If you have any questions regarding curriculum, assessments, or standards, please address them to me at:
ms.arceo.avicenna@gmail.com or call me on my cell phone.
Thank you.
ISTEP+ subject area tests are as follows:
Grade 3: English Language Arts (ELA) & Mathematics (M)
Grade 4: ELA, Math, Science (S)
Grade 5: ELA, M, Social Studies (SS)
Grade 6: ELA, M, S
Grade 7: ELA, M, SS
ITBS subject area tests are as follows:
Kindergarten: Reading (R), Language (L), & Math (M)
Grades 1+: R, L, M, Social Studies (SS) and Science (S)
These two tests are assessing similar subject areas, however they are not assessing the same set of standards. That is, the specific topics they cover in the assessments are different. Specifically, ISTEP+ has tested Indiana state standards while ITSB has tested national standards. Indiana's state educational standards are well-known for their quality, so Avicenna has adopted the state, not national, standards. Since Avicenna Academy teaches Indiana state standards, the ISTEP+ scores are much more representative of our students' achievement.
On a related note, Indiana standards are changing to adapt to the new CORE curriculum that is being adopted by most of the states in our country. This new CORE curriculum would make it easier on students who must move between states. Rather than Indiana sacrificing some of the quality of its standards, Indiana is one of a handful of states who have been invited to participate in the creation of the CORE curriculum, thus bringing the nation up to our standards. This is a very exciting time in our nation's educational history.
As Avicenna adopts Indiana's curriculum maps and schedules, ISTEP+ will be adapting to the new CORE curriculum as it becomes available. Therefore, our students will only be taking the ISTEP+ exam this year. I feel that the ITSB is not an accurate assessment of our students' abilities as they are testing a curriculum that we are not following.
If you have any questions regarding curriculum, assessments, or standards, please address them to me at:
ms.arceo.avicenna@gmail.com or call me on my cell phone.
Thank you.
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