Inside Four Walls: CSTs are in - 2011 edition

Got a little bored today and decided to hop on the computer and see if my CST scores were in. Now remember this wasn't the best year for students. In fact when I used the same formula I had used the last few years I came up with the following estimates;

Geometry – 43/93 46%
Algebra B – 10/26 38%

That's how bleak it was at the time. While my scores aren't anything to "write home about", here is what they ended up being;

Geometry – 54/93 58%
Algebra B – 15/26 58%

While not stellar, they are definitely higher than what I thought I would end up with. The school average for Algebra B is 60% proficient or advanced and 52% for Geometry. So I am really happy with both. It is the first time in quite some time I have been above the school average in Geometry.

By the way, I'm not saying that I alone got these scores. This was for the most part a good group of Geometry students. I am sure they would have been pretty much the same no matter who they had.

2nd sememster

started second semester today. Nice to see some students trying their best again. I rarely get transfer students at break, but I got a handful throughout the day. Nice to see new faces. I have gone back to trying to wear a shirt and tie everyday again. I started off the year like that, but it was sooo hot like 110's for like 2 weeks. So I went to polo shirts for the first part of the year. I remember writing about a dress code for my credential program. I always said I would wear a shirt and tie until I got bored of it and I did. Add in the fact putting on jeans and a polo is a lot easier to do then tie a tie and tuck in everywhere...and when you have a 16 month old you like things to be easy. So I will see how long this goes.

I am trying to change up some things in the classroom as well. I have never changed mid-year, but I felt it necessary this time. I have put the daily quizzes on a 9 point scale for the weekly average, instead of the 16 points a week. I found out that the DQ's were worth too many points at the end of the semester. And when there is no partial credit that can weigh on their self-esteem...weak I know, but I don't want to lose any students before state testing.

The other thing I noticed was that I had only 14 F's...not bad considering 6 of them knew before 1st semester ended that they were dropping the class or moving back a level. Hopefully, I can say something similar when state testing comes around this year. It can't get worse than last years Algebra 2 class results. My hope is that it is like Algebra B with a high proficient rate.

Music this week...a little metalcore. Mainly As I Lay Dying, I am hooked on their videos as of late. More on them later.