December 2022

As 2022 comes to a close,

let us take a look back at

the best posts of the year:

CAASPP Results

The year began with the release of the 2021 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress.  The results show a preliminary view of the adverse effect that COVID-19 has in education.

2021 CAASPP Results

Living with COVID

Year 2 of the post-COVID era is here, and so is this virus.  COVID will become a permanent part of our lives for the foreseeable future.  We must adapt and continue to work on a solution to this health problem.

Living with COVID

Class of 2022

A message to the class of 2022.  Congratulations on reaching this point in your educational journey.

Class of 2022

Summer of 2022

A nice break is welcomed as schools shut down, this time for the summer break.  Whether you attend summer school, or enjoy some leisure time, we look forward to seeing you for next school year.

July 2022

2022 CAASPP Results

In January it was just a preview and the outcome was below standard.  Then, in October, it was a full release of the 2022 CAASPP and the results were much worse.

2022 CAASPP Results

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Winter Break 2022

 

Have a Wonderful Winter Break.

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

November 2022

 

As November comes to a close, 

having recently given thanks, 

preparing to transition from autumn to winter, 

and with 2022 nearing its last month,

take time to look back and reflect on the path taken through the educational journey experienced thus far.

Education is now in the transitional period between Thanksgiving Break and Winter Break.  Teachers have designed, developed, and began to deploy lesson plans for this transition period.

Why leaves change color, snowflake formation and crystallization, budgeting and saving, winter decorations, celebrations, traditions, and customs, creative crafting ideas, team projects and research, specialized skill development, knowledge understanding and assessment, and many more.

Attention may be difficult to maintain for some as the well deserved winter break is just over the horizon, but there is much work to do to continue improving learning, studying and teaching.  There is also time available to allow creativity and knowledge to flourish and flow.

Students, teachers, parents, administrators, support staff, every education stakeholder, advocate, and supporter, can contribute to finish 2022 guiding education forward and onward into 2023.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Thanksgiving 2022

 

Have a Safe

and

Happy Thanksgiving

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022. MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved

October 2022

 

Happy Halloween

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

2022 CAASPP RESULTS

Results for the 2022 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) were publish by the California Department of Education on Monday, October 24th, 2022.

To view the latest results click on the link -> 2022 CAASPP Results

96% of California students enrolled were tested and 99% of students tested had valid results.  A relatively close level of participation as the pre-COVID years of 2018 and 2019.

COVID, school closures, and distance learning had a negative effect as indicated by the results.  Students will be in need of academic support in both English Language Arts and Mathematics for several years to restore the progress that students had achieved prior to COVID.

2022 CAASPP RESULTS MATH

• Nearly one third of California students (33.38%) met or exceeded state standards in Mathematics.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California students (18.22%) scored above state standards in Concepts and Procedures.
• Less than 1 out of 6 California students (15.51%) scored above state standards in Problem Solving and Modeling & Data Analysis.
• Less than 1 out of 6 California students (14.77%) scored above state standards in Communicating Reasoning.

2022 CAASPP RESULTS ELA

• Less that half of California students (47.06%) met or exceeded state standards in English Language Arts.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California students (19.49%) scored above state standards in Reading.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California students (19.43%) scored above state standards in Writing.
• Less than 1 out of 7 California students (13.32%) scored above state standards in Listening.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California Students (18.48%) scored above state standards in Research and Inquiry.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

September 2022

 

September has arrived and we take time to remember the events of 9-11, celebrate the arrival of autumn, and honor the achievements and contributions of Hispanic people and their culture.

Schools have now completed the back to school welcoming of students.  Now focus must shift to assessing student's grade level performance in order to prepare lessons that will help address achievement gaps and elevate struggling students up to performance level.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Fall Assessment 2022

 X

Fall has arrived, and with it, the need to assess students in order to gauge their performance at grade level.  The effects of COVID on education, and the loss of learning that occurred, have become more noticeable as the complete return to in classroom instruction takes place this school year.

California looks to the upcoming release of the CAASPP results as a guiding tool that will help educators across the state make the necessary adjustments to assist students who are underperforming.

It is projected that the CAASPP results will be disappointing and show significant decline in performance for various subgroups, but without these results available to educators, parents, students, and the public, teachers will not have a fundamental base from which to prepare students to succeed.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Back to School 2022

Welcome Back To School!!!

School Is Now Open,

The Educational Journey Continues.

Take A Deep Breath,

A Sigh Of Relief.

Take On The Challenges Ahead.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator.

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

August 2022

 

As August comes to a close let us reflect on the events that took place.

Beginning with the end of Summer School and Summer educational activities, through the lesson planning for the new school year, new beginnings as staff transitions into other phases and new educators begin in new sites, preparing to welcome students as they come Back To School, and learning of new and updated guidelines with regards to COVID and various interactions.

Educators get ready to start the new school year and students come back, keep in mind that education is still adapting to new norms while addressing damages done to learning over the last two years.

As August comes to a close we look forward to a new school year full of possibilities, growth, and hope.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

July 2022

July comes to an end and now August brings a return to the classroom.

To the classrooms that teachers prepared over the Summer Break.

To welcome students to a new year of school, of learning, of safely interacting with each other.

To accommodate the needs of each student, the requests of each parent.

It is time, once again, to get ready to go "Back To School".

To return to the place where we learn how to Read.

To return to the place where we learn how to Write.

To return to the place where we learn how to Listen.

Students will soon be returning to school.

Where they will be welcomed by teachers.

Supported at home by their parents.

In a classroom where they come together.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

4th of July

 

Have a wonderful 4th of July.

Be Safe.  Have Fun.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

June 2022

 

June concludes our journey through this school year.

Students came back. Classrooms were filled. Schools remained open.  It was good to be back where we belong.

There was joy and excitement with caution and safety.  A "Welcome Back to School" unlike any other.  Now wishing the best to the Class of 2022.

Education resumed full time and continued throughout the school year.

Students and staff were tested consistently, enduring new challenges.

They passed through weekends and holidays successfully, and knew what to do in case of a positive result.

They received the expected results of learning loss through CAASPP.  Yet, students and staff met the challenges and passed the tests.

It is now a time for all to rest and recreate for the summer.

To be ready to return for next school year with cheer.  To learn and study on our own, at our own pace, with the subjects we like.  To be one with ourselves, and be amongst other.

It is now time to take a break and enjoy the summer. 

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Class of 2022

 

Class of 2022.

Thank you, for coming back to school.

Your Freshmen Year, back in 18-19.

May seem like decades, or centuries ago.

Yet here you are today, in 20-22.

Having accomplished what you set out to do.

You did so during tough times:

A pandemic, staying at home, distance learning.

Being asked to wear masks.

To sanitize your hands.

To see your classmates through a grid of profiles on a school laptop.

To mute and unmute, to turn off your camera.

To screen share and pin to screen.

To lowering the sound so you don't receive bad feedback.

To being back in person in real time and be able to hug, shake hands, fist bump.

To being here in this moment with your classmates.

To being bonded by all that brought us together.

To be a student who is a member of the class of two thousand twenty two.

Congratulation students!

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

May 2022

 

As May comes to a close,

and Memorial Day is honored.

Let us also do an in memoriam to the 21 innocent people,

who were tragically taken,

in a heinous act of violence,

as they peacefully engaged in education at their school.

May they look down upon the class of 2022,

and protect and guide them throughout their lives.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Mother's Day 2022

 

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Feliz Dia de la Madre!!!

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

April 2022

 

The clouds of precipitation begin to recede as April comes to an end and we look forward to the sunny days of May and the summer ahead.

Our students are arduous at work on the California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance (CAASPP) whose results we will await throughout the summer hoping that they are much better that the limited results received last year.  Students also begin to wrap up classes as the school year comes to a close with the pomp and circumstance that the last two years lacked due to the pandemic.

But before we check out for the summer break we all so much deserve, it is recommended that stock be taken of how this school year went for students, teachers, parents, administrators, and all who took part in the development of education through the 2021-22 school year.

So hang in there and remain focused as the last day of school gets near and look back at the rear to a school year which saw the return of students to school, a winter spike of a new variants, a rise in the financial pressures families endure, the spring of an aggressive invasion halted by standing up in solidarity, and the personal choice to decide how to confront a now endemic airborne virus.

Bright days lay ahead and they will be enjoyed by all of us who have endure some tumultuous times.  Hope will always lift our spirits high.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Earth Day 2022

 

Happy Earth Day!!!

Care for Planet,

Our Planet Earth.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Spring Break 2022

 

Have a fun, safe, and joyous 

Spring Break 2022

Enjoy!!!

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

March 2022

 

As March marches on it is time to spring forward and look towards the end of the school year with the class of 22 gearing up towards graduation.  It has been a tough and challenging past two years for them, and they will continue to need our support for years to come, but they have done their best to face and endure the challenge before them.

It is also a time to take pause and rest during Spring Break in order to prepare for the final stretch of the school year, while remaining cautious of COVID variants.

Educators should also develop plans for the Summer break that help students who are at risk of falling behind so they can be better prepared when returning for next school year. 

As always, to all educators, students, and parents, continue doing a great job while supporting each other become better educated.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

February 2022

 

Honoring the events of the month.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Living with COVID

 

We are approaching the second anniversary of the COVID outbreak it is clear that COVID, and all its variants, will be a part of our lives from now on.

Education has taken a significant hit as student growth, particularly in the lower grade levels, has declined or remained stagnant.  Schools will have to get students most affected caught up with their classmates, a process that will be long term and require identification and intervention.

So far we have seen a variety of strands, each with their own properties as far as infection rate and symptoms, and the effect they have had in education.  Students and teachers have missed class time while isolating or recuperating.

This will continue to be the norm for the foreseeable future and schools must remain alert while creating contingency plans for instruction loss.

It will be our ability to adapt to COVID that will help us truly overcome what has been the most disruptive disease of the 21st century thus far.

We are going to be living with COVID, but we will adapt and persevere.

It is in our human nature to do so.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

January 2022

 

January has come to a close and it was challenging for education.

As staff and students returned from Winter Break, the latest COVID variant began to show its effects with many people testing positive for the new strand, causing them to have to go into isolation thus missing time in school.

The good news is that vaccines have proven effective with the number of deaths and ICU hospitalizations having been drastically reduced from January of last year.  It also helped that the new strand, Omicron, although highly contagious, was relatively mild in severity.

Nonetheless, January's absence from school may have an impact on the overall academic achievement abyss that COVID has caused over the last two years.  This is clearly reflected in the results from the 2021 CAASPP which showed that less than 50% of students tested met or exceeded the English Language Arts state standards and in Math, only a third of students tested met or exceeded state standards.  To make matters worse, less that 25% of students in California were tested, so the data represents a very small fraction of the overall student population of the state.

Yet with all these challenges, educators continue to do their best to provide instruction to students with the support of their families and school administrators.  As we cross the second half of the school year, and begin to see the next graduating class rising over the horizon, we must continue to strive and persevere making education a priority in our lives.  We plan, prepare, and hope that the months ahead will be bright and full of positive growth.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

2021 CAASPP RESULTS

Results for the 2021 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) were publish by the California Department of Education earlier this month.

To view the latest results click on the link -> 2021 CAASPP Results

COVID had a significant impact in the results most significant of which is that less than 25% of students throughout California were tested, compared to 97% in both the 2018 CAASPP and 2019 CAASPP.

As a result of this drastic decline in student participation test results for 2021 must be cautiously utilized for the purposes of policy making and/or instruction implementation.

Nevertheless, the 2021 CAASPP results clearly illustrate the academic abyss that continues to expand between those students meeting or exceeding state standards.

2021 CAASPP RESULTS MATH

• Nearly a third of California students (33.76%) met or exceeded state standards in Mathematics.
• Nearly 2 out of 11 California students (18.19%) scored above state standards in Concepts and Procedures.
• Nearly 2 out of 12 California students (16.06%) scored above state standards in Problem Solving and Modeling & Data Analysis.
• Nearly 2 out of 13 California students (15.47%) scored above state standards in Communicating Reasoning.

2021 CAASPP RESULTS ELA

• Less than half of California students (49.01%) met or exceeded state standards in English Language Arts.
• Nearly 1 out of 5 California students (21.26%) scored above state standards in Reading.
• Nearly 1 out of 5 California students (21.35%) scored above state standards in Writing.
• Nearly 1 out of 6 California students (13.14%) scored above state standards in Listening.
• Nearly 1 out of 5 California students (22.39%) scored above state standards in Research and Inquiry.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.