The Learning Process During Summer Break

The Learning Process can take a toll during Summer break.

During the school year the learning process should be at peak performance. 

Through teaching information can go into the brain to be processed, organized, and be ready to be applied at a moment's notice.

Students study what they are taught and use that information to think critically, take on challenges, create creative solutions, communicate clearly, and assess presented argumentation.

During Summer break this process is interrupted for its longest period of time in comparison to school year holidays and breaks.

If nothing is done to continue on with the learning process during summer break, when returning to school the following year could delay the time it takes to get back to learning peak performance, causing a delay in reaching full learning potential.

To prevent this from taking place it is important to maintain the Learning Process as we take that well deserved Summer Break.

This can be done by taking summer classes, reading and writing regularly, practicing arts or doing crafting, participating in camps or other learning opportunities, as they may be available. 

Enjoy Summer Break!!!

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2016.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Learning is Education's Labor

It takes a great deal of learning to become educated.
Learning is a great deal of labor.
It follows then,
that in order to become educated,
One must labor a great deal through learning.

Although labor is hard work,
it is worth doing, worth pursuing,
for its output is often a great reward.

When learning is the labor,
education is the output,
and education is a great reward.
It is worth pursuing, it is worth doing.

A student should work, and work hard, at learning.
Students should learn how to learn.
Students who learn how to learn
can become educated sooner
and with less difficulties
in a supportive learning environment.

How can a student work hard at learning?
1) Find a place and make time to learn.
2) Choose appropriate skills/knowledge to be learned.
3) Engage with others and share what's been learned.
4) Persevere through patience.
5) Plan to learn furthermore.


Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Education Assessment Limitations

Assessing education is not only necessary for accountability purposes, but for the evaluation of its quantity and quality.  Those who have participated for some time in the educational process should understand the importance of having their education assess for all three of these elements: Quality, Quantity, and Accountability.

The quality of education should be the best that can be achieved.  Good quality education should be the priority of both the giver of the education and the receiver of such.  To assess the quality of education, the emphasis should be in allowing the individual being assessed to be able to share their knowledge in a creative problem solving manner that challenges their way of thinking.

The quantity of education goes beyond any numerical value that we can place on it.  Good quality education should be complemented with a large quantity of diverse information from a multitude of resources which is readily available for the individual to use as needed.  Assessing the quantity of an individual's education presents the challenge of having to compress a lifetime worth of information into nearly a few seconds.

The accountability of education can only measured through a fair and balanced assessment process.  Two parts that are key for succeeding while being assessed are language and learning.  Educational assessment is limited by the individual's skills and ability to both communicate clearly through language, and develop a successful learning style.  It is these assessment limits of language and learning which can define the difference between meeting the challenges of the educational process, or succumbing to them.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2014.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

November 2013

November is a reminder that there is a time during which we harvest our crops by collecting them and sorting them.  This is done to do an analysis of the crops that have grown over the last season and the fruit that they have yielded.  Crops are measured and checked with a variety of tools and standards and are submitted for final approval and appreciation to the public.  

In education we do this through collection and sorting of knowledge and information.  We harvest the knowledge and information that students have learned, we measure the quantity and quality, and the student's understanding and application of such knowledge and information for accuracy.  This sorting and collecting serves as a gauge of the education level that the students have acquired up this time.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

August 2013

Notes for August 2013

Written by: Manuel R. CortezRodas

This month of August brings us closer to the start of the school year.  August also reminds us that the season of summer will soon come to a close.  Students are enjoying the last bit of summer break before facing the soon arriving school year.  Parents are preparing and planning the back to school necessities of their children.  Administrators and faculties are gathering together once again, or for the first time, to make our schools available to our students.

Here at MRCR Education we are also preparing, planning, and gathering.  We are preparing for the start of our second school year blogging about education.  We are planning a variety of themes and topics that will drive and inspire our educational postings for this up coming school year of 2013-2014.  We are also gathering from diverse resources that help us further pursuit a betterment of education while serving education.  We look forward to your visits to our blog, as well as your thoughts and ideas that you wish to share.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  Copyright 2013

Learning Disabled Students

Learning Disabled Students:

"Learning Differently"

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A Learning Disabled (LD) subgroup student is one that either cannot learn in their current learning environment, is struggling to learn, or is learning at a slow rate that is significantly lower than most students. The students who are in the LD subgroup are diverse in skill and potential.  There are those who are severely disabled in their learning abilities, and as a result of these starting circumstances, will have severe obstacles to overcome in their education.  There are also those who have been identified as learning disabled, and have had access to education presented in a learning format that enables the student to learn.

The Learning Disable Sub-Group, has performed well below the minimum score, set in the standardized testing, as sufficient to meet the passing requirement.  Over time, with early identification, and proper presentation, EL students have demonstrated that they can develop the skills required to succeed in passing a standard test.  This can be achieved by identifying the student's disability early on in life, implementing an educational approach that addresses the student's disability, evaluating and adjusting the student's educational performance.

Learning Disabled students present to us the opportunity to expand our educational approach.  As educators we should attempt to educate 100% of those who are seeking education, and educate those who deny education based on the student's disability to learn.  LD students can learn and have demonstrated that they can succeed in education and life.  LD students challenge us to reach out to a subgroup who needs to learn how to learn before learning about education. 

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL's Language Barrier

English Language Learners

The Language Barrier Sub-Group

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

English Language Learners (ELL) are a subgroup of students who have not acquired the fluency skills, in the English language, that the average native speaker possesses.  They have moved to a place where English is the native or primary language at a time when they are of school age and grade level. An English Language Learner, is learning language skills, while having the experience of practicing the language, in a new place of residency.  It takes a place of learning, like school, and it takes time, months and years, for an ELL to learn and become proficient in the language skills needed to equal those who have lived longer in a place where the English language is the primary language of communication.

There are two barriers that ELL's must overcome: experience with the language and skills practicing the language.  Experience with the language is how much time and exposure the student has had since birth.  An 8 year-old student has had 8 years of experience and exposure to a language given that they have had only one language throughout their 8 years.  Skills practicing the language is how the student learns to communicate and express successfully with others.  Two 8 year-old students may have 8 years of experience and exposure to a language, but may be at different skill levels in speaking, reading, and writing. An ELL can overcome these two barriers by learning how to make a transition between their native language and English.

The experience that an ELL has in their native language, as well as, the skills developed in the same are a contributing factor in the student's transition from English Language Learner to Fluent English Language.  An ELL student who is well educated, has a formal academic educational background, and has had at least limited experience with the English language will have a greater chance of success in transitioning between the native language and English; when compared to an ELL student who is not educated, has no formal academic educational background, and has not been exposed to the English language.  Understanding the initial skills of the English Language Learner should be the primary step to develop a path that will guide the ELL student toward becoming a Fluent English Language student.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Group.  All Rights Reserved.

The Harvest Before Winter

"The Harvest Before Winter"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

If we think it

not as a month

but as a time,

then October should be

the time of harvest.

Harvest before winter time

is assessing summer growth,

and also summer decline.

Reviewing new instruction time,

and understanding academic requirements.

Store before winter time.

Year's end planning guide.

Spring's arrival planning guide.

School's end planning guide.

Analyze structure for weather.

Prepare before winter time.

Apply knowledge and experience.

Have practice drills regularly.

As students, as classmates.

Grow during winter hibernation.

October is about harvesting,

storing the summer's growth,

preparing for winter's arrival,

waiting for next spring,

looking toward next summer.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

ELL Challenges: Climate

English Language Learner Challenges

Climate: Weather the Weather.

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A student who has lived in the tropics is now living in the frozen tundra.  There is now white snowy blizzards being driven by northern winds in the life of a student who has never experience this in the tropics.  Even within the Unites States, students can have difficulties adjusting to the climate when moving from Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida to Boston, Massachusetts.  There are difficulties students face in their learning when moving within the United States.  These difficulties also exist when moving from one nation to another, one hemisphere to another, one climate to another.

• How to prepare for new weather
1. Shelter: The student's place of residence should be adequately prepared to provide an educational learning environment.
2. Clothing: How to dress for the weather, and not to impress, is a lesson that is very helpful to students who are new to the climate that they will become accustomed to while living in the United States.
3. Information: News and information, weather channel or websites, looking at the sky to see what may come, are some of the ways that students will begin to understand how to make adjustments not just to their wardrobe, but mentally and physiologically.
4. Experience: There is no better way to understand weather than to experience it.  Having a chance to go play in the snow may help you become familiar with winter weather, but it will not prepare you to make it through a blizzard.

It takes a year for someone to experience the complete cycle of weather climate that any one region of the world endures.  It also takes many more years to become accustomed to the variations in weather climate that one experiences when living in a region for a long time.  Even after many years of living in one region, unexpected climate weather can occur.  Some students take time adjusting to new weather changes, and some may never adjust, and while they are adjusting to the weather, they will be expected to perform along side those students who are accustomed to their region's climate.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

Educational Monthly Planning Part 3

“Educational Monthly Planning: Walk in Stride”

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

            The first step, that one step, has been taken; and the second step has also been completed in the monthly educational planning that has been discussed so far.  The third step is one more step, but a series of multiple steps.  The third step in educational monthly planning requires walking and taking a journey on the educational path.  

The third step in educational monthly planning, walk in stride requires the combination of the first step (Theme, Concept, Standard, Curriculum, Project, Research), with the second step (Month, Weeks, Days, Hours, Minutes/Seconds).  This combination creates a plan that structures the education process in the classroom.  It also serves as the foundation for the final step.

Copyright 2012 MRCR™ Educational Consulting Firm. All Rights Reserved.

Positive Educational Experiences

"Positive Educational Experiences: Continued Excellence"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A student is presently experiencing education by learning from an educator in an educational setting.  The student has had Positive Past Educational Experiences (PPEE), and the present educational experience will result in a Positive Future Educational Experience (PFEE) by the student.  The student whose past and future educational experiences are both positive travels an educational path of continued excellence.  Students and educators should walk on this educational path constantly.  Some of the present educational experiences that guide this path can be the following:

• Experienced and Trained educators.
• Student has the strength to stand firm.
• Educational difficulties have been addressed.
• Supportive educational setting.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm

From Negative to Positive Educational Experiences

"From Negative to Positive Educational Experiences:

Reaching & Succeeding"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A student with a Negative Past Educational Experience (NPEE) is presently experiencing an event that will have the effect of resulting in a Positive Future Educational Experience (PFEE).  The student's educational path goes from a negative past to a positive future due to the present educational experiences.  A student with a NPEE is reached and successfully guided toward a PFEE.  What could happen today in that student's educational experience that results in a positive change?  Some of the events that could take place today are as follows:

• The student's educational challenges are identified and addressed.
• The student's teacher communicates a concept or skill.
• The student takes a stand against negative classmates.

Coryright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.

Negative Experiences Througout Education

"Negative Experiences Throughout Education"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A student with a Negative Past Educational Experience (NPEE) is presently experiencing an event that has the effect of resulting in a Negative Future Educational Experience (NFEE).  This results in the unreached potential of the student in their educational path.  A student who had a negative past educational experience, because of today's events in their education, will continue having negative future educational experiences.  What took place today (or did not take place) that causes the student not to achieve a positive educational experience? A few of the possible explanations for this event taking place are:

• The student is bullied by a classmate or classmates.
• The student's teacher is inexperienced and/or lacks training.
• The student's learning challenges have not been identified.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm

From Positive experience to Negative experience

"From a Positive to a Negative Educational Experience"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

A student with a Positive Past Educational Experience (PPEE) is presently experiencing an event in their school education that has the effect of becoming a Negative Future Educational Experience (NFEE).  This results in the collapsed failure of the student's educational path.  A student who had a positive experience in school, because of today's events, will have a negative experience in school.  What could happen today in school that causes a student to undergo such a negative change? Below is a list of some of the issues that students could face, in school, that would cause their educational path to derail into a collapsed failure:

• The student is embarrassed by the teacher while in the classroom.
• The student is picked on by a  classmate or classmates while in school.
• The student may have a learning difficulty which has not been identified or evaluated.
• The student is identified negatively by school officials.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm

The Role of the Present in Past and Future Education Experiences

The Role of the Present in Past and Future Education Experiences

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Today is the bridge between yesterday and tomorrow.  With this in mind, "the role of the present in past and future educational experiences" will be discussed this coming week. We begin by establishing two past educational experiences (one positive, one negative) and link them to two future educational experiences (one positive, one negative).  This yields the following possible outcomes:

• Positive Past Educational Experience (Present Event) Negative Future Educational Experience.
• Negative Past Educational Experience (Present Event) Negative Future Educational Experience.
• Negative Past Educational Experience (Present Event) Positive Future Educational Experience.
• Positive Past Educational Experience (Present Event) Positive Future Educational Experience.

What are the present events taking place in our educational experiences today that can have an impact in how the past (what has happened in our education) is bridged toward our future (what will happen in our education) and what can we learn from them?  How can we make sure that students have an educational experience that is positive in their future? This will be the weekly theme that will be presented in this blog.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm

Learning During Non-School Time

"Learning During Non-School Time"

By: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Does not being in school mean that there is no learning to be done?  While homework, class assignments, and studying should be considered school time activities; learning during non-school time provides a great opportunity for us to seek knowledge at our own pace.  It is at this time that we are free to pursuit that which is not part of the school curriculum.  It is a chance to expand our base knowledge and to confirm or question the information which has been presented.  We can learn while we are not in school as long as we seek knowledge during our own time.

Copyright 2012 MRCR Educational Consulting Firm