August 2023

 

We now begin to say goodbye to Summer, as students return to school, and a new school year begins.

August now kicks off "Back to School" season, and now is the time to implement the education plans prepared over the summer break.

It is time to: check the roster, update contact information, meet new staff, and greet those returning.

Wishing all school staff, personnel, administrators, teachers, parents, and students.

An Amazing 2023-24 School Year!!!

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2023.  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.

June 2021

CLASS OF 2021

To the Class of 2021:

Congratulations to you for reaching this point in your educational journey.

A journey that ends with a renewed sense of hope.

That recent challenges are being met and surpassed.

With open schools and classrooms.

Reuniting Classmates.

Connecting with Teachers.

Liberating Parents.

Eliminating the need for barriers; both physical and virtual alike.

A steep step in the path towards the future that many were unable to make.

Make the most of it for you have made it through to today.

You have flattened curves and raised social issues.

Technology prepared you for distance learning,

and is now allowing you a greater access to further learning.

Keep moving forward in your educational journey.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021!!!

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2021.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

The Spring of COVID-19

"Even the darkest clouds must eventually give way to the sun."

I has been a difficult and challenging time in education.

There was no lesson plan or training that prepared educators to deal with the consequences of a global pandemic such as COVID-19.

No staff development, or professional development, or college class, or credential program could have prepared administrators or teachers for what the state of education is today.

To have to abandon the educational structure so familiar to all.  It's scheduled calendar and class schedule in a school and classroom setting where social interaction is one of the key components of the students growth and development.

It has been indeed a dark time in education.

Nevertheless, educators did what educators do and have always done.

Educators have taken on the distance learning challenge and have manage to continue the education process for students and their parents.  They have elevated their lessons above the dark clouds for students to reach in the safety of their homes.

Educators have done their best to ensure that the class of 2020 is prepared for the challenges that they will face ahead as they continue on with their education and schools prepare for their return.

Thank You, Educators!


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2020.  MRCR Edicational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

April 2020

The effect of COVID-19 in our daily lives continues.

While there have been many improvements made to stop the spread of this deadly virus, there is much work that remains to be done until it is fully under control.
Treatment continues to be limited, so we are left with preventive measures such as: Stay at Home, Social Distancing, and Face masks.

Education, however, continues through these difficult times, as it has and will continue to be.

The Parent-Teacher dynamic has become stronger during this time as both collaborate to implement distance learning.

The role of the Para-educator is now being adapted to include online collaboration and support of students and staff.

As preparations get underway to close the 2019-2020 academic school year, and prepare for Summer school and next year, take time to reflect and acknowledge on the newly discovered relationship bonds that will continue to make education the supporting pillar of society.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2020.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Distance Learning Guide

Schools are now facing the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic will not be a minor set back of a few weeks of learning lost, but rather a long term displacement of education.

Districts are doing the best they can, with the resources available, to take on the unprecedented task of mobilizing in classroom daily instruction into online webinars, home packages, and conference calls.

Gone is the daily social interaction of students and school staff that was so familiar to us for so many years...getting to school by the start of class, talking or playing before getting started, doing group work or silent reading, meeting with a reading buddy, going to the lunchroom to supply nutrients and more playing games in the school yard, lining up for PE or media center, access to supplies and materials for school work... all that is now gone, or to be fair, on hold until further notice.

Parents are now the principal and teacher to their own student-child.  Classrooms are now in a home's living room, dining room, or bedroom.  Classmates are now a profile picture on the sidebar of an online chat.

To help schools, teachers, parents and students adjust to this new way or distance learning, MRCR Education has designed a "Distance Learning Guide" that is available to all.  We hope that it provides you with some needed support as we continue to adjust to the challenges during this time of need.

Stay healthy.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2020.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Returning from Fall Break

It is the final weekend before returning to education from the Fall Break.
Educators became rested and recharged as Thanksgiving was celebrated.
Teachers and students come back to school prepared for the winter that is to come.

After the Fall Break education goes through an adjustment period of limited time that allows for maintenance to be performed heading into the Winter Break.  Students, Teachers, Administrators, and Parents, have been collaborating since returning from Summer break on that first day of school.  Before the Winter Break arrives it is a good time for all stakeholders in education to prepare for the second half of school, that last day of class.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2019.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Listening Attentively

" Are you listening to me? "
" What did I just say? "
" That's not what I said!!! "
" You are not listening to me!!! "

- Overheard in public -

It has been repeated many times over in some variation or another, and it is possible that we, ourselves, have used it too.

We attempt to communicate with others and the communication fails.

Our attempt to communicate crashes faster than an error message is displayed when trying to divide by zero.

But what was the cause of the failure in communication? The messenger? the message? The receiver of the message? The method or technology used for the communication of the message?

If we can Write Clearly and Read Fluently, then shouldn't all forms of communication be successful?

Reading and Writing are communication points, but Listening is the line in communication.

Students must acquire the necessary skills and knowledge of Listening Attentively in order to be able to successfully communicate thoughts, ideas, feelings, and information.

Teachers and parents can help students communicate clearly by practicing with them on a regular basis using the EAR Method:

E - Establish communication exchanges.
A - Assess the success of the exchange.
R - Revise Unsuccessful exchanges.

Utilizing the EAR Method to practice Listening Attentively communication skills can be beneficial to the more than 80% of California students who scored near or below in the listening strand of the 2018 ELA CAASPP.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2019.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Reading Fluently

Reading was the first academic skill I learned and once I learned how to read, read I did.

I could read the same book over again in the same way i can now listen to a single song on repeat.

Sometimes I could have four to five books open at the same time, spread out all over the floor, like so many windows and tabs on a computer screen.

Other times I would read a complete series beginning to end much like binge-watching on a streaming device.

Reading fluently is the first fundamental skill developed that helps with success later in school.

While organizing for the new year I came across a booklet given to me nearly 20 years ago (Most likely early 2002) in it was the following quote: "Reading failure has exacted a tremendous long-term consequence for children's developing self-confidence and motivation to learn." by Susan B. Neuman and it reminded me of just how important reading is to education success.

Much has changed since then yet the importance of reading in education remains a priority to all educators, though much of the burden falls on the shoulders of those in early education, but with 75% of California students scoring near or below reading standards (CAASPP 2018) it is worth reminding all education advocates to keep reading front and center.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2019.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Christmas 2018

Happy Holidays. 2018.

Happy Holidays!

To all who visit our education blog and follow us on Twitter, we want to wish you a Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas.

and to all Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators, and all school faculty, staff, and education advocates: Enjoy the Winter Break.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Preparing for Winter Break

Winter Break is near.

It is time to reflect on what a year it has been.

Schools prepare to take a winter break as people celebrate holidays and welcome in the new year.

Students need breaks from school to rest and recharge, but taking a break from learning can result in the widening of the academic performance gap.  Students can fall behind in education if they do not continue to maintain a minimum level of learning while they are on break.

Students can use the upcoming Winter Break to close this achievement gap by creating projects that help in the development of specific academic skills and/or knowledge & understanding.

Parents, Teachers, and Students can collaborate in the development of projects, establish a support network, and set reasonable goals; while also allowing for an enjoyable Winter Break.

Projects can be as simple as watching a series of pre-selected videos online and preparing reports on them, or as complex as attempting to solve a real-life problem that is currently making a significant impact on society.

During the time that remains between now and the beginning of Winter Break, educators should work with students and parents to develop Winter Break Education Projects (WBEP).  Through early planning, and the setting of clear assessments goals for WBEP's, students, parents, and teachers can help close achievement gaps in education.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

August 2018

Welcome Back August!

It is that time of the year once again.
It is time to get ready to go back to school.

Parents are getting ready to enroll their kids.
Students await New Schedules, Book Pick-up, and Orientation.

In schools, classrooms are getting cleaned up, chalk is being dusted off from blackboards, whiteboards are being cleaned from the accidental use of a permanent marker, screens and monitors are wiped down along with desks, chairs, and tables.

It is the last chance to check the air conditioning that will keep things cool these last few days of Summer as students return to a new year of learning.

Teachers are preparing posters, bulletin boards, cubbie holes, baskets, and welcome back packages.
Lesson plans are in the process of  being developed, and finalized, so they can cover the many strands of standards students must learn.
Plans from previous years, whether they succeeded or failed, are updated and/or reassessed.
Trainings are taking place on topics from School Site Action Plans to new technologies that have been adopted for the classroom.

In this time when We (Students, Parents, Teachers, Principals, Administrators, Support Staff, Education Advocates) get ready to go Back to School let's make sure that we:

-Make Time to Prepare.

-Gather the Necessary Resources.

-Examine and Explore each Site.

-Start with a Positive Attitude.

-Believe in Succeess.



Have a Wonderful 2018-19 School Year!



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Preparing for a New School Year

A new school year looms over the horizon.

There's growling from the crowd as they read that sentence.

Growling from students, parents, teachers, 

and others who ask:

"Why? 

Why remind us of such things? 

We are still in mid-July. 

Let's enjoy Summer a bit more."

And I join with the chorus of growlers, but it's inevitable.

We must begin to prepare for the new school year.

There are those who have been getting prepared all along,

There are those who will procrastinate and pull it through,

There are many of us who end up doing both: 

Procrastinate & Prepare.

Time lines and schedules are set with reminders:

"By the end of June, this."

"By the end of July, that."

"By August, ...

the night before, ...

the first day of, ...

by back to school..."

We envision a path,

We develop a roadmap,

We calculate and budget supplies,

We enjoy one last Summer sunrise and sunset.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2017.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

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.

January 2016

Welcome Back Educators!

It is time to kick-off 2016.

Soon.  The class of 2016 will complete its educational journey, and become prepared to be promoted towards a higher level of achieveable education.

Soon.  Some time in the late spring.  The second year of CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance) will take place.  Care must be taken that California education and educators do their best to prepare students, do not become complacent or over-confident, and avoid a dreaded Sophomore slump.  Together, we should look forward towards continued growth and success in education for 2016.

MRCR Education continues its commitment to education particularly in the areas of EL's (English Learners), STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Mathematics), and HAST (Humanities-Arts-Science-Technology)

Thank you to our blog visitors and @mrcreducation Twitter followers for your support.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

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

December 2015

We have arrived at the end of 2015.  It is December 2015, and we have reached the end of the year.

This year MRCR Education had the honor of participating in the last San Francisco Bay Area STEAM Education Colloquium and the California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Framework Review.

The "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) era came to an end, while the California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance (CAASPP) was implemented.

2015 also brings about the 5 year anniversary of MRCR Education.  An idea that began with the purpose of providing educational services for the public and individual support to students.

Over the last 5 years I have had the pleasure of collaborating with a great group of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community and education leaders.

By making education a priority we are able to provide pathways for future generations to follow and trail-blaze.

Education prepares us for the challenges that we face later in life and go beyond college and career.  The principles of humanity: Family, Society, Leadership.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

Copyright 2015.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

November 2015

As the month of November begins,
we are given an extra hour.
We are also reminded that the year is culminating.
All that remains is December to go before we begin 2016.

Education will have a series of breaks in the fall and winter, but the learning process of students will continue developing.
Growing as they grow in both skills and knowledge.
As they have grown since the beginning of the school year. 

It begins to get cooler and the nights are a little bit longer.
Its a great time to bundle up and keep warm.
We can envelop ourselves in knowledge and learn, study, and share it.
We are ready to finish this year and continue to become educated.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

Copyright 2015.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

October 2015

"WE ARE OFF!"

The 2015-16 school year is well on its way.

It is now the month of October and for many students, parents, educators, and administrators it is a good place in time to asses how the school year is going.

One way to do an assessment is by asking a question to request an answer.

The following samples should help provide a base to begin a self assessment as to how this school year is going, and what can be done to make adjustments if needed.

Students should ask and answer:
-Am I learning what is being taught?
-Do I need additional help and where can I get assistance if needed?
-Have I made the effort to learn and study what should be learned?

Parents should ask and answer:
-How is my child doing so far in school?
-What have they mentioned about their school, classroom, teacher, classmates, projects, field-trips, etc?
-Do I have any concerns about my child that should be addressed with the school?

Educators should ask and answer:
-Are the lessons we planned and the curriculum we designed working with the students in the classroom?
-Is there a need to make changes to lessons or curriculum that would benefit of students in the classroom?
-Do we have the support needed to succeed throughout this school year?

Administrators should ask and answer:
-Is the school year progressing as it was envisioned?
-Are we prepared for any challenges that may come up ahead?
-Have we provided the adequate support to achieve success this school year?


This post is dedicated to the students, faculty, and community of Umpqua Community College in Oregon.


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

Copyright 2015.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

2015 CAASPP Overview for English Learners

It takes time to develop skills such as speaking, reading, and writing in any language.  It follows that it would take additional time to develop and improve such skills in an additional language.  Such is the main challenge that English Learners face as they enroll in schools throughout California.  Without these, and many other skills, it can become difficult to continue the learning process, be sociable with one's piers, or even be prepared for higher education or the professional world.

Data from the 2015 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) clearly demonstrates this challenge among English Learners (EL).  As a group, it is expected that their scores on English Language Arts (ELA) be below that of students whose home language is English.  This is why English Language Development (ELD) programs are carefully constructed to help EL's develop and improve language skills as they undergo this transition process.

English Learners are one of the groups with a large potential for growth in CAASPP scores as they gain the English language skills that will allow them to fully express their knowledge and ideas.  They must continue to receive such ELD services as they may require in order to succeed.  California educators should make helping EL's a priority as they will, in time, become fluent mainstream students.

Overview of 2015 CAASPP for EL's

Mathematics

• 11% of EL students in CA meet or exceed standards
• 24% of EL students in CA are near standards
• 65% of EL students in CA did NOT meet standards

English Language Arts

• 11% of EL students in CA meet or exceed standards
• 24% of EL students in CA are near standards
• 65% of EL students in CA did NOT meet standards

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

Copyright 2015.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

2015 CAASPP Overview for California

On Wednesday, September 9th, 2015, the California Department of Education released the results of a new assessment, CAASPP.  

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is the new metric for student assessment and it measures a student's preparedness for college and careers.  

CAASPP is an assessment that students take online in the spring and is reflective of the Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, College and Career Readiness, and many other areas that students should meet or exceed.  

This is the first measurement of the CAASPP.  It is the first step into the future of student assessment in California.  As California steps forward into the 21st century it should keep focus on growth, development, and closing the achievement gaps across all student groups.  

There is much work that needs to be done.  

Let's get to it! 


Overview of 2015 CAASPP

Mathematics

• 33% of CA students meet or exceed standards
• 29% of CA students near standards.
• 38% of CA students did NOT meet standards.

English Language Arts

• 44% of CA students meet or exceed standards.
• 25% of CA students are near standards.
• 31% of CA students did NOT meet standards.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

Copyright 2015.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.