August 2024

 

August is here and it is time for school to start again.

Long was the summer break we all deserved.

Time spent resting and reviewing skills.

Preparing lessons for the upcoming year.

Looking forward to a new start.

Here's to the 2024-25 school year.

May it be amongst the best ones yet.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2024.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

2014-2015 Education Year Review (Part II)

It is time to take a look back at this past 2014-15 education year.

During this year, MRCR Education continued to grow and develop, much was learned and experienced in education through the studying, learning, teaching, and assessing of different areas.

Here is a look back, at quotes, from posts published during the second half of the year:

January 2015

Welcome Back

"There are 6 months left until the end of the year, and there will be plenty of events and activities..."  "Are there any students who may be at risk ... if no support is made available to them?"

February 2015

STEAM Education

"It has become (quite) clear that STEAM Education in the Bay Area has ... taken root throughout the education community ... sprouted the interest of local businesses, community leaders, and elected officials."

March 2015

Spring On Ahead

"...educators ... prepare today's learners and students so they may become seekers of higher education and developers of professional careers."  "STEAM Education has (become) an important part of education throughout the Bay Area and beyond."

April 2015

Spring

"... continue presenting and sharing information that can be of assistance to educators."  "Spring brings the signs of rebirth."

May 2015

Education Assessment

"The time we have left in our classrooms, now begins to be measured in weeks and final days."  "... invite students, teachers, educators, and parents, to take some time to reflect and self-assess."

June 2015

Closing the School Year

"The class of 2015 is now on their way to the next stage in their educational path."  "... take this moment to say 'Thank You' to all students, parents, and educators for all the hard work and effort."

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

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

2014-2015 Education Year Review (Part I)

It is time to take a look back at this past 2014-15 education year.
A year in which we continued to grow and develop as an educational institution.

Here's a look at quotes from posts during the first half of the year:

July 2014:

Independent Education

"...be independent seekers of education."  "To take charge of our own education.  ...pursuit further knowledge for the betterment of ourselves and the benefit of others."


August 2014:

Back To School

"By the Labor Day holiday, education is back in session, and a new school year has begun.  Our focus continues to be on the betterment of education for all."


September 2014:

Harvesting Education

"Education is the fruit that we harvest at the end of a long season of learning."  " Learning is a long and arduous journey whose season is just beginning."


October 2014:

Education Implementation

"How to define Education Implementation...education covers a diverse range of skills and knowledge...Education Implementation is best defined with a specific set of parameters..."


November 2014:

A Thank You to Education

"Education is good."  "We should be thankful for education, and give thanks to all who have help guide us through our path."


December 2014:

Education in Winter

"This is when education begins that climb up the steep incline of the middle of the school year."  "...students should have developed a solid foundation of what is being studied... Teachers should have developed an understanding for the class..."




Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

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

The Second Half

Now that we have come together through the first half of the school year, it is time to begin the second half.  We have reviewed the curriculum, made adjustments to lesson plans, and took time to renew our energy.  The second half of the year is ready to commence, and we are going to embark on our educational path until we reach the end of the school year.  In less that 6 months we will reach June, the school year will end, and our year end planning will serve as our educational guide toward completing the educational goals we set.

As we return to our classrooms, let us keep our sight on the horizon.  Lets visualize the path that we are going to take from now on, and make sure that the first step we take is a positive move into the future of education.  Working together (Students, Teachers, Parents, etc.) we can support each other, help our students reach the end of the school year, and advance further into the educational path that we have planned.  Soon, January 2014 will become June 2014, and our students will be moving on to the next grade.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

The Half Time

In some athletic events the team leaves the field of play, gathers together, then returns to the field of play to continue playing the game.  This is commonly referred to as half time.  During the half time the entire team can come together (Players, Coaches, Trainers, etc.) and use the time to a self evaluation.  The players can rest and those who have been injured can be cared for.  The coaching staff can analyze what strategies have been working, and which have not and need to be adjusted. The trainers can determine who can continue playing and who is done for the game.  As mentioned this month in a prior post the half time can be a time to observe "What we have achieved, what we need to complete, and what corrections we must make" so that "We can achieve completely the educational goals of this school year".

It would be nice if we could gather together outside the classroom (Students, Teachers, Parents, etc.) and do a self evaluation; however, with our personal schedules being so diverse, this may be a difficult event to coordinate.  This does not mean that we cannot do our own interpretation of the half time.  We have talked about some of the things that we could do during this period for example "Become organized and refocused".  Students can take a break and take care of themselves.  Teachers can help students "Reach the educational goals and achievements which they need" by making sure that they are "Taking charge of (our) lessons, curriculum, and classrooms".  Parents can help students and teachers by being supportive and understanding of what can be described as "A constant process of adaptation, implementation, and evaluation" that goes on in our schools not just on a yearly basis, but also on a day to day operation that is executed by all who are taking part in education.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

The First Half

As January comes to a close educators and students are completing the first half of the school year and getting ready to begin the second half.  We are at a balancing point academically, and many factors must be taken into account when looking at the overall vector and magnitude of the current tilt of the scale.  Now is the time to check our balances and decide if they are evenly and fairly in harmony.  If the academic scales are not even or fair, it is our responsibility to begin the delicate process of attempting to regain balance by making adjustments to both sides of the balance.

To achieve an even, fair, and harmonious academic balance we must work in collaboration with each other: Students, Parents, Teachers, Administrators, and everyone who is directly involved in education.  It will take time for year end planning, establishing education goals, and developing education guides.  As this school year continues to go on so goes the learning in the classrooms.  What begun last fall is now pivoting through winter as it prepares to spring in the months ahead.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Year End Planning

Although this may be January and we have just said to each other "Happy New Year", for educators it is time to look ahead toward the end of the school year.  For educators the time to say "Happy New Year" was back in August, when we returned to our schools from the summer break.  For educators, there are still six months left in which we can educate the students in our classrooms.  Six months of education left.  A semester's worth of education.

This means that there is still time during which we can do our best to make sure that we reach our educational goals.  The best way to do this is to plan for the end of the school year.  We have to evaluate our current educational goals, and if needed, make corrections and adjustments to ensure that they can be achieved.  Making corrections and adjustments to our educational plans will give us the flexibility to adjust to unforeseen events or needs that we may encounter along the school year.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Halfway Point

January marks the halfway point of the school year.  What we began to plan and prepare for before the school year began back in August, is now a reality that has been fulfilled halfway.  Though we have made plans and preparations for the entire school year back in August and well before then, there may have been some unexpected challenges that caused our plans to be adjusted.  This January halfway point can serve us as an excellent moment to take a look at what we have achieved, what we need to complete, and what corrections we must make so that we achieve completely the educational goals of this school year.

 By analyzing what we have done, where we are now, and that which is yet to be finished, educators can become organized and refocused.  This can then in turn help our students reach the educational goals and achievements which they need to successfully demonstrate before they can move on with further education.  As educators we are in a constant process of adaptation, implementation, and evaluation, and it is important that students, parents, and administrators be aware of how we manage this process, as well as how they benefit from it.  By taking charge of our lessons, curriculum, and classrooms during this halfway point in the school year, educators can demonstrate that they are educational leaders who are helping students develop into the future leaders of their communities.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Educational Training

Preparing for the new school year starts by waking up, and getting ready, to begin training.

We have to train to study.  We have to train to learn.  We have to train to teach.

This applies not just to those who are receiving learning, but also to those who are providing instruction.  With proper training learners, and instructors, can develop the educational skills that are needed to succeed in school.

Training presents us with the opportunity to learn, and develop, skills at a rate that favors the growth of both the individual and the whole.  It also allows us to commit, and carry out, mistakes and errors which can then be corrected, and repaired, prior to proceeding with further learning and evaluating.

Educational training can be looked at as having two distinct parts: The warm-up, and The practice. During warm-up we focus on stretching, and conditioning, educationally; where as practice is reserved for drills and simulations.  Each of these steps can be applied to classroom instruction through a variety of methods which give the required flexibility needed to meet the requirements each classroom has to face.  Training is a necessary stage in education which is well worth investing time in.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

September 2013

"A New School Year"

The month of September will bring about the start of a new school year.  It is the time for those who are participating in education to be waking up and getting ready.  This requires that we become mentally and physically awake, so that we may become fully able to start the new educational school year, and to establish a routine that will help us in planning for the next day.

AUTHOR: Manuel R. CortezRodas

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