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.

California English Learner Roadmap

In 2018 California begins implementation of the California English Learner Roadmap Policy.

This policy was approved by the State Board of Education on July 12, 2017 and it comes following the passage of Proposition 58 (English Proficiency.  Multilingual Education.  Initiative Status) in November 2016.

It is the first change in policy language regarding English Learner education in nearly 20 years (Last changes were under Proposition 227, passed in 1998).

The English Learner Roadmap Vision states that:

"English Learners Fully and Meaningfully Access and Participate in a 21st Century Education from Early Childhood Through Grade Twelve That Results in Their Attaining high Levels of English Proficiency, Mastery of Grade Level Standards, and Opportunities to Develop Proficiency in Multiple Languages."

and is supported by four Principles that provide it's foundation:

Principle #1:

Assets - Oriented and Needs - Responsive Schools.

Principle #2:

Intellectual Quality of Instruction and Meaningful Access.

Principle #3:

System Conditions That Support Effectiveness.

Principle #4:

Alignment and Articulation Within and Across Systems.

MRCR Education had the pleasure to send a representative to the California Department of Education Public Meeting held in Sacramento on September 2017 titled "The California English Learner Roadmap: Strengthening Comprehensive Educational Policies, Program, and Practices for English Learners" where experts and stakeholders reviewed the new policy, engaged with participants, and provided a preview of the draft guidance document.

At this meeting MRCR Education made a commitment to assist the California Department of Education with the implementation of the EL Roadmap through one of three presentations available to schools, districts, LEA's, and County Offices of Education.  For more information email us at mrcreducation@gmail.com Subject Header "California EL Roadmap Presentation".  MRCR Education is also sharing the following guide to help you get started with understanding this new policy.

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.

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.

HAST Education

HAST Education
(Humanities, Arts, Science, Technology)

It is within our nature to make observations and take annotations in addition to recognizing patterns and identifying problems that may occur.

We also have a tendency, through ingenuity, to come with reasonable solutions that benefit us all as a whole.

HAST Education brings this together.  HAST greatly benefits the student's learning process through the integration of the core subject areas of humanities, arts, science, and technology.

With a HAST approach to education, students become better prepared to identify issues, solve problems, recognize patterns, take notes, and observe their environment.

A student's educational performance should flourish and be deeply rooted in a diverse academic field of knowledge.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

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

September 2015

Welcome back to the 2015-16 school year.  The new school year is now underway, and as we return from the Labor Day holiday, it is time to implement all measures that have been formulated to guide students in their learning process.

There are many summer events that had an impact in each of our lives and will make us better at performing our assigned role in education be it: Student, Parent, Teacher, Administrator, Community Leader, etc.

In California we await the results from the assessment of the state adopted Common Core State Standards.  There is much to learn from these results, but it is important to always keep in mind that these results are one of many metrics used in education.


It is a great honor to be able to continue my commitment to education once again and through this blog, Twitter feed, and many other ways of communication, share information on education for the betterment of all stakeholders in it.

Sincerely,


Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

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

Reaching out to Parents on STEAM

What is STEAM Education?
  
Most educators would surely be able to, if not answer this question, talk about it with some understanding of it.  Some students would also be able to speak about STEAM to some extent, as they may be participating in such programs at school.  Elected officials, community and business leaders are also becoming increasingly aware of STEAM and the role it is playing in education and employment.

• But how aware are parents of STEAM education?
• Do they truly understand what STEAM is, the effect it is having in education, and how it will help their children with both future education and employment?
• Do parents assume because this is one of the current buzz words of today, that STEAM has been automatically been implemented in schools?
• Have we, as educators, done enough to reach out to parents on STEAM, and made sure that they are well informed on what is being done at all levels of education, and beyond, with regard to the implementation of STEAM education into everyday activities in school?

It is important that we reach out to parents and share with them the benefits that STEAM brings to the student, the classroom, the school, and the community. Without the support of our parents, STEAM would be missing a key component in its implementation.  As educators, we should do all we can to make sure that we are reaching out to parents.

Here are a few ideas on how educators can reach out to parents and make them aware of the importance of STEAM:

1. Talk to parents.  It is still the best way to communicate.  Educators can engage with parents and inquire if they know or have heard of STEAM education.
2. Encourage students to share with their parents how STEAM plays a role in their education, and how the classroom is acquiring knowledge in STEAM and developing the skills required.
3. Host a STEAM event at your school, where students share some of the work they are doing, and how it relates to STEAM.
4. Invite parents to attend open forums, discussions, trainings, seminars, etc. that are design to share information on STEAM, its benefits, and applications in school and work.
5. Utilize social media to share updates, classwork, reference material, and other information that can engage parents into becoming part of the conversation of STEAM in schools, education, and careers. 

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

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

Educational Harvest Sorting 2

What is Educational Harvest Sorting?

Educational Harvest Sorting (E. H. S.) is the process by which, in education, both the quantity and accuracy of a learner's collected knowledge is analyzed and made accountable.

How is Educational Harvest Sorting executed?

The successful execution of Educational Harvest Sorting (E. H. S) is rooted in its two parts:

A) The quantity of a learner's collected knowledge.

It is important that learners acquire a vast amount of knowledge that is varied and diverse.  This includes a variety of subjects, fields of study, life experiences, hands on activities, etc.

B) The accuracy of a learner's collected knowledge.

It is important that a learner's knowledge be accurate and true.  A learner whose knowledge is inaccurate and/or false could have a difficult time unlearning these errors, then learning how to correct them.

Why do Educational Harvest Sorting?

Educational Harvest Sorting (E. H. S.) should be done because it allows educators to become better prepared.  It also provides educators with an accountability tool for their learners.  By analyzing a learner's collected knowledge, educators can better prepare learners for their future education.  Educators need to sort the knowledge obtained by learners to ensure that it is ample and true.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Educational Harvest Sorting

The educational process of harvest begins with the step of collecting and continues with the step of sorting.  These two primary steps in the process of educational harvest help in giving us a view of the growth done over a season, and allows us to plan for future harvests.

Sorting is the arrangement of collected subject information for quantity and for accuracy.  After collecting subject information from learners, we must record and measure both the quantity and accuracy of this information for analysis and accountability purposes.

The quantity of collected subject information allows us to analyze the varied vastness of knowledge possessed by the learner.  It lets us study how much knowledge the learner has acquired over a given period of time.  Care must be taken when analyzing the quantity of collected subject information as this can be acquired by the learner in a variety of places, the classroom being one of the many.  There is a great deal of learning which takes place independently of school.  For this reason, the accuracy of the collected subject information must also be measured.

The accuracy of collected subject information must be measured to account for proper learning.  Whether or not the student has a large and diverse quantity of knowledge, if it is inaccurate, it is of no use, and could be misinterpreted by the learner.  Care must be taken to differentiate between inaccurate information, and misunderstood information.  These two are not the same, but could be the result of learning mistakes which are part of the educational process.  Intentional use of inaccurate information for learning or educational purposes could become a negative experience that can lead the learner on a path of danger.

Measuring both the quantity and accuracy of a learner's knowledge can be accomplished with the step of Educational Harvest Sorting.  After collecting subject information from the learners, we must sort it so we may learn what our learners have learned over time.  This step will help us better prepare the learner for further growth in the years to come.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Educational Harvest Collecting 2

What is Educational Harvest Collecting?

Educational Harvest Collecting (E. H. C.) is the process by which, in education, knowledge is gathered for the purpose of evaluation.

How is Educational Harvest Collecting executed?

Here is a 6-Step guide for the successful execution of E. H. C.

1) Decide what EHC is to be gathered.

2) Decide who will do the gathering of EHC.

3) Decide where EHC will be gathered.

4) Decide when EHC will be gathered.

5) Decide how much EHC will be gathered.

6) Decide why EHC will be gathered.

 

Why do Educational Harvest Collecting?

The collecting of knowledge in education allows educators to measure the progress a learner has made over time.  Educational Harvest Collecting (E. H. C.) provides educators with a process by which to gather a learners knowledge.  What is collected can then provide educators with a further understanding of what a learner knows and how to continue to build upon that knowledge.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Educational Harvest Collecting

The harvest must be collected if it is to be enjoyed.  If it is not collected, it will remain, unpicked, until it eventually spoils and falls to the ground.  Once this has happened, the harvest can no longer be enjoyed, and it will now serve a different purpose.

How the harvest is collected can be through a variety of ways, methods, and techniques or tools.  It can be collected by hand, or with the aid of technological developments.  We can collect what we can carry, or we can carry more with the help of a container.

The harvest should be collected toward the end of the season.  Doing this will ensure that it has had time to grow, develop, mature, and ripened.  If we collect before the right time, we will have an unripened harvest whose product will not be good, or ready for enjoyment.  On the other hand, if we collect after the right time has passed, we will have an over ripened harvest whose use will be limited, and will spoiled quickly.  Only by collecting within the right time frame, can we assure that the harvest will be at is peak, and thus at the best quality.

It is also important to train those who will collect the harvest.  They must know what is being collected, have the proper or necessary equipment and know how to use it, ensure the safety and security of what is collected, and have a support team available if additional help or assistance is required.  Though the training may be thorough, only through actual experience, gained over time, will the harvest collectors become efficient at this skill.

Since it will take time for the harvest to reach the point at which it should be collected, we also have time to prepare and be ready.  As the harvest is growing, we must become prepared so at the right time we can execute the collection of the harvest with efficiency.  Care must also be taken to not sort or evaluate the harvest as we are collecting it.  This is part of a separate step in the process of educational harvesting.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Educational Training Implementation 2

For teachers and schools who would like to implement an educational training program, for their students, MRCR Education presents the following 8-step guide for Educational Training Implementation (E.T.I.)

This is a guide which teachers and schools could use to implement an educational training program.  It is a general guide that can be accommodated to meet established goals and needs of the program.

MRCR Education 8-Step Guide for Educational Training Implementation

1) Create a Team.

2) Define Educational Training.

3) Develop a Model.

4) Clarify Steps.

5) Address Concerns.

6) Plan Implementation Timetable.

7) Apply to a Selected Sample.

8) Evaluate, Grow, and Reapply.

Teachers and schools that implement educational training programs will provide students with an additional opportunity to obtain support and assistance with their education.  This support and assistance can allow the student to: pursuit further education, grow in a particular subject, review prior education, establish roots in a field or career.

Educational training programs can be implemented in schools and classrooms as a concurrent complement to the academic curriculum, or as an addition to it.  Educational training programs are most effective when created to be low cost, high yield, and long term.

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

STEAM Education Introduction (Part 2)

Why is STEAM Education Important?

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Becoming educated in STEAM is important for our students and our future.  STEAM Education is important because it can benefit students, teachers, schools and communities.  By becoming educated in STEAM, our students can become prepared to face futures challenges that may cross their path.  STEAM Education allows our students to diverse their way of thinking by developing a learning style based on multiple subjects that are interconnected.

STEAM Education can benefit our students.  Because it is based on a 5 strand education base, it requires that students develop the ability to each and all strands both individually and collectively.  The student should be able to meet a challenge with a diverse array of tools that will help them build the necessary solutions to those challenges.  Teachers benefit from STEAM Education by having the ability to collaborate in the presentation of education to students.  STEAM education encourages teachers to share knowledge in order for it to be presented to students.

The benefit to schools and communities from STEAM Education shows on the preparation for future challenges and adversities that could be faced by both.  Both schools and communities who develop a strong foundation on the strands of STEAM education demonstrate a level of readiness that allows them to weather difficulties as well as raise the level of awareness in case those difficulties arrive.

The importance of STEAM Education to the future of our schools and communities becomes clear when we become aware that it is our students who will have to face, live, and solve the challenges that lie ahead.  STEAM Education is important because it is beneficial for all who are involved in and participate in education.

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

Closing The Year

Closing the Year in Education

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

As the year comes to a close, we, as educators, should take the time to look back and reflect on all that has taken place and has been achieved with our students, in our classrooms, and throughout our schools.

January-June (Last Year's Class)

Last Year's class was with us for the first half of the year.  We help to guide them as they concluded their school year, and prepared to move on to their next grade level.  We did our best to accommodate the learning needs of each of our students, and gave as much of our time as we could to ensure that every student in our classroom received the most excellent of education so that they may become successful learners for years to come.

July-August (Summer Time)

Summer time is not a stoppage of education, but rather a break for both students and educators to transition into the next educational year.  Summer time presents a time for students to catch up to grade level if they have fallen behind, or to get ahead if they have demonstrated the knowledge needed to pursuit further education.  For educators it is a time for lesson planning and adjustment, as well as thoroughly thinking about the responsibilities we have as educators and the role we have in the education of our students.

September-December (Next Year's Class)

Next Year's Class is with us now, and we have done our best to be prepared in order to meet the needs that each of our students will have.  As the year comes to a close, it is once again time to regroup and refocus our attention toward our students, so that they may become successful learners in the year to come as they prepare to advance to the next learning level in school.

We have reached the end of another year as educators.  As we look back and reflect on the accomplishments that have been made possible, let us keep looking forward toward the next class of students.  They are going to become the future of education throughout our nation.

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