Back to School 2024

 

It is the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Teachers and students will once again meet in classrooms to learn and study.

Schools will be filled with the sound of students passing through the halls.

Friends will meet and greet each other while they share summer stories.

It is a new beginning in the next stage of the educational journey.

It is the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

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

Falling Back Into Eduation

 

As the end of September is reached, education is back in full stride.

Long gone are the nerves and anticipation of that first day of school.

Schedule adjustments have been made and classes have been filled.

Classmates are back together and new students have been welcomed.

The goals for the new year have been established with available support.

That slow descent back to school now has solid ground beneath our feet.

This is the foundation that will provide a safe and secure educational path.

Grounded in good study habits, our determination to complete the journey, and the encouragement from teachers, piers, and all who support us.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2023.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

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.

Summer School 2023

 

Summer School is quickly coming to a close.

We look at the arrival of July. 

School is only a month away, in August

Expectations were set.

Staffing Issues were overcome.

Students participated and did their best.

Standards were met,

Success was achieved.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2023.  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.

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.

Reflecting on 2018

"Reflecting on 2018 - A guide on how to reflect and look back at the year that has passed".

As 2018 comes to an end educators and students should take the time to review and assess what has been achieved this year.  There is much that has taken place over the past 12 months and all has had an impact in our day to day education.  Every year begins with hope and a vision of a brighter future.  Every year ends with longing and nostalgia, in some cases even a bit of regret, over the decisions made and events that shaped the year that was.

As it is true of education, doing an overall assessment can be quite an overwhelming task to take on even when it is a self-assessment.  It is always good to have a partner to help through this process: a colleague, a friend or classmate, parents and relatives can be of great help and provide assistance and feedback.

Begin by making a list of all the events that you remember and/or were a part of, for example: 

1) Students in the classroom.
2) Teams and Clubs.
3) After-School Activities.
4) Sporting Events.
5) Art, Movies, Music, Television shows.
6) Society, Politics, and Government.
7) An "In Memoriam" to those who passed on.
8) Challenges not met.
9) Accomplishments Achieved.

then proceed to give each a rating or value of your choice:

- Stars and check marks.
- Impact in our life.
- Significance of the event.

and finally, reflect on how you have grown over the year.

Doing this, not only to end the year but on a regular basis, can help with grow and development in addition to helping with emotional understanding on how each of us was shaped and molded by the year that was 2018.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2018.  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.

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.

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.

Happy New School Year!

To all Parents, Administrators, Students, Teachers, and Educators:

A very Happy New School Year!!!

MRCR Educations wishes all a wonderful 2015-16 school year, and we hope that it is filled with educational growth and development.


"Back to School"

We are going back to school.
Soon, in the next few weeks, and days ahead,
Educators, Teachers, Students, Administrators, and Parents,
in addition to all personnel who has a task, responsibility, and commitment to education, prepares to go back to school.

To Educators:
As Educators we are leaders to those who want to learn.
We welcome and share with them:
The knowledge we've gained.
The skills we've developed.
We assess their learning to ensure it has value.

To Teachers:
The true titans of education are teachers.  There's that memorable one whose door was always open.  In whose classroom there is unexpressed respect, and discipline is unnecessary.  Those who challenged, pushed, moved, and motivated even the most impossible ones.  They help us practice skills.  They help us learn knowledge.

To Students:
Yes.  Students must wake up and get ready to demonstrate what they've been taught.  Must study what students have learned until it has been mastered.  Be responsible and take ownership of their own education.  Become leaders in the areas they study.  Create and develop new fields to study in.

To Parents:
Help prepare students by providing support, guidance, and encouragement.  Provide a safe and secure space in which a strong foundation forms such that a lifetime of education can take place.  Become an example by learning, studying, and teaching the importance of education.  Impart a fair assessment on the student's education.

To Administrators:
It is a great honor to serve and administer people's needs in education.  Parent's concerns. Student's struggles, Teacher's training, Educator's understanding.  These are among the many concerns of education's administrators.  They have the responsibility to ensure everyone is educated.  They have the responsibility to ensure education is fair.



Manuel R. CortezRodas - Chief Educator/Founder

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