BAAC Meeting Minutes: 1/15/08

Attendance:
Dana Keys
Georganne Barnes
Ray Kent
Lois Fornander
Jenny Knapp
Sue Dewey
Sharon Jenkins
Becky Heck
Mike Herr
Donna Drialo
Esther Mueller


Georgia Matteson with handout on d.11's online curriculum will be at next meeting

Kristin Neilsen-Drake presented info on Steele's writing curriculum. 
D-11 trained Kristin and others at Steele  in the Colorado Writing Project.  They also use the Lucy Caulkins Workshop Model both of
which use the Writer's Workshop model which research has shown is a great way to teach writing.
Kristin gave an overview of the Writing Process that is taught to the students.
The writing process teaches students to target their readers so that their writing work goes towards communicating to that reader
Mini-lessons are taught within the workshop model based on what students need as a next step as a class
Individual conferences are also used to teach skills specific to the child
Writer's workshop model  allows students a broad range of writing and allows for a meaningful writing experience vs. prompt writing
which can lack authenticity and investment
results at school show that students are writing on a deeper level when conveying an idea or a story and the students are very engaged and
excited about what they write- they are also eager to share their work
Conventions are taught within the context of the writing
The more a person reads and writes the better they become at the conventions

Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday 1/22 at 2:45 a meeting will be held for those who would like to help plan and participate in the town hall mtg
The town hall meeting will be scheduled for the end of Feb.
The content of the meeting will include an overview of the state requirements and funding and how that ties into testing and how the test
results tie into accountability
Glen Gustafson Head of Finance in D11 has a short video that gives a financial overview of the funding of the district- he will be at the
town mtg. to present

Mike Herr with D11 website resources:
Surveys- all student and parent surveys can be viewed online
Zangle- gives demographics and info on students test scores..mostly for upper classmen
Steele News- grades put out weekly/monthly newsletters
Grollier encyclopedia- online service with current research info can be accessed through steele website at home

Next Meeting Tues., Feb 19, 2:45  bring a friend or two

Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:54:42 -0800
From: thelongshouse@yahoo.com
Subject: followup on mtg from yesterday
To: barneg@d11.org; b-w@earthlink.net; choeydog@yahoo.com; catherine.darcy@gmail.com; deweys@prodigy.net; lois_fornander@hotmail.com; grabeeh@d11.org; hatch.anne@gmail.com; herrma@d11.org; sharon@usa.com; mothermd@mac.com; rjtakent@msn.com; togoknapp@msn.com; loveapc@d11.org; gpmbaron@aol.com; Muellers1@mac.com; nielsk@d11.org; shelleydarling@gmail.com; wrupol@hotmail.com; Karen.Zawacki@hp.com

Hello all-

I've set up a meeting next Tuesday, Jan. 22 @2:45 to go over the format and content of the Town Meeting as we discussed in yesterday's BAAC meeting. (how many times can you get the word meeting in a sentence?)  I hope that you will give some input, either in person or email, so that we can really make a successful, informative event in Feb.  By the way, I've also reserved the night of Feb. 25 on Glenn Gufstafson's calendar for the actual Town Meeting.  We'll talk on Tuesday to be sure everyone is good with this date, I just wanted to get an idea going,  Hope to see you Tuesday!  Oh yeah, we'll meet in the library, and I hope not to be longer than an hour.  Let me know if you need Hailey and Silas to watch your kids.

Thanks,

Dana

471-4752