Category Archives: Curriculum
Seven Keys for Tennessee
In September 2014 I wrote here about Oak Ridge Schools’ Seven Keys for College and Career Readiness. The Seven Keys were designed by Oak Ridge Schools superintendent Bruce Borchers working with parents, teachers, community leaders and schools leadership to measure … Continue reading
Common Core, Oak Ridge Schools and Every Student
Several people have asked candidates for school board their stand on The Common Core. It’s important to know what Common Core is and what it is not. You may find a discussion of that here. Here is how the administrator … Continue reading
Tomorrow is Closer Than We Think
“Change is happening at lightning speed, and if educators respond to it at a turtle’s pace, we run the risk of failing to prepare a generation of our future workforce for jobs that don’t exist today but will tomorrow, jobs … Continue reading
“We’re Not in Kansas Anymore”
The dust has not yet settled from the shoes of Dr. Borchers’ proposed 1:1 device initiative. I certainly do not want to put those shoes back on, not now. Yet we cannot ignore that our children, and those of America, … Continue reading
Tennessee Pulls the Plug on PARCC
Education Week is reporting that the State of Tennessee pull out of PARCC last week. The report is here: Link “Accordingly, Kevin Huffman is resigning as a member of the PARCC Governing Board,” the officials continued. “All staff from the … Continue reading
Celebrating Our Music Programs
Oak Ridge Schools are blessed with strong music programs, from kindergarten through high school. We have a rich legacy. Let me showcase a little sampling from the last two years.
2014 TCAP Scores
As many know the “quick” scores from TCAP texting have not yet been provided to Tennessee school districts. By state law, one I disagree with for a variety of reasons, TCAP scores are to be used in determining the final … Continue reading
Save Fourth-grade Strings!
As some of you know by now, the fourth-grade strings program is on the list of potential budget cuts if requested full funding is not approved. I note that as of this posting the Oak Ridge School Board has not … Continue reading
Who/what is Discovery Education
The Oak Ridge School system, with approval of our school board, has partnered with a company called Discovery Education. Read more about the partnership here. Discovery Education states the following on their website: “Discovery Education transforms classrooms, empowers teachers and … Continue reading
Students and Teachers Energizing Minds (STEM)
Earlier this year the Oak Ridge City Council and School Board voted to allow the school district to transfer funds from the Schools balance fund to use in readying Oak Ridge to be the “Premiere STEM School District in America.” … Continue reading
Mike Mahathy for BOE 