NQEC 2006 – Dallas, TX - We will be speaking at the National Quality in Education Conference in Dallas, Texas in November of 2006. Hope to see  you there!
 

Copyrights and Trademarks - We are working to copyright and trademark our materials and here is our progress.

1. GATEWAY TO MASTERY^® is now a registered trademark.

2. The Essential Knowledge Resource™ (EKR) is in the copyright process.

3. Dichotomous Rubric™ is now trademarked.

4. Learning Check™ is now trademarked.

5. Knowledge Map™ is now trademarked.
    

As of June 1^st, all the Tool-Kits have been revised. Check out the easier to use menu format and tools that utilize Word tables, instead of imbedded Excel files, which allow easier customization. If you are currently a license holder, you can still use your same user name and password to access the Tool-Kit.

If you are not a license holder, you may view the new menu formats by clicking on the link above and clicking on the “Visitors Preview” button to see what you are missing.

Also, we are instituting a Tool-Kit license renewal program early this Fall.  This program is being started to address issues of website security, integrity of tool use and Tool-Kit access. Please watch your e-mail early this Fall and respond promptly to keep your school, district or service agency’s license current.

Leander Independent School District – Leander, Texas

Leander Independent School District is expanding their implementation of GATEWAY TO MASTERY^® with three pilot groups and training for entire school staffs. Here are a few of their stories.

 Summer School at the Middle School

This quote says it all.

 “I am sitting here watching my summer school students work diligently on their plot line using their Dichotomous Rubric^™ and Knowledge Map^™. This is the first time I am more of a facilitator than a dictator!  The students are enthusiastic, engaged, and completely in charge of their learning.  They are discussing their novels like adults in a book club!  I am so thankful for the wealth of knowledge and expertise you have given my students and me, and  I can't wait until my co-workers at Leander Middle School are able to hear  you in August and begin implementing the tools. This is a true partnership   in learning.”

Thank you!

Lynnette Sinders                                                                                         Title 1 Facilitator/Lead Mentor

Leander Middle School

Middle School Special Ed                                                                        

In a special day class for students who could not function effectively in a normal classroom, the teacher had students complete a “5 Whys” to address why they were assigned to the class. The process of delving deeper into the root causes of their placement put the responsibility square on their shoulders. It empowered them to know they could get out of the program if, and when, they wanted.

Middle School Language Arts

In a 6^th grade language arts class, the teacher wanted to increase the number of reading journals turned in each week. She graphed the turn in rate, shared it with the class and guided them through the PDSA cycle to improve. The class showed consistent improvement, so along with the graphing and PDSA, she also baked brownies to celebrate their improvement. When students were asked about the brownie reward they replied, “The brownies make a difference for some, but mostly we want to improve because we like to see the improvement.” As you can see, the real motivator for these students when they were given both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, turned out to be the intrinsic motivator. Remember always to celebrate improvement, but do not improve for a celebration.

High School Drama                                                                               

The drama teacher has each one of the actors in a play use the “5 Whys” to better understand their character. The actor answers a question such as “Why are you in this scene?” from the character’s perspective, then answers “why” four more times to get to the root of the character’s role. The teacher reports a remarkable improvement in the student’s ability to play their role when they more fully understand the character’s root motivations and purposes.

If you are currently practicing any discipline of GATEWAY TO MASTERY^®, please send your success stories, so we may share them in upcoming editions. Click here to send us your story

Places we will be working this Summer:

1. Leander, Texas

2. Bloomington, Indiana

3. Rogers, Arkansas

4. Mayfield, Ohio

5. Dallas, Texas

To add your organization to our schedule, call us at 1-866-630-6995.

Thank you for your interest,

Jacquie and Jeff Burgard

Improvement Facilitators

J.J. Burgard & Associates

You have received this informational, quarterly, newsletter because you have requested information about GATEWAY TO MASTERY^®, J.J. Burgard & Associates products and professional development, or we have already worked within your district.

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