Bobcat Brief

March 12, 2018

Standards Based Reporting at Lake Benton Public School: Part 2 of a 287 part series

Vocabulary: Words Matter

The language of education much like the language of love can be confusing, so this brief seeks to clarify terms describing Standards Based Reporting. Quick examples of my confusion with language as it relates to love.

• Statement: “I met my current wife almost 40 years ago while a student at Mankato State University”.
  • Confusion: When making that statement at a gathering with friends my wife infers a marriage that is only temporary, one that is subject to change.
  • Clarification: We have been married for 37+ years and I am planning on 37 more to come. I used the word “current” because I am married to Lise’ right now, currently.
• Statement: “I feel as though you don’t respect my need for cleanliness when you debone a deer’s quarter on “our” kitchen counter.
  • Confusion: I honestly thought that the kitchen counter was really ours.   
  • Clarification: Technically/legally, the counter is “ours” but that does not give me/Dale permission to bring parts of a deer/elk/antelope/fish/muskrat/whatever into “our” kitchen. Note: I am not sure what I was thinking.

SBR Vocabulary

• Standard: “ describe precisely what students know and can do as a result of their experiences in school”(Guskey&Bailey)
  • An example of a first grade ELA standard
    • 1.10.1.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Print all upper- and lowercase letters.
• ELA: English Language Arts Standards
  • The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts, which include reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, media literacy, and language standards, were revised in 2010 and were to be implemented by the 2012-2013 school year.
    • The Standards Committee consisted of 28 members representing K-12 teachers and administrators, higher education instructors, parents and content specialists.

Dale