Category Archives: Academics

Bowen statement on passage of ed bills

Posted on May 17, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CORRECTION: A previous version of this release contained the wrong LD number and linked to the wrong bill for the second item below, LD 1779. It has been corrected.

Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen issued the following statement Thursday following legislative approval on Wednesday of several key education bills, including: LD 1422, which requires that the state’s public schools transition to a proficiency-based diploma; LD 1779, which moves Maine career and technical education programs toward the full adoption of national industry standards; and LD 1865, which makes it easier for students to access career and technical education courses.

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Posted in Career & Technical, Press Releases, Standards

The Math Gates: Team teaching art and math

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Art teacher Dona Seegers and RSU 38 math coach have collaborated in teaching art and math this school year at Mount Vernon Elementary School. They wrote this essay about their experience.

Team teaching art and math works!

We are motivated by the excitement of new ideas for presenting our subjects to the students, are eager to experiment and have infectious enthusiasm.

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Posted in Elementary School, Featured, Instruction, Kennebec County, Mathematics, Teachers, Visual & Performing Arts

First draft of science standards released; feedback welcomed

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A first public draft of the Next Generation Science Standards has been released.

Educators and others now have a chance to review the draft standards. They can offer their feedback through an online survey until June 1.

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Posted in Dispatches, Featured, News & Views, Science & Technology, Standards, Teachers

Project Citizen students participate in public policy

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Dozens of students from across the state took public policy proposals to Maine’s capitol on Friday, where they presented them in legislative committee rooms and discussed them in the halls of the State House.

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Posted in Androscoggin County, Cumberland County, Dispatches, Featured, Hancock County, Middle School, News & Views, Social Studies, Students, Washington County

Conferences let teachers learn from peers on Common Core

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Four daylong conferences this August will offer teachers a chance to hear from fellow Maine teachers about:

  • reasoning and higher-order thinking skills;
  • helping students to improve their writing;
  • improving their own writing; and
  • effective math instruction based on the Common Core State Standards.

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Posted in Conferences, English Language Arts, Featured, Kennebec County, Mathematics, Teachers

State Museum offers educator preview of new exhibit

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Maine State Museum on May 30 will offer educators a special preview of its new exhibit, “Malaga Island, Maine’s Forgotten Legacy.”

The preview takes place at 4:30 p.m.

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Posted in Featured, Kennebec County, Social Studies, Teachers

Maine science performance among top in nation

Posted on May 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

But NAEP results still point to need for more rigorous standards, commissioner says

AUGUSTA – Eighth graders in Maine scored higher than much of the nation in the most recent national science test, the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress, and the state was one of only 16 to show improvement since 2009.

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Posted in Assessment, Press Releases, Science & Technology

The scoop at Yarmouth: Students step up to real-world challenge

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

When a company like Friendly’s struggles to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, desperate times often call for desperate measures.

Could students at Yarmouth High School help?

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Posted in Cumberland County, Featured, High School, Instruction, Students, Technology, Visual & Performing Arts

German teachers invited to Deutsche Woche in Bar Harbor

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Maine Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German is inviting German teachers to spend a week in Bar Harbor this summer developing their skills.

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Posted in Featured, Hancock County, High School, Higher Ed, Middle School, Teachers, World Languages

3 regional social studies workshops scheduled

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Three workshop sessions designed for middle- and high-school social studies teachers will help participants connect with other social studies teachers in their region and explore ways that the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies can support thinking and learning in their content area.

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Posted in Aroostook County, Featured, Franklin County, High School, Knox County, Middle School, Social Studies, Standards, Teachers