Imagine yourself observing a rich dialogue between students about an article they have been reading. The students, seated in small groupings, are actively asking questions, expressing opinions, posing hypotheses and returning to the text for evidence to support their ideas. These types of conversations exemplify productive talk that supports deeper learning. Continue reading “Collaborative conversations vehicle for building knowledge”
Category: Early Childhood
Literacy for ME releases community literacy resources
The Maine DOE has developed new informational brochures and videos designed to help community literacy teams across the state educate parents and the public about literacy development and empower them with simple ways in which they can support literacy education. Continue reading “Literacy for ME releases community literacy resources”
Commissioner tours Portland elementaries, commends innovative ideas
AUGUSTA – Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen praised the work of teachers and administrators at Riverton Elementary and East End Community schools in Portland following his visit Friday, part of his Promising Practices Tour.
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Submit application for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grants
The USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a grant to provide fruits and vegetables to students during the school day, aside from breakfast and lunch times. Maine schools have until Friday, March 30, to request applications to apply for the program. This program is only for grades PreK-8.
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New early learning website reflects interagency work
Commissioners Stephen Bowen and Mary Mayhew announced on Jan. 30, 2013, that they had signed a joint memorandum to form the State Agency Interdepartmental Early Learning team and to encourage the state’s entire early childhood system to take part in this effort.
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Child Development Services announces online referral submission
Child Development Services announces the launch of its website, which includes the ability for agencies, providers and individuals concerned about a child’s development to make online referrals.
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Maine DOE and DHHS ink pledge on early childhood learning
A little over a year ago, Maine scored high, but not high enough, on its application for a Race to the Top grant to promote advances in the state’s early childhood learning systems. We and our counterparts at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, who worked collaboratively to develop the plan, held a press conference and pledged to move forward with as much of the plan as we could, even though we would not receive any federal funding.
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Advisory council meeting to discuss IDEA, Part C: programs for infants & toddlers with disabilities
The State Interagency Coordinating Council’s initial meeting for this year is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 29, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Cross State Office Building in Augusta. Continue reading “Advisory council meeting to discuss IDEA, Part C: programs for infants & toddlers with disabilities”
Amended guidance on federal sequestration
This is an update on the current status of the anticipated sequestration of federal funds as a result of the debt limit deal enacted by Congress on August 2, 2011. The President is required to issue a sequestration order, which will have immediate effect, no later than Jan. 2, 2013.
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Laura Richards School overcomes CIPS status, surpasses standards

Being identified as a Continuous Improvement Priority School in 2009 was devastating for staff at Laura E. Richards School in Gardiner.
Too few students were meeting the targets in mathematics according to the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Now, after two years of hard work by Principal Karen Moody, her staff and the entire school community, students at Laura Richards have surpassed the targets in both math and reading.
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