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.
Continue reading “Commissioner tours Portland elementaries, commends innovative ideas”
As the transition to implementation of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy continues, the Maine Department of Education invites school/district teams to attend a two-day event to explore transition issues and advance professional development plans.
George B. Weatherbee School in Hampden recently celebrated its second annual “Maine Day,” a tribute to Maine Statehood Day, by offering dozens of state-themed workshops to its third through fifth grade students on Monday, March 18.
This year’s event featured over 40 presenters, half of whom were outside visitors from the community. Presenters taught workshops that focused on Maine’s slogan: The Way Life Should Be. Teachers assigned third grade students to workshops, but fourth and fifth graders could sign-up for the workshops that most appealed to them. Workshops included: “A Wicked Good Guide to Maine Language,” in which kids listened to a true Mainer speak and translated to people from afar; “Mission of the Maine Warden Services,” which explained game wardens’ role in protecting fish and wildlife; “Whoopie Pies,” in which students heard about the official state treat; and “Aroostook County,” a brief overview of the area and potato harvesting.
Continue reading “Weatherbee School gets community involved in Maine Day”
The Maine Department of Education’s Center for Best Practice has compiled a Glossary of Proficiency-Based Education in Maine to help educators navigate the shift toward proficiency-based/learner-centered education. The lack of consistency in language is one of the major problems that educators face when implementing such a system. One district’s “standards-based” may be another district’s “proficiency-based” or “competency-based” or “standards-referenced.” One district’s “standard” may be another district’s “performance indicator” or “learning target.”
Continue reading “Center for Best Practice releases glossary of proficiency-based learning terms”
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Rachelle Tome to the position of Maine Department of Education Chief Academic Officer.
Continue reading “Department welcomes new Chief Academic Officer Tome”
The Maine DOE Center for Best Practice is pleased to announce the release of two new videos exploring the shift to proficiency-based/learner-centered practice. Continue reading “Watch new Center for Best Practice videos from western Maine”
“What can we all do to help you?”
Three years ago, the state labeled Deer Isle-Stonington High School as one of 10 “persistently low-achieving” schools in Maine. Now DISHS is drawing nothing but acclaim as a result of the dedication of principal Todd West and his faculty to school-wide improvement, from the ground up.
Being labeled one of the lowest-achieving schools impacted not only the reputation of DISHS, but also the students’ opinions of their education. “The damage that that did to the psyche of the school was incredible,” said Leslie Billings, special education/math teacher. “There’s got to be a better way. For many students, their thought process was, ‘If you’re going to be at the bottom, then what’s the point?’ For some of the students, there is no pride in the school because of that.”
Continue reading “Best practices, spirits improve at Deer Isle-Stonington HS”
ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER NO: 7
POLICY CODE: AE
Continue reading “Implementing LD 1422: Proficiency-Based Diplomas”
Teachers from five secondary Career & Technical Education schools and two high schools gathered in Augusta on Feb. 1, 2013, to participate in a one-day follow-up training on “Math-in-CTE.”
Continue reading “Teachers to share Math-in-CTE lessons with colleagues”
Commissioner Stephen Bowen congratulates 14 teachers from across the state who have been nominated to become Maine’s 2014 Teacher of the Year. The program highlights great teachers and teaching. One nominee will be named the Teacher of the Year during a surprise event in September.
Maine DOE Newsroom 