Nation’s Report Card shows gains in math across all student groups since 2003; reading scores unchanged from 2007 to 2013
The Houston Independent School District performed better than most large urban school districts in math, showing increases across all student groups compared to 2003, while reading scores remained unchanged, in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report released Dec. 18, 2013 (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/).
Houston ISD principals traditionally collaborate via email and at meetings, but today they’re chatting online and hope you will join the conversation.
The district’s first Twitter chat, which will be held from1:30 to 2:30 p.m., will focus on literacy.
You can be part of the conversation by following #HISDprincipal. We’ll offer a live feed on the district’s website. If you have a comment or question, chime in by logging into your Twitter account on your computer or mobile device, and send your Tweet with that same hashtag.
T.H. Rogers Middle School principal David Muzyka reads to students from the roof of his school
T.H. Rogers Middle School principal David Muzyka spent the entire day on the roof of his school reading to students in the courtyard below. Last year, BOOK IT! challenged every school principal in the country to “read your heart out” during National Young Readers Week. This year, the organization sent out a new Principal Challenge, and Muzyka accepted, braving gusty winds and an approaching blue norther, to show his students the value of reading aloud.
Grant to benefit more than 60 first grade classrooms libraries
The Houston Independent School District has received a significant donation from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) to fund the THINK Literacy program at the Apollo 20 elementary schools in support of the district’s efforts to increase achievement in literacy. The grant will provide books for more than 60 first-grade classroom libraries at the 11 campuses on September 4.
Books Between Kids founders Amy Barnes & Sandra Ahlhorn with students from Kashmere Gardens ES
More than 12,000 HISD students will be starting off their summer vacation right—with an armload of books to take home, enjoy, and keep—thanks to two book-loving ladies and the non-profit they created last year to support literacy.
“Building home libraries, one summer at a time,” is the slogan of Books Between Kids, which Sandra Ahlhorn and Amy Barnes cofounded in 2012, and that is precisely what the longtime friends (and parents of HISD students) intend to do.
“What really provoked me was an op-ed piece I read in the newspaper that children were living in homes with no books,” explained Barnes. “And ‘no’ means ‘none.’ We both grew up in book-loving homes, so that just didn’t seem possible. Then Sandra heard a talk given by (HISD Superintendent) Terry Grier about the summer slide, and we both thought, ‘You know, we can do something about this.’”
HISD's Parent Engagement department says the reaction to the Parent Book Club has been so popular, they're looking at expanding the program to other schools.
In an effort to promote the importance of parental involvement and literacy simultaneously, the HISD Parent Engagement Department has launched a new Parent Book Club.
Nearly 30 parents attended the club’s first meeting on March 1 at Roosevelt Elementary eager to discuss the first chapters of the book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk and participate in the group exercises. Continue reading
First-grade students at Bruce Elementary School are getting new help achieving their reading goals. The United Way of Greater Houston is partnering with the school in a new literacy mentor program.
The program will pair a volunteer and a first-grade student together for the entire year. During that time, the volunteers will read a book with the students and will later help them complete a literacy exercise.
United Way President and CEO Anna Babin presented books to all of the first grade students along with a $5,000 check to principal Trealla Epps. Both Babin and Epps said they believe the initiative will encourage the volunteers to develop positive relationships through mentoring and literacy.
HISD’s Director of Literacy Carol Bedard has been honored along with two of her colleagues by the National Council of Teachers of English.
Dr. Bedard, who serves as an associate professor at the University of Houston Downtown in the Department of Urban Education, shared the role of co-editor on a prize-winning article with fellow faculty members Kim Pinkerton and Leigh Van Horn.
The article, entitled “English in Texas,” won first place in the Affiliate Journal Awards.
You can read the full story here.
The first day of school in HISD is still more than a month away, but it’s not too late for students to participate in the Millionaire Club, the district’s annual summer reading initiative. Just finish five books by the time school starts and you could be eligible for incentives, recognition, and other prizes!
Be sure to share your favorite selections with us in the comment section below, so that other students can enjoy them, too! Happy reading!