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As a long time school administrator, I have been in-servicing schools for 30 years. I have a website called Trimesters.org where I focus on scheduling for secondary schools and some policies that work. This podcast is going to a series of short podcast that center around quality policies and practices for school to use. At this point, I am doing it solo and ask listeners to go to my website and email or call if they wish to talk more.
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Nutritionist and Weight Loss Coach Christina Oman hosts this self improvement podcast, focusing on health, happiness, success and fighting against the "slim at any cost" diet mentality. Helping women all over the world overcome self sabotage to enjoy an abundance of success and happiness in all areas of their lives.
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Video Download This area is very dependent on regular ed training and district resources available. Most importantly is the process to deal with students who are on the high needs spectrum. This is one of many trimester videos I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have…
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Video Download PE has to solid policy on athletics credit, dressing for participation points but open to not making kids follow a locked in set of classes. Is health part of a PE class or independent. I like when health is taught with PE and it gives the teacher a way to not make it so boring for kids to sit in a health class. This is one of many t…
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Video Download This one of the most difficult things in any schedule to teach. Without question it has the greatest summer regressions issues. In large schools it can be taught each term and do 3 parts ( 1A, 1B and 2A) in one year. However, this puts lots of preps in the schedule and large schools have enough staff to make it more managable for the…
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Video Download This one of the easiest places in a trimester to have creative scheduling. The key is common classes offered each year and two sets of options in alternating years. This is one of many trimester videos I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of i…
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Video Download RTI is enhanced in a trimester schedule. This is also on the www.trimesters.org website. This is one of many trimester videos I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of information. I have a full complement of videos for each department and admin…
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Video Download CTE needs to become the option for those who are not college ready as a graduation requirement. This is one of many trimester videos I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of information. I have a full complement of videos for each department an…
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Video Download If you have state testing the scope and sequence should follow that testing calendar. If not, have government in the senior year and have US Histroy in 9th grade to match up to 8th grade. It is best for students to have US History as a reference to understand other cultures. This is one of many trimester videos I put together during …
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Video Download Science scope and sequence should be based on the state testing program. This is one of many trimester videos I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of information. I have a full complement of videos for each department and admin. There is more …
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Download Video I recommend that you listen to Episode 25 The Math Dilema prior to using this one. This is the thrid of many trimester videos I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of information. I have a full complement of videos for each department and admin…
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Video Download This is the thrid of many trimester videos I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of information. I have a full complement of videos for each department and admin. There is more available upon request. Mark Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry …
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School Improvement #41 Policy and Practice in a Trimester System
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Video Download This is the second of many trimester video I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of information. I have a full complement of videos for each department and admin. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Ho…
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Video Download This is the first of many trimester video I put together during the Covid lockdown. This was used with a school in New Mexico. These are still very relivant and have lots of information. I have a full complement of videos for each department and admin. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Hom…
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I have listed the 12 things legislators could do to really help schools. These items are big in scope but don't require money. 1. Prohibited Rules of Bargaining 2. Stop doing Grants 3. School Improvement Team 4. Cell Phones 5. Minimum wage 6. Work permits and driver's licenses 7. Local Control Focus ( #1) 8. Stop doing state made testing in seconda…
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This is a podcast dedicated to understanding and working with Transportation, Food Service and Maintenance/Custodial Services. It is critical for an admin to know about how these work and what they cost. This is the area where lots of people want to cut funding from first, but it's not that easy. I know this one is a little longer than normal but b…
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This podcast focuses on the growing trend of not requiring testing and complaints about it does mean anything. The other issue is that teachers are teaching to the test. Spoiler alert, I hope so. Does anyone give a test they don't teach to and if so why. It is about accountability for the 810 Billion a year spent on K-12 education. I explain some c…
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This episode is about rethinking the high school diploma process for students. Differentiated diplomas make sense and say something about the students work in high school. How about a Scholarship / College Ready Diploma, Career Ready / CTE Endorsed Diploma and a standard diploma as an option. Set criteria for them and make transcript so it show att…
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This podcast is devoted to CLEP testing. CLEP is one of the least used but most effective and efficient ways to get student college credits. CLEP testing allows any high school teacher in the core classes, business and foreign languages to teach a college credit course. Tests are scored 20-80 with 50 being the passing score. CLEP gives credits not …
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This is a pitch to schools to make the ASVAB test a more important part of their program. There are few tests that have more of an impact on students than the ASVAB will on their military tenure. It is a great test for IEP's and a check on the CTE programs to see if students are getting the basic skills. In short, a student should never take the AS…
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This episode is a response to the growing number of educator who are concerned about AI. I focused on ChatGPT which I view as the new wave in technology we should embrace. It is not going away and has some very useful purposes. This is not about Robots who are taking over human interaction, it is a wonderful new tool in the ELA box for writing. Tri…
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This is an episode dedicated to the growing trend of parents wanting books to be banned at school. The other side of this issue is parents and staff who want to have everything be available. This is a suggestion on a policy and some ideas of how to mange the growing issue. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed.…
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This is a short podcast on things to prepare for next school year. I call it Summer Food for Thought. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB Email: mwesterburg@gmail.com Website: www.trimesters.org Text: 269-449-6091Di Mark Westerburg
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This is a brief background on the science and history of the English Language. It is very important to know what the elementary does to teach reading. I refer to an expert named Trish Martin ( Unlocking the Reading Code ). I also refer to a book used in high school for a long time that is great for struggling reader called Word Clues as well as SRA…
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This episode is about how to use special education paraprofessionals in a different way in the building to be more efficient and effective. There is a growing need in trying to find and retain paras in schools. The job market has tighten and wages and benefits are high for schools to afford. This is an option to consider when making the para assign…
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This episode is about how to help motivate students to perform on standardized tests that they are required to take. The episode is for secondary schools to use on state and national tests. (State Exams, SAT, ACT, ASVAB, etc.) Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB Email: mw…
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This podcast is about the graduation rate that schools are held accountable to. All of the rating system use it but it does not give any real information. Special Ed., colleges and most post secondary training don't use a timeline, they use standards. It would open a whole world of options to schools for alternative education, CTE, reducing special…
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This is mostly an Op-Ed on my part about what we did well and poorly during the pandemic. I made an effort to go back and forth with good things and things that did not go well. As usual please feel free to disagree and let me know. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB Ema…
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This episode talks about the 3 problems in teaching secondary math. The scope and sequence of the courses is critical for students. Problem 1, When to the students take Geometry. Geometry on standardized tests only include plane and coordinate geometry and is about 7 questions on the ACT out of 60 questions. Problem 2, When and where do you teach s…
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This is an overview of what quality instruction should look like in the classroom. There are multiple models to use and some work for teachers and some don't. The bottom line is that engagement and purposeful organization are the key. I have attached a document on the 12 ways how to use homework in your classroom. The art of teaching is figuring ou…
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This episode talks about how to evaluate what literature should be used in ELA classes. Although other classes my require novel reading, it is mostly ELA courses where we get issues from. There are 4 levels of books. Level one is where every student has to read the book and has it attached to their grade. Level two is where there is a set of books …
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This is a podcast designed to help people evaluate what they have for a schedule and how to consider changing it. As usual this podcast involves lots of my opinions and observations. This episode is a process to follow and all the things to consider when you look at your current schedule and other options. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell…
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This is an overview of the setup and issues surrounding special education in the public schools. This one is full of opinions of mine but based on my experiences. Special Education is ahead of regular education in many areas but has huge issues of their own. Please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns or opinions. mwesterburg@gmail.com …
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This episode helps people to understand the difference between a Middle School and a Junior High. There is no research that says one is better than the other. A middle school focuses on the whole student and most commonly has an SEL program like Character Counts in a homeroom, and core classes run for longer times than electives and students get lo…
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This is an overview on evaluating master schedules for a secondary school. The staffing needs and other issues that a schedule can address. The schedule used is only second to the quality of staff you hire in importance. The demographics, size, grade levels and non-curricular issues you want to address are directly tied to the schedule chosen. Ther…
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This some common sense practice to use when you get transfer students. The key is to have a practice written down for your schedule. There is an example on the trimesters.org website on how to do it. They have to take as many required classes as possible but be given some room for failures based on the potential credit they can gain in your schedul…
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This is a simple explanation of what district fund balances mean and why it is important to know. 17% represents 2 months of operational cost and should be the goal of all district to achieve and maintain. Don't systematically spend more than you take in. It is important to know the difference between "Need to Do" and "Nice to Do". Staff expenses r…
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This episode talks about the different types of work experiences a student can get in high school. For example; Work Experience - no credit usually 1 period per day for a senior in good standing and on track to graduate. Co-op is usually 2 periods or more a day and the student gets high school elective or CTE credit based on monitoring from the sch…
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This is a very simplistic policy on weekly checks on students to make sure they are passing all their classes. A student with a failing grade, sits out until they are passing all their classes. The student still attends practice and games but does not participate in the events. This grade check should be after the second week of each marking period…
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How to do merit pay for teachers. Simple formula; decide on a total dollar amount, put a point sheet together, divide the total points earned into the amount, write out checks to teachers. Key items: 1. Must have a satisfactory evaluation. 2. Building academic goals are set. 3 Attendance is rewarded. 4 PD and committee work on non-paid time is incl…
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This is a review of what the role of social studies should be in high school. Social Studies is 4th in importance of the required core curricular, however is usually more required than math or science. Very few states have a secondary social studies test for students and therefore it becomes a state by state mandate issue. The key to a quality prog…
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This episode is about high school honor courses. HS honors class create academic Darwinism. Taking the top students in a grade and having them compete is not a good practice especially in smaller districts. The honors class deludes the quality of the regular classes and in small school the delusion is much greater. The best solution is to set crite…
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Guided Academics is a Tier 2 RTI intervention. The class is added to a teacher's assignment during the school day. The class can be taught by anyone, it is considered an other in the coursebook. I would keep the class at 15 or less and make sure that students who are attendance and discipline problems are not put in there. Everyday they get a 10 to…
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I briefly explain the four options for students to get college credit in high school. The first is to simply go to the college campus and sit in on a college course. This option is the most authentic for content and atmosphere. However, the timing of the course and the travel can greatly effect there high school schedule. The second option is to ta…
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This is about the importance of taking College Algebra in High School. College Algebra is far more important than calculus at the high school level. About 70% of college degrees require 1 math class usually called college algebra. A high school student with college algebra done is 70% more likely to get a four year degree. It has always been the ga…
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This is about helping to improvement secondary parent / teacher conferences. Make a policy of no grades less than a C- can be given without parental contact. No text message, voice call, zoom or in person. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB Email: mwesterburg@gmail.com W…
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This is about changing the community access and perception of the school. Fill the stands and let the concession stands boom. 70% of your gate fees are home crowd, stop charging admission. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB Email: mwesterburg@gmail.com Website: www.trime…
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This episode does have some of my personal opinions about the need to prepare students for these tests. This preparation goes with creating a senior scholars program and college prep for students. Much more on the trimesters.org website. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVA…
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This is an important step in changing graduation from singling out students to recognizing the class. Check the website at trimesters.org for more information. Trimesters.org - CLEP testing - Larry Bell - Merit Pay - Bart goes to SP.Ed. - Homework Strategies - CLEP - ASVAB Email: mwesterburg@gmail.com Website: www.trimesters.org Text: 269-449-6091…
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This is a very simple policy to help students and encourage them to retake failed or low grade Classes. By the way, we do not allow students who have a B- or better to retake classes to build their GPA. The second policy is on seniors taking their final final exams. Seniors should have the option to take them if they are in good standing on it can …
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The third episode is about creating and using a common set of classroom expectations. This is a major policy for schools to create the culture of learning and respect. This policy also uses the process of the teachers coming together and voting on a policy they create and are obligated to support. Annually buildings should review their common class…
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This is my second podcast on Progressive Honor Roll. The concept it to find and reward students who go up .5 on their term GPA compared to their cumulative GPA. This can be done at any secondary level and rewards a group of students who generally never get recognized for academic performance. Additional information is available at Trimesters.org. I…
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