misc

Link to all 20 ESCs in the state of Texas

http://www5.esc13.net/about/escs.html

Region 20 Math Site

http://portal.esc20.net/portal/page?_pageid=130,241550,47_232476&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Region 20 ELA Site http://portal.esc20.net/portal/page?_pageid=130,222428&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Region 20 Science

http://portal.esc20.net/portal/page?_pageid=130,240108,47_232492&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Science Toolkit

http://www.utdanacenter.org/sciencetoolkit/

Region 20 Social Studies

http://portal.esc20.net/portal/page?_pageid=130,238801,47_232511&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Region VI

Region 6 ELA

http://www.esc6.net/info/content/info.aspx?id=63

Region 6 Math

http://www.esc6.net/info/content/info.aspx?id=22

The purpose of this website is to provide teachers and students guidance in the use of Texas Instruments TI-83 plus graphing calculators and data collection devices in secondary mathematics.

http://www.escweb.net/math/

Math Toolkit

http://www.utdanacenter.org/mathtoolkit/

The world is changing. To get a job in today's economy, simply being able to read, write, and do arithmetic is not sufficient. Today's marketplace requires workers to read diagrams and manuals, interpret graphs, maintain records and interpret statistics, and make predictions from data.

Region 6 Social Studies

http://www.esc6.net/info/content/info.aspx?id=60

What Works?

There are six themes common to successful schools:

A sense of urgency

Emphasis on success in Algebra I for all students

Many sources of curricular materials which focus on the TEKS

Active teaching strategies

Teamwork and collaboration

High priority on professional development

What you can doDistrict Level Administrators:

Set Algebra I as a priority
Provide the resources that will support campus efforts, such as compensation for time planning and collaboration among mathematics teachers
Establish internal performance standards and accountability systems for the district, and among campuses

Campus Level Administrators:

Set Algebra I as a priority
Set high expectations for all students; accept no excuses
Provide common planning time for teachers
Provide appropriately certified and experienced Algebra I teachers for all students
Provide mentors for less experienced Algebra I teachers
Provide an organized and systematic professional development plan that focuses on the TEKS
Provide resources for the classroom, such as graphing calculators and manipulatives, and monitor for appropriate use

Teachers:

Set Algebra I as a priority
Work collaboratively to help each other
Actively participate in planned professional development focused on the TEKS
Teach the content described in the Algebra I TEKS
Use active teaching strategies that are consistent with student learning
Provide structured tutoring that is directly related to the instruction in the algebra classroom
Practice the belief that all students can and should learn the content in the Algebra I TEKS and can succeed on the End-of-Course Exam and TAKS

TAKS Performance Level Descriptors

As part of the requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act, all states must develop descriptions of the knowledge and skills necessary for their students to achieve specific performance levels on their state assessments. To comply with this requirement, the Texas Education Agency invited educators from across the state to convene in Austin in January 2006 to create performance level descriptors for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). These educators, who either served on TAKS external review committees in 2005 or participated in the original 2002 standard-setting meetings for TAKS, represented the state geographically, regionally, and ethnically.

The committee members were initially divided into working groups for single grades or grade-level clusters. Each group brainstormed competency-based, content-specific phrases that describe the classroom behaviors students exhibit at each of the TAKS performance levels (Did Not Meet the Standard, Met the Standard, and Commended Performance). Next, representatives from these small groups came together as one committee to vertically align the descriptors across the grade levels in each content area. The descriptors were then reviewed by internal and external content experts, and the result is a set of comprehensive descriptors that Texas districts, campuses, and teachers can use to guide them in teaching and assessing students.

Districts, campuses, and teachers can use the descriptors to

· review district content standards and classroom unit and lesson plans to insure that they promote the behaviors at Met Standard and Commended Performance;

· develop new units and lessons and their accompanying assessments, integrating and reinforcing knowledge and skills across the content areas when applicable;

· guide planning for professional development on instructional strategies that encourage the behaviors at Met Standard and Commended Performance;

· serve as the focus of professional dialogue among teachers about teaching specific knowledge and skills (e.g., at grade level, department, or staff meetings).

In addition, the performance-level descriptors can enhance parents' understanding of their child's academic strengths and weaknesses and can help the community at large better understand state test scores and the level of performance required of students to achieve Met the Standard and Commended Performance on TAKS.

The TAKS Performance Level Descriptors for Met the Standard exemplify what Texas wants all students to minimally achieve at each grade level for each foundation subject area. Those for Commended Performance are the goals for the majority of our students. Acquiring these knowledge and skills will provide the foundation for our students' success in the future. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/perlevel/index.html

http://web.esc20.net/currcomm/

Curriculum Communique

http://portal.esc20.net/portal/page?_pageid=130,143348&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Link to Distance Learning for 20

Give students a thought and they’ll learn for a Day. TEACH them to think and they’ll learn for a LIFETIME.

Region XVI

http://www.esc16.net/az_index.html

Region 16 Math link to taks 03 and 04 by objectives

http://www.esc16.net/dept/isserv/curr_t1/mathtekstaks.html

Region 16 Social Studies

http://www.esc16.net/dept/isserv/curr_t1/socialstudies.html

Region III http://www.esc3.net/candi/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=30