Education is unfair. Let me illustrate…..
David Beckham, the former professional footballer, was routinely mocked in the media during his career for being relatively uneducated, even unintelligent. And yet Beckham could stand behind an attacking free-kick and visualise, almost instantaneously, the exact parabola through which the ball would have to travel to clear a defensive wall and arrive in the top corner of the goal with sufficient speed to beat the goalkeeper’s dive. He could instantly compute every aspect of the ball’s flight including direction, distance, speed, curve, arc and dip. Even more impressively he could make subtle adjustments in these calculations to take account of wind speed and temperature, even, believe it or not, humidity, altitude, goalkeeper agility, and the design and pressure of the ball. All of this information he could then translate into an instinct, an intuition, for how he must strike the ball to achieve the perfect outcome. Genius. And yet I assure you that David Beckham passed few if any academic examinations!
The concept of multiple intelligences has been accepted for many years now and yet the way in which we assess children, the way in which we decide their future life chances, has hardly changed for decades.
You may not be aware that we use Cognitive Abilities Testing (CAT4) in Grades 2, 4, 7 and 9 to give us a tremendously powerful insight into our children as learners. These short tests assess children in 4 areas: Verbal (words/language), Quantitative (Number work), Non-verbal (Patterns) and Spatial (Visual/physical awareness). Of these four areas, which test results do you think are the most accurate indicator of future likely performance in Maths? Quantitative, right? Stands to reason. Wrong. The performance in the VERBAL tests is the most accurate indicator of likely success in Maths. It seems shocking at first doesn’t it but when we think about it for a moment, it makes perfect sense. We learn by listening and reading and talking and writing. Our textbooks and teachers use language to explain concepts to us in all subjects and our exam papers use it to test how much we know. This is fine for those who have a facility with language (high CAT verbal scores, for example) but unfair on those with different cognitive strengths.
You may not be aware that we use Cognitive Abilities Testing (CAT4) in Grades 2, 4, 7 and 9 to give us a tremendously powerful insight into our children as learners. These short tests assess children in 4 areas: Verbal (words/language), Quantitative (Number work), Non-verbal (Patterns) and Spatial (Visual/physical awareness). Of these four areas, which test results do you think are the most accurate indicator of future likely performance in Maths? Quantitative, right? Stands to reason. Wrong. The performance in the VERBAL tests is the most accurate indicator of likely success in Maths. It seems shocking at first doesn’t it but when we think about it for a moment, it makes perfect sense. We learn by listening and reading and talking and writing. Our textbooks and teachers use language to explain concepts to us in all subjects and our exam papers use it to test how much we know. This is fine for those who have a facility with language (high CAT verbal scores, for example) but unfair on those with different cognitive strengths.
Soon after I arrived at the ABC, I looked carefully at all of the CAT data that we hold as a school and a consistent pattern became immediately clear. On average the verbal skills of our students are significantly lower than their skills in the other 3 areas putting them at a significant disadvantage in the current educational assessment context. Having identified this challenge, we have already agreed as a school on a wide range of ways in which we can tackle this, of which I will tell you more in the weeks ahead. However, we can’t do it alone. If you want to significantly enhance your children’s chances of success in education, and in life thereafter, my advice is simple…..support and encourage them in their reading!
Words from the Head of Primary
It is hard to believe we are at the end of our second week. Students and teachers have been working hard to develop positive relationships, routines and a learning culture within the classroom that fits with the ABCs Values and Curriculum.
It was great to see so many parents attend the Back to School meetings. This commitment from parents means we are ensuring a positive partnership between the home and the school. This relationship will contribute to your child’s success at the ABC because we put the child at the centre and they feel supported and are prepared to put in the effort! Effort leads to Success.
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter the whole school is focusing on Literacy so students can significantly improve their English. In Primary we have a number of strategies that we are using to support strengthening Literacy. I want to focus on one, which is Guided Reading.
Guided reading is an instructional approach that involves a teacher working with a small group of readers. During the lesson, the teacher provides a text that students can read with support, coaching the learners as they use problem-solving strategies to read the text. The ultimate goal is independent reading.
The teacher has used recent data, their own assessments and observations to place students in four or five groups. One group is with the teacher, another group is with the Learning Assistant and the other groups have independent activities based on the book they have read or will be reading. Each day the groups change their activities, so every group works with the teacher at least once during the week.
We have dedicated the first period to Literacy (35 minutes) and Guided Reading (20 minutes). Also, the Primary SMT team have been working with a group in each Grade 5 class. Another strategy is to use Literacy in all the Specialist subjects- ICT, Art, Music, PE.
Our aim is to ensure all students from Pre-Kinder to Grade 12 have success in knowing, using and understanding the English language alongside the Spanish language. Research has shown that students learning English as a second language can struggle with their learning and therefore their achievements can suffer. We aim to ensure all our students have success with the English language and are confident life-long learners.
11 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Read
Parents often ask how they can help their children learn to read; and it’s no wonder that they’re interested in this essential skill. Reading plays an important role in later school success. Here are 11 practical recommendations for helping preschoolers and school-age students learn to read.
1. Teaching reading at home.
2. Parents as first teachers- Teaching literacy isn’t different than teaching other skills.
3. Talk to your kids (a lot).
4. Read to your kids.
5. Have them tell you a “story.”
6. Teach phonic awareness.
7. Teach phonics (letter names and their sounds).
8. Listen to your child read.
9. Promote writing.
10. Ask questions.
11. Make reading a regular activity in your home.
Words from the Head of Primary
It is hard to believe we are at the end of our second week. Students and teachers have been working hard to develop positive relationships, routines and a learning culture within the classroom that fits with the ABCs Values and Curriculum.
It was great to see so many parents attend the Back to School meetings. This commitment from parents means we are ensuring a positive partnership between the home and the school. This relationship will contribute to your child’s success at the ABC because we put the child at the centre and they feel supported and are prepared to put in the effort! Effort leads to Success.
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter the whole school is focusing on Literacy so students can significantly improve their English. In Primary we have a number of strategies that we are using to support strengthening Literacy. I want to focus on one, which is Guided Reading.
Guided reading is an instructional approach that involves a teacher working with a small group of readers. During the lesson, the teacher provides a text that students can read with support, coaching the learners as they use problem-solving strategies to read the text. The ultimate goal is independent reading.
The teacher has used recent data, their own assessments and observations to place students in four or five groups. One group is with the teacher, another group is with the Learning Assistant and the other groups have independent activities based on the book they have read or will be reading. Each day the groups change their activities, so every group works with the teacher at least once during the week.
We have dedicated the first period to Literacy (35 minutes) and Guided Reading (20 minutes). Also, the Primary SMT team have been working with a group in each Grade 5 class. Another strategy is to use Literacy in all the Specialist subjects- ICT, Art, Music, PE.
Our aim is to ensure all students from Pre-Kinder to Grade 12 have success in knowing, using and understanding the English language alongside the Spanish language. Research has shown that students learning English as a second language can struggle with their learning and therefore their achievements can suffer. We aim to ensure all our students have success with the English language and are confident life-long learners.
11 Ways Parents Can Help Their Children Read
Parents often ask how they can help their children learn to read; and it’s no wonder that they’re interested in this essential skill. Reading plays an important role in later school success. Here are 11 practical recommendations for helping preschoolers and school-age students learn to read.
1. Teaching reading at home.
2. Parents as first teachers- Teaching literacy isn’t different than teaching other skills.
3. Talk to your kids (a lot).
4. Read to your kids.
5. Have them tell you a “story.”
6. Teach phonic awareness.
7. Teach phonics (letter names and their sounds).
8. Listen to your child read.
9. Promote writing.
10. Ask questions.
11. Make reading a regular activity in your home.
BOOK OF THE WEEK
Playing with Collage by Jeannie Baker
Many of Jeannie Baker’s delightful and thought-provoking picture books with her distinctive collage illustrations be found in her other books- Where the Forest Meets the Sea, Belonging, Window and Mirror. Here she explains how she does it and encourages children to be creative themselves using a vast range of possible materials. She suggests different kinds of paper that could be used and then goes on to explore what can be used from nature, the beach and the kitchen, taking into consideration colour, texture and pattern. An inspirational book which will have children and adults collecting interesting materials and will be a real treasure to have around during the summer holidays. The presentation is very enticing with carefully labelled photos of often unexpected materials.
#HealthyABC
Primary teachers have been delighting in their snack and lunch times with the children. The reason why? Healthy lunch boxes!
We now know that what we eat and how we exercise has a significant impact on cognitive function and endorphin regulation; alongside neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. Meaning, that food and exercise positively affect how we think and feel; how our brain grows and changes throughout our life.
Playing with Collage by Jeannie Baker
Many of Jeannie Baker’s delightful and thought-provoking picture books with her distinctive collage illustrations be found in her other books- Where the Forest Meets the Sea, Belonging, Window and Mirror. Here she explains how she does it and encourages children to be creative themselves using a vast range of possible materials. She suggests different kinds of paper that could be used and then goes on to explore what can be used from nature, the beach and the kitchen, taking into consideration colour, texture and pattern. An inspirational book which will have children and adults collecting interesting materials and will be a real treasure to have around during the summer holidays. The presentation is very enticing with carefully labelled photos of often unexpected materials.
#HealthyABC
Primary teachers have been delighting in their snack and lunch times with the children. The reason why? Healthy lunch boxes!
We now know that what we eat and how we exercise has a significant impact on cognitive function and endorphin regulation; alongside neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. Meaning, that food and exercise positively affect how we think and feel; how our brain grows and changes throughout our life.
In order to celebrate these healthy choices we are launching #healthyABC on both our Facebook and Instagram. Simply use #healthyABC when posting photos of healthy lunchboxes or exercise activities you have been doing as a family. Alternatively, you can email photos to Anabella Soto (anabellasoto@abc-net.edu.sv).
Dates for your diary
Lower Primary
September
Friday 13th - 1st Ware assembly - 7:30am - PAC
Monday 16th - Independence Day (School closed)
Tuesday 17th - Staff INSET Day (School closed for students)
Friday 20th - 1st. Padilla assembly - 7:30am - PAC
Saturday 21st - Prospective Parents (PK 2020) Open Morning
Friday 27th - 1st. Carbajal assembly - 7:30am - PAC
Saturday 28th - Kinder Curriculum Morning - 7:30am
Upper PrimaryAugust
September
Friday 13th - 1st Ware assembly - 7:30am - PAC
Monday 16th - Independence Day (School closed)
Tuesday 17th - Staff INSET Day (School closed for students)
Friday 20th - 1st. Padilla assembly - 7:30am - PAC
Saturday 21st - Prospective Parents (PK 2020) Open Morning
Friday 27th - 1st. Carbajal assembly - 7:30am - PAC
Saturday 28th - Kinder Curriculum Morning - 7:30am
Upper PrimaryAugust
Friday 30th - Class of 2021 Circus - 6:00pm - 8:00pm
September:
September:
Wednesday 11th - 4th Guzman Assembly - 8:15am & 10:55am - PAC
Monday 16th - Independence Day (School closed)
Tuesday 17th - Staff INSET Day (School closed for students)
Wednesday 18th - 5th Molina Assembly- 8:15am & 10:55am - PAC
Thursday 19th - Uk Trip Information Night - 6:00pm - PAC
Friday 20th - Peace One Day Celebrations (Somoz Paz)
Wednesday 25th - 3rd Borgo Assembly- 8:15am & 10:55am - PAC
Words from the Head of Secondary
Dear parents and carers,
We have reached the end of our second week and I know we will close it in style with the second performance of ARCADIA! I must begin this weekly by congratulating the class of 2021 on a fabulous show! What I most enjoyed was how every single member of the class transmitted their enthusiasm and enjoyment to the audience, making us feel part of the whole show. It was wonderful to see.
Monday 16th - Independence Day (School closed)
Tuesday 17th - Staff INSET Day (School closed for students)
Wednesday 18th - 5th Molina Assembly- 8:15am & 10:55am - PAC
Thursday 19th - Uk Trip Information Night - 6:00pm - PAC
Friday 20th - Peace One Day Celebrations (Somoz Paz)
Wednesday 25th - 3rd Borgo Assembly- 8:15am & 10:55am - PAC
Words from the Head of Secondary
Dear parents and carers,
We have reached the end of our second week and I know we will close it in style with the second performance of ARCADIA! I must begin this weekly by congratulating the class of 2021 on a fabulous show! What I most enjoyed was how every single member of the class transmitted their enthusiasm and enjoyment to the audience, making us feel part of the whole show. It was wonderful to see.
PSAT
From Mr. Hernández
For students planning to attend universities or colleges in the United States, Canada or Europe an SAT score is usually required. The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT exam. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long and tests your skills in reading, writing, and math. Unlike the SAT, the highest score possible on the PSAT is 1520. These scores reflect how students will do on the actual SAT exam and are extremely useful in order to drill specific areas that need improvement. At the ABC we work closely with the Khan Academy and offer drop-in sessions where content knowledge, tips, and strategies are taught and practiced.
Dates for your diary
September
Monday 2nd - Grade 11 Know Your School meeting with Parents, 7am-PAC
Tuesday 3rd - Grade 12 Know Your School meeting with Parents, 7am-PAC
Monday 16th - Independence Day (School closed)
Tuesday 17th - Staff INSET Day (School closed for students)
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