Thursday, January 20, 2011

Testing Helps Learning.

In today's New York Times, there is a story regarding the effectiveness of testing; testing, at least one study reveals, not only assesses knowledge, but actually helps learning. The story's lead:

Taking a test is not just a passive mechanism for assessing how much people know, according to new research. It actually helps people learn, and it works better than a number of other studying techniques.
You can read the entire story here. This is further evidence that testing is not only important for assessment, but also that testing is valuable as a learning tool.

I am big on testing. I don't think that it is the end of everything, but I do think that it is important, and I think that it is evidence of a school's effectiveness. There is, of course, an opposing view, exemplified by the film Race to Nowhere. You can read about the backlash against testing here.

Whatever the efficacy of testing, the reality is this: tests matter. Throughout our lives, we are given tests, and how we do on those tests help determine the opportunities we have. It may not be fair, it may not be accurate, but it is a stark reality of life. And a good school recognizes this and will help prepare its students for it. Thus, at Kadima we don't shy away from honest, clear, and effective assessment of our students and our program.

It's good to read today that tests not only useful for assessment purposes; they also help learning.

But we already knew that.


Sunday, January 9, 2011

Debbie Friedman: Baruch Dayan Emet.

As many already know, Debbie Friedman, the High Songstress of Jewish Music passed away today. Her music transformed Jewish prayer, and for me personally, has remained a central part of my Jewish spirituality. We played her music at my son's brit and at his Bar Mitzvah; we sing her music at Havdalah; we prayed her Mi'Sheberach song when all of our parents were ill.

Her ability to take the sacred texts and make them resonate in a way that touches the heart is like none other.

She will be missed.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

It's a New Era At Kadima!

Our marketing folks have come upon a new slogan that you'll be hearing in coming days:

"It's a New Era at Kadima."

This really is true. Over the past 18 months, our new leadership team has worked hard to refocus the school and improve it. We've fixed up the physical plant; improved school spirit, revitalized our Board of Trustees, and perhaps most importantly, implemented high levels of accountability in our program. If you want your kids to be challenged, to study, to think critically, and to embrace Jewish life and Jewish living, you should send them to Kadima.

One of the most important things we've done--and I challenge any school to match this--is ensure accountability in our educational program. Our General Studies Principal, Kristi Combs, has implemented a detailed and rigorous program to ensure that we are actually teaching what we say we are. We are using independently prepared instruments to measure our compliance with our goals. As I wrote previously, we are doing this during the school year so we can make any necessary course corrections before the year ends.

At the beginning of the year, Ms. Combs and her faculty laid out an annual map of instruction, such that teachers agreed that by December, their kids would have obtained mastery in certain areas. We then engaged an independent company to devise a test to gauge whether the students had, in fact, mastered the lessons they were supposed to have by the date of the test. These tests are given throughout the year. There are three possible results:

1. All students show mastery of the tested subjects.
2. Some students show mastery of the tested subjects.
3. Most or nearly all of the students fail to show mastery of the tested subjects.

We expect that the results will show No. 1. If they show No. 2, then we know that some students may need extra help, and we can get it to them before the end of the school year. We can provide these students with the differentiated instruction they need. If the results show No. 3, then we know that there was an issue with the instruction, and we can fix it. No longer do we have to say in June , "next year, we'll fix it." Now we can fix it before the school ends. Indeed, if results show No. 3, Ms. Combs will work with the faculty to address any problems.

This is really compelling stuff.

If there are prospective parents out there reading this, I urge you to ask prospective schools what kind of measurement and accountability systems they have to ensure that they are teaching what they say they are.

At Kadima, we can tell you.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

More Green Shoots.

In an environment where Day Schools are generally facing tough times, we continue to see green shoots--well, full blown blossoms, actually--of success at Kadima. Last week we got two big ones. We got commitments for two major gifts the likes of which we have not seen for some time. Again, these things only happen because (1) we have really dedicated staff, administration, and faculty that establish a program that is the best; (2) we have an amazing lay leadership that cultivates philanthropists; and (3) we have a community that supports the vision that an integrated education that combines the best of rigorous Judaic study with rigorous general studies, such that the sum is greater than its individual parts, is the best education we can provide for our children to ensure their success and all our own Jewish futures.

We start 2011 strong.

Join us.