Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/25821
level.” The pressure on some of Ngissah’s own middle school stu- dents can be even greater than those in some of the more afflu- ent school districts shown in the film. “With a lot of kids in my dis- trict, we’re playing a catch-up game,” she observed. “And even if they’re caught up, they’re still shortchanged, because the em- phasis on math and English means the things they aren’t test- ed for get less focus.” Other conference offerings were more union-centered. Noted labor organizer Fred Ross Jr. conducted workshops to share the legacy of his fa- mous father, Fred Ross Sr. The elder Ross was a major force in the U.S. labor movement, help- ing figures like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta find their voice and power base. Ross Jr. followed in his father’s foot- steps, one of his more notable achievements being a success- ful U.S. boycott of coffee from El Salvador during the 1990s. “My father’s goal was to help people do away with fear, to speak up and demand their rights, to push people to get out in front so they could prove to themselves they could do it,” Ross Jr. told participants. All conference attendees be- came the first to receive a new CTA edition of Fred Ross Sr.’s “Axioms for Organizers,” a col- lection of his motivational thoughts for others in the labor RIGHT: NEA Director Marc Sternberger and CTA Board member Bonnie Shatun are pre- pared for the culinary theme of this year’s Read Across America. movement. The bi- lingual booklet in- cludes aphorisms such as “To inspire hope, you have to have hope yourself ” and “Good organiz- ers never give up — they get the opposition to do that.” The publication, put together by the CTA Negotiations and Organi- zational Development Depart- ment, honors the centennial of the elder Ross’s birth. “Let us take this book, accept his chal- lenge, and let it inspire us to become aware of our capabili- ties, potential, and duty to car- ry on the fight,” says CTA Pres- ident David A. Sanchez. FRANK WELLS CTA’s Summer Institute, July 31 to Aug. 5 at UCLA, will focus on planning for the transition from the California Content Standards to the Common Core State Stan- dards (CCSS). Teams of teach- ers, administrators, curricu- lum coordinators, and other educators will be offered up- to-date information and train- ing on the transition and alignment of the CCSS. You can use QEIA, School Site Council, PI and SIG funds to register for this important professional development. As California prepares for the implementation of the Common Core State Stan- dards in English Language Arts and Mathematics and the Career and College Readiness Standards, classroom teachers and other educators will be Transitioning to the Common Core State Standards T his year’s Instruction and Professional Develop- ment (IPD) Strand at impacted by this policy and developmental transition. The IPD Strand will cover devel- opment and alignment of the CCSS as part of this transi- tion, including: > Academic content stan- dards. > Performance assessment and proficiency level. > Framework adoption. > Textbook adoption. > Professional development. During your planning for the transition, you will: > Build knowledge around the new standards. > Assess how current Cali- fornia standards align with the Common Core State Standards. > Formulate a plan to pre- pare your school and dis- trict for the new assess- ments expected in 2015. > Work with your colleagues to develop a clear, focused and purposeful vision for your school site. Keynote speakers W. James Popham, who be- gan his career in education as a high school teacher in Oregon, is professor emeritus at UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. He taught courses in instructional methods as well as courses in evaluation and measurement. In January 2000, he was recog- nized as one of UCLA’s top 20 professors of the 20th century. He is the author of 25 books and a former president of the American Research Associa- tion. In 2002 the National Council on Measurement in Education presented him with its Award for Career Contribu- tions to Educational Measure- ments. As a member of the Na- tional Assessment Governing Board of the Race to the Top Consortia, Dr. Popham will discuss how curricular aims plus appropriate assessments can dramatically improve our schools, and how the Common Core State Standards will be measured. Bobb Darnell is an interna- tionally known speaker who has conducted workshops for educators at all levels. Bobb’s high-energy workshops are filled with practical ideas that have resulted from blending research and tested practice. He will guide educators in this transition to the CCSS. For program questions, con- tact Martha Buenrostro at mbuenrostro@cta.org or at (650) 577-5181. Registration be- gins in April on the CTA website: www.cta.org/conferences. For registration questions, contact the Conference Coordination Center at (650) 552-5355. FEBRUARY 2011 | www.cta.org 27