Day Two EDD800 Summer Residency - Dr. Joseph Murphy

     The day was filled with the expertise of Dr. Murphy - Closing Achievement Gaps: Research Based Lessons for Educators.  I learned through a witty, researched based presentation  that the gap has shifted from being an indicator of eduational inequality to a direct cause of socioeconomic decline.  Important points that I have taken away from today:

1.  Schools don't cause achievement gaps.  1/2 of the achievement gaps walks in the door as they enter public school in Kindergarten.  50% of the gap grows there and 25% more transitions from middle school.  There is a huge loss during the summer and summer school for K-5 WAS RECOMMENDED. 

2.  Schools cannot close achievement gaps alone.  Society must take responsibility.  We must re-allocate our resources.  Lower income and minority students are more school-dependent than their mnore advantaged peers and here is where the potential for schools to help solve the problem lies. 

Structure will not not change the gap.  There needs to be a focus on both out of school and in school factors.  Students do not need "different" types of interventions...they need INTENSE support.  There must be trust in the school climate. We must provide an OverAdvantage for our Lowadvantaged.  All components must be in place.
1. Preschool
2. Cooperative instructional strategies
3.  Smaller class size
4.  Quality instruction
5.  Co-curricular/extra curricular activities
6.  More rigorous courses
7.  Placement in high SES schools

I loved his anaology of the "train passing us by"  leaving the station without us.  It made me think of our In-school suspension policy.  Most of the kids that are in that are low-performing students, troubled, bored; feeling like the train has left without them.  And what are we doing - we are keeping them out of instruction for another day..and letting the train pass by them again.  I believe that my school needs to re-think what we are doing here. 

Of course like anything else..the concern for cost was brought up, but Dr. Murphy shared that bold, fearless leadership would be able to find a way, regardless of the hard decisions that would have to be made.  Cost as well as benefits of gap reduction strategies need to be weighed.    Student Under achievement is the problem to be solved.  Each child needs to be looked at - one individual at a time...their level of achievement, equity, and value added.  He ended with the point that we need to help parents to do at home what we want our student to be able to do at school.  We all have an investment to enable students to open 75 doors at the end of their high school careers and look forward to the future...

We ended the day with a seminar on Publishing.  There were several points to consider as we venture into publishing either in journals or in book format.

1.  Research
2.  Contact editor of journal
3.  Review formattingrequirements
4.  Have a colleague edit
5.  Don't freak out if you don't get published the first time
6.  Meet deadlines
7.  Don't have to agree with editor feedback - it is Your Work!
8.  Be patient - could take up to 4-5 months
9.  Take time off before writing your next piece

We heard from several people who had self-published and went through a publishing house.  I could see the passion in Kelly Middleton's presentation and the humble pride in Dr. Wallaces'.  I felt encouraged and know that if and when the time for me to publish rolls around I will have a lot of support in the process. 

Long day...my head is swimming with ideas and information...headed to Amy's for her yummy crock pot dinner and an instructional design to complete.  Ah..the life of a doctoral student...see you tomorrow!