Principal Sherman Smith
Austin High School
"Home of the Eagles"
401 South Hwy. 31
Austin, IN 47102
********************************************
June - 2011
One of 12 Indiana High Schools
Rewarded for
Indiana Graduation Rate
Performance Incentive Program
*********************************************
A 2006-2007
Exemplary School
Indiana's Accountability System
(Public Law 221)
and
A Bronze Medal School
as reported in
U.S. News and World Report
Listing
of
"America's Best High Schools"
****************************************
Mission Statement
Austin High School is committed to meeting the needs of students by teaching them to:
Use technology to research, collect, and apply information to everyday life.
Think, reason, and solve problems individually and within a group setting.
Adapt socially and academically in an ever-changing society so that as adults they are lifelong learners and productive citizens, in an educational environment.
Goals
Austin High School Students Will:
Be Responsible Learners
Apply Mathematical Skills
Communicate Effectively
Think Critically
Utilize Technology
Respect Themselves and Others
*****************************************************************
Word Walls
A focus of our TOPHAT initiative in recent years was Vocabulary. Building vocabulary, instructing vocabulary, and in general promoting vocabulary as an integral part of learning and achieving. We have departmental Word Walls in our hallways along with Word Walls listing the "Word of The Day" for each school day of the year. Each classroom has, is, or will be posting Word Walls as the school year progresses. As this is viewed as important, there are posted a couple of Word Walls in the principal's office. One dealing with the general topic of the three R's and their components. The other dealing with some definitions of five words educators are more and more familiar with in times of high stakes testing.
The Three R's
Reading
1. To understand language by interpreting written symbols for speech sounds.
2. To utter aloud written or printed words.
3. To learn by observing.
4. To discover the meaning of.
5. To attribute a meaning to something.
Writing
1. To form characters, letters, or words on a surface.
2. To give expression to in writing.
3. To make up and set down for others to read.
4. To pen, typewrite, or dictate a letter.
5. To use a style or form of composition.
Arithmetic
1. Add - To join to something else so as to increase in number or amount.
2. Subtract - To take away (as one number from another).
3. Multiply - The result of adding a figure the number of times indicated by another figure.
4. Divide - To find how many times one number or quantity is contained in another.
5. Equation - A formal statement of equivalence with the relation typically symbolized by the sign =
ISTEP+ Word Wall
These terms are made apparent to us each day in this business. A recent article in IASP's Indianagram contains these five words early and often. These words like the three R's deserve definition. After all, if these are the rules of the game we play, we better know them while we play.
Instruction
The action, practice, or profession of a teacher. Synonyms-lesson, precept, order, command, directions
Standard
Something set up as a rule for measuring or as a model to be followed. A figure adopted as an emblem by a people.
Assessment
To fix the rate or amount of. To evaluate for taxation.
Accountability
Liable to be called to give an explanation or satisfaction. Capable of being refuted. Synonyms-answerable, responsible, explicable.
Performance
To do in a set manner. To carry out. To give a performance. Synonyms- fulfill, accomplish, deed, feat.
******************************************************************************
Vocabulary Instruction Steps
Step 1 - Provide a description, explanation, or example of the new term.
Step 2 - Ask students to restate the description, explanation, or example in their own words.
Step 3 - Ask students to construct a picture, symbol, or graphic representing the term.
Step 4 - Engage students periodically in activities that help them add to their knowledge of the terms in their notebooks.
Step 5 - Periodically ask students to discuss the terms with one another.
Step 6 - Involve students periodically in games that allow them to play with terms.
Departmental Vocabulary Words (Posted in Hallways)
Language Arts:
Inference - A logical guess based on evidence.
Summarize - Briefly recounting the main ideas in a person's own words.
Genre - A type or category of literature.
Context - Hints or suggestions that may surround unfamiliar words or phrases and clarify their meaning.
Analyze - Examine carefully and with detail to identify causes, key factors, or possible results.
Paraphrase - To restate the meaning of a text or passage in other words, often to clarify meaning.
Literary Analysis - The process or act of analyzing and commenting on the content, qualities, and/or techniques of literary works.
Citation - A reference to a source such as a book, article, web page, or other published work.
Plagiarism - To use the words or the work of another person in speech or writing without giving credit to the source.
Thesis - The main idea of an essay or report, often written as a single declarative sentence.
Science:
Scientific Method - Process used to solve problems.
Hypothesis - An educated guess.
Atom - Basic building blocks of elements.
Metric System - Basic system of measurement.
Element - Naturally occurring substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.
Covalent Bond - A chemical bond formed when two atoms share electrons.
Variable - A part of an experiment that can either be changed by you or be changed as a result of the changes you have made.
Heterotroph - An organism that cannot make its own food and must eat other organisms to obtain energy and nutrients.
Ionic Bond - A chemical bond formed by the attractive forces between ions of opposite charge.
Control - The part of the experiment that does not contain the factor that is being tested.
Math:
Solve - To find the answer to or a solution for.
Evaluate - Find the value of an expression.
Ratio - A comparison of two numbers using division.
Variable - A symbol or letter used to represent a number.
Area - The amount it takes to cover something.
Simplify - Reduce to lowest terms.
Linear - The graph of y=mx+b forming a line.
Function - Rule or equation that shows the relationship between two variables.
Term - Product or quotient of numbers and variables.
Proportion - Two equal ratios.
Social Studies:
Economy - Production and exchange of goods and services among groups.
Civilization - The 5 characteristics are: Specialization, Advanced technology, Record keeping, Complex institutions, Advanced cities.
Culture - Unique way of life passed on by members of a group.
Significance - The importance of events and people.
Geography - Examination of physical and human features on earth.
Government - Institution, through which state maintains social order, provides public services, and domestic security.
Renaissance - Rebirth of knowledge.
Diffusion - Spread of ideas, inventions, or patterns of behaviors to other societies.
B.C.E. - Before Common Era
C.E. - Common Era
Foreign Language:
Infinitive - Dictionary form of a verb. Composed of two words; "to" plus the dictionary form of a verb.
Cognate - A word that looks and/or sounds similar to English word.
Agreement - Adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns and pronouns they modify.
Gender - When a word can be classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter.
Conjugate - To know the form of the verb for each of the six persons.
Definite Article - Refers to a particular person, place, or thing.
Tense - Indicates the time when the action takes place. (Past, Present, Future).
Stem - Basic part of the verb without the ending.
False Cognate - A French/Spanish word that looks like or sounds like an English word, but has a different meaning.
Indefinite Article - Refers to a non-specific person, place, or thing.
Applied Arts:
Culture - Refinement of intellectual and artistic taste.
Recipe - Instructions for making something from various ingredients.
Perspective - To view things in their true relationship or relative importance.
Proportion - To adjust in size relative to other parts or things.
Aesthetics - A branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and the beautiful.
Initiative - A willingness to do what is necessary without having to be told to do it.
Theory - 1. The branch of science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory. 2. A guess or conjecture.
Composition - The placement or arrangement of visual elements in a work of art.
Prejudice - An unfair opinion or judgment of a particular group of people.
Performance - The execution of an action; something accomplished.
****************************************************************************************************
Reading - Instructional Strategies
The following information was listed on a U.S. Dept. of Education site
Blending Reading Instruction with Content
“The idea is not that content-area teachers should become reading and writing teachers, but rather that they should emphasize reading and writing practices that are specific to their subject …”
Relevant Research
Research supports four major strategies to teach comprehension: Expanding background knowledge, extensive reading, strategic reading and discussions about what students have read.
Strategic Teaching
•Before reading: Activate or build prior knowledge
•During reading: Make text connections, enhance comprehension
•After reading: Organize understanding of new concepts and ideas
Read Around the Text
Guidelines:
Use the white space around the text to
· Ask questions
· Make connections
· Clarify thinking
· Make a prediction
National Reading Panel on Vocabulary
• Need for direct instruction of vocabulary items required for a specific text
• Repetition and multiple exposure to vocabulary items are important.
• Vocabulary words should be those that the learner will find useful in many contexts.
• Vocabulary learning is effective when it entails active engagement in learning tasks.
Vocabulary knowledge is one of the best single predictors of reading comprehension
School Hours: 8:19 - 3:15
Office Hours: 7:30
- 3:30 Main Office: 812-794-8730
Fax: 812-794-8739