During OGT week, UHS had regular classes on the two hour delay schedule. For the first two hours of the school day, sophomores completed testing that required intense focus. Since the majority of students in both Spanish II and Spanish III are sophomores, we switched gears from the usual routine. Students were exposed to a variety of reading materials that appeal to a wide range of proficiency levels and interests.

During the shortened periods, Spanish II and III students assisted Sra. Knipp by evaluating reading materials in Spanish that are available in our Learning Center. Students ensured further success in meeting Ohio's Academic Content Standards for Foreign Language.

Students began by learning how Spanish words are divided into syllables, helping them to improve their pronunciation.

Students then learned a formula for determining the grade level of readability of texts. They can use this formula to evaluate any text in English to know at what grade level they are reading. They can also apply the formula to their own writing.

Finally, students determined the readability of various books available for completing reading labs. Student aides will take the next step by color-coding each text. Students then will be better able to choose materials that match their proficiency level.

A great, big GRACIAS goes out to Spanish II and II students!

   During the weekend of March 31, UHS educators attended the Ohio Foreign Language Association conference in Toledo. Sra. Knipp, Mme. McCorkle, and Mrs. Wells attended various sessions to learn more about effective teaching and related issues. They also shared their work. High school and university FL educators who were unable to attend their sessions have emailed requests for lesson plans and student samples. The OFLA recognized excellence in the Union Scioto Local School District with three awards.

UHS educators share how they cooperate and collaborate to provide quality learning opportunities for their students.	Over 40 FL educators from across the state of Ohio opted to attend the session "Collaborate with Your Library Media Specialist."	UHS educators also shared their collaborative unit, Probing Perspectives through Proverbs.
UHS presenters explained how the unit addresses Ohio's Academic Content Standards in FL, Technology, and Library	Over 20 FL educators attended the session, which showcased quality films our students created in French and Spanish.	The quality work of our UHS FL students impressed the attendees. One educator invited UHS students to share their work with her students.
UHS presenters explained how the unit addresses Ohio's Academic Content Standards in FL, Technology, and Library	Over 20 FL educators attended the session, which showcased quality films our students created in French and Spanish.	The quality work of our UHS FL students impressed the attendees. One educator invited UHS students to share their work with her students.
Mme. McCorkle presents UHS Library Media Specialist Mrs. Wells with the OFLA Educator Friend of Foreign Languages Award.	OFLA recognized UHS student Gabrielle F. as an excellent FL student and future FL teacher	Sra. Knipp received the OFLA Professional Service Award for her contributions to the Writing Team, which created model FL lessons for the Ohio Department of Education.

Kent State University's Institute for Library and Information Literacy Education (ILILE) sponsored a series of ILILE Summer Workshops in July 2005 for teachers and school library media specialists. ILILE held two workshops in July, one in each of the following content areas: Arts/Language Arts (July 6-8) and Technology (July 13-15). A total of 55 teams (129 participants) were chosen from a highly qualified pool of applicants from across the state of Ohio and included Stacy Knipp, Debbie McCorkle and Kathy Wells who represented the Union-Scioto Local School District.

The ILILE Summer Workshop participants worked collaboratively to develop lesson plans they will use in their local school district which are based on the Ohio Department of Education's Academic Content Standards. Teachers and librarians will work to incorporate information literacy strategies and the electronic resources of INFOhio (The Information Network for Ohio Schools; http://www.infohio.org) into their activities throughout the fall 2005 semester. Both the teacher and school library media specialist will receive two hours of graduate credit from Kent State University following workshop attendance and completion of assignments.

Participants heard presentations from nationally recognized experts including Frank Baker, an educational consultant and media educator, and Will Richardson, Supervisor of Instructional Technology and Communications at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington, New Jersey, who spoke on collaboration, information literacy and specific strategies for content area lesson planning.

Kent State University received $1.975 million in federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for this library education project as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2003 signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush. In 2004, Kent State received an additional $750,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to continue this project. U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education was instrumental in securing this funding. Grant partners at the University include the School of Library and Information Science, the College and Graduate School of Education, Health and Human Services and Libraries and Media Services.

© Union-Scioto Local School District