Here's a sample problem that the 5th grade teachers at Howe, Hiawatha, Cooper and Kenny can use to prep their students for the upcoming MCAs (state tests.)
If there are approximately 700 homes surrounding each of four schools and each of those homes loses $1,000 in market value as the result of the announcement that those schools will be closed, how much will the total loss in market value be? Show your work! The follow up critical thinking question could be - Has the community gained or lost if they project a $2.8 million savings by closing the schools? What will the savings or loss be in the next year, and why do you think so? For the writing test prep, they might want to try a social studies type of question - why would your parents let someone who didn't live in your town do this to your town? List some of the possible reasons for and against and explain which one is the best reason. The teachers at the four schools might be feeling less pressure to have their students do well on the test, because even though they will all be soon interviewing for new jobs, the test results are not likely to be reported until well after their job interviews are concluded and they have all successfully transferred out of the district. Dan McGuire Formerly Ericsson REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
