1. The Shelton, NE elementary school displays on their website both students and classrooms that earned their all-time-bests. When the school has an all-time-best, a banner runs across the screen. Go to the elementary and LtoJ tabs on their website: http://www.sheltonbulldogs.org
They also have a school-wide bulletin board showing both the histograms and school run chart. . Enjoy attached Shelton photos. The principal is Shanna Bombeck, shbombec@esu10.org.

2. Grant Torpin, Shelton business teacher has completed several blank powerpoints for LtoJ quizzes using a hockey theme. One of them is attached, but others are posted on the LtoJ website, http://www.ltojconsulting.com. His key concept list for a business class is also attached and posted on the website.

3. Shelton has three more great ideas: Their first idea is that kindergartners act out many of the vocabulary words. Their photos are posted on the bulletin board. The day before the LtoJ vocabulary quiz teacher, Lori Glenn, randomly selects eight words. The pictures for these eight words are electronically copied and pasted into a one page document. The students each receive a copy of the eight pictures, cut them up and paste them onto another page in the order of the dictated vocabulary quiz. Shelton 's second idea is using a timer for recording wasted time. Teacher Roxanne Talbitzer uses the stopwatch to record the total wasted time for each day and this total is graphed. Shelton's third idea is using the smart board to create both scatter diagrams and the scatter overlay. The dots for one student were connected and printed. (The attached powerpoint shows kindergarten, stopwatch and scatter overlay photos.)

4. On the LtoJ website, http://ltojconsulting.com/ is a new link for an LtoJ on-line course. It is a live filming of an Arizona LtoJ seminar. The course is availble for credit, if desired. Teachers that are new to a school using LtoJ or teachers desiring a review will find this seminar useful.

5. It is always fun to see LtoJ used in new courses. Attached are photographs taken in a Navajo language class in New Mexico.

5. Permission to Forget is now available for both the Kindle and the Barnes and Noble Nook.

7. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that 2011 proves to be a great year for all of you.

Lee Jenkins
Lee@LtoJConsulting.com

The Windshield View

From the very first days of experimenting with what is now called "L to J" the question has always been asked, "How can you justify asking students questions on content not yet taught? Won't that demoralize students?"

Users of LtoJ know that students are motivated by seeing their progress on the graphs, but to those who have not used LtoJ, it doesn't seem possible. One metaphor for explaining this concept is the windshield.

The vast majority of assessments could be labeled the rearview mirror analysis: Where have we been?

LtoJ is a windshield view. It tells students where we are going and then shows them the mile markers all through the year. Students do not have to guess what they are to learn for the year. They also know if they are on track to meet end-of-year expectations.

With the windshield view of education students do not have to guess what the teacher wants AND they know precisely how they are doing every week of the school year. The teachers are clearer regarding the learning expectations for the year. Thus they pace the instruction better.