The Teachers of the Academic Access Program

by Mark Hefner

22 February, 2017

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: The Academic Access Program (AAP) is a strong ESL supported US Common Core State Standard (CCSS) course for children aged 5 to 11 with limited English abilities. The AAP increases their English abilities and in order to integrate them into the mainstream international program at Nakornpayap International School (NIS). The filtering of students by the AAP allows the mainstream international school at NIS to teach higher quality classes.

Mr. Mark Hefner, from the United States, is the AAP Coordinator.  The diversity Mr. Hefner brings to the AAP ranges from his various assignments in his 20 years in the US Army to his international graduate education and experience here in Thailand. 

As a soldier, Mr. Hefner worked on US Army Nuclear Weapons, the Patriot Missile System and was an US Army Recruiter. Later, while studying for a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business management and administration, Mr. Hefner worked Payap University’s International Marketing Department, the International College and was the Director of the Language Enhancement Center. 

South African native, Mr. Paul Kleinschmidt, has been teaching English for 7 years in Thailand. Mr. Kleinschmidt has a creative background that started in South Africa by designing interactive educational exhibit for museums and science centers for MTE Studios. This initial educational focus at MTE Studios eventually prompted Mr. Kleinschmidt to earn a CELTA certificate start teaching. 

The AAP is expanding and by March 2017, there will be 15 students. We expect approximately 30 students to apply by August. Class size will be limited to ten students in each class with one teacher and a support teacher.

For more information or to sign up check out the NIS website at nis.ac.th.

Measure of Academic Progress (MAP): How does it work

by Mark Hefner

16 February, 2017

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: The Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) is a computer adaptive test that show exactly which academic skills and concepts a student has acquired.

Computer adaptive means the test questions automatically adjust in complexity to the answers provided by the student. For example, the MAP test adapts to a students correct answers by increasing the difficulty of the test questions.

Every item on a MAP test is anchored to a vertically aligned equal interval scale called a RIT scale. RIT is short for Rasch Unit. This creates a unit of academic measurement that covers all grade.

The MAP test is taken in the fall, winter and end of the school year. This allows educators to identify early areas of academic development in their students that may need more attention.

In the United States, the MAP test is given to 10.2 million students from 49 states in 6,000 school districts studying in 23,500 public schools. The test is given 3 times a year  at the beginning, the middle and the end of the academic calendar.

From the 10.2 million students tested in the United States, a sample of the results from 72,000 to 153,000 students are taken from 1,000 of the MAP tested American schools. From this sample, average results are produced which schools and districts are able to use to evaluate how well they are doing compared to other schools in the United States.

The chart below was created to compare MAP scores against the age of the student and their grade. The averages are from the fall, 2016, MAP test in reading, math and language usage conducted in the United States.  

The chart works by finding a students age in the right vertical column. Move horizontally left across the page until the age intersects the purple line in front of the green, red and black column. These vertical columns are the reading, math and language scores for the listed grades that run horizontally below the vertical columns. The top of the columns reflect for the age and grade, the average scores .which run vertically on the left axis. 

For more information about the MAP, go to their website at www.nwea.org/assessments/map or contact the AAP Coordinator, Mr. Mark Hefner, at mhefner@nis.ac.th.

The United States MAP Average 2016

(Click the link above to download this chart)

Understanding Your Child's RAZ Level

by Mark Hefner

15 February, 2017

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: Reading A-Z, or RAZ, is part of the Learning A-Z platform designed to increase literacy in primary aged school children. The RAZ method has been in use for more than a decade around the world and has grown to 170,000 members. RAZ has won numerous awards for it's innovative design to include Parents' Choice Recommended Award, Global Learning Initiative Award, and a Teacher's choice award. With more than 2,500 leveled readers, RAZ is one of the most sought after reading programs on the market.

The Nakornpayap International School (NIS) Academic Access Program (AAP) also uses RAZ to increase the literacy of our students. The AAP's unique multi-aged classrooms benefit from RAZ because it allows each student to progress individually and at a pace that's comfortable to their abilities.

RAZ ability specific leveled readers can be correlated to the age and grade of the individual student. As the chart shows below, the proper level for a student's age and grade can be easily found by located the students age on the left vertical axis. Then move horizontally across the page to the right until you reach a set of blue vertical bars. A red line intersecting that particular set of blue bars indicates the grade level (right vertical axis) and reading level (bottom horizontal axis) for the student.

For example, a 6 year old student should be in the first grade at a RAZ  level between E and J. Reading at level B would indicate the student is reading at a kindergarten level.

For more information about RAZ go to their website at www.readinga-z.com or contact the AAP Coordinator, Mr. Mark Hefner, at mhefner@nis.ac.th.

RAZ Level, Age and Grade Coorelation Chart

(click above to download the chart)

AAP After School

AAP After School

by Mark Hefner

14 February, 2017

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: Academic Access Program (AAP) students are now able to get additional help after school from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. every day. The after school program started on 14 January, 2017, and is open to all AAP students. Best of all, it's free!

Five AAP students took advantage of this opportunity and studied between 1 to 2 hours extra on the first day. Students studied reading and spelling with the AAP Coordinator and 2 high school students who were volunteering to earn community service hours as part of their educational requirements to graduate. Students are also able to to study math, science or social studies in the after school program.

For more information contact the AAP Coordinator at mhefner@nis.ac.th or stop by room A206 at Nakornpayap International School.

Nakornpayap International School (NIS) Academic Access Program (AAP)

By Mark Hefner

14 February, 2017

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: The Nakornpayap International School (NIS) Academic Access Program (AAP) started in January, 2017. The AAP teaches Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in a strong ESL environment for the benefit of students with limited English abilities. AAP students will eventually move to the mainstream NIS international programs once their English abilities improve to a point where they no longer need the intense ESL support. 

The AAP started with 9 students which has already increased to 13 students. An additional student is expected in March and 3 more have already registered for August. Presently we are taking Elementary School students from ages 6 through 10. 

If you or someone you know would like more information about the NIS AAP please feel free to contact the AAP Coordinator, Mr. Mark Hefner at mhefner@nis.ac.th or the NIS Admissions office at admissions@nis.ac.th.