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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts #ows #edreform


Prayer for a New Mother « Student Activism

Prayer for a New Mother « Student Activism: Prayer for a New Motherby Angus JohnstonThe things she knew, let her forget again –The voices in the sky, the fear, the cold,The gaping shepherds, and the queer old menPiling their clumsy gifts of foreign gold.Let her have laughter with her little one;Teach her the needless, tuneless songs to sing;Grant her her right to whisper to her sonThe foolish names one dare not call a king.Keep from her dreams the rumble of ... more »

Daily Kos: Some people just don't get it

Daily Kos: Some people just don't get it:Some people just don't get itby rss@dailykos.com (teacherken)As I wrote in What if you feel betrayed by your union's leadership?, the President of the National Education Association, Dennis Van Roekel, by doing this USA op ed with Wendy Kopp of Teach for America, gave support to TFA while undercutting support for unions and their teachers.I was not the only supporter of NEA and teachers who was incensed by the editorial. Later, my good ...more »

In the NEA, this is what democracy looks like. « Fred Klonsky

In the NEA, this is what democracy looks like. « Fred Klonsky:In the NEA, this is what democracy looks like.by Fred KlonskyAt the NEA convention in Chicago last year, we delegates voted in support of New Business Item 93.NEA will publicly oppose Teach for America (TFA) contracts when they are used in Districts where there is no teacher shortage or when Districts use TFA agreements to reduce teacher costs, silence union voices, or as a vehicle to bust unions.More than ... more »

Making It Real…and Making a Difference! « Cooperative Catalyst

Making It Real…and Making a Difference! « Cooperative Catalyst:Making It Real…and Making a Difference!by Paula WhiteWhy did any of us go into education? I would suspect that for many of us it was all about making a difference in the world…the thought of making learning irresistible to kids and having the opportunity to change a life through inciting a love of learning certainly enticed me to the field. I’m in my 38th year of working with kids–and I realized how ... more »

5 Tips for School Administrators in 2012 | Connected Principals

5 Tips for School Administrators in 2012 | Connected Principals:5 Tips for School Administrators in 2012from Connected Principals by James BrauerAbout this time each year, I like to reflect on the past year and begin framing “goals” or “areas of emphasis” that will guide me through the forthcoming year. I don’t necessarily believe in New Year’s Resolutions, as they are so easy to break and forget about just days after the new year passes. It’s for this reason, I reflect ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Afternoon Posts #ows #edreform

Video: Rosemont HS Teacher Learns to 'Cat Daddy' - Rosemont, CA PatchBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoVideo: Rosemont HS Teacher Learns to 'Cat Daddy' - Rosemont, CA Patch:Video: Rosemont HS Teacher Learns to 'Cat Daddy'DD performed at the school Thursday.By Cody KitauraEmail the author6:00 am Email Print Comment1 of 1Credit Cody Kitaura Upload Photos and VideosRosemont High School Band Director Robin Wilmer learned something from a former student this week.DD, a former student and his brother who ... more »

California, LAUSD struggling with English-language learners - LA Daily News

California, LAUSD struggling with English-language learners - LA Daily News:California, LAUSD struggling with English-language learnersBy Christina Hoag, The Associated PressPosted: 12/24/2011 11:11:10 AM PSTUpdated: 12/24/2011 11:56:20 AM PSTRoberto Bautista was lost when he entered kindergarten speaking only Spanish."I said, `What are they saying?' I just pretend I understand," said the 9-year-old Los Angeles fifth grader. "My best friend knew how to speak English. He helped me."Roberto's experience is typical for Spanish-speakers entering California schools. They usually get assi... more »

The Best Resources For Learning About Protests In Russia | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

The Best Resources For Learning About Protests In Russia | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:The Best Resources For Learning About Protests In Russiaby Larry FerlazzoI’ve been pretty amazed by the protests in Russia this month, and thought it would be useful to at least start a short list of resources on them.You might also be interested in The Best Sites For Learning About Protests In History.Here are my choices for The Best Resources For Learning About Protests In Russia:Here’s ... more »

NORAD Santa #parents

NORAD Santa:Welcome to NORAD Tracks Santa01days14hrs59mins52secsAll the preparations for this year are in place! Come back each day to discover new surprises in the Kids' Countdown Village, where we'll offer a new holiday game every day until December 24th.See Santa on your mobile phoneThis year you can count down the days to Santa’s takeoff with the official NORAD Tracks Santa app. Enjoy playing “Elf Toss” throughout the month and then on December 24th, follow Santa with Google Maps for mobile.

Demetrio Perez Jr. Leading Miami-Dade School Board Race, Despite Not Running #EDreform #ows

Demetrio Perez Jr. Leading Miami-Dade School Board Race, Despite Not Running:Demetrio Perez Jr. Leading Miami-Dade School Board Race, Despite Not Runningphoto by sylvarphoto by sylvar“An educated people will always be strong and free. The alternative is ignorance. Ignorance will ultimately destroy us.” Jose Marti. The 2012 Miami-Dade School Board race promises to be a close one. Not for the board members, mind you, but for the for-profit charter schools competing to buy votes to open more of their schools.Although school ... more »

A BIG HUG AND A THANK YOU « Teachers Fight Back

A BIG HUG AND A THANK YOU « Teachers Fight Back:A BIG HUG AND A THANK YOUby alkleenA big hug and thank you to everyone who has been a reader and to everyone who has submitted a comment this year. You’ve helped me to continue with my quest to see that teachers get a fair shake and have a voice to fight some of the media’s criticism directed at teachers. We need to keep working and continue to speak out ... more »

Video: Rosemont HS Teacher Learns to 'Cat Daddy' - Rosemont, CA Patch

Video: Rosemont HS Teacher Learns to 'Cat Daddy' - Rosemont, CA Patch:Video: Rosemont HS Teacher Learns to 'Cat Daddy'DD performed at the school Thursday.By Cody KitauraEmail the author6:00 am Email Print Comment1 of 1Credit Cody Kitaura Upload Photos and VideosRosemont High School Band Director Robin Wilmer learned something from a former student this week.DD, a former student and his brother who are now Los Angeles hip-hop musicians, taught Wilmer how to do the "Cat Daddy" on Thursday. Watch the video ... more »

Help Parents Across America grow even stronger in 2012 | Seattle Education

Help Parents Across America grow even stronger in 2012 | Seattle Education:Help Parents Across America grow even stronger in 2012by seattleducation2011Issued by Parents Across America:Dear Friends:It’s nearly impossible for parents to ignore what’s being done to our public schools these days. It’s become even harder for parents to have a say about decisions that affect our children’s lives on a daily basis. In fact, politicians and those running our school systems often seem to think that the only voices that ... more »

California courts redefining who counts as a parent - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

California courts redefining who counts as a parent - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee:California courts redefining who counts as a parenthsangree@sacbee.comPUBLISHED WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21, 2011Even as the definition of family in America expands and shifts, California courts are trying to keep pace by redefining whom the law regards as parents.Judges have moved beyond traditional notions of biology and adoption and have assigned parental rights to adults with no genetic or legal ties to kids.In ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top AM Posts #ows #edreform

Person of the Year | Lefty ParentBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-4 hours agoPerson of the Year | Lefty Parent:Person of the Yearby Cooper ZaleI caught the cover art of the recent Time magazine piececalling out the “Protester” as its “Person of the Year” and thought it was very cool. For the second time in this new century this long-time bulwark of the Eastern U.S. establishment has gone against its longstanding elitist tradition of calling out a member (or ... more »

The truth about school prayer - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

The truth about school prayer - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:The truth about school prayerby Valerie StraussThis was written by Charles Haynes, director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life. This appeared on the The Amendment Center’s website.By Charles HaynesThe latest attack on the “godless public schools” — a staple of Republican primaries past — is a new ad in Iowa by ... more »

Engaging Parents In School… - “Effective Communication With Parents”

Engaging Parents In School… - “Effective Communication With Parents”:“Effective Communication With Parents”by Larry FerlazzoEffective Communication With Parents is a useful article at Education World.This Week’s “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t”by Larry FerlazzoI have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of time constraints, have not gotten around to doing. Instead of letting that backlog grow bigger, I regularly grab a few and list them here with ... more »

ASCD Inservice: In Case You Missed It

ASCD Inservice: In Case You Missed It:In Case You Missed ItCheck out the most recent highlights from ASCD:Use the following seven principles to guide instruction in every classroom and at every level of schooling, says Elliott Seif.Technology should be a part of the daily routine in the classroom writes Celina Brennan.Teacher leadership, curriculum development and keeping the "main thing the main thing" should be on your list to focus on in the new year.One approach to use with students who ... more »

Schools Matter: Poverty Matters!: Questions Needing Answers

Schools Matter: Poverty Matters!: Questions Needing Answers:Poverty Matters!: Questions Needing Answersby P. L. ThomasIn "Poverty Matters!: A Christmas Miracle pt. 1," I conceded the new refrain that no one is discounting the negative influence of poverty on student learning, specifically on the narrow representation of learning through test scores. I also ventured to identify the broad positions of the education reform debate, acknowledging the problem with suggesting anything has two sides but believing that this characterization is fair—with the "No ... more »

hctiB G: Holiday Greeting 2011 | The G Bitch Spot

hctiB G: Holiday Greeting 2011 | The G Bitch Spot:hctiB G: Holiday Greeting 2011by G BitchAh, the season of what-DO-you-eat is here again.originally posted December 21, 2006It’s time to make another magical, atheist, vegan Christmas/holiday season for The Girl. I will take a break from now until about the 30th. Spare an animal–have a vegetarian/vegan holiday meal. Donate to others and smile for no reasonRemember: Dec. 31, 2005by G BitchLongtime educators are kicked to the curb, letter to editor, Times-Pic. ... more »