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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 12-18-12 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



Living Through Loss | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 minutes ago
Living Through Loss | Maria Shriver | The Open Field Network: Living Through Loss By Maria Shriver I appeared on the TODAY Show this morning to talk about loss and grief in the wake of the Newtown tragedy. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy There are millions of people who woke up today with their own private grief and who are living through some kind of painful and personal loss -- whether it's the loss of a loved one, the loss of a livelihood or the loss of an entire way of life. Isn't it true that we're *all* grieving in some way or anothe... more »

A Connecticut parent’s letter to President Obama | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 8 minutes ago
A Connecticut parent’s letter to President Obama | Parents Across America: A Connecticut parent’s letter to President Obama by pureparents Parents Across America grieves with the community of Newtown, Connecticut over the loss of their precious children and educators. The following letter, sent yesterday to President Obama from the founder of Parents Across America-CT, expresses some aspects of what many of our members are feeling at this difficult time. Hon. President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Obama: As a public ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Juan Pagan: Warning to NYC mayoral candidates about the personal damage done by closing schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 minutes ago
NYC Public School Parents: Juan Pagan: Warning to NYC mayoral candidates about the personal damage done by closing schools: Juan Pagan: Warning to NYC mayoral candidates about the personal damage done by closing schools by Leonie Haimson *A few weeks ago, there was an education rally at Harlem’s First Corinthian Baptist Church, in whichspeaker after speaker explained why the next mayor MUST take a different direction and stop the juggernaut of school closings, co-locations, and budget cuts that are laying waste to the education of our 1.1 million public schoolchildren. But the mos... more »

New Political Terrain Holds Promise for California Schools | California Progress Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 minutes ago
New Political Terrain Holds Promise for California Schools | California Progress Report: New Political Terrain Holds Promise for California Schools Posted on 18 December 2012 [image: Printer-friendly version]Printer-friendly version[image: Send by email]Send by email *By Lisa Schiff* My daughter came home from school the other day frustrated and angry. She had been excited the evening before because she'd learned that having finished *The Odyssey* her ninth-grade English class was now going to tackle *Beowolf*. We discussed the different translations and decided to compare the vers... more »

What's Wrong With Standardized Tests? Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública:

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: What's Wrong With Standardized Tests?: What's Wrong With Standardized Tests? by Black Educator Common Core Assessments: More Tests, But Not Much Better Submitted by fairtest on September 10, 2012 *Under No Child Left Behind, states set standards and developed assessments. NCLB’s failure to spur achievement or close achievement gaps led to unproven claims that national or “common” standards were the missing piece of the education puzzle. With millions in federal Race to the Top money and NCLB “waivers” as incentives, ... more »

Modern School: Green Cards For Sale For Union-Busters

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 49 minutes ago
Modern School: Green Cards For Sale For Union-Busters: Green Cards For Sale For Union-Busters by Michael Dunn Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons While non-profits and student fundraising groups help build schools in poor communities in Africa and Latin America, wealthy investors from China, Nigeria and other nations are spending tens of millions of dollars to build superfluous school classrooms, libraries and gyms for U.S. charter schools. Under the federal EB-5 program, wealthy foreigners can effectively purchase U.S. immigration visas for themselves and their families if they invest at... more »

What to Do About School Shootings - Bridging Differences - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
What to Do About School Shootings - Bridging Differences - Education Week: What To Do About School Shootings by Pedro Noguera Dear Deborah, Like you and most people throughout the country, I am overwhelmed with sorrow over the shootings that occurred in Newtown, Conn., last Friday. Given the enormity of what has occurred I can't think of anything more important to write about now. After a tragedy of this magnitude the questions we are all now pondering are: Why did this happen, and what can be done to prevent something like this from occurring again? Our deep fear of course is tha... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-18-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Last night’s Twitter Kerfuffle by dianerav Last night I posted a tribute to “The Hero Teachers of Newtown,” briefly describing each of them , noting that they were members of a union, they were career educators, and that the attacks on career educators and unions should stop. Shortly after, a TFA officer demanded on Twitter that I retract the post, calling it reprehensible. I was baffled. The post made no reference to TFA. Someone then wrote on the blog that I was casting aspersion on non-union teachers, w... more »

Bias in Texas Growth Measure and Implications for Austin and IDEA Charter « A "Fuller" Look at Education Issues

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Bias in Texas Growth Measure and Implications for Austin and IDEA Charter « A "Fuller" Look at Education Issues: Bias in Texas Growth Measure and Implications for Austin and IDEA Charter by Dr. Ed Fuller One of the often over-looked factors that influence achievement are peer effects. There is a growing body of literature that concludes peer effects have fairly substantial effects on individual achievement. However, it is incredibly difficult to disentangle peer effects from all the other factors influencing student achievement. (1) The preponderance of the research is pretty cle... more »

UPDATE: Should students evaluate teachers? The best and worst in education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Should students evaluate teachers?: Should students evaluate teachers? Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 18, 2012 at 4:00 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » First it became something of a national obsession for teachers to be judged by standardized test scores. Now increasingly we hear about students helping to evaluate teachers for purposes that include pay and effectiveness ratings. Is this a good idea? Larry Cuban looks into it. Cuban was superintendent for seven years, a former high s... more »

The Threshold of Revelation | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
The Threshold of Revelation | toteachornototeach: The Threshold of Revelation by aristotlethewise The Threshold of Revelation [image: beatbreakersi_jc_093] by Christian Clarke I teach English at the Bronx Academy of Letters. It’s a small school and I’ve been there for eight years. When I arrived the school was just two years old, a colt still getting its legs. But what a colt it was! Unlike the aging, sclerotic East New York middle schools where I began my career, Bronx Letters had inspiring leadership and young, bright teachers. It offered a sense of hope and was a place where dedi... more »

A Charter School Teacher Takes on the Boston Globe | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
A Charter School Teacher Takes on the Boston Globe | EduShyster: A Charter School Teacher Takes on the Boston Globe by edushyster2012 By Nancy L. Bloom *Boston Globe* columnist Scot Lehigh is right about one thing. His ideas about education really do make me uncomfortable—and it’s not just because I’m a staunch supporter of teacher unions. His recent assertion that Massachusetts should lift the cap on charter schools in order to save the children who live in poor, urban (that means black) neighborhoods by providing longer school days and years is simply faulty. Here’s a question for... more »

Districts face questions in spending long-term bonds for short-lived technology | EdSource Today

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Districts face questions in spending long-term bonds for short-lived technology | EdSource Today: Districts face questions in spending long-term bonds for short-lived technology ** December 17th, 2012 | Add a Comment | By John Fensterwald Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services [image: Photo by Mary Woodard] Photo by Mary Woodard Is it legal to buy personal computers for students using school construction bonds? And if it’s legal, is it wise to pay interest long-term on devices with a short shelf life? Last month, the Bond Oversig... more »

Ed Notes Online: Rhee's Smoking Gun: Silent On Michigan Bill Allowing Concealed Weapons Carry In Schools

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: Rhee's Smoking Gun: Silent On Michigan Bill Allowing Concealed Weapons Carry In Schools: Rhee's Smoking Gun: Silent On Michigan Bill Allowing Concealed Weapons Carry In Schools by ed notes online From South Bronx School...as most legislators Student First endorsed voted for it. *Asked whether that means the group supports or opposes the concealed-carry expansion, [StudentsFirst spokesperson Ileana] Wachtel said, "We're focused on education reform policies. That's what we do."* Students first indeed. One group that has taken no position on the legislation is Stude... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Post Sandy Hook: Did GOP win the election after all?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Post Sandy Hook: Did GOP win the election after all?: Post Sandy Hook: Did GOP win the election after all? by Mike Klonsky Beautiful speech, then more concessions on health care, taxes.If you thought that the reaction to the Sandy Hook school shootings would provide impetus for more mental heath care resources, think again. Following the *Pres. Obama'*s beautiful speech in Newton, he went and met with *Boehner *and offered the Republicans a deal sweetener on the mythical "fiscal cliff" that would cut $400 billion from federal health care programs, in... more »

UPDATE: Schools Matter: NEA, AFT should be helping us resist, not comply with, the common core

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Schools Matter: NEA, AFT should be helping us resist, not comply with, the common core: NEA, AFT should be helping us resist, not comply with, the common core by skrashen My comment on: “NEA, AFT Partner To Build Common-Core Tools,” (Education Week, Dec 17). From the article: The two national teachers' unions have won $11 million to build an online warehouse of instructional tools for the Common Core State Standards. Student Achievement Partners, whose founders led the writing of the standards, is also a grantee. It will work with the American Federation of Teachers and the Nati... more »

Jersey Jazzman: "It's Politicizing If You Disagree With Me!"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: "It's Politicizing If You Disagree With Me!": "It's Politicizing If You Disagree With Me!" by Duke David Rosenberg of Teach For America is quite possibly the worst person in the world. This image from Rosenberg's Twitter feed comes via Kenzo Shibata on Facebook: Notice that our boy Dave doesn't actually explain *why* he's got a problem with Diane's piece: its just obviously "reprehensible." Ezra Klein, who I've had issues with before, describes the above phenomenon very well: When we first collected much of this data, it was after the Aurora, Colo. shootings, and... more »

State Schools Chief, Other Education Leaders Write President on School Safety

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Here Browser Title - California Teachers Association: State Schools Chief, Other Education Leaders Write President on School Safety *CONTACT: Paul Hefner - 916-319-0818* SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, joined by key education leaders in California, today sent the following letter to President Obama in the wake of last week’s deadly school shootings in Connecticut. December 17, 2012 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: Education leaders across California—home to more than 6 million schoolchildren—share your and t... more »

State Schools Chief, Other Education Leaders Write President on School Safety

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Here Browser Title - California Teachers Association: State Schools Chief, Other Education Leaders Write President on School Safety *CONTACT: Paul Hefner - 916-319-0818* * ** * SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, joined by key education leaders in California, today sent the following letter to President Obama in the wake of last week’s deadly school shootings in Connecticut. December 17, 2012 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: Education leaders across California—home to more than 6 million schoolchildren—share you... more »

Oakland Tribune editorial: Solution to mass shootings must become priority - Inside Bay Area

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Oakland Tribune editorial: Solution to mass shootings must become priority - Inside Bay Area: Oakland Tribune editorial: Solution to mass shootings must become priority Oakland Tribune editorial © Copyright 2012, Bay Area News Group Posted: 12/17/2012 12:53:41 PM PST Updated: 12/17/2012 01:33:40 PM PST Columbine; Virginia Tech; Fort Hood; Lakewood, Wash.; Tuscon; Oikos University in Oakland; Aurora, Colo; Oak Creek, Wisc.; Clackamas Town Center Mall near Portland; and, now, Newtown, Conn. These are but a few of the places that have become synonymous with grotesque gun violence s... more »

Schooling in the Ownership Society: Walton's fueling of charter school operators -- the Mexico connection

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 3 hours ago
Schooling in the Ownership Society: Walton's fueling of charter school operators -- the Mexico connection: Walton's fueling of charter school operators -- the Mexico connection by Mike Klonsky A view of Wal-Mart’s distribution center north of Mexico City, in the municipality of Cuautitlán Izcalli. With a combined fortune of more than $90 billion, the Waltons–the immediate heirs of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton–are the richest family in the world. Wal-Mart became the nation’s largest private employer and as the Nation's Lisa Featherstone calls them, "a flytrap for much-deserved critic... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: 12 Days of Christmas: Teacher's Edition!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: 12 Days of Christmas: Teacher's Edition!: 12 Days of Christmas: Teacher's Edition! This is sung to the tune of " The Twelve Days of Christmas." ** *O**n the** f**irst da**y of **Christmas* My principal gave to me A classroom and my very own key *On the second day of Christmas* My principal gave to me 2 lesson planners And a classroom with my very own key *On the third day of Christmas* My principal gave to me

WHAT CAN BE DONE ? « Teachers Fight Back

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
WHAT CAN BE DONE ? « Teachers Fight Back: WHAT CAN BE DONE ? by alkleen I find it amazing that so many people are just throwing up their hands and saying it’s impossible to make sure all our schools are secure at all times. It’s impossible only if you find that it would be too expensive. There are many ways that schools could be made secure and Connecticut type attacks could be prevented. We have soldiers in over 150 countries in the world. We have 47,000 in Germany alone. What are they doing there ? Waiting for the Cold War to end ? We have 500,000 National Guard soldiers. I wo... more »

The Monday After Newtown « Cooperative Catalyst

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
The Monday After Newtown « Cooperative Catalyst: The Monday After Newtown by Paula White [image: SIGN the Sandy Hook Elementary School National Sympathy Card | causes.com] I really hate coming to school the first day after a school incident somewhere else. No one ever knows whether it will be a biggie to our kids or not, so we have to prepare and really think through how to support our kiddos. I don’t mind that, in fact, I want to be prepared and appreciate all that folks offer to help me get better at supporting kids–it’s more the worry that is the hassle for me. So on Monday... more »

California urges public schools to review security protocols | News - KCRA Home

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
California urges public schools to review security protocols | News - KCRA Home: [image: Mike Luery] By Mike Luery California urges public schools to review security protocolsState schools chief wants schools to be alert and prepared Tom Torlakson says he believes public schools in California are safe, but he wants to make sure schools are reviewing their plans. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) — California's school chief Tom Torlakson said Monday he believes public schools in California are safe, but he wants to make sure schools are reviewing their security plans to learn from the trag... more »

Our teachers, the troops at home Parents United for Responsible Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Our teachers, the troops at home: Our teachers, the troops at home by admin One of the many tragedies of the Vietnam War was the way that many soldiers were treated (or not treated) when they returned home. A nation that had been celebrating Veterans Day every 11-11-11 and mourning together every Memorial Day was largely unable to separate the Vietnam War soldier from the national anguish over the war itself. There wasn’t a New York ticker tape parade for Vietnam vets until 1985, more than a decade after the war ended. It wa... more »

NYC Educator: Rhee Rheedux

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
NYC Educator: Rhee Rheedux: Rhee Rheedux by NYC Educator Hi, I'm Michelle Rhee. At a time like this, I think it's only fit we redouble my efforts to ensure our reforms reach every student in these United States. After all, people as wealthy as Broad, Gates, and the Walmarts are paying good money for these reforms, and if they weren't very, very smart, why would they have all that money? Of course every student deserves a good teacher, and the only way to determine whether or not the teacher is good is by the test scores of students. Here at Students First, we don't believe in all ... more »

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Mao Tse-Tung | Fox News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Victims in Connecticut school shooting | Fox News: Victims in Connecticut school shooting Authorities have released the names of the 26 victims killed when a gunman opened fire inside a Connecticut elementary school. Browse Slideshows Next SlidePreviousImage 1 of 24 Previous SlideNext Slide - - - - - - - - Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/slideshow/2012/12/15/victims-in-connecticut-school-shooting/?intcmp=related#slide=1#ixzz2FLxMDHcY

UPDATE: Seattle Schools Community Forum: What to Apply to Be On the Charter Commission?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: What to Apply to Be On the Charter Commission?: What to Apply to Be On the Charter Commission? by Melissa Westbrook Here's how via the three possibilities - Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House. Each office gets to pick three Charter Commission members. *Governor * Governor Gregoire's office is taking the applications via their regular commissions form. They are then going to pass them along to Governor-elect Inslee's office and he will make the decisions. I was told both offices have received calls of interest about applying. *Lt.... more »

NEA, SEIU and AFSCME in Secret Negotiations « The Greenroom

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
NEA, SEIU and AFSCME in Secret Negotiations « The Greenroom: NEA, SEIU and AFSCME in Secret Negotiations POSTED AT 4:51 PM ON DECEMBER 10, 2012 BY MIKE ANTONUCCI The National Education Association is working more closely than ever before with its counterparts in organized labor. NEA, SEIU and AFSCME teamed up to fund a series of ads targeting key lawmakers in the fiscal cliff negotiations and they are the driving force behind today’s “day of action” rallies in a number of cities. While three of the largest public employee unions in the nation are cooperating on external communicatio... more »

How the Common Core State Standards Impacts Homeschoolers | Truth in American Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
How the Common Core State Standards Impacts Homeschoolers | Truth in American Education: How the Common Core State Standards Impacts Homeschoolers by Shane Vander Hart I’m am very pleased to see the Home School Legal Defense Association weigh in on the Common Core State Standards. Will Estrada, their federal relations point person writes on HSLDA’s website: The CCSS specifically do not apply to private or homeschools, unless they receive government dollars (online charter school programs have no such protection). However, HSLDA has serious concerns with the rush to adopt the CC... more »

Support, Optimism, and Hope — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Support, Optimism, and Hope — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Support, Optimism, and Hope December 17, 2012 by Klea Scharberg No community is immune to the effects of traumatic events. Our ASCD community includes the students, teachers, and residents of Newtown, Conn. This morning we shared posts from our archives that speak to providing safe and connected learning environments. We hope the following resources from ASCD and our Whole Child Partners connect to educators, families, and communities' resilient spirit so that they can tap the resilient... more »

Resources for Schools to Prepare for and Recover from Crisis | ED.gov Blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Resources for Schools to Prepare for and Recover from Crisis | ED.gov Blog: Resources for Schools to Prepare for and Recover from Crisis by Arne Duncan [image: Photo] All of us who work in education have broken hearts and are haunted by the tragedy visited on the educators, students, and families of the Newtown Public School District and Sandy Hook Elementary School. Whenever a school experiences violence and the lives of children and adults are lost, we struggle to find words to express our emotions and explain how this could have happened. Schools are among the safest places for... more »

Randi Weingarten: The Tragedy in Newtown, CT

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Randi Weingarten: The Tragedy in Newtown, CT: The Tragedy in Newtown, CT In this season that usually fills children and adults of all ages with joy and hope for the New Year, the entire AFT family is shaken and deeply saddened by the senseless, unspeakable loss of so many lives this past Friday in Newtown, Conn. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the 20 children and seven adults who were killed, as well as to Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Newtown Public School District, and the entire community of Newtown and its surrounding areas. In moments of great tragedy,... more »

How Walmart Helped Make Newtown Shooter's AR-15 the Most Popular Assault Weapon in America | The Nation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
How Walmart Helped Make Newtown Shooter's AR-15 the Most Popular Assault Weapon in America | The Nation: How Walmart Helped Make Newtown Shooter's AR-15 the Most Popular Assault Weapon in America George Zornick December 17, 2012 - - | - - | - [image: StumbleUpon.com] - | - Recommended by 0 - | - Text Size A | A | A - Email - | - Print - | - Share - | - Single Page - | - Web Letter (0) - | - Write a Letter - | - Take Action - | - Subscribe Now When Adam Lanza entered Sandy Hook Elementary School on Fri... more »

“Seeing the massacre of so many innocent children has changed everything” : blue cheddar

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
“Seeing the massacre of so many innocent children has changed everything” : blue cheddar: “Seeing the massacre of so many innocent children has changed everything” by bluecheddar I haven’t brought myself to write anything about the shooting in Newtown, CT because I’ve felt not only grief but a lack of faith that our elected leaders – and their constituents – will do anything to effectively deal with mass shootings in the United States. There is today at least a glimmer of hope on the political scene. A senator who holds an “A-rating” with the NRA is calling for his peers to work ... more »

How did Quinn come up with the idea of Squeezy, the pension cobra? From his canoe czar. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
How did Quinn come up with the idea of Squeezy, the pension cobra? From his canoe czar. « Fred Klonsky: How did Quinn come up with the idea of Squeezy, the pension cobra? From his canoe czar. by Fred Klonsky [image: Picture12_04] Did you know that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn had a *canoe czar?* Kurt Erickson in the Pentagraph did some digging to find out where the Governor came up with the idea of Squeezy, the pension cobra. It took some work because the governor kept the Squeezy thing pretty much under wraps. Highly confidential. On a need to know basis. But Erickson found out it w... more »

What is Education For? Education and National Security

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Education and National Security: *What is Education For?* [image: Education and National Security] The last week of September, 1938 was deemed “American Education Week” and for the occasion President Franklin Delano Roosevelt released a message to the citizenry. He noted that there were competitive systems of government that were fast coming into conflict and, when it came to the practice and preservation of the political system in the U.S., public education played a vital role. “Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The rea... more »

The War Against Teachers as Public Intellectuals in Dark Times

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
The War Against Teachers as Public Intellectuals in Dark Times: The War Against Teachers as Public Intellectuals in Dark TimesMonday, 17 December 2012 08:22By Henry A. Giroux, Truthout | Op-Ed - 110 - font size [image: decrease font size] [image: increase font size] - Print - Email [image: Students in class](Image: Students in class via Shutterstock)*Please support Truthout’s work by making a tax-deductible donation: click here to contribute.* *A little learning is a dangerous thing.* *- Edgar Allan Poe* The tragic deaths of 26 people shot and killed at Sandy Hook ... more »

Diane in the Afternoon 12-17-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: The Hero Teachers of Newtown by dianerav This much is clear: the teachers and staff at the Sandy Hook Elementary School reacted with astonishing courage to the unthinkable, the terrifying intrusion of a man intent on murdering them and their students. With no thought of their own safety, they defended their children.. Everyone of them is a hero, those who died and those who survived. Six of them died protecting the children. We don’t know the names of the survivors, but we know who made the ultimate sacrifice. For their courage and selflessness, they are he... more »

A teacher talks to children about Sandy Hook tragedy | Parents Across America

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
A teacher talks to children about Sandy Hook tragedy | Parents Across America: A teacher talks to children about Sandy Hook tragedy by pureparents [image: SIGN the Sandy Hook Elementary School National Sympathy Card | causes.com] We share this San Francisco Chronicle story about how teacher Steve Rubenstein, the husband of PAA founding member Caroline Grannan, talked to his students about the Sandy Hook school tragedy: Back at Buena Vista Horace Mann in San Francisco’s Mission District, another teacher, Steve Rubenstein, learned of the tragedy by phone as he and his sixth-grade... more »

"Teaching about a tragedy." December 17, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
"Teaching about a tragedy." December 17, 2012. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org: Teaching about a tragedy December 17, 2012 [image: NYSUT - A Union of Professionals] As school doors opened this morning, educators across New York state and throughout the nation searched for ways to help their students understand the horrific tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Conn., on Friday. NYSUT's two national affiliates — the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association — have provided online resources that will assist teachers and other education pro... more »

What's in Our Control: Safer, Connected Environments — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
What's in Our Control: Safer, Connected Environments — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Sean Slade]What’s in Our Control: Safer, Connected Environments December 17, 2012 by Sean Slade Almost no one has not been affected by the events in Newtown, Conn., last week—even more so if you are a teacher, parent, or have kids that go to elementary school as many of us do. It's hard to discuss and even harder to make any kind of sense out of what happened. Today we highlight posts from our archives, the ASCD community, and our partner organizations that speak to how we can ... more »

How to Help Families Affected by Newtown School Shooting - Newtown, CT Patch

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
How to Help Families Affected by Newtown School Shooting - Newtown, CT Patch: How to Help Families Affected by Newtown School Shooting People all over the world want to know how to help Sandy Hook residents following Friday's horrifying mass shooting. Post "I want to help" in this comment thread to get updates on what you can do. - By Jaimie Cura - Email the author - December 16, 2012 Email Print 1219 Comments ‹ Back to Article Credit Gary Jeanfaivre Photos [image: Family members of victims in the Dec. 14, 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., th... more »

"I told them ... I love you all very much." | Mother Jones

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
"I told them ... I love you all very much." | Mother Jones: "I told them ... I love you all very much." A dispatch from Newtown father Ross MacDonald. —By Ross Macdonald | Sun Dec. 16, 2012 11:37 AM PST 6 - - *By Newtown father and MoJo contributing illustrator Ross MacDonald *Drawger A first grade teacher sheltered her students in a closet, listening to gunshots in the hallway outside. Fearing the worst, she said she wanted these tiny 6 and 7 year olds to know that somebody loved them, and for that to be the last thing they heard, not the gunshots. Other teachers and staff... more »

Teacher Evaluations: When Process Makes a Difference | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Teacher Evaluations: When Process Makes a Difference | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: Teacher Evaluations: When Process Makes a Difference by Tarsi Dunlop The power of collaboration seems, at times, to be the best kept secret in education reform. Despite district variance, efforts to increase student achievement levels often see higher levels of success when all stakeholders work together. Studyville School District (the name has been changed to preserve anonymity) is just one such example. It is a story of collaboration and compromise in which stakeholders c... more »

NEA, AFT Teachers To Build Common-Core Tools - Teacher Beat - Education Week

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
NEA, AFT Teachers To Build Common-Core Tools - Teacher Beat - Education Week: NEA, AFT Teachers To Build Common-Core Tools by Catherine Gewertz *Guest post by Catherine Gewertz* The two national teachers' unions have won $11 million to build an online warehouse of instructional tools for the Common Core State Standards. Student Achievement Partners, whose founders led the writing of the standards, is also a grantee. It will work with the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Associationand their teachers to build the tools and post them on Student Achievement... more »

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, December 17, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: [image: SIGN the Sandy Hook Elementary School National Sympathy Card | causes.com]Schools prepare for shootings, other emergencies Education Headlines *Monday, December 17, 2012* El Monte Union auditoriums remain closedTwo local high school auditoriums remain closed as district officials work to figure out what went wrong with installation of roughly $2.6 million of heating, air and ventilation systems inside the facilities and how they can go about fixing the issue. Freedburg: National response needed to protect children from gun ... more »

Conservative Joe Scarborough Breaks with the NRA « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Conservative Joe Scarborough Breaks with the NRA « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!: Conservative Joe Scarborough Breaks with the NRA by millerlf By MACKENZIE WEINGER | *12/17/12 Politico* MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough launched today’s “Morning Joe” with a ten-minute address in response to the shooting in Newtown, Conn., last Friday. “Today as a nation we grieve and today we as a people feel helpless,” he said. “Helpless to stop these random acts of violence that seem to be getting less random by the day. You know it may be the geographic proximity of Newtown to my hometown, o... more »

John Thompson: Diane Ravitch and the Long View of School Reform - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
John Thompson: Diane Ravitch and the Long View of School Reform - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: John Thompson: Diane Ravitch and the Long View of School Reform by Anthony Cody [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] *Guest post by John Thompson.* Near the end of David Denby's New Yorker profile of Diane Ravitch (Public Defender), Denby quotes Ravitch saying, "If the testing vampire is slain, the whole facade of faux reform collapses. No test scores, no merit pay, no closing of schools by test scores." Shouldn't people who cannot agree with Ravitch on any... more »

Eighty-Six Things I Learned at P.S. 86 (Hallie Fox) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Eighty-Six Things I Learned at P.S. 86 (Hallie Fox) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Eighty-Six Things I Learned at P.S. 86 (Hallie Fox) by larrycuban *This guest post is written by Hallie Fox, who taught in a Bronx (New York City) elementary school–P.S. 86. She was a student in my Fall quarter seminar on “Good School and Districts.” For a final reflective paper, she attached a list of what she learned while teaching at P.S. 86. **I was struck by three things in reading the list. First, how complex and totally absorbing is the daily life of an elementary s... more »

Throughout December and January: Whole Child and Common Core — Whole Child Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Throughout December and January: Whole Child and Common Core — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg]Throughout December and January: Whole Child and Common Core December 13, 2012 by Klea Scharberg Educators have a unique opportunity to reset the playing field and make the Common Core State Standards work for them. We can implement the standards, align them to a whole child approach to education, and ensure that both support and enhance each other. The Common Core standards and a whole child approach are not opposites, and they do not and should not hav... more »








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