Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Morning Wink 1-25-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




The NSPRA Alerts School Districts to Our “Sophisticated” Website | United Opt Out National
The NSPRA Alerts School Districts to Our “Sophisticated” Website | United Opt Out National: THE NSPRA ALERTS SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OUR “SOPHISTICATED” WEBSITE Our first question, and perhaps yours, was – who is the NSPRA?From their website:Q. What is the National School Public Relations Association?A. Chartered in 1935, the National School Public Relations Association has been providing school commu
DR Alison Coviello; EdD and Principal Misplaces The Flash at PS 154 in the Bronx southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: DR Alison Coviello; EdD and Principal Misplaces The Flash at PS 154 in the BronxIt's pretty embarrassing when you lose something isn't it?Last week I was on the phone with long lost colleague when suddenly I had that sense of dread. I couldn't find my phone. I went into a panic and searched my coat pockets, my pants pockets, the floor, the couch, just about everywh
2013: Celebrating parents on the move! | Parents United for Public Education
2013: Celebrating parents on the move! | Parents United for Public Education: 2013: Celebrating parents on the move! Posted on January 25, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentPhiladelphia’s schools may have faced their greatest challenges this year, but those challenges were met by a powerful force of parent and civic activism that pushed back against a failing schools narrative and demanded
NYC Educator: No One's Perfect
NYC Educator: No One's Perfect: No One's PerfectI am almost never late to class. This works well for me as I'm tough on kids who repeatedly show up late. I'm usually able to enforce this pretty well. For example, when kids from some classroom insist that it is impossible to make it to the trailer on time from wherever they are in the building, I tend to find out where they are coming from, show up
Professional Development Evolving | InterACT
Professional Development Evolving | InterACT: Professional Development EvolvingJANUARY 25, 2014tags: pausd, pd, professional developmentby David B. CohenPromoting Quality Teaching: New Approaches To Compensation and Career PathwaysIn late 2012, Accomplished California Teachers produced a policy report that recommended expanded roles for teachers in schools and districts, with a third-tier advanced
On Teaching: An Open Letter to Marc Tucker | deutsch29 All Week 1-25-14
On Teaching: An Open Letter to Marc Tucker | deutsch29: On Teaching: An Open Letter to Marc TuckerJanuary 24, 2014Marc, I have read your article, On Writing, and I am wondering about a couple of issues that I address in this post. The first issue is pronoun-centered– who “we” are. The second involves your discourse on “lower ranking” teachers.I end by offering my own suggestions.Who Are “We”?One o
Lawsuit wrongly targets teachers: Guest commentary
Lawsuit wrongly targets teachers: Guest commentary: Lawsuit wrongly targets teachers: Guest commentaryOn Monday a trial begins in a Los Angeles courtroom where plaintiffs will attempt to wipe out long-held and hard-fought workplace protections for hundreds of thousands of California teachers.Wrongly arguing that such rights “deprive students of their fundamental right to education,” Vergara v. Cal
1-25-14 empathyeducates All Week
empathyeducates:  State Chiefs to Arne Duncan: We Won’t Share Student DataGraphic by Betsy L. Angert | AngertAesthetics By Catherine Gewertz | Originally Published atby empathy / 6h YESTERDAYTurnarounds Face Challenges In Keeping Top Leaders In PlaceIn every child’s life there is a parent and for most school age children, a Principal. Being either is significant. While styles may be different ther
1-25-14 Engaging Parents In School All Week… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":“‘Fining parents of schoolchildren who are late for class is wrong’”‘Fining parents of schoolchildren who are late for class is wrong’ is a commentary from the British newspaper “The Telegraph” about a new strategy some public schools are taking over there, and I tend to agree with the writer. You can read an article, and wa
Stephen Krashen Blog 1-25-14
SKrashen:The Common Core: A Disaster for Libraries, A Disaster for Language Arts, a Disaster for American EducationStephen KrashenKnowledge Quest 42(3): 37-45 (2014). There never has been a need for the common core and there is no evidence that it will do students any good. The common core ignores the real problem in American education: Poverty. The common core will continue the process of turning
1-25-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week
With A Brooklyn Accent:With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All WeekA Program for Urban Schools- Do Mayoral Candidates in Your City Support These?1. Stop School Closings Immediately- Fix Troubled Schools Don't Close Them.2. End all Contracts with Teacher of America.3. Three year moratorium on new Charter Schools. Evaluate existing ones.4. Make Recess Sacred! No test prep during recess or physical educat
1-25-14 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions Education This Week - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:Bill Introduced: S. 1909: Creating Hope and Opportunity for Individuals and Communities through Education ActA bill to expand opportunity through greater choice in education, and for other purposes.6h YESTERDAYBill Introduced: S.Res. 334: A resolution recognizing the goals of Catholic Schools Week and honoring the valuable contributions of Catholic schools
1-25-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:Scathing Purple Musings  Color me purple in Florida ALL WeekMichelle Malkin Rips the Common Core – Chamber of Commerce – Pearson Triumvirate of “Venture Socialism”Columnist Michelle Malkin was one of the first conservative voices to raise the alarm on Common Core. Now she
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 1-25-14
Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog:Medical Marijuana and FootballNFL Commissioner Roger Goodwell said, according to Daniel Kaplan of the Sports Business Journal, that he would consider letting his NFL players to use marijuana for concussion issues. Goodwell believe that since medical doctors say that medical marijuana helps then it would be alright if his players uses marijuana accordingly. But does Goodw
teacherken at Daily Kos This Week 1-25-14
teacherken at Daily Kos:teacherken at Daily Kos This Weekimportant op ed on food by Mark Bittmanin today's New York Times, titled Abundance Doesn't Mean Health. Consider the following information, derived from Oxfam's "Good Enough to Eat" index rating of 125 nations: The results for the United States make a fine case for American exceptionalism, though not in the way chauvinists will fin
All Week @ The Answer Sheet 1-25-14
The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetStarr to Duncan: ‘I resent implication that we lifelong public educators are liars’U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post on Friday that talked about school reforms and praised both Tennessee and D.C. Public Schools for increased test scores. He wrote: We don’t know all the reasons why students did better in Tennessee
1-25-14 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:Schooling in the Ownership SocietyMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership SocietyWhy Ames should stay a neighborhood school and why we haven't given up.January 24, 2014Contact: Joanna Brown, Save Ames Commttee, 773-744-1655Press release:  Referendum campaign starts Saturday at Ames.Come and find out why Ames should stay a neighborhood school and why we hav
1-25-14 Wait What? All Week
Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekDon’t let them fool you: You can and should consider opting your child out of standardized testing frenzyThis week’s commentary piece from fellow education advocate and commentator Wendy Lecker is a message that should be distributed to every parent in Connecticut. As Wendy Lecker explains in her column entitled, “Opting out, parents answer to a higher authority,” t
1-25-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumPlease Take this PTA SurveyFrom the Seattle Council PTSA:Dear Seattle Council PTSA Members, As you probably know, our state constitution requires ample funding for education.  The Washington Supreme court has directed the legislature to show real and measurable progress by 2018--the McCleary Decision--, and yet, our schools are still u
1-25-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineNYC Teachers at PS 8X Jump Into NYSUT FrayIt is time for NYSUT’s locals to unite against the useless behemoth of a local called the UFT and take steps to protect the hardworking teachers of NYS... A group of teachers at PS 8 in the Bronx.I spoke with Andy this past summer and expressed my frustration with the lack of leadership on tackling Albany and the DOE head on
1-25-14 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All WeekJazzman Extracurricular ActivitiesLet's get this out of the way:This brief about One Newark -- the controversial plan to restructure the Newark Public Schools -- is coauthored by me. I am one of the authors of the brief. And I'm not Bruce Baker.So there you have it. Frankly, I don't think it's a big deal... but it seems like some others do.I have not b
1-25-14 Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherUnsafe weather conditions on Tuesday delay Soup Kitchen and half a cola.by Fred Klonsky / 9h Tony at the Red Line Tap.“Dragon Stout?” Sean looks up from his worn copy of Etienne de La Boétie’s Discours de la servitude volontaire.
1-25-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekWho Made The NYSED Commissioner King?As I posted yesterday, NYSED Commissioner John King told members of the New York State Senate Education Committee that the Legislature does not have the power to pull the state out of the Common Core.The exchange showed up in a Capital NY piece by Jessica Bakeman:Some legislators have suggested ditching the Commo
1-25-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
THE BECOMING RADICALRadical Scholarshipthe becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by Duncan’s Bizarro World, Where Lie Is Truth and Truth Is LieDuncan’s Bizarro World, Where Lie Is Truth and Truth Is Lie.1 by plthomasedd / 1h Shooting Ourselves in the FootShooting Ourselves in the Foot.1 by plthomasedd / 1h JAN 23Masquerading (1931)Masquerading (1931).1 by plthomasedd / 1d Differenti
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 1-25-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 1-18-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLarry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYMore Resources On The Sochi OlympicsHere are more additions to my already massive The Best Sites For Learning About The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games: The many, many problems of the Sochi Olympics is from The W
This Week's Education Research Report 1-25-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTAcademic Success of Hispanic Youth Improve as Ability to Speak English and Connect with non-Hispanics GrowsHispanic teenagers who learn English well enough to engage in friendships and activities with members of mainstream U.S. culture are more likely to succeed in school and feel better about themselves and their futures, according to
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 1-25-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  HOUSTON LAUNCHES AMBITIOUS 1-to-1 COMPUTING INITIATIVEHouston's PowerUp initiative appears to be the polar opposite of L.A. Unified's Common Core Technology Project By Benjamin Herold  Digital Education - Education Week | http://bit.ly/1ccIjEG January 23, 2014 12:13 PM  ::  Undeterred by the high-profile probl
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education 1-25-14
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public EducationNPE News BriefsKasich vows education reform – Governor says 1st graders to be introduced to employment ideas | Toledo BladeBY TOM TROY Gov. John Kasich speaks with supporters in Findlay before he addressed the Wood County GOP’s Lincoln Day Dinner. THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH Enlarge | Buy
1-25-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All WeekShooting Ourselves in the FootNo one, myself included, expects a profession to hold lockstep to only one voice—including teachers.But Help teachers improve their craft, an Op-Ed by a public school teacher, calls for helping teachers become better educators, but in fact, perpetuates the worst aspects of the education reform movement.In the end, this piece rep
All Week 1-25-14 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Duncan’s Bizarro World, Where Lie Is Truth and Truth Is LieSuperintendent of Montgomery County (MD) Joshua Starr is rightfully disturbed by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s recent comment: What these two places also had in common was a succession of leaders who told educators, parents and the public the truth about educational un
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 1-25-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGPearson Redefines Its Goal as “Efficacy”Who owns American public education? Until a decade ago, we might have answered: the public. Or the states. Or the local school boards. Now, the likely answer is: the U.S. Department of Education. Or the Gates Foundation, which seems to own the U.S. Department of Education. But there

YESTERDAY

California Title I Conference - Improving Academic Achievement (CA Dept of Education)
California Title I Conference - Improving Academic Achievement (CA Dept of Education): California Title I ConferenceTransforming TimesThe 2014 California Title I Conference, “Transforming Times,” is scheduled for March 25–26, 2014, in Burlingame, California. The purpose of the conference is to provide a forum for sharing strategies that enhance equitable teaching and learning experiences for stude
1-24-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Please Take this PTA SurveyFrom the Seattle Council PTSA:Dear Seattle Council PTSA Members, As you probably know, our state constitution requires ample funding for education.  The Washington Supreme court has directed the legislature to show real and measurable progress by 2018--the McCleary Decision--, and yet, our schools are still underfunded. Please take a few
Alert! Alert! Danger Will Robinson. Misleading Phone Survey on Common Core being made right now! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
Alert! Alert! Danger Will Robinson. Misleading Phone Survey on Common Core being made right now! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: The backstory of EBR “cheating” scandalRecently John White has been trying to stir up a lot of controversy about what he initially called a “cheating” scandal.  Here is one of the earlier reports of what is turning out to be a completely made up EBR cheating scandal.  He unload
empathyeducates – Students Should Be Tested Less, Then Not at All
empathyeducates – Students Should Be Tested Less, Then Not at All: Students Should Be Tested Less, Then Not at AllPhotograph; Bebeto Matthews/AP ImagesBy Paul L. Thomas, Ed.D. | Originally Published at The Becoming Radical. January 22, 2014Students Should Be Tested More, Not Less by Jessica Lahey is not a compelling case to test students more, but another example of journalism failing to represent
Nite Cap 1-24-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPIn Search of Lost Time | Gatsby In L.A.In Search of Lost Time | Gatsby In L.A.: In Search of Lost Time No, I haven’t just eaten a madeleine.  I’m talking about the idea of time, passing even as you read this–time, unstoppable, incessant, inextric
In Search of Lost Time | Gatsby In L.A.
In Search of Lost Time | Gatsby In L.A.: In Search of Lost Time No, I haven’t just eaten a madeleine.  I’m talking about the idea of time, passing even as you read this–time, unstoppable, incessant, inextricably equated in our minds with money. “Every minute matters,” warns teaching guru Doug Lemov in his seminal teacher effectiveness text Teach Like a Champion.  “Time is water in the desert, a te
Student Organizers Shine at Albany Rally National Opportunity to Learn Campaign
National Opportunity to Learn Campaign | Education Reform for Equity and Opportunity: Student Organizers Shine at Albany RallyAt a recent rally for fair school funding in New York State, students gave powerful testimony in front of 1,500 protesters gathered at the state capitol. Watch some of the video clips and be inspired! Students are a force to be reckoned with in the movement to improve our n
America's #1 Choice When it Comes to School Choice? Still Public Schools! | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights
America's #1 Choice When it Comes to School Choice? Still Public Schools! | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: America's #1 Choice When it Comes to School Choice? Still Public Schools!By AASA, The School Superintendents Association on January 24, 2014By Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, AASA, The School Superintendents AssociationNext week (Jan. 27-31) is National School Ch
Duncan: Bill Gates Has No Seat at the Education Policy Table - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Duncan: Bill Gates Has No Seat at the Education Policy Table - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Duncan: Bill Gates Has No Seat at the Education Policy TableBy Anthony Cody on January 24, 2014 1:37 PMJoiselle Cunningham and Lisa Clarke are Teaching Ambassador Fellows. That means they are teachers who have been relocated to Washington, DC, to work for the Department of Education for a ye
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Why Ames should stay a neighborhood school and why we haven't given up.
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Why Ames should stay a neighborhood school and why we haven't given up.: Why Ames should stay a neighborhood school and why we haven't given up.January 24, 2014Contact: Joanna Brown, Save Ames Commttee, 773-744-1655Press release:  Referendum campaign starts Saturday at Ames.Come and find out why Ames should stay a neighborhood school and why we haven't given up.The S
1-24-14 The Whole Child Blog - Free Webinar; Hanging In: Working with Challenging Students — Whole Child Education
Free Webinar—Hanging In: Working with Challenging Students — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGFree Webinar—Hanging In: Working with Challenging StudentsJanuary 24, 2014 by ASCD Whole Child BloggersJoin Jeffrey Benson, author of the ASCD book Hanging In: Strategies for Teaching the Students Who Challenge Us Most, for an exciting, free webinar on what you can do now for a challen
#AskArne? We'd rather see for ourselves. - Integrity in Education
#AskArne? We'd rather see for ourselves. - Integrity in Education: #AskArne? We’d rather see for ourselves.Yesterday, the US Department of Education posted a video with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan that supposedly answers questions about the role of corporate funds and interests in education. Though we’d like to take what Secretary Duncan says at face value, our experiences over the course o
1-24-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": “Educating, Engaging and Mobilizing Parents: A Conversation with Parents for Public Schools Executive Director Anne Foster”Educating, Engaging and Mobilizing Parents: A Conversation with Parents for Public Schools Executive Director Anne Foster is a good interview from Learning First. Here’s how it begins: Public School Ins
Poll: Teachers Don't Get No Respect - Julia Ryan - The Atlantic
Poll: Teachers Don't Get No Respect - Julia Ryan - The Atlantic: Poll: Teachers Don't Get No RespectPeople think respect has declined among teachers, administrators, students, and parents since they were in school.Paramount Pictures“Anyone? Anyone?” a high-school teacher asks at the front of a classroom inFerris Bueller’s Day Off. His dazed students, popping bubble gum and falling asleep, gaze tow
1-24-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: My Article in the Washington Post on January 23, 2014Below is the text of my article entitled, A Challenge: Teach Eighth Grade Common Core Before Endorsing It, published in the Washington Post on January 23, 2014. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ On January 21, 2014, Valerie Strauss’ Washington Post education blog, Th
1-24-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Next. Chicago public pensions in the cross hairs.  After the Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1, which cut public employee pensions – including the pensions of current retirees – the Democratic legislators who voted yes were flooded with angry phone calls, emails and snail mail letters. In
My Article in the Washington Post on January 23, 2014 | deutsch29
My Article in the Washington Post on January 23, 2014 | deutsch29: My Article in the Washington Post on January 23, 2014January 24, 2014Below is the text of my article entitled, A Challenge: Teach Eighth Grade Common Core Before Endorsing It, published in the Washington Post on January 23, 2014._______________________________________________________________________________________________On Januar
Screen Time Study Finds Education Drop-Off - NYTimes.com
Screen Time Study Finds Education Drop-Off - NYTimes.com: Screen Time Study Finds Education Drop-OffLaunch media viewerResearchers say that as children age, they spend less time using TV and electronic devices for educational activities. J Pat Carter/Associated Press With children spending more time in front of screens than ever, parents sometimes try to convince themselves that playing Angry Bird
Louisiana Educator: Common Core Sets Unrealistic and Unscientific Expectations
Louisiana Educator: Common Core Sets Unrealistic and Unscientific Expectations: Common Core Sets Unrealistic and Unscientific ExpectationsImportant Notice: Watch for my poll on Common Core to be accessed on this blog starting Tuesday January 28. Please tell all your colleagues and parent friends to take the poll also.The whole theory behind the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is that if we set
A Teacher Asks: Are Readers Made Reluctant By Rigor? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
A Teacher Asks: Are Readers Made Reluctant By Rigor? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: A Teacher Asks: Are Readers Made Reluctant By Rigor?By Anthony Cody on January 24, 2014 10:38 AMGuest post by Sabrina Crowley.I have worked as a teacher of English and a Reading Specialist for the past 14 years. In recent months, I have been confronted with the following question: Are we raising a s
Morning Wink 1-24-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSFCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, January 24, 2014FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Well Maybe!A Dearth of Democracy: Why Sac City Voters Deserve an Election, Not an Appointment | The Sacramento Coalition to Save Public EducationEducation HeadlinesFriday, January 24, 2014FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a