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Monday, July 7, 2014

Morning Wink 7-7-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-7-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: The Same Old Miracle School in Chicago, with a High Attrition RateA few years ago,I wrote an article in The New YorkTimes about “miracle schools” that weren’t. I called out Mayor Bloomberg, as well as Arne Duncan and President Obama for making grandiose claims about schools that allegedly graduated 100% of their students or saw dra
7-7-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: SI Supt to Kathleen Grimm: Sam (Pirozzolo) is a Fool.... and this was before Pirozzolo hooked up with Moaning Mona Davids in their rediculous copycat Vergara tenure law suit.A Jan. 2013 email between District 31 (Staten Island) Supt. and Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm, over Francesco Portelos' appearance at a Dist. 31 CEC meeting shows just how high up concerns over his actions
7-7-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?: Wait What? All WeekIs Malloy politicizing the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities?Last week, with no public announcement or press release, Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy quietly appointed a long-time Hamden politician as the new Executive Director of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. Malloy’s announcement is sending shock wav
The Answer Sheet 7-7-14
Answer Sheet: How college remediation rates are distorted — and whyAre a large percentage of high school graduates so unprepared for college when they get there that they have to take remedial courses to catch up? School reformers like to say so, and throw out big percentages of students who are said to need remediation. But where do these figures come from, and are they […]83 by Valerie Strauss /
7-7-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter: Kindergarten Achievement Tests Before KindergartenRiverdale and Horace Mann are now using a new test to make sure that only kids who can afford IPads and tutoring get in. Could you pass the test? Which flag completes the pattern?2 by Jim Horn / 1h 7-6-14 Schools Matter All WeekSchools Matter: Ravitch Waves Goodbye to Common Core "Testing" and Throws Kisses to Dennis and R
7-7-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Our National Union Has A New President!Lily Eskelsen García was just elected President of the National Education Association. You can read more about her at: Eskelsen García: We Are Fearless and We Will Not Be Silent at NEA Today. Doug Robinson: Former lunch lady Lily Garcia goes to Washington to run for the NEA from Desere
7-7-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: Hitting the RoadIn a few hours my wife and  I will get on a plane and head off for Seattle, where I will learn about PLCs (yay) and stay with my daughter and son-in-law. From there, it's off to LA, where we will stay with my son and future daughter-in-law. Consequently, things will be quieter than usual here. Were I a blogger of Diane Ravitch's stature and stamina, I would keep up
7-7-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Salon Covers Bill Gates' Common Core ObsessionMichael P. Mazenko on Bill Gates and the Common Core at Salon:It’s hard to envision Bill Gates not getting exactly what he wants, or backing down from anything. However, that was before he became the sugar daddy and primary backer of the Common Core State Standards, which have raised the ire of parents, students and educators in
Shanker Blog » The Importance Of Relationships In Educational Reform
Shanker Blog » The Importance Of Relationships In Educational Reform: The Importance Of Relationships In Educational ReformPosted by Kara S. Finnegan and Alan J. Daly on July 7, 2014Our guest authors today are Kara S. Finnigan, Associate Professor at the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester, and Alan J. Daly, Professor and Chair of Education Studies at the University of Califo
Musings and Mental Meanderings
Musings and Mental Meanderings: Musings and Mental MeanderingsbyteacherkenFollow    2 Comments / 2 NewA few perhaps random thoughts rattling around inside my cranium.There has been much commentary on the fact that the persistent conservative majority on SCOTUS seen in things like the recent Hobby Lobby case consists of 5 Catholic men, four of whom apparently have connections with Opus Dei.  Yet th
Common Core Dissent: You Have No Right to Disagree if You Aren’t an ‘Expert’ | Missouri Education Watchdog
Common Core Dissent: You Have No Right to Disagree if You Aren’t an ‘Expert’ | Missouri Education Watchdog: Common Core Dissent: You Have No Right to Disagree if You Aren’t an ‘Expert’inShareThe underlying assumption of CCSS supporters is that CCSS opponents do not possess a certain baseline of competence and cannot decide what constitutes “evidence”.   (Link below)                  ~~from  “The D
New Obama Initiative Stresses Equal Access To Good Teachers
New Obama Initiative Stresses Equal Access To Good Teachers: New Obama Initiative Stresses Equal Access To Good TeachersThe Obama administration will announce plans on Monday to enforce a long-ignored federal mandate: a decade-old requirement that states give students of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds equal access to good teachers.The new initiative, called "Excellent Educators for
Teachers Should Just Say No to Cheap Talk & Lip Service :: Frederick M. Hess
Teachers Should Just Say No to Cheap Talk & Lip Service :: Frederick M. Hess: Teachers Should Just Say No to Cheap Talk & Lip Serviceby Frederick M. Hess  •  Jul 7, 2014 at 8:38 amCross-posted from Education Week Teachers get lots of lip service, misty-eyed declarations of admiration, and cloying tributes. These blanket hugs are ritually offered up to three million plus teachers, without q
NYC Educator: Summer Reading Suggestion
NYC Educator: Summer Reading Suggestion: Summer Reading SuggestionOne of my favorite bloggers, José Luis Vilson, actually sat down and wrote a book. A book! I'm pretty impressed by this. First of all, it had hundreds of pages, and each one was filled with words. That in itself was impressive to me. Even better, it kept me turning pages, which many books fail to do nowadays.More impressive was fina
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES"Vergara was the straw that broke the camel's back.The Secretary's response to the Vergara verdict—it was just shameful. And it underscored his lack of understanding." -- CTA Pres. Dean Vogel    Dennis Van Roekel, outgoing NEA president"Let's be clear—we as educators are not opposed to tests. Good God, we invented th
Students Learn by Doing, Not Testing | WagTheDog
Students Learn by Doing, Not Testing | WagTheDog:Students Learn by Doing, Not TestingEliminating weeks of meaningful instructional time (projects, research, learning activities, performances, field trips…) so that tests can be administered to measure student growth and achievement is like an overweight person cancelling membership at the gym for a month in order to get weight and blood pressure ch
Schools expanding social media use to reach parents :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
Schools expanding social media use to reach parents :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: JULY 07, 2014Schools expanding social media use to reach parentsby Alisha Kirby(Calif.) Ninety-five percent of local and state education agencies nationwide are on Facebook and/or Twitter, according to a recent survey by the Reform Support Network.Eighty per
Bruce Dixon Profiles Paul Vallas as “Neoliberal Chainsaw Man” on Public Education | janresseger
Bruce Dixon Profiles Paul Vallas as “Neoliberal Chainsaw Man” on Public Education | janresseger: Bruce Dixon Profiles Paul Vallas as “Neoliberal Chainsaw Man” on Public EducationPosted on July 7, 2014 by janressegerBruce Dixon, the managing editor of The Black Agenda Report, has been consistently insightful about the danger of the privatization of education.  His reports for The Black Commentatorw

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Proposed changes to LCAP renew debate | EdSource
Proposed changes to LCAP renew debate | EdSource: The new LCAP template would tie goals and measurements of progress to actions and expenditures for each state academic priority and for all students and subgroups of high-needs students generating additional dollars.Proposed changes to LCAP renew debateJuly 6, 2014 | By John Fensterwald | No Comments SHARE THIS ARTICLEThe State Board of Education
Choosing Democracy: Breton repeats deeply flawed Vergara claims
Choosing Democracy: Breton repeats deeply flawed Vergara claims: Breton repeats deeply flawed Vergara claimsSacramento Bee opinion columnist Marco Breton published a piece on Sunday,  July 6, noting that Progress ( on race relations) has been slow since the 1994 campaign of Proposition 187. The first half of the article where he recounts the history of the Prop. 187 effort is reasonably  well done
7-6-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This WeekFriday, July 11BEX Oversight Committee meeting, 8:30 am-10:30 am. Unfortunately, whoever runs this group does not put up the agenda nor past minutes in a timely manner so I can't tell you what will be discussed.  I've asked if that could happen and told it would but it doesn't.  The last minutes are from the meeting in April and have some c
SKrashen: The Vergara decision: The big picture
SKrashen: The Vergara decision: The big picture: The Vergara decision: The big pictureSent to the San Francisco ChronicleIn response to: http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/When-kids-sued-and-won-5599200.phpThe Vergara decision is part of a movement to eliminate the teaching profession.The other fronts of this war include the accusation that our schools are failing because of bad teaching, prefe
Eskelsen García: We Are Fearless and We Will Not Be Silent | NEA Today
Eskelsen García: We Are Fearless and We Will Not Be Silent | NEA Today: Eskelsen García: We Are Fearless and We Will Not Be SilentBy Brenda ÁlvarezNEA president-elect Lily Eskelsen García, after praising those who have supported and worked in concert with her, concluded NEA’s 152nd Annual Meeting with a strong message to those “who don’t know what they’re talking about”: We will not be silent“We,”
7-6-14 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.: NEA RA. Dennis Van Roekel says goodbye and so do I. But I will be back in a few days.by Fred Klonsky / 1h 7-5-14 Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherFred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Fred All Week Klons
White hoodwinks La. citizens | The News Star | thenewsstar.com
White hoodwinks La. citizens | The News Star | thenewsstar.com: White hoodwinks La. citizensWhile Gov. Bobby Jindal has not used his executive authority to reverse the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's 2010 adoption of Common Core Standards, he has issued an executive order that effectively halts the purchase of a test that promises to be aligned with Common Core because of an alleged
Nite Cap 7-6-14 #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 CAPempathyeducates – Common Core Battle Escalatesempathyeducates – Common Core Battle Escalates: Common Core Battle EscalatesWhat happens in each state reminds us that we are all connected. Politicians vie for elected positions and education school
empathyeducates – Common Core Battle Escalates
empathyeducates – Common Core Battle Escalates: Common Core Battle EscalatesWhat happens in each state reminds us that we are all connected. Politicians vie for elected positions and education school officials take advantageous stands. To be for or against Common Core State Standards is ever-changing. How much of this depends on who makes decisions? Is it a Governor who hopes to become President o
The American Dream | Bill Ayers
The American Dream | Bill Ayers:The American Dream“The American Dream” is a kind of social Rorschach: It might mean a one-family home in the suburbs, a two-car garage, marital bliss plus three beautiful children, or a partridge in a pear tree. Maybe it’s job security or a career, good health or a pension for when you’re old, a college education for the kids, or season tickets to the Bulls or the K
Bruce Maiman: A cautionary tale for those applauding teacher tenure ruling - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee
Bruce Maiman: A cautionary tale for those applauding teacher tenure ruling - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee: Bruce Maiman: A cautionary tale for those applauding teacher tenure rulingBy Bruce MaimanSpecial to The BeePublished: Tuesday, Jul. 1, 2014 - 12:00 amLast Modified: Tuesday, Jul. 1, 2014 - 8:01 amThis story has two components – one many would like to see eliminated, the other a warning of
How the charter school racket operates in Michigan - World Socialist Web Site
How the charter school racket operates in Michigan - World Socialist Web Site: How the charter school racket operates in MichiganBy Walter Gilberti 2 July 2014Over the past two decades, Michigan has become “ground zero” for the spread of for-profit charter schools. The state ranks first in the nation in the percentage of charter schools run by “education” companies that derive revenue from the res
7-6-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): “About Time” about Looking Hard EnoughThe second time around Dad says about his son Tim at Tim’s wedding: I’d only give one piece of advice to anyone marrying. We’re all quite similar in the end. We all get old and tell the same tales too many times. But try and marry so
When “Teachers Want What Children Need”: Reconciling Tensions in Teachers’ Work and Teacher Unionism
When “Teachers Want What Children Need”: Reconciling Tensions in Teachers’ Work and Teacher Unionism: Dear Reader,We place these articles at no charge on our website to serve all the people who cannot affordMonthly Review, or who cannot get access to it where they live. Many of our most devoted readers are outside of the United States. If you read our articles online and you can afford a subscript
Who Is Campbell Brown and Why Does She Want to Eliminate Tenure? | Diane Ravitch's blog
Who Is Campbell Brown and Why Does She Want to Eliminate Tenure? | Diane Ravitch's blog: Who Is Campbell Brown and Why Does She Want to Eliminate Tenure?Mother Jones published this article in 2013 when Campbell Brown started her campaign against “sexual predators” in the New York City public schools (there are none, apparently, in charter schools, thank goodness!). Campbell Brown is now leading th
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-6-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: How Do You Teach Students To Ask Questions?Annie Gilbertson | 89.3 KPCC | http://bit.ly/1n5qqgg Teachers discuss a list questions they generated about students in the learning environment during a workshop at Wildwood School. The goal of the workshop was to help educators shift their classroom, allowing students to formulate their own questions instead
7-6-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd
But WHAT CAN BE DONE: Dos and Don’ts To Combat Online Sexism | Leigh Alexander
But WHAT CAN BE DONE: Dos and Don’ts To Combat Online Sexism | Leigh Alexander: But WHAT CAN BE DONE: Dos and Don’ts To Combat Online SexismYou may notice that a lot of things happen to do with sexism on the internet. Sometimes someone has done a sexist thing and people are talking about it. Sometimes someone has written an article about the time they experienced sexism and other people are having
It's My Life . Friends . When Friends Fight | PBS Kids GO!
It's My Life . Friends . When Friends Fight | PBS Kids GO!: When things are going great with our friends, life is good. When things are going not-so-great, life can turn super-crummy, super-fast. Many of you wrote to us to share your experiences and questionsabout what happens when friends fight.Sydney, 11, was confused because she heard a rumor that her best friend was talking about her.Jordan, 1
The Answer Sheet 7-6-14
Answer Sheet: Departing NEA president blasts ‘incredible onslaught of corporate reformers’ — including Michelle RheeNational Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel delivered his final keynote speech at the 2014 Representative Assembly of the nation’s largest teachers union, blasting Michelle Rhee and other corporate school reformers, and urging the organization’s more than 3 million mem
7-6-14 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Moaning Mona Davids and Ally Sam Pirozzolo Want Francesco Portelos Fired?I'm not surprised that CEC 31 (Staten Island) Sam Pirozzolo is in on this as he ignored years of pleas to help students of troubled schools. No doubt he will use this to make another run for office. http://samforassembly.com.... Francesco PortelosMona Sam Pirozzolo should be sued for child neglect-- Ed Notes 
Votes Of No Confidence Must Not Be Ignored
Votes Of No Confidence Must Not Be Ignored: Votes Of No Confidence Must Not Be Ignoredby EDWARDBERGER on JULY 6, 2014The attempted destruction of America’s great education system was aided by the NEA and AFT. Teachers had many forces working against them. The failure of the organizations (unions/associations) that were created to represent teachers were a major reason self-appointed billionaires l
Morning Wink 7-6-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLouisiana Educator: Coleman Dictates Teaching MethodsLouisiana Educator: Coleman Dictates Teaching Methods: Coleman Dictates Teaching MethodsIf you were an experienced pilot, engineer, architect or surgeon, whom would you look to for guidance in building your expertize and generally improving your profession? If you were an experienced pilot, do you think