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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

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


The Educated Reporter: Chicago Teachers Speak Up On Using Student Test Scores in Evaluations

The Educated Reporter: Chicago Teachers Speak Up On Using Student Test Scores in Evaluations:'Chicago Teachers Speak Up On Using Student Test Scores in Evaluationsby Emily RichmondThe teachers union in the nation's third-largest school district have concerns about using student test scores as a measure of an educator's effectiveness, according to this story from the Chicago Tribune. It's worth noting (again, and even again) that there is no consensus among researchers as to the best way to factor in standardized test ... more »

The Innovative Educator: 20 Reasons Why Standardized Testing Is Crap

The Innovative Educator: 20 Reasons Why Standardized Testing Is Crap:20 Reasons Why Standardized Testing Is Crapby noreply@blogger.com (The Innovative Educator)If policymakers, institutions and educators want to keep using standardized tests in the alleged service of elementary, middle school, secondary and tertiary students, considerable reform needs implementing, immediately. The standardized testing system's current incarnation raises far more eyebrows and ire than bright-eyed, bushy-tailed pillars of future progress. Research reveals some of the damages done thus far, so citizen... more »

Common Core standards pose dilemmas for early childhood - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Common Core standards pose dilemmas for early childhood - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Common Core standards pose dilemmas for early childhoodby Valerie StraussThis was written by Samuel J. Meisels, president of Erikson Institute, a graduate school in child development located in Chicago.By Samuel J. Meisels After a decade of concerns and criticisms about the lack of rigorous national standards in the No Child Left Behind Act, we now have a set of ambitious standards for use nationwide — ... more »

Koch brothers in Michigan. Dirty little secrets. « Fred Klonsky

Koch brothers in Michigan. Dirty little secrets. « Fred Klonsky:Koch brothers in Michigan. Dirty little secrets.by Fred KlonskyWhen it comes to the anti-union right-wingers in Michigan, there is no such thing as transparency.There are lots of dirty little secrets. There are hidden funders. And there are outright lies.Neither the Mackinac Center nor their little brother, the Education Action Group will release the names of their funders.The Mackinac Center filed as a 501(c)3 non-profit with the IRS swearing that it does ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Film Screening and panel discussion on charter schools on Thursday!

NYC Public School Parents: Film Screening and panel discussion on charter schools on Thursday!:Film Screening and panel discussion on charter schools on Thursday!by Leonie HaimsonCome see the movie everyone's talking about; learn the truth about charter schools and what our children really need to succeed!What: Screening of the film, The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for SupermanWhen: Thursday Dec. 1 at 6 PMWhere: PS 250, 108 Montrose Ave.Panel discussion following the film with Leonie Haimson

Schools Matter: Deception 101 - Charter Schools: from co-location to astro-turf parent groups

Schools Matter: Deception 101 - Charter Schools: from co-location to astro-turf parent groups:Deception 101 - Charter Schools: from co-location to astro-turf parent groupsby Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene[click here if you can't hear this audio]Public School advocates Cheryl Ortega and Robert D. Skeels on KPFK's Politics or Pedagogy with John Cromshow November 17, 2011. Posted on November 20, 2011 by #occupyLAUSDSupport the Paper, Support the Revoltby Jim HornYou don't have to be from New York to support the effort:Support the ... more »

Jeb Bush Dodges Accountability for Florida’s Poor Remediation Rate but Wants More FCAT | Scathing Purple Musings

Jeb Bush Dodges Accountability for Florida’s Poor Remediation Rate but Wants More FCAT | Scathing Purple Musings:Jeb Bush Dodges Accountability for Florida’s Poor Remediation Rate but Wants More FCATby Bob SikesMake no mistake. FCAT is Jeb Bush’s baby. He, in fact, has staked his entire reputation on them. It is FCAT which is the basis for the school grade model he touts when he speaks to legislatures all over the country and is one which he believes should replace NCLB’s ... more »

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

Striking for the future of the profession! - The Educator's PLN #owsBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-9 hours agoStriking for the future of the profession! - The Educator's PLN:Striking for the future of the profession!Posted by andy mellor on November 28, 2011 at 6:30pmView BlogOn Wednesday there will be many an educational professional wrestling with their conscience. Do I strike to make the only protest I have against the cuts to my pension and the financial well being of ... more »

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

Striking for the future of the profession! - The Educator's PLN #owsBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-16 minutes agoStriking for the future of the profession! - The Educator's PLN:Striking for the future of the profession!Posted by andy mellor on November 28, 2011 at 6:30pmView BlogOn Wednesday there will be many an educational professional wrestling with their conscience. Do I strike to make the only protest I have against the cuts to my pension and the financial well being of ... more »

10 Gifts a Teacher Can Give Their Students! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

10 Gifts a Teacher Can Give Their Students! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!:10 Gifts a Teacher Can Give Their Students!by OldschoolteachOf course, there are more than 10 things that we could give our darlings, but these are the ones that stood out in my mind. They’re not in any particular order, just the way I thought of them. Feel free to add your own! 1. A smile. If you are miserable, they usually are too.2. Get rid of ... more »

Grumpy Educators: Grumpy Educators Award Nominations

Grumpy Educators: Grumpy Educators Award Nominations:Grumpy Educators Award Nominations"Knowledge is power."Blogs written by parents and community members on the subject of education reform is increasing and explaining education reform initiatives that main stream media ignores. It is still difficult for non-educators to access information explained well; but there are some solid resources available now. Since January, after careful review and selection, I visit several to learn and stay current.Inspired by Edublog Awards, Grumpy Educators created its own awards and announces ...more »

Rich People Behaving Badly: Waiting For Our Marie Antoinette Moment - Yahoo! News #ows

Rich People Behaving Badly: Waiting For Our Marie Antoinette Moment - Yahoo! News:Rich People Behaving Badly: Waiting For Our Marie Antoinette MomentThere is in info meme gaining increasing clarity, and it has three threads: rich people behaving badly, oblivious to their context; poor people getting angry and more vocal about it by the day; and media egging them on.Looking at the motivations, we can tease out what each group is doing.Rich people want to keep their money and continue to ... more »

Schools Matter: New York Principals Standing on Principle, Revolt

Schools Matter: New York Principals Standing on Principle, Revolt:New York Principals Standing on Principle, Revoltby Judy Rabin"It’s education by humiliation,” Mr. Kaplan said. “I’ve never seen teachers and principals so degraded.”NYC principals are standing up for teachers and to the state DOE and for the first time in history are finally revolting - a revolt that needs to take place and go viral all across the country. The lack of respect and degradation has finally reached a tipping point. It's ... more »