An Extraordinarily Touching (& Must-Watch) Video
Here’s an extraordinarily touching short video about a blind dog found among some garbage. It’s going to be hard for most people, including my ESL students, not to get a few tears in their eyes. I’ll show it to students … Continue reading →
My United States Class History Blog
As regular readers know, this year I’ve been teaching United States History to English Language Learners. I have completely overhauled and updated my class blog from three years ago, and now have a pretty complete blog with resources and assignments … Continue reading →
March’s Best Tweets — Part Two
Every month I make a short list highlighting my choices of the best resources I shared through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. Now and then, in order to make it … Continue reading →
More Easter Resources
Here are the newest additions to The Best Sites For Learning About Easter And Passover: Easter Egg Hunt Canceled Due To Aggressive Parents is from NPR. Here are the winners of Washington Post’s 2012 “Peeps Diorama Contest” (In case you’re … Continue reading →
“Thinglink” Could Be A Great Tool For ELL’s
I’m a big proponent of the Picture Word Inductive Model as a strategy for English Language Learners to develop reading and writing skills (I describe it in detail in this month’s ASCD Educational Leadership in my article, Get Organized Around … Continue reading →
History Of April Fools Day
Here’s a video I’m adding to The Best Sites For Learning About St. Patrick’s Day (& April Fools Day):
“The Recall of Scott Walker Is On”
The Atlantic reports: A Wisconsin panel has voted to hold a recall election on June 5 for Gov. Scott Walker, after the efforts of his opponents in last year’s fight to end state workers’ collective bargaining rights and limit their … Continue reading →
Very Good Series Of Infographics Explaining The Economy
GOOD has just published a very good series of infographics explaining the economy. It’s called All About The Benjamins. I’m going to add it to The Best Sites To Learn About The Recession.
“Where are you on the global pay scale?”
Where are you on the global pay scale? is a new interactive from the BBC. Type your monthly income in (they make a point of saying the calculations are done on your own computer so that your data is safe) … Continue reading →
“Remembering Cesar Chavez”
Saturday is Cesar Chavez’s birthday, and it’s officially recognized by many states. “Remember Cesar Chavez” is a photo gallery from The Los Angeles Times. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Learning About Cesar Chavez.
“The Internet in 1969″
Check out this 1969 video that imagined the Internet. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Learning About The History Of Technology:
“Weird Photo Quiz” Could Be Adapted For English Language Learners
I’ve written a lot about different ways to use photos in class with English Language Learners and with native English speakers (see The Best Ways To Use Photos In Lessons). By far, my favorite way is through the Picture Word … Continue reading →
Research Studies Of The Week
I often write about research studies from various field and how they can be applied to the classroom. I write individual posts about ones that I think are especially significant, and will continue to do so. However, so many studies … Continue reading →
Use “LearnClick” For An Excellent Metacognitive Lesson
Clozes, also known as “gap-fills” or “fill-in-the-blanks,” are short texts with blanks. Students have to “fill in” what they believe to be the missing words. They are excellent tools for assessing reading comprehension and vocabulary development. We use them several … Continue reading →
This Is Sure An Interesting Looking Jumping Robot…
I’m adding this video to The Best Sites To Learn About Robots:
“What Is The NEA Hoping To Do With Its “New Action Agenda”?”
What Is The NEA Hoping To Do With Its “New Action Agenda”? is the new “question of the week” at my Education Week Teacher blog. I’m looking forward to hearing people’s responses….
“Goodhart’s Law” & Education Policy
Source: pinaquote.com via Larry on Pinterest The World Policy Institute has just published an interesting article titled “Brave New Math.” It’s focus is question whether the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of a country is the best metric to … Continue reading →
More On The Importance Of Encouraging Students To Continue Their Academic Career
Here are the newest additions to The Best Resources For Showing Students Why They Should Continue Their Academic Career: Graduates’ Pay Is Slipping, but Still Outpaces Others is from The New York Times. Unemployment Rate for Demographic Groups is an … Continue reading →
“Eye On School Success” Online Conference
As regular readers know, the publisher of last book (and its upcoming sequel!), Eye On Education, sponsored an online conference last week that included Webinars from a number of educators (including me). It seemed to get good reviews from participants. … Continue reading →
I’ve Been Appointed To The California “Educator Excellence Task Force”
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has just created an “Educator Excellence Task Force” and I, along with a number of talented teachers, have been appointed to it. Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond and Superintendent Chris Steinhauser of Long Beach … Continue reading →
More Resources On The Health Care Law Debate
Here are the newest additions to The Best Resources For Learning About the Health Care Debate: Justices Tackle The Big Question: Can Congress Force You To Buy Insurance? is from NPR and is the best short piece I’ve seen laying … Continue reading →
“The Difference Between Parent “Involvement” & Parent “Engagement”"
The Difference Between Parent “Involvement” & Parent “Engagement” is the title of my newest post over at Education Week Teacher. It’s the final post in my three-part series on parent engagement issues.
“Perpetual Ocean”
Perpetual Ocean is a NASA video showing ocean currents over a two year period. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Learning About The World’s Oceans.
Good Video Series On Critical Thinking
Bridge8, an organization in Australia, recently produced these excellent animations on critical thinking, along with an accompanying resource for teachers. I’m adding them to The Best Resources On Teaching & Learning Critical Thinking In The Classroom: Also, speaking of critical … Continue reading →
“Big Future” Looks Like A Useful College Planning Site
“The Big Future” is a brand-new college planning site that looks pretty impressive — for English Language Learners and mainstream students alike. The New York Times published an article about it. Here’s an excerpt: The College Board, the nonprofit association … Continue reading →
Very Good Video Explaining Health Care Reform Law
CNN has just created a very good video explaining the elements of the health care reform law. I’ve embedded it below: I’m adding it to The Best Online Resources For Learning About Health Care Reform. That “The Best…” list, though, … Continue reading →
Some Cool Pinterest Resources
I’ve recently found some pretty good Pinterest resources that I’m adding to The Best Guides To Figuring Out Pinterest: Pin A Quote lets you drag a bookmarklet to your browser and then lets your create a “pinnable” image of any … Continue reading →
The Best Fun Videos About Books & Reading
I’m sure there are plenty of fun videos out there about books and reading, and I hope readers will point me in the direction of others besides the ones on this list. You might also be interested in A … Continue reading →
More Resources On Cameron’s Dive
Here are the latest additions to The Best Sites To Learn About James Cameron’s Record-Setting Dive: James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenger: an interactive guide is from The Guardian. In pictures: Dive to Mariana Trench is from The BBC. Scroll to see … Continue reading →
Excellent Video Site For Learning English
I’ve previously posted about the incredible English-learning activities created by Mrs. Haquet, who teaches English in France. I have several of her sites on The Best Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced English Language Learner Sites list. She’s been creating a lot … Continue reading →
“Finishing The Year Strong”
Finishing The Year Strong is a popular article I wrote last year for Education Week. People might find the ideas in it useful….
The Best Sites To Learn About James Cameron’s Record-Setting Dive
As I write this post, James Cameron is at the ocean’s deepest point. I’m sure I will be adding new resources to this list. You might also be interested in The Best Sites For Learning About The World’s Oceans. Here … Continue reading →
Two New Good Photo-Editing Sites
Here are the newest additions to The Best Sites For Online Photo-Editing & Photo Effects: PicMonkey joins the many other tools on the list by offering many different kinds of photo-editing features. Clipi just offers the ability to resize photos, … Continue reading →
The Best Posts & Articles On The Education & National Security Report
Earlier this week, the Council on Foreign Relations’ Independent Task Force on U.S. Education Reform and National Security (chaired by Joel Klein and Condoleezza Rice) was released. Happily, it received attention for a couple of days and then dropped off … Continue reading →
Important Posts On Motivation
There have been several important articles and studies recently on the topic of motivation. I thought I’d bring them together in one post, and then add them to My Best Posts On “Motivating” Students: Make Standards Engaging is by Bryan … Continue reading →
The Best Wildlife Photographs Of The Year
The British Natural History Museum and the BBC hold an annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. I’ll be adding this list to The Best Photos — In The World? Here are the most recent winners, as well as winners … Continue reading →
Duncan Performs Incredible Gymnastics As He Sort Of Steps Back From Supporting Publishing Teacher Ratings
Education Secretary Arne Duncan made what I called his biggest mistake when he supported the L.A. Times publication of teacher ratings. Yesterday, he performed what I can only call incredible gymnastics in changing his position. He claims he supported the … Continue reading →
Very Good Interview On Finland’s Schools
Today, Pasi Sahlberg was interviewed on the radio by Cornel West. It’s embedded below. I’ve added it to The Best Resources To Learn About Finland’s Education System.
More On The Health Care Debate
Here are the newest additions to The Best Resources For Learning About the Health Care Debate: A Viewer’s Guide to Supreme Court Arguments on Health Care Law is from The PBS News Hour. What Happens If The Individual Mandate Falls? … Continue reading →
My Most Popular Posts On Parent Engagement Over The Past Six Months
I periodically post a list of my most popular posts on parent engagement that appear in my other blog, Engaging Parents In School. It’s that time again. And, if you’re interested, I also periodically post a list of my best … Continue reading →
Interesting Parents As Partners Webcast Coming Up On Monday
How to Work Together not Against Each Other: Parents as Part of the Educational Change Conversation is the title of this Monday’s Parents As Partners Webcast. It looks pretty interesting. You can learn more about it at the link….
“Engaged Families And Communities” Resources
The NEA Priority Schools Campaign has a lot of useful parent engagement materials at their “Engaged Families And Communities Resources page. It’s definitely worth a look….
“UK Study: Parents, Not Teachers, Key to Education”
A report on a new British study begins this way: A study by the Royal Economic Society, to be presented this week, finds that parental effect on test results is five times that of teachers’ influence. I haven’t gotten a chance to read the study yet, but plenty of other studies have found that non-school [...]
Parent Trigger Fails Yet Again In California
A Southern California school district found– again — that a Parent Revolution petition to initiate the parent trigger came up short. Here’s a Storify from the meeting: [View the story "Parent Trigger Fails Yet Again In California" on Storify]
“Parents’ effort to fix failing Adelanto school comes to a head”
Parents’ effort to fix failing Adelanto school comes to a head is an article in today’s Los Angeles Times. The city’s school board will make a final decision on whether to approve parents’ signature on a parent trigger petition.
“Parents of Teens: You Can Influence Your Kids About School”
Parents of Teens: You Can Influence Your Kids About School is the headline of the newest post at Ed Week’s K-12 Parents and the Public blog. Here’s how it begins: Many parents believe that they have lost the “influence game” when their children become teenagers. They think their teens’ peers hold more sway than they [...]
Mutual Assured Destruction Is Not A Good Political Strategy For School Funding
Regular readers know that I support, and have a great deal of respect for, the PTA. However, I’ve previously written about what I believe to be a critical strategic mistake they are making in supporting a tax initiative here in California that is different from the one proposed by Governor Brown (see Great Parent Engagement [...]
“The Difference Between Parent “Involvement” & Parent “Engagement”"
The Difference Between Parent “Involvement” & Parent “Engagement” is the title of my newest post over at Education Week Teacher. It’s the final post in my three-part series on parent engagement issues.
St. Paul Mayor Wants To Support Parent Engagement
The Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota has just called for spending $300,000 on expanding parent engagement efforts. Here’s a video clip of his comments. I don’t know the specifics, and the devil is always in the details, but it sure sounds good:
This Week’s Parent Teacher Chat On Twitter
Guest Post by Joe Mazza: You just got back from an amazing professional development or conference. Now what? How do you share all that new learning with your parent population? Won’t you need their support in moving the school forward? In the best interests of transparency and keeping our school parents up on the latest [...]
“Parents Agree – Better Assessments, Less High-Stakes Testing”
Parents Agree – Better Assessments, Less High-Stakes Testing is an article reporting on a new survey released last week. Here’s an excerpt: After conducting online surveys of more than 1,000 respondents, NWEA found that these stakeholders essentially want the same thing. Large majorities say that, although year-end tests might provide some sort of useful snapshot, [...]