Saturday, December 15, 2012

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 12-15-12 AM Posts #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 12-15-12 Diane Ravitch's blog

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 5 minutes ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Today We Mourn by dianerav I had half a dozen interesting posts ready to go out today, but I decided it was inappropriate to return to business as usual after the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. I postponed them. So you won’t be getting another post today. This is a time to mourn, to reflect, to be still. It’s a time to think about the heroic staff at the school who reacted immediately to protect their students. It’s a time to think about the principal Dawn Hochsprung and the school psychologist... more »

Heroic teacher recounts hellish school shooting | The Raw Story

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 minutes ago
Heroic teacher recounts hellish school shooting | The Raw Story: Heroic teacher recounts hellish school shooting by Agence France-Presse [image: A sign reads "God Bless the Families" near a home near the Sandy Hook School in Newtown on December 15, 2012 (AFP, Don Emmert)] Topics: Connecticut school shooting ♦ Kaitlin Roig ♦ Roig The 15 first graders cowered in a dark, barricaded bathroom as gunfire boomed outside, shot after shot after shot killing their classmates and teachers. Terrified as they were, their teacher played loving mother hen, even as she feared they — ages 6 and 7 ... more »

Daily Kos: A reflection on a sad Saturday morning

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 minutes ago
Daily Kos: A reflection on a sad Saturday morning: A reflection on a sad Saturday morning by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) These reflections are a product of my being a classroom based teacher, now in a non-profit public charter school. I got the news when my spouse forwarded a news alert about the story. We had a professional development day, with no students. I shared the news alert with my principal, and later with the larger community. To say we were shocked is an understatement. We inspect the bags of our students coming in, and all adults not part of our community have t... more »

"Look for the Helpers" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
"Look for the Helpers" - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: "Look for the Helpers" by Anthony Cody The atrocious details are coming through the fog of saturated news coverage. The teacher who ushered her students into closets before she was killed. The teacher who told her students that she loved them so that would be the last thing they were thinking about. The principal who ran towards the gun fire instead of to safety. On this day we are reminded that classroom teachers, staff and administrators are on the front lines with our children every day. They are witnesses t... more »

In California, Parents Trigger Change At Failing School | toteachornototeach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 minutes ago
In California, Parents Trigger Change At Failing School | toteachornototeach: In California, Parents Trigger Change At Failing School by aristotlethewise *In California, Parents Trigger Change At Failing School* [image: wont-back-down] by Claudio Sanchez Parents in one small California community have used a “parent-trigger” law for the first time to shut down and take over an elementary school. It’s a revolt led by parents who say the school has failed their children, but others say it’s not the school’s fault. The school is in tiny Adelanto, Calif., home to several prisons connected... more »

Sandy Hook Elementary principal’s recent tweets

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 minutes ago
Sandy Hook Elementary principal’s recent tweets: Sandy Hook Elementary principal’s recent tweets Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 15, 2012 at 3:59 am - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Here are some of the recent tweets and retweets by Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School who was one of 28 people — including 20 children — killed in a rampage in Newtown, Conn., on Friday. (The total includes the shooter, who killed himself.) Charles Dumais@*charlesdumais* ... more »

Ed Notes Online: Reform UFT Dues, Hold UFT Leaders Accountable

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 minutes ago
Ed Notes Online: Reform UFT Dues, Hold UFT Leaders Accountable: Reform UFT Dues, Hold UFT Leaders Accountable by ed notes online *There are 3500 agency fee UFT members, people who refuse to join the union but must pay dues since NY State is not a right to work state.* That's a surprising number of people willing to give up basic union rights.* *Imagine if NY were a right to work state. If you think the right wing won't be coming to NY State at some point pushing right to work laws after their victory in Michigan you are not living in the real world. I know that we will probably n... more »

Top Content this Week - 12-15-12 The Educator's PLN

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 minutes ago
Top Content this Week - The Educator's PLN: 1[image: Again; Relevance, Why Twitter?]Again; Relevance, Why Twitter? Added by Thomas Whitby on November 29, 2012 2[image: Digital Footprints- Your New First Impression]Digital Footprints- Your New First Impression Added by Steve Johnson on November 9, 2009 3[image: How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning]How to Ignite Passion in Your Students: 8 Ways Educators Can Foster Passion-Based Learning Added by Tess Pajaron on October 12, 2012 4[image: Factors Influencing Student Use of Technolog...more »

Weekly Address: Nation Grieves for Those Killed in Tragic Shooting in Newtown, CT | The White House

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 27 minutes ago
Weekly Address: Nation Grieves for Those Killed in Tragic Shooting in Newtown, CT | The White House: Weekly Address: Nation Grieves for Those Killed in Tragic Shooting in Newtown, CT by The White House On Friday, we learned that more than two dozen people were killed when a gunman opened fire in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Most of those who died were just young children with their whole lives ahead of them. And every parent in America has a heart heavy with hurt. Among the fallen were also teachers – men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children f... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Updates from School Shooting

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 30 minutes ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Updates from School Shooting: Updates from School Shooting by Melissa Westbrook - There were 20 children killed and six adults including the principal who, just last month, had tweeted a photo of their safety drill. Apparently she was a beloved and effective principal. *Ms. Hochsprung believed that many students engaged better with electronic screens than with blackboards, and she made sure her teachers had iPads in the classroom. Then, she organized “Appy Hour” sessions to discuss the most useful teaching apps. * * **She was no distant authorit... more »

Daily Kos: Mourn, Reflect, Act

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 33 minutes ago
Daily Kos: Mourn, Reflect, Act: Mourn, Reflect, Act byplthomasEdDFollow1 Comments / 1 New I agree with Diane Ravitch who combines her intellect, her scholarship and her inspiring humanity in a blog today: "Today We Mourn." I have been a life-long teacher, and yesterday's killing of children and teachers was a burden I wasn't prepared for. Last night at dinner, the universe sent a very important gift my way. I was sitting at the bar with a friend eating and talking when a former student approached; we hugged, and then talked about those wonderful years she was in my class—among the... more »

Peg with Pen: Humanity

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 35 minutes ago
Peg with Pen: Humanity: Humanity by Peggy Trying to move forward after yesterday. I've had many conversations with friends and family as we all try to figure out what to do, how to help when we feel helpless, how to grapple with fear, anger and absolute despair. I would be lying if I told you that I went to bed last night with any hope left in my soul. But then this morning I began to sift through my emails and my conversations with all the teachers I have spoken with and the word that continues to come forward is love. And then I think about our schools and the love, the heart, ... more »

One Teacher's Perspective: Rage and Guns

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 37 minutes ago
One Teacher's Perspective: Rage and Guns: Rage and Guns by Imagine Wisconsin *Today’s tragic school shooting in Connecticut reminds me of a time I wished I had a gun. When I was around 14 or 15, I stood by and watched a bully coldcock my younger brother in a random act of violence. I stood frozen about thirty yards away amongst some friends. The terrorist stood over my brother while I silently prayed, “Leave, leave, just leave.” He did. My mom arrived moments later to pick us up to find my brother nursing his head. I spilled the story with a rage I have rarely felt in my life. ... more »

These Are Some of the Heroes from Newtown - National - The Atlantic Wire

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 40 minutes ago
These Are Some of the Heroes from Newtown - National - The Atlantic Wire: These Are Some of the Heroes from Newtown by Connor Simpson As details emerge about what happened inside Sandy Hook Elementary Friday morning, we're beginning to be able to piece together a narrative, and see who was responsible for preventing any further harm. If it wasn't for these people -- big and small -- who contributed in different ways, the shooting could have been even worse. Some of the survived and some of them didn't, but what matters is they helped yesterday, and they deserve to be recognized f... more »

Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 46 minutes ago
Saturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: A72YHFDCMAAjrYi] *Dawn Hochsprung. Principal at Sandy Hook. The Sandy Hook Book Fairy reads to first graders.* We woke to a gloomy Chicago morning. Ulysses and I took our morning walk in the dampness of a light drizzle that promises to turn to real rain and possible thunder later in the day. Uly doesn’t like thunder. What dog does? After the events of yesterday it would be a gloomy morning anyway Yet some sunshine would have helped. I tried to stay off the news yesterday. But in this world of social networkin... more »

Two Newtown Educators Went the Extra Mile for Students - NYTimes.com

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 59 minutes ago
Two Newtown Educators Went the Extra Mile for Students - NYTimes.com: Two Newtown Educators Went the Extra Mile for Students by By SAM DOLNICK and MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM One dressed up in goofy costumes to make her students smile. Enlarge This Image Eliza Hallabeck/Newtown Bee, via Associated Press Dawn Hochsprung, 47, Sandy Hook’s principal, was killed. Related - Nation Reels After Gunman Massacres 20 Children at School in Connecticut (December 15, 2012) - ‘Who Would Do This to Our Poor Little Babies’ (December 15, 2012) - A Gunman, Recalled as Intelligent and Shy, Who Lef... more »

Daily Kos: Today we should remember the Bill of Rights

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Daily Kos: Today we should remember the Bill of Rights: Today we should remember the Bill of Rights by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) which on this date in 1791 went into effect when Virginia became the 10th of the then 14 states to ratify 10 of the original 12 proposed by the first Congress. It is worth remembering that without a commitment by Madison to a Bill of Rights, Virginia almost certainly would NOT have ratified the Constitution. After all, George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, had refused in Philadelphia to sign the Constitution precisely because i... more »

solidaridad: City Clerk Certifies Official List Of Candidates

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
solidaridad: City Clerk Certifies Official List Of Candidates: City Clerk Certifies Official List Of Candidates by Robert D. Skeels * rdsathene [image: Robert D. Skeels, a Social Justice Schoolboard Candidate] [image: Ron Gochez: LA City Council District 9 Candidate, Robert D. Skeels: LAUSD District 2 Candidate]*2013 Primary Nominating Election* LOS ANGELES (December 14, 2012) — Los Angeles City Clerk June Lagmay released today the official list of 77 candidates who have qualified to appear on the ballot for the March 5, 2013 City of Los Angeles Primary Nominating Election. A rand... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Proud To Teach

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Jersey Jazzman: Proud To Teach: Proud To Teach by Duke Like every public school teacher in America, I have trained and drilled on my school's response to the unthinkable. I'm guessing I'm like most teachers: I've rolled my eyes a bit when the fire drill sounds right in the middle of my carefully crafted lesson. I mean, I know this is stuff is important, and I know we need to prepare for the worst, but I've got a concert coming up in two weeks! Do we really have to run a "Code Black" drill *now*? Seriously, what are the odds? Columbine was a once in a lifetime event... And so no... more »

Schools Matter: • Heavy science, math, technology focus in education: A good idea?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Schools Matter: • Heavy science, math, technology focus in education: A good idea?: • Heavy science, math, technology focus in education: A good idea? by skrashen Posted in Dallas Morning News, Dec. 13, 2012: http://letterstotheeditorblog.dallasnews.com/index.php?s=Krashen&submit=Search Re: “Science, math are paving the way – Schools chief using model to set district on positive course” (Dec 10). The announcement that the “Lancaster superintendent is shaping his district to be a science, math model,” with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math from pre-K to grade 12... more »

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: I Cried for Connecticut

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: I Cried for Connecticut: I Cried for Connecticut by Lisa M I wanted to cry. When the teacher across the hall told me, I wanted to cry. I couldn't. I had 23 kids in my room, immersed in trying to build a container that would keep an ice cube frozen. They were working. Full of life, joy, and curiosity. Something a crazed gunman had just taken from 20 children. Something he had taken from 7 adults. When someone says, "How are your kids?" I tend to say, "Which ones?" Meaning my kids I gave birth to or my kids in my class. I am sure I am not the onl... more »

Best of the Ed Blogs 12-15-12 | National Education Policy Center

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center Best of the Ed Blogs | National Education Policy Center: Best of the Ed Blogs *Best of the Ed Blogs* features a frequently updated selection of interesting and insightful blog posts on education policy. The views expressed by the bloggers on our blog roll are thoughtful, original, and entirely their own. We hope you make *Best of the Ed Blogs* your first stop for concise takes on today's most important education topics. Exclusive! Pasi Sahlberg on TIMSS and PIRLS (Guest Post by Pasi Sahlberg) Best of the Ed Blogs Pasi Sahlberg,... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 12-15-12

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* L.A. AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS REACT TO CONNECTICUT SCHOOL SHOOTING smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 39 minutes ago Several school districts around the Greater Los Angeles area are releasing statements in the wake of a school shooting in Connecticut that left 27 dead. By Sara Fay, Eagle Rock, CA Patch http://bit.ly/UvyB3G Credit Hoa Nguyen December 14, 2012 :: Representatives from school districts in Greater Los Angeles are reacting to the news of a deadly elementary school ...more »

This Week's Education Research Report 12-15-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Education Research Report: *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * School improvement strategy designed by teachers shows promise Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 2 days ago * Students in lowest-performing Boston schools are closing the achievement gap compared to their peers in the district and statewide * Data from the 2012 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) shows that students in Boston’s T3 Initiative partner schools are making extraordinary gains in English language arts and math. Teach Plus’ T3: Turnaround Teacher Team Initiative partners... more »

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 12-15-12 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL *LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY* [image: Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.] More Resources On Dealing With Tragedies Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 25 minutes ago Here are recent additions to The Best Resources On Talking With Children About Tragedies: Talking to Children About Violence:Tips for Parents and Teachers is from The National Association of School Psychologists. School Crisis Resources is from the NEA Health Information … C...more »

Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez: Sacramento County Teachers of the Year 2011for School Board

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
*Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez for School Board* * Her Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Kirby-Gonzalez-for-School-Board/140425392775087?fref=ts * An interview with the Folsom Cordova Unified School District Teacher of the Year 2011. The Sacramento County Teachers of the Year program recognizes excellence in teaching within the county's schools. Participating districts nominate individual teachers to receive this special recognition. At the Teachers of the Year awards recognition dinner, two teachers are identified as the Sacramento County Teachers of the Year and are t... more »

For these are all our children - Winnie the Pooh - Wherever you are

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 hours ago
Come out moon Come out wishing star Come out Come out Wherever you are I’m out here in the dark All alone and wide awake Come and find me I’m empty and I’m cold And my heart's about to break Come and find me I need you to come here and find me Cause without you I’m totally lost I've hung a wish on every star It hasn’t done much good so far I can only dream of you Wherever you are I’ll hear you laugh I’ll see you smile I’ll be with you just for a while But when the morning comes And the sun begins to rise I will lose you Because it’s just a dream When I open up my eyes I will lose ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Reporting from Education Leadership Team Meeting

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Reporting from Education Leadership Team Meeting: Reporting from Education Leadership Team Meeting by Melissa Westbrook The Mayor had organized an Education Leadership Team awhile back and I finally got to attend a meeting today. The Team is made up of City staff, SPS staff, UW staff, community college reps, business reps and labor reps. It's quite a diverse group (well, in what they do - not so much diversity in what they look like). SPS staff there today included Pegi McEvoy, Duggan Harman and the Superintendent. Most of the meeting was about... more »

Responding to tragedy: Resources for parents - Sacramento City Unified School District

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Responding to tragedy: Resources for parents - Sacramento City Unified School District: Responding to tragedy: Resources for parents Tonight, our thoughts are with the families in Newton, Connecticut who endured a terrible a tragedy today. I want to reassure all of our parents that nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students and staff. Over the weekend, your child may have questions about this event, which is likely to dominate the news and the social media for many days to come. Resources to help parents and students at this difficult time can be found ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
NYC Public School Parents: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years: Class sizes in early grades now largest in 14 years by Leonie Haimson This year’s class size report continues a tragic trend. Class sizes in grades K-3 and grades 4-8 have increased for the fifth year in a row. In high school, they have increased sharply as well, though the data that the DOE reports is not fully reliable. In Kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade, class sizes are now the largest in 14 years, since 1998, when class size data first was reported by the Independent Budget Office. In 3rd g... more »

AFT Statement on Massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
AFT - A Union of Professionals - AFT Statement on Massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School: AFT Statement on Massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School *WASHINGTON, D.C.—* Statement of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. "The entire AFT community is shaken to its core by this massacre of young children and the educators and school employees who care for and nurture them. Twenty children and six adults were shot and killed today in one of the worst school shootings in history. We grieve for the... more »

Trying to make sense of a senseless act. « My Island View

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Trying to make sense of a senseless act. « My Island View: Trying to make sense of a senseless act. by tomwhitby This is probably the wrong time to sit down and address what has just happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. All of the details are not yet out, but the news media has made many statements and assumptions that seem to hold up myths about schools that we continue to hear each time another of this growing number of horrendous incidents explodes on the TV screen. Reporters continue to ask the question, “Were all of the security and safety measure... more »

New Leadership Inside UTLA - LA School Report

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
New Leadership Inside UTLA - LA School Report: New Leadership Inside UTLA by LA School Report There could be small signs of change going on inside UTLA. This week’s internal elections for the 350-member House of Representatives were contested in 22 of 32 districts for the first time in recent years. Some of those seats were expected to have been won by a new caucus within UTLA, called NewTLA, which is working for broader representation within the tightly run organization. However, NewTLA has not responded to our requests for information about how they did in the election. To see t... more »

Every public employee with a state pension should read this report on cash balance programs. « Fred Klonsky

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Every public employee with a state pension should read this report on cash balance programs. « Fred Klonsky: Every public employee with a state pension should read this report on cash balance programs. by Fred Klonsky Ending the defined benefit pension system is one of the agenda items in Illinois. Monique Morrissey of the Economic Policy Institute reports on the specifics of Louisiana. But the dangers of the*Cash Balance Plan* apply to many states, including Illinois. With Congress mired in partisan gridlock, states are serving as laboratories for retirement policy as well as o... more »

Slideshow: Anger surges during rally at Phila. School District | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Slideshow: Anger surges during rally at Phila. School District | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Slideshow: Anger surges during rally at Phila. School District by thenotebook Rally-goers gathered outside the School District of Philadelphia headquarters at 440 N. Broad St. yesterday as the announcement was made that dozens of schools were recommended for closure or relocation. If the plan is approved, some 17,000 students might be moving to new schools. The rally was organized by the Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools. ="" title="Facebook_like" href="http:/... more »

Gun Violence In American Schools Is Nothing New « Student Activism

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Gun Violence In American Schools Is Nothing New « Student Activism: Gun Violence In American Schools Is Nothing New by Angus Johnston We’re seeing a lot of suggestions today from the right side of the political spectrum that events like today’s massacre at a Connecticut elementary school are something novel in American history — that they’re a reflection of the fact that we took prayer out of schools, or that our society has lost its sense of morality, or something. Well, a couple of years ago I did some casual research on the history of American school shootings. A conservative s... more »

Connecticut School Shooting: President Obama's Emotional Statement

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Statement by the President on the School Shooting in Newtown, CT James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 3:15 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families. We’ve endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would -- as a parent. And t... more »

Schools Matter: How about another test?!

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Schools Matter: How about another test?!: How about another test?! by skrashen Comment posted on bloomberg.news Stephen Krashen Mark Bauerlein wants to add still another test to the already overwhelming load of tests the common core will inflict on American students: A literature test covering “best works of American civilization.” Bauerlein says it should feature questions “that will make students draw on Twain, Shakespeare, ancient myths, Edith Wharton and so on.” In other words, the test is designed for college English majors. Bauerlein’s suggestion is sure to stimulate lots ... more »

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Eighteen Children Dead in Conn. School Shooting

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Eighteen Children Dead in Conn. School Shooting: Eighteen Children Dead in Conn. School Shooting by Melissa Westbrook I heard about this story early this morning before there are many details. I had assumed it was not serious. *A man with a gun has shot and killed 27 people, 18 of them children, at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. *Allegedly, the killer went after his mother, a teacher, and then killed 18 students in her classroom. He also shot seven other adults. From the NY Times: *A photograph published by a local newspaper, The Newt... more »

From Quill Pens to Computer Adaptive Testing: Old and New Technological Devices | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
From Quill Pens to Computer Adaptive Testing: Old and New Technological Devices | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: From Quill Pens to Computer Adaptive Testing: Old and New Technological Devices by larrycuban There are many definitions of instructional technology. One concentrates on devices teachers use in classrooms. Another definition focuses on the different ways that teachers have used such devices as tools to advance learning in lessons. Even other definitions frame technology as processes, ways of organizing classrooms, schools, and districts. I examine ... more »

Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope - ABC News

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 20 hours ago
Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope - ABC News: Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope Email0Smaller FontTextLarger Text|Print [image: ap school shooting embrace tk 121214 wblog Connecticut School Shooting: 4 Tips to Help Kids Cope] (Image credit: Melanie Stengel/The New Haven Register/AP Photo) Every parent trying to come to grips with the scope of the tragedy in Connecticut is wondering how to talk to their kids about it. *LIVE UPDATES: Newtown, Conn., School Shooting* Alan Kazdin, a professor of child psychology at Yale University, offers four tips... more »

How Modern School Finance/Education Policy Works: Lessons from New York « School Finance 101

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
How Modern School Finance/Education Policy Works: Lessons from New York « School Finance 101: How Modern School Finance/Education Policy Works: Lessons from New York by schoolfinance101 [image: Slide1] I’ll admit that the more I do this stuff, the more I write about today’s education policy environment and especially the environment around school funding, I do get more cynical. And few states have done more to encourage my cynicism than New York, of late. But I suspect that the tales from the trenches in many other states might be quite similar. So let me use New York as a prototy... more »

Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children - Press-Telegram

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children - Press-Telegram: Connecticut elementary school shooting death toll at 27, including 18 children By John Christoffersen The Associated Press Posted: 12/14/2012 08:17:59 AM PST Updated: 12/14/2012 10:09:48 AM PST This satellite image provided by Google shows the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. A shooting at the school Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, left the gunman dead and at least one teacher wounded. (AP Photo/Google) In this photo provided by the Newtown Bee, Connecticut State Police lead ch... more »

Ann Schulte: Teacher Performance Assessment Isn't the Answer - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Ann Schulte: Teacher Performance Assessment Isn't the Answer - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Ann Schulte: Teacher Performance Assessment Isn't the Answer by Anthony Cody *Guest post by Ann Schulte.* The edTPA is spreading across the country like wild fire, and I'm feeling burned out. My experience with standardized performance assessment over the past 10 years has given me multiple opportunities both to learn from it as well as critique it, and to that end, I've engaged in a variety of discussions about it initially with other California educators, and more recentl... more »

Probe sought into private influence on public education policy

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Probe sought into private influence on public education policy: *Probe sought into private influence on public education policy* Posted by Valerie Strauss on December 14, 2012 at 12:15 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Increasingly policy relating to public education is being made in secret with involvement from private donors or organizations pushing their own agendas. In Philadelphia, where parents have been fighting for years to make public information about how decisions toward the priv... more »

SI&A Cabinet Report – State board approved three out of four ed waivers in 2011

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
SI&A Cabinet Report – News & Resources: State board approved three out of four ed waivers in 2011 School districts submitted nearly 900 applications for waivers from various elements of the state’s *Education Code* in 2011 with the California State Board of Education granting its approval 75 percent of the time. The numbers, released this week in a new report from the California Department of Education, are down from those posted in 2010 but still continue a dramatic multi-year upswing in activity that began with the onset of the economic recession. Challenged by deep funding c... more »

SEPTA advertising: What’s your take? | Parents United for Public Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
SEPTA advertising: What’s your take? | Parents United for Public Education: SEPTA advertising: What’s your take? by parentsunitedphila Last week a number of parents and students were surprised to see this ad on their weekly student transpass: [image: (Photo: Parents United for Public Education)] (Photo: Parents United for Public Education) This week the following ad appears on student transpasses: [image: (Photo: Parents United for Public Education)] (Photo: Parents United for Public Education) A few media outlets have picked up on some concerns we raised on social media about the adve... more »

Shanker Blog » Are Teachers Changing Their Minds About Education Reform?

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Shanker Blog » Are Teachers Changing Their Minds About Education Reform?: Are Teachers Changing Their Minds About Education Reform? by Matthew Di Carlo In a recent *Washington Post* article called “Teachers leaning in favor of reforms,” veteran reporter Jay Mathews puts forth an argument that one hears rather frequently – that teachers are “changing their minds,” in a favorable direction, about the current wave of education reform. Among other things, Mr. Mathews cites two teacher surveys. One of them, which we discussed here, is a single-year survey that doesn’t actually look at ... more »

Over $1B and counting for TFA, Inc., de facto discrimination in charter schools, the failed Microsoft model hoisted onto our educational system and Maryland superintendent says “Stop the insanity!” | Seattle Education

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Over $1B and counting for TFA, Inc., de facto discrimination in charter schools, the failed Microsoft model hoisted onto our educational system and Maryland superintendent says “Stop the insanity!” | Seattle Education: Over $1B and counting for TFA, Inc., de facto discrimination in charter schools, the failed Microsoft model hoisted onto our educational system and Maryland superintendent says “Stop the insanity!” by seattleducation2011 *The Weekly Update for the news and views you might have missed.* “Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact ... more »

America 4 America | EduShyster

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
America 4 America | EduShyster: America 4 America by edushyster2012 *Note: the following originally appeared on Diane Ravitch’s blog, the work of an anonymous author. Whoever he or she is, I am a huge phan…* *America For America* When my family joined the program, I thought being a host sister would be a life-changing event. I’d grown up watching reruns of The Wire and Yo Teach! and I’ve just always felt like I wanted to do my part. For the past two years I’ve been part of the program, I’ve agreed to share my room if the 5th grade student we host is a girl, but naturally a boy stude... more »

School Tech Connect: We're Living With Soviet-Style Disinformation

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
School Tech Connect: We're Living With Soviet-Style Disinformation: We're Living With Soviet-Style Disinformation by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) Omfg. For example, let's look at the property tax bill for the South Loop townhouse once owned by Mayor Daley, who pretty much invented Chicago's TIF program. According to the bill, that property—now owned by Mayor Daley's daughter—was responsible for $12,889 in taxes this year. Of that, $6,804 went to the Chicago Public Schools. But if you plug the address into Orr's converter, you'll discover that in fact only $506 went to the sch... more »

Missouri Education Watchdog: Wading Into The Standards Weeds

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: Wading Into The Standards Weeds: Wading Into The Standards Weeds by Anngie This week Diane Ravitch took on David Coleman (drafter of the CCSS English Language Arts [ELA] standards and President of the College Board) over his explanation of the Common Core ELA standards. Advice to David Coleman: Revise the Common Core Standards At issue is some confusion and angst over the 70/30 requirement in the ELA standards which states that teachers use 70% literary text and 30% informational text when teaching. Does it mean out with The Great Gatsby and in with GM'... more »

FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, December 14, 2012

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Heavenly* Mountain Resort | *Tahoe* Education Headlines *Friday, December 14, 2012* Lowder seeking peace in Stockton USDThe initial step for Stockton Unified will be to avail itself of the free help offered by the Justice Department's Community Relations Service, which provides guidance in calming community conflicts. Summerville plans how to spend bond moneySummerville Union High School District will soon start planning construction projects, having gotten the surprising news this week that its $8 million bond measure passed i... more »

Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Media Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage | Hoover Institution

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Media Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage | Hoover Institution: Hoover Institution Education Experts Identify News Media Hits and Misses in 2012 Education Coverage [image: Education in the Media cast vote image without caption] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STANFORD—After a close analysis of education coverage in the general news media during 2012, the Hoover Institution’s Koret Task Force on K–12 Educationtoday released its list of the five most covered stories (“hits”) and the five most important but neglected stories (“misses”). T... more »

Schools Matter: "I Built This [Lie]"

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Schools Matter: "I Built This [Lie]": "I Built This [Lie]" by P. L. Thomas As the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) virus spreads throughout the United States like a pre-apocalyptic seed of *World War Z*, I recognize that it is no longer cool to recommend fiction and poetry, especially classic fiction and poetry, as texts we might cull some sense from. [1] While my literacy scholarship has strongly recommended creative nonfiction and multicultural works as well as nontraditional texts such as comics/graphic novels and film, I stand firmly beside my colleagues Susan Ohanianand S... more »

RI Teacher Resigns on YouTube; Cites Test Scores

coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
RI Teacher Resigns on YouTube; Cites Test Scores: RI Teacher Resigns on YouTube; Cites Test Scores By Bob Plain on December 14, 2012 A Providence second grade school teacher said he has resigned because of the over-focus on standardized test scores and posted a video of him reading his resignation letter to YouTube. “I believe my goal as an educator should be to create life-long learners. Rather than creating life long learners Our new goal is to create good test takers. our students are now relegated to experiencing a confining and demeaning education. “I would rather leave my secu... more »