Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 12-11-12 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2



Nite Cap UPDATE

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What Can We Learn From Today’s Most Depressing Piece Of News?

Though it could easily fit the label of “today’s most depressing piece of news,” the title of this post is not referring to the Michigan Governor’s signing of awful “right to work” legislation.
No, it’s referring to a major new report summarized by Sarah Sparks at Education Week in a post titled Students Who Struggle Early Rarely Catch Up, Study Says.
Here’s an excerpt:
ACT found that only 10 percent of students who were far behind their peers in college- and career-readiness benchmarks in reading in 8th grade were able to meet readiness benchmarks in 12th grade. Other subjects 

Creating A Sliver of Hope Whenever Possible, Wherever Possible


hope
Hope
We’re in the hallway.
My rubber soles screech in a stuttered pace as I monitor the halls before the change of period.
A couple of students walk out of the science lab directly in front of me and salute me. I made one of them a student ambassador because he had little involvement anywhere else. The other just came back from a long suspension.
“What’s up, Mr. V?”
“Nothin’ much. Just watching the hallway. Where are you both off to?”
“We got lunch next, but we have to take care of this business real quick before

Great News for Newark and Neptune, NJ!

Whew!
The Newark and Neptune school districts — New Jersey’s only finalists in a competition for millions of dollars to bolster school improvement efforts — were denied the prize money they sought, the U.S. Department of Education said today.
The two districts were among 61 finalists from 28 states and the District of 


Will Bar Exam Turn Teachers Into Shysters?


The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has launched a new initiative to raise entry standards for teacher-preparation programs, calling it a “bar exam” for teachers. My first thought on hearing the news was that they were trying to turn us into shysters, but then I remembered that we are already considered disreputable and unscrupulous by much of the public.

What's black and tan and looks good around a teacher's neck? A doberman!

So how will the bar exam change matters?

The AFT and its bigger sister, the National Education Association (NEA) have both been 

Rosie Castro Among NHLI Mujer Award Honorees

By Raisa Camargo, Voxxi
The National Hispana Leadership Institute honored four Latinas for their lifelong contributions to society and of those awarded include civil rights activist Maria del Rosario “Rosie” Castro, the mother of both Julian and Joaquin Castro.
The awards are recognized annually to highlight Latina women and their achievements. It featured a gala dinner with each of the honorees placed in the limelight through a video that summarized their background and accomplishments.
“After 25 years our mission is still relevant. If we were not to exist, someone would have created this organization to serve this audience,” said NHLI board chairwoman, Marieli Colón-Padilla.
Colón-Padilla is herself an NHLI alumna. NHLI is a non-profit organization that has provided one-on-

ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Giveaway: Classroom Instruction That Works DVD Series

Enter by December 16 for a chance to win this ASCD professional development DVD bundle!
ASCD Whole Child Bloggers

Transitioning to Standards-Based Learning

Standards-based grading asks, "Is the grade an accurate reflection of the desired learning?" And it requires educators to determine whether they want to reward working or learning.
Klea Scharberg

A Progress Report on Teacher Evaluation

In the past three years, 36 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have changed their teacher evaluation policies. Is your state (and school) going through these changes?