Big Education Ape: Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 1-5-13 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY

Helping Students Motivate Themselves: Practical Answers To Classroom Problems.

“Community School Model Seen as Valuable to Rural Areas”

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

Community School Model Seen as Valuable to Rural Areas is an interesting article over at Education Week. I’ve written very positively about community schools in the past, as well as expressing my concerns about them.

Making Parents Pay A School Anytime Their Child Is Given Detention Is Not A Wise Parent Engagement Strategy

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

The Noble Network has ten charter schools in Chicago. Parents are charged $5 everytime their child is given a detention: In addition to receiving detention (and, thus, having to pay a fee) for violating rules like having their shoes untied and bringing potato chips to school, Noble Street students can rack up demerits for failing [...]

Guest Post: Did the Tech fail or was there a failure to connect to the Tech?

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

I invited Myrdin Thompson to write a guest commentary on the article discussed in my last post, Tech May Have A Role, But Is Not Cure-All, For Parent Engagement. Myrdin is Contributing Editor at MOMentumNation, Group Leader at RESULTSLouisville, Advocate for the UNF Shot@Life program, White House Champion of Change (Parents on Education), Regional Director [...]

Tech May Have A Role, But Is Not Cure-All, For Parent Engagement

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

Web app that links parents to kids’ schools has few takers in Dallas ISD is the headline in a recent Dallas Morning News article. Here are some excerpts: The application, called Parent Portal, makes an extraordinary amount of information available to parents. It shows students’ grades, attendance records and notes from their teachers on how [...]

This week’s #PTchat On Twitter

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

Guest post by Joe Mazza On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, weekly #ptchat returns with a goal setting conversation. We’ll discuss short and long term family engagement goals from the classroom, administrative and parent leadership lens. How can we best involve student voice to maximize our engagement goals? Join us at 9PM EDT for our first [...]

“Tour helps ease immigrants’ worries about school menus”

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

Tour helps ease immigrants’ worries about school menus is an interesting article from Minnesota about how a school gave Somali refugee parents a tour of their cafeteria and food to allay concerns about food not acceptable to Muslims. Thanks to Ken Libby for the tip.

“Interactive Homework Spurs Parent Involvement, Study Finds”

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

Interactive Homework Spurs Parent Involvement, Study Finds is the title of a useful blog post by Sarah Sparks over at Education Week. Here’s an excerpt: Homework assignments that require help from family members can get parents more involved in middle school, a time many parents become less visible in school, concludes a new study in [...]

My Most Popular Parent Engagement Posts Of The Year — 2012

Larry Ferlazzo at Engaging Parents In School... - 1 day ago

Here are the ten most popular posts from this blog over the past year: 1. Another Reason Why We Need To Be Careful How We Speak To Parents About Their Children 2. The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers 3. A Collection Of “The Best…” Lists On Parent Engagement 4. Good Middle School [...]

A Collection Of “Best…” Lists On Vocabulary Development

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 10 hours ago

I thought it might be useful to readers if I brought together all my vocabulary-related “Best…” lists together in one post. Some may need to be updated, but even if you find some dead links, the vast majority should still … Continue reading →

“Hashtag” is the 2012 Word of the Year

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 13 hours ago

The American Dialect Society has just named “hashtag” its word of the year. You can see all the other winners at the same link. I’m adding the info to The Best “Words Of The Year” Features For 2012.

More Evidence Showing The Dangers Of Using High-Stakes Testing For Teacher Evaluation

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 16 hours ago

I’ve posted a lot about the shortcomings of using Value-Added Measurements (VAM) and, in general, any kind of student test scores in standardized tests in teacher evaluation (see The Best Resources For Learning About The “Value-Added” Approach Towards Teacher Evaluation). … Continue reading →

Health Career Videos

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

The state of Michigan has a nice collection of closed-captioned videos talking about different health careers. I’m adding it to The Best Websites For Students Exploring Jobs & Careers. Thanks to Michelle Henry’s great ESL website for the tip.

Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

I’ve have a somewhat regular feature where I share a few posts and resources from around the Web related to ESL/EFL or to language in general that have caught my attention: Easy English looks like a useful current events site … Continue reading →

The Best Sites For Learning About President Obama’s Second Inauguration

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

President Obama’s second inauguration is set for January 20th. I’ve got quite an extensive list from his first inauguration. I’m going to copy and paste resources that are still relevant here and, of course, add to them as new materials … Continue reading →

Lesson Plan Using A Great Interactive

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

A few days ago I posted about a great New York Times interactive called “The Year on Page 1.” I had written a lesson plan about it for my monthly NY Times post, but there just wasn’t room to include … Continue reading →

“Ideas for English Language Learners | Labeling Photos, Sequencing Passages and More”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

Ideas for English Language Learners | Labeling Photos, Sequencing Passages and More is my new post over at The New York Times. It has ideas useful both to teachers of ELLs and non-ELLs. You can see all of my NY … Continue reading →

Special Edition Of This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good Articles On Education Policy

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago

Usually, I just do a post like this once a week. However, I’ve got quite a backlog, so here’s a special second edition this week sharing good pieces on education policy issues: Teaching Trends: 7 Things That Have Shaped The … Continue reading →

The Washington Post’s “The year in graphics, 2012″

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago

The Washington Post has just published The year in graphics, 2012. It’s no where near as impressive as The NY Times version, but it still has some pretty good stuff. I’m adding it to The Best Infographics Of 2012, where … Continue reading →

“Rick Blocks, Poor Blocks” Is A Useful Research Tool

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago

Rich Blocks, Poor Blocks is a simple tool that lets you determine the median income for every census tract in the United States just by typing in an address. It’s a perfect tool for my upcoming favorite lesson of the … Continue reading →

I Couldn’t Resist Re-Posting My Number One Favorite Video Of 2012

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago

As we enter this new year, I couldn’t resist re-posting my favorite video of 2012. When I first posted it, I gave it the title: Ducklings Video Demonstrates Great “Differentiated Instruction” and wrote this: In this video, some ducklings were … Continue reading →

Video: “16 New iPad tips 2012 “

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago

Here’s a very helpful video I’m adding to The Best Resources For Beginning iPad Users:

Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago

I’ve recently started a regular feature where I share a few posts from around the Web related to ESL or EFL that have caught my attention: The ELL Toolbox published Lesson Planning for English Language Learners, which are some useful … Continue reading →

People May Not Always Be Hearing What We Think We Are Saying…

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago

From The Baby Blues comic strip:

“How Can We Become Better at Teaching Math?”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

How Can We Become Better at Teaching Math? is the new “question of the week” at my Education Week Teacher column. Feel free to leave your responses there or here…

This Week’s “Links I Should Have Posted About, But Didn’t”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

I have a huge backlog of resources that I’ve been planning to post about in this blog but, just because of time constraints, have not gotten around to doing. Instead of letting that backlog grow bigger, I regularly grab a … Continue reading →

Great NY Times Interactive: “The Year on Page 1″

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

The New York Times has a great interactive called “The Year on Page 1.” They picked forty-two pages from throughout 2012 to show, and invited readers to contribute a word or two about how they felt about the events pictured. … Continue reading →

“How Many Slaves Work for You?”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

How Many Slaves Work for You? is an op-ed in today’s New York Times. Here’s an excerpt: …today’s sesquicentennial of the Emancipation Proclamation provides an opportunity to observe Jan. 1 as a day of emancipation and to rededicate ourselves to … Continue reading →

“How ‘Deferred Action’ Will Affect Classrooms”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

How ‘Deferred Action’ Will Affect Classrooms is a very interesting program (at least the first few minutes that focus on the Deferred Action program) that was on NPR this morning. They don’t have the transcript available, but I’ve embedded the … Continue reading →

Revisions Done! Look For My Next Book In March!

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

I just completed the revisions on “Self-Driven Learning: Teaching Strategies for Student Motivation,” the sequel to Helping Students Motivate Themselves. Eye On Education is now planning on having it out by March. There are even plans for a third in … Continue reading →

Contribute To Google’s New Year’s Resolutions Map

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

Google has set-up a map where people can contribute their New Year’s resolutions. It uses Google Translate so you can see what people are saying all over the world. In addition, you can check out this Google Map with links … Continue reading →

The Best Education-Related Books Visitors To This Blog Read In 2012

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago

I put out a request, as I do every year, to readers to share the best education-related books that they had read over the past year. The books could have been published earlier and the only requirement was that you … Continue reading →

Video: Richard Feynman: Ode To A Flower

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 days ago

This is a nice video that I’ll be using in my IB Theory of Knowledge class:

Upcoming Twitter Discussions On My Books

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 days ago

In August, Katie Hull Sypnieski sent out short excerpts from our book, The ESL/ELL Teacher’s Survival Guide and had a three week conversation on Twitter and “Storified” it — you can see it here. In the first few months of … Continue reading →

More Resources On New Year’s Celebrations

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 days ago

Here are the newest additions to The Best Sites For Learning About New Year Celebrations: 36 Bizarre Things Ceremonially Dropped on New Year’s Eve is from Mental Floss. New Year’s Eve 2012 Celebrations Kick Off is a photo gallery from … Continue reading →

Lincoln, Obama & The Importance Of Compromise

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 days ago

I’ve written a lot about the importance of being willing to compromise. In fact, you might be interested in my previous post, The Best Posts & Articles About Compromise. My interest comes out of my nineteen year career as a … Continue reading →

“Banished” Words Of The Year

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 days ago

Here are new additions to The Best “Words Of The Year” Features For 2012: The Words That Will Be Banished in 2013 is from The Atlantic. Good Riddance! ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Tops List Of ‘Words To Be Banished’ is from NPR.

The Best Ways To Help Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Succeed

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 days ago

I use goal-setting a lot with my students. You can read more about those specific ways at The Best Posts On Students Setting Goals and in my book, Helping Students Motivate Themselves. I’ve also discussed a specific lesson using New … Continue reading →

My Best Posts Of The Year — 2012

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 5 days ago

I’ve recently looked back in the archives of the blog to identify the best posts of each year, and now I’m up to 2012! The first list in this series, My Best Posts Over The Years — Volume One, focused … Continue reading →

The NY Times’ “2012: The Year in Graphics” Is Terrific

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 5 days ago

The New York Times has pubished 2012: The Year in Graphics, and it’s absolutely terrific. I’m adding it to The Best Infographics Of 2012. I’m also adding 2012 Election Graphics from The Washington Post to the same list.

More Info On Student Cellphone Use In Class Research

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 5 days ago

Last week, I wrote about a new study suggesting that 94% of students use their cellphones in class for personal purposes (see The Best Posts On Student Cellphone Use In Class). Reading, Writing and… Facebook? is a new article on … Continue reading →

“Google Maps Streetview Player” Is Just What I’ve Been Looking For!

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 5 days ago

I’ve written a lot, both here in my blog (see A Lesson Highlighting Community Assets — Not Deficits) and in one of my books, about one of my favorite lessons. In short, after students identify the qualities that are most … Continue reading →

More “Words Of The Year” Resources

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 days ago

Here are new additions to The Best “Words Of The Year” Features For 2012: What new words were created in 2012? is a video from The BBC. 25 wonderful words and phrases we learned in 2012 is from The Week. … Continue reading →

The New York Times Has Discovered The Perils Of Being Data-Driven — I Just Wish Arne Duncan Would, Too

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 days ago

I have written regularly about the dangers of being “data-driven” instead of being “data-informed.” In fact, I have a lengthy, and popular, post titled The Best Resources Showing Why We Need To Be “Data-Informed” & Not “Data-Driven.” Here’s my previously … Continue reading →

This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Useful Education Policy Posts & Articles

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 days ago

Here are some relatively recent useful articles and posts on education policy issues: Perpetuating Inequity: New Study Shows Attrition a Huge Problem for TFA recruits is from Reconsidering TFA. I’m adding it to The Best Posts & Articles Raising Concerns … Continue reading →

Guns & Schools

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 days ago

I have a number of good commentaries on the National Rifle Association’s ridiculous response to the Sandy Hook shootings at A Collection Of Resources On The Sandy Hook Shooting. Here are two more: Arming Teachers Isn’t the Answer is from … Continue reading →

The Best Posts & Articles On The “Motivation Trumps IQ” Study

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 week ago

I’ve suggested that the recent study finding that motivation was more important than IQ in determining academic growth was the most important research of the year. Since I originally posted about it, a number of other news outlets have run … Continue reading →

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… 1-5-13 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

LARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY