LOOK FOR MY UPCOMING BOOK IN MARCH, 2013
Alfie Kohn On Parent Involvement
Education research/writer Alfie Kohn has just published a two-part series on parent involvement.
I admire a lot of his work and he does raise a good point:
What kids need, therefore, are parents willing to question the conventional wisdom and to organize others to challenge school practices when that seems necessary. What kids don’t need is the kind of parental involvement that consists of pestering them to make sure they do their homework — whether or not it’s worth doing.
This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter
I admire a lot of his work and he does raise a good point:
What kids need, therefore, are parents willing to question the conventional wisdom and to organize others to challenge school practices when that seems necessary. What kids don’t need is the kind of parental involvement that consists of pestering them to make sure they do their homework — whether or not it’s worth doing.
This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter
Guest post by Joe Mazza
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| Image credit: digitallearningday.org |
On Wednesday, February 6, 2013, educators, students, teachers, parents, and leaders across the country will celebrate the innovation in teaching and learning that digital learning provides by pledging to try something innovative with technology to improve the learning experience. Nearly a half million students will participate as their teachers innovate and apply best practices in teaching and learning to provide a more engaging and personalized experience for students.
During this Wednesday’s 9PM EDT/6PM PST Parent-Teacher Chat #PTchat on Twitter, we’ll share out the best Digital Learning Day 2013 resources and ideas shared during the day in schools around the world. Join us to share what YOUR SCHOOL did to celebrate.
What is Digital Learning?
Digital learning is any instructional practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience. Much more than “online learning,” digital learning encompasses a wide spectrum of tools and practice, digital learning emphasizes high-quality instruction and provides access to challenging content, feedback through formative assessment, opportunities for learning anytime and anywhere, and individualized instruction to ensure all students reach their full potential to succeed in college and a career.
Characteristics of Digital Learning in Schools
- Personal and flexible.
- Led by teachers with significant support.
- Collaborative and aligned to a common vision.
- Flexible and high-quality resources.
- Data driven, transparent, and ongoing.
Parents Can Help Build The Wave Of Innovation
You have probably seen more technology in use in your children’s schools lately. Maybe your child’s class has an interactive whiteboard. Maybe your teacher uses email. Maybe they utilize Blackboard or some other platform so that students can learn anytime, anywhere. Technology has changed literally everything in our world. These developments have created jobs, made the world more connected, and changed the way we interact. They also have the power to change the way our children learn. Thanks to technology, teachers are able to offer learning experiences that are more personalized, accelerated, engaging, and connected to the world students live in.
The nation is finally at a point where the technology is available to keep up with the demands of student needs. And technology is getting more and more affordable every day. In fact, some schools are saving money by using more technology. But there is so much more that can be done, which is why the Alliance for Excellent Education hosts Digital Learning Day.
- Review the Parent Discussion Guide.
- Take PBS’s quiz: Your Digital Parenting Style: Protecting and Empowering Kids.
- Include information about Digital Learning Day in your next PTA/PTO newsletter
NY Times Slideshow on “Favorite Class Assignments” & Invitation For More — Too Bad It’s Only For College Students
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 9 minutes ago
The New York Times has just published a slideshow featuring college students’ favorite class assignments and has invited people to send in more. Too bad it’s only for college students — I’d guess perhaps permissions would be a little tricky … Continue reading →
Video: Watch The Extended Interview Jon Stewart Did With Michelle Rhee
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 20 minutes ago
Michelle Rhee was on The Daily Show last night. I thought she generally came across as quite reasonable and tried to minimize and gloss over many of her beliefs. Stewart kept pressing her — admirably, I thought, while trying to … Continue reading →
Another Interesting List Of “Top” Education Blogs
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 hours ago
Less than one month after USC Rossier Online, associated with the University of Southern California, unveiled a rating system for education blogs that they call The Teach 100, another organization has come up with their own list The 100 most … Continue reading →
Brain “Priming” In The Classroom
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 7 hours ago
I’ve written several posts about brain “priming” research and how I apply it in the classroom, as well as some of my ethical reservations. I primarily use it on days for standardized tests, and they’re all fairly innocuous (such as … Continue reading →
Chinese New Year Resources
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 7 hours ago
Chinese New Year will begin on February 10, 2013 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake. I’ve just updated The Best Resources For Chinese New Year.
Surprising — To Me, At Least — Statistic On Charter School Teacher Turnover
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 8 hours ago
The PBS News Hour has a segment tonight on a charter school. Here’s a statistic that was surprising — to me, at least: Source: shareasimage.com via Larry on Pinterest
New Hans Rosling “Magic” Video
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 10 hours ago
The Gates Foundation today released a new one of Hans Rosling’s “magic” world data videos (you can see his previous ones I’ve posted here). Check it out:
What A Great New Financial Literacy Tool For English Language Learners & Everybody Else
Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 10 hours ago
Here’s a new announcement from The Cultural Orientation Resource Center: With training and guidance from COR Center colleagues at the Center for Applied Linguistics, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection has developed a website with financial literacy … Continue reading →