Nite Cap EXTRA
EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA
I’ve been doing a lot with short constructed writing response. Part of this is due to trainings I’m going to on Common Core for my district. The standards emphasize a written response that sites the information from the text the question is based on. I’m not in love with the standards, but feel I can live with the upper-elementary level ones (mostly because as Tom Hoffman points out, it’s not like their worse than what was here before). I make no claims about their appropriateness for primary (the fact that NO early childhood educators or experts were included in their development is appalling), and high school (where the discussions of implementation have degenerated into a ridiculous metrics like “50% of text reading should be informational” – like you don’t get information from reading Moby Dick?).
I’ll be writing a post soon on the results of this exploration of writing I’ve been doing (two thumbs up, IMHO) for those who prefer action in the classroom to my gassing on about policy, etc. which I’ll continue to do in here in the remainder of this post.
Why am I doing this? Frankly, Common Core is a convenient excuse, and not my main reason. I love having students write. To make it manageable level of grading, I prefer the short answer for formative assessment
I’ll be writing a post soon on the results of this exploration of writing I’ve been doing (two thumbs up, IMHO) for those who prefer action in the classroom to my gassing on about policy, etc. which I’ll continue to do in here in the remainder of this post.
Why am I doing this? Frankly, Common Core is a convenient excuse, and not my main reason. I love having students write. To make it manageable level of grading, I prefer the short answer for formative assessment
Cobb faces drastic actions to cope with school budget crisis. Considers some online high school classes.
Georgians can grasp just how grave the underfunding of education has become when they read about what’s happening in Cobb County.
On Thursday night, the school chief proposed shifting many high school classes into online courses, cutting five days from the school year, eliminating transportation to several thousand students and giving district staff five furlough days to address an $86.4 million deficit.
T his is occurring in one of more affluent counties in the state. How is the rest of Georgia coping with drastic funding cuts to their schools?
I’m not sure how happy Cobb parents are going to be when word of these proposed economies reach them. Many parents will have questions about the online delivery of classes for their high school students. It sounds like the classes will follow a blended model, which combines virtual and face-to-face instruction.
To be honest, I would be nervous to have my children in the inaugural application of a blended learning model as there are …
On Thursday night, the school chief proposed shifting many high school classes into online courses, cutting five days from the school year, eliminating transportation to several thousand students and giving district staff five furlough days to address an $86.4 million deficit.T his is occurring in one of more affluent counties in the state. How is the rest of Georgia coping with drastic funding cuts to their schools?
I’m not sure how happy Cobb parents are going to be when word of these proposed economies reach them. Many parents will have questions about the online delivery of classes for their high school students. It sounds like the classes will follow a blended model, which combines virtual and face-to-face instruction.
To be honest, I would be nervous to have my children in the inaugural application of a blended learning model as there are …
Lancaster's not having it.
Just posting a denial letter here for future reference. It's the text of the Lancaster, PA school district denial of a Gulen charter: the Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship, which I found in a conversation over at Diane Ravitch's.
This is a situation where the school will soon go to the state charter commission and overrule the school district, just like the Concept people did here.
I'm posting it here because I have no other place to put it--- it's a truly scathing letter, and I haven't seen anything
This is a situation where the school will soon go to the state charter commission and overrule the school district, just like the Concept people did here.
I'm posting it here because I have no other place to put it--- it's a truly scathing letter, and I haven't seen anything
Madison High School event turns angry as community members accuse DISD administrators of unfairly forcing out principals
After a brief overview of the area’s school by Dallas school trustee Bernadette Nutall, speakers lined up to attack district administrators in attendance over concerns that principals might be forced out of their jobs. They claimed that Madison … [visit site to read more]
Read How Lucy Calkins Ruins A Life in 2023
On March 6 we here at SBSB shared the wisdom of Robert Pondiscio and his thoughts on cult leader Lucy Calkins methods of of abusing children with her failed Reader's Workshop. Later that evening I tweeted Robert and asked him if he had ever shared his thoughts on the other abusive Calkins failure, of Writer's Workshop. He indeed did.
A few things stick out in his article. Just for full disclosure, I have been blessed this year to be at several Writer's Workshop workshops given by 25 year old presenters. I have also been blessed with reading those writer's notebooks that Lucy so loves and must say how amazed I am by the writing in these notebooks. Amazed at how all the bad grammar, spelling, and lack of any writing mechanics
NJ Ed Commish Cerf: Wrong On Poverty, Wrong On Teacher Evaluation
If my email is any indication, teachers across New Jersey are just now being introduced to our new, top-down, state-mandated evaluation system, AchieveNJ. There's a lot of concern about this system - as well there should be. AchieveNJ has many serious flaws that I've documented over the last two weeks: see here, here, here,here, here, here, and here.
But none of these seem to concern Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf; if anything, he seems more confident than ever in AchieveNJ's infallibility:
But none of these seem to concern Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf; if anything, he seems more confident than ever in AchieveNJ's infallibility:
Students in New Jersey are going to be placed in peer groups with students who scored similarly on the previous year’s test. They will get a score based on how
Lots of speakers, lots to say to the SRC about school closings, expansions
The School Reform Commission got an earful from nearly 50 speakers at its Thursday evening action meeting – the first since their vote to close 23 schools on March 7. And the closings were again a major theme:
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Controversial Video Game Draws Mayroral Ire
The Mayors of New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago have called on video game manufacturer Satan's Child Games to pull School Closing Fight from store shelves for it's over the top violence and depiction of urban life.
The controversial game manufacturer first caught the public's eye with Evil Bus Driver, a game where you tried to crash into buses filled with helpless orphans and force them off the road. However, according to Philadelphia's Mayor Nutter, this time the game company has "gone too far."
In School Closing Fight, players take the part of either a hardened criminal or a public school student who is forced to cross into their territory because their neighborhood school has been closed. The student gains points
Tweed to Absorb Much of Lost Aid
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott told the CIty Council Thursday that the Department of Education was planning for next year without the $250 million dollars in education aid that was withheld by the state after the city failed to reach a deal on a teacher evaluation plan with the teachers union.
This despite a judge’s ruling that blocked the state from withholding the aid, and the city from proceeding with cuts, until a lawsuit brought by parents moves forward.
“Explain to me why you want to make the cuts now, that have irreparable harm to our children, with the
Urgent action required. Call these Illinois senators NOW! Tomorrow will be too late.
This despite a judge’s ruling that blocked the state from withholding the aid, and the city from proceeding with cuts, until a lawsuit brought by parents moves forward.
“Explain to me why you want to make the cuts now, that have irreparable harm to our children, with the
Urgent action required. Call these Illinois senators NOW! Tomorrow will be too late.
From Glen Brown:
These are senators who apparently have no regard for a teacher’s earned constitutionally-guaranteed benefits and will most likely vote “yes” for an unconstitutional bill from the House of Representatives.1. John Cullerton (217-782-2728, Chicago: 773-883-0770)
4. Patricia Van Pelt (217-782-6252, Chicago: 312-888-9191)
7. Bill Cunningham (217-782-5145, Chicago: 773-445-8123)
8. Michael Hastings (217-782-9595, Matteson: 708-283-4125)
9. Michael Noland (217-782-7746, Elgin: 847-214-8864)
10. Mike Jacobs (217-782-5957, Moline: 309-797-0001)
Other Illinois Senators Who Voted “Yes” on the blatantly unconstitutional SB 0035 and will most likely vote “yes” for an unconstitutional bill from the House of Representatives.
15. Dan Duffy (217-782-8010, Barrington: 847-277-7100)
CALL THESE LEGISLATORS TODAY!
Bring Rodrigo Home – Kids For Kids!
2. Daniel Biss (217-782-2119, Skokie: 847-568-1250)
3. Don Harmon (217-782-8176, Oak Park: 708-848-2002)4. Patricia Van Pelt (217-782-6252, Chicago: 312-888-9191)
5. Steven Landek (217-782-0054, Burbank: 708-430-25100
6. Napoleon Harris III (217-782-8066, 708-232-8780)7. Bill Cunningham (217-782-5145, Chicago: 773-445-8123)
8. Michael Hastings (217-782-9595, Matteson: 708-283-4125)
9. Michael Noland (217-782-7746, Elgin: 847-214-8864)
10. Mike Jacobs (217-782-5957, Moline: 309-797-0001)
11. Heather Steans (Yes vote on SB 35, “Present” on SB 1) (217-782-8492, Chicago: 773-769-1717)
12. Michael Connelly (Yes on SB 35, “Did Not Vote” on SB 1) (217-782-8192, Wheaton: 630-682-8101)Other Illinois Senators Who Voted “Yes” on the blatantly unconstitutional SB 0035 and will most likely vote “yes” for an unconstitutional bill from the House of Representatives.
13. Kirk Dillard (217-782-8148, Westmont: 630-969-0990)
14. Jim Oberweis (217-782-0471, North Aurora: 630-800-1992)15. Dan Duffy (217-782-8010, Barrington: 847-277-7100)
16. Matt Murphy (217-782-4471, Palatine: 847-776-1490)
17. Pamela Althoff (217-782-8000, McHenry: 815-455-6330)
18. Karen McConnaughay (217-782-1977, South Elgin: 847-214-8245)
19. Darin Lahood (217-782-1942, Peoria: 309-693-4921)
20. Sue Rezin (217-782-3840, Peru: 815-220-8720)
21. Christine Radogno (217-782-9407, Lemont: 630-243-0800)
22. William Brady (217-782-6216, Bloomington: 309-664-4440)
23. Dave Syverson (217-782-5413, Rockford: 815-987-7555)
These senators voted “present” on SB 0035
24. Mattie Hunter (217-782-5966, Chicago: 312-949-1908)
25. Jacqueline Collins (217-782-1607, Chicago: 773-224-2830)
26. Thomas Cullerton (217-782-9463, Villa Park: 630-903-6662)
These senators “did not vote” on SB 0035
27. Kimberly Lightford (217-782-8505, Westchester: 708-343-7444)
28. Tim Bivins (217-782-0180, Dixon: 815-284-0045)
29. Gary Forby (217-782-5509, Benton: 618-439-2504)
Bring Rodrigo Home – Kids For Kids!
My name is Reyna Diaz Mayida and my life changed in Houston, Texas on January 10, 2013. Houston was where my family and I were refused entry back into the US from Mexico. It was where we were turned away from coming home to Berkeley, California.
I always returned to Mexico to renew my passport and would always comply with the law by renewing my visa every six months. Every six months my partner, our son Rodrigo and I would go to Tijuana to renew our visas. But we grew afraid. The boarder patrol agents there would ask a lot of questions and by then our son, Rodrigo, did not speak Spanish very well. The last time we renewed our visas was in August 2011.
Rodrigo’s father used to work at a fraternity house in Berkeley as a cook. I worked cleaning houses. We lived in a studio apartment in Berkeley. Everything we had is back there. My partner’s mother got everything — she is a resident of the country. She isn’t a U.S. citizen so she can’t sponsor us.