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Saturday, June 22, 2013

Big Education Ape - Morning Wink 6-22-13 AM Posts #edreform #EDCHAT #P2


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Saturday coffee. | Fred Klonsky: Saturday coffee. by Fred Klonsky [image: extralarge] Reading the reports of a million demonstrators in streets of Brazillian cities this past week, it is hard not to think of my own city. Protesters chanted, *“When your son is ill, take him to the stadium.”* And, *“Any good teacher is worth more than Neymar,”* in reference to the Brazillian soccer star. And my favorite. *“The people, united, are a gigantic bunch of dudes.”* Money on sports stadiums instead of schools? Wait. Are we talking abou

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-22-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Hey, Commissioner Huffman: Read This by dianerav A teacher in Tennessee reacts to the state board’s decision to reduce her future pay for investing in an advanced degree: After teaching in East TN for 20 years as a special educator, I decided to get my Ph.D. because I wanted to learn more about teaching reading. I am in the final stages of my dissertation and am sick at the thought that I This Teacher Chose to Be Arrested by dianerav Do you want to know what it ... more »

“those teachers are failures” | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
“those teachers are failures” | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: “those teachers are failures” by Gary Rubinstein It is nearly July which means that it is the time of year, again, where I offer my unsolicited, and generally unwanted, analysis of some of the blog entries by the newest cohort of TFA corps members. I generally take a lot of criticism for doing this, even from people who regularly read my blog. Mainly this is because people don’t understand my intentions or because they don’t believe that my intentions are what I say they are. So, for the record: I am not trying to pass jud... more »

Condensing high school to three years | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Condensing high school to three years | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: Condensing high school to three years View Larger [image: Grads] Should we give high school students easier routes to graduate in three years? Previous Posts - Common Core, common politics: Can someone throw a bucket of water on Cobb board? June 21, 2013 - New president for Fort Valley State University June 21, 2013 - Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators June 20, 2013 By Maureen Downey While few teens graduate high school in three years -- around 3 percent... more »

Privacy Advocates Take Heed! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Privacy Advocates Take Heed! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Privacy Advocates Take Heed! by crazycrawfish Recently I (as well as a dozen or so student and parent activists) testified at the June 18th Louisiana BESE meeting about our concerns related to the inBloom data sharing and selling project Superintendent John White secretly entered into on behalf of all Louisiana citizens. Our spot came up 4 hours late, and without an outcry from one of our tireless privacy advocates named Debbie Sachs would have been pushed back another 3 hours or postponed to another day (when most of us would ... more »

Daily Kos: A different kind of Saturday Morning reflection

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Daily Kos: A different kind of Saturday Morning reflection: A different kind of Saturday Morning reflection by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) it involves school, but not from the perspective of the teacher. As I write this, I sit in the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott in Rye, NY. This is one of the hotels for the event I am attending this weekend, the 50th Reunion of the class of 1963, Mamaroneck (NY) High School. There are others staying here, some are staying with families or friends (a number of our classmates still live in the area). Last night we had a dinner, with a DJ, and ... more »

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 6-22-13

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
*4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:* *4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT* A thru G: LAUSD STUDYING NEW CURRICULUM PLANS + smf’s 2¢ smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 14 hours ago By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News | Pasadena Star-News http://bit.ly/16mWxxx 06/20/2013 06:03:21 PM PDT Los Angeles Unified's incoming freshmen class will be the first that will have to pass a rigorous college-prep curriculum with a "C" in order to get a diploma, which has district officials scrambling to identify and replicate successful programs that can g... more »

This Week's Education Research Report 6-22-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Education Research Report *THIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT* * * Effectiveness of Cognitive Tutor Algebra I at Scale Jonathan Kantrowitz at Education Research Report - 21 hours ago This article examines the effectiveness of a technology-based algebra curriculum in a wide variety of middle schools and high schools in seven states. Participating schools were matched into similar pairs and randomly assigned to either continue with the current algebra curriculum for two years or to adopt Cognitive Tutor Algebra I (CTAI), which uses a personalized, mastery-learning, blended-learning ... more »

All Week 6-22-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] Good friend “Teacher Nicole” from WI explains common in #commoncore Chalk Face, PhD at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 20 hours ago Here’s her post on CCSS, as an actual educator for ELL/ESL students. We’ve interviewed her on At the Chalk Face, I need to dig those up. Look back here later. She’s great. Tagged: at the chalk face, common core, nicole, WI education activists gather, talk, strategize: reclaim the conversation Barbara Madeloni at @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER - 21 hours ago On May 4, 2013 a group of ed... more »

On the scene for the last day of Germantown High School's life (1914-2013) | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
On the scene for the last day of Germantown High School's life (1914-2013) | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: On the scene for the last day of Germantown High School's life (1914-2013) by thenotebook on Jun 21 2013 Posted in Latest news Photo: Bas Slabbers/NewsWorks Many teachers donned "GTown '13" T-shirts; it was a way to show pride in the staff, students, leadership and the community. *by Aaron Moselle and Brian Hickey for NewsWorks* Jenia Jolley stood on the shoulder of East High Street and snapped a second photo of Germantown High School. The first was taken earlier in the mor... more »

LAUSD: THE WAR ON ART OR THE ART OF WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION? - Perdaily.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
LAUSD: THE WAR ON ART OR THE ART OF WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION? - Perdaily.com: LAUSD: THE WAR ON ART OR THE ART OF WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION? by Leonard Isenberg [image: The Art of War.jpg] (Mensaje se repite en Español) * * *Recently, I received the following query as to why I thought with the passage of Proposition 30, art programs have not been restored. Let me know if you agree or disagree with my answer and analysis of this question. * * "Lenny, do you think that the Arts have a legal remedy, since they have been picked on to a far greater extent, and Arts programs are not being re... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Letters to the Sun-Times

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Letters to the Sun-Times: Letters to the Sun-Times by Mike Klonsky Steven L. Kispetik, Portage Park *CPS closings devastating for my son * *Thank you so very much, Chicago Public Schools, for erasing all the progress my son has made with his behavioral/emotional disorders while at Near North Special Education School, which will be closed next week. The anxiety of the closing has caused him to revert to several of his old destructive and disobedient ways.** **Prior to the announcement of the school closing, he was doing the best he has ever done, with ... more »

Board Members Ask Deasy To Explain Himself - LA School Report

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Board Members Ask Deasy To Explain Himself - LA School Report: Board Members Ask Deasy To Explain Himself from LA School Report by Hillel Aron [image: John Deasy, left, Bennett Kayser, right, at a Jerry Brown-led press conference in May] John Deasy, left, Bennett Kayser, right, at a press conference in May Some members of the School Board have sent Superintendent John Deasy a letter asking him to clarify comments deriding a Board-passed spending resolution and indicating his plans to include a targeted funding resolution that was not passed by the Board. “They can’t stop me from doing... more »

Diane in the Evening 6-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Today is the Day! 5 Million Page Views on This Blog by dianerav Today, the blog recorded 5 million page views! The blog started April 24, 2012. That’s about 14 months ago. Wow. As you know, the blog has no advertisements, no funding, and no staff. Just me. I plan to keep it that way. Thank you for making the blog a place where everyone who cares about improving education, defending childhood, respecting the dignity of the education profession, and supporting public education has a safe place to converse. Thank y... more »

Attracting the Best and Brightest to Teaching

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
Attracting the Best and Brightest to Teaching: Attracting the Best and Brightest to Teaching by Richard Long Quick: List the most important jobs in America. Odds are “teacher” made that list. According to a Harris Interactive Poll, teachers ranked among the five most prestigious jobs in America. That is why Lee Iacocca, former president and CEO of Chrysler said, “In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest ... more »

NYC Educator: Ms. Tisch and the Brilliant Innovation

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 19 hours ago
NYC Educator: Ms. Tisch and the Brilliant Innovation: Ms. Tisch and the Brilliant Innovation by NYC Educator Thank goodness we have Meryl Tisch making policy for us. In the old days, we would have students taking Regents exams, and kids would give the exams to their teachers. Then, the teachers would grade them. This was a terrible system. First of all, no technology was involved. Secondly, no corporations made money from this. And worst of all, every single teacher in the world is a lying, worthless, conniving. self-serving fraud who cares about nothing but appearance. Because of ... more »

National PTA installing first African American male president

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
National PTA installing first African American male president: National PTA installing first African American male president By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 21, 2013 at 1:10 pmE-mail the writer [image: Otha Thornton (PTA)] Otha Thornton (PTA) The National PTA is installing its first African American male and a veteran of the Iraq war as its president this weekend. Otha Thornton, a senior operations analyst with General Dynamics in Fort Stewart, Ga., and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, will become the leader of the National Parent Teacher Association after years of being in... more »

The ‘neovoucher strategy’ (and why it didn’t work in New Hampshire)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
The ‘neovoucher strategy’ (and why it didn’t work in New Hampshire): The ‘neovoucher strategy’ (and why it didn’t work in New Hampshire) By Valerie Strauss, Published: June 21, 2013 at 12:15 pmE-mail the writer [image: tax]“Neovouchers” is the term that Kevin Welner, director of the National Education Policy Center at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, has given to private school tax credit programs. Earlier this week, a judge in New Hampshire ruled that the part of tax-credit program that allows public money to be used for religious school education violates the... more »

Teachers' union ad rips Corbett for building prison amid schools crisis | Philadelphia Public School Notebook

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Teachers' union ad rips Corbett for building prison amid schools crisis | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: Teachers' union ad rips Corbett for building prison amid schools crisis by thenotebook Popout *by Sonia Giebel* Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has been airing a radio ad criticizing Gov. Corbett and his fellow politicians for building a $400 million prison – complete with air-conditioned cells, classrooms, and a librarian – at a time when Philadelphia's schools are being cut to the bone. read more

UPDATE Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Juneteenth Mayoral Forum and talk of Seattle Schools

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Juneteenth Mayoral Forum and talk of Seattle Schools: Start Time Petition by Charlie Mas There are lots and lots of great reasons for Seattle Public Schools to swap around the start times for school so that elementary school starts earlier and middle and high school starts later. A group called Start School Later Seattle has is looking for a resounding show of support for moving secondary schools to a later start time. They have created a petition. You can express your support for the effort by signing the petition at*: * http://petitions.m... more »

NAESP's 92nd Annual Convention & Exposition 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
NAESP's 92nd Annual Convention & Exposition 2013: L HOME > This summer, join some of the smartest thinkers in elementary school education and stay ahead of the dynamic changes taking place at the national level. With more than 100 sessions to choose from, this is where you’ll find engaging speakers and like-minded colleagues eager to share solutions on areas such as: - Teacher recruitment and retention - Integration of the new Common Core Standards - Leading school change and improving student learning - Running the best possible building – from the cafeteria to the park... more »

When Students Own the "Why" — Whole Child Education

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
When Students Own the "Why" — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: Klea Scharberg] When Students Own the “Why” June 21, 2013 by Klea Scharberg This clip presents several ways teachers have structured learning around big ideas and conceptual patterns so that students can connect to a compelling "why," or reason for doing something. Students design the criteria for assignments and take roles and responsibilities within each assignment to see it to its completion. Students or teachers can identify a real-world problem to work on, and technology can provide new avenues for... more »

Common Core, common politics: Can someone throw a bucket of... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Common Core, common politics: Can someone throw a bucket of... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Get Schooled: Common Core, common politics: Can someone throw a bucket of water on Cobb board? View Larger [image: Georgia math standards align fully with Common Core] Georgia math standards align fully with Common Core Previous Posts - Federal guidelines on school safety: Don't arm educators June 20, 2013 - Now Gingrey wants schools to teach kids how to be gender appropriate? June 19, 2013 - School sacks 12-year-old girl's football dream. Bad call? June 19, 2013 By Ma... more »

Thinking About Schools: Graduation Gift - An Insurance Policy

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
Thinking About Schools: Graduation Gift - An Insurance Policy: Graduation Gift - An Insurance Policy They say – you know – the infamous “they” say that most people won’t remember a graduation speech a few days or weeks after hearing it. “Sorry” (to the speakers behind me on the stage). As for me, that is perfectly ok if you don’t remember this speech because I expect there will be a time when you will in the future. You see, in about ten or twenty years, when you are filming a compelling but controversial documentary – arguing a case in front of the Supreme Court – saving a li... more »

6-21-13 @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: [image: gears] Good friend “Teacher Nicole” from WI explains common in #commoncore by Chalk Face, PhD Here’s her post on CCSS, as an actual educator for ELL/ESL students. We’ve interviewed her on At the Chalk Face, I need to dig those up. Look back here later. She’s great. education activists gather, talk, strategize: reclaim the conversation by Barbara Madeloni On May 4, 2013 a group of educators, parents, students, and community activists gathered at Barnard College to share their experiences within the assault on public education, draw c... more »

Teach for America: What do you mean were not exceptional?! Public Education Justice Alliance of Minnesota(PEJAM)

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Public Education Justice Alliance of Minnesota(PEJAM): Teach for America: What do you mean were not exceptional?!: Teach for America: What do you mean were not exceptional?! *What do You Mean We are Not Exceptional?* June 14, 2013 was a dark day for Teach for America-Twin Cities and its neo-liberal backers. It marked the second time in three weeks in Minnesota that TFA was rejected after having demanded that it be treated as the exceptional organization it pretends to be. This photo includes some of Minnesota's most active corporate education reformers and was taken by Beth Hawki... more »

UPDATE FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Friday, June 21, 2013

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: *Fensterwald: Duncan grants relief to some schools facing two sets of standardized tests next year* Education Headlines *Friday, June 21, 2013* Upland school district, employees to discuss health plan cutsNegotiations will continue Thursday between the Upland Unified School District and its classified employees, who are protesting proposed increases to their health care contributions. Lodi Unified School District denies conflict of interestA consulting firm that employs the spouse of Lodi Unified School District’s top business ... more »

Update: Moales Empire Collapsing, foreclosure to take his state funded childcare sites, churches and apparently his residence. - Wait, What?

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Update: Moales Empire Collapsing, foreclosure to take his state funded childcare sites, churches and apparently his residence. - Wait, What?: Right on schedule: Pryor waives certification requirement for Vallas by jonpelto *The story of arrogance, entitlement and deceit continues to play out here in Connecticut.* First Governor Malloy and his administration tried to illegally take over the Bridgeport School System. Although Connecticut’s Supreme Court ruled the action was illegal and ordered the state to return control of Bridgeport Schools back to the people of Bridgeport, Malloy’... more »

We Party Patriots » Poverty, Once Relegated to Cities, Now Plaguing Suburban U.S.

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
We Party Patriots » Poverty, Once Relegated to Cities, Now Plaguing Suburban U.S.: Poverty, Once Relegated to Cities, Now Plaguing Suburban U.S. by Chaz Bolte [image: Pittsburgh, PA]Pittsburgh, PA In post-World War II America, the sprawling suburbs made possible by full employment, good wages, and an abundance of automobiles were a symbol of prosperity. Large supermarkets, shopping malls and public parks were a sign of American success that few foresaw fading. But now, as the economy struggles to return to pre-recession standards, the suburbs are becoming poorer. In their recent... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The new 'CPS Way' smells like the old 'CPS Way'

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: The new 'CPS Way' smells like the old 'CPS Way': The new 'CPS Way' smells like the old 'CPS Way' Last week, as she was closing dozens of neighborhood schools and slashing school budgets at the rest, *Byrd-Bennett* rolled out the new-and-improved CPS 5-year plan and a new mantra, now called The *CPS Way. *It comes neatly packaged, complete with slick brochures and videos. But a little scratch-and-sniff reveals that the new "CPS Way" is the old *CPS Way*. Quick, call in the IG to clean up this mess and get Liar-In-Chief *Becky Carroll *for damage cont... more »

A Declaration To Reset The Education Debate

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
A Declaration To Reset The Education Debate: A Declaration To Reset The Education Debate by Isaiah J. Poole You may have seen stories about the poor quality of Washington, D.C.’s public schools. You probably have also heard about how Michelle Rhee was brought from near-obscurity to take over the city’s schools, overnight becoming a national symbol of dramatic education “reform.” What you may not have heard is that after years of high-stakes testing and mass teacher firings along with school closings and reorganizations by Rhee and her successor and protégé, Kaya Henderson, many D.C.... more »

UPDATE: Special Needs students at shuttered Trumbull file federal law suit against CPS. | Fred Klonsky

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Special Needs students at shuttered Trumbull file federal law suit against CPS. | Fred Klonsky: Ten minute drawing. Rahm’s new board member. by Fred Klonsky [image: rich white person] Click on image to enlarge. The retirement gamble and HB3303. by Fred Klonsky Waiting in the wings while Madigan and Cullerton figure out if they can make a deal on their versions of pension reform are a group of Republican legislators who want to turn our defined benefit pension into a Vegas-style gamble with 401(k)s and 402(b)s and defined contributions. Glen wrote about it: *Don’t be fooled by some... more »

Shanker Blog » What Some Call Delay Is At Times Just Good Policy Making

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Shanker Blog » What Some Call Delay Is At Times Just Good Policy Making: What Some Call Delay Is At Times Just Good Policy Making by Matthew Di Carlo U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently announced that states will be given the option to postpone using the results of their new teacher evaluations for high-stakes decisions during the phase-in of the new Common Core-aligned assessments. The reaction from some advocates was swift condemnation – calling the decision little more than a “delay” and a “victory for the status quo.” We hear these kinds of arguments frequently in ... more »

Live from Netroots Nation: Building a Movement to Prevent Gun Violence | Lily's Blackboard

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Live from Netroots Nation: Building a Movement to Prevent Gun Violence | Lily's Blackboard: Live from Netroots Nation: Building a Movement to Prevent Gun Violence by LilysBlackboard [image: Lily's Blackboard Rotating Header Image] Join NEA´s vice president, Lily Eskelsen García as she addresses issues of safety in our schools as part of the national debate around gun violence, and the politics of gun control. Watch the Livestream live here at 12PM Eastern Time. freespeechtv on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Daily Kos: NCTQ Fails US, World

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Daily Kos: NCTQ Fails US, World: NCTQ Fails US, World byplthomasEdDFollow - Some things are simply too complicated for public public consumption. Rankings are one such example. By their nature, rankings often send messages that are deeply distorted, but we persist in creating rankings where none are justified. Education has a long and ugly relationship with rankings, making a mess even messier (if that is possible). Two aspects of the perpetual education debate are worth noting for their complexity: (1) The eternal claim that schools need to be reformed (see Deleuze),... more »

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 6-21-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

mike simpson at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] NCTQ Report: Time for a Class Action Lawsuit? by dianerav A reader in Wisconsin is outraged. I can’t blame her. Should anyone with a degree be allowed to teach? Is professional education worthless? Scott Walker thinks so. So will others who read the NCTQ report, which graded teacher education with an F without bothering to visit any of the institutions it graded so harshly. This parent writes: Dear Diane, My suggestion is far beyond my ability to assess; here’s my... more »



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