Here Are My Nominees For The 2013 Edublog Awards
It’s that time again — to make nominations for the 2013 Edublog Awards. As I’m always said, I like the Edublog Awards because they’re great opportunities to learn about new blogs, people and resources that are out there. You can see my list of nominees from last year here. Here are my new ones (and I hope you make time to make your own): Best Individual Blog — This was a tough one. I tried to thi
Some Excellent Resources On “Grit”
I’ve often written about the idea of “grit,” the term given to perseverance by Professor Angela Duckworth (recent winner of a MacArthur Genius Award. You can see all of those posts at The Best Resources For Learning About The Importance Of “Grit” (I also have a lesson on it in one of my books). One of those resources is a simple “grit” test that anyone can take (it’s at Professor Duckworth’s site
“Collection Of Tweets From Second Week’s Chat On Classroom Management”
I’ve just posted a Collection Of Tweets From Second Week’s Chat On Classroom Management over at Education Week Teacher. Today marks the end of a two-week Twitter “chat” (using the hashtag #classmgmtQA ) on my new Education Week-published book, Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching. It’s been a very active two weeks, with my tweeting out quotations from the book, along with
Great Interactive: “Why are we building new walls to divide us?”
The Guardian has published an excellent, though sad, interactive titled Why are we building new walls to divide us? It’s a perfect addition to The Best Sites To Learn About Walls That Separate Us.
November’s (2013) Best Tweets — Part Three
Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I shared through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already shared in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in this post. If you don’t use Twit
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There has recently been a flurry of media attention to what is called the so-called “word gap.” It’s the term used to describe the difference in vocabulary development of low-income children and middle-and-high-income children during their pre-school years. In addition to the media attention, there have been some high-profile efforts at trying to respond to the issue, and that’s where it gets particularly controversial. I thought a “Best” list here on the topic might be useful to readers: I’d say the best piece that talks about the issue has been written by Esther Quintero at The Albert Shanke
Getting Parents Engaged with School is a lively public discussion that’s going on at Edutopia right now. Good thoughts and ideas are being shared — Check it out!
Even the Best Teacher Could Be Considered a Negligent Parent is a thoughtful post at Ed Week Teacher by Marilyn Rhames. Here’s an excerpt: When parents are going through tough times in life, I want to be the kind of teacher who uplifts them and their children. It is not my place to judge or assume that the mom who says she is too busy to come to parent conferences just doesn’t care. While I want to encourage and challenge parents to do better by their kids, I must walk a fine line so that my actions or words do not also make them feel out of place in their child’s school. I know. I understand.
NOV 17
“What to do if your child is accused of being a bully”
What to do if your child is accused of being a bully is from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and offers pretty decent advice. It’s a delicate issue, but I think it’s a useful article for parents to read….
British Experiment Begins To Pay Parents To Attend Trainings — I Don’t Have A Good Feeling About This….
A fairly substantial experiment has been launched in Great Britain — 14 schools will start paying parents of their students to attend eighteen parent training sessions. You can read more about it at The Telegraph and at The BBC (and at The Guardian). You can read more about why I don’t have a good feeling about it at my Washington Post column, Why paying parents to attend school events is wrong.
View A Taped Webinar On “Using Leadership to Promote Strengths-Based Family Engagement”
Harvard’s Family Involvement Network Of Educators did a Webinar today on Using Leadership to Promote Strengths-Based Family Engagement, and they have made it available for free on-demand viewing. Just go here to watch the recording….
“Sandy Hook Promise Launches ‘Parent Together’ As Tragedy’s One Year Mark Approaches”
Sandy Hook Promise Launches ‘Parent Together’ As Tragedy’s One Year Mark Approaches is the headline of an announcement from the Sandy Hook Promise organization about a new initiative. Here’s an excerpt: Sandy Hook Promise today announced the launch of Parent Together, a national grassroots campaign to educate and empower parents to prevent gun violence in their communities. Emphasizing mental well
“When Parents Yank Their Kids Out of Standardized Tests”
When Parents Yank Their Kids Out of Standardized Tests is an article in the Atlantic, by Alexander Russo, that gives a good overview of the “opt-out” movement. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Parents “Opting-Out” Of Standardized Tests For Their Children.
New Sacramento Area Superintendent Appears To Understand Parent Engagement
The Twin Rivers School District in north Sacramento has undergone many challenges recently, and has just hired a new superintendent. According to an article about him in today’s Sacramento Bee, he seems to have a good grasp on the importance of family engagement: Among his many ideas: Partnering with Pacific Gas and Electric’s Power Pathway program, which provides job training for adults and high
“Rethinking Parent-Teacher Conferences”
Rethinking Parent-Teacher Conferences is the subject of The New York Times feature “Room For Debate.” It includes responses from eight educators — my favorite being Jose Luis Vilson. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Parent/Teacher Conferences.
“If a Child Is Bullied, Parents Offer Advice on When and How to Intervene”
If a Child Is Bullied, Parents Offer Advice on When and How to Intervene is a useful piece in The New York Times, and don’t neglect reading the comments. You might also be interested in A Very, Very Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Bullying.
“Good Teachers Embrace Their Students’ Cultural Background”
Good Teachers Embrace Their Students’ Cultural Background is a new article from The Atlantic. Here’s an excerpt: Culturally responsive teaching doesn’t mean lowering standards, Irvine says. Take dialect, for example. Teachers need to help students speak and write in Standard English, but they’ll be more successful in that effort if they begin by respecting the way a student and his family speak at
Video: Chicago Teachers Union & Parents Urge Opposition To Tests
Chicago Teachers Union urges parents to oppose standardized tests for young kids is an article in the Chicago Sun-Times about a teacher/parent campaign against the pressure of standardized tests: I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Parents “Opting-Out” Of Standardized Tests For Their Children.
“Turn On, Tune In, Opt Out”
Turn On, Tune In, Opt Out is an article in The Nation about the growing popularity of efforts by parents to have their children “opt-out” of taking standardized tests. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Parents “Opting-Out” Of Standardized Tests For Their Children.
“Parents Push for More Nurses in N.C. Schools”
Parents Push for More Nurses in N.C. Schools is an article in North Carolina Health News. Here’s how it begins: “I know there’s a lot of important issues, but to us, this is one that’s top,” said Teri Saurer, founder of N. C. Parents Advocating for School Health. The issue she’s referring to is more nurses in schools. Saurer, whose 6-year-old daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy at 9 months old an
“How to Get the Most Out of a Parent-Teacher Conference”
How to Get the Most Out of a Parent-Teacher Conference is a useful post over at Mind Shift. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Parent/Teacher Conferences.
“Hidden Causes of Low Parental Engagement in Urban Schools and What to Do About It”
Hidden Causes of Low Parental Engagement in Urban Schools and What to Do About It is the topic of a new short episode at BAM Radio. There’s a good discussion on the program, though I suspect that readers of this blog aren’t going to learn anything new. A couple of the positive comments about using charter schools as a model seem a bit simplistic and don’t recognize the “creaming” aspects of those
“The Role of the K-12 Parent” Is An Important Education Week Special Report
The Role of the K-12 Parent is a special multimedia Education Week report. It includes a number of important articles, videos and infographics. Here’s a small sample of what it offers: And I’m adding their infographic to The Best Infographics About Parent Involvement In Schools:
“National Center for Family Literacy Changes Name, Affirms Mission”
National Center for Family Literacy Changes Name, Affirms Mission is the title of a blog post over at Education Week describing changes at the Center. I’ve previously posted a number of times about the work of the Center…..
Video: “Educate Our State”
I’ve previously posted about Educate Our State, a parent organization here in California. Though I’ve sometimes disagreed with them, I think it’s a good group with potential. Here’s their latest video:
My Most Popular Parent Engagement Posts In 2013
This blog is now a little over four years old and, as usual, it’s time for a slightly early list of my most popular posts of the year. You can see previous annual lists here, along with a list of the most popular posts from over the last four years. Here are My Most Popular Parent Engagement Posts In 2013 (some were published prior to this year, but still remained popular): 1. Writing Letters To P
“Houston Dad Learns Valuable Lessons Volunteering at School”
Houston Dad Learns Valuable Lessons Volunteering at School is a good post over at Education Week about a group emphasizing getting fathers involved in schools. Here’s an excerpt: Watch D.O.G.S. is a K-12 father-engagement initiative run by the National Center for Fathering in Kansas City, Mo. Two fathers in Springdale, Ark., founded the program following the tragic school shootings at a Jonesboro,
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “Nominations Open! The 10th Annual Edublog Awards Are Here!”It’s that time again — Nominations Open! The 10th Annual Edublog Awards Are Here! These awards recognized education blogs from around the world, and I think they’re great opportunities to learn about blogs and great work that is out there that all of us might not k