Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 11-5-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


Nite Cap UPDATE

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE


CORPORATE ED REFORM



New York City Elects Bill de Blasio for Mayor, But It’s Not Over
Mayor Elect Bill deBlasio As I type this, party planners will set up confetti on nets in the ceiling, soon to rain on the ardent and diverse supporters of presumed Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio. NYC will have voted him in by the largest margin of any mayor in the city’s history. With a populist message and a charisma in stark contrast to current Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recent curmudgeonly press con
15 by Jose Vilson / 31min 


In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to Rich
In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to Rich By EDUARDO PORTER “There aren’t many things that are more important to that idea of economic mobility — the idea that you can make it if you try — than a good education,” President Obama told students at the State University of New York in Buffalo in August. It is hardly a partisan belief. About a decade ago, on signing the No Child Left Behind Act, P
by aristotlethewise / 31min 



Proposed Colorado Tax Hike to Aid Schools Gets Drubbed at the Polls
A $950 million tax increase to benefit Colorado public schools that would have also restructured education finance in the state was soundly defeated by voters.
by Andrew Ujifusa / 8min 

Woodbridge District School Board Election Results – 2013
Loree Williams will be representing Woodbridge District residents on the school board for the next 2 years.  She replaces Steve Keen who was appointed last year when Denita Ramirez resigned. We thank Steve for his service and welcome Lorree!
by pwceducationrefor... / 54min

Help!: I Cannot Do This "Education Thing" By Myself!
Usually, I take this "education thing" in stride. I deal with the every day ins and outs, trying to avoid as much stress as possible. But the other day, grrrrrrrr....I was so frustrated! I can not do this education thing by myself! I need this to be understood. As much as the buck seems to stop with me, I can't do it by myself. As often as it seems that I am doing it by myself, because o
4 by Lisa Mims / 40min 


Establishment Republican Wins Over Tea Party Candidate In Special Alabama Congressional Primary Election
The fight for the heart of the Republican Party is underway as mature politicians work to stem the power of the Tea Party.  In Alabama that played out with a victory for the establishment side of the party as a ‘birther’ and Tea Party wing-nut was defeated Tuesday night in a special primary election for […]
1 by dekerivers / 13min 

AFT Sics the Dogs on Mercedes Schneider
Today AFT went down the chain to reach my local union president and ask her to “rein me in.”  .. Mercedes Schneider Norm, In reading the various posts, you may have missed Mercedes' comments below which are quite revealing. It is a classic example of how Unity operates by using intimidation. .. Retired NYC teacher and UFT activist    Here are Mercedes' comments today:Today AFT went down the chain
1 by ed notes online / 12min 

Shining a Light on What's Working in Public Education
I recently shared a guest post about "solutions journalism," which is defined by its proponents as "critical and clear-eyed reporting that investigates and explains credible responses to social problems." A superb example of this has since come to my attention, and I wanted to put it on your radar, as well. The Seattle Times, in partnership with the nonprofit Solutions Journal
by Emily Richmond / 12min 


Reflecting on Common Core RL Standard 5
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Reflecting on Common Core RL Standard 5: Reflecting on Common Core RL Standard 5 Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.- Common Core ELA Anchor Standard 5Critical Classrooms (Katie Lapham) has a lovely piece
by mike simpson / 1h 
In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to Rich - NYTimes.com
In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to Rich - NYTimes.com: Matthew Staver for The New York TimesA second grade art class at a public school in Englewood, Colo. By EDUARDO PORTERPublished: November 5, 2013MultimediaGraphicUnequal FundingEconomic SceneEduardo Porter writes the Economic Scene column for the Wednesday Business section.Author Bio »Past Columns »It is hardly a partisan belief. About a
by mike simpson / 2h 
Closing (The Achievement Gap) Bad | Gary Rubinstein's Blog
Closing (The Achievement Gap) Bad | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: Closing (The Achievement Gap) BadSo if you’re wondering why I’ve slowed down a bit on blogging lately, there are a bunch of reasons.  One is that I’m happy about the amount of coverage phony ed reform is getting by not just other bloggers, but even in the main stream media.  A lot of my blogging stems from the feeling that I am ‘needed,’
by mike simpson / 2h 
11-5-13 Daily Kos: Preliminary data from exit polls points to strong Dem performance in VA
Daily Kos: Preliminary data from exit polls points to strong Dem performance in VA: some comparisons by precinctin Arlington VA where I live Cooch is at least 8 and sometimes as much as 15% behind McDonnell.  It seems like the average is about 10%.  Of course, a chunk of that is because of the libertarian precinct            cooch      McDonnell ashton Heights  18.93%     26.72 Ballston          
by mike simpson / 3h 
Turn On, Tune In, Opt Out | The Nation
Turn On, Tune In, Opt Out | The Nation: Turn On, Tune In, Opt OutOwen Davis and StudentNation on November 5, 2013 - 2:32 PM ETShareUnited Opt Out rally " height="299" alt="United Opt Out rally" width="400" src="http://www.thenation.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/main_node_view_image/united_opt_out_cc_img.jpg">A 2012 rally held by United Opt Out (Licensed through Creative Commons. Courtesy of F
2 by mike simpson / 4h mark as read  //  save
Nite Cap 11-5-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPTODAYEducational reform movement misguided, argues Diane Ravitch - The Daily PrincetonianEducational reform movement misguided, argues Diane Ravitch - The Daily Princetonian: Educational reform movement misguided, argues Diane RavitchBY SHEILA SI
1 by mike simpson / 5h


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Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Reflecting on Common Core RL Standard 5

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Reflecting on Common Core RL Standard 5:

Reflecting on Common Core RL Standard 5


 Analyze the structure of texts, including how specific sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text (e.g., a section, chapter, scene, or stanza) relate to each other and the whole.
- Common Core ELA Anchor Standard 5
Critical Classrooms (Katie Lapham) has a lovely piece on the shortcomings of ReadyGEN Common Core curriculum. Basically, the text on Rachel Carson, had been paired with a reading skill. In this case,  craft and structure,specifically analyzing figurative language and word choice. The post author eschewed the assigned skills, and did a nice lesson focusing on other areas that were more appropriate to the reading at hand. The post is worth a read, and can be found here.  
This piece struck me because the assigned skill is based on Reading Standard 5, a standard I’ve had some concerns about. My first concern has always been, this is NOT a standard to be used with any and every text unless you really want to frustrate yourself, and your students. I was fortunate that I have more curricular control (for now), and the novel we started the school, Hatchet, is a marvelous example of author word choice. I had two students do writing on that topic and they did some really marvelous analysis of the truncated diction, and repetition of word


The WOW! factor of CCSS
One of my students this year has a propensity to use the sarcastic “WOW,” when they get news they don’t like (like, “You need to re-do this work”). This is not meant as a complaint about a student, after all they are twelve years old, and I did volunteer to teach this sarcasm-rich age cohort. I’m noticing that I’ve picked up this verbal tic lately, and it struck me that there are many things abou
6 by alicemercer / 23h 

NOV 03

Week in Class: Week Nine 2013
Actually, this is week eight too, but this photo was so nifty I had to use it… I missed posting last week because I was in Los Angeles all weekend, participating in the California Teachers Association (CTA) State Council. State Council is the governing body of CTA and sets the policy direction for our organization. Around that, I’ve been wrapping up our first unit, and starting in on our second w
3 by alicemercer / 2d 
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In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to Rich - NYTimes.com

In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to Rich - NYTimes.com:

In Public Education, Edge Still Goes to Rich

Matthew Staver for The New York Times
A second grade art class at a public school in Englewood, Colo. 
By 
Published: November 5, 2013

“There aren’t many things that are more important to that idea of economic mobility — the idea that you can make it if you try — than a good education,” President Obama told students at the State University of New York in Buffalo in August.
Multimedia
Graphic
Unequal Funding

Economic Scene

Eduardo Porter writes the Economic Scene column for the Wednesday Business section.
Author Bio »
Past Columns »

It is hardly a partisan belief. About a decade ago, on signing the No Child Left Behind Act, President George W. Bush argued that the nation’s biggest challenge was to ensure that “every single child, regardless of where they live, how they’re raised, the income level of their family, every child receive a first-class education in America.”
This consensus is comforting. It provides a solution everyone can believe in, whether the problem is income inequality, racial marginalization or the stagnation of the middle class. But it raises a perplexing question, too. If education is a poor child’s best shot at rising up the ladder of prosperity, why do public resources devoted to education 
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Closing (The Achievement Gap) Bad | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

Closing (The Achievement Gap) Bad | Gary Rubinstein's Blog:

Closing (The Achievement Gap) Bad

by Gary Rubinstein


So if you’re wondering why I’ve slowed down a bit on blogging lately, there are a bunch of reasons.  One is that I’m happy about the amount of coverage phony ed reform is getting by not just other bloggers, but even in the main stream media.  A lot of my blogging stems from the feeling that I am ‘needed,’ and with so much coming out, daily, I do feel a lot less pressure.
Also, I’ll admit that all this late night blogging (I have a family including a 2 year old and a 5 year old, you know) has taking somewhat of a toll on me.  So to recharge, I spent a few months starting and finishing the entire ‘Breaking Bad’ series with my wife after the kids went to sleep.  It was quite an undertaking watching 62 hours of TV, but it was definitely worth it.  And getting a chance to enjoy a show like that the way ‘regular’ people do who maybe don’t have small children is a nice luxury.
I got a great idea for a blog post where I’d do a spoof of ‘Breaking Bad,’ but instead of Walt getting involved with drug production to earn money for his family


New TFA Miracle Claims
Today TFA released their annual letter.  Looking at the announcement of the letter on their website, I saw this image, which shows all the aspects of TFA’s influence, though, to me, it looks a lot like what you see on the wall of a police department as they are investigating a crime and hanging up pictures of all the leads with their connections to the other leads. Of course there are the typical
by Gary Rubinstein / 5min 
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11-5-13 Daily Kos: Preliminary data from exit polls points to strong Dem performance in VA

Daily Kos: Preliminary data from exit polls points to strong Dem performance in VA:







some comparisons by precinct
in Arlington VA where I live Cooch is at least 8 and sometimes as much as 15% behind McDonnell.  It seems like the average is about 10%.  Of course, a chunk of that is because of the libertarian precinct            cooch      McDonnell ashton Heights  18.93%     26.72 Ballston            25.74      34.53 Crystal City       28.59      44.07 Glen Carlyn       20.37      29.54   Clarendon          24
1 by rss@dailykos.com ... / 12min mark as read  //  save
Preliminary data from exit polls points to strong Dem performance in VA
Washington Post has this story up on exit polls.   Some highlights. Party - nearly 4 in 10 self-identif as Dems while only 3 in 10 as Repubs.  In 2009 Repubs beat Dems 37-33  while 2012 Dems led 39-32. Race  a bit over 70% white, roughly equal to 2012.  In 2009 the makeup was 78% white. IDEOLOGY — about 1/5 are political liberals while a bit over 1/3 are conservatives.  In 2009 it was 40-18% in fa
3 by rss@dailykos.com ... / 12min 

Daily Kos: Leaves on the Current - day 19 post-transplant
Daily Kos: Leaves on the Current - day 19 post-transplant: Leaves on the Current - day 19 post-transplantbyteacherkenFollow4 Comments / 4 Newand at least the blood work remains very positive.The hair loss was not complete, but it was pretty thorough, so at the request of my beloved no pictures for now.  The main problem has been with tummy problems of various sort, along with a problem with a low
by mike simpson / 8min 

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