Mythbusting CCSS with the US Chamber
The US Chamber of Commerce is all in on the push for Common Core, and they throwing money at the push for the Core with unbridled enthusiasm. They have created an entire website (well, paid somebody to create, anyway) devoted to their devotion to CCSS. It has many nifty features, including links to some fine video production, today we're visiting the tab labeled "Myths vs. Facts" because
Five Myths About Tenure and FILO
There's plenty of discussion and argument to be had in the debate about doing away with tenure and FILO. But here are five points that don't need to be brought up any more, ever, because they are bunk. 1. Teachers want to protect bad teachers.The prevailing myth is that when a bad teacher hits a school, other teachers circle the wagons and do their best to protect that lousy teacher from any conse
Bubble Answers for an Essay World
I have had the same conversation multiple times in the last week. I have had it with elementary teachers, secondary teachers, someone who works with young teachers, someone who works with college students. The crux of the conversation is something like this:I do not know what to do with these [persons]. They do not want to understand. They do not want to discuss or explore. They just want to know
4-1-13 Curmudgucation
CURMUDGUCATION: Open Ended and Close MindedWe build cages for students to protect ourselves.Too many teachers (and others) are way too afraid of open-ended exploration for any number of reasons. Perhaps most commonly, the problem is not knowing the territory.If I want to allow my students true open-ended exploration of a novel, ten I have to know the territory. It's a big sprawling place, like a g
