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Saturday, July 26, 2014

Morning Wink 7-26-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS



Student Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State
Student Mock Election - Elections & Voter Information - California Secretary of State: Inspiring a New Generation of VotersRegister Your Schoolfor the Mock Election Here!Young people have the potential to be a powerful force in elections, but only if they get involved and make voting a habit.To encourage students to become active voters once they are old enough to cast a ballot, Secretary of S
Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union. - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee
Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union. - Viewpoints - The Sacramento Bee: Ben Boychuk: Democrats stay silent on tenure ruling opposed by teachers’ union.By Ben BoychukSpecial to The BeePublished: Saturday, Jul. 26, 2014 - 12:00 amWhen recently has there been a more radioactive lawsuit than Vergara v. California? Think about it. Every elected fool and knave
A brief update on my wife by teacherken
A brief update on my wife: A brief update on my wifebyteacherkenFollow    5 Comments / 5 NewRecently I have received a number of direct communications inquiring about my wife Leaves on the Current and how she is doing in living with her cancer.  Several suggested I might want to let others know as well as responding to them directly.  Hence this message.Her cancer remains in remission. She remains
Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White
Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John WhiteTo be clear, if you see this reported in the media......FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Re:  John White and BESE Members Will Be Targets of New Ethics ComplaintFor more information contact:  Lee P. Barrios: Parents, educators and other public education activists find it necessary now to disclose their inten
7-26-14 WagTheDog | Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. ~ Rumi
WagTheDog | Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart. ~ Rumi: PISA EnvyTests confirm…ed reformers are suffering from impaired judgement and diminished critical thinking skills due to acute case of PISA envy. Ed reformers should reconsider their admiration for education systems that prepare young people to live and work in closed soci
Stephen Krashen Blog 7-26-14
SKrashen:Companies do less training, but complain about schoolsWe often hear that public schools are failing because they do not prepare students for jobs.  Employers complain, we are told, that recent graduates are unprepared for the real world of work. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explains what is really going on: "Companies complain that they can't find skilled hires, but th
7-26-14 With A Brooklyn Accent: Love Letters to the BATS
With A Brooklyn Accent:BATS- Finding a Teacher VoiceIf there is a single contribution that BATS has made in the one year of its existence, it is to show the powers that be that public school teachers- in all their diversity and variety-- are not a silent, compliant group who can be demonized, standardized, scripted, deprived of due process, and forced to commit professional malpractice at the expe
7-26-14 Jersey Jazzman NJ Ed News Round-up Jammin' All Week
Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week@GovChristie: Education Politics, Not Education PolicyRemember Chris Christie's big idea from this past winter? He was going to lengthen the school day and the school year. It was urgent that we do this immediately: "This is a key step to improve student outcomes and boost our competitiveness. We should do it now."So, how's that going, Govern
7-26-14 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION:Curmudgucation WeekCollege Students vs. Faux JournalismHuffPo recently ran what could be called a graphics-rich story (basically two big graphics plus captioning) that is sure to have some folks sounding the alarm bell, and there's no question that the data are striking.The basic takeaway is this-- in no states in the US do the majority of students finish college in four years. Virg
7-26-14 NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education
NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News Briefsfrom The Network for Public EducationThe Charter Sham Formula: Billionaires + Flawed “Reports” + Press Release Media = Misled Public | the becoming radicalLate in 2013, I shared my own experience with the disaster capitalism tactics employed by the Walton-funded Department of Education Reform (University of Arkansas), asking: F
7-26-14 THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education
The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education:THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog What Happens When You BelieveI was recently asked if I remember teachers or educators that made a difference in my life and learning and how they inspired me. Yes, for a while I was that "middle" kid. I was your student who came diligently every day to class, completes their work, and if given the choice,
7-26-14 This Week in LA - School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):Breaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain openBreaking News: Judge allows Magnolia charters to remain open A California Superior Court judge today ruled that two Magnolia Public Schools (MPS) charters can remain open, blocking LA Unified’s effort to have them shut down over financial concerns
All Week @ The Answer Sheet 7-26-14
The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer SheetChris Christie to mayor: ‘I’m the decider and you have nothing to do with it’New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is consistent — at least when it comes to espousing total  indifference to what Newark residents want for their state-operated public school system. Christie just bragged (see video below) that he told new Newark Mayor Ras Baraka that Baraka’s
7-26-14 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:Schooling in the Ownership SocietyMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership SocietyGriffin's divorce. Think of it as a stock split.The GriffinsSORRY TO HEAR THE NEWS (No really) that right-wing billionaire power couple, Ken and Ann Griffin are splitting up. Whatever happened to "'til death do us part"?The Griffins have been the money bags behind bo
7-26-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy
Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekIf you want change – now is the time to step up and make it happen!Apologies to those that have already received this call to action – but the historic effort to get on the November ballot and ensure that the people of Connecticut have a real choice in this year’s election for governor hangs in the balance… The August 6th 2014 deadline to submit 7,500 signatures to
7-26-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week
Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community ForumThe Volume is Going up on the Garfield Rape CaseThe Stranger has a very pointed article - with questions posed just as Charlie has - on the topic of the Garfield field trip rape incident.There is also this from Monisha Harrell:I’m an Alum of Garfield High School, and until yesterday I sang “I’m So Glad I go to Garfield High” with pride
7-26-14 Ed Notes Online Week
Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes OnlineRockaway Theatre Company "Gypsy" HighlightsCatch some of the magic in 2 minutes. Only 7 shows left - including tonight (tickets still available), sold out tomorrow (Friday). Call 718 374 6400.by ed notes online / 1d JUL 2314 More Schools for Avaricious Eva - Coming to a School Near You - Or in Your Own School....with so many schools how can Eva assure a co
7-26-14 Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherRahm Emanuel and the fugitive in Pakistan.The line in the Sun-Times story was very carefully constructed. He is not accused of any wrongdoing involving his City Hall job. He is Amer Ahmad, the fugitive money launderer and racketee
7-26-14 Perdido Street School Week
Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekCuomo Meddled With His Other Commissions And Panels TooMichael Grunwald reports in TIME Magazine that the Moreland Commission tackling public corruption is not the first time Andrew Cuomo has meddled in one of his panels:Before New York Governor Andrew Cuomo set up a supposedly independent commission to investigate political corruption in Albany—a c
7-26-14 the becoming radical EMPATHYEDUCATES! | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD
THE BECOMING RADICALEMPATHYEDUCATES!the becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by Kristof, How Much Inequity Is the Right Balance?I started simply to ignore Nicholas Kristof’s An Idiot’s Guide to Inequality, but I was pulled back into it by Russ Walsh’s Hope, Poverty, and Grit. First, the rush to celebrate Kristof’s acknowledgement of Thomas Picketty, inequality, and (gasp) the impli
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-26-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  An appeal for support from Dr. McKennasmf writes: 4LAKids is not political organization. While I plead guilty to the practice of politics, no one could ever allege organization! Even when I have been a candidate myself I have not appealed for funds on these pages.  But the political fundraising and spending be
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 7-26-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAYJuly’s Best Tweets — Part FourEvery month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I 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
This Week's Education Research Report 7-26-14 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2
Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORTLow Teacher Pay Keeps Experienced Educators Out of the Middle ClassA new report,  Mid- and Late-Career Teachers Struggle With Paltry Incomes, released  by the Center for American Progress reveals that low teacher pay is keeping experienced educators out of the middle class. The report highlights the growing problem of paltry mid- and la
7-26-14 Schools Matter All Week
Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All WeekValue-Added Modeling (VAM) is pseudoscience, but profitable pseudosciences persist"While value-added models are intended estimate teacher effects on student achievement growth, they fail to do so in any accurate or precise way. — Professor Bruce Baker" Back in early April I penned a piece for K12NN on The American Statistical Association's (ASA) pa
All Week 7-26-14 @ THE CHALK FACE
@ THE CHALK FACE : All Week @ THE CHALK FACE Drawing Upon Paul Tough to Nurture Soft Skills Not “Grit”It is always reassuring to read about pedagogies developed in the classroom being later determined to be based on scientific principles documented by academic researchers. That is one reason why I was so impressed with Paul Tough’s New York Times Magazine article, “Who Gets to Graduate?” Tough’s a
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 7-26-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2
Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGEduShyster: If You Could Ask Arne Duncan Just One Question……EduShyster’s guest blogger Patrick Hayes, a fifth-grade teacher from Charleston, South Carolina, asks a simple question: “If you could ask Arne Duncan just one question what would it be?” Try this one: “what would you get Bill gates for Boss’s Day? The man has ev

YESTERDAY

5 Essential Ingredients For Learning (SPLAT) | Connected Principals
5 Essential Ingredients For Learning (SPLAT) | Connected Principals: 5 Essential Ingredients For Learning (SPLAT)by William Parker • July 26, 2014 • 0 CommentsI was listening to a fascinating show by Pat Flynn, blogger and podcaster who was interviewing Bryan Kelly from What The Speak on the neuroscience behind great presentations.As I thought about the research Kelly had done on what makes great
LAUSD BOARD ELECTION BETWEEN MCKENNA AND JOHNSON- IS THE BEST VOTE NO VOTE? - Perdaily.com
LAUSD BOARD ELECTION BETWEEN MCKENNA AND JOHNSON- IS THE BEST VOTE NO VOTE? - Perdaily.com: LAUSD BOARD ELECTION BETWEEN MCKENNA AND JOHNSON- IS THE BEST VOTE NO VOTE?(Mensaje se repite en Español)In the 1998 Warren Beatty film Bulworth, the scene in the Black church on Vermont, when he tells the folks present that the only time they will see politicians is when they want their vote, is reminiscen
America’s Most Financially Disadvantaged School Districts and How They Got that Way | Center for American Progress
America’s Most Financially Disadvantaged School Districts and How They Got that Way | Center for American Progress: America’s Most Financially Disadvantaged School Districts and How They Got that WayHow State and Local Governance Causes School Funding DisparitiesSOURCE: AP/Patrick SemanskyA student walks past vacant row houses to a waiting school bus as school gets out for the day in Baltimore.By
The case against Alex Johnson
The case against Alex Johnson: The case against Alex JohnsonJULY 25, 2014 BY ROBERT D. SKEELS * RDSATHENE LEAVE A COMMENTWhen it comes to corporate sponsors poverty pimp Alex Johnson puts top auto racing teams to shame.The original draft of this essay was written in mid-June, 2014. The figures cited in the piece are indicative of the Form-460 information available at that time. I will be writing a
Randi Weingarten on Testing and Common Core - Education Writers Association
Randi Weingarten on Testing and Common Core - Education Writers Association: Randi Weingarten on Testing and Common CoreMAY 19, 2014Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, talks about teacher frustrations with Common Core implementation.Recorded May 19, 2014 at EWA’s 67th National Seminar.
David Sirota, you and me… | Reclaim Reform
David Sirota, you and me… | Reclaim Reform: David Sirota, you and me…Posted on July 25, 2014by Ken PrevitiDavid Sirota exposes yet another major rip-off of teachers – active and retired. The political leadership of both major political parties, the elected officials, and the corporate thieves who control major media outlets lie and propagandize about these rip-offs.“As states and cities grapple wi
Nite Cap 7-25-14 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT
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 CAP“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession: “I’m Mad as
“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession
“I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the Profession: “I’m Mad as Hell, and I’m Not Going to Take This Anymore!” The Real Reasons Why Teachers Stay or Quit the ProfessionJULY 25, 2014 BY NANCY BAILEY LEAVE A COMMENTWhy do teachers stay teaching? What makes them leave?The Alliance for Excellent Education and the New Teacher Center, hea
Mother Crusader: Guest Post: NJ's Interdistrict Choice Program: Overpraised and Underexamined
Mother Crusader: Guest Post: NJ's Interdistrict Choice Program: Overpraised and Underexamined: Guest Post: NJ's Interdistrict Choice Program: Overpraised and UnderexaminedBy Jeffrey BennettThere is no program on the New Jersey education landscape as overpraised and underexamined as Interdistrict Choice. In contrast to the intense debate over other topics in education like charter schools, student
Lesson 4: Teachers Can’t Be Effective Without Professional Working Conditions | Gatsby In L.A.
Lesson 4: Teachers Can’t Be Effective Without Professional Working Conditions | Gatsby In L.A.: Lesson 4: Teachers Can’t Be Effective Without Professional Working Conditions I recently interviewed for a teaching position at a really good charter school in a low-income community. The principal was smart, idealistic and dedicated; so were the other teachers I met. They spoke fondly of the students,
An Educator’s Conference Perspective | My Island View
An Educator’s Conference Perspective | My Island View: An Educator’s Conference PerspectiveJuly 25, 2014 by Tom Whitby @tomwhitbyIf there is one thing that could be said of what I do professionally it might be that I do get around to many education conferences. This past month I attended two International conferences ISTE14, BLC14 and one Indiana regional conference, the Greater Clark County Schoo
Peg with Pen: The Loss of Libraries and Librarians
Peg with Pen: The Loss of Libraries and Librarians: The Loss of Libraries and LibrariansThe subject of libraries is near and dear to my heart. In a second life I may come back as a librarian – if there are any libraries left.  My elementary school had a tiny little library; it was lovely.  I looked forward to checking out books every week – sometimes I checked out books that were big and fat - boo
Federal government required states to adopt Common Core school standards, congressional hopeful says | PolitiFact Wisconsin
Federal government required states to adopt Common Core school standards, congressional hopeful says | PolitiFact Wisconsin: Federal government required states to adopt Common Core school standards, congressional hopeful saysShare this story:The Common Core school standards were adopted by 45 states, three of which later dropped them. (AP photo)Gov. Scott Walker joined other potential Republican c
Let’s Celebrate!!! Tuesday July 29 at Abel’s on the Lake in Austin | Cloaking Inequity
Let’s Celebrate!!! Tuesday July 29 at Abel’s on the Lake in Austin | Cloaking Inequity: Let’s Celebrate!!! Tuesday July 29 at Abel’s on the Lake in AustinIt’s official. I signed the paperwork yesterday here in Sacramento. See also A Move to SacTown in Song, This time it’s for REAL: A Playlist My resignation from UT-Austin will be effective on August 31, 2014.But there will be a party!!!!!!!!!!Let’
Race to the Top: A Five-Year Marathon Slog With No End in Sight - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher
Race to the Top: A Five-Year Marathon Slog With No End in Sight - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Race to the Top: A Five-Year Marathon Slog With No End in SightBy Nancy Flanagan on July 25, 2014 12:28 PMLet me start by revealing my bias about the name itself. I don't think any aspect of genuinely improving public education in America is enhanced by state-vs.-state competition.
7-25-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadWhat does Rand Paul, a possible candidate for the Republican nomination for President, think should happen in education?“If you have one person in the country who is, like, the best at explaining calculus, that person maybe should teach every calculus class in the country,” the senator said. “You’d still have local teachers to reinforce and try to
7-25-14 Jersey Jazzman
Jersey Jazzman: @GovChristie: Education Politics, Not Education PolicyRemember Chris Christie's big idea from this past winter? He was going to lengthen the school day and the school year. It was urgent that we do this immediately: "This is a key step to improve student outcomes and boost our competitiveness. We should do it now."So, how's that going, Governor?It was one of the centerpie
An Attack On Teachers
An Attack On Teachers: An Attack On TeachersI recently read an article Shortchanging Teachers in the blog eduwonk, which was a synopsis of Shortchanged, a report from TNTP (formerly known as The New Teacher Project), which criticized the current practice of teacher salary schedules and their reliance on years taught and degrees earned. Of course the recommended solution is a change to a system whi
Corporate Education Reform Snakes?
Education ‘Reform’ Loses The Netroots: Education ‘Reform’ Loses The NetrootsThe “snake line,” Barber explained, marked a line in mountainous territory above which dangerous reptiles cannot live and where the “cold-blooded” can’t survive.Indeed, America’s cold-blooded education policies can no longer survive above the bright line of progressive values. Netroots Nation showed we’re taking education
Fun with Payroll files of LDOE (and related entities) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
Fun with Payroll files of LDOE (and related entities) | Crazy Crawfish's Blog:Crazy Crawfish's BlogZesty Louisiana Education PoliticsFun with Payroll files of LDOE (and related entities)Posted on July 25, 20140I was asked to research into why a number of people at LDOE are suddenly getting promotions. Apparently over the last few months a dozen or so jobs have popped up on the Civil Service job po
7-25-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: English learner lawsuit gains support from FedsMorning Read: English learner lawsuit gains support from Feds Feds back English learner lawsuit against state The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California has found an ally in the U.S. Department of Justice for its lawsuit charging
New tool for navigating federal privacy laws :: SI&A Cabinet Report
New tool for navigating federal privacy laws :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: JULY 25, 2014New tool for navigating federal privacy lawsby Carrie Marovich(District of Columbia) A recent cyberattack that sent one school district’s field test of a new online state assessment into a tailspin earlier this year was enough to strike panic into the
7-25-14 the becoming radical | Kristof, How Much Inequity Is the Right Balance?
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Kristof, How Much Inequity Is the Right Balance?I started simply to ignore Nicholas Kristof’s An Idiot’s Guide to Inequality, but I was pulled back into it by Russ Walsh’s Hope, Poverty, and Grit. First, the rush to celebrate Kristof’s acknowledgement of Thomas Picketty,
Are charter schools really cheaper to run? « School Board News
Are charter schools really cheaper to run? « School Board News: Are charter schools really cheaper to run?This is republished from NSBA’s Center for Public Education’s The EDifier blog by Jim Hull, Senior Policy Analyst.A new study from the School Choice Demonstration Project at the University of Arkansas claims that charter schools are 40 percent more productive than traditional public schools. T
Morning Wink 7-25-14 AM Posts #edchat #edreform
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 7-25-14 Diane Ravitch's blog #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Another Super-Hot Los Angeles School Board RaceIn District 1 in Los Angeles, a well-funded, politically-connected candidate–Alex Johnson– squares off against an underfunded, highly qualified educator–George McKen