Big Education Ape: May 2, 2014

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

How the Creation of Social Justice Caucuses in Unions Is Revitalizing an Aging Labor Movement | Alternet

How the Creation of Social Justice Caucuses in Unions Is Revitalizing an Aging Labor Movement | Alternet: How the Creation of Social Justice Caucuses in Unions Is Revitalizing an Aging Labor Movement"We are the antithesis of the union thug. We are the people who aren’t out for ourselves, who aren’t only about our jobs. "Photo Credit: Atomazul / Shutterstock.comApril 26, 2014 | Earlier

by mike simpson / 13min

Welcome the Class of 2014 « The National Teacher Hall of Fame

Current News « The National Teacher Hall of Fame: Welcome the Class of 2014Posted on March 28, 2014 by admin | Leave a replyWe would like to welcome the newest inductees into the Hall of Fame. These five educators are what we are all about!!!! Congratulations and Welcome! Follow the links next to their names to see local coverage and images of their announcement ceremonies.Jan Alderson is a 45 yea

by mike simpson / 17min

5-2-14 The Whole Child Blog — Putting the Child into Whole Child: Give Students Voice to Improve Your Practice — Whole Child Education

Putting the Child into Whole Child: Give Students Voice to Improve Your Practice — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGPutting the Child into Whole Child: Give Students Voice to Improve Your PracticeMay 2, 2014 by Eric RussoRecently I was having a discussion with a colleague who is new to the building. This teacher is confident, self-assured, and has decades of experience more than me. We t

by mike simpson / 1h

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Gated communities for children of privilege

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Gated communities for children of privilege: Gated communities for children of privilegeAld. Pat DowellDowell is not about to use such divisive language. She just wants results. -- Sun-Times reporter Fran SpielmanJulie Woestehoff, executive director of PURE, is a straight shooter. She's quoted in PE&O, letting us know that since CPS leaders vacated the Consent De

by mike simpson / 1h

Myths of Technology Series: “Don’t Talk To Strangers” | Connected Principals

Myths of Technology Series: “Don’t Talk To Strangers” | Connected Principals: Myths of Technology Series: “Don’t Talk To Strangers”by George Couros • May 2, 2014 • 0 CommentsFor ISTE 2014 in Atlanta, I will be presenting on the “Myths of Technology and Learning”. As I am really thinking about what I will be sharing at the conference, I wanted to write a series of blog posts that will help myself a

by mike simpson / 1h

Steel Parents Say No to Turning their school over to Charter Company | WeArePCAPS

Steel Parents Say No to Turning their school over to Charter Company | WeArePCAPS: Steel Parents Say No to Turning their school over to Charter CompanyPosted on May 2, 2014by wearepcapsThis was a great victory for the parents, staff and Nicetown community members who value their neighborhood school and don’t want to see it sold off to a charter company. It was also a victory for the movement again

by mike simpson / 1h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 5-2-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: PLAN TO USE ‘NEED INDEX’ TO GO BEFORE LAUSD BOARD + far more than 2¢ from a 4LAKids readerby LA School Report | http://bit.ly/Si8Qdl Posted on May 1, 2014 12:17 pm :: In a surprise move, LA Unified school board will consider a resolution that supports the use of an alternative formula, known as the “Student Need Index,” in deciding how to distribute sc

by mike simpson / 2h

ACT – The Ultimate Gatekeeper | Missouri Education Watchdog

ACT – The Ultimate Gatekeeper | Missouri Education Watchdog: ACT – The Ultimate GatekeeperinShareAny good business person knows the importance of risk management. A lot of risk management involves shifting liability, for high risk things that must be done, to someone else. A simplistic example is skyscraper window cleaning. The windows must be cleaned, but as building management you don’t want to

by mike simpson / 4h

NYC Public School Parents: Please join us Tuesday & speak out against new law requiring NYC give charter schools preference for space!

NYC Public School Parents: Please join us Tuesday & speak out against new law requiring NYC give charter schools preference for space!: Please join us Tuesday & speak out against new law requiring NYC give charter schools preference for space!Please distribute to all parents! Parents and elected officials are holding a press conference Tuesday May 6 at Tweed to speak out against the new

by mike simpson / 5h

Naison EduNews 5/3/14 - Camp Philos - YouTube

Naison EduNews 5/3/14 - Camp Philos - YouTube: Naison EduNews 5/3/14 - Camp Philos May 4th weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is sponsoring a "Philosophers Camp on Education Reform". Mark Naison, Professor of African American Studies and History at Fordham and co-founder of Badass Teachers Association comments on THE NEWS!

by mike simpson / 5h

5-2-14 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: LAT endorses Tuck for state public education chiefMarshall Tuck for state superintendent of public instruction Opinion: Torlakson has been an able administrator, and after years as a state legislator, his relationships in Sacramento give him some influence on lawmaking. He deserves praise fo

by mike simpson / 5h

5-2-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: The Contract: Retro Pay is a LIE!From a former colleague who I haven't heard from in years:Retro Pay is a lie!From what I understand of the new UFT Teacher's Contract?? It's crap.There is no Retro Pay!Retro pay is pay for timed served. They want me to work another 4 years to make up that pay. If I retire or leave the system, I get 1% of the "Retro Pay” for 2013.Now what about

by mike simpson / 5h

5-2-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Malloy to retired teachers – No really I do respect you, just not that much….Three months ago, in a move to try and “win over” the support of retired teachers, Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy proposed a targeted tax break designed to benefit those who spent their careers teaching in Connecticut’s public schools. In February, the vote seeking governor explained his support for the partial

by mike simpson / 5h

5-2-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Friday Open ThreadSPS press release on math adoption. Next steps:Next, the recommendation goes to the IMC for its approval that the math adoption process was appropriately followed. From there, the Superintendent will review the recommendation, which will then be introduced to the full School Board at its May 21 meeting. The board is scheduled to vote on the math

by mike simpson / 5h

Imagine IEP’s & IGP’s Everywhere | My Island View

Imagine IEP’s & IGP’s Everywhere | My Island View: Imagine IEP’s & IGP’s EverywhereMay 2, 2014 by tomwhitbyI recently read a number of mission statements from randomly selected schools to see if there was some sort of pattern in what schools view as their mission. One thing that many had in common was a distinction between the learners and the educators. I guess that is fitting in the sens

by mike simpson / 5h

May 17th Reclaim the Promise! | WeArePCAPS

May 17th Reclaim the Promise! | WeArePCAPS: May 17th Reclaim the Promise!Share this:

by mike simpson / 6h

Steel parents file grievance against SAC charter vote | Parents United for Public Education

Steel parents file grievance against SAC charter vote | Parents United for Public Education: Steel parents file grievance against SAC charter votePosted on May 2, 2014 by PARENTSUNITEDPHILALeave a commentYesterday almost 200 families voted in the first ever parent vote about whether to turn the last public school in Nicetown over to charter operator, Mastery Charter, which is seeking to complete t

by mike simpson / 6h

New Kickinthepants Poll 2016 Clinton Bush, Duncan 2016

by mike simpson / 6h

Buffalo teachers union claims discrimination at charter schools | Buffalo News, Buffalo Weather | WIVB-TV News 4 Buffalo, NY | WIVB.com

Buffalo teachers union claims discrimination at charter schools | Buffalo News, Buffalo Weather | WIVB-TV News 4 Buffalo, NY | WIVB.com: Buffalo teachers union claims discrimination at charter schoolsBUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A study conducted by the Buffalo Teachers Federation claims charter schools are discriminating against students with disabilities and ESL students.President Phil Rumore told New

by mike simpson / 7h

Choosing Kindergarten – Or Not | Taking Note

Choosing Kindergarten – Or Not | Taking Note: Choosing Kindergarten – Or Notby JOHN MERROW on 02. MAY, 2014 in 2014 BLOGS, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONWhich of these two kindergarten classes would you want your 5-year-old child or grandchild to be in? Option one is a classic kindergarten classroom, rich with tactile art and full of color, energy and happy noise. Some kids are fingerpainting with inte

by mike simpson / 7h

5-2-14 Fred 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.: Johnny’s Grill.State Representative-elect Will Guzzardi at Johnny’s Grill, now closed. When you’re close to a thing you can’t always see it change until there is that moment. Your kids grow up and suddenly you notice that they are teenagers and then they are gone. When did that happen? I go to the gym

by mike simpson / 7h

Raise Your Voice, Sing Our Song At The Lake Placid Picket.

RAISE YOUR VOICE, SING OUR SONG AT THE LAKE PLACID PICKET.: VERY IMPORTANT EVENT: COME TO LAKE PLACID ON SUNDAY MAY 4TH TO PROTECT YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SING OUT LOUD THIS SONG: (Please turn on captions)WE LIKE OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FIGHT THE TEST!

by mike simpson / 8h

Morning Wink 5-2-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-2-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Thank You, Louis C.K.!!! Just Posted on Huffington PostPlease read my commentary on what Louis C.K. has done to expand the debate about Common Core. It was just posted on Huffington Post at the

by mike simpson / 8h

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-2-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Thank You, Louis C.K.!!! Just Posted on Huffington PostPlease read my commentary on what Louis C.K. has done to expand the debate about Common Core. It was just posted on Huffington Post at the top of the page. In my view, he has just smashed the carefully crafted narrative that the only critics of Common Core standards and tes

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: May’s Best Tweets — Part OneEvery 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 — and where I gave credit to those f

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet: 6 reasons to reject Common Core K-3 standards — and 6 rules to guide policyThe Common Core State Standards for students in kindergarten through Grade 3 have come under severe criticism by early childhood education experts who say that they are not developmentally appropriate. Even some supporters of the Core initiative, including American Federation of Teachers President Randi We

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: The Prospect Heights T Party Dumps the TestsTeachers at a New York City high school fired a shot across the bow of the concept of a nationalized education industry Thursday, becoming the first in that state to refuse to administer a standardized test tied to the controversial Common Core national standards.The boycott by teachers at Prospect Heights International School in Brooklyn

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Dr. Rosa Castro Feinberg: With Best Wishes to Valentin: Conflicts Between ESOL and Florida Voucher LawReprinted in its entirety with permission from Dr. Rosa Castro Feinberg In respond to my columns, Julio Fuentes, President & CEO of the Hispanic Council for Reform a

by mike simpson / 8h

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Biggest laugh of the day -- Vallas fundraising letter

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Biggest laugh of the day -- Vallas fundraising letter: Biggest laugh of the day -- Vallas fundraising letterBiggest laugh yesterday came from opening the mail and finding a campaign fundraising letter from Paul Vallas. He wants me to send a check to his campaign for IL lieutenant governor (he must not read my blog). V says he wants the money to head off Republican bi

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: Welcome to SC: A Heaping Stumbling-Bumbling Mess of IneptitudeWelcome to SC: A Heaping Stumbling-Bumbling Mess of Ineptitude. via Welcome to SC: A Heaping Stumbling-Bumbling Mess of Ineptitude.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical1 by plthomasedd / 1h 5-1-14 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: Discussing Research Methodology with the Gates FoundationRick Hess, in “A Small Requ

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs

With A Brooklyn Accent: On the Hunt for "Bad Teachers"The percentage of "Bad Teachers" in our public schools is probably no higher than Bad Principals, Bad Superintendents, Bad Commissioners, Bad Politicians, and Bad Philanthropists. Yet people in every walk of life seem obsessed with getting rid of them. This isn't a well thought out policy position. it is more like a form of

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Token Outrage and “Oafish” RacistsThe recent racism controversy over Donald Sterling prompted me to examine more on two Americas and ask, Where Is Outrage for Systemic Racism? To that question, I found a powerful and important response by Ta-Nehisi Coates: This Town Need

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-13 Curmudgucation Week

CURMUDGUCATION: Another Plutocrat for USDOEAlyson Klein at EdWeek reports that Robert Gordon has been chosen to serve as assistant secretary for planning, evaluation and policy development at the US DOE.Gordon's previous work credits include the Office of Management and Budget, where he seems to have been a man behind the scenes for the various Fiscal Cliff negotiations. More recently he's been a

by mike simpson / 8h

5-2-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Here's How You Know The UFT Contract Deal Is A Bad One - The NY Post Likes ItOne of the measures of any UFT contract deal is what the neo-liberals at the Daily News and Times and the neo-cons at the Post think about it.If these editorial boards, who never saw a merit pay proposal they didn't like, a teacher they didn't want to fire or a traditional public school they didn't

by mike simpson / 8h

What Selfies Can Teach us About Education

What Selfies Can Teach us About Education: What Selfies Can Teach us About EducationBut first, let me make a personal reflection.A selfie is an image that serves as a form of external self-expression. This trend may seem jovial to many of an older generation; however, to educators it should verify that students are bursting at the seams to communicate. If many students are excited to express thems

by mike simpson / 8h

Seven challenges to getting the Common Core right | EdSource Today

Seven challenges to getting the Common Core right | EdSource Today: Seven challenges to getting the Common Core rightMay 1st, 2014 | 1 Comment | By Morgan Polikoff / commentaryMorgan PolikoffThe rollout of the Common Core standards offers California – and most of the nation – an opportunity to address some of the issues that have plagued education reform in the past. Foremost among these issues is

by mike simpson / 8h

NYC Scraps 3rd Grade Guarantee As Ohio Adopts It–Based on ALEC Model Law | janresseger

NYC Scraps 3rd Grade Guarantee As Ohio Adopts It–Based on ALEC Model Law | janresseger: NYC Scraps 3rd Grade Guarantee As Ohio Adopts It–Based on ALEC Model LawPosted on May 2, 2014 by janressegerOhio’s acting state superintendent of public instruction, Michael Sawyers claims that Ohio’s new 3rd Grade Guarantee will help Ohio’s children. After all, Governor John Kasich has consistently alleged th

by mike simpson / 8h

NYC Public School Parents: NYS Assessment blues and statement from NYSAPE on latest exam fiasco & call for John King & Tisch to resign

NYC Public School Parents: NYS Assessment blues and statement from NYSAPE on latest exam fiasco & call for John King & Tisch to resign: NYS Assessment blues and statement from NYSAPE on latest exam fiasco & call for John King & Tisch to resignThanks to Howie Ratem for the below video and song; and NY State Allies for Public Education for their statement below on the latest fiasco f

by mike simpson / 9h

Teachers For Social Justice: UIC Social Justice Initiative Events

Teachers For Social Justice: UIC Social Justice Initiative Events: UIC Social Justice Initiative EventsMAY 1, 2014 LEAVE A COMMENTFollow us on TwitterFriend us on FacebookUniversity of Illinois-ChicagoUpcoming SJI Events @UICGreetings,Join us at our Teaching and Learning Freedom event on May 7th at the WBEZ Little Village Bureau. Next week's Eyes on the Prize community dialogue facilit

by mike simpson / 14h

Teachers For Social Justice: UIC Social Justice Initiative Events

by mike simpson / 14h

YESTERDAY

The 2008 Common Core Sales Job: Part One | deutsch29

The 2008 Common Core Sales Job: Part One | deutsch29: The 2008 Common Core Sales Job: Part OneMay 1, 2014In 2008, the National Governors Association (NGA), the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and Achieve, Inc., released a report, Benchmarking for Success: Ensuring U.S. Students Receive a World-class Education.The Gates and GE foundations funded the report.The content of this report

by mike simpson / 18h

Retroactively Paying It Forward (On The City - UFT Contract) - The Jose Vilson

Retroactively Paying It Forward (On The City - UFT Contract) - The Jose Vilson: Retroactively Paying It Forward (On The City – UFT Contract)by JOSE VILSON on MAY 1, 2014in MR. VILSONMichael Mulgrew, Carmen Farina, and Bill de BlasioIn case it hasn’t already flooded your airwaves already, the De Blasio administration and the United Federation of Teachers reached a tentative agreement to finally get

by mike simpson / 19h

New Contract! ATR's Thrown Under the Bus! VOTE NO!!! southbronxschool.com

http://www.southbronxschool.com: New Contract! ATR's Thrown Under the Bus! VOTE NO!!!I have always said that I will take respect and dignity over a big pay raise in our new contract. Today we found out we are getting neither.I was with my wife in Valhalla, having just gotten in the car, when the contract announcement came over the radio. I delayed our trip home to tweet and text information that w

by mike simpson / 19h

5-1-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Change the Stakes Next General Meeting - Friday May 2, 6-8pm - CUNY Grad centerGreetings All, As today marks the first day of the math state test, Change the Stakes begins to move the conversation to "What's next?" Opt out numbers tripled in NYC and almost 35,000 statewide, parents found support in many schools, some difficulties in other schools, teachers spoke out, pr

by mike simpson / 19h

Teachers may begin a “Quinn for #5″ Prison Fan Club | Reclaim Reform

Teachers may begin a “Quinn for #5″ Prison Fan Club | Reclaim Reform: Teachers may begin a “Quinn for #5″ Prison Fan ClubPosted on May 1, 2014by Ken PrevitiPat Quinn could be Illinois Governor #5 to be jailed. Teachers may even start a “Quinn for #5″ Fan Club. They would jail him for one set of reasons; federal prosecutors are considering a separate set of reasons.Why? According to federal prosecu

by mike simpson / 22h

Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents United for Responsible Education » Blog Archive » Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task Force: Testimony to the CPS Truancy Task ForceStudent drawing from Wheelock Bebell Haney studyI prepared testimony for one of two public hearings held by the Chicago Public Schools Truancy Task Force, a body mandated by state legislation. The meeting, held in a bank community room on the South Side, attract

by mike simpson / 22h

Classified School Employees of the Year for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Classified School Employees of the Year for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces California'sClassified School Employees of the Year for 2014SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced the selection of six outstanding classified school employees in recognition of their roles in school operations and student suc

by mike simpson / 22h hide // save

Nite Cap 5-1-14 #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 CAPNYC Educator: Mr. Mulgrew Writes Me a Letter About the ContractNYC Educator: Mr. Mulgrew Writes Me a Letter About the Contract: Mr. Mulgrew Writes Me a Letter About the ContractThere is an agreement on a new teacher contract between the city and

by mike simpson / 23h