The Answer Sheet - Videotaping teachers the right way (not the Gates way)

The Answer Sheet - Videotaping teachers the right way (not the Gates way)

Videotaping teachers the right way (not the Gates way)

This piece, written by teacher Larry Ferlazzo, provides important context to a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in which teachers are being videotaped while giving lessons and then evaluated by outsiders. Ferlazzo, who teaches English at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, explains why he thinks the Gates project takes the wrong approach and describes a different kind of videotaping exercise at his school that he finds useful. Ferlazzo writes a popular resource-sharing blog, and his third book, “Student Responsibility and Engagement in Your Classroom: A Practical Guide to Classroom Management and Instruction,” will be published this year. He is a member of the Teacher Leaders Network. This piece appeared on the Education Week Teacher website. By Larry Ferlazzo "Today is an opportunity for you to challenge and push me to become a better teacher, and a time for you to challenge and push yourselves to

Mike Kirst on priorities, reforms

svefoundation | January 14, 2011 |

California State Board of Education President Mike Kirst sat down with Educated Guess blogger John Fensterwald after chairing his first Board meeting on Jan. 12 to discuss the State Board's priorities and how they fit into his view of education reform in a time of budget cuts

While they’re still in training, intern teachers are not yet highly qualified | Thoughts on Public Education

While they’re still in training, intern teachers are not yet highly qualified | Thoughts on Public Education

While they’re still in training, intern teachers are not yet highly qualified

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Posted on 1/18/11 • Categorized as Teacher Development

By Beverly Young

The recent posting “Alternate Route, Same Destination” by Catherine Kearney presents one perspective on the recent congressional action to reestablish California’s teachers who are still in training through an alternative program of preparation as “highly qualified.” This distinction is not merely one of words; the congressional action allows the continuance of California’s strange definition of these teachers: They are considered to be “highly qualified” in their profession before they are actually “fully qualified” and have completed initial preparation for their profession. Although I have worked with Ms. Kearney and truly respect her dedication to her work, I would like to point out several disagreements with her perspective as well as some factual errors regarding these programs and the congressiona

The Illogic of School Turnarounds « InterACT

The Illogic of School Turnarounds « InterACT

The Illogic of School Turnarounds

by David B. Cohen

Is your school struggling? Do you have an idea why? Could a huge influx of new funding help you pay for improvements that help students? Okay, tell us your plan: we’ve got plenty of money to help turn your school around! But first, fire your principal.

What’s that? You think the principal is actually doing a good job under difficult circumstances? You think the school can succeed under the same leadership? You think continuity in leadership will help? Okay, we’ll still give you the money, but first, fire half of the teachers.

What’s that? You think that more than half of the teachers are actually doing a good job under difficult circumstances? You think that the school can succeed with the same teachers and that continuity will help

NYC Educator: Mayor Bloomberg Has a Dream

NYC Educator: Mayor Bloomberg Has a Dream

Mayor Bloomberg Has a Dream

by Miss Eyre

Boy, you spend a few days away from the blogging world and look what happens. Cathie Black proves once again that she isn't ready for prime-time,making this optimistic, open-minded blogger feel more foolish and dispirited by the day. E4E pops its head out again. A popular GothamSchools bloggermay or may not be a deformer-crowd shill. But I'm all better now, ready to bring you this story via Gothamist: Mayor Bloomberg has a dream.

That's right. Mayor Bloomberg used a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration to validate his choice of Cathie Black for schools chancellor.Reeeeeeealllllly makes you wonder what the Reverend himself would have made of this situation. My guess is that he would have been, to say the least, unamused. Bloomberg was booed during the event, to no one's surprise. He could have reiterated his disappointment in Ms. Black, perhaps acknowledged the remark's

Public Policy Blogger: Must-see Video by Daniel Willingham: Weaknesses and pitfalls of test-score based merit pay

Public Policy Blogger: Must-see Video by Daniel Willingham: Weaknesses and pitfalls of test-score based merit pay

Must-see Video by Daniel Willingham: Weaknesses and pitfalls of test-score based merit pay

by Anne Geiger

Excellent video by Daniel Willingham (Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia). In layman's terms, with two hypothetical classrooms, he demonstrates the weaknesses and pitfalls of merit pay proposals (using value-added measures) that are based on short-term performance on standardized tests. (h/t Tom Whitby)

A must-see for parents who care about the depth and quality of education they expect for their children. A must-see for business leaders who wrongly equate classrooms to businesses and believe that current merit pay proposals are workable and will be beneficial. Unless developed in a more comprehensive, thoughtful way, they are destined to be unfair, unhealthy and unsound.

Bloomberg Met with Boos at Sharpton's MLK Celebration | NBC New York

Bloomberg Met with Boos at Sharpton's MLK Celebration | NBC New York

Bloomberg Met with Boos at Sharpton's MLK Celebration

By MELISSA RUSSO

Updated 6:10 PM EST, Mon, Jan 17, 2011

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg got a decidedly mixed reception before an overflow crowd celebrating Martin Luther King Day at Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network headquarters in Harlem.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Bloomberg were among those scheduled to participate in the Rev. Al Sharpton's annual event, but Hizzoner was greeted with loud boos combined with some polite applause when he took the podium.

Bloomberg proceeded with his remarks and at one point he was booed again when he said President Obama considers New York City the national model of education.

"That's not true," some members of the crowd shouted.

Later some said in attendance said that the comments of new Schools

In Florida, Virtual Classrooms With No Teachers - NYTimes.com

In Florida, Virtual Classrooms With No Teachers - NYTimes.com

Florida Has Classes Without Teachers

By LAURA HERRERA

Published: January 17, 2011

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MIAMI — On the first day of her senior year at North Miami Beach Senior High School, Naomi Baptiste expected to be greeted by a teacher when she walked into her precalculus class.

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Carolina Hidalgo

At Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in Miami, there is no teacher in a classroom, but a “facilitator” watches the students.

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Carolina Hidalgo

Chaala Womble, 17, in a virtual class at the Miami-Dade school. The courses, called e-learning labs, are in 54 district schools.

“All there were were computers in the class,” said Naomi, who walked into a room of confused students. “We found out that over the summer they signed us up for these courses.”

Naomi is one of over 7,000 students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools enrolled in a program in which core subjects are taken using computers in a classroom with no teacher. A “facilitator” is in the room to make sure students progress. That person also deals with

Yes, We Still Have To Do Things Twice As Well — The Jose Vilson

Yes, We Still Have To Do Things Twice As Well — The Jose Vilson

Yes, We Still Have To Do Things Twice As Well

by Jose

Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson

“Why don’t the adults ever have to get into dress code? It’s bullshit.”

The student didn’t say it loud enough for the dean to hear it, but, with me standing right next to him, he could have whispered it and the message would have resonated clearly with me. The problem with his logic stems from the fact that, on that particular day, as on 178 of the 180 days of school, I was wearing a fully iron-pressed set of

School Tech Connect: Door To Door For Public Education

School Tech Connect: Door To Door For Public Education

Door To Door For Public Education

by effacethefacade@yahoo.com (Tim)

Today I got off my ginormous ass and walked part of the 40th ward, knocking on doors for my man Miguel del Valle. I knocked on the door of every single soul that I know in this neighborhood and lots of doors that I didn't. My feet tonight look like strange, unappetizing sausages. What I do is introduce myself and explain that I'm speaking up for Miguel del Valle, and I let them know that I have some extra window signs if they'd like one (schlepping these things around in the freezing rain today was a joy.) If they're not home, I leave a note on the door. So far, I've given away four signs. For a man who shakes and stutters, I didn't do too badly, although I could tell people were wondering if I was going more for Elvis or Mel Tillis. It

Mayoral Forum Yields Few Sparks / Chicago News Cooperative

Mayoral Forum Yields Few Sparks / Chicago News Cooperative

Mayoral Forum Yields Few Sparks

by HUNTER CLAUSS

While most Chicago Public School students were off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, more than 250 high school students attended the first televised forum featuring the four major mayoral candidates. The meeting at WTTW yielded few sparks between Miguel del Valle, Carol Moseley Braun, Gery Chico and Rahm Emanuel, and hopefully resulted in some extra credit points for the students who showed up.

Four mayoral candidates, Rahm Emanuel, Miguel Del Valle, Carol Moseley Braun and Gery Chico take part in a debate for the first time.
Jose More/Chicago News Cooperative

A congenial tone prevailed at the event, which airs Tuesday at 7 p.m. during WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” program, with the candidates frequently stating how much they agreed with each other — a marked contrast from a series of editorial board meetings last week at which Emanuel was singled out for criticism.

The candidates were asked a range of questions from students, including their plans to add more police officers to the streets and what they’d do to reduce air pollution to help prevent asthma.

Most questions were addressed to one or two candidates, rather than all four, which allowed some candidates to

What Are You Doing For Others? | Connected Principals

What Are You Doing For Others? | Connected Principals

What Are You Doing For Others?

by Brian Nichols

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Many of Dr. King’s quotes resonate with me. I often use them in speeches, presentations, and meetings. This particular quote defines a large aspect of what we should be doing as educational leaders.

Many leadership articles will encourage you to find a mentor which is crucial to your success. I would not be

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. -- A Working Class Hero | California Progress Report

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. -- A Working Class Hero | California Progress Report

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. -- A Working Class Hero

by kaldveer

By Dick Meister

"I AM A MAN," the signs proclaimed in large, bold letters. They were held high, proudly and defiantly, by African-American men marching through the streets of Memphis, Tennessee, in the spring of 1968.

The marchers were striking union members, sanitation workers demanding that the city of Memphis formally recognize their union and thus grant them a voice in determining their wages, hours and working conditions.

Hundreds of supporters joined their daily marches, most notably Martin Luther King Jr. He had been with the 1,300 strikers from the very beginning of their bitter struggle. He had come to Memphis to support them despite threats that he might be killed if he did.

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Schools Matter: NC Governor and Raleigh Mayor Stand Up for Socioeconomic Diversity

Schools Matter: NC Governor and Raleigh Mayor Stand Up for Socioeconomic Diversity

NC Governor and Raleigh Mayor Stand Up for Socioeconomic Diversity

by Jim Horn

From WRAL:

Durham, N.C. — Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker received a standing ovation Monday morning after criticizing members of the Wake County Board of Education for not upholding the dream and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Speaking to community leaders at the 31st Annual Triangle Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, the mayor called four school board members “way off track” for moving ahead with student assignment policy that places children in schools closer to their homes instead of busing

Higher education: A conversation with City Colleges of Chicago's chancellor | WBEZ

Higher education: A conversation with City Colleges of Chicago's chancellor | WBEZ

Higher education: A conversation with City Colleges of Chicago's chancellor

Produced by Eight Forty-Eight Jan. 17, 2011

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(Photo courtesy of Michael Goss for Illinois Institute of Technology)

Cheryl Hyman took over as chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago last spring.

Those concerned about the education of Chicago’s young people know the problem isn’t just with our elementary and high schools. Higher education in Chicago is also facing tough times;City Colleges of Chicago may lose hundreds of positions this year. Officials have said cuts would most affect administrators, as they try to consolidate personnel across the seven colleges and avoid a tuition hike. That job – cutting costs while maintaining and even improving quality –