Praise for peer evaluations | Thoughts on Public Education

Praise for peer evaluations | Thoughts on Public Education:

Praise for peer evaluations

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San Juan, Poway use teachers to assess other teachers

Posted on 9/15/11 • Categorized as Teacher Development, Unions

By John Fensterwald - Educated Guess

Contrary to the common belief that teachers cannot evaluate their peers objectively – and shouldn’t try to – in San Juan Unified “consulting teachers” do just that for a teacher who received a principal’s unsatisfactory review. In Poway Unified, specially assigned teachers not only evaluate struggling tenured teachers but also new, probationary teachers.

In both districts the teachers pass on their findings to a board composed of teachers and administrators whose recommendation whether that teacher should be retained or fired has invariably been accepted by the superintendent.

The programs in Poway and San Juan, known as Peer Assistance and Review, not only

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 9

Big Education Ape - PostRank Today's 9

New Orleans Liberation Academy: Building Literacy in the Lower 9th Ward

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

New Orleans Liberation Academy: Building Literacy in the Lower 9th Ward:Building Literacy in the Lower 9th Wardby New Orleans Liberation AcademyDuring June of 2011, through the initiative of our student Anthony Johnson, New Orleans Liberation Academy engaged in partnership with ATD Fourth World Movement, the Backyard Gardeners Network and Jude's Grove to develop the Lower 9th Ward Street Library to support intergenerational literacy and offer opportunities for rigorous, thought-provoking, value-centered humanities experiences for children and their families. Our format is ... more »

An Open Letter from Secretary Arne Duncan and Karen Duncan to Their Children | ED.gov Blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

An Open Letter from Secretary Arne Duncan and Karen Duncan to Their Children | ED.gov Blog:An Open Letter from Secretary Arne Duncan and Karen Duncan to Their ChildrenPosted on September 14, 2011 by Arne DuncanCross-posted from Parenting.comSeptember 2011Dear Claire and Ryan,We always enjoy the joy and excitement you show when you go back to school. It’s comforting for us to know that you love learning and go to a great public school that challenges and supports you.Now that you’ve been ... more »

Chicago Rally to Save Troy Davis. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Chicago Rally to Save Troy Davis. « Fred Klonsky's blog:Chicago Rally to Save Troy Davis.by Fred KlonskyTomorrow 5:00pm at Prudential Plaza, Chicago, IL**RALLY TO SAVE TROY DAVIS** Prudential Plaza (Barack Obama’s 2012 Reelection Headquarters) 130 East Randolph Street.Troy Davis has received an execution date of September 21st. Troy has no appeals left, so his life lays in the hands of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. We don’t have much time, but the fight is far from over.Troy has ... more »

SAT Results for 2010-11 - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

SAT Results for 2010-11 - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education):State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Comments on 2010-11 SAT® ScoresSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today commented on the results of the SAT® for the California high school class of 2011 that were part of this morning's national release by test administrator, The College Board."I am pleased that more than half of California seniors took the SAT in 2010 and that the participation of minority students set a new ... more »

Da Bears? Da Bulls? Go by da Jewels? Not in Arizona. « Fred Klonsky's blog

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Da Bears? Da Bulls? Go by da Jewels? Not in Arizona. « Fred Klonsky's blog:Da Bears? Da Bulls? Go by da Jewels? Not in Arizona.by Fred KlonskyI may never see the Grand Canyon.Unless things change in Arizona, I’m not going there. The anti-immigrant stuff is just to0 crazy.The latest news is that the Feds have dropped their civil rights suit against the state of Arizona in the case where Arizona was monitoring teachers for mispronunciation of English language words in ... more »

Class Warfare | Edwize

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Class Warfare | Edwize:Class Warfareby Leo CaseyClass Warfare: that’s the title Stephen Brill gave to his recent book on the state of American education.With such a title, one might think that that Brill’s book would investigate how the deep class divisions between America’s wealthy class and our poor and working class, a gap that has grown immensely over the last four decades, has harmed our schools and our students. After all, educational research has shown that greatest challenge our schools ... more »

GOP senators introduce rewrite of No Child to make it more flexible | Get Schooled

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

GOP senators introduce rewrite of No Child to make it more flexible | Get Schooled:GOP senators introduce rewrite of No Child to make it more flexible11:34 am September 14, 2011, by Maureen DowneyI am about to get on a conference call on a new Senate initiative to fix the federal No Child Left Behind Act. But here is the official statement about a series of GOP bills designed to increase the state role and decrease the federal one. Georgia Sen. ... more »

"Where's my Title I ?"

Big Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All) - 4 hours ago

Education News Comment: SACS ScholarsConnecting Spending to Student Outcomeshttp://sacs-scholars.blogspot.com/Title I goes by more than 1 name. On your Fiscal16 SACS report (you got Monday) find RESOURCE 3010. You will see that goes by the name:IASA1Low. That is your Title I money. It is the single largest "categorical" pot of money your site - and the district - get. All of your 3010 must be detailed in your SPSA.The amount showing in your site budget right not all that your site ... more »

Teamster Nation: Guess what? Public sector does it cheaper

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Teamster Nation: Guess what? Public sector does it cheaper:Guess what? Public sector does it cheaperThe federal government pays private contractors billions of dollars more than it costs for government workers to do the same job.It's what we've been saying all along, and a study by the Project on Government Oversight backs us up. CBS News, reporting on POGO's study, says...in 33 of the 35 occupational categories it reviewed, federal government employees were less expensive than contractors. On average, the federal ... more »

Modern School: Michigan Attempts to Crush Teachers Unions

Modern School: Michigan Attempts to Crush Teachers Unions:

Michigan Attempts to Crush Teachers Unions

by Michael Dunn

A House committee of the Republican Michigan Legislature approved legislation this week banning school districts from deducting union dues from teachers’ pay, according to the Detroit News. If the legislation passes, it will serious hamper union activities by making it much more difficult for the unions to collect dues and amass war chests for organizing, lobbying and attempting to purchase politicians.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Joe Haveman, said "I don't believe the schools should be in the business of being the bill collectors for the unions." However, because of the automated payroll systems, it costs the districts virtually nothing to include union dues in the billing. Even Haveman himself admitted that the savings would be nominal.

The real motivation behind the legislation is clearly to weaken the unions. David Hecker, president of the

Washington Judge Attempts to Crush Teachers Strike

by Michael Dunn

A judge ordered 1,900 striking Tacoma, WA teachers back to work yesterday after a two-day walkoutReuters reported today. Teachers in Washington’s third largest district were striking over district attempts to reassign teachers based on evaluations, rather than seniority. Teachers are also opposing attempts to impose pay cuts and class size increases.

The school district has called the strike illegal. Apparently the judge agreed, ordering teachers back to work immediately and demanding that both sides appear in court on Friday to prove that they have complied with the order.

It is not yet clear whether the teachers will comply. Tacoma Educators Association President Andy Coons declared that the strike was officially over, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer. However, he also said 

School board member: How I was bullied at school - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

School board member: How I was bullied at school - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

School board member: How I was bullied at school

By Valerie Strauss

This was written by Dana Smith, of Waddington, N.Y. ,a member of the St. Lawrence-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services and a member of the board of directors of the New York State School Boards Association.

By Dana Smith

Bullying is, obviously, a problem in our nation’s schools. Sometimes it leads to suicides or lawsuits, and that ends up making headlines.Bullying can also coast under the radar of adults in the form of social ostracizing, taunting and catty postings on the Internet.

Bullying can and does happen in cafeterias, auditoriums, gymnasiums and school recreation areas. It can happen during chorus rehearsal, extracurricular activities and even advanced placement classes.

D.C.’s new sex ed standardized test: Fodder for a Jon Stewart skit

by Valerie Strauss

I can just imagine the skit Jon Stewart and his crew at The Daily Show will put together on this: D.C. schools officials have written the nation’s first statewide standardized test on sex education, drug use and health.

Yes, indeed, according to this story by my colleague Bill Turque, there will be 50 questions and the test will be given for the first time in April 2012 to kids in fifth, eighth and tenth grades, along with the regular standardized tests in math and reading and other traditional academic subjects that are part of the city’s accountability system.

Read full article >>

The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:

Engaging, Supporting, and Connecting Parents and Families in Learning

September 13th, 2011 by Klea Scharberg

It isn’t a new concept that parent and family engagement in children’s learning is key to student success and development. But we are introducing and working with new technologies that can improve, reinforce, and support the engagement and communication. Microsoft Education in the United Kingdom offers resources to allow educators get the most from information technology investments and has worked with the Department for Children, Schools, and Families to share the stories of five schools that are using technology in innovative ways to better engage parents in their children’s education.

Primary Schools

Clunbury Church of England Primary School serves a small village and larger rural area i

Schools Matter: Finding the money for school repairs: reduce testing

Schools Matter: Finding the money for school repairs: reduce testing:

'

Finding the money for school repairs: reduce testing

by skrashen

Sent to the New York Times, Sept 13, 2011

The chair of the Ohio Republican party wonders how President Obama will find $25 billion for school repair ("In Ohio, Obama Emphasizes School Upgrades as Part of Jobs Proposal," Sept. 13). I have a suggestion: Reduce testing and scrap plans to increase testing.

The US Department of Education plans to increase testing well beyond the already excessive amount we are doing now, without any supporting evidence.

Test development and revision, administration and scoring will cost billions. The new tests will be administered

The Educated Reporter: SAT Scores Drop: Critical Reading Hits All-Time Low

The Educated Reporter: SAT Scores Drop: Critical Reading Hits All-Time Low:

SAT Scores Drop: Critical Reading Hits All-Time Low

by Emily Richmond

Students who took the SAT last year posted the lowest average score on record in critical reading, and the average math score fell to its lowest point since 1995, the Associated Press reports.

But, like most education issues, there's more to the story than just the numbers.

An official at the College Board, which oversees the national exam, pointed to changing demographics among test-takers. The percentage of students coming from households where English was not the only language rose to 27 percent from 19 percent a decade ago.

A well-known critic of high-stakes exams, Fair Test's public education director Bob Schaeffer, doesn't buy a bigger testing pool as an excuse. He told the AP's Justin Pope that there have been other years with even bigger

School Tech Connect: Reform In The Age of Obama

School Tech Connect: Reform In The Age of Obama:

Reform In The Age of Obama

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

Susan Ohanian at the SOS March

Who here among us does not love the legendary Susan Ohanian? Sorry, I always channel John Kerry when blog from the majestic height of my front stoop. Anyway, if you're not a subscriber to her frequent emails, you're missing out. It's where I get half my material.

And I think it's clear where I get the other half.... Ahem.... cough.... hack....


It ain't the Jan Schakowsky newsletter, that's for sure.

Anyway, Susan's got this great piece from Glen Ford of Black Agenda Radio. You've got to read it. Or better yet, hear it. Play it at a meeting.

New-School-Year's Reflections - Bridging Differences - Education Week

New-School-Year's Reflections - Bridging Differences - Education Week:

New-School-Year's Reflections

by Deborah Meier

Dear Diane,

September. For nearly 50 years September was a signal for me of renewed enthusiasm for the possible. Everyone seemed to enter the schoolhouse with new convictions for THIS year. It was our equivalent of New Year's.

For kids and teachers, the resolutions included staying up to date on our assignments and keeping our desks and bulletins boards neat and current; for teachers only, never yelling at kids. ("What, never?" "Well, hardly ever.") At home, I'd start a new system for leaving messages for the kids each morning and reporting on our plans for the evening. Each year my system ran out of steam after a while, but I consoled myself that five steps forward and four back still equaled progress. (Which was more or less what my history textbook had said when I was growing up.)

Yes, when teachers would rush together at 3 p.m. on the Wednesday after Labor Day they'd gloat over the great

Last Stand for Children First: Congressman Jack Kimble on Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act

Last Stand for Children First: Congressman Jack Kimble on Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act:

Congressman Jack Kimble on Empowering Parents Through Quality Charter Schools Act

by Last Stand for Children

Earlier today, I came off the campaign trail to sign important providing education choice for millions of parents across the country. Charter schools are the wave of the future in this country by providing the selectivity of private schools, but doing it at tax payer expense. Charter schools are freed up of the bureaucratic nightmare of environmental and fiscal regulation and aren't required to grant their teachers due process as a result fully 17% of charter schools perform better than public schools and some of them have become multi-million job creators.

One of the greatest things about charter school supporters like hedge fund operator Whitney Tilson is that they don't limit their contributions to one political party. It's not unusual to be at a pro-charter cocktail party and find liberals like Jared Polis socializing with strict conservatives like myself. It's this spirit of putting children first

NYC Educator: Writing Beside Them

NYC Educator: Writing Beside Them:

Writing Beside Them

by Miss Eyre

A week into the school year and my high schoolers are already working on their first major writing assignment of the year. If you really want kids to work their writing hard, a writing assignment beyond a page or so really requires some structured time in class for brainstorming, drafting, getting feedback, revising, editing, and publishing. Without this time, many of the kids for whom writing is intimidating and un-fun would simply not try. So, with a due date about two weeks out, we've already gotten a head start.

A "best practice" that I used to resist was completing a writing assignment along with the students. I have a master's degree, so went my thinking. I don't need practice on writing a five-paragraph persuasive essay. But the years have taught me that while that may be true, the kids certainly need the practice, and watching and listening to a confident writer works wonders on the students. Just the other day, I realized, mid-lesson, that I hadn't done a great job modeling a writing task. I fleshed out the model more fully for the next class, and their writing was much, much

Teaching History at Las Montanas–Mr. Macauley | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Teaching History at Las Montanas–Mr. Macauley | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:

Teaching History at Las Montanas–Mr. Macauley

by larrycuban

After lunch is a tough time to teach. Yet a 56-minute lesson does not seem to faze James Macauley. The 28 tenth graders, sitting in parallel rows on either side of the room face one another with Macauley in the middle. He is energetic, dramatic in gestures, and, to me sitting in the rear of the classroom, charismatic. Seemingly, they share my opinion because their attention hardly flags as they listen, respond to Macauley’s questions, and work on assigned tasks. And this at 1:30 in the afternoon.

The World History class is midway through a unit on Nazi Germany that involves a simulation on authoritarian and democratic governments. After collecting and assigning homework, Macauley moves to the day’s lesson on Hitler taking over the chancellorship of Germany in 1933. He asks students to take out their notebooks; two students raise their hands that they forgot theirs–he asks them to leave class and stand outside the door for five