Upcoming Campaign Events: 2013-2014 | Save Our Schools

Upcoming Campaign Events: 2013-2014 | Save Our Schools:

Upcoming Campaign Events: 2013-2014

Check out the SOS Campaign for Artful Resistance gatherings occurring
around the country!

New York
Saturn Series Poetry Reading & Open Mike
Where:            Revival – 129 East 15th Street    New York City, NY, 10003
When:             September 2, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Contact:          Su Polo – supolo@rcn.com

A Celebration of the Arts
Where:            St. Thomas Aquinas College Library – Sparkill, NY, 10976
When:             September 28, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Contact:          Michael Shaw – mshaw@stac.edu

Maryland
Imagine the Possibilities – A Day of Connecting Art & Education
Where:           Montpelier Art Center – 9652 Muirkirk Road    Laurel, MD, 20708
When:            September 14, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Contact:         Bess Altwerger – bessaltwer@aol.com

Imagine the Possibilities – A Day of Connecting Art & Education
Where:           Columbia Association Art Center – 6100 Foreland Garth  Columbia, MD
When:            September 15, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Contact:         Bess Altwerger – bessaltwer@aol.com

New Mexico
Albuquerque Cultural Conference
Where:            Harwood Art Center – 1114 7th St NW    Albuquerque, NM, 87102
When:             September 27th – 29th
Contact:          Rick Meyer – rickmeyer49@gmail.com

New events are being added daily, so check regularly. If you’d like to host your own SOS-sponsored art campaign event, contact us at sosart@saveourschoolsmarch.org

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » The Start of School 2013

Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » The Start of School 2013:

The Start of School 2013

It’s the start of another school year, and I must say I’m looking forward to it. August was a hard month outside of the classroom (read here formore), but I was starting to excited about this year starting at the end of July.I haven’t spent every waking hour this summer, or even in August, thinking about my class, but what thoughts I’ve had have made me happy, and most fill me with optimism about the school year to come. Why is this?

• I like the 11 and 12 year olds. Not every moment of every day, because it is a difficult age; not just for us dealing with them, but for the kids themselves. Still from that agony comes a lot of interesting thinking, and creative work.
• I like the Social Studies/History curriculum covering early humans, and ancient civilizations. Earth Science is okay. I’d prefer the broader elementary curriculum of fifth grade in science, but the social studies coverage of early humans gets some more biology in the mix.
• I like that my site is not “buying” its way into Common Core, but 

10 Online Resources To Learn Coding For Free

10 Online Resources To Learn Coding For Free:

10 Online Resources To Learn Coding For Free

No matter if you are a coding newbie or an expert willing to expand your horizon with new coding languages, these 10 free online resources to learn coding are interesting and meant for everyone! So say goodbye to classes and learn everything online!    Rate this news:   (3 Votes) Saturday, August 31, 2013:  If people like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg say that code is the new literacy, you have no choice but to believe it. Understanding computer programming definitely opens doors to new jobs and opportunities. And if you are thinking, where to begin and is more concerned about your money and time, we bring to your 10 online resources that can help you learn coding and programming. Have fun! 1. Mozilla's School of Webcraft Mozilla's 100 per cent free developer training site is all about teaching newbies and experts alike how to code. If you want to get started coding with something like HTML or if you're an experienced dev who wants to dive into Python, the School of Webcraft is worth a view. Several courses generally run simultaneously, and new classes are being drafted all the time. 2. Google Code University From Google Code, we have the Code University, a free and fascinating resource. And of course, it has its own forums for learners to ask questions and get help. Extreme beginners start with the introductions and tutorials, which are specifically designed keeping new devs in mind. 3. MIT's OpenCourseWare If it was your dream to study computer science at some leading tech institutions of U.S., here's your chance. MIT's free and accessible courses are great for ambitious upcoming coders. Check out the full list of courses for computer science, which include introductions to Java, Python, C++ and more. 4. UC Berkeley Webcast/Courses The University of California at Berkeley has an extensive collection of webcasts, including events and courses. The coursework is all free to acccess and it includes video and audio webcasts of computer sciences classes from the current semester to that of year 2003. 5. HTML5 Rocks HTML5 Rocks is a one-stop guide to learning HTML5 which is written by tons of contributors

All Things Education: Reforminess: 120, Content-rich Curriculum: 45

All Things Education: Reforminess: 120, Content-rich Curriculum: 45:

Reforminess: 120, Content-rich Curriculum: 45

I saw this article in the Washington Post about DCPS's cutting the minimum recess for elementary students to 20 minutes day. It goes without saying that twenty minutes per day of recess for younger students is ridiculously inadequate. But here's what really caught my eye (emphasis mine):

Recess time varies in the District. Some schools saw a reduction this year as Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson implemented new requirements meant to ensure that all elementary students get a minimum amount of time in each subject each day: two hours of literacy, 90 minutes of math, and 45 minutes of science or social studies. An additional 45 minutes is required for an elective, such as art, music or physical education.

What? Isn't DC a Common Core adopter? Isn't the Common Core supposed the second coming of curricular education reform?

If you're spending two hours a day on "literacy" and forty-five minutes a day on non-math content (social studies or

Save Our Schools | On the March to Save and Transform Schools

Save Our Schools | On the March to Save and Transform Schools:

 A Word from the Cripples

By: Siduri Beckman Student, age 15 I’ve got something to say. It won’t take long Just as long as it took you to snatch everything away One fourth of the body is the leg You have crippled us Cursing us to hobble all of our lives. I cannot run cross-country on just one leg. Rip song off of our tongues to find songs are not Velcro but flesh Snap the bows of the violins in case the students could eve

by saveourschools / 23min 

Keeping a Net Beneath Them

By: Glen Brown “Teaching is the greatest act of optimism.” –Colleen Wilcox I open the book and pump three poems into their heads, push a paper ladder against their brains and beg them to climb out of their mind-set of common connectivity and fantasy. But I discover their fear of heights and, of course, I compete with Facebook, Twitter, and some strawberry blonde in a Saran Wrap costume snorkeling

by saveourschools / 23min 

Through The Eyes Of A Test

By: Becca Ritchie Teacher A mere booklet of bright white paper Settles flat, not to be opened…yet. It absorbs the fear as instructions are read and Names are checked and double checked Trepidation rumbles through stomachs like the blasts covering a launch pad Deep breaths are taken Faces express the worry..the fear of how they will do. Will they use the weapon in their hand to fill in my question

by saveourschools / 23min 

Thank You

By: Ashley Leonen Student, age 14 Although on the day of May twenty, two thousand thirteen, My agenda was left empty, I will attempt to write until my very last breath. I’m certain with the label I’ve put upon my forehead That says “Writer” But promises still make me nervous. I hope in spite of the Anxiety and hesitation of mine You’re content with my passion For writing. I hope you’re aware Of t

by saveourschools / 23min mark as read  //  save

In the Aftermath of No Child Behind

By: Anonymous Teacher since 1981 I became a teacher to build a better world, a world where people matter. But I’ve lost myself in the maze of NCLB graphite circles going nowhere “a, b, c, d or e, please.” “Write your answers inside the boxes. Don’t stray outside the lines.” Never outside the lines! “A nice straight line, children. Shh! Quiet now. You’re wasting your 5 minute recess! Who wants to

by saveourschools / 23min