9-16-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL:

Video: “Map of Europe 1000 AD to present with timeline”

This is one impressive video, and I’m adding it to The Best Websites For Teaching & Learning About World History: Thanks to Chart Porn for the tip.

8 by Larry Ferlazzo / 27min mark as read  //  save

Infographic: “Mexican Independence Day”

I’m adding this infographic (and a couple of links to other articles) to The Best Resources For Learning About Mexico’s Independence Day: Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually. Here’s a photo gallery from The History Channel. Mexican-Americans celebrate Mexican Independence Day, El Grito! is from NBC Latino.

7 by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

Kaplan International Interviews…Me

ESL Teacher Interviews: Larry Ferlazzo comes from Kaplan International, and you might find it interesting. Even more interesting, though, is the interview they did with my friend, colleague, and co-author Katie Hull Sypnieski a few months ago.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2min 

My Newest Lesson At The NY Times Is On Teaching “Grit”

My newest lesson at The New York Times for English Language Learners is on “grit” & includes a student interactive & teaching ideas. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About The Importance Of “Grit.” You can see all my NY Times posts here.

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 42min  

9-15-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “Advice for Educators Wanting to be Principals — Part One”Advice for Educators Wanting to be Principals — Part One is my newest post over at Education Week Teacher. This week’s guest responses come from Lyn Hilt, Joe Mazza, and Cheryl James-Ward, along with a few thoughts of my own.by Larry Ferlazzo / 45min Larry Ferlazzo’s

by mike simpson / 10h 

Ravitch Seeks Broad Reforms to End Reign of Error | InterACT

Ravitch Seeks Broad Reforms to End Reign of Error | InterACT:

Ravitch Seeks Broad Reforms to End Reign of Error

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

tags: book review, diane ravitch, Reign of Error

by David B. Cohen

Diane Ravitch (Jan. 2012; photo by the author)

Just in time for its official release tomorrow, I’ve finished reading an advance copy of Diane Ravitch’s new book, Reign of Error:  The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools. For people who have been following education policy debates long enough and already know that they tend to agree with Diane Ravitch on most of the issues, there will not be any surprise revelations in the book; such readers might appreciate, as I did, Ravitch’s ability to pull together a combination of historical information, more recent studies, international comparisons, and various other sources that argue against the current direction of (supposed) education reform. For example, I didn’t know that the job protections commonly known as “tenure” actually pre-date teacher unionism (126). I was also interested to find some nuance in Ravitch’s argument against strict use of seniority, to the exclusion of other considerations based on students’ needs, in staffing decisions (130).

For those who tend to disagree with Ravitch on the issues, I would encourage them to take a look anyways, for two main reasons. The first is that, unlike recent books by purveyors of supposedly#RealEdTalk, Michelle Rhee and Steve Perry, Ravitch’s book minimizes personal narrative and substitutes copious footnotes and an index; in other words, she backs it up. You can disagree with her recommendations, but she makes it hard to deny the problems. Let’s take the chapter on charter schools for example. Ravitch points out the internal contradiction in charters claiming to be public schools when its time to collect money and win over politicians and voters, but claiming that they are exempt from many laws and regulations that apply to public schools. 

Ravitch’s Reign of Error: My Review | deutsch29

Ravitch’s Reign of Error: My Review | deutsch29:

Ravitch’s Reign of Error: My Review

September 16, 2013

In considering my review of education historian Diane Ravitch’s latest book, Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America’s Public Schools, I decided to write with traditional public school teachers in mind as my audience.

For one, I am a genuine public school teacher, the kind that makes a career of classroom teaching for love of the students and the profession.

Second, I began to directly experience the results of corporate reform when in November 2011 our state board of education (BESE) was officially bought and privatization officially reigned there and, in spring 2012, in the state legislature, so I am keenly aware of the pain privatization brings to my profession.

Third, I find that traditional public school teachers in general know that something is happening “to” them, some war has been declared upon them, but they are unaware of the details.

Fourth, once traditional public school teachers become aware of the details of this war, they will need some concrete advice on the courses of action to follow in order to take back their profession from those who have grabbed it and are systematically handing it over to corporations.

These are the reasons I advise all traditional public school teachers to read Ravitch’s book.

And now, I write expressly to my traditional public school teaching colleagues 

The Crawfish Bump! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog

The Crawfish Bump! | Crazy Crawfish's Blog:

The Crawfish Bump!

Posted on September 15, 2013

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Congratulations Crawfish patriots!

In the last 48 hours after making this post we helped Shannon Puckett increase her funding for herKickstarter Documentary Defies Measurement by more than 23% and contributors by almost 40%!

Since this is my first endorsement, and since I can plausibly say I had something to do with it (ok maybe Shannon’s excellent pitch had more to do with it, but still. . .) I’ve decided to call this effect the “Crawfish Bump”.

But we have much more bumping to do. If you haven’t contributed or bugged your dying rich and senile uncle that nobody likes into contributing, now’s your chance! Shannon needs your money and we need her film and story. If you donate, we can both win! If you were listening to NPR last week in Baton Rouge you heard a very extensive pledge drive. If you’re like me it probably drove you crazy! If you procrastinated and missed out, now is your chance to mend your conscience! Donate to this equally good cause and I will forgive you for your tardiness.

Note: You might still get a phone call from Ira Glass for not contributing, I can’t help you there, but at least I can tell Ira your dollars did not go to waste on all those cups of coffee he asks you to do without! I won’t even ask you to do without your morning coffee, espresso, or even your sissy mocha latte cappuccino spritzer with extra whip. That can be our little secret. All you have to do is donate, or cajole someone else into giving. Simple right!?!?!

So what are you waiting for?

Here’s the link to Shannon’s Kickstarter page:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/937247555/defies-measurement

Here’s the link to her youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16lnlJqh_WY

Now let’s get that bump growing!

P.S.

Did I mention the largest crawfish contributor gets an autographed crawfish? To win, just post your amount as a comment. I will notify the winner by the e-mail linked to the comment…

P.P.S.

This goes for previous Crazy Crawfish directed contributors.

9-16-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

UFT Bankrolled Half Of Bill Thompson's Campaign Expenditures

The @uft spent $2.6 million on the @BillThompsonNYC campaign. That's half the entire amount Thompson spent, including public funds— Andrea Bernstein (@AndreaWNYC) September 16, 2013Two things to say here:First, why not light the money on fire instead? Do it during winter and at least you get some warmth.Second, it's this kind of headline that makes me think "And I pay my union dues because?&q

by reality-based edu... / 43min 

Mulgrew Hit For His Arrogance And Hubris Over The Thompson Endorsement

Politicker takes a look at how the UFT, and specifically Michael Mulgrew, handled the Thompson endorsement:When the United Federation of Teachers offered its coveted endorsement to Bill Thompson in June, it was seen as a game changer for the candidate. But the union’s efforts came up short yet again, with Mr. Thompson conceding the contest today after placing a distant second. This is not a new si

by reality-based edu... / 24min

What Was The UFT's Role In Thompson's Concession?

Two conflicting views on whether the UFT pushed Thompson to stay in the race until all the votes were counted or urged him to concede to de Blasio:Cappell says Mulgrew was "instrumental" in today's announcement. #nyc2013— Azi Paybarah (@Azi) September 16, 2013 @Azi hmmm. I'm told he was urging Thompson to stay in for days. Skepticism useful here.— Michael Barbaro (@mikiebarb) September 1

by reality-based edu... / 4min 

Maybe Cuomo Won't Get His Death Penalty For Schools

Daily Politics has a story out saying members of the state Legislature are angry over the Cuomo administration's treatment of them and may try and sidetrack Cuomo's legislative agenda this session:Gov. Cuomo’s commission to investigate state government corruption threatens to torpedo his 2014 election-year agenda, legislative insiders warn.“There’s a lot of anger among the lawmakers and they’re re

by reality-based edu... / 2h 

Bill Thompson To Concede Mayor's Race

From Politico:New York City mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson is set to concede to candidate Bill de Blasio on Monday morning, preventing a runoff in the city’s Democratic primary, the Associated Press reported, citing two sources.Thompson, the former city comptroller, is expected to drop out and endorse the more liberal de Blasio during an 11 a.m. news conference at City Hall. De Blasio earned a litt

by reality-based edu... / 9min 

Paradegoers Say They Prefer De Blasio Over Thompson

The Daily News covered how the mayoral candidates were perceived at the Mexican Day Parade yesterday:Many paradegoers from the neighborhood said they preferred de Blasio.“I live down the block from Bill Thompson and he never even says good morning,” Harlem resident Zena Jennings said.Another supporter, Chet Why, said de Blasio’s multiracial family mattered.“I don’t have to explain my angst about r

by reality-based edu... / 0min 

Fred Dicker Says Cuomo And De Blasio Won't Get Along

From Fred Dicker's radio mic to God's ears:Gov. Cuomo and all-but-certain Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio are on a collision course certain to explode next year — over taxes, class warfare, charter schools, and Brooklyn’s Long Island College Hospital — if de Blasio is elected mayor, insiders agree.What’s more, the widely made claim that Cuomo and de Blasio will, despite their differenc

by reality-based edu... / 27min 

Ever Notice How All The Stats Are The "Best Ever" Under Bloomberg?

Howard Wolfson responds to criticism of the police shooting two innocent bystanders in Times Square on Saturday with this:@mattapuzzo @mikiebarb the NYPD is on pace to have appro 70 police shooting incidents this year, which is the lowest since records were kept— howard wolfson (@howiewolf) September 15, 2013Highest test scores under Bloomberg - until they were exposed as inflated.Sky-rocketing gr

by reality-based edu... / 2h 

9-15-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: NYPD Shoot Innocent Bystanders In Times Square When Suspect Points Metrocard At ThemShocking story on the front pages today: Two NYPD cops opened fire at a deranged man a block from Times Square — as he pretended to point a gun at them — but instead struck a pair of innocent bystanders Saturday night, police said. The 35-year-old man was behaving wildly in the middle of W. 4

by mike simpson / 9h 

9-16-13 Truth in American Education

Truth in American Education:

Common Core Forum in Sioux Falls, SD

There will be a Common Core forum in Sioux Falls, SD on Tuesday, September 17.  A Common Core discussion will be held during the Siouxland Republican Monthly Business Meeting from 7:00p – 8:30p.   It will be held at the Good Samaritan Society, Jerstad Retreat Center (4800 W 57th St. Sioux Falls).Panelists include:In favor of the Common Core State Standards:Dr. Rick Melmer – former University of So

1 by truthed / 3h 

Common Core Forum to Be Held in Wasilla, AK

This Thursday, September 19th from 7:00p-9:00p (Alaska Time) there will be a Common Core forum featuring Dr. Barbara Haney of Stop the Common Core in Alaska and Mr. Pat Higgins, a member of the Anchorage School Board. This is a public forum hosted by the Valley Republican Women’s Club and the Mat-Su Republican Women’s Club.  It will be held at Prudential Jack White Training Room (865 N. Seward Mer

by Shane Vander Hart / 3h 

YESTERDAY

Indiana Math Teacher Testifies Against Common Core

Layton Elliot, the math chair at Brebeuf Jesuit Prepartory School in Indianapolis, IN, recently testified against the Common Core Math Standards during the Indiana Legislative study committee hearing last Tuesday.I’ve been told by those who live in the area that this school is well-respected in the community, in particular, their math department.  Catholic schools in Indiana (and elsewhere) seem t

1 by Shane Vander Hart / 5h mark as read  //  save

Kansas Republican Party Passes Anti-Common Core Resolution

The Kansas Republican Party State Central Committee passed a resolution on Saturday opposing the Common Core State Standards.  This resolution was bundled with other resolutions so we are unclear of the actual vote tally.  TAE was told that the resolution had “strong support” by the committee.Here is the language of the resolution:WHEREAS, adoption of the Common Core StandardsObliterates Kansas’s

1 by Shane Vander Hart / 5h 

New Teach For America study: What it really proves:

New Teach For America study: What it really proves

By Valerie Strauss, Published: September 16 at 5:00 amE-mail the writer

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A new study on Teach For America by Mathematica has been released, and it is been hailed as some kind of proof that TFAers are more effective than other teachers. But does it really prove that? Here’s a piece on it by Julian Vasquez Heilig, an award-winning researcher and associate professor of Educational Policy and Planning at the University of Texas at Austin. This appeared on his Cloaking Inquality blog.

By Julian Vasquez Heilig

Teach For America (TFA) has sought to direct attention to a new study released by Mathematica.  A blogger at the Washington Post even argued that my prior critiques of TFA were “not true anymore.” (See all of my prior posts on TFA here.) Is that the case? Next week I will start an entire series on the Mathematica TFA study, but for now, because there is an avalanche of email and media inquiries about the study, I will discuss several important issues that I have noted in the study.

1) Mathematica TFA study does not say much about TFA writ large

The sample is large and covers an adequate number of students, schools and states. However, there are clearly some issues in the TFA sample that calls into question whether it really represents TFA and the profession more broadly.

The sample only contains secondary math teachers. However, in most communities, the majority of TFA teachers teach elementary, not secondary (See Houston example below).

The sample is heavily weight toward middle school, 75% of the classroom matches were middle school. Middle school teachers are much rarer in TFA assignments in districts

Problems that schools are expected to solve

Are schools asked to do too much? Here’s a post on the subject by Larry Cuban, a high school social studies teacher for 14 years, a district superintendent (seven years in Arlington, VA), and professor emeritus of education at Stanford … Continue reading →    

1 by Valerie Strauss / 18min 

Problems that schools are expected to solve

Are schools asked to do too much? Here’s a post on the subject by Larry Cuban, a high school social studies teacher for 14 years, a district superintendent (seven years in Arlington, VA), and professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, where he has taught for more than 20 years. His latest book is “Inside the Black Box of Classroom Practice: Change without Reform in American Education

1 by Valerie Strauss / 4min 

solidaridad: SM@TCF: Los Angeles parent-activist sounds off on CCSS

solidaridad: SM@TCF: Los Angeles parent-activist sounds off on CCSS:

SM@TCF: Los Angeles parent-activist sounds off on CCSS

First published on LA Schools Matter on September 14, 2013

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"We had 23 different language groups at my son's school. How can one common core be relevant to all of these very different people?" —Teresa Sitz, LAUSD Parent-Activist
I foundedCommunities & Families Resisting Proposition 39 Charter Colocationsalong with several families fighting against the privatization project's latest ploy, the colocation. While the group was pretty 90026 specific (we have two colocations in our community), it grew quickly throughout Los Angeles.
As the group grew, its focus broadened to cover all school privatization and the neoliberal corporate reform project in general. Over the weekend one parent asked about Corporate/Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Paraphrasing, she said she understood the whole opposition based on the profit motive behind CCSS, but asked why national standards were bad in general. There were a lot of excellent responses, but one of the most interesting came from a prominent Silver Lake parent-activist named