Morning Wink 1-5-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH Diane Ravitch's blog 1-5-14

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Paul Thomas: An Educators’ Agenda for 2014Paul Thomas proposes that educators must set goals for other crucial sectors of our society. After all, there is such low confidence in other institutions, and it is our joint responsibility to do what we can to restore confidence for the good of society. If we do not solve the crisis of ou

by mike simpson / 33min 

I wonder if Secretary Duncan heard our students’ stories? | Ward 8 DC Teacher

I wonder if Secretary Duncan heard our students’ stories? | Ward 8 DC Teacher: I wonder if Secretary Duncan heard our students’ stories?Leave a commentLast spring, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited my school. Following the unfortunate tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook, the purpose of his visit was to meet with students, and staff, to discuss school and gun violence. The video below (4:2

by mike simpson / 36min 

1-5-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: How Fighting Education Reform In NY State Is Like Getting A Shift In Medical Marijuana PolicyThe NY Times reported last night that Governor Andrew Cuomo is shifting his stance on medical marijuana in New York State:ALBANY — Joining a growing group of states that have loosened restrictions on marijuana, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York plans this week to announce an executive

by mike simpson / 37min 

1-5-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Parents with direct experience with Capital Prep continue to speak outOver the past few weeks, more than a dozen parents whose children have or are attending Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut have written to tell their stories or ask which public agencies are responsible for investigating their concerns about what is occurring at Steve Perry’s Hartford school. 

by mike simpson / 37min 

1-5-14 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: Is Moraitis HB 377 Charter School Bill Inspired By ALEC?Rep. George Moraitis will be asked sometime this week why he left any mention of “charter schools” in HB 377 and instead referred to them as “private, not-for profit elementary, middle and high schools.” Never mind

by mike simpson / 41min 

1-5-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: From The Archives: “Eight Things Skilled Teachers Think, Say, and Do”I’ve recently re-started an effort I’ve tried to do previously by regularly highlighting previous posts and articles I’ve shared in previous years that I think might be worth a second look. Eight Things Skilled Teachers Think, Say, and Do is an article I w

by mike simpson / 42min 

1-5-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: The Carmen Farina FilesHer management took the form of a Machiavellian benevolence — the kind of approach you imagine is taught to aspiring executives in certain classes at Wharton, whereby the party about to be demoted or fired is encouraged to believe that what is happening is the best possible result for him or her. At P.S. 6, Ms. Farina got rid of only three teachers outright,

by mike simpson / 45min 

teacherken at Daily Kos 1-5-14: One Marine's Dying Wish

Daily Kos: One Marine's Dying Wish: One Marine's Dying Wishis the title of this must-read column by Frank Bruni in today's New York Times It is about Hal Faulkner, a 79 year old who is dying of cancer. Faulkner enlisted in the Marines in 1952 and was discharged in 1965, having served more than 3 years and risen from private to sergeant, showing how highly he was regarded. There were no real blots

by mike simpson / 49min 

1-5-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: I wonder if Secretary Duncan heard their stories?Last spring, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited my school. Following the unfortunate tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook, the purpose of his visit was to meet with students, and staff, to discuss school and gun violence. The video below (4:23 minutes) is a condensed version of the hour-long discussion. The full video (51:36

by mike simpson / 52min 

SKrashen: The Spectacular Role of Libraries in Protecting Students from the Effects of Poverty

SKrashen: The Spectacular Role of Libraries in Protecting Students from the Effects of Poverty: The Spectacular Role of Libraries in Protecting Students from the Effects of PovertyStephen KrashenPublished in: iLeader: Journal of School Library Association of New South Wales 1(4): 3-6 (2012)Poverty is by far the most powerful predictor we have of school performance. This has been established in stu

by mike simpson / 54min 

V.A.M.: Value Added Measure: What Came First: The Chicken, the Egg or the Altruism of a Charter School CEO?

V.A.M.: Value Added Measure: What Came First: The Chicken, the Egg or the Altruism of a Charter School CEO?: What Came First: The Chicken, the Egg or the Altruism of a Charter School CEO?I only knew two Kip’s ever, one was the real hairy lead singer of Winger and the other was that strange kid in my 8th grade Algebra class. Now there is a new, well somewhat old KIPP in town. Just try and guess wha

by mike simpson / 1h 

Finding Her Teaching Voice - NYTimes.com

Finding Her Teaching Voice - NYTimes.com: VOCATIONS: THE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERPeter DaSilva for The New York TimesElizabeth Solis says the “teacher-student evangelical style” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, became “the foundation of my teaching ability later in life.”By PERRY GARFINKELPublished: January 4, 2014Elizabeth Solis, 30, is an assistant principal and history teacher atArise, a charter high sch

by mike simpson / 1h 

History Content and Teaching: A Historic Struggle | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

History Content and Teaching: A Historic Struggle | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: History Content and Teaching: A Historic StruggleThe past two posts have made the point that content and pedagogy are joined at the hip. Yet in science and math, too often, policymakers and reformers have focused on content rather than the art and craft of teaching that content in the mistaken

by mike simpson / 1h 

YESTERDAY

The Professors: A Reality Show Concept | Cloaking Inequity

The Professors: A Reality Show Concept | Cloaking Inequity: The Professors: A Reality Show ConceptThe hullabaloo about the Duck Dynasty reality show got me to thinking.  It turns out that the Duck Dynasty controversy may all be just part of the entertainment business— a carefully orchestrated marketing scheme. How about an education reality show that isn’t 100% pretend and follows the “stress, fai

by mike simpson / 12h 

1-4-13 Saturday Special Sneak Preview Special Double Feature Corporate Reform News Breakout

Saturday Sneak Preview Special Corporate Reform School Girls News BreakoutSpecial  Sneak Preview - Witch Hunter starring Campbell Brown  News BreakComing to a theater near you!Chicago School Rations Bathroom Visits to Help Prepare for Common Core Tests - Living in Dialogue - Education Week TeacherChicago School Rations Bathroom Visits to Help Prepare for Common Core Tests - Living in Dialogue - Ed

by mike simpson / 12h 

Chicago School Rations Bathroom Visits to Help Prepare for Common Core Tests - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Chicago School Rations Bathroom Visits to Help Prepare for Common Core Tests - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Chicago School Rations Bathroom Visits to Help Prepare for Common Core TestsBy Anthony Cody on January 4, 2014 8:54 PMHow far will schools go to prepare for Common Core tests? From a teacher in Chicago, I received the following memo, delivered to faculty this week.Dear Facult

by mike simpson / 13h 

Pope Francis, Clerical Education, and KIPP | A "Fuller" Look at Education Issues

Pope Francis, Clerical Education, and KIPP | A "Fuller" Look at Education Issues: A "Fuller" Look at Education IssuesExamining K-12 and higher ed issues across the country by Dr. Ed FullerPope Francis, Clerical Education, and KIPPPosted on January 4, 20140      1 VoteWhat does Pope Francis’ views on clerical education have to do with No Excuses charter schools you ask?In a rece

by mike simpson / 13h 

2nd Banana 1-4-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #RealEdTalk #p2 #1u

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POSTParents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland: "Pearson is developing performance-based assessments for all grades..."Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland: "Pearson is developing performance-based assessments for all grades...": "Pearson is developing performance-based assessments for all grades...&

by mike simpson / 13h 

Nite Cap 1-4-14 #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 CAPThe Curse of Paul Vallas: the Boomerang of Personal Greed | Reclaim ReformThe Curse of Paul Vallas: the Boomerang of Personal Greed | Reclaim Reform: The Curse of Paul Vallas: the Boomerang of Personal GreedPosted on January 4, 2014by Ken Previti

by mike simpson / 14h 

The Curse of Paul Vallas: the Boomerang of Personal Greed | Reclaim Reform

The Curse of Paul Vallas: the Boomerang of Personal Greed | Reclaim Reform: The Curse of Paul Vallas: the Boomerang of Personal GreedPosted on January 4, 2014by Ken PrevitiWhat is Paul Vallas up to? Personal greed and total disregard of the public good – as usual.The candidate for Illinois lieutenant governor as endorsed by Gov. Pat Quinn (D) after resigning in haste and controversy from being Con

by mike simpson / 14h 

Learning Without Technology | My Island View

Learning Without Technology | My Island View: Learning Without TechnologyJanuary 4, 2014 by tomwhitbyAs long as I have been involved with education there has been a discussion of whether or not technology is making a difference in learning, and whether or not we should use it in schools. This discussion takes place on a teacher-to-teacher level, as well as an administrative level. It occurs on pri

by mike simpson / 14h 

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Removing Recess: Test Scores Trump Play!

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Removing Recess: Test Scores Trump Play!: Removing Recess: Test Scores Trump Play!Let me begin by being  completely honest. I hate recess. I hate being out in the cold. I hate being out when it's hot.  I am not fortunate enough to work in a school where teachers have aides that monitor recess. I , and my teammates take the kids out for 15 minutes a day, unless of

by mike simpson / 14h 

WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Congress must act to extend unemployment insurance | The White House

WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Congress must act to extend unemployment insurance | The White House: THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press Secretary______________________________________________________________________________EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, January 4, 2013WHITE HOUSE VIDEO MESSAGE: Congress must act to extend unemployment insuranceWASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s message, Director o

by mike simpson / 14h 

solidaridad: My comments on Mike Klonsky's 'Belmont's Blues'

solidaridad: My comments on Mike Klonsky's 'Belmont's Blues': My comments on Mike Klonsky's 'Belmont's Blues'My comments on @mikeklonsky 's "Belmont's Blues" #LAUSD http://t.co/wkV9ckSoCV pic.twitter.com/ZwXItnhU93— Robert D. Skeels (@rdsathene) December 26, 2013 I live within walking distance of Belmont, and Roybal is just a bit further to the east (they're separate schools). Because of

by mike simpson / 14h 

Cristal Ball | EduShyster

Cristal Ball | EduShyster: Cristal Ball A look ahead at some of the trendiest trends of 2014…Why it seems like only yesterday that we were All Hailing the EduPreneur, raising our wassail boxes to his (and her) unique ability to *do well* by *doing good.* So what does 2014 have in store for us? Will it be as disruptive, innovative and excellent as its predecessor, or will it be even more disruptive

by mike simpson / 14h 

Ripley’s Botched Attack on Ravitch: A Euro Is Not a Dollar | deutsch29

Ripley’s Botched Attack on Ravitch: A Euro Is Not a Dollar | deutsch29: Ripley’s Botched Attack on Ravitch: A Euro Is Not a DollarJanuary 4, 2014In December 2011, writer Amanda Ripley published a post in which she tried hard to discredit education historian Diane Ravitch’s claim that the US poverty level is a factor in the 2009 PISA rankings.Even though Ripley’s piece is over two years old, I only

by mike simpson / 15h 

DailyCensored US Universities of Shame: Part II -

DailyCensored.com – Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal NewsUS Universities of Shame: Part II - DailyCensored.com - Breaking Censored News, World, Independent, Liberal News: US Universities of Shame: Part IIBy Stephen Lendman on January 4, 2014 5:50 pm / no comments Previous articles discussed the American Studies Association (ASA). Its boycott of Israeli academic institutions matt

by mike simpson / 15h 

Coop’s Childhood Part I – As I Was Told | Lefty Parent

Coop’s Childhood Part I – As I Was Told | Lefty Parent: Coop’s Childhood Part I – As I Was ToldJanuary 4th, 2014 at 13:32Eric & JaneI was born on April 2, 1955 in the maternity ward of the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor Michigan. My mother, Jane Roberts Zale, was 32 years old, older than many first time mothers in those days. My father, Eric Michael Zale, was six years olde

by mike simpson / 15h 

NY Times Writer Explores Farina’s Style and Substance | janresseger

NY Times Writer Explores Farina’s Style and Substance | janresseger: NY Times Writer Explores Farina’s Style and SubstancePosted on January 4, 2014 by janressegerThis morning in the NY Times, without framing her discussion in the values of the corporate reforms of the Bloomberg administration,  Ginia Bellafante examines the educational philosophy, background and style of the new chancellor of the

by mike simpson / 22h 

Morning Wink 1-4-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSRemembering Phil Everly - Everly Brothers- "All I Have To Do Is Dream/Cathy's Clown" 1960 (Reelin'...by mike simpson / 3min NYC Moms/Priincipal's Open Letter to Ms Obama to Help Stop Ed Madness Coalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación PúblicaCoalition for Public Education/Coalición por la Educación Pública: NYC Moms/Priincipal's

by mike simpson / 23h 

2nd Banana 1-4-14 Recap of Last Week's Best Post

2nd Banana 12-28-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

2nd Banana 12-21-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post2nd Banana 12-14-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 2nd Banana 12-7-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post 

Nite Cap 1-4-14

Nite Cap 1-3-14

Nite Cap 1-2-14 

Nite Cap 1-1-14 

Nite Cap 12-31-13

Nite Cap 12-30-13

Nite Cap 12-29-13

Nite Cap 12-28-13

Nite Cap 12-27-13

Nite Cap 12-26-13

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH Diane Ravitch's blog 1-5-14

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Explosive Reaction to Schneider Post on Data-Mining and Student Privacy

Mercedes Schneider posted a critique of a webinar hosted by the Education Writers Association on the subject of data-mining and student privacy. She was upset that the panel of three included two cheerleaders for data mining and the third produced research funded by Microsoft. The post was strong, but the letters that followed are amazing. She got responses from the CEO of inBloom, defending it,

1 by dianeravitch / 5min 

English Teacher: Why I Had to Leave a Profession I Loved

In this post, a veteran teacher with 30 years of experience explains why she had to retire. She didn’t want to. But the obsession with data-based decision-making finally broke her spirit. She recounts incidents where she was able to help students, where students gave her their trust, where classes learned to love literature as she did. She remembers staff meetings devoted to lessons and students,

4 by dianeravitch / 28min 

Paul Thomas: An Educators’ Agenda for 2014

Paul Thomas proposes that educators must set goals for other crucial sectors of our society. After all, there is such low confidence in other institutions, and it is our joint responsibility to do what we can to restore confidence for the good of society. If we do not solve the crisis of our times, we will lose the global competition to other nations that are not only catching up with us but surpa

2 by dianeravitch / 1h hide  //  save

Why G.F. Brandenburg Objects to Common Core

Blogger and former teacher G.F. Brandenburg has written an important and thoughtful post explaining his objections to Common Core or any other national standards that are overly prescriptive. He writes: “…. It’s utterly false to say that SOMEBODY knows all the answers to the questions about how to educate our youth, our younger generation. Whenever I have a serious or even frivolous conversation

3 by dianeravitch / 2h 

Ohio’s Richest Charter Operator, with Very Low-Performing School

Plunderbund writes here about the largest charter school in Ohio. Its revenues are staggering, its test scores and graduation rates are low, its political contributions to its allies top $1 million. “The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) is the largest charter school in the state of Ohio. The online school is easily the largest charter school in Ohio, is larger than the vast majority of Ohi

33 by dianeravitch / 3h 

YESTERDAY

2013 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: About 1,000,000 people visit the Seattle Space Needle every year. This blog was viewed about 6,500,000 times in 2013. If it were the Space Needle, it would take about 7 years for that many people to see it. Click here to see the complete report.

2 by dianeravitch / 10h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 1-4-14 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOGJulian Vasquez Heilig: A TFA Alumna Tells All to JulianJulian Vasquez Heilig recounts the story of a graduate of his university who reported plans to enter Teach for America. The University of Texas, he says, sends more students to TFA than any other university. This young person was filled with idealism and hope about ma

by mike simpson / 11h 

I wonder if Secretary Duncan heard our students’ stories? | Ward 8 DC Teacher

I wonder if Secretary Duncan heard our students’ stories? | Ward 8 DC Teacher:

I wonder if Secretary Duncan heard our students’ stories?

• Leave a comment

Last spring, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited my school. Following the unfortunate tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook, the purpose of his visit was to meet with students, and staff, to discuss school and gun violence. The video below (4:23 minutes) is a condensed version of the hour-long discussion. The full video (51:36 minutes) is here.

Although I’ll give Secretary Duncan credit for visiting my school, in a tough DC ward, I’m still wondering whether he actually listened to the students in the video?

I wonder if he walked away with any valuable insight?

I wonder if some of

1-5-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

How Fighting Education Reform In NY State Is Like Getting A Shift In Medical Marijuana Policy

The NY Times reported last night that Governor Andrew Cuomo is shifting his stance on medical marijuana in New York State:ALBANY — Joining a growing group of states that have loosened restrictions on marijuana, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York plans this week to announce an executive action that would allow limited use of the drug by those with serious illnesses, state officials say. The shift by

by reality-based edu... / 37min 

1-4-14 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School WeekThe Sham Regents Task ForceThe Regents have let us know - there will be no meaningful change to their education reform agenda:New York's education policymakers say they really were listening, even to the shouting, during a series of volatile public forums held to explain a slate of education reforms intended to better prepare public school students

by mike simpson / 11h 

1-5-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:

Education Blogger Mercedes Schneider warns: Beware of Data Sharingcheerleaders Offering Webinars

Fellow pro-public education blogger Mercedes Schneider is one of the most powerful and important voices in the anti-corporate education reform industry movement.  Her research is extraordinarily thorough and her writing is amazing. As proof, the nation’s leading voice on behalf of public education, Diane Ravitch, links to Mercedes’ work on a regular basis.  If you […]The post Education Blogger Mer

by jonpelto / 9min 

Governor Malloy’s fake Connecticut Budget “Surplus”

If you’ve listened to Governor Malloy lately or checked out some of the media reports recently you’d think Connecticut was on the road to economic recovery, that the state had a budget surplus and it was “Morning in Connecticut.” Putting aside the continued high unemployment rates, Governor Malloy’s failed economic development strategies and the growing […]The post Governor Malloy’s fake Connectic

6 by jonpelto / 41min 

Parents with direct experience with Capital Prep continue to speak out

Over the past few weeks, more than a dozen parents whose children have or are attending Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut have written to tell their stories or ask which public agencies are responsible for investigating their concerns about what is occurring at Steve Perry’s Hartford school.  Allegations of illegal practices range from […]The post Parents with direct exper

2 by jonpelto / 39min

1-4-14 Wait What? All Week

Wait What?:  Wait What? All WeekNews Flash: Vallas now says he didn’t announce his resignation Nov 8th after all, wants more moneyIn an absolutely unbelievable last insult to the taxpayers of Bridgeport and Connecticut, Paul Vallas and his lawyers have told the Bridgeport Board of Education that he did not announce that he was resigning on November 8th; he only announced he was going to announce t

by mike simpson / 11h 

1-5-14 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:

Charter Schools USA Big Money Efforts to Influence Florida Policy

Scathing Purple Musings noted in the blog post about Rep. George Moraitis’ HB 377 that Charter Schools USA donated $1000 to his campaign less than a month before he filed the bill. And also this in an earlier post: There was no election last fall, but Charter Schools USA made three contributions starting in August totaling $8500. One of those for $2500 (9/24/13) went to a new Electioneering Commun

by Bob Sikes / 10min 

Is Moraitis HB 377 Charter School Bill Inspired By ALEC?

Rep. George Moraitis will be asked sometime this week why he left any mention of “charter schools” in HB 377 and instead referred to them as “private, not-for profit elementary, middle and high schools.” Never mind that he filled the bill  as Educational Facilities Financing. When one cut through Moraitis’ clear attempt to deceive, what Floridians see is the creation of permanent financing for and

by Bob Sikes / 35min 

1-4-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida ALL Week

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education:Scathing Purple Musings  Color me purple in Florida ALL WeekHow Florida’s For-Profit Charter School Industry Is Moving Money in to Influence the Legislative SessionMatt Dixon’s report that a former top lobbyist for the for-profit charter school industry is now the top fun

by mike simpson / 11h