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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts 2-26 #SOSchat #p2 #edreform


Culturally Responsive Teaching Model to Expand in Chicago&Suburbs - Hispanically Speaking News

Culturally Responsive Teaching Model to Expand in ChicagoSuburbs - Hispanically Speaking News:Culturally Responsive Teaching Model to Expand in Chicago SuburbsStudents’ academic achievement and social development grew from a curriculum that uses culture as the foundation for literacy and fine arts instruction—according to a three-year independent study conducted by nonprofit Changing Worlds and its research partner, Loyola University’s Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL).The study, “Unlocking Pathways to Learning” will be released Tues. Feb. 28 at an 8:30 a.m. breakfast ... more »

A Classroom’s Simple Pleasures! Smiling/Laughing Allowed! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!

A Classroom’s Simple Pleasures! Smiling/Laughing Allowed! « Diary of a Public School Teacher!:A Classroom’s Simple Pleasures! Smiling/Laughing Allowed!Posted February 25, 2012 by Oldschoolteach in Blogging about Education, Classroom Management, Education Blog,Education Issues, Elementary Education Blog, Student Issues, Teacher Resources. Tagged: a happy classroom,Classroom, Education, elementary education, engaged and happy student, fun in the classroom, fun learning environment, the happy student. 1 CommentAfter reading Angela Maier’s 12 Things Kids Want from Their Teachers, I thou...more »

Unconscionability And The UFT Collective Bargaining Agreement - ParentAdvocates.org

Parent Advocates - ParentAdvocates.org:Unconscionability And The UFT Collective Bargaining AgreementUnconscionability And The UFT Collective Bargaining AgreementGovernment Lies, Corruption and Mismanagement | Posted 2/25/2012 at 6:07 PM"If the court as a matter of law finds the contract or any clause of the contract to have been unconscionable at the time it was made the court may refuse to enforce the contract, or it may enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause, or it may so limit the application ... more »

This spring, dozens of Oakland teachers will have to apply for their jobs - ContraCostaTimes.com

This spring, dozens of Oakland teachers will have to apply for their jobs - ContraCostaTimes.com:This spring, dozens of Oakland teachers will have to apply for their jobsBy Katy MurphyOakland TribunePosted: 02/25/2012 03:10:31 PM PSTUpdated: 02/25/2012 09:28:35 PM PSTTeachers who wish to remain on Oakland's Castlemont, Fremont or McClymonds high school campuses next year will have to reapply for their jobs -- or, more precisely, for a different position with more responsibilities, a shorter summer and more money for the additional ... more »

An Urban Teacher's Education: New York City: The Ultimate PD

An Urban Teacher's Education: New York City: The Ultimate PD:New York City: The Ultimate PDby James BoutinNobody would accuse Scott of being an ineffective teacher. He has a clean-shaven head and well-pressed dress shirt and tie that make it seem like he effortlessly expands the minds of every student in his class on a daily basis. It was my great pleasure to meet this particular teacher and his particularly high-functioning classroom on a visit to Brooklyn International High School in ... more »

NYC Educator: The Annual Shaming of the Teachers

NYC Educator: The Annual Shaming of the Teachers:The Annual Shaming of the Teachersby NYC EducatorAFT and NYSUT Presidents are on Twitter declaring that evaluation data from upcoming NY state and city evaluations is not subject to FOIA. In one respect, they are correct, and that's why your S or U ratings have not made it to the pages of fine publications like our highly respected NY Post, not to mention the Times--with "all the news that's fit to print" displaying ... more »

Cartoons: The Age-graded School | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Cartoons: The Age-graded School | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:Cartoons: The Age-graded Schoolby larrycubanIn my restless search for humor about school reforms as they affect students, teachers, parents, and the nation, I have posted cartoons on testing, technology and children, charters, accountability, and the inescapable blame that accompanies reform over the past five months. I have discovered the following:*Humor is in the head of the beholder.*Cartoonists’ portrayal of schools relies heavily upon traditional ideas of what schools ... more »

Washington State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz speaks up on ed reform | Seattle Education

Washington State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz speaks up on ed reform | Seattle Education:Washington State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz speaks up on ed reformby seattleducation2011To follow is an open letter from Washington State’s Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz:A Democrat For EducationCount me as a Democrat opposed to the most strident elements of so-called Education Reform. Let me be clear that I am not opposed to high standards, high achievement, or accountability. What I reject is the culture of ... more »

The Human Potential Business - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators

The Human Potential Business - Arlington, VA, United States, ASCD EDge Blog post - A Professional Networking Community for Educators:Looking AheadThe Human Potential BusinessWe are in education. We aren’t in the happiness business or the customer service business or the product development business. We’re in the human potential business. We are so NOT one-size-fits-all, standardized assembly-line, profit-driven bottom line, nine-to-five clock punchers. We are people-centric, in-the-moment, altruistic, roll-up-our-sleeves, touch-the-future, idealists who support children as they lear... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top 2-26 AM Posts #soschat #edreform

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 2-25 #soschat #ReclaimingReformBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-3 hours agoSaturday coffee. « Fred KlonskyBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoSaturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky:Saturday coffee.by Fred KlonskyCartoon: Paul SchicklerThe coffee just seemed extra good this morning. Maybe because it is so cold out.Everyone seems to be blaming themselves for the wet sloppy three to four inches of snow that came through the north side of the city ... more »

The Youth Data Archive links data across schools, public agencies, and community based organizations

John W Gardner Center for Youth:The Youth Data ArchiveYDA ProjectsAlternative Education TransitionsEducational Outcomes of Dependent YouthEnglish Learner After School Program Participation in Redwood CityPhysical Fitness and Academic Achievement in Redwood CityPreschool for All Redwood City Community Schools EvaluationSalud AmericaSan Francisco Bridge to SuccessSan Francisco Research ConsortiumSequoia High School Teen Resource CenterTruancy and Early Chronic Absenteeism in Redwood CityYouth Development and MotivationActive YDA PartnersSan Francisco City and County City College of Sa... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Late Nite Posts 2-25 #soschat #ReclaimingReform

Saturday coffee. « Fred KlonskyBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-1 hour agoSaturday coffee. « Fred Klonsky:Saturday coffee.by Fred KlonskyCartoon: Paul SchicklerThe coffee just seemed extra good this morning. Maybe because it is so cold out.Everyone seems to be blaming themselves for the wet sloppy three to four inches of snow that came through the north side of the city on Thursday. They blame themselves because everyone has been talking about how there has been no snow this winter. It ... more »

Schools Matter: What the U.S. Can Learn from Education in Venezuela

Schools Matter: What the U.S. Can Learn from Education in Venezuela:What the U.S. Can Learn from Education in Venezuelaby Judy RabinThe PBS NewsHour this Friday evening featured a music program that brings music lessons to a few lucky students in low-income neighborhoods in New York City. Modeled on a program in Venezuela, Harmony, supported by private philanthropy, is helping to raise test scores, improving reading and math skills and keeping kids in school. There are "no excuses" for wasting billions ... more »

NYC Public School Parents: A principal at a high performing school explains why she is "absolutely sick" about the public release of the TDRs"

NYC Public School Parents: A principal at a high performing school explains why she is "absolutely sick" about the public release of the TDRs":A principal at a high performing school explains why she is "absolutely sick" about the public release of the TDRs"by Leonie HaimsonHere is a message from Elizabeth Phillips, Principal of P.S. 321 in Brooklyn, who writes: “ I am absolutely sick about the public release of the TDRs. See below for some details in terms of what ... more »

Occupying Parents Win an Audience, but Chicago Schools Still Privatize | Labor Notes

Occupying Parents Win an Audience, but Chicago Schools Still Privatize | Labor Notes:Occupying Parents Win an Audience, but Chicago Schools Still Privatizeby Howard Ryan | Sat, 02/25/2012 - 11:26amHoward Ryan's blogLogin or register to post commentsPrint thisSend to friend Share this story RSS Make text larger orsmallerAfter parents occupied Chicago’s Brian Piccolo Elementary School February 17, they won a commitment from the school board to meet and discuss the “turnarounds” at Piccolo and a neighboring school—measures that would mean firing ... more »

“Mitchell 20″ Model Would Make a Difference for Students « InterACT

“Mitchell 20″ Model Would Make a Difference for Students « InterACT:“Mitchell 20″ Model Would Make a Difference for Studentsby ACT Guest Blog PostsToday’s guest post comes to us from Patrick Guggino, a National Board Certified Teacher in Charter Oak Unified School District. Patrick also serves as a support provider for National Board candidates, and has a Ph.D. in Education from U.C. Riverside, where he focused on Curriculum and Instruction.A couple of Saturdays ago, Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Maximizing Teacher ... more »

Jersey Jazzman: Accountability For Thee, Not For Me?

Jersey Jazzman: Accountability For Thee, Not For Me?:Accountability For Thee, Not For Me?by DukeSo now that it's hitting the fan in NYC, no one wants to stand up and be... oh, what's that word again... oh, yeah...Accountable:Facing a flood of criticism from teachers and principals, the city’s Education Department is trying to distance itself from the release of 18,000 teachers’ individual performance rankings to the press. That has not always been so.In a guide sent to public school principals on ... more »

SHOULD ARNE DUNCAN REMAIN SECRETARY OF EDUCATION?

Antonio S. Caruso's Education Blog:SHOULD ARNE DUNCAN REMAIN SECRETARY OF EDUCATION?There is a growing frustration among teachers that Arne Duncan is failing in his role as Secretary of Education. As a result, I have put together an informal poll to guage the level of frustration. Please look to the right of this post and vote in the poll.Antonio S. Caruso's Education Blog:

Buffett: Unemployment linked to housing - Omaha.com

Buffett: Unemployment linked to housing - Omaha.com:Buffett: Unemployment linked to housingBy Steve JordonWORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER« MoneyShareRelated NewsBuffett ‘wrong' on housingWarren Buffet's annual letter to...Related LinksBerkshire Hathaway 2011 annual reportPremium ContentClick on Premium Content on the Featured navigation bar for information.The nation's housing market remains in a "depression," Warren Buffett said Saturday, keeping the nation's unemployment rate too high.Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Omaha investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc, said he was "dead wro...more »

Jersey Jazzman: Public Employees Are Not Slaves

Jersey Jazzman: Public Employees Are Not Slaves:Public Employees Are Not Slavesby DukeLet me explain a few things to those of you who think that public employees should lose their rights as workers because you think you "pay their salaries":1) You and I, as taxpayers, do not have unlimited rights over public workers. I don't care if we "pay their salaries" or not; all workers have certain rights, even though we seem to have forgotten that these days.One of those rights ... more »

Why are strong readers being labeled remedial? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Why are strong readers being labeled remedial? - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Why are strong readers being labeled remedial?by Valerie StraussThis was written by Marion Brady, veteran teacher, administrator, curriculum designer and author.By Marion BradyI began teaching history at the high school level in the fall of 1952. It wasn’t by choice. I hadn’t majored in the subject in college. It had always been just another required hoop to jump through.Read full article NYC releases teachers’ value-added scores ... more »

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day - The Educator's PLN

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day - The Educator's PLN:Introduce a Girl to Engineering Dayby Brad CurrieThis past Tuesday a group of aspiring 8th grade students participated in Exxon Mobil's Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Exxon Mobil graciously provided volunteers to assist some of our 8th grade girls in exploring possibilities of choosing research and engineering as exciting and fulfulling career choices. Lab experiments were conducted during this event in one of our state of the art science labs. ... more »

“It’s time to march again.” « Fred Klonsky

“It’s time to march again.” « Fred Klonsky:“It’s time to march again.”by Fred KlonskyPopoutAt the Saturday morning meeting of Operation Push, the Reverend Jesse Jackson said that in response to the decision of the Chicago school board this week to close or turn around more than a dozen schools, “It is time to march again.”Sun-Times:The participants in a panel discussion, which included Jackson, his son Jonathan Jackson, who is Rainbow/PUSH spokesman, Chicago Teachers Union

Stupidity in Florida – Transformative Education by any means necessary. The 2012 FL budget funds failing charter schools. « Continuing Change

Stupidity in Florida – Transformative Education by any means necessary. The 2012 FL budget funds failing charter schools. « Continuing Change:Stupidity in Florida – Transformative Education by any means necessary. The 2012 FL budget funds failing charter schools.by gatorbonbcRemember when we looked at the school data here in Florida and nearly all the counties we looked at, the onlyF in the county was a charter school… ?? Well, it looks like our leaders in Tally figure failing must be a ... more »

School Tech Connect: A Mess!

School Tech Connect: A Mess!:A Mess!by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)Nice local catch by Susan Ohanian. It's a letter-to-the-editor by Susan Schmidt. Go read the whole thing.This notion that "the schools are a mess" and that "we can all agree" on that is pure bullshit, spouted by people

Florida Ed Commissioner Gerard Robinson’s Transparent Rhetoric | Scathing Purple Musings

Florida Ed Commissioner Gerard Robinson’s Transparent Rhetoric | Scathing Purple Musings:Florida Ed Commissioner Gerard Robinson’s Transparent Rhetoricby Bob SikesOver a period of 48 hours, Gerard Robinson has twice attempted to deflect criticism for his plan to turn Florida’s school grade formula upside down. Here part of his Thursday statement:The proposed changes to our school grading system are not only necessary to continue on the path of intelligent reform, but they will help ensure that Florida is prepared to compete on ... more »

Student Enrollments & State School Finance Policies « School Finance 101

Student Enrollments State School Finance Policies « School Finance 101:Student Enrollments State School Finance Policiesby schoolfinance101Most readers of the NJDOE report on reforming the state’s school finance formula likely glided right past the seemingly innocuous recommendation to shift the enrollment count method for funding from a fall enrollment count to an average daily attendance figure. After all, on its face, the argument provided seems to make sense. Let’s fund on this basis so that we can incentivize increased attendance in ... more »

Teach For America Corps Members Debate: The Leadership Pipeline - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Teach For America Corps Members Debate: The Leadership Pipeline - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Teach For America Corps Members Debate: The Leadership Pipeline

Last Friday, I posted this essay by Teach For America corps member Jameson Brewer: Hyperaccountablity, Burnout and Blame. One of the comments came from another TFA corps member, duke solaris. This comment and Jameson's response ran yesterday, Teach For America Corps Members in Dialogue: Can this Model Work?

Today, in the third installment of this dialogue, I share the latest exchange between these Teach For America corps members.

To begin, duke solaris writes:
Thank you for the reply, and for being willing to engage in conversation!

I completely agree that the achievement gap is reflective of deeper issues in society and that the term "achievement gap" is an oversimplification of a much more complicated issue. I tend to agree with the McKinsey insight (1) that there are actually 4 kinds of achievement gaps: a gap between the US and other nations, a gap between low-performing states and high-performing states, a gap between minority students and white students, and a gap between low-income and non-low-income students. Issues such as rampant incarceration, homeowner, healthcare, earnings and poverty are at the root of some of these gaps, but not all, and each of

JURUPA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY A MINI-LAUSD by Anthony Scott- Perdaily.com

JURUPA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY A MINI-LAUSD by Anthony Scott (Jurupa Distrito Escolar Unificado del Condado de Riverside Un MINI-LAUSD por Anthony Scott) - Perdaily.com:

JURUPA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY A MINI-LAUSD by Anthony Scott (Jurupa Distrito Escolar Unificado del Condado de Riverside Un MINI-LAUSD por Anthony Scott)

Jurupa Unified School District.jpg
(Mensaje se repite en Español)

(For a national view of public education reform see the end of this blog post)

For readers of Perdaily, it is important to recognize that what is occurring in LAUSD is also occurring in other districts. Jurupa Unified School District is located in the city of Jurupa Valley in Riverside County, California. It services approximately 19,000 students and is ethnically diverse. For disclosure, Anthony Scott who wrote this post is currently involved in a group action lawsuit against JUSD, RIC 10015548. Below he has described only a few of the reasons why a large number of employees of JUSD have filed a suit against their district.

Certain school administrators conduct the illegal and otherwise questionable treatment of students and employees in the Jurupa Unified School District:- primarily Assistant Superintendant, Tamara Elzig, and Superintendant, Elliott Duchon. As in Los Angeles, there exists in the collective bargaining agreements of the

One Teacher's Perspective: Wisconsin's Public Schools Under Siege

One Teacher's Perspective: Wisconsin's Public Schools Under Siege:

Wisconsin's Public Schools Under Siege

This week’s guest perspective comes from Trygve Danielson—a school teacher at Parker High School in Janesville, Wisconsin for almost 40 years. Danielson gave the following speech at The State of Rock County Rally on January 26, 2012 as an educator's response to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s State of the State Address.

I was raised on a small farm in southeastern Wisconsin. Neither of my parents graduated from high school, but they believed in the American Dream that if you got a good education your life would be better.

As a result, all of my brothers and sisters, all seven of us, went on to college. One retired as the principal oboist of the Seattle Symphony, another was a pilot for United Airlines, one was a nurse, one a steamfitter, and three of us are teachers. All products of two, decent, hardworking Wisconsin farmers whose kids were given the opportunity to attend Wisconsin’s public schools, one of the finest school systems in the country, even in the world.

But today that school system is under siege. I have been asked to speak today about the

Parents Across America on corporate interests in education: One year ago | Seattle Education

Parents Across America on corporate interests in education: One year ago | Seattle Education:

Parents Across America on corporate interests in education: One year ago

Early last year the Founding Members of Parents Across America met in New York City for the first time together in one place to begin the task of organizing Parents Across America.

We will be celebrating our first year as an organization in March and I am thrilled to say that in the state of Washington we now have four chapters and one affiliate as well as a new chapter in Oregon.

We are growing literally everyday. People are joining via Facebook or contacting us on an individual basis just

The Dangers Of “Gamification” In Education | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

The Dangers Of “Gamification” In Education | Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…:

The Dangers Of “Gamification” In Education

I know there has been a fair amount of online discussion going on about using “gamification” in schools, but I haven’t really been keeping on top of it. Today, though, I read an interesting article in the San Francisco Chronicle headlined Jury out on Zamzee, other forms of ‘gamification.’ Here’s an excerpt (but it’s definitely worth reading the entire article):

While gamification is a relatively new concept, the science of human motivation is not. And critics of the gamification concept – and even proponents who feel the concepts are misapplied – say many examples so far fundamentally misunderstand what drives behavior.

The most basic mistake is thinking that people play games for external rewards like points and badges, whereas in fact people play games because games are intrinsically fun or rewarding. The points are just a way of keeping score, an almost incidental add-on to the process. Sudoku has no points, for instance, but that hasn’t stopped millions from playing.

“Actual games and gamification are at complete opposite poles on the motivation continuum,” said Kathy Sierra,

An Oscar-producing education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

An Oscar-producing education - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:

An Oscar-producing education

Where do people who are nominated for — and win — Academy Awards go to college? All over the place, and, not surprisingly, the schools are all too happy to shout about it.

For example, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the world’s leading film schools, issued a press release listing all of the nominees who have a chance of winning an Oscar this year and noted that the show’s host, Billy Crystal, is a 1970 alum.

Read full article >>

School health clinics face obstacles — and how Arne Duncan could help

Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 2 hours ago
This *was written by Richard Rothstein, a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit organization created in 1986 to broaden the discussion about economic policy to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers. Rothstein is also a senior fellow of the University of California at Berkeley’s School of Law. A former education columnist for The New York Times, he is the author of a number of books about education, including “Grading Education: Getting Accountability Right.” This post was written for the institute’s website.* Read full article >> [ima... more »

Why are strong readers being labeled remedial?

Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 22 hours ago
*This was written by Marion Brady, veteran teacher, administrator, curriculum designer and author.* By Marion Brady I began teaching history at the high school level in the fall of 1952. It wasn’t by choice. I hadn’t majored in the subject in college. It had always been just another required hoop to jump through. Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon]

NYC releases teachers’ value-added scores — unfortunately

Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 1 day ago
This takes some kind of special nerve: New York City’s Education Department publicly released the rankings of 18,000 public school teachers based entirely on student standardized-test scores — after pleas from educators not to do it because it would be unfair and disparaging. And then it told the news media not to use the results to disparage teachers. Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon]

Duncan’s equity commission and the ‘rising tide’ of avarice, hostility, testing

Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 2 days ago
This *was written by John Merrow, veteran education reporter for PBS, NPR, and dozens of national publications. He is the president of the nonprofit media production company Learning Matters. Merrow’s latest book is “The Influence of Teachers.” This post first appeared on Merrow’s blog, Taking Note.* Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon]

A test for politicians on education (with cheat sheet)

Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 2 days ago
Here are questions that education historian Diane Ravitch posed to politicans who make education policy. Ravitch, a research professor at New York University, is the author of numerous books including the bestselling “ *The Death and Life of the Great American School System* ,” a critique of the modern school reform movement. These questions first appeared on theNieman Watchdog website . Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon]

Memo to Santorum: Homeschooling not a viable or best option for all parents

Valerie Strauss at The Answer Sheet - 2 days ago
Every time I hear Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum talk about how the real responsibility for a child’s education lies with parents and how he has homeschooled his own children, I think: “Well, how nice for him.” Read full article >> [image: Add to Facebook] [image: Add to Twitter] [image: Add to Reddit] [image: Add to StumbleUpon]

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky

Sunday links. « Fred Klonsky:

Sunday links.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson wants an end to mayoral control of the Chicago schools.

In Chicago we get to vote on who runs the water reclamation facilities. But not for those who run our schools. Jesse Jackson, community organizations and the Chicago Teachers Union plan to change all that.

Here are five reasons why the NY teacher ratings can’t tell you much about teacher quality.

Media hog, Michelle Rhee, won’t talk to USA Today. Why not?

My brother Mike is no mathematician. But he thinks he knows what average is? However, they seem to do