2-28-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet:

A video that shows why teachers are going out of their minds

The video below is not a parody. It shows Chicago Public School teachers in a professional development session that will make you understand why teachers are going out of their minds and to what extent administrators have infantilized teachers. Here is the video’s description on YouTube:  This presenter was one of several consultants flown in […]    

2 by Valerie Strauss / 1h hide  //  save

Winning videos from first White House Student Film Festival

President Obama is hosting the White House’s first ever Student Film Festival, an event aimed to showcase technology in learning,  and below are some of the 16 short films selected to be screened, all of them made by students from elementary through high school. Some of the winners come from students  in Maryland, Virginia and […]    

by Valerie Strauss / 3h 

Why preschool critics are wrong

W. Steven Barnett is the director of the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University and he is annoyed. At what? People who keep arguing that preschool has not lasting benefits — despite evidence to the contrary. In this post he takes on the critics and their interpretation of the research. By W. […]    

4 by Valerie Strauss / 4h 

Why NAEP isn’t really ‘the nation’s report card’

The National Assessment of Educational Progress is known across the country as “the nation’s report card” because it is the largest nationally representative  and continuing assessment of what America’s students know in different subjects. The body that oversees NAEP,  the National Assessment Governing Board, this week marked its 25th anniversary with a conference in Washington, at which […]    

13 by Valerie Strauss / 5h 

2-27-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet: Gov. Christie’s new crisis: Protests grow over state control of Newark schoolsThere’s a new crisis in New Jersey, and it isn’t about traffic jams. Public protests in Newark are growing over an effort by Superintendent Cami Anderson, who was appointed to run the state-operated district by Gov. Chris Christie, to reshape the city’s school system. She plans to close some traditional

by mike simpson / 8h 

2-28-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Friday Open Thread

Wedgwood teacher, Kelly Clark, has been given the 2014 Civic Educator of the Year Award.  From Rep Gerry Pollet's office:  The award is sponsored by the Washington State Legislature to honor outstanding instructors in civics education.   Other SPS honorees:• Lori Dunn, program manager for Physical Education and Health Literacy, will be presented a Fellow for Professional Excellence at a convention

by Melissa Westbrook / 53min 

2-27-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Education - This and That From two area PTSAs:We are proud to announce the Seattle Council PTSA Board and Northshore Council PTSA Board, which represents the PTA's in Woodinville, Bothell and Kenmore, have endorsed I-594. Join these parents and teachers to help make our schools and state safer for Washington families by endorsing 594 today: http://bit.ly/1h

by mike simpson / 6h

Today: The First-Ever White House Student Film Festival | ED.gov Blog

Today: The First-Ever White House Student Film Festival | ED.gov Blog:

Today: The First-Ever White House Student Film Festival

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Arne Duncan

The very best person to talk to about how modern technology is changing our classrooms isn’t me, or even the President.

It’s a student who is actually learning from those tools every day — accessing school assignments online, watching online video lessons to learn a new concept, or even talking directly with other students around the world with new technology.

That’s why, a few months ago, the White House challenged students all across the country to create short films answering a simple question:

Why is technology so important in the classroom — and how will it change the educational experience for kids in the future?

The response was overwhelming. And today, the 16 official selections are going to be screened at the first-ever White House Student Film Festival.

You’re going to want to tune in for this one. Watch the official selections, then tune in today at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Today’s going to be a fun day, but this event speaks to something much bigger.

That’s because these students’ films all illustrate the critical conversation about education in our country right now: the importance of connecting our classrooms.

The fact is that right now, only around 30% of our students have the high-speed Internet access they need for digital learning. That means millions of kids across the country aren’t currently benefiting from the kinds of technologies that made the student films you’ll watch today possible.

The President’s ConnectED initiative is making sure that changes — by connecting 99 percent of students to next-generation, high-speed broadband within five years.

Want to see exactly why that’s so important? Just take a look at some of the incredible things kids can produce when they’re connected.

See the official film festival selections, then make sure you’re watching the event at 2:30 p.m. ET today.

Looking forward to continuing the conversation.

2-28-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

The “All-Time” Best Science Sites

I’ve been posting annual lists of The Best Science Sites for a number of years. I thought it would be useful for readers, my students, and me to review them all and identify my choices for the “all-time” best ones. I’ve begun creating a number of these “All-Time” Best list, with The “All-Time” Best Ways To Create Online Content Easily & Quickly being the first ; The “All-Time” Best Web 2.0 Ap

by Larry Ferlazzo / 15min hide  //  save

Just Sent-Out Free Monthly Email Newsletter

I’ve just mailed out the March issue of my simple free monthly email newsletter. It has about 2,000 subscribers, and you can subscribe here.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

February’s “The Best…” Lists – There Are Now 1,268 Of Them!

Here’s my monthly round-up of new “The Best…” lists I posted this month (you can see all 1,268 of them categorized here): The Best Mobile Apps For English Language Learners The “All-Time” Best Online Learning Games The “All-Time” Best Social Studies Sites The Best Resources On The Protests In Ukraine The Best Posts, Articles & Lesson Plans On The Jordan Davis Tragedy & Verdict: Our “Class

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

Mardi Gras Is Next Week & Here Are A Ton Of Resources

Mardi Gras is next week, and I’ve just updated The Best Sites To Learn About Mardi Gras & Carnivals. It’s a huge list, but there’s always room for more if you’d like to offer suggestions….

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

March 6th Is World Book Day — Check Out Updated Resources

World Book Day is March 6th. You can learn more about it, and find lots of resources, at The Best Resources For World Book Day — March 6th.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

‘Reading Is Intensely Social’: An Interview With Jeffrey Wilhelm & Michael Smith

‘Reading Is Intensely Social’: An Interview With Jeffrey Wilhelm & Michael Smith is a new special post at my Education Week Teacher blog. Educators Jeffrey Wilhelm and Michael Smith are co-authors of the new book, Reading Unbound.  This interview with them is a special follow-up to the three-part series on developing life-long readers that I published earlier this week. Here’s an excerpt:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 10h 

2-27-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Check Out Our New Article: “English-Language Learners and Academic Language”My colleague and co-author, Katie Hull Sypnieski, and I just published a post over at Edutopia titled English-Language Learners and Academic Language. I think readers might find it helpful. I’m adding it to The Best Websites For Developing Academic

1 by mike simpson / 12h 

2-28-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

More support for ISAT opt out.

February 28, 2014 To the teachers at Saucedo Elementary and Drummond Elementary schools, Teachers for Social Justice fully supports your decision to refuse to administer the 2014 ISAT test to your students. Thank you for taking this important step to protect your students from a week of testing that does not benefit them and does not allow teachers to teach. Your decision is a courageous one in th

by Fred Klonsky / 23min 

Bully Byrd-Bennett’s up-to-the-minute rules on handling “insubordinate” teachers.

February 28, 2014 Dear Principal: We are offering the following guidance to principals on the administration of the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) in schools where parents have opted out of the test and/or teachers refuse to administer the test despite our directives.  The overwhelming majority of students have not been opted out of the test and we must be sure that we create a fair te

4 by Fred Klonsky / 10min 

Bully Byrd-Bennett’s up-to-the-minute rules for opt out.

Dear Principal: We are offering the following guidance to principals on the administration of the Illinois Standard Achievement Test (ISAT) in schools where parents have opted out of the test and/or teachers refuse to administer the test despite our directives.  The overwhelming majority of students have not been opted out of the test and we must be sure that we create a fair testing environment

by Fred Klonsky / 2min 

Let Saucedo teachers teach.

Friday, February 28th at 4PM. Saucedo Academy. Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

1 by Fred Klonsky / 9min 

Ten minute drawing. Focus on what is important.

2 by Fred Klonsky / 25min 

Testing revolt spreads. Second CPS school faculty votes no to ISAT.

CTUNet: CHICAGO—The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) supports teachers and parents at Thomas Drummond Montessori School who announced today their intent to boycott the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Drummond joins Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy as the second school this week to take action against this “low-stakes” standardized test. Saucedo teachers announced on Tuesday their intent t

27 by Fred Klonsky / 56min 

The CPS ISAT letter and the parent response.

From:  ”Swartz,  Claudinette”   Date:  February  27,  2014  at  11:46:13  AM  CST Subject:  ISAT  opt  out I  wanted  to  reach  out  on  the  opt  out  issue  because  I’m concerned  that  there  are  repercussions  from  the  State  that teachers  and  parents  may  not  be  aware  of.    We’ve  just  sent something  to  principals  and  I  want  to  make  sure  you  g

3 by Fred Klonsky / 45min hide  //  save

Bully Byrd-Bennett is now threatening parents and kids.

.   Things are heating up in Chicago today. Lines are being drawn in the sand. CPS CEO is not just threatening teachers with the loss of their teaching certification. She’s threatening parents. I’ve heard from dozens of parents who are telling me versions of this: Our principal just received word TODAY that students who chose to opt out of the ISAT must SIT QUIETLY at their desk with the unopened

2 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Dillard adds to his ALEC support.

  When I pointed out that Kirk Dillard was state chairman of the anti-union, racist American Legislative Exchange Council, folks like NEA Board of Directors member Tom Tully wrote to say that he was told there was a letter from Dillard resigning from ALEC. “Indeed there is,” responded IEA Director of Government Relations when I asked him about it. But when I finally got to read the letter, it did

by Fred Klonsky / 13min 

Don’t call him “Rahmner.”

The Chicago Sun-Time’s political reporter Natasha Korecki sat down with Mary Ann Ahern of NBC, Art Golub and Kate Grossman, both reporters for the Sun-Times, to discuss the overlap of supporters for Bruce Rauner’s gubernatorial campaign and Rahm Emanuel’s mayoral campaign. Shock! They’re the same guys. Grossman points out that Bruce gets mad when you call him Rahmner. Excuse me for a minute. Rahm

1 by Fred Klonsky / 21min hide  //  save

Say no to Bully Byrd-Bennett. 3:30 at Saucedo Academy.

3 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Urgent: In The Face Of Threats, Saucedo Teachers Ask Ctu Members To Rally At 3:30 Pm Friday

IN THE FACE OF THREATS, SAUCEDO TEACHERS ASK CTU MEMBERS TO RALLY AT 3:30 PM FRIDAY Teachers and parents at Saucedo Academy are standing strong against baseless threats from central office. They are asking CTU members to show support tomorrow, Friday, February 28 at 3:30 p.m. Saucedo Elementary is located at 2850 W. 24th Blvd. Wherever you are, please wear red to school and take pictures w

4 by Fred Klonsky / 2h 

2-27-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Wounded Knee.  With my green 1968 Volkswagon Beetle attached to the tow bar of a recreational vehicle that we contracted to deliver, my brother, a friend Nancy and I left LA for Chicago. Nancy and Mike would return to LA. I would stay. March 3rd it will be 41 years. I was 24 years old and all that I o

by mike simpson / 8h