Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, December 16, 2011

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

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


New Year Celebrations

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 minutes ago
I recently updated The Best Sites For Learning About New Year Celebrations. Additional suggestions are always welcome…..

The Best “Fun” Sites You Can Use For Learning, Too — 2011

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 23 hours ago
The websites on this list were not designed with education in mind, but which can easily be used for learning purposes — particularly, though not exclusively, for English language development. I only hope that creators of “educational” content can learn … Continue reading →

Teacher Home Visits

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago
As regular readers know, I’m an enthusiastic supporter of teachers make home visits, and the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project. Over at my other blog, I’ve just published a report on a recent Parent Teacher Home Visit Project national conference … Continue reading →

Using Photos In Lessons

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago
I recently made a number of revisions to The Best Ways To Use Photos In Lessons list. You might want to take a look…. Additional ideas are always welcome.

Edublog Award Winners Announced

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago
The winners of the Edublog Awards were announced tonight, and you can see a full list here. It’s an impressive group! Many are new to me, so I’ll certainly be checking-out quite a few of them over the coming weeks…. … Continue reading →

Photo Galleries Of The Week

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 2 days ago
Obviously, photos can be great educational tools with English Language Learners and with any students (see The Best Ways To Use Photos In Lessons). I post about many photo galleries, also called slideshows. To do it in a little more … Continue reading →

The Best Resources, Articles & Blog Posts For Teachers Of ELL’s In 2011 — Part Two

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago
Lots of great resources for ESL/EFL/ELL teachers have been posted on the Web over the past year. I posted The Best Resources, Articles & Blog Posts For Teachers Of ELL’s In 2011 — So Far in August, so this list … Continue reading →

Another School Reform Post & Article “Round-Up”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago
There seems to be an avalanche of good school reform-related posts and articles being published this week: Military Children Stay a Step Ahead of Public School Students is from The New York Times. It highlights the academic achievement by students … Continue reading →

You Can Watch A Recording Of My Webinar (& Download Hand-Outs)

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago
My Eye On Education Webinar about Student Motivation and Classroom Engagement seemed to go very well this afternoon. Thanks to everybody who participated! It will be available free for a “limited time” (I’m not quite sure for how long), so … Continue reading →

The Best Resources For Learning About Higgs Boson, The “God Particle”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago
I don’t know about you, but it has not been easy for me to get a handle on what Higgs Boson, the so-called “God Particle,” is all about…. So, with all the media attention over the past few days about … Continue reading →

“Classroom Management Suggestions — Part Three”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago
Classroom Management Suggestions — Part Three is the title of my new post at Education Week Teacher. I think readers might find it useful.

Amazing Listening Exercises For ELL’s

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 days ago
As regular readers know, ever since I discovered them, I’ve believed Henny Jellema’s online TPR Exercises to be not only the best listening exercises for English Language Learners on the Web, but the best ELL activity — period. Well, I … Continue reading →

The Best Comic Strips For Students & Teachers In 2011

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 4 days ago
It’s time for another year-end list….. You might also be interested in: Part Two Of The Best Comic Strips For Students & Teachers — 2010 The Best Comic Strips For Students & Teachers — 2010 (And Earlier) Of course, teachers … Continue reading →

School Tech Connect: Heather Steans' Corrupt Commission

School Tech Connect: Heather Steans' Corrupt Commission:


Heather Steans' Corrupt Commission

Mike Klonsky has more details about the corrupt charter scam being operated by the hustlers that have secured an unfettered pipeline to public tax money courtesy of my state senator, Heather Steans.

I'm still sick over it. I was going to pour through the records to see if anywhere in the discussion of this commission, it was pointed out that it was going to be funded by the Waltons, but I'm just too disgusted and depressed by the whole thing. Now I'm reminded by Mike that the commission's other revenue stream is the legalized kickback it gets every time it overrules an elected school board. This is the single most blatant conflict 

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: A Bronx Student Thanks Mayor Bloomberg For The Education He Has Received

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: A Bronx Student Thanks Mayor Bloomberg For The Education He Has Received:


A Bronx Student Thanks Mayor Bloomberg For The Education He Has Received

The crack team would like to welcome a guest blogger tonight, a student in the NYC DOE by the name of Throckmorton. Throckmorton plans to share with us how much Uncle Mike has done for his education. So without further adieu, please welcome Throcky.

Hi, I would like to thank Bronx Teacher and the crack team here at SBSB for allowing me to share with the SBSB readership the wonderful 

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Late Nite Posts #edreform


Balanced Assessment: Improving Student Achievement and Standardized Test Results « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education

Balanced Assessment: Improving Student Achievement and Standardized Test Results « The Whole Child Blog « Whole Child Education:Balanced Assessment: Improving Student Achievement and Standardized Test ResultsDecember 16th, 2011 by Klea ScharbergAssessing student knowledge, understanding, and skills is something that educators must master to teach properly. Test and quiz results help teachers assess, but they need to look at other factors to get a complete and accurate assessment. Educators must look at virtually every part of the learning process to understand ... more »

Miami – Charter Schools… Tell the corporations… Separate is still not equal. Never was… Never Will Be #Education @SaveOurSchools « Continuing Change

Miami – Charter Schools… Tell the corporations… Separate is still not equal. Never was… Never Will Be #Education @SaveOurSchools « Continuing Change:Miami – Charter Schools… Tell the corporations… Separate is still not equal. Never was… Never Will Be #Education @SaveOurSchoolsby gatorbonbcWhy are Miami charters segregating out the minorities again and offering a lesser program? “These school networks are all managed by Academica, Florida’s largest charter school operator. Miami-Dade charter schools also enrolled a smaller share of poor students: 54 percent, ... more »

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: A great charter school hustle

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: A great charter school hustle:A great charter school hustleby Mike KlonskyRichmondI've got to hand it to charter school authorizer and former lobbyist, Greg Richmond for coming up with this great hustle. A law recently pass by the Illinois state legislature created his new charter school agency called the Illinois State Charter School Commission which has the power to create new charter schools even when local school districts oppose them. The commission also has the power to ... more »

Duncan's Dilemma: What will be Done to States without NCLB Waivers? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Duncan's Dilemma: What will be Done to States without NCLB Waivers? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:Duncan's Dilemma: What will be Done to States without NCLB Waivers?by Anthony CodyAs No Child Left Behind becomes an ever bigger disaster, Secretary Duncan faces a major dilemma. How can he continue to enforce this law he has declared a train wreck?Last spring, in an attempt to goad Congress into accepting his formula for revising No Child Left Behind, Education Secretary Arne ... more »

U. Of Phoenix founding family sells $127 million in stock while less than 7% of Phoenix students graduate in DC metro area | Dailycensored.com

U. Of Phoenix founding family sells $127 million in stock while less than 7% of Phoenix students graduate in DC metro area | Dailycensored.com:U. Of Phoenix founding family sells $127 million in stock while less than 7% of Phoenix students graduate in DC metro areaby Danny WeilAs Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings ramps up his investigation of for-profit college CEO pay, stock options and stock sales and their relationship to student outcomes, he may want to pay particular attention to the ... more »

Jon Stewart takes on Obama’s school reform — again - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post

Jon Stewart takes on Obama’s school reform — again - The Answer Sheet - The Washington Post:Jon Stewart takes on Obama’s school reform — againby Valerie StraussJon Stewart showed considerable restraint this week when he welcomed Melody Barnes, President Obama’s chief of domestic policy, on The Daily Show and she spoke about the administration’s education reforms in a way that revealed how out of touch the White House is on the subject.Stewart asked Barnes, who is leaving her post as ... more »

Early Learning Challenge Grant - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education)

Early Learning Challenge Grant - Year 2011 (CA Dept of Education):California Wins Federal "Race to the Top" Early Learning Challenge GrantSACRAMENTO—Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that California has been awarded a $52.6 million federal Race to the Top—Early Learning Challenge Grant (Outside Source)."Local education leaders have developed solid proposals for improving early childhood education, which have now been recognized by the Obama administration," said Governor Brown."This grant will help more ... more »

HechingerEd Blog | Winners of the Early Learning Race to the Top competition

HechingerEd Blog | Winners of the Early Learning Race to the Top competition:Winners of the Early Learning Race to the Top competitionby Sarah GarlandThe announcement of nine winners in the Obama administration’s latest version of its “Race to the Top” education competition will push forward reforms that early learning advocates have lobbied heavily for over the past several years.The winners are California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington state. To win, they promised to increase ... more »

Norris to require parents sign residency form - Bakersfield.com

Norris to require parents sign residency form - Bakersfield.com:Norris to require parents sign residency formThe Bakersfield Californian | Thursday, Dec 15 2011 06:24 PMLast Updated Thursday, Dec 15 2011 06:27 PMThe Norris School District board on Wednesday approved an updated form some parents must sign declaring under perjury they live within Norris boundaries.It's in response to new language in a state law that takes effect Jan. 1 intended to get new students into schools quickly. When new parents register their ... more »

Protesters occupy Department of Ed lobby, demand charter school reform - NorthJersey.com #OWS #EDREFORM

Protesters occupy Department of Ed lobby, demand charter school reform - NorthJersey.com:Protesters occupy Department of Ed lobby, demand charter school reformFRIDAY DECEMBER 16, 2011, 12:53 PMBY CHRISTOPHER BAXTERSTATE HOUSE BUREAUPRINT | E-MAILTRENTON - Protesters angry about the Christie administration's charter school initiatives briefly occupied the lobby of the state Department of Education this morning, chanting, "charter reform now!"The group of about 50 people from Highland Park, Edison, New Brunswick, Teaneck, Montclair, Cherry Hill, Voorhees and South Orange said the stat... more »

Modern School: Mayor Calls #OWS Terrorists, Congress Calls On Military To Arrest U.S. Citizens

Modern School: Mayor Calls OWS Terrorists, Congress Calls On Military To Arrest U.S. Citizens:Mayor Calls OWS Terrorists, Congress Calls On Military To Arrest U.S. Citizens0diggTerrorist or CEO? (Image by puuikibeach)Oakland Mayor Jean Quan called OWS protestors economic terrorists for shutting down the Oakland Port on Monday. Such bombast would be laughable if we weren’t currently slaughtering thousands of people throughout the world, assassinating, torturing and incarcerating suspects in secret prisons without trial, all in the name of fighting terrorism.Her comment ... more »

Yes, Our Urban Kids Is Learning | Mother Jones

Yes, Our Urban Kids Is Learning | Mother Jones:Yes, Our Urban Kids Is Learning—By Kevin Drum| Thu Dec. 15, 2011 11:57 AM PST16I didn't write about this when the results were announced last week, but we now have another year's worth of data from the NAEP's Trial Urban District Assessment, a measure of academic progress in big-city school districts. So how are our urban kids doing? Bob Somerby summarizes the results from 2003 through 2011:Fourth grade math: According to those ... more »

If I Were A White, Male Middle Aged Forbes Columnist… « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!

If I Were A White, Male Middle Aged Forbes Columnist… « Larry Miller's Blog: Educate All Students!:If I Were A White, Male Middle Aged Forbes Columnist…by millerlfAkiba Solomon hits back at Forbes Magazine writer who wrote racist piece “If I Were a Poor Black Kid.”Colorlines 12/14/2011In a reaction to President Obama’s big, pragmatic, race-free economic inequality speech in Osawatomie, Kansas, “Forbes” tech writer Gene Marks crafted a recklessly condescending column called “If I Were a Poor Black Kid.” In just ... more »

Yo: UPDATE IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION DAC meeting this Saturday Law Suit Briefing DAC gives LAUSD A Wack

Big Education Ape: DAC gives LAUSD A Wack - District Advisory Committees:DAC meeting this Saturday Law Suit BriefingThis Saturday 17th December at 10am our lawyer Robert A Brown will be debrieifing parents and community about our law suit.I hope that some of you who are DAC members and Chairs from other districts will be able to attend to hear first hand what this law suit is about and whethersome of the same issues are taking place in your district!!!!!The address ...more »

Shaun Johnson: Corporate Education Reform and ALEC's Definition of Acceptable Risk

Shaun Johnson: Corporate Education Reform and ALEC's Definition of Acceptable Risk:Shaun JohnsonAssistant Professor of Elementary Education, Towson UniversityGET UPDATES FROM SHAUN JOHNSON Like40Corporate Education Reform and ALEC's Definition of Acceptable RiskPosted: 12/15/11 05:17 PM ETThe left-leaning political blog Think Progressrecently reported on a comment from a top-executive with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that some children eating rat poison is "an acceptable risk." Thus, there is no justification for the government to regulate these kinds of product...more »

Parents demand stronger role at council hearing on engagement | GothamSchools #edreform

Parents demand stronger role at council hearing on engagement | GothamSchools:Parents demand stronger role at council hearing on engagementby Jessica CampbellAs today’s City Council hearing on parent engagement wore into its third hour, parents grew agitated that they had yet to deliver their testimony.After listening to chancellor Dennis Walcott and executive director for family and community engagement, Jesse Mojica, discuss parent engagement with council members for hours, the parents were ready to contribute, but the meeting was scheduled to end ... more »

Illinois’ corporate tax dodge. More on “Illinois is broke.” « Fred Klonsky

Illinois’ corporate tax dodge. More on “Illinois is broke.” « Fred Klonsky:Illinois’ corporate tax dodge. More on “Illinois is broke.”by Fred KlonskyWhen the Illinois General Assembly gave CME and Sears a massive $371 million tax gift this week, it wasn’t the first tax gift to a major corporation.“Illinois is broke,” said Ty Fahner and the Civic Committee when they were going after public school teacher pensions.But a study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, as reported in Progress ... more »

How Occupy Wall Street is Also an Education Justice Movement « Parents Across America #OWS

How Occupy Wall Street is Also an Education Justice Movement « Parents Across America:How Occupy Wall Street is Also an Education Justice Movementby leoniehaimsonBy Jason Langberg and Lewis PittsThe Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement has taken the country by storm. Tens of thousands of Americans are taking to the streets to protest corporate greed and government corruption. The People are sick and tired of capitalism destroying what’s left (after Citizens United) of our environment, our social safety nets, and our ... more »

Today's Big Education Ape - PostRank Top Early Evening Posts #ows #edreform

More student unrest likely, California college officials tell legislative panel - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento BeeBig Education Ape - PostRank (PostRank: All)-20 minutes agoMore student unrest likely, California college officials tell legislative panel - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee:More student unrest likely, California college officials tell legislative panelby sstanton@sacbee.com (Sam Stanton)One month after the pepper-spraying of student protesters at the University of California, Davis, officials are ... more »

Investing in Education in Every State and District | ED.gov Blog

Investing in Education in Every State and District | ED.gov Blog:Investing in Education in Every State and DistrictPosted on December 15, 2011 by Cameron BrenchleyIn September, President Obama introduced the American Jobs Act, which among other key investments to create jobs would invest $30 billion to repair and modernize public schools and community colleges and $30 billion to keep hundreds of thousands of teachers from facing layoffs.But how would that really affect you? Earlier today the Department of Education released ... more »