Nite Cap UPDATE
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
The Shocking Things Schools Are — And Aren’t — Teaching
School Curriculums Face Controversial Changes Via Recent Bills, Legislation
The Shocking Things Schools Are — And Aren’t — Teaching
Over the past couple years, several states attempted — and in some instances, succeeded — in passing legislation that brought controversial changes to school curriculums.
For instance, under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed sweeping new school voucher program, tens of millions of Louisiana taxpayer dollars will be used to offer vouchers to more than half of the state’s poor and middle-class public school students. These students can in turn use these vouchers to attend more than 120 private schools, including a number of small, Bible-based learning institutions that boast extreme anti-science and anti-history curriculums while championing creationism.
Meanwhile, several states have grappled with how to approach sex education in the classroom. A controversial
The Shocking Things Schools Are — And Aren’t — Teaching
Over the past couple years, several states attempted — and in some instances, succeeded — in passing legislation that brought controversial changes to school curriculums.
For instance, under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed sweeping new school voucher program, tens of millions of Louisiana taxpayer dollars will be used to offer vouchers to more than half of the state’s poor and middle-class public school students. These students can in turn use these vouchers to attend more than 120 private schools, including a number of small, Bible-based learning institutions that boast extreme anti-science and anti-history curriculums while championing creationism.
Meanwhile, several states have grappled with how to approach sex education in the classroom. A controversial
Kiss My Grit
Sassy title aside, it's not my intention to contribute to the already-considerable mountain of post-election ed-policy antagonism.
But--I'm still torqued about grit. Yes, grit, the amazing new research topic-cum-magic formula for Good That Schools Could Do (If Only They Weren't Failing).
A couple of blogs ago, I admired Katie Osgood's Paul Tough is Way Off Base, and Stop Saying Grit piece--which identifies "grit" as just another trending soundbite, the next big thing in education. The kind of meme around which you could build a week-long media blabfest, not to mention a whole lot of curricula, grading templates, books, radio shows and grant opportunities.
And then--I heard from Paul Tough himself. He was polite, but wanted to know just why I thought he was off-
But--I'm still torqued about grit. Yes, grit, the amazing new research topic-cum-magic formula for Good That Schools Could Do (If Only They Weren't Failing).
A couple of blogs ago, I admired Katie Osgood's Paul Tough is Way Off Base, and Stop Saying Grit piece--which identifies "grit" as just another trending soundbite, the next big thing in education. The kind of meme around which you could build a week-long media blabfest, not to mention a whole lot of curricula, grading templates, books, radio shows and grant opportunities.
And then--I heard from Paul Tough himself. He was polite, but wanted to know just why I thought he was off-
What A 55 Looks Like On This Side [Fail Is A Strong Word]
Sifting through the multitude of ungraded papers, I looked for some sign that they actually learned something.
I hate entering in 55s in my Excel sheet. A teacher can say whatever they want to the kids, and threaten them about not doing well, but most of us prefer that all of our kids do well from the early going. Even when we hold high standards for our students, none of us actually want our students to get a 55.
I don’t necessarily let it happen. I more wait to see if the student gets the idea that I’m hopeful, encouraging, and downright reaffirming, but I’m not going to back down from the level I want them to achieve. I’ll meet them where they are, re-re-repeat my lesson, ask students to re-re-re-explain everything we just did, let them work together, in groups, in pairs, as a class, give them homework, or not, a lot of problems, a few problems, a long, short, medium problem that they have one or two days to complete, and …
Fail.
A few days before the end of the marking period, a couple of students will rescue themselves, not with extra
What Worked For The Obama Campaign Can Work For Us & Our Students In The Classroom
The New York Times just published and article detailing how the Obama campaign convened a group of social scientists to help them apply their research to campaign tactics (see Academic ‘Dream Team’ Helped Obama’s Effort).
I’ve written in this blog, in my Helping Students Motivate Themselves book, and in its upcoming sequel, how to apply some of the same research to the classroom.
Here are a couple of examples…..
Obama volunteers also asked people if they had a plan to vote and if not, to make one, specifying a time, according to Stephen Shaw, a retired cancer researcher who knocked on doors in Nevada and Virginia in the
I’ve written in this blog, in my Helping Students Motivate Themselves book, and in its upcoming sequel, how to apply some of the same research to the classroom.
Here are a couple of examples…..
Obama volunteers also asked people if they had a plan to vote and if not, to make one, specifying a time, according to Stephen Shaw, a retired cancer researcher who knocked on doors in Nevada and Virginia in the
I-1240 Passes
According to the Associated Press.
Apparently, charter supporters are hoping for some as early as next fall (and I wouldn't be surprised unless there are lawsuits which might give some charter operators pause).
According to the Times:
Some charter-school groups have already expressed interest in coming here, and the superintendent of Spokane Public Schools is interested in having a charter in her district, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Interestingly, only one member of the Spokane School Board came out against I-1240 so maybe so. Unfortunately, the Times leads readers to believe that only the Charter Commission will be okaying charters but
Apparently, charter supporters are hoping for some as early as next fall (and I wouldn't be surprised unless there are lawsuits which might give some charter operators pause).
According to the Times:
Some charter-school groups have already expressed interest in coming here, and the superintendent of Spokane Public Schools is interested in having a charter in her district, according to The Spokesman-Review.
Interestingly, only one member of the Spokane School Board came out against I-1240 so maybe so. Unfortunately, the Times leads readers to believe that only the Charter Commission will be okaying charters but
NEW SERVICES AND AN OLD FASHIONED WAY TO PAY FOR THEM
The services, equipment and items provided for students today are a hundred times more than what students received when I began teaching. Free school breakfasts, lunches, and yes in some cases even dinner. Way more special education and specialist teachers are provided today. The amount of social workers, school nurses, psychologists, counselors, advisors and other specialists is way up since I began teaching.
Mainstreaming special education students was unheard of back when I began. No school districts were attempting anything close to a “least restrictive environment” for special needs students.
Years ago there were no high-tech devices of any kind used in the classroom. A film strip projector was the most
Mainstreaming special education students was unheard of back when I began. No school districts were attempting anything close to a “least restrictive environment” for special needs students.
Years ago there were no high-tech devices of any kind used in the classroom. A film strip projector was the most
The real problem in encouraging reading: lack of access to books. The solution: support libraries
Sent to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, November 12, 2012
I am a cross-over reader, an adult who loved Harry Potter and Hunger Games. But it isn’t true that “Books like 'Hunger Games' make reading cool again,” (Nov. 12). Contrary to popular opinion, reading has always been cool. Teen-agers today spend about the same amount of time reading as they did in 1946. Current data on reading includes reading from the internet, but book reading has not declined: In 1946, according the Book Manufacturers' Institute, 34% of teen-agers said they read a book yesterday; in 2005, according to a Pew report, 33% did.
The real problem in encouraging reading is that those who live in poverty have little access to books: they have few books at home, live in neighborhoods with lower quality libraries and few bookstores, and attend schools with lower quality classroom and school libraries. In most cases, their only chance to get access to books is the
Bad Teaching Practice #1: "I am Only Going to Teach Those Who Are Ready To Learn"
Have you ever heard this one? A number of times in my career, I heard teachers, usually new ones, it must be said, announce in frustration that they were sick and tired of dealing with the kids who were disrupting class, and that from that point forward, they were going to forget about the "ones who aren't ready to learn," and put their energy into those who are. I even had a teacher tell me she set up her seating chart and put the "bad" kids in the back. There are a number of reasons this is a bad practice.
In the first place, it will not work. As soon as you attempt to ignore students who are misbehaving, they are likely to act out even more, so as to make themselves impossible to ignore. Often, their behavior is a cry for attention. Many children have learned that they are unlikely to get positive attention, especially in school, so they settle for negative attention - because it is better than being utterly ignored. Thus, your attempt to ignore
In the first place, it will not work. As soon as you attempt to ignore students who are misbehaving, they are likely to act out even more, so as to make themselves impossible to ignore. Often, their behavior is a cry for attention. Many children have learned that they are unlikely to get positive attention, especially in school, so they settle for negative attention - because it is better than being utterly ignored. Thus, your attempt to ignore
“Malloy sees vindication in 2012 election results” – Really?
| Categories: Malloy, State Politics Tags: Democratic Nomination, Gubernatorial Election 2014, Malloy, State Politics The shift to the 2014 gubernatorial campaign kicked into gear even before the 2012 candidates had given their acceptance and concession speeches last week. As the polls closed this year, Chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic Party wrote, “Now that voters have spoken, here’s what we know — Governor Malloy wins, the Republicans lose, and the [...]
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FDL Movie Night: Brooklyn Castle
Popout
The chess club. For decades it’s been the butt of jokes like Woody Allen’s classic chestnut:But that has changed, thanks to the chess team at I.S. 318 in Brooklyn, their dedicated coach Elizabeth Vicary Spiegel, and principal Fred Rubino and assistant principal/chess coordinator John Glavin. At I.S. 318, the chess team is king, having won thirty national titles – more than any other junior high school in the United States. And in April of this year, the I.S. 318 chess team they became first junior high school team to become High School National Champions. And this with 70% of school’s students living below the Federal poverty line.I failed to make the chess team because of my height.
Brooklyn Castle, directed by tonight’s guest Katie Dellamaggiore, tells the story of five chess team members over the course of a year as they use the lessons of chess at tournaments and in their home lives, and finally to
Is learning cursive an ancient practice? Why typing skills may soon replace those swirly letters we rarely use
I love cursive. But I'm a type nerd, so I guess I'm biased. Is this a tragedy, or just time to move on?
Idaho schools chief plans another try at teacher merit pay after election defeat
Tom Luna says although voters rejected the merit-pay of his proposed education overhaul, that doesn't mean they want to stick with old ways of compensating teachers.
Cal State students decry proposed 'incentive' fees
Large majorities of California State University students said they are more likely to take out additional loans and delay their graduation if administrators impose incentive fees designed to free up classroom space.
The results are included in a survey released Monday of more than 2,400 students at the university’s 23 campuses. It was conducted by the activist group Students for Quality Education in response to proposals to impose three new fees for fall 2013.
The university system’s Board of Trustees will consider the plan during scheduled board meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Long Beach.
The proposed fees include:
-- A $372 per-unit supplement for so-called “super seniors” who have already accumulated 160 units. In 2014, the supplement would apply to students who have earned 150 units.
-- A $91 per-unit fee for students who want to repeat a class. Officials estimate that each term, about 40,000
