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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Morning Wink 11-20-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS

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LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-20-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: As Students Are Buried in Debt, US DOE Pulls in $42.5 Billion in ProfitsThis is an astonishing article. The US Department of Education is making profits from student loans while the kids go deeper into debt. This is 21st century entrepreneuralism at its worst. Shahien Nasiripour of the Huffington Post writes: The U.S. Department of Education says it has been working to help borrowers who are struggling under the weight of crushing student loan debt. But as Washington17 by dianeravitch / 1h skip  //  saveNorth Little Rock Turns
Can We Rescue the Common Core Standards From the Testing Machine? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Can We Rescue the Common Core Standards From the Testing Machine? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Can We Rescue the Common Core Standards From the Testing Machine?By Anthony Cody on November 19, 2013 3:11 PMGuest post by Peter Greene.A recent recurring refrain around and about the comments sections is the notion that the Common Core standards are, in and of themselves, quite fine, and if we could just uncouple them from the testing and implementation regimens, all will be well. The standards themselves are an improvement so let's build on that opportunity, and not stand in the w
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “Nominations Open! The 10th Annual Edublog Awards Are Here!”It’s that time again — Nominations Open! The 10th Annual Edublog Awards Are Here! These awards recognized education blogs from around the world, and I think they’re great opportunities to learn about blogs and great work that is out there that all of us might not know about. You can read about my past nominations (and past winners) in my previous posts about the awards. I’ll be offering my nominee10 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h ‘Good News & Bad News’ About Studen

TODAY

11-20-13 Fred Klonsky | Running for our pensions. | VOTE 4 Fred Klonsky
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: The Chicago Tribune is orgasmic over the possibility of pension destruction., Today the editorial board of The Chicago Tribune have gone positively orgasmic over the possibility that state public employees will lose our pensions on December 3rd. Freeze our cost of living adjustment. Ohhhh. Increase th
11-20-13 teacherken at Daily Kos
teacherken at Daily Kos: What if . . . . .byteacherkenWhat if we stopped one day, looked at all the work we had done to try to make the world a better place than we found it, and instead realized despite all of our efforts, we had failed?What if we supported political candidates, helped to get them into office, only to find many of them, far too many of them, coopted by the perquisites of office,
11-20-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: The Bizzaro World of Education 2.0The policy of public school consolidation is recipe for disaster. Education “reformers, experts, policy makers” close public schools by using “under-utilization” or “under-performing” seats as an excuse to create larger school sizes. They view the outcome (test scores) as a production problem (teachers) and aim to alter the process (instruction)
11-20-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: How do you spell disaster? Arne DuncanArne Duncan is a buffoon. Unfortunately for the nation’s students, teachers, parents and public education system he also serve’s as the country’s Secretary of Education. Over the past few days, Education Bloggers around the country have been reporting on Duncan’s recent defense of the national corporate education privatization movement. Here are so
11-20-13 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: A debate: What do international test scores tell us?I published a post last week, headlined “The fetishization of international test scores,” that, as the title suggests, discusses how school reformers inappropriately obsess about international test scores. Some people in the education world took issue with with my views, including Marc Tucker, president of the non-profit Nationa
11-20-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Yes to the Seattle Council PTSA's Suggestion on the Board AgendaThis just came across my desk and, at this point, I agree.  The agenda is a mess (not to mention the Growth Boundaries plan.  There's now even some mystery motion to change the agenda (with no explanation of what).PTA members,As you know, the position of Seattle Council PTSA is that Seattle Public Scho
11-20-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): RECOMMENDED: English Journal, Vol. 103, No. 2, November 2013English Journal, a flagship publication from NCTE, is currently under the outstanding editorship of Julie and David Gorlewski—who have followed the stellar work of the previous editor, Ken Lindblom. I want to ur
11-20-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: How Much Have Districts Spent On Race To The Top Mandates?A commenter at the Newsday article on Diane Ravitch writes the following:The greatest scam was Andy Cuomo and Obama holding a gun to our head about the $700 million Federal funding and other state aid as well. Cuomo painted the teachers' union as the greedy obstructionists depriving children of their right to learn. T
Can Knowledge Level The Learning Field For Children?
Shanker Blog » Can Knowledge Level The Learning Field For Children?: Can Knowledge Level The Learning Field For Children?Posted by Esther Quintero on November 20, 2013How much do preschoolers from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds know about the world and why does that matter? One recent study by Tanya Kaefer (Lakehead University) Susan B. Neuman (New York University) and Ashley M. Pinkh
Students Last: A Sitcom Star Is Born?
Students Last: A Sitcom Star Is Born?: A Sitcom Star Is Born?Will Duncan become a television star?Los Angeles - The celebrity news website TMZ is reporting that former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was spotted at cable and satellite television network TLC corporate headquarters.After handing in his resignation to President Obama earlier today, Arne Duncan then flew to L.A. and met with severa
The Money Pit at PS 154 in the Bronx southbronxschool.com
http://www.southbronxschool.com: The Money Pit at PS 154 in the BronxSome teachers from PS 154 have shared some concerns with The Crack Team here at SBSB. The biggest concern is the lack of transparency from Dr Alison Coviello; PhD. and Principal when itcomes to the monies being strewn about.With the register down to the mid 400's this year and losing approximately $125,000 due to the low enrollme
All Things Education: Public education for me but not for thee
All Things Education: Public education for me but not for thee: Public education for me but not for theeAlthough he has since quasi-apologized, Arne Duncan put his foot in his mouth, saying that,It’s fascinating to me that some of the pushback is coming from, sort of, white suburban moms who — all of a sudden — their child isn’t as brilliant as they thought they were and their school isn’t quite a
Sean Reardon Confirms Further Widening of Segregation by Income | janresseger
Sean Reardon Confirms Further Widening of Segregation by Income | janresseger: Sean Reardon Confirms Further Widening of Segregation by IncomePosted on November 20, 2013 by janressegerNear the end of their new book, Public Education Under Siege, educator Mike Rose and historian Michael B. Katz describe what they believe is the toughest problem for public education in America: “Throughout American
“Open Letter to Parents About Testing” From New York State School Principals | toteachornototeach
“Open Letter to Parents About Testing” From New York State School Principals | toteachornototeach: “Open Letter to Parents About Testing” From New York State School Principals by Alan SingerThis letter is by New York State principals and is addressed to New York State parents, but it could just as well be addressed to every parent in the United States. Since Barack Obama and Arne Duncan are parent
Week in Class: Week Eleven 2013
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Week in Class: Week Eleven 2013: Week in Class: Week Eleven 2013About this time of year, I’m feeling as distressed as the paint on this picture. I’m tired. I’m really tired, I’m ready for my first “break”, and thank the gods that we now have the whole week of Thanksgiving off (even if I hate the furlough cut in my pay).I’m going to make this short and sweet
Kimble's Corner: An Open Letter to the Liberal Media
Kimble's Corner: An Open Letter to the Liberal Media: An Open Letter to the Liberal MediaDear Liberal Media,Today, I turned on the Twitter to discover that yet another liberal media type had fallen for a parody account.   The reporter in question was named Toure (He has an accent over the e, but my keyboard only types American) and he works at CNN.   You can see why I get my news from FOX and Jay
K-12 News Network | Why This “Suburban Mom” Thinks Arne Duncan’s All Wrong
K-12 News Network | Why This “Suburban Mom” Thinks Arne Duncan’s All Wrong: Why This “Suburban Mom” Thinks Arne Duncan’s All Wrongadmin November 19, 2013 Big Ed, Common Core, Federal Policy, Parents, The Testing Industry 0Last week, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said “white suburban moms” oppose Common Core State Standards because they’ll find out “their child isn’t as brilliant as they thoug
Next steps for implementing (and mitigating) California’s new science standards | EdSource Today
Next steps for implementing (and mitigating) California’s new science standards | EdSource Today: Next steps for implementing (and mitigating) California’s new science standardsNovember 20th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By Paul Bruno / commentaryPaul BrunoI have been highly critical of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for their vagueness and lack of rigorous scientific content. Now that tho
Arne Duncan has lost his mind | Crazy Crawfish's Blog
Arne Duncan has lost his mind | Crazy Crawfish's Blog: Crazy Crawfish's BlogZesty Louisiana Education PoliticsArne Duncan has lost his mindPosted on November 19, 20134Arne Duncan (after hanging out with the Mayor of Toronto smoking from a mysterious pipe)Unless you live under rock, if you follow education issues at all you no doubt heard this latest pearl of wisdom from the head of the US Departme
What Do We Win? | Connected Principals
What Do We Win? | Connected Principals: What Do We Win?November 20, 2013By jgohThe global race to be one of the top five Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) countries is a debate all around the world at the moment. Countries are endeavouring to find that pedagogical panacea and structural reform that will give them
H.R.3401: Restorative Justice in Schools Act of 2013 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
H.R.3401: Restorative Justice in Schools Act of 2013 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress:  mark as readBill Introduced: H.R. 3401: Restorative Justice in Schools Act of 2013To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow a local educational agency that receives a subgrant under section 2121 of such Act to use the funds to provide professional development activities that train schoo
NYC Educator: We Don't Need No Stinking Rules
NYC Educator: We Don't Need No Stinking Rules: We Don't Need No Stinking RulesSo says the Beginning With Children Charter School. Because they used to be a public school, they're bound by the awful UFT Contract, you know, the one that says teachers must be paid a certain number of dollars and work a certain number of hours. Because really, the entire point of being a charter is to do whatever the
Parent-Teacher Extended Conferences
Parent-Teacher Extended Conferences « Coalition for Educational Justice: Parent-Teacher Extended ConferencesPARENTS!Did your child score a Level 1 or 2 on the NY State exams last year?Come learn activities and strategies to help your child at home!– Sign Up for an Extended Parent-Teacher Conversation NOW –Watch these videos for more information:English | SpanishFlyer:
Cobb responds on class size: 'The district does know what it... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
Cobb responds on class size: 'The district does know what it... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Cobb responds on class size: 'The district does know what it is doing when it comes to teacher allotments.' http://www.classsizematters.org/Previous PostsCobb now knows the problem with class size disparities. How long until district can fix it? November 19, 2013Don't Send Your Kid to School Day: Anyone s
Changing My Mind on How To Teach Thinking Skills | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Changing My Mind on How To Teach Thinking Skills | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Changing My Mind on How To Teach Thinking SkillsIn the fifth year of my teaching at Cleveland’s Glenville high school–it was the early 1960s–I had already introduced materials to my classes on what was then called “Negro history” (see here and here). I then began experimenting with the direct te
Officials release vote on Supt. Deasy's job evaluation - latimes.com
Officials release vote on Supt. Deasy's job evaluation - latimes.com:  Teachers union members, parents protest $1-billion iPad planMore than a dozen Los Angeles teachers on Tuesday staged their first protest of a $1-billion plan to provide iPads to every student and teacher, calling the effort misguided and unsustainable.by By Stephen Ceasar... / 9h skip  //  saveOfficials release vote on Supt. De
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: School community votes and rejects the 'military coup' at Ames Middle School
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: School community votes and rejects the 'military coup' at Ames Middle School: School community votes and rejects the 'military coup' at Ames Middle SchoolThis from the Logan Square School Facilities CouncilAmes activists organize against military coupThe Results Are In!Maldonado's Military Coup at Ames Even Less Popular than Anticipated97% of Parents and 94% of Stude

YESTERDAY

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Just a Reminder: DBAC (District Advisory Council Budget Advisory Committee) meets6:30 PM, Tuesday Nov. 19, at Espresso Metro(2104 11th Ave at Freeport Blvd.)DAC Nominating Committee meets 8 PM, Tuesday Nov. 19,at Dad's Kitchen(2968 Freeport Boulevard Sacramento)DBAC Meeting Topics for 11/19/13Presentation and discussion of Period 4 (October) fiscal reports on how much your school is receiving and
MAD - Mothers Respond to Duncan | Truth in American Education
MAD - Mothers Respond to Duncan | Truth in American Education: MAD – Mothers Respond to DuncanFiled in Uncategorized by chascherrie on November 19, 2013 • 0 CommentsPress Release: November 19, 2013FACEBOOK – Miffed Mothers from around the country have their collective hands on their hips in response to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s foot in mouth indictment of “white, suburban moms.” Ju
Woman's Dream of Autism Center Doused by Officials - Voice of OC | Orange County's Nonprofit Investigative News Agency: Health News
Woman's Dream of Autism Center Doused by Officials - Voice of OC | Orange County's Nonprofit Investigative News Agency: Health News: Woman's Dream of Autism Center Doused by OfficialsStoryComments (2)Image (1)PrintCreate a hardcopy of this pageFont Size:Default font sizeLarger font size7Courtni Laughlin is trying to open a center for adults suffering from autism. (Photo by: Rex Dalton)Related Link
Hillsboro School District: 3 more storylines from Common Core's rollout | OregonLive.com
Hillsboro School District: 3 more storylines from Common Core's rollout | OregonLive.com: Hillsboro School District: 3 more storylines from Common Core's rolloutYesterday, I posted a story about College Preparatory Mathematics, or CPM, the math curriculum the Hillsboro School Districtadopted this year to align itself with the new Common Core State Standards. If you missed it,click here.While repor
Children’s Coverage on the Eve of the Affordable Care Act
Children’s Coverage on the Eve of the Affordable Care Act « MomsRising Blog: Children’s Coverage on the Eve of the Affordable Care ActPosted November 19th, 2013 by Say Ahhh!Here’s a good news story on health coverage that the public is largely unaware of. The number of uninsured children continues to decline to historic lows – a remarkable accomplishment given the high childhood poverty rate and t
Parents' Guide to Student Success - Year 2013
Parents' Guide to Student Success - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Partnering with California PTA to Provide Common Core Resources to ParentsSACRAMENTO—State education officials are working with the California State PTA to get information on the Common Core State Standards into the hands of parents across California, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Tor
Privatization is undoing Brown v. Board of Education - Salon.com
Privatization is undoing Brown v. Board of Education - Salon.com: Privatization is undoing Brown v. Board of EducationOur school system is increasingly "separate and unequal" -- and we have Michelle Rhee's political allies to thankPAUL BUCHHEIT, ALTERNETThis article originally appeared on AlterNet.Heartland Institute President Joseph Bast called the public school system a “socialist regi
Nite Cap 11-18-13 #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 CAP mark as readChoosing Democracy: Why Good Teachers Embrace CultureChoosing Democracy: Why Good Teachers Embrace Culture: Why Good Teachers Embrace CultureMeeting students where they are often requires knowing, celebrating, and incorporating their
Choosing Democracy: Why Good Teachers Embrace Culture
Choosing Democracy: Why Good Teachers Embrace Culture: Why Good Teachers Embrace CultureMeeting students where they are often requires knowing, celebrating, and incorporating their cultural backgrounds.By Sophie QuintonArizona's attorney general called the program "propagandizing and brainwashing." An administrative law judge ruled that it "promotes racial resentment against 'Whites
Mother Crusader: FIX IT! Because This IS NOT How We Do Things In Highland Park. Here, We RESIST!
Mother Crusader: FIX IT! Because This IS NOT How We Do Things In Highland Park. Here, We RESIST!: FIX IT! Because This IS NOT How We Do Things In Highland Park. Here, We RESIST!I've honestly never seen anything like what happened last night in my home town of Highland Park, New Jersey. Scores of Highland Park residents and union supporters came out Monday night to the auditorium at Bartle Elementa
RECAP: Beyond Borders #StuVoice Chat - Student Voice
Student Voice: RECAP: Beyond Borders #StuVoice Chat
Poll: New York Voters are Divided on Common Core | Truth in American Education
Poll: New York Voters are Divided on Common Core | Truth in American Education: Poll: New York Voters are Divided on Common CoreFiled in Common Core State Standards, Education at State Level by Shane Vander Hart on November 19, 2013 • 0 CommentsSiena College released a poll yesterday on New Yorkers views of the Common Core and standardized testing.  806 registered voters were surveyed between Nove
Will Political Centrists Go Outside Their Comfort Zones To Expand Pre-K Access?
Will Political Centrists Go Outside Their Comfort Zones To Expand Pre-K Access?: Will Political Centrists Go Outside Their Comfort Zones To Expand Pre-K Access?Building on President Obama’s “Preschool for All Initiative” proposed earlier this year – that would dramatically expand access to prekindergarten programs for 4-year olds – Democratic leaders in both chambers last week introduced the “Str
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel Kicks off American Education Week | NEA Today
NEA President Dennis Van Roekel Kicks off American Education Week | NEA Today: NEA President Dennis Van Roekel Kicks off American Education WeekNovember 19, 2013 by twalker  Filed under Featured News, Top StoriesBy Anita MerinaNEA President Dennis Van Roekel travelled to Washington State to kick off the 92nd year of American Education Week, celebrating and honoring the hard work of public school e
The price of testing | Edwize
The price of testing | Edwize: The price of testing Miss Education is in her second year teaching 4th grade in the Bronx. This year, she’s found herself deeply affected by the challenge of seeing her students struggle with standardized tests.In early October, I had to administer yet another pre-assessment to my students. I understood that my students were starting to feel frustrated and uncomforta
Bill Ayers and the Radical “Spark”: Past and Present | Dissident Voice
Bill Ayers and the Radical “Spark”: Past and Present | Dissident Voice: Bill Ayers and the Radical “Spark”: Past and Presentby Alan Wieder / November 19th, 2013“They just don’t get it.” Yes, the phrase is overused, yet, all too appropriate when addressing the continuing critiques, from both the left and the right, of Bill Ayers. The recent publication of the second phase of his memoir, Public Enem
11-19-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG Common Core and Student Success: What Parents Can Do — Whole Child Education
Common Core and Student Success: What Parents Can Do — Whole Child Education: Common Core and Student Success: What Parents Can DoToday, as we look at the importance of parental involvement in education—as part of American Education Week's Parents Day—it is important to consider the role parents play in the Common Core State Standards' success. Like most other education initiatives, the Common Cor
Pop Your Collar For Parent-Teacher Conferences [New York Times] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson
Pop Your Collar For Parent-Teacher Conferences [New York Times] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson: Pop Your Collar For Parent-Teacher Conferences [New York Times]by JOSE VILSON on NOVEMBER 19, 2013in MR. VILSONA few weeks ago, I was invited to write for New York Times’ Room for Debate, a special web section of the Times dedicated to debating intense subjects of the week. This one was dedicated t
solidaridad: Recolonizing Our Classrooms: The Race and Class Hypocrisy of Corporate Education Reform
solidaridad: Recolonizing Our Classrooms: The Race and Class Hypocrisy of Corporate Education Reform: Recolonizing Our Classrooms: The Race and Class Hypocrisy of Corporate Education ReformDIVERSITY FORUM THEMEUnequal by Design: Schooling the Poor and Students of Color in Today's Public Schools and UniversitiesNovember 20, 20133 – 5pm: Faculty & Grad Student PanelAcademic Senate ChambersPanel
11-18-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open Thread From the Central District News, a trailer was released for a film, One Square Mile, that was shot throughout Seattle including Garfield High School.   Many recognizable sights and yay! Garfield. I learned that there is a subtropical storm brewing over the Central Atlantic about 600 miles off Bermuda. Melissa is showing signs of developing a tigh
Sacramento Mark Hopkins/Meadowview Community Survey Results! Hmong Innovating Politics
Hmong Innovating Politics: Mark Hopkins/Meadowview Community Survey Results!2 notes
Common Core confusion: Why a misunderstood reform needs crisis management | Hechinger Report
Common Core confusion: Why a misunderstood reform needs crisis management | Hechinger Report: Common Core confusion: Why a misunderstood reform needs crisis managementBy Liz WillenThe Common Core needs a public relations makeover — quickly.In the last few days, the new set of tougher math and English language standards for grades K-12 has suffered a spate of bad publicity that could undermine its
New Report Shows How Test-and-Punish Texas Miracle Damaged Lives of 3 El Paso Teens | janresseger
New Report Shows How Test-and-Punish Texas Miracle Damaged Lives of 3 El Paso Teens | janresseger: New Report Shows How Test-and-Punish Texas Miracle Damaged Lives of 3 El Paso TeensPosted on November 19, 2013 by janressegerIn the early years after the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, we were told the law was going to bring the Texas Miracle to the whole country.  Supposedly, throu
Is the Common Core Becoming a Fiasco? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Is the Common Core Becoming a Fiasco? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Is the Common Core Becoming a Fiasco?By Anthony Cody on November 19, 2013 8:18 AMAfter listening to one of my favorite episodes of This American Life, devoted to the concept of fiasco,   I am wondering if perhaps what we have with high stakes testing and the Common Core project is a fiasco on a grand scale.To begi
Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, November 19, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Oakland charter school battle ragesEducation Headlines FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.Tuesday, November 19, 2013Wasco names new superintendentThe Wasco Union Elementary School District has promoted direc
Happy American Education Week! | Lily's Blackboard
Happy American Education Week! | Lily's Blackboard: Raise Your Hand for Students this American Education WeekNEA's vicepresident Lily Eskelsen García kicked off our celebration of American Education Week. Join us as we celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education.Kit Carson Elementary School, Las VegasNEA PUB
Morning Wink 11-18-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS mark as readLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-19-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: EduShyster on John Arnold’s Hurt FeelingsEduShyster here recounts the sad tale of billionaire John Arnold, who apparently did not like my apology to him for a factual inaccuracy in