Latest News and Comment from Education

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Morning Wink 5-1-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS




LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-1-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: FairTest: Protests Against Testing Madness Continues to GrowThe following report comes from FairTest, which keeps track of news about testing a Ross the nation and advocates for sensible testing policies: This week’s stories about test protest and reform activities — as well as a few victories — come from more than a third of the s
5-1-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Revisiting James Baldwin’s “Black English”The first five or six years of teaching high school English have blurred in my memory, but certain days, certain events, and certain students remain vivid. One day in those years a young woman in my tenth-grade course blurted out
5-1-14 The Whole Child Blog — The Educator's Essentials — Whole Child Education
The Educator's Essentials — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGThe Educator’s EssentialsMay 1, 2014 by Klea ScharbergIn this era of school reform, turnaround, and educational change, it is easy to overlook the basics of why we educate and what we want for our children. Usually when we talk about "getting back to the basics," the conversation is student-focused, if not always stud
5-1-14 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.: On this May Day morning my eyes are on Brooklyn and my heart is in Brooklyn.As a Chicagoan, nothing symbolizes the spirit of rebellion against what is wrong than May Day. The working class holiday began in this city with the fight for the 8 hour day and the events at Haymarket Square. This morning tea
5-1-13 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"
Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": Anne Henderson Responds To “Broken Compass” Parent Involvement BookNEA Today had an excellent article on the now infamous “Broken Compass” book questioning the value of parent involvement. It quotes Anne Henderson, probably THE parent engagement/involvement expert in the United States. Here’s a portion of what she had to sa
My Reaction to the PARCC & SBAC Responses :: Frederick M. Hess
My Reaction to the PARCC & SBAC Responses :: Frederick M. Hess: My Reaction to the PARCC & SBAC Responsesby Frederick M. Hess  •  May 1, 2014 at 9:58 amThe past couple days I've run pieces by PARCC's Jeff Nellhaus and SBAC's Joe Wilhoft that helped illuminate how their consortia are going to address some key challenges when it comes to making sure that the new Common Core tests can carry t
5-1-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: TED-Ed Video: “Not all scientific studies are created equal”I’m adding this video to The Best Resources For Understanding How To Interpret Education Research:by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h   4-30-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLarry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ES
5-1-14 Wait What?
Wait What?: Malloy is a fraud on campaign finance reform issuesNEWS ALERT:  Buried under the news about the massive problems facing Connecticut’s State budget and other developments and issues that have surfaced over the past couple of weeks is one of the most significant news stories of Governor Malloy’s term. The truth is that after having run as a “pro-campaign finance reform” candidate, Dannel
5-1-14 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Notes from the Road: Some Observations about What is Wrong with the Good Fightby Doug MartinDuring my talk recently to the Southeast Education Task Force in Indianapolis, a member of the Indiana Department of Education said there wasn’t a manufactured crisis in education, that our kids were indeed, many of them, failing.  She quoted some Ph.D  who appeared with Condi Rice recently,
5-1-14 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida
Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Will Sachs, Montford Amendments Be Too Much for Senate Voucher Advocates?Late yesterday and this morning, Sen. Maria Sachs (D-Delray Beach) and Sen. Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) have inserted amendments into SB 1512 which will make senate voucher advocates put up, or sh
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 5-1-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES FORUM | Thursday, May 1 | 7:00PM | Hamilton High School2014 Community Town Hall Meeting: LAUSD School Board Candidate Forum A public Q&A about the future of our schools For the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), this is a time of unprecedented changes and challenges. Public debate continues over testing and core curri
5-1-13 Curmudgucation Week
CURMUDGUCATION: Throwing AwayIt seems like some kind of joke to call a movement "un-American," but I think the Reformy Status Quo has earned that adjective.Here's the thing about us as a country, as a culture. We fight. We struggle. We have sometimes extremely violent, deadly battles among the many smaller tribes that make up this country. But as a nation we are built to accommodate all
5-1-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Discussing Research Methodology with the Gates FoundationRick Hess, in “A Small Request for My Friends at Gates,” was kind enough to urge the Gates Foundation to consider three of my research proposals. Rick Cantrell, the Senior Program Officer for Research and Data, responded to Rick’s post. Dr. Cantrell and I talked for nearly 1-1/2 hours. I would again like to thank […]2 by Jo
5-1-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: UFT Contract Agreement Has HitchesJuan Gonzalez details the fissures between the "uniformed" unions and the "civilian" unions over the tentative UFT contract deal:The tentative UFT deal includes two years of 4% retroactive pay increases for teachers, who have been without a contract since November 2009 — longer than nearly all other city unions. Increases
Memo to Barack Obama: The folks who educate teachers would like to share some lessons on positive accountability with you | Hechinger Report
Memo to Barack Obama: The folks who educate teachers would like to share some lessons on positive accountability with you | Hechinger Report: Memo to Barack Obama: The folks who educate teachers would like to share some lessons on positive accountability with youWhy “value-added metrics” are really just the oppositeBy Beverly FalkAs the parent of children who attended public schools and an educato
William Rhoden of NY Times writes on Donald Sterling
William Rhoden of NY Times writes on Donald Sterling: William Rhoden of NY Times writes on Donald SterlingbyteacherkenFollow    Email  4 Comments / 4 Newin a piece titled A Verdict on Comments, but the Conversation Isn’t Overand subtitled "Sterling’s Remarks Offer Chance to Examine Racism."I am not going to offer a great deal of commentary of my own.  The only purpose to this post is to
Who Do We Ally With? - Bridging Differences - Education Week
Who Do We Ally With? - Bridging Differences - Education Week: Who Do We Ally With?By Deborah Meier on May 1, 2014 9:29 AMDeborah Meier's conversation with Mike Klonsky continues today.Dear Mike,You're right. I'm wrong. Blogs should be short and sweet (or nasty). I see I've corrupted your style with mine. (This refers, readers, to a phone conversation Mike and I had about the proper form of bloggin
The Shriver Report – Raising a Child (and a New Generation) with Autism
The Shriver Report – Raising a Child (and a New Generation) with Autism: Raising a Child (and a New Generation) with AutismJACQUELINE KELLY | 05.01.2014When asked about the challenges of being a mom to a child with special needs, the first thing that comes to mind is that there is not enough time. Not enough time to laugh, to cry, to teach, to learn, to work, to play. You see, my son Jake is 16, a
New Jersey Columnist: Cry for Newark | janresseger
New Jersey Columnist: Cry for Newark | janresseger: New Jersey Columnist: Cry for NewarkPosted on May 1, 2014 by janressegerBob Braun was a reporter for 50 years for the Newark Star-Ledger.  These days he blogs about the public school crisis in Newark, New Jersey.  Newark’s public schools have been under state control for two decades.  As in most places, state takeover has never worked in Newark. 
empathyeducates – My Students Don’t Know How to Have a Conversation
empathyeducates – My Students Don’t Know How to Have a Conversation: My Students Don’t Know How to Have a ConversationBy Paul Barnwell | The Atlantic . april 22, 2014“Students’ reliance on screens for communication is detracting—and distracting—from their engagement in real-time talk.”Recently I stood in front of my class, observing an all-too-familiar scene. Most of my students were covertly—or s
West Side erupts. Where’s Cami? | Bob Braun's Ledger
West Side erupts. Where’s Cami? | Bob Braun's Ledger: West Side erupts. Where’s Cami?A screen shot taken of Cami Anderson in San Francisco Wednesday  Newark’s West Side High School erupts after a popular teacher is fired. Where is Cami Anderson, the state-appointed superintendent? At yet another education conference, this one in San Francisco, extolling the virtues of charter schools.  According t
Is It Worth Being a Teacher? (Dave Reid) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Is It Worth Being a Teacher? (Dave Reid) | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Is It Worth Being a Teacher? (Dave Reid)Dave Reid is a high school mathematics teacher in his third year of teaching.   He received his MA in Education and credential in secondary mathematics and physics from Stanford University in 2011.  Dave spent a quarter of a century in high-tech primarily in the w
NYC Educator: Eva Moskowitz Collects 7.5 Million, Buys a Governor
NYC Educator: Eva Moskowitz Collects 7.5 Million, Buys a Governor: Eva Moskowitz Collects 7.5 Million, Buys a GovernorNaturally, I was heartbroken when mean old Bill de Blasio tried to keep his campaign promise and blocked a few Moskowitz academies. After all, if they don't go up, how will all the zillionaires spend their money? What will they invest in? Certainly not public schools that take and

YESTERDAY

I have a teaching job for next year
I have a teaching job for next year: I have a teaching job for next yearbyteacherkenFollow    Email  8 Comments / 8 NewToday I received an email which began as follows:On behalf of the Board of Education, the Department of Human Resources with the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) is pleased to offer you an Advance Contract for the 2014-2015 school year.  You are receiving this advance contra
Alfie Kohn: Why giving every kid a trophy is better than... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
Alfie Kohn: Why giving every kid a trophy is better than... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: Alfie Kohn: Why giving every kid a trophy is better than giving a few an award COMMENT(1) 0 0 0 NewIs failure road to success or is success road to success?Previous PostsKelly Marlow resigns Cherokee school board seat. Faces sentencing Thursday.April 30, 2014Children have unique learning styles: Is this wide
Vergara suit wrong to blame teachers for inequities | UTSanDiego.com
Vergara suit wrong to blame teachers for inequities | UTSanDiego.com: By Randi Weingarten & Joshua Pechthalt7:10 P.M.APRIL 30, 2014In 2013, Christine McLaughlin, who teaches eighth-grade English at Blair High School, was named Pasadena Teacher of the Year. In the video that was made for the award ceremony, a student said, “My favorite thing about Miss McLaughlin is how determined she is to mak
Standardized, the movie: Join us in Seattle for a viewing and discussion | Seattle Education
Standardized, the movie: Join us in Seattle for a viewing and discussion | Seattle Education: Standardized, the movie: Join us in Seattle for a viewing and discussionFor decades, standardized testing has been a part of public education. Within the last ten years, however, education reform has promoted even more testing. Test scores, mistakenly viewed as effective assessments of student ability and
Save the Date- May 17th! | The official website of the PJSTA
Save the Date- May 17th! | The official website of the PJSTA: The PJSTA is among 42 organizations who is participating in this event.  Let’s make a big push to get our membership to this rally!
Nite Cap 4-30-14 #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 CAPSACRAMENTO Education rally to protest Common Core State Standards | Local News - KCRA HomeEducation rally to protest Common Core State Standards | Local News - KCRA Home: Education rally to protest Common Core State StandardsProtesters back bill
SACRAMENTO Education rally to protest Common Core State Standards | Local News - KCRA Home
Education rally to protest Common Core State Standards | Local News - KCRA Home: Education rally to protest Common Core State StandardsProtesters back bill allowing districts to opt out SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —As school districts across California prepare for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, a concerned group of citizens is holding a rally at the state Capitol to protest t
Cowen report: Sharp academic growth defies New Orleans’ widespread poverty | The Lens
Cowen report: Sharp academic growth defies New Orleans’ widespread poverty | The Lens: Cowen report: Sharp academic growth defies New Orleans’ widespread povertyBy Jessica Williams, Staff writer    18 MINS AGO      PRINTEighty-four percent of New Orleans students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, an indicator of poverty. That’s up 9 percent from the 2004-2005 school year.And yet the av
The Myths of Technology Series – “Technology equals engagement” | Connected Principals
The Myths of Technology Series – “Technology equals engagement” | Connected Principals: The Myths of Technology Series – “Technology equals engagement”by George Couros • April 30, 2014 • 0 CommentsFor ISTE 2014 in Atlanta, I will be presenting on the “Myths of Technology and Learning”. As I am really thinking about what I will be sharing at the conference, I wanted to write a series of blog posts
The Pursuit Of The Magic Education Metric
The Pursuit Of The Magic Education Metric:  The Pursuit Of The Magic Education MetricTo address the nation’s struggling economy, the Obama administration has announced a bold proposal to require states to provide more useful data about the career success of business and financial executives who graduate from the nation’s colleges and universities with degrees in finance, accounting, and business a
Video: What Does RESPECT Mean?–Vote today for a new union leadership to defend public education | I AM AN EDUCATOR
Video: What Does RESPECT Mean?–Vote today for a new union leadership to defend public education | I AM AN EDUCATOR: Video: What Does RESPECT Mean?–Vote today for a new union leadership to defend public educationBy I AM AN EDUCATOR on April 30, 2014Voting has begun!I am running for president of the Seattle Education Association (SEA) with a dozen other educators on the RESPECT ticket.  We want to t
empathyeducates – Girls Do Better Than Boys in School at All Ages and Subjects, Study Finds
empathyeducates – Girls Do Better Than Boys in School at All Ages and Subjects, Study Finds: Girls Do Better Than Boys in School at All Ages and Subjects, Study FindsBy Maggie Fox | Originally Published at NBCNews April 29, 2014 11:50 amIt may come as no surprise to teachers, but girls do better than boys in school, a new study finds.What may be a surprise is that this holds true at all ages, in a
Uncommon Denominators: Understanding “Per Pupil” Spending | School Finance 101
Uncommon Denominators: Understanding “Per Pupil” Spending | School Finance 101: Uncommon Denominators: Understanding “Per Pupil” SpendingPosted on April 30, 20140This post is another in my series on data issues in education policy. The point of this post is to encourage readers of education policy research to pay closer attention to the fact that any measure of “per pupil spending” contains two pa
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 4-30-14
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: 3 stories: ALEX CAPUTO-PEARL ELECTED UTLA PRESIDENTAlex Caputo-Pearl won elected president of the United Teachers Los Angeles, defeating incumbent Warren Fletcher in a runoff vote. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times / March 4, 2014) Alex Caputo-Pearl wins runoff election to head L.A. teachers union Howard Blume , LA Times | http://lat.ms/1u4Q3jS  Apr
4-30-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD
LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Decathlon title in hand, El Camino Real gets ready to celebrateThe winning teamPhoto: LA Daily News And now for the celebration. In honor of its seventh national Academic Decathlon championship, El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills is holding a rally tomorrow morning for a team that won th
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Let's not lose sight of most dangerous racism
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Let's not lose sight of most dangerous racism: Let's not lose sight of most dangerous racismEYES ON THE PRIZE... A great point was made by Rev. Jesse Jackson re. Sterling/Bundy racism. Let's not lose sight of where the real problem lies. The Supreme Court and Congress are making changes in the law that will deprive millions of opportunity and equal justice. We should
4-30-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: More on Two AmericasMore on Two Americas. via More on Two Americas.1 by plthomasedd / 23min  All Week 4-29-14 @ THE CHALK FACE@ THE CHALK FACE: Joanne Barkan’s Three Types of Criticism of Edu-PhilanthropyDiane Ravitch recently praised Joanne Barkan’s “How to Criticize ‘Big Philanthropy’ Effectively.” Barkan’s excellent analysis was first presented at the March 2014 Network for Pu
4-30-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)
the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): More on Two AmericasRecently, I posed an argument about two Americas, personified by George W. Bush and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Over the past few days, the controversy surrounding Donald Sterling has offered even more evidence of two Americas. Let’s start with the unlikelie
What Did Arne Duncan Just Do to Washington State? | janresseger
What Did Arne Duncan Just Do to Washington State? | janresseger: What Did Arne Duncan Just Do to Washington State?Posted on April 30, 2014 by janressegerLast Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education revoked Washington state’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waiver. What does this mean and does it matter?In 2011, just before he created waivers from the most onerous consequences of No Child Left Behin
How Common Core Damages Poetry Instruction | Truth in American Education
How Common Core Damages Poetry Instruction | Truth in American Education: How Common Core Damages Poetry InstructionFiled in Common Core State Standards by truthed on April 30, 2014 • 0 CommentsApril is National Poetry Month, but poetry is not well addressed in Common Core’s English language arts standards.  It’s unclear whether the genre will survive a Common Core-based English classroom given th
Morning Wink 4-30-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 4-30-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Jersey Jazzman: Did NPR Sell Out to the Walton Family Foundation?Jersey Jazzman heard NPR describe the reason that Washington State refused to bow to Arne Duncan’s demand that the sate use test