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Thursday, May 1, 2014

Nite Cap 5-1-14 #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 CAP




NYC Educator: Mr. Mulgrew Writes Me a Letter About the Contract
NYC Educator: Mr. Mulgrew Writes Me a Letter About the Contract: Mr. Mulgrew Writes Me a Letter About the ContractThere is an agreement on a new teacher contract between the city and the UFT, one that gets us the 8% that's eluded us all these years, and establishes some crap pattern for the following years. Having gone so very long without a raise, it's hard to imagine UFT voting against it. There
Getting Kindergarteners “College and Career Ready" | Truth in American Education
Getting Kindergarteners “College and Career Ready" | Truth in American Education: Getting Kindergarteners “College and Career Ready”Filed in Common Core State Standards by Shane Vander Hart on May 1, 2014 • 0 Comments231Yvonne Gasperino from Stop Common Core in New York State shared this picture with me last week.  Harley Avenue Primary School (part of the Elwood Union Free School District) i
Scathing Report Finds Rocketship, School Privatization Hurt Poor Kids | The Progressive
Scathing Report Finds Rocketship, School Privatization Hurt Poor Kids | The Progressive: Scathing Report Finds Rocketship, School Privatization Hurt Poor KidsGordon Lafer, a political economist and University of Oregon professor who has advised Congress, state legislatures, and the New York City mayor's office, landed at the airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, late last night bringing with him a brie
The New Conscientious Test Objectors at International High School in NYC! | I AM AN EDUCATOR
The New Conscientious Test Objectors at International High School in NYC! | I AM AN EDUCATOR: The New Conscientious Test Objectors at International High School in NYC!By I AM AN EDUCATOR on May 1, 2014A couple of days ago a New York area code popped up on my cell phone. I didn’t recognize the number—but when a teacher on the other end of line said that she was organizing a testing boycott at her h
My Forthcoming Speaking Engagement in AZ about VAMs |
My Forthcoming Speaking Engagement in AZ about VAMs |: My Forthcoming Speaking Engagement in AZ about VAMs If you reside in Arizona or plan to travel here soon, I invite you to join me as I discuss my new book, Rethinking Value-Added Models in Education: Critical Perspectives on Tests and Assessment-Based Accountability (available this Sunday, May 4th). To read more about this book, please click h
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: May Day Warning: 'We're rapidly returning to the conditions of Ludlow days.'
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: May Day Warning: 'We're rapidly returning to the conditions of Ludlow days.': May Day Warning: 'We're rapidly returning to the conditions of Ludlow days.'Ludlow: The striking miners and their families, 1914BILL MOYERS' blog has an excellent piece on the 100th anniversary of the Ludlow strike and massacre, by Erik Loomis, "US Workers Were Once Massacred Fighting
Paul Horton: A Teacher Writes to Arne Duncan - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Paul Horton: A Teacher Writes to Arne Duncan - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Paul Horton: A Teacher Writes to Arne DuncanBy Anthony Cody on May 1, 2014 12:23 PMGuest post by Paul Horton.Dear Mr. Duncan,I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know what sane teachers are doing these days.I attended a rally last night at Union Square Fieldhouse that brought together concerned teach
NSBA issues guide for schools on data privacy :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
NSBA issues guide for schools on data privacy :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: MAY 01, 2014NSBA issues guide for schools on data privacyby Alisha Kirby(Va.) Making consistent strides toward bringing modern technology to the classroom isn’t a simple task, and neither is adjusting to obstacles that come with it, such as protecting students’ on
5-1-14 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: Is the $1 trillion student loan debt really a crisis?When you read about the more than $1 trillion student loan debt in the United States, the word “crisis” invariably appears. But is it? Donald E. Heller, dean of the College of Education at Michigan State University, offers a different view of the common media portrayal of the issue. By Donald Heller For the last […]by Valerie S
Becoming a 'Badass' Teacher - Education Week Teacher
Becoming a 'Badass' Teacher - Education Week Teacher: Becoming a 'Badass' TeacherBy Laura Thomas“You are the only one in your school to speak up at faculty meetings (although many people who remained silent come up to you afterward to tell you how happy they are you did).”“You tell administrators at your school what you really think, not what they want to hear.”“Your colleagues come to you constan
Teachers Union President Paid Less than Most Charter School Bosses
Teachers Union Boss Randi Weingarten: My Salary's Only $360K: American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, who was paid $543,150 last year, defended her compensation by claiming her pay is $360,000 and other reported expenses simply prove the union’s “transparency.”As part of a series of April 28 Twitter posts demanding Congress hike the federal minimum wage to $10.10, Service
5-1-14 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): Morning Read: LAUSD budget aims at helping foster childrenLAUSD foster kids to get more help from school social workers Los Angeles Unified’s plan to help some of its most troubled students — foster kids — calls for creating a corps of social workers and manning 17 centers in poverty-stricken neighborhood
California Distinguished Schools for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)
California Distinguished Schools for 2014 - Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces California Distinguished Schools for 2014SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today named 424 public elementary schools California Distinguished Schools for their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievemen
5-1-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Math Adoption UpdateOddly, nothing from SPS.  But here's a post from committee member, Rick Burke.  Thanks, RickThe district has not yet announced the results from the K-5 Math Adoption Committee (MAC) meeting on last Friday, but it was a public meeting, so there is no reason I can't share the outcome of committee deliberations and some of my personal opinions abou
The Cuomology of State Aid (or Tales from Lake Flaccid) | School Finance 101
The Cuomology of State Aid (or Tales from Lake Flaccid) | School Finance 101: The Cuomology of State Aid (or Tales from Lake Flaccid)Posted on May 1, 20140      Rate ThisWe’ve heard much bluster over time about school funding in New York State, and specifically how money certainly has no role in the policy debate over how to fix New York State schools, unless it has to do with providing more money
#ThankATeacher and Share on Teacher Appreciation Day | ED.gov Blog
#ThankATeacher and Share on Teacher Appreciation Day | ED.gov Blog: #ThankATeacher and Share on Teacher Appreciation DayPeter Markes (@PeterMarkes) the 2014 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, and Edmond North High School Orchestra Director, tweeted his #ThankATeacher sign during a visit to the U.S. Department of Education headquarters.Tuesday, May 6, is National Teacher Appreciation Day, and we want yo
Morning Wink 5-1-14 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 5-1-14 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane 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
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