4LAKids - BLACK TO SCHOOL?

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: BLACK TO SCHOOL?:

BLACK TO SCHOOL?

 

BY ERIN AUBRY KAPLAN  / CITYWATCHLA/ PUBLISHED BY THE LA PROGRESSIVE | HTTP://BIT.LY/1CJ3DRZ

December 13, 2013  ::  Los Angeles Unified School District board member Marguerite LaMotte has only been dead a week, but the question of who will fill her seat and how it will be filled is fueling consternation—and some swift action—among LaMotte’s black constituents and education advocates in the first district.
Here’s why: love her or loathe her, LaMotte was regarded as the strongest advocate on the board for the educational well-being of black students, a majority of whom attend first district schools like Crenshaw and Dorsey High.
Blacks hardly comprise a majority of LAUSD’s student population—they are roughly 8 percent, compared to Latinos at 70 percent—but in terms of test scores, graduation rates and other markers of student success, they have long fared the worst of any group. LaMotte was a veteran administrator who had close ties to black students and had wrestled with their problems firsthand;  a supporter of  public education as a force for social equality, LaMotte opposed charter schools and other  types of so-called reform that raise private money and adopt business models that she saw as antithetical to that goal. Many local black leaders agree with her.

Marguerite LaMotte>>

So whoever takes her place will be filling that philosophical space—or not. The remaining six members of the school board have 30 to 60 days to either appoint someone to fill LaMotte’s term, which runs until 2015, or to call for a special election next year. To hold an election as soon as March or April, the board must decide on its course of action by this Tuesday, December 17. With such a tight deadline, concerned black observers looking to ensure continuity of LaMotte’s legacy are in the midst of a somewhat breathless campaign to convince the board to appoint George McKenna III, a veteran district educator who, among other things, was LaMotte’s renowned predecessor as principal of Washington Prep High School in South Central.

McKenna was played by Denzel Washington in a TV Movie bio-pic>

The Black Community Clergy and Labor Alliance (BCCLA), a leadership accountability organization, says it is pushing McKenna’s appointment for two main reasons: one, he is eminently qualified and two, scheduling an election for spring 2014  would mean that LaMotte’s seat would remain vacant during months of crucial budget discussions and other agenda items that seriously impact the fortunes of African American students. It also argues that a hastily called election such as this would likely give the seat to the most well-funded candidate—that is, someone backed by millionaire charter reform advocates like Eli Broad.
BCCLA stresses that it is not 

NYC Public School Parents: More on the uncharacteristically friendly audience faced by Commissioner King in Brooklyn

NYC Public School Parents: More on the uncharacteristically friendly audience faced by Commissioner King in Brooklyn:

More on the uncharacteristically friendly audience faced by Commissioner King in Brooklyn

credit Steven Mazie

The Brooklyn stop on Commissioner King's "listening tour", as described here,  featured one of the few friendly audiences he has faced, overwhelming supportive of the state's agenda of Common Core and high-stakes testing.  Many parents were brought in early by StudentsFirstNY, given a special room inside Medgar Evers College and allowed to sign up for 44 of 45 speaking slots by 5:30 PM, even though NYSED had said the doors would not be open till 6 PM.

The attendees praised the state’s policies and the Common Core in similar terms, while apparently referring to a printed sheet of instructions, according to this Epoch Times article, while holding up nearly identical signs.  The article also reveals that many of the teachers at the Brooklyn event were from the Uncommon chain of charters, which King himself used to run. Coincidence?

While King had accused critical audiences he faced elsewhere as having been manipulated by “special interests”, he said he saw no special interests at work in Brooklyn.  

I wonder if the Uncommon teachers happened to mention that their schools, as well as Success charter chain, run by Eva 

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Hour of Code: My Kids WILL CODE!

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: Hour of Code: My Kids WILL CODE!:

Hour of Code: My Kids WILL CODE!

We missed the first 2 days of Computer Science Education Week because we had Snow Days. As much as I enjoyed those two days off , I was kinda bummed about not being able to have my class participate in the Hour of Code.

Wednesday, I had to leave early to attend a meeting, so we couldn't do it then.

Thursday, I made sure it was part of our day.

I began by discussing Computer Science Education Week (ho hum), and then segued into coding, (bodies fidgeted, eyes lit up, "Can we do that?"). I put  the Youtube video up on the Smartboard, lights went out, and 20 bodies grabbed carpet squares, bean bags, and video chairs and plopped themselves in front of the board. Amidst shouts of "Shakira", "Ashton", "President Obama!", and other assorted celebrities, I think they got the gist of what this coding thing is all about.

At the end of the video I yelled, "Is everyone ready to code?!" and a thunderous "Yeah!" rolled over me. Bodies flew to Chromes, desktops, and laptops to sign up for Tynker. I was prepared, I had placed the code for our class on Edmodo. (easy-peasy, lemon squeezy).

When I tell you they were excited!!!! Two or three were able to log in,("Mrs.M, I'm in, I got on!"), the rest were disappointed. I explained to them that people all over the world were trying to do 

D.C. teachers offer wide range of views on city policies - The Washington Post

D.C. teachers offer wide range of views on city policies - The Washington Post:

D.C. teachers offer wide range of views on city policies

 A D.C. Council hearing meant to solicit teachers’ views on improving city schools drew dozens of witnesses Saturday and offered a glimpse of the wide range of educators’ perspectives, particularly on the District’s controversial and politically charged teacher evaluations.

At one end of the spectrum was Washington Teachers’ Union President Elizabeth Davis, who called the evaluations — known as IMPACT — “a miserable failure” that has led to the most disempowered and frustrated teaching force she’s seen in 41 years.

More news about education

D.C. Council hearing draws range of teacher views

Emma Brown 2:28 PM ET

The five-hour Saturday hearing offered varied opinions on the controversial teacher evaluations.

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Emma Brown DEC 13

Henderson confirms that she talked with New York’s mayor-elect about the top schools job there.

School systems boost security measures after Newtown

Donna St. George DEC 13

Across the region, schools added police, electronic entry systems, lockable doors and other measures.

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At the other end were teachers who said that the evaluations clarified what was expected of them and pushed them to improve. “IMPACT is not a perfect system, but it has made me a better teacher and ensured I show up 100 percent every day,” said Jonte Lee, a teacher at Wilson High.

And in the middle were teachers who said that the evaluations have value but fail to account for the vast differences among the city’s students and penalize teachers who choose to work in the most challenging schools.

“We must be careful that IMPACT is not forcing good teachers out of our lowest-

Teaching in a Dystopic State ! : There's Gold in Them There Schools - And Wall Street Comin' to Stake Its Claim !

Teaching in a Dystopic State ! : There's Gold in Them There Schools - And Wall Street Comin' to Stake Its Claim !:

There's Gold in Them There Schools - And Wall Street Comin' to Stake Its Claim !

If you think all the "education reform" stuff in really about improving education, think again !
"Education Reform" is just a back door approach to privatization. The claims of inferior teachers and failing schools are used as wedges to crack the door open wide enough for Wall Street carpetbaggers and cronies of connected politicians to sneak in and grab the billions of education dollars just waiting to be scooped up. 
Tenure "reform" (elimination) is a prelude to the takeover by private interests. Teachers who have worked for years to arrive at decent pay levels will be easy to fire and replaced with low cost people thus insuring even greater profits when corporations finally gain full control of the system. 
The elimination of seniority under the guise of keeping "the best" teachers when layoffs occur really means keeping "the lowest paid" teachers, again to increase corporate profits once schools are privatized. (And it isn't that far off!)
How about bargaining rights? 
Kiss them goodbye!
After years of fighting to establish a fair and equitable system for determining teacher rights and compensation future "negotiations" will be "hat in hand". 
The only rights that will remain for teachers will be the right to be continually bullied, defamed and blamed ! 

Mother Crusader: Highland Park Senior Faces Controversy In His Schools And Community Head On

Mother Crusader: Highland Park Senior Faces Controversy In His Schools And Community Head On:

Highland Park Senior Faces Controversy In His Schools And Community Head On

The below article is cross posted, with permission, from the Tumbler of Highland Park High School student Gabriel Trevor. I had the pleasure of presenting alongside Gabriel last weekend at an event sponsored by the Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War. 

Gabriel did a fantastic job at the event, despite his exhaustion -- he had just returned from Model UN where he was recognized with an "Outstanding Delegate" award and the Highland Park students as a whole were named the "Best Large Delegation." Not too shabby for a small high school with around 400 students.

Without further ado, here's Gabriel.

WE CAN DO BETTER PART TWO: 

REBUTTAL TO CRITICISM

Part One can be read here

Despite vast community concern about recent Highland Park Board of Education policies under new Superintendent Timothy Capone, a small contingent of residents remains dedicated to discouraging our efforts to gather information and question the Board’s policies and decisions. Concerned citizens like myself have been called misguided, aggressive, and irrational. The Board has openly classified our concerns as “emotional,” despite specific policy, budgetary, and legal questions. We are asked “Why weren’t you at any Board meetings before November 4?” The loyalists overlook substantive concerns about Board of Education policy and activities.

The Board of Education and Mr. Capone have failed to explain the logic of the November 4 Reductions in Force as they relate to the purchase of textbooks and 

Guess Who Really Wants Common Core Now? Principals! | deutsch29

Guess Who Really Wants Common Core Now? Principals! | deutsch29:

Guess Who Really Wants Common Core Now? Principals!

December 14, 2013

On December 13, 2013, I received an email informing me that the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has conducted two surveys and has found that “principals overwhelmingly support the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) initiative.”

My first thought:  “Here we go again.”

Another survey (this time two surveys) in which stakeholders forced to implement CCSS are supposedly enthusiastic with their lot.

I have written about four other such surveys (those produced by AFT, NEA,Gates/Scholastic, and Stand for Children Louisiana), all focused upon teachers, and all broadcasting the same conclusion: Teachers are just fine with CCSS.

As of this Friday the 13th, apparently principals are, too.

Before I present the details of this latest CCSS sell, allow me to offer a number of observations regarding the CCSS sales job.

CCSS Survey Timing

First, none of these surveys preceded the forced implementation of CCSS upon those surveyed. Teachers were never asked by those birthing and pushing CCSS (i.e., the CCSS copyright holders, the National Governors Association [NGA] and Council of Chief State School Officers]) whether they wanted CCSS in the first place. There were no surveys examining this point– only the clear NGA-Duncan message to push CCSS and its assessments as a package deal.

The Delphi Technique

Second, those who argue that teachers “were part of the CCSS process” do not realize that the positioning of teachers to appear involved in CCSS is crucial to the sell. However, as the CCSS Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) clearly reveals, teachers did not directly control CCSS development. Teachers “provided input.”

How is it that if scores of teachers “provided input” regarding CCSS, one hears nothing 

12-14-13 Saturday Matinée Special Double Feature News Breakout

Saturday Matinée Special Corporate Reform School Girls News Breakout

Special  Sneak Preview - 

Witch Hunter 

starring Campbell Brown 

 News Break

Coming to a theater near you!

 mark as read

Peg with Pen: But if you close your eyes...

Peg with Pen: But if you close your eyes...: But if you close your eyes...This week and the past few weeks I've spent a lot of time thinking about teaching before NCLB and RTTT.  My students opened a restaurant once. We had to do all the math to determine the supplies needed for the pasta, bread, etc. Each of the children applied for jobs at the restaurant. They filled out job applications and we had job interviews. We got creative with marketing our restaurant, creating our menu, and more. We went to the grocery store and we shopped for the supplies for our restaurant and interacted with our

21min 

Mother Crusader: When Broad Comes To Town: Taking A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut

Mother Crusader: When Broad Comes To Town: Taking A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut: When Broad Comes To Town: Taking A Sledgehammer To Crack A NutSACRAMENTO BROADSIDE CHECKLIST A reader offered this comment in response to the post about school closings in Sacramento:A “Broad” superintendent who follows its “play-list” to “capture” the school board and privatize the district as much as possible:– Convinced the board of education to turn all the power over to the superintendent.– Keeps secret all the contracts and consultants hired by the superintendent. In fact, it’s been said that the latest cons

23min 

Take Your Students to see "12 Years a Slave?" This Teacher Did. - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Take Your Students to see "12 Years a Slave?" This Teacher Did. - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher: Take Your Students to see "12 Years a Slave?" This Teacher Did.By Nancy Flanagan on December 14, 2013 2:44 PM I saw 12 Years a Slave last weekend. And I'm still reeling, flashing back from horrible scene to horrible scene, pondering the mindsets behind slave owners reading the Bible aloud to their slaves as proof that they were divinely entitled to dominion over other human beings. The film is so layered with meaning and questions--and deep, ugly shame. Beth

29min 

TODAY

A poverty, not education, crisis in U.S.: Column

A poverty, not education, crisis in U.S.: Column: A poverty, not education, crisis in U.S.: ColumnNew studies show that the number of poor children is rising and the impact it has on learning.(Photo: Erich Schlegel for USA TODAY file photo)STORY HIGHLIGHTSOne study reveals that nearly half of all American public school students live in poverty.Another shows poverty and not race or national origin

1 by mike simpson / 36min 

Why it’s (long past) time for social and emotional learning

Why it’s (long past) time for social and emotional learning: Why it’s (long past) time for social and emotional learningBY VALERIE STRAUSSDecember 14 at 1:00 pm(By Matt McClain / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST)Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond, who is leaving his job at the end of the month after four years, wrote the following response to a recent column by New York

1 by mike simpson / 53min 

2nd Banana 12-14-13 Recap of Last Week's Best Post #EDchat #EDreform #RealEdTalk #p2 #1u

BIG EDUCATION APE 2ND BANANARECAP OF LAST WEEK'S BEST POST Nite Cap 12-12-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2James 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 readNYC Educator: Padded Cell a Win-Win for KIPPNYC Educator: Padded Cell a Win-Win for KIPP: Padded Cell a Win-Win for KIPPSure

1 by mike simpson / 1h 

Morning Wink 12-14-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2

BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS mark as read12-14-13 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in EducationScathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Jeb Bush’s Rhetoric Proves Hypocritical When His Allies Seek to Defend Florida C

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

12-14-13 Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education

Scathing Purple Musings | Color me purple in Florida, red in Washington, dark sky-blue in Israel and public school in Education: Jeb Bush’s Rhetoric Proves Hypocritical When His Allies Seek to Defend Florida Charter SchoolsWriting in redifinED, Step Up for Student’s Patrick Gibbons took exception to the Palm Beach Post’s report that charter schools were to blame for  the county’ low graduation rat

by mike simpson / 3h 

NYC Educator: Edfluenza

NYC Educator: Edfluenza: EdfluenzaI was pretty surprised to read that, in the United States, if you're rich and you kill four people you suffer from "affluenza" and aren't guilty. After all, if you have the handicap of growing up with all that money, how are you to know that common people are not dispensable and ought not to be murdered? Mater and Pater never had time to tell you that, w

by mike simpson / 3h 

10 PRINT “CODING IS OVERRATED”                       20 GOTO 10 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog

10 PRINT “CODING IS OVERRATED”                       20 GOTO 10 | Gary Rubinstein's Blog: 10 PRINT “CODING IS OVERRATED”                       20 GOTO 10I remember when I taught in Houston back in the early 1990s and felt it was a crime that my school did not offer any real computer programming course.  The best they had was something called ‘computer applications’ where students would spend the s

by mike simpson / 3h 

Dear Education Reformers: A Thank You Letter From Any CEO in the Future | Ward 8 DC Teacher

Dear Education Reformers: A Thank You Letter From Any CEO in the Future | Ward 8 DC Teacher: Dear Education Reformers: A Thank You Letter From Any CEO in the Futureby ANGEL CINTRON JR. • DECEMBER 14, 2013Dear Education Reformers,I wish to sincerely thank you for your determination and resolve in implementing rigorous standards in computation and comprehension. Undoubtedly, my current staff is the

by mike simpson / 3h 

Notes on teaching from Bertrand Russell, published in the New York Times on 12/16/1951: | Bill Ayers

Notes on teaching from Bertrand Russell, published in the New York Times on 12/16/1951: | Bill Ayers: Notes on teaching from Bertrand Russell, published in the New York Times on 12/16/1951:The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows: 1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything. 2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidenc

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12-14-13 Open Congress : Major Bill Actions Education This Week - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress

Education - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: mark as readBill Introduced: S. 1777: Innovate America ActA bill to support innovation, and for other purposes.7h Bill Introduced: H.R. 3545: Collegiate Student Athlete Protection ActTo protect the academic futures of collegiate student athletes.7d Bill Introduced: H.R. 3532: Protecting Student Athletes From Concussions Act of 2013To promote State requirem

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog 12-14-13

Ms. Jablonski's Class Blog: mark as readThe Failed Sign Language...During the speeches for Nelson Mandela 's funeral, there was a strange unknown man interpreting sign language to the deafs.  There was a huge controversial whether this person can actually do sign language or not.  Paul Breckell, chief executive of the U.K.-based charity Action on Hearing Loss, stated that this fraud isn't actually

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

teacherken at Daily Kos This Week 12-14-13

teacherken at Daily Kos:teacherken at Daily Kos This Weekmark as readRandom? thoughts on a Saturday morningToday, like most Saturday mornings, I sit in my Starbucks beginning shortly after it opens at 6 AM - after all, I get up during the week at 4, and it is hard to sleep late even if I wanted to. Regular readers know I am wont to peruse various publications to see if there is writing I believe w

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week 12-14-13

With A Brooklyn Accent: With A Brooklyn Accent Go BATs All Week  mark as readThe Crisis in Public Education is Caused by Bad Policies, not Bad TeachersGates, Duncan, Broad et al say they want to attract more talented people to the teaching profession but they 1. Support teacher evaluation frameworks combine humiliating observation protocols (Danielson rubric) with scripted curricula (Common Core)

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

All Week @ The Answer Sheet 12-14-13

The Answer Sheet:All Week @ The Answer Sheetmark as readWashington state judge draws key distinction between charter, traditional public schoolsA Washington state judge just ruled that part of the state’s new charter school law is constitutional and part of it isn’t. The most interesting part of the decision isn’t which is which, but why there is a distinction in the first place. The case on which

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society All Week

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog:Schooling in the Ownership SocietyMike Klonsky's SmallTalk Schooling in the Ownership Society mark as readStopping the charter invasion.I guess I've become cynical about CPS-run community meetings ever since David Vitale confided to me that they were called simply to rein-in the dissenters. It got worse after CEO Byrd-Bennett completely ignored the 20,000 parents and

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Wait What? All Week

Wait What?:  Wait What? All Week mark as readMalloy can tell it to the judgeFellow public school advocate and columnist Wendy Lecker has written yet another “must read” column for the Stamford Advocate.    While candidate “Dan” Malloy ran on a platform of supporting public education, Governor “Dannel” Malloy has pushed an agenda that has systematically undermined Connecticut’s public schools.  Rat

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:Seattle Schools Community Forum mark as readFriday Open ThreadAnyone who has given thought to Common Core standards and has a opinion you might want to pass along/talk about, please shoot me an e-mail at sss.westbrook@gmail.com.   I'll forward your e-mail on.  Please send it to me by noon if possible.Haven't checked other news sources but I suspect the charter law d

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online: Ed Notes Online mark as readSusan's Saturday Morning SpecialThe weekly weekend reading list from Susan Ohanian. We have a few new cartoons:Classic New Yorker Cover Using Apple Maps apphttp://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=861http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=860Buy! Buy! Buy! Reading Comprehension Activity for ESL StudentsOne of the Great Openings in Literatureht

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week

Jersey Jazzman:Jersey Jazzman Jammin' All Week mark as readWhat Planet Do the StudentsFirst People Live On?No, gentle reader, this did not come from The Onion:User Actions  FollowStudentsFirstNYVerified account‏@StudentsFirstNYBecause of #CommonCore, kids in Bed-Stuy will be able to compete in the same global economy as kids in wealthy suburban districts....7:15 PM - 10 Dec 13Silly me: I actually

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Fred All Week 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.: Fred All Week Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher  mark as read“It’s not who gets the most votes. It’s who counts them that matters.” – Richard J. DaleyActually I made that quote up. But I’ve worked enough Chicago elections to know it is true. So, when the IEA reported that I re

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School: Perdido Street School Week mark as readPro-Common Core Speakers At NYC Forums Used Talking Points Scripts With TimelinesVia Chris Cerrone, we learn the following from the Epoch Times about those Common Core supporters who flocked to the NYC Common Core forums to talk up the wonders of CCSS and testing:NEW YORK—In contrast to the angry crowds of parents who attended forums wi

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

THE BECOMING RADICALRadical Scholarshipthe becoming radical  A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by  mark as readNCTQ’s Free Pass in an Era of Press-Release JournalismNCTQ’s Free Pass in an Era of Press-Release Journalism.1 19min In Memory: Sandy Hook Elementary, One Year AfterI fear that we have become either callous or numb—either is a tragic consequence of mass shootings, even those at schools,

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 12-14-13 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EF

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE DAY mark as readA Collection Of My “Best” Lists On The Common CoreI’ve published several “Best” lists related to the Common Core, and thought that readers might find it useful if I brought them all together. I was prompted to do this tonight after reading a good post: Five myths about the Comm

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

This Week's Education Research Report 12-14-13 #SOSCHAT #EDCHAT #P2

Education Research ReportTHIS WEEK'S EDUCATION RESEARCH REPORT mark as readLearning mathematics takes practicePractice, not innate skill, makes for good mathematiciansNew research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim could have an effect on how math is taught.If you want to be really good at all types of math, you need to practice them all. You can't trust your

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 12-14-13

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT   mark as readSANDY HOOK/1 YEAR LATER: ROCK ME, MERCY: a poem written in mourningfrom npr/ read aloud at http://n.pr/TU38rZ published in 4LAKids 12/23/12  ::  http://bit.ly/1j6dmXu The river stones are listening because we have something to say. The trees lean closer today. The singing in the electrical woods h

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education 12-7-13

NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public Education:NPE News Briefs ← from The Network for Public EducationNPE News Briefsmark as readWho Decides What is Taught in Our Schools? | Anthony Cody – Living in DialogueBy Anthony Cody on December 13, 2013 1:35 PM The fundamental question that has been presented to all of us through the Common Core process is this one: Who decides what is taught in ou

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

12-14-13 Schools Matter All Week

Schools Matter:  Schools Matter All Week mark as readTURN Chapters of AFT Take Lead in "Share My Lessons" Common Core MarathonIn the December 13 issue of Inside AFT (yes, I am an AFT member), I found this, which got me wondering: Share My Lesson has been on the move recently. This weekend will mark the third of three Share My Lesson marathon weekends the AFT has hosted over the last mont

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

All Week 12-14-13 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER: All Week @ THE CHALK FACE  mark as readNCTQ’s Free Pass in an Era of Press-Release JournalismA controversial shock-jock-type right-wing pundit spoke as a guest of a conservative student group at my university a few years ago (she has since returned with less fanfare). When I made a passing comment about her lack of credibility, a student in one of my introduc

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG Diane Ravitch's blog 12-14-13 #thankateacher #EDCHAT #P2

Diane Ravitch's blogLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONGDIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG mark as readCody: Is the Common Core the Rosetta Stone of Corporate Reform?Anthony Cody, in a brilliant column, asks whether Common Core will be the Rosetta Stone of Corporate reform. The Rosetta Stone, he explains, made it possible to decipher ancient languages: ” In the year 1799, a French soldier discovered an ancient

1 by mike simpson / 5h 

YESTERDAY

Carl Sagan and Government - Charlie Rose

Carl Sagan's view on science and government

by mike simpson / 17h 

12-13-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “PixiClip” Is A Neat Drawing Tool For English Language LearnersPixiClip is a neat drawing tool I just learned about at Richard Byrne’s blog. I’d strongly encourage you to go there and read more details about the site and see his example but, basically, it lets you make a drawing and record either audio-only or a video to go

by mike simpson / 18h 

Draft of local accountability plan – key piece of funding formula – open for comment | EdSource Today

Draft of local accountability plan – key piece of funding formula – open for comment | EdSource Today: Draft of local accountability plan – key piece of funding formula – open for commentDecember 13th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By John FensterwaldPublic comment is being invited on draft plans schools will use when creating spending plans and setting campus priorities over the next several years. Cred

3 by mike simpson / 19h 

December 2013 Information Memoranda - State Board of Education

December 2013 Information Memoranda - State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education): December 2013 Information MemorandaBackground information and updates on issues of interest to the State Board Members.Periodically, the State Board Members may receive information memoranda from State Board staff and the California Department of Education. The information memoranda may include background inform

3 by mike simpson / 19h 

An Implied Threat to Remove Exxon Mobil From States That Refuse Common Core? | Truth in American Education

An Implied Threat to Remove Exxon Mobil From States That Refuse Common Core? | Truth in American Education: An Implied Threat to Remove Exxon Mobil From States That Refuse Common Core?Filed in Common Core State Standards by Shane Vander Hart on December 13, 2013 • 0 CommentsRex TillersonCEO of Exxon MobilI was disturbed to read a letter sent from Rex Tillerson, CEO of Exxon Mobil,  to Pennsylvania

by mike simpson / 20h 

Coop Goes to High School Part 10 – School’s Out | Lefty Parent

Coop Goes to High School Part 10 – School’s Out | Lefty Parent: Coop Goes to High School Part 10 – School’s OutDecember 13th, 2013 at 15:40At the end of each previous school year, I was jubilant to have survived another “tour of duty” and be liberated, at least for the summer, from society’s schooling requirement imposed on my developmental path. Finally finishing my senior year, there was a measu

by mike simpson / 20h 

Nite Cap 12-13-13 #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 readState has paid millions to charter schools since SRC suspended the code | Philadelphia Public School NotebookState has paid millions to charter schools since SRC suspended the code | Philadelphia Public School Notebook: State has pai

1 by mike simpson / 21h