Great Parent Engagement Idea — Not So Good Execution
I think it’s great that the California PTA wants to be a political leader in getting more funds for schools. In California, they’re a major backer of a tax initiative that’s hoping to be on November ballot. Unfortunately, they are competing with two other efforts — one led by Governor Jerry Brown (with support from [...]
“California’s flawed ‘parent trigger’ “
California’s flawed ‘parent trigger’ is a fairly decent editorial from The Los Angeles Times. Even though the best parent trigger is no parent trigger at all, if it’s going to be kept The Times’ suggestions could only help.
Engaging English Language Learner Families
I just participated in an excellent #ELLchat on Twitter about engaging ELL families. Lot of great ideas and resources were shared. I’ve embedded highlights from the conversation below using Storify. I’m adding it to The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers. [View the story "Parent Engagement With/For English Language Learners" on Storify]
“Obama Administration Announces Together for Tomorrow”
Obama Administration Announces Together for Tomorrow is the headline of a press release just issued by the U.S. Department of Education. I’m including some excerpts from the press release at the end of this post. After reading it, I still don’t really have a clue what they’re talking about — except that it has to [...]
Words Of Wisdom That Teachers & Administrators Might Want To Keep In Mind
Here are two tweets that I saw today that I’m adding to The Best Sources Of Parent Engagement Advice For Teachers: @Larryferlazzo @smconstantino Agree- and do not try to resolve a conflict using technology. Respect the need for tone, eye contact & empathy — Joe Mazza (@Joe_Mazza) February 26, 2012
Upcoming Parent Teacher Chat On Twitter
Guest Post by Joe Mazza: This Wednesday, February 29th at 9PM EST/6PM PST, #PTchat discusses Parent-Teacher Conferences and how parents AND teachers can maximize these oftentimes short sessions of face to face communication. In prioritizing the needs of the child, how do parents and teachers plan for, facilitate, reflect and respond following these important conferences? [...]
“Campaign for Adelanto charter school falls short”
Campaign for Adelanto charter school falls short is the headline in a Los Angeles Times article about failed efforts to use the so-called “parent trigger” in Southern California.
Parent Trigger Fails (Again) In California
A local newspaper tweeted tonight’s School Board Meeting in Southern California where the parent trigger petition was rejected. You can learn more about the parent trigger at The Best Resources For Learning Why The Parent Trigger Isn’t Good For Parents, Kids Or Schools. [View the story "Parent Trigger Fails (Again) In California" on Storify]
Parent Involvement In South Africa
Collaboration and communication as effective strategies for parent involvement in public schools is an interesting research paper from South Africa. Thanks to Steve Constantino for the tip. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Parent Engagement In Countries Other Than The U.S.
Irony Alert – NY Times Announces Parent Trigger Movie The Same Day LA Times Calls It A Disaster
The same day the Los Angeles Times details the disaster of the parent trigger, The New York Times runs an article about an upcoming Hollywood movie about….the parent trigger. Financed and produced by the same people who did “Waiting For Superman,” the movie takes place in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania doesn’t have such a law). One major [...]
“Parent Trigger Divides Families” Says L.A. Times
The Los Angeles Times, which certainly can’t be described as an opponent of the so-called Parent Trigger, has just published an article headlined “‘Parent trigger’ campaign divides families at troubled Adelanto elementary school.” After having failed at their first effort in Compton (and dividing the school in the process), the Parent Revolution is at it [...]
“Program to Bridge the Gap With Parents Draws Fire”
Program to Bridge the Gap With Parents Draws Fire is the headline on a New York Times article today about issues in Chicago. It’s not surprising, considering Mayor Emanuel’s perspective on parent engagement. See: Schools, And Parent Engagement, Don’t Seem To Be Rahm Emanuel’s Strong Suit Rahm Emanuel’s “Transactional” Perspective On Parent Involvement/Engagement
February’s Parent Engagement Highlights From Twitter
I’m starting a new monthly feature highlighting tweets that use the #parentengagement hashtag on Twitter. I thought readers might find it useful. I’ll be using Storify to collect and publish them: [View the story "February's Parent Engagement Highlights From Twitter " on Storify]
Parent Leadership Is Often “Missing Link” In Community Schools
I’m a big supporter of community schools — where schools provide many programs and services to students and the community beyond traditional classes — and have previously published many posts about them. The San Francisco Chronicle this morning published a front page story about a big community schools effort in Oakland. One issue, though, that [...]
The Next Generation Bookmark?
Albatros bookmarks from Oscar Lhermitte on Vimeo.
Women’s History Resources
I’ve updated and revised The Best Sites For Learning About Women’s History. March is Women’s History Month in the United States.
Hindu Festival Of Holi Resources
To quote from the UPI, “Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is a popular Hindu spring festival observed in India, and many other countries around the world. Holi, is celebrated by people throwing colored powder and colored water at … Continue reading →
Robots & James Bond
Watch this video of robot “quadrotors” play the James Bond theme song and read more about it (and see another video) at The Atlantic. I’m adding it to The Best Sites To Learn About Robots.
MentorMob Is A New Versatile Web Tool
It’s always nice to find a web tool that can be used for a number of purposes, and David Kapuler (whom I have previously nominated for an Edublogs Award) has found one with MentorMob. It lets you very easily create … Continue reading →
Teachers Are Destroying America
Check out this clip from last night’s “Colbert Report,” People Who Are Destroying America – Teachers. Thanks to Mike Klonsky for the tip. The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive
The Best Photos — In The World?
Smithsonian Magazine just announced the fifty finalists in their annual photo competition. You can see the finalists, and the winners from their previous nine years, here. You can also see a related photo gallery created by the Boston Globe’s Big … Continue reading →
Around The Web In ESL/EFL/ELL
I’ve recently started a regular feature where I share a few posts from around the Web related to ESL or EFL that have caught my attention: Reuters Video: Aesop’s fable brought to life by clever crows is a video and … Continue reading →
Do You Advocate For English Language Learners?
A colleague of mine, Diane Staehr Fenner, is working on a project related to advocacy for ELs. She is interested in hearing from teachers and administrators across the country who advocate for their school’s English learners so that the students … Continue reading →
Can An Educator’s Clothes Affect How He/She Teaches?
I’ve previously posted on the topic of teacher’s attire (see A Question On Teacher Attire). In that post, I wrote about how I have worn a tie and sport coat every day I have taught (except for when we’ve gone … Continue reading →
My Class Had A Very Musical Thursday Today….
A few times each year, I bring my Beginning and Intermediate English Language Learner students to music and art classes at our school. Since most have to take extra periods of English during their high school career, they don’t have … Continue reading →
Send An Online Video Message With Vsnap
Vsnap lets you send a sixty second online video message very easily. Free registration is required. I’ve taken the opportunity to completely revise The Best Applications For Sending Online Video Messages.
Vocre Might Be A Very Useful Translation App
Vocre is a free iPhone app that TechCrunch describes like this: It’s almost magical how Vocre works; Speak into the app while your iPhone is vertical, flip the phone horizontal and the phone’s accelerometer cues the app to translate and … Continue reading →
“Socrates Fails Teacher Evaluation”
“Socrates Fails Teacher Evaluation” is a great post by Heidi_Hayes_Jacobs. It’s a must-read. Here’s how she ends it: The results were posted in the Agora for all to see the quality and performance of their teacher. Socrates failed. He simply … Continue reading →
The 27th Edition Of ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival Is Up!
Adam Simpson has just posted the 27th Edition of the ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival! It’s filled with excellent posts where teachers are describes lessons when their students were in the state of “flow” — when they were completely absorbed in what … Continue reading →
Research Studies Of The Week
I often write about research studies from various field and how they can be applied to the classroom. I write individual posts about ones that I think are especially significant, and will continue to do so. However, so many studies … Continue reading →
The Three Little Pigs,,,,If The Story Took Place Today
In my book, Helping Students Motivate Themselves, I have a very extensive lesson plan on Bloom’s Taxonomy (it’s one of my favorites and, but the way, I’ll be sharing it at Eye On Education’s online conference in March). The lesson … Continue reading →
“What Is Rigor?”
What Is Rigor? is the new “question of the week” at my Education Week Teacher column. Feel free to contribute your thoughts there or here….
“Camera Awesome” Looks Like A Useful iPhone App
The Wall Street Journal just gave Camera Awesome an incredibly positive review, and this free iPhone app became available yesterday for download. It looks very impressive. I’m adding it to The Best Sites For Beginning iPhone Users Like Me.
Using Community Organizing To Teach Reading
Get Organized Around Assets is the title of my article in the March issue of ASCD’s Educational Leadership. It’s subtitled: The steps community organizers use to help change people’s lives can help teachers improve English language learners’ reading. I’ve also … Continue reading →
