BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK AM POSTS
FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Monday, November 19, 2012
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 7 minutes ago
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Education Headlines *Monday, November 19, 2012* Race to the Top funding could bring $30 million to North County schoolsThree local school districts and a charter school have come together to apply for $30 million in federal grant money that’s part of the Race to the Top initiative many teachers unions have opposed. Schools chief took $2,500 in parking lotBy his own account in a sworn deposition, San Ysidro schools Superintendent Manuel Paul took the money, about $2,500, from a local builder who was on the hunt for a seven- or ei... more »
Florida School Closures: Why Are High Poverty Schools Under the Gun? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 15 minutes ago
Florida School Closures: Why Are High Poverty Schools Under the Gun? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Florida School Closures: Why Are High Poverty Schools Under the Gun? by Anthony Cody *Guest post by a Florida teacher.* On Election Day, residents in Brevard County, Florida, rejected a sales tax increase to support schools. According to the Florida Today, the sales tax would have raised about $32 million annually, which the district planned to use to buy new school buses, replace roofs and chillers and purchase new computers to meet a state mandate. Three days afte... more »
The Civic Committee overreaches on pensions. “Fahner made himself irrelevant.” « Fred Klonsky
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 24 minutes ago
The Civic Committee overreaches on pensions. “Fahner made himself irrelevant.” « Fred Klonsky: The Civic Committee overreaches on pensions. “Fahner made himself irrelevant.” by Fred Klonsky Talk about a fall from grace. It was only a year ago. Ty Fahner, former Attorney General under Governor “Big Jim” Thompson and now head of the corporate Civic Committee, was considered important enough that he signed his name along with Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton to the letter announcing the withdrawal of the pension gutting SB512 from consideration in the lass Gen... more »
Obama Administration: What are the Next Steps in Education Reform? | NewsTaco
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Obama Administration: What are the Next Steps in Education Reform? | NewsTaco: Obama Administration: What are the Next Steps in Education Reform? by Voxxi By Hope Gillette, Voxxi President Barack Obama put an emphasis on education reform during his first term as president, and as he prepares to start off his second term, many people are wondering what the next education goals will be. According to Education News, the President has a number of initiatives yet to be implemented, and he will push for more education reform allotments within the budget. With debt at an all-time high, ... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: YOLO Applied in Standardized Testing.
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: YOLO Applied in Standardized Testing.: YOLO Applied in Standardized Testing. by stlgretchen *Protesting against standardized tests that have nothing to do with individual student progress is a start. Don't be a widget in the managed workforce plan.* A student filled out a bubble sheet to standardized answers so the blocks read YOLO: "You Only Live Once". The student apparently was maxed out with the incessant testing mandated in common core and other governmental directives designed to track students. The Washington Post's Adam Heenan reports in *... more »
A must read - Voters have spoken: No corporate school reform by Wendy Lecker - Wait, What?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
A must read - Voters have spoken: No corporate school reform by Wendy Lecker - Wait, What?: A must read – Voters have spoken: No corporate school reform by Wendy Lecker by jonpelto Wendy Lecker, Education Advocate and columnist for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group, has a must read column in yesterday’s Stamford Advocate and CT Post… “In this age of instantaneous global communication, it is incredible that a simple message sent by voters in Bridgeport has not reached leaders in Hartford, just 50 miles away. On Nov. 6, a rare event in modern politics occurred: democracy prevaile... more »
Shanker Blog » When You Hear Claims That Policies Are Working, Read The Fine Print
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Shanker Blog » When You Hear Claims That Policies Are Working, Read The Fine Print: When You Hear Claims That Policies Are Working, Read The Fine Print by Matthew Di Carlo When I point out that raw changes in state proficiency rates or NAEP scores are not valid evidence that a policy or set of policies is “working,” I often get the following response: “Oh Matt, we can’t have a randomized trial or peer-reviewed article for everything. We have to make decisions and conclusions based on imperfect information sometimes.” This statement is obviously true. In this case, however, it’s als... more »
“TANKSGIVEN” School Sign Goes Viral and It Gets Ugly | NewsTaco
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
“TANKSGIVEN” School Sign Goes Viral and It Gets Ugly | NewsTaco: “TANKSGIVEN” School Sign Goes Viral and It Gets Ugly by Victor Landa By Latino Rebels File this one under the “unfortunate” files. As reported by the local Brownsville press, a school sign about the Thanksgiving holiday has gone viral on Facebook and it is eliciting responses that range from the humorous to the ugly. According to reports, officials at Cummings Middle School confirmed that the sign was real and that someone took a picture of it and posted it on Facebook before it was corrected. Most of the comments mock... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Brilliant Story on Education Hypocrisy
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Brilliant Story on Education Hypocrisy: Brilliant Story on Education Hypocrisy by Charlie Mas An absolutely brilliant story appears on Crosscut, Business support for education: Just big talk? by Dick Nelson. This story shines a bright light on the hypocrisy of Washington State business groups who decry the state of public education in Washington State - preK to college - but also adamantly refuse to pay any of the cost of improving it. It reveals them for the whiny babies they are. A few business organizations in particular are taken to task. The ... more »
Modern School: Obama’s Crushing Student Debt Repayment Scam
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Modern School: Obama’s Crushing Student Debt Repayment Scam: Obama’s Crushing Student Debt Repayment Scam by Michael Dunn The Department of Education recently enacted new rules for Income-Based Repayment (IBR) of student loans. The hallmark of this “reform,” according to the WSWS, is that a small fraction of students will now be able to repay their loans in 20 years instead of 25 and their rates will go down from 15% of their discretionary income to 10%. The change will have no effect on undergraduates and may end up costing more for those who go on to earn graduate degrees if the... more »
Articles: Education 'Change Agent' Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: The Left Connection
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Articles: Education 'Change Agent' Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: The Left Connection: Education 'Change Agent' Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee: The Left Connection*By* *M. Catharine Evans and Ann Kane* * * Who would have thought the ubiquitous education superstar Michelle Rhee would be sitting next to Andy Stern on the board of the Broad Foundation? Yes, that's right. The Republican governors' siren and CEO of StudentsFirst works alongside the former SEIU leader, who's visited the White House more than anyone else in the past four years and who said "workers of the wor... more »
Loose ends, recurring partisan tensions to drive education agenda in Obama’s second term - The Washington Post
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Loose ends, recurring partisan tensions to drive education agenda in Obama’s second term - The Washington Post: Loose ends, recurring partisan tensions to drive education agenda in Obama’s second term (Carolyn Kaster, File/ Associated Press ) - FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2011 file photo, President Barack Obama, accompanied by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, gestures while speaking in a building under construction in Washington. Loose ends and thorny partisan tensions on education await the next Congress and President Barack Obama’s second term. First up is ... more »
Schools Matter: Memphis Plans Big Cuts to Pay for Corporate Reform Schools
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 hour ago
Schools Matter: Memphis Plans Big Cuts to Pay for Corporate Reform Schools: Memphis Plans Big Cuts to Pay for Corporate Reform Schools by Jim Horn Someone reading the Memphis Commercial-Appeal on the corporate plan for privatizing Memphis Schools would hardly know there is a 212 million dollar problem in the plan, itself. Stories about Memphis being among the top ten American cities to be overrun by the corporate reform school scammers make it to Page 1, while stories about the impending shuttering of public schools to pay for the $212 million deficit between over the next five ... more »
MORNING UPDATE: LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-19-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: [image: Click on picture to Listen to Diane Ravitch] Thank You, G.F. Brandenburg by dianerav One of the bloggers I admire most is G.F. Brandenburg. Compared to me, he is a veteran blogger. He has been chronicling the foibles of “reform” since 2009. His blog revealed that Michelle Rhee’s claims of having been a miracle teacher were bogus. He has followed her career since she left D.C.; do a search on his site and you will discover an interesting number of blogs about inflated claims in D.C. I don’t know Brandenburg but I do know he is a retired math teacher, w... more »
Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Engaging Parents In School… » This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter: This Week’s #PTchat On Twitter by Larry Ferlazzo Guest Post by Joe Mazza Image credit: Great read! “Beyond the Bakesale”Join us on this week’s #PTchat as we take a look at the research on creating and building a home-school partnership, while sharing examples what this looks like in today’s schools. According to Henderson & Mapp (2006), four core beliefs must be firmly in place to have a true home-school partnership: *Core Belief 1:* All Parents Have Dreams for Their Children and Want the Best for Them Core Belief 2: Al... more »
Beyond Proposition 30: California’s education future | EdSource Today
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Beyond Proposition 30: California’s education future | EdSource Today: Beyond Proposition 30: California’s education future ** November 19th, 2012 | Add a Comment | By Louis Freedberg Share on twitterShare on facebookShare on emailShare on google_plusone More Sharing Services [image: Louis Freedberg] Louis Freedberg The passage of Proposition 30 represents a major victory for schools – and for Gov. Jerry Brown. Barring a further erosion of state revenues, Prop. 30 should bring stability to school districts after five years of budget devastation. Yet Prop. 30, while representing the f... more »
Daily Kos: A reminder from 149 years ago
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Daily Kos: A reminder from 149 years ago: A reminder from 149 years ago by rss@dailykos.com (teacherken) Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nati... more »
School vouchers: Should there be more quality controls? | Get Schooled
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
School vouchers: Should there be more quality controls? | Get Schooled: School vouchers: Should there be more quality controls? by Maureen Downey Georgia will likely see another legislative attempt at vouchers next session, something that thus far has failed to gain much traction in the General Assembly. An investigation by the Washington Post will likely revive the debate over whether we should allow parents to receive tax dollars to pay for private schools, especially religious schools. Most national discussions about vouchers assume that parents will use the vouchers for paroch... more »
What's Wrong with Teacher Evaluation and How to Fix It: One Size Fits All — Whole Child Education
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
What's Wrong with Teacher Evaluation and How to Fix It: One Size Fits All — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG [image: James H. Stronge]What’s Wrong with Teacher Evaluation and How to Fix It: One Size Fits All November 19, 2012 by James H. Stronge Teachers matter. They have an extraordinary, positive, and lasting impact on their students. Students with high-performing teachers can progress three times as fast as students with low-performing teachers and each student deserves access to highly effective teachers in every subject. So, how do we know which teachers are effectiv... more »
Myths Come From Values, Not From Ignorance « The Core Knowledge Blog
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Myths Come From Values, Not From Ignorance « The Core Knowledge Blog: Myths Come From Values, Not From Ignoranceby w3bd0g *November 19th, 2012* Tags: Cedar Reiner, cognitive science, neuromyths, Teaching Posted in Education Theory, Literacy, Teaching | No Comments » *Today’s guest post is by Cedar Reiner, assistant professor of Psychology at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. It originally appeared at Cedar’s Digest, Reiner’s blog about “education reform, college teaching, history and philosophy of science” and other subjects. * Like many interested in how we apply basic c... more »
How can they know? « Cooperative Catalyst
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
How can they know? « Cooperative Catalyst: How can they know? by techkim Popout *How can they know, how hard the burden? How can they know, how heavy the load? Struggle finds a strong heart and tears, rivers of love and silence binds us all.* ~ Susan Herrick How can they know? That question has been an ongoing refrain in my head for some time now. Who are they? Students, all ages. What should they know? That is the question of our age, isn’t it? How can they know? At the Making Connections conference earlier this month, Zoe Weil said the teaching profession has the most influence on o...more »
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 2 hours ago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: WEEKEND QUOTABLES: WEEKEND QUOTABLES by Mike Klonsky Duncan remains *"We came out of the gates flying" in the first term, he said, and he plans to "replicate that as much as we can." -- *Edweek Michelle Rhee on Duncan *"The signaling by Secretary Duncan that he will continue for another term is an enormous win for children."* -- Huffington Bobby Jindal says something stupid *Republicans "need to stop saying stupid things... We're not the party of big—big businesses, big banks, big Wall Street, big bailouts."* -- The Hill School districts brace for ... more »
The Educated Reporter: Should Schools Set Sliding Scales For Student Achievement?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 10 hours ago
The Educated Reporter: Should Schools Set Sliding Scales For Student Achievement?: Should Schools Set Sliding Scales For Student Achievement? by Emily Richmond It would be tough to find a slope that’s potentially more slippery than this one: public schools setting different achievement expectations for students based on their race and ethnicity. But that’s exactly what’s happening in dozens of states that have received waivers from the U.S. Department of Education, allowing them to replace the more onerous provisions of No Child Left Behind with more flexible accountability meas... more »
Creating The Conditions: Instructional Leadership | Connected Principals
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Creating The Conditions: Instructional Leadership | Connected Principals: Creating The Conditions: Instructional Leadership by Chris Wejr cc licensed ( BY NC SA ) flickr photo by anna_t: http://flickr.com/photos/anna/204267895/ *Cross-posted at “The Wejr Board Blog”. This is the 3rd part in the “Creating the Conditions” series; Part 1 was on Student Discipline, Part 2 was on Love of Reading.* I recently had the honour to present in the Leadership 2.0 MOOC series (in which I am learning alongside others) on “Providing Instructional Leadership” (To view the archive of the presentation... more »
School Tech Connect: Rogers Park Is Awake
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
School Tech Connect: Rogers Park Is Awake: Rogers Park Is Awake by noreply@blogger.com (Tim Furman) The great Jesse Sharkey dropped by Sullivan High School last week to meet community activists gathered in Sullivan's auditorium and describe the current threat facing neighborhood schools. The people of the city, and soon the legislature too, are about to be bombarded with messages about half-empty schools, as if that phenomenon were not part of a planned strategy to privatize the schools. They won't mention the other half of the equation, which is that the "half empty" schools ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Just Wondering
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Just Wondering: Just Wondering by Melissa Westbrook It is always my intention to learn so I read whatever is handy. So I was in a business office this past week and there was the Puget Sound Business Journal (which I don't regularly read). So I'm reading this article about how the EMP wants a break on its rent. (Apparently Paul Allen might not subsidize it forever.) EMP agreed with the City that there would be rent increases every five years from the time it opened in 2000. But now EMP is saying they are a non-profit (albeit fronted by one o... more »
Is Mulgrew About To Sell Us Out?.southbronxschool.com
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 11 hours ago
http://www.southbronxschool.com: Is Mulgrew About To Sell Us Out? by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher) I got an email, as I am sure others have, from El presidente de por vida de UFT Mike Mulgrew thanking all for the Sandy clean up effort and stuff like that. Nice. However, towards the end of his email he reminded us that we still have to make up days that the students were out of school. OK, we know. The rumor floating around is that the days will be made up during the February vacation. What really got The Crack Team's knickers in a tizzy was these lines; *We will have to mak... more »
LAME DUCKS ARE QUACKING « Teachers Fight Back
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 12 hours ago
LAME DUCKS ARE QUACKING « Teachers Fight Back: LAME DUCKS ARE QUACKING by alkleen Retired teachers and public employees in Illinois are being warned that the current “lame duck” session of the Illinois General Assembly is poised to undertake the “pension reform” issue. I’ve never seen so many warnings and also explanations of why most meaningful legislation occurs during lame duck sessions. The “lame ducks” of course are the legislators who have lost elections and or are leaving at the end of the year for some other reason. These are the people who supposedly are ready to conside... more »
Dear Deborah, - Bridging Differences - Education Week
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 13 hours ago
- Bridging Differences - Education Week: by Pedro Noguera Dear Deborah, While we're still focused on pushing the Administration to promote a different plan, let's make sure that a commitment to equity is a central part of whatever we do. It is remarkable that despite all the rhetoric about education being the civil rights issue of the 21st century, our leaders make no mention of the need for equity, or conversely, the need to address the profound inequity, that characterizes so much of American education today. Many people do not realize that ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Educat... more »
Are we winning yet? A 365 million deficit this year, $1.1 billion shortfall next year… - Wait, What?
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Are we winning yet? A 365 million deficit this year, $1.1 billion shortfall next year… - Wait, What?: Are we winning yet? A 365 million deficit this year, $1.1 billion shortfall next year… by jonpelto Last year, Governor Malloy raised income taxes only on those making less than $1 million. He left the wealthy completely untouched when it came having to pay higher income rates. Last week he reiterated his commitment to no new taxes. So when it comes to equity, where do we really stand? In Connecticut, since the mid-1990s (adjusted for inflation); Income for the wealthiest 20 pe... more »
Should Elementary Schools Be Modeled After Law Firms? | toteachornototeach
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 14 hours ago
Should Elementary Schools Be Modeled After Law Firms? | toteachornototeach: Should Elementary Schools Be Modeled After Law Firms? by aristotlethewise *Should Elementary Schools Be Modeled After Law Firms? * This past weekend, The Daily Beast held its Innovators Summit in New Orleans, which gathered 300 leading thinkers to discuss big ideas for changing the world. One of the most interesting innovations, according to senior reporter Jacob Bernstein, came from a former lawyer named Rafiq Kalam Id-Din, who has a radical idea for stemming the flood of more than 1 million kids who drop o... more »
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: A Teacher Accused!:When He Said/She Said Turns Ugly!
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: A Teacher Accused!:When He Said/She Said Turns Ugly!: A Teacher Accused!:When He Said/She Said Turns Ugly! by Lisa M I learned about it by accident. I approached my principal about another child and she asked me not to get upset. I wondered why a simple response to a question about a situation with a student, could possibly upset me. And that's when she told me what a student had accused me of. I really think I was in shock, because I nodded, said, "What?", listened to what she was saying, and returned to the workshop I was attending. As the day... more »
Missouri Education Watchdog: College Graduates Find Jobs!
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Missouri Education Watchdog: College Graduates Find Jobs!: College Graduates Find Jobs! by stlgretchen A representative list of jobs college graduates are landing in New Orleans. Wonder if these jobs require college degrees in New Jersey? What types of jobs are college graduates finding these days in New Orleans? Peter Schiff interviews recent graduates about their jobs and college debt. Is a college degree worth the cost? Those pedicab drivers on Bourbon Street sure have a great education. A great job? Not so much. Popout From the Schiff Report: President Obama promotes ... more »
NEA - Crazy Things People Say To Teachers -- And How To Respond
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
NEA - Crazy Things People Say To Teachers -- And How To Respond: Crazy Things People Say To Teachers -- And How To Respond TIRED OF PEOPLE ASSUMING YOUR JOB IS EASY AND YOUR SUMMERS ARE FREE? YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT. *By Cindy Long. Adapted from content by **We Are Teachers* Ah, the holidays. ’Tis the season to gather round the hearth, feast on turkey and pie, and enjoy the company and conversation of loved ones we see but a few times a year. And thank goodness for that! You love them dearly, but it's exhausting fielding all those annoying questions about the teaching profession ... more »
Short Notes: Data Really Does Makes People Feel Comfortable | The Jose Vilson
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
Short Notes: Data Really Does Makes People Feel Comfortable | The Jose Vilson: Short Notes: Data Really Does Makes People Feel Comfortable by Jose “And know where all the exits are.” – Dan Willingham A few notes: - NYC Educator discusses why teachers now more than ever should get a contract, in light of Hurricane Sandy. [NYC Educator] - My main man Prof. Christopher Emdin and rapper The GZA (Wu-Tang) team up for a lesson on science. Wow. [New York Times] - Angela Benton of the NewMeAccelerator speaks on asking the one big question of creating a new
EdX to Offer Exams at the End of Their MOOCs - Technorati Technology
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 16 hours ago
EdX to Offer Exams at the End of Their MOOCs - Technorati Technology: EdX to Offer Exams at the End of Their MOOCs *Author:* Adi Gaskell *Published:* November 18, 2012 at 7:15 am [image: learning at work]I'm a massive fan of the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) that are taking the world by storm. Around a million people have already signed up for free courses from leading universities via the likes of Coursera or edX. Something that was considered a drawback of the MOOCs however was that whilst they made it easy to acquire knowledge, they didn't come with any certification to pr... more »
Ed Notes Online: On Make-Up Days: Dear Mr. Mulgrew
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Ed Notes Online: On Make-Up Days: Dear Mr. Mulgrew: On Make-Up Days: Dear Mr. Mulgrew by ed notes online The strong letter below touches on numerous issues. After the 68 strike they made up days from x-mas vacation and paid doubletime plus extending the day by 45 minutes until all time was made up. I and a friend already had xmas plans so we didn't work those days and we lost that doubletime pay.Dear Mr. Mulgrew: I was somewhat dismayed by your letter stating we must make up days in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. I'm a little shocked the union would conclude this without having eve... more »
Henderson aims to avoid mistakes of Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee school closings - The Washington Post
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Henderson aims to avoid mistakes of Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee school closings - The Washington Post: Henderson aims to avoid mistakes of Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee school closings Katherine Frey/THE WASHINGTON POST - D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson speaks before the D.C. Council and the public about her reasons for proposing to close 20 schools. The public hearing at the Wilson Building on Thursday, November 15, 2012 in Washington, D.C. was the first of several hearings. The second is Monday, November 19, 2012. Buy This Photo - [image: Smaller Tex... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Merit Pay: Thoroughly Tested, Thoroughly Failed
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Merit Pay: Thoroughly Tested, Thoroughly Failed: Merit Pay: Thoroughly Tested, Thoroughly Failed by Duke To some people, like the *Star-Ledger's* Tom Moran, facts are stupid things: A few thoughts on the comments: No one can be sure that this will work, because*merit pay has only been tried in a few places,* and in different ways. It is pioneering stuff, so by its nature, there is not a long track record. But it sure makes intuitive sense, and is in place in almost every other profession, including journalism. So why not try it with teaching? [emphasis mine] In f... more »
newteacher: On the Rise of Pearson (oh, and following the money)
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
newteacher: On the Rise of Pearson (oh, and following the money): On the Rise of Pearson (oh, and following the money) *A long post that is worth a read here on the rise and influence of Pearson and corporate influence in education reform. Take pause, friends. Take pause but feel free to share and post comments here. Thoughts?* * * * * *The Pearson Monopoly *Jennifer Job, *UNC Chapel Hill* If you haven’t heard of Pearson, perhaps you have heard of one of the publishers they own, like Adobe, Scott Foresman, Penguin, Longman, Wharton, Harcourt, Puffin, Prentice Hall, or Allyn & Baco... more »
All Things Education: A project-based loving billionaire with no education expertise is still a billionaire with no education expertise.
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 17 hours ago
All Things Education: A project-based loving billionaire with no education expertise is still a billionaire with no education expertise.: A project-based loving billionaire with no education expertise is still a billionaire with no education expertise. from All Things Education by Rachel Levy Another billionaire is out to reform education. George Lucas has sold Lucasfilm to Disney for $4 billion in cash and stock and plans to spend most of his fortune on education. Lucas is already involved in education with an educational foundation that includes the website *Edutopia*. Lucas's ... more »
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Week of Nov. 19-23
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 18 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools Week of Nov. 19-23: Seattle Schools Week of Nov. 19-23 by Melissa Westbrook A short week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. * No school for elementary and K-8 students for Parent-Teacher conferences *(really? three whole days). Enrollment Services close at noon on Wednesday and *one-hour early dismissal on Wednesday for all students. * Community meeting with Director Patu on Saturday the 24th from 10 am to noon at Caffe Vita, 5028 Wilson Avenue S. I missed this but the district received in October- via the UW Office of Minority A... more »
D.C. vouchers: What you need to know
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
D.C. vouchers: What you need to know: D.C. vouchers: What you need to know Posted by Valerie Strauss on November 18, 2012 at 1:52 pm - [image: Smaller Text] [image: Larger Text] Text Size - Print - Reprints - Share: - - - More » Here are some things you should know about the D.C. school voucher program that House Majority leader John Boehner took on as a personal mission to save. According to this important investigation by my colleagues Lyndsey Layton and Emma Brown: * Hundreds of D.C. student who receive money from the congressionally created program a... more »
Teachers laugh: Visit each fun page of what we and our fellow teachers laugh about each day
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Home Page: Teachers laugh: Visit each fun page of what we and our fellow teachers laugh about each day as we yak, vent, gab, rant, jaw, schmooze, philosophize and share. Updated daily with a little help from you, my humorous friends. * Today's Focus Funny:* ** Current Issues:* Virtual education or corporate scam? Even the New York Times knows the truth. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/03/opinion/virtually-educated.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss *Back to humor:*Please share your ideas with us for any page or category. Everyone needs a good laugh. Share this site with your friends and... more »
Response: Celebrating our Students' Good Writing - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo - Education Week Teacher
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Response: Celebrating our Students' Good Writing - Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo - Education Week Teacher: Response: Celebrating our Students' Good Writing By Larry Ferlazzo on November 18, 2012 1:01 PM ** *(Note: This is the first post in a multi-part series on teaching writing)* Katie Ciresi asked: *What advice can you give to help teachers be more effective in helping students become better writers?* This series is a companion to last year's five posts on Helping Our Students Become Better Readers. I'm "kicking off" with guest responses from three educators: Mary Tedrow, Doug... more »
A Wedding and Some Free Advice | Mr. Teachbad
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
A Wedding and Some Free Advice | Mr. Teachbad: A Wedding and Some Free Advice We went to a wedding yesterday. It was two friends I used to teach with. They met at the school where we worked and found love in a hopeless place. My wife and I don’t go to many weddings anymore. There was a long period where we went to four or five weddings every year. That gradually tapered off and faded into the current era of second weddings and bar mitzvas. This was that rare first wedding of two good friends. Nothin’ better than that. Unless, of course, it doesn’t work out. Then it ca... more »
Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran LOVES My Writing!
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 21 hours ago
Jersey Jazzman: Tom Moran LOVES My Writing!: Tom Moran LOVES My Writing! by Duke Jersey Jazzman, 11/14/12: *So why cheat in a game you already know you're going to win?* Nothing's been proved yet; keep watching. Tom Moran, Star-Ledger Op-Ed Editor, 11/18/12: *If you are winning a game fair and square, why would you cheat to run up the score?* I'm flattered, Tom. Take as many metaphors as you want... (Come one, relax; I'm just kidding. Sort of...) What are we both talking about? The revelation that Robert Treat Academy, long the darling of the charter cheerleaders in New Jerse... more »
Diane in the Evening 11-18-12 Diane Ravitch's blog
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Diane Ravitch's blog: NYC School Policy: Churn, Churn, Churn by dianerav Juan Gonzalez of the New York Daily News doesn’t usually write about education, but when he does, he hits it out of the park. In this article, he interviews parents who can’t understand why their neighborhood school is being closed–again. It was closed and renamed in 2008, now it will be closed and renamed again. The mayor wants to close 36 schools this year. After a full decade of mayoral control, with no one to say no to whatever the mayor wanted, there is another crop of failing schools. And next year the... more »
A City Education: A Post-Sandy Day of Service in Staten Island | Education on GOOD
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
A City Education: A Post-Sandy Day of Service in Staten Island | Education on GOOD: A City Education: A Post-Sandy Day of Service in Staten Island *[image: staten.island]* *In our A City Education series, City Year corps members share their experiences working as tutors and mentors in schools in hopes of closing the opportunity gap and ending the dropout crisis.* "Why I serve" statements are an important aspect of City Year culture. At the beginning of the school year, corps members are asked to provide statements explaining why we choose to dedicate a year of service in schools. ... more »
Democurmudgeon: Walker's "Red State" push opposite Presidential Election Results. Education Big Target Again.
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Democurmudgeon: Walker's "Red State" push opposite Presidential Election Results. Education Big Target Again.: Walker's "Red State" push opposite Presidential Election Results. Education Big Target Again. by Democurmudgeon With a super majority in the state legislature, any talk of bipartisanship or compromise is ridiculous and frustrating for me to watch. Democratic talk has centered on cooperation and "reaching across the aisle." This is what I've seen in every media interview so far, and I’m hoping that at some time we stop giving Republicans the benefit of the doubt. It makes... more »
Teachers Don't Suck !: My First Time!
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Teachers Don't Suck !: My First Time!: My First Time! by Walt S. I read about the Newark teacher's settlement today in the Ledger. One of the statements made was "implementing a system known as merit pay for the first time in New Jersey". I beg to differ! Way back in 1965 when I first began teaching I worked at New Providence High School in Union County as a chemistry teacher. At that time there was a "merit pay" system in place. I was not part of it because it
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Correcting the Times
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Correcting the Times: Correcting the Times by Melissa Westbrook [image: Corporate Media = Corporate Lies] Correcting the Times gets tiresome but they just don't seem to want to get it right and/or be truthful. Today there is a wag-of-the finger editorial to Inslee, et al. about the passage of 1240. The Times should not be telling Inslee what to do given how roundly they denounced him as a candidate. That said, I-1240 does put quite the rush on the State Board of Education to get its work done under 1240 as well as Inslee, Chopp and Lt. Governor... more »
NYC Educator: Open Letter to UFT President
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
NYC Educator: Open Letter to UFT President: Open Letter to UFT President by NYC Educator Dear Mr. Mulgrew: I was somewhat dismayed by your letter stating we must make up days in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. I’m a little shocked the union would conclude this without having even consulted rank and file. This, however, is not at all my only concern. First of all, there has been very public talk of relaxing the minimum attendance requirement statewide. We certainly ought to be open to that, and examine our options before simply agreeing to Chancellor Walcott's very public pronouncemen... more »
Part 3: High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Variables | Parents Across America
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Part 3: High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Variables | Parents Across America: Part 3: High Stakes Testing and Opting Out: The Variables by DoraTaylor *The Variables* High stakes testing has ramifications including ending careers and affecting communities by closing schools. Hence, we need to look carefully at the variables that might affect a student’s performance on a test. Teachers and principals do not work in a vacuum. They have students with lives outside school. Students live in a real world. The real world affects how they behave and their ability to focus in class. T... more »
Action for the Week of Thanksgiving: Donate to the Hurricane Sandy Student & Teacher Support Fund | United Opt Out National
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 22 hours ago
Action for the Week of Thanksgiving: Donate to the Hurricane Sandy Student & Teacher Support Fund | United Opt Out National: Action for the Week of Thanksgiving: Donate to the Hurricane Sandy Student & Teacher Support Fund by admin Bess Altwerger of Save our Schools has initiated a fund to support students and teachers affected by Hurricane Sandy. Please read the *call to action* and donate now: *Save Our Schools* calls on all local, state and federal authorities to spare no expense in rushing aide to thousands of school children and teachers affected by hurricane Sandy. The de... more »
More on Digital Dualism | Ideas and Thoughts
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 23 hours ago
More on Digital Dualism | Ideas and Thoughts: More on Digital Dualism by Dean Shareski I continue to think about what is it that we struggle with as we consider mediated relationships, aka digital dualism. The following can be seen as a draft of challenges I hear and some attempt to respond to them and provide more fodder for discussion than simply a simplistic view of bad or good. This is not a zero-sum game. Complaint #1*Kids today expect immediate and constant feedback and connection. * Think back to the days just before the telephone. The only way to maintain a relationship ... more »
Did Obama Steal the Election? (No.) « Student Activism
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
Did Obama Steal the Election? (No.) « Student Activism: Did Obama Steal the Election? (No.) by Angus Johnston There’s a conspiracy theory going around the right-wing blogosphere that says that Obama “stole” votes in heavily Democratic precincts in heavily Democratic cities in heavily Democratic states. Why he’d do this isn’t clear — the electoral college chooses the president, so a few extra votes in states that are in the bag aren’t going to change the outcome — but the drum is being beaten louder and louder. It’s “evidence of massive voter fraud” that “could have impacted the e... more »
How do we entice great teachers to move to remote rural schools? | Get Schooled
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
How do we entice great teachers to move to remote rural schools? | Get Schooled: How do we entice great teachers to move to remote rural schools? by Maureen Downey How do we get great teachers to move to rural areas? (Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com) [image: How do we get great teachers to move to rural areas? (Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com)]In the Sunday paper today, the AJC takes a look at rural schools in a well researched package AJC reporter Jaime Sarrio spent time in Wilcox County and other rural school districts interviewing educators, officials and parents. She also ... more »
'Lost art' of cursive writing concerns parents - NorthJersey.com
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
'Lost art' of cursive writing concerns parents - NorthJersey.com: 'Lost art' of cursive writing concerns parents SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2012, 9:29 AM BY TATIANA SCHLOSSBERG STAFF WRITER THE RECORD PAGES: 1 2 3 > DISPLAY ON ONE PAGE | PRINT | E-MAIL Even though the Declaration of Independence is written in cursive — and signatures, typically scrawled in script, are still required as legal identification — many schoolchildren throughout the country are no longer being taught how to write the flowing characters people have used for centuries. [image: Fifty students signed up for the Cursi... more »
What Students Actually Want in Their School « Cooperative Catalyst
coopmike48 at Big Education Ape - 1 day ago
What Students Actually Want in Their School « Cooperative Catalyst: What Students Actually Want in Their School by Tara S Over the summer, when David Loitz sent out a request for Imaging Learning Listening Session planners, I said, “Why not?” and agreed to organize one. Months later, after numerous emails back and forth between David, Charles Kouns (the founder of Imagining Learning) and Mr. Bo Adams (my old teacher, who was helping me put it all together), I filled out my consent to be recorded form and knew that the day was finally here. On November 15, I arrived at Unboundary for... more »
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