NEA President Dennis Van Roekel Kicks off American Education Week | NEA Today

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel Kicks off American Education Week | NEA Today:

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel Kicks off American Education Week

November 19, 2013 by twalker  
Filed under Featured News, Top Stories

By Anita Merina

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel travelled to Washington State to kick off the 92^nd year of American Education Week, celebrating and honoring the hard work of public school educators and students.

Joined by Washington Education Association President Kim Mead, President Van Roekel embarked on a whirlwind day of visits that not only showcased the staff-led, student-centered transformation of school recipients of federal School Improvement Grants (SIG) but also demonstrated what will be lost as SIG funding ends.

Each school received a banner from WEA and NEA celebrating the school as a high performing Priority School as well as a $500 check from the NEA for the school library.

“We are so honored to be part of the kickoff of American Education Week, because these schools show what can happen when the union works with the school and district, the educators work as a team, and the community is included in the effort to meet the needs of every student,” says Mead.

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel talks to educators at Totem Middle School in Marysville, Washington.

For Van Roekel, the national kickoff and AEW tour was about collecting the stories of members who were transforming schools to meet the needs of their students and the challenges they faced. “These are the stories I will take on the road with me.”

The day began in Marysville with a visit to Totem Middle School where they were greeted by Marysville Education Association President Arden Watson and joined by State Rep. John McCoy and Superintendent Becky Berg.

McCoy, a Tulalip tribal leader praised the work of the school staff and urged staff to talk to their legislators. “We must fully fund education,” said McCoy, a point echoed by Marysville Superintendent Becky Berg.  “Your schools demonstrate what happens when we add funding to the already rich creative ideas staff have to help all students succeed.”

The middle school used its federal dollars to increase professional development, adding an extra 45 minutes per day to personal-planning time. Staff also extended student-learning time by 30 minutes. This 

The price of testing | Edwize

The price of testing | Edwize:

The price of testing

 

Miss Education is in her second year teaching 4^th grade in the Bronx. This year, she’s found herself deeply affected by the challenge of seeing her students struggle with standardized tests.

In early October, I had to administer yet another pre-assessment to my students. I understood that my students were starting to feel frustrated and uncomfortable with all of this pre-testing going on, so I really tried to make it as painless as possible. I explained what had been explained to me. I said, “These tests will not affect your grade; the purpose is to help me, as your teacher, see how much information you know.” I explained that the results of these tests would help me be a better teacher because I’d know what I need to focus on with them.

The test was 90 minutes. It had five constructed response questions — all of which were worded in a way that was more complex than necessary, making the questions confusing and even awkward to read. Nonetheless, my students trusted me, so they accepted the pre-tests with an eager smile and a look of consent.

Ten minutes in, I started to see a lot of worried and insecure faces. After some more time, I heard paper rustling as if someone were madly flipping through the pages of a book. I scanned the classroom and noticed Adam. Adam was flipping through his test aggressively. His face was pale. Next thing I knew, Adam was waving the whole test packet in the air violently.  I nearly ran over to him to intervene.

As soon as I put my hands on his shoulder, Adam stopped waving the paper. “Hey, hey, hey! Relax, relax,” I said. I told him to stop and take a breather, to put his head down and take a break. Tears

- See more at: http://www.edwize.org/the-price-of-testing#sthash.FJEUSrF8.dpuf

Bill Ayers and the Radical “Spark”: Past and Present | Dissident Voice

Bill Ayers and the Radical “Spark”: Past and Present | Dissident Voice:

Bill Ayers and the Radical “Spark”: Past and Present

by Alan Wieder / November 19th, 2013

“They just don’t get it.” Yes, the phrase is overused, yet, all too appropriate when addressing the continuing critiques, from both the left and the right, of Bill Ayers. The recent publication of the second phase of his memoir, Public Enemy: Confessions of An American Dissident (Beacon, 2013), was followed on the “SDS and ‘60s Leftists” page of Facebook by an un-thoughtful conversation on Ayers, his comrade and wife Bernardine Dohrn, and the Weather Underground (WO). Facilitated by George Fish and responding to a negative book review by Jon Wiener, 43 comments followed Fish’s post. Mostly sour, bitter, and ahistorical in tone, the comments provide the antithesis of Ayers’ book and life, that of learning from the past and continuing, in a human and life affirming way, the ongoing struggle that began for Ayers in the civil rights movement, antiwar movement, Students for a Democratic Society, and then the Weather Underground.

When confronted by a radio interviewer who referred to the sub-title as snide, Ayers softly replied that the entire title was chosen for its irony. Missing both the breadth and depth of Public Enemy, the interviewer as well as Wiener and other critics fail to acknowledge the thoughtfulness and energy that Ayers brings to struggle, both past and present. In this particular book, we alternate between the author’s recollections of first, his experience in the 2008 attempt to demonize Barack Obama because he “palled around with terrorists,” and, 

11-19-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG Common Core and Student Success: What Parents Can Do — Whole Child Education

Common Core and Student Success: What Parents Can Do — Whole Child Education:

Push Back on the Push Down

Push Back on the Push Down November 19, 2013 by Angela Eckhoff A high-quality early education is capable much more than can be measured by a test score; early childhood experiences that build upon children's interest and sense of wonder will also serve to inspire children to better understand themselves as learners and promote deeper understandings of their world. This post has been generate

1h 

Common Core and Student Success: What Parents Can Do

Today, as we look at the importance of parental involvement in education—as part of American Education Week's Parents Day—it is important to consider the role parents play in the Common Core State Standards' success. Like most other education initiatives, the Common Core will need a team of committed individuals, starting at home with the parents, to ensure its success. The Common Core standards,

by Kristen Pekarek / 29min skip  //  save

Use the Common Core to Focus on Integrity

The Common Core State Standards aren't an enemy. They're a smart way of saying to the public, "This is where education is going. This is what your child needs to know and be able to do as a future worker, citizen, and leader." To that end, the Common Core standards are helping to advance what we already know to be solid, holistic learning for our schools. This includes providing teacher

by Paula Mirk / 29min 

11-18-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG Raise Your Hand, It's American Education Week

Raise Your Hand, It's American Education Week — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGRaise Your Hand, It’s American Education WeekNovember 18, 2013 by Kristen PekarekThis week—November 18–22—whole child partner National Education Association, along with partners National Parent Teacher Association, American Association of School Administrators, National School Boards Association,American Sch

by mike simpson / 20h 

Pop Your Collar For Parent-Teacher Conferences [New York Times] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson

Pop Your Collar For Parent-Teacher Conferences [New York Times] - The Jose Vilson | The Jose Vilson:

Pop Your Collar For Parent-Teacher Conferences [New York Times]

by JOSE VILSON on NOVEMBER 19, 2013

in MR. VILSON

A few weeks ago, I was invited to write for New York Times’ Room for Debate, a special web section of the Times dedicated to debating intense subjects of the week. This one was dedicated to parent-teacher conferences. I wrote:

Critics call it a waste of time, of course. They argue that only the “good” students’ parents participate, and so there’s not much to discuss. They are of the opinion that only parents of “bad” kids should be invited.

But we shouldn’t look at these meetings as a way to reform our children. They simply provide the face-to-face element of a longer conversation, which starts with a letter to every child’s home, works its way through progress reports and the occasional phone call with parents, and ends with a report card.

To read more, click here. Share and comment. This is especially appropriate since mine starts in about 20 minutes. Thank you for your support!

Mr. Vilson

*** photo c/o http://www.nea.org/home/40927.htm ***

- See more at: http://thejosevilson.com/pop-collar-parent-teacher-conferences-new-york-times/#sthash.1sqebF33.dpuf

solidaridad: Recolonizing Our Classrooms: The Race and Class Hypocrisy of Corporate Education Reform

solidaridad: Recolonizing Our Classrooms: The Race and Class Hypocrisy of Corporate Education Reform:

Recolonizing Our Classrooms: The Race and Class Hypocrisy of Corporate Education Reform

DIVERSITY FORUM THEME

Unequal by Design: Schooling the Poor and Students of Color 

in Today's Public Schools and Universities

November 20, 2013

3 – 5pm: Faculty & Grad Student Panel

Academic Senate Chambers

Panel of Faculty, Students, and Activists Speak on

"The Privatization of Public Higher Education"

6pm - 8pm: Campus–Wide Forum & Keynote

Titan Student Union

Student Performances

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Wayne Au, Assistant Professor at 

University of Washington, Bothell 

"Recolonizing Our Classrooms: 

The Race and Class Hypocrisy of Corporate Education Reform"

Wayne Au is an Associate Professor at the University of Washington, Bothell and an editor for the social justice education magazine, Rethinking Schools. A former public high school history and language arts teacher, Au's work focuses broadly on teaching for social justice, multicultural education, and critical education theory. Most recently his work has focused on the race and class implications of high-stakes testing and other aspects of corporate education reform.

------------------------------------------------

Co-Organized by: Researchers and Critical Educators (RACE) and the Los Angeles Regional Network (LA-RN) 

of the California Chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education (CA-NAME)

Sponsoring Organizations: 

Chicana & Chicano Resource Center (CRC), College of Education (COE), Reading Department, Department of Secondary Education, Department of Special Education, Elementary & Bilingual Education Department, Educational Leadership Department

More information:  www.CaliforniaNAME.org

Unequal by Design: Schooling the Poor and Students of Color in Today's Public Schools and Universities by Robert D. Skeels

11-18-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

Seattle Police Clear Mann Building

This just in from the Central District News:Seattle Police say they have made arrests and are searching the building as groups occupying the Horace Mann school are being cleared from the Seattle Public Schools property on E Cherry near 23rd.SPD says that three four adult males were arrested as police continue to search the building after entering the barricaded facility Tuesday afternoon.CDN is re

by Melissa Westbrook / 59min 

Where Were You That Day?

There is quite a lot of talk leading up to Friday, November 22, 2013 as the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  Many news outlets are asking, "What do you remember of that day?" and I realized that most of the readers of this blog were likely not even born then.  I can tell what I remember as a very small child. I was with my mother in the town general mercantile s

by Melissa Westbrook / 16min 

Tuesday Open Thread

 From the Central District News, a trailer was released for a film, One Square Mile, that was shot throughout Seattle including Garfield High School.   Many recognizable sights and yay! Garfield. I learned that there is a subtropical storm brewing over the Central Atlantic about 600 miles off Bermuda. Melissa is showing signs of developing a tighter core of convection (thunderstorms) close to its

by Melissa Westbrook / 1h 

11-18-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Board Meeting Ramps UpFirst, there will be a meeting - called by the Superintendent - for discussion around renovating T.T. Minor to be the new home for World School.  The meeting is tomorrow night, Monday the 18th, at JSCEE at 5:30 pm.I'm not sure what form the discussion will take.  The issue is two-fold.  One, World School has been consistently ignored by the di

by mike simpson / 56min 

Sacramento Mark Hopkins/Meadowview Community Survey Results! Hmong Innovating Politics

Hmong Innovating Politics:

Mark Hopkins/Meadowview Community Survey Results!

2 notes

Common Core confusion: Why a misunderstood reform needs crisis management | Hechinger Report

Common Core confusion: Why a misunderstood reform needs crisis management | Hechinger Report:

Common Core confusion: Why a misunderstood reform needs crisis management

By Liz Willen

The Common Core needs a public relations makeover — quickly.

In the last few days, the new set of tougher math and English language standards for grades K-12 has suffered a spate of bad publicity that could undermine its very purpose — and turn off an already skeptical public.

(Photo: Sarah Garland)

Never mind that there is still plenty of confusion about theCommon Core with its uniform set of skills and knowledge aimed at elevating teaching and learning, already adopted by 46 states and the District of Columbia.

Instead, as is often the case in education, a bad combination of politics, protest and pontification is obscuring the core’s laudable purpose, which is to increase critical thinking and problem-solving skills, better prepare students for colleges and careers — and keep the U.S. globally competitive.

On Monday, parents in several states mounted a protest against the Common Core that kept children home from school.

New York State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. finds himself shouted down at forums throughout New York State and has become a lightning rod for parents and teachers angry about linking the standards to tougher tests without better training, materials and time to prepare.

Instead, as is often the case in education, a bad combination of politics, protest and pontification is obscuring the core’s laudable purpose, which is to increase critical thinking and problem-solving skills, better prepare students for colleges and careers — and keep the U.S. globally competitive.

And U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is on the defensive, backtracking for “clumsy phrasing,’’ that appeared tocriticize parents who worry about their children’s lower tes

New Report Shows How Test-and-Punish Texas Miracle Damaged Lives of 3 El Paso Teens | janresseger

New Report Shows How Test-and-Punish Texas Miracle Damaged Lives of 3 El Paso Teens | janresseger:

New Report Shows How Test-and-Punish Texas Miracle Damaged Lives of 3 El Paso Teens

Posted on November 19, 2013 by janresseger

In the early years after the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, we were told the law was going to bring the Texas Miracle to the whole country.  Supposedly, through the imposition of standardized testing—with serious consequences for schools and educators who failed quickly to raise scores—schools across the United States would raise expectations for students, thereby improving academic achievement and closing achievement gaps among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups of students.

In The Children Left Behind, Debbie Nathan tells the stories of Sonia, Yanderier, and Leo, three students who were counseled out of Bowie High School in El Paso, Texas when school administrators predicted their TAKS scores (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) would be low, and would diminish the overall test scores by which their schools were to be rated.

As early as 2003, reporters, here and here, began questioning whether touted gains in Houston’s test scores were real.  In 2008, Linda McNeil, a professor at Rice University, published a scholarly, peer-reviewed study, Avoidable Losses: High-Stakes Accountability and the Dropout Crisis, of the practice of pushing students out of school.  She described rigid 

Is the Common Core Becoming a Fiasco? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

Is the Common Core Becoming a Fiasco? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Is the Common Core Becoming a Fiasco?

By Anthony Cody on November 19, 2013 8:18 AM

After listening to one of my favorite episodes of This American Life, devoted to the concept of fiasco,   I am wondering if perhaps what we have with high stakes testing and the Common Core project is a fiasco on a grand scale.

To begin, let's review the core elements of a fiasco, according to This American Life host Ira Glass.

The fiasco begins with a grand idea, planned with a bold vision. People set their sights on a goal beyond any they have ever achieved before. They look at failed efforts of the past, attempted by lesser beings, and decide that nobody before was as smart or capable, or felt the urgency they possess. The fiasco thus begins with high hopes and bold projections. But things do not go as planned.

The first story in the Fiasco episode tells the story of an ill-fated production of Peter Pan. On this occasion, an amateur production goes awry when those operating the wired flying apparatus are unable to control the actors, who careen wildly about, crashing into the set. The audience, at first breathless and sympathetic, begins to realize this is no ordinary performance, and loses their ability 

UPDATE: FCMAT » Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, November 19, 2013

FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team:

Oakland charter school battle rages

Education Headlines 

FCMAT provides links to California K-12 news stories as a service to the industry. However, some stories may not be accessible because of newspapers' subscription policies.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Wasco names new superintendent

The Wasco Union Elementary School District has promoted director of categorical programs Kelly Richers to superintendent.

Oxnard school board OKs 1.5 percent raise for employees

The board approved an across-the-board salary increase of 1.5 percent for employees. For many employees, the raise is retroactive to July 1.

Common Core may change path to math

Traditionally, U.S. students studied algebra and geometry in compartmentalized courses starting with algebra 1, then proceeding to geometry and algebra 2. But as schools get ready for the Common Core standards, which officially take effect in the 2014-15 school year, officials must decide whether to stick with this system or use an integrated model.

Teacher who helped gay students sues Hesperia Unified to reclaim job

The teacher who helped high schoolers blow the whistle on administrators' treatment of gay students says she was fired in retaliation and is suing to get her job back.

San Fernando Valley charter schools unite to form advocacy council

After a change in Los Angeles Unified’s funding policy sent their numbers soaring, the 42 affiliated charter schools in the San Fernando Valley have formed an official council that will work as a bloc to communicate with district officials.

Vallejo: Apache mascot at high school may be changed

The Vallejo City Unified School District administration will recommend Wednesday that the school board approve changing the mascot of its namesake high school.

Banks: L.A. school board's us-versus-them dynamic doesn't help students

The polarizing question has become: Which poor children matter most in a district that can't call on much of a middle class?

Oakland charter school battle rages

Depending on who's talking, Oakland's charter school are filling the demands of parents for educational options or devastating an already cash-strapped school district. In reality, both are true. And that reality is setting up a battle between those wanting to open up even more charters and local critics,

Monday, November 18, 2013

Sonora Elementary readies for bond work

The Sonora School District Board of Trustees approved the first phase of the district's $8.8 million campus modernization project at its Wednesday evening meeting.

Long Beach Unified to open high school with hospitality and tourism focus

Just months after the opening of McBride High, Long Beach's first new public high school in 18 years, plans are moving forward on another new public high school in the city.

Coachella Valley High won't cast off Arab mascot

Coachella Valley High School will keep the “Arab” name, but the east valley school district will discuss revisions to the campus mascot with a national anti-discrimination group.

Capo OK's deal for $51 million school in Rancho Mission Viejo

Capistrano Unified School District trustees have approved a deal with Rancho Mission Viejo LLC for the company to provide land and pay for a majority of the building costs for a $51 million K-8 school in its newest housing development.

San Ysidro tries to limit testimony

Lawyers for the San Ysidro School District filed several motions last week in an $18 million lawsuit over solar installations, attempting to exclude any mention of cash handoffs, burning of district records or criminal charges against officials.

Vallejo district recommends changing school's Apache mascot

A Northern California school district is recommending that its main high school’s Apache mascot be changed. The Apache, adopted decades ago, has long been a sensitive issue for Vallejo High School, and altering it has been raised several times over the years, according to the Vallejo Times Herald. The matter will be decided at the board’s Wednesday meeting.

McRae: Education reform through the courts and why it’s necessary

In California – and in many other states – the Legislature has proven devastatingly ineffective at ensuring equal educational opportunity in our public schools and protecting the fundamental rights of students.

Happy American Education Week! | Lily's Blackboard

Happy American Education Week! | Lily's Blackboard:

Raise Your Hand for Students this American Education Week

NEA's vicepresident Lily Eskelsen García kicked off our celebration of American Education Week. Join us as we celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education.

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   Kit Carson Elementary School, Las Vegas

   NEA PUBLIC RELATIONS

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   6 DAYS AGO
2.  Happy American Education Week! | Lily's Blackboard: