Monday, November 25, 2013

Nite Cap 11-25-13 #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

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National Day of Action December 9th | WeArePCAPS
National Day of Action December 9th | WeArePCAPS: National Day of Action December 9th
9min 
National Governors Association Pushes for Third-Grade Reading Proficiency |
National Governors Association Pushes for Third-Grade Reading Proficiency |: National Governors Association Pushes for Third-Grade Reading ProficiencyNovember 25, 2013 by Alyssa HaywoodePhoto: Alessandra Hartkopf for Strategies for Children“The time is now to redesign this country’s approach to language and literacy instruction, and governors who choose to can lead the charge,” according to the National Governors Association (NGA) report, “A Governor’s Guide to Early Literacy: Getting all Students Reading by Third Grade.”Acknowledging the fact that only one-third of America’s fourth graders ar
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TODAY

Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions a Bad Teacher | deutsch29
Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions a Bad Teacher | deutsch29: Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions a Bad TeacherNovember 25, 2013I teach. I blog. I speak publicly. I advocate. I advise. I counsel.Not much time left for reading for pleasure.However, from the very opening paragraphs of John Owens’ firsthand account of the contemporary, reform-beaten American classroom, Confessions of a Bad Teach
by mike simpson / 2h 
11-25-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions of a Bad TeacherI teach. I blog. I speak publicly. I advocate. I advise. I counsel. Not much time left for reading for pleasure. However, from the very opening paragraphs of John Owens’ firsthand account of the contemporary, reform-beaten American classroom, Confessions of a Bad Teacher, I was hooked: After we read the section of Homer’s The O
by mike simpson / 2h 
WTF: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement (for $89,995) - The Washington Post
Q&A: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement - The Washington Post: Q&A: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement Earlier this year, a D.C. government agency paid a Chicago consulting firm $89,995 to participate in a one-day parent-engagement conference. The agency used D.C. tax dollars to pay the fee — which included a half-hour keynote speech, three 45-minute parent wo
by mike simpson / 2h 
I Am A Scientist - STEM Education and Life Science Careers
I Am A Scientist - STEM Education and Life Science CareersTo inspire youth about the benefits of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and promote career opportunities in the life science industry, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the California Department of Education, The California Endowment, California Biotechnology Foundation and Lybba developed this film.
by mike simpson / 3h 
Keep fighting for public education – or face the consequences that other countries are facing NOW. | Reclaim Reform
Keep fighting for public education – or face the consequences that other countries are facing NOW. | Reclaim Reform: Keep fighting for public education – or face the consequences that other countries are facing NOW.Posted on November 25, 2013by Ken PrevitiKeep fighting for public education – or face the consequences that other countries are facing NOW.This is NOT about active and retired teacher p
by mike simpson / 3h 
NYC Public School Parents: Parents Demand More Accountability in the Appointment of Members of the Board of Regents
NYC Public School Parents: Parents Demand More Accountability in the Appointment of Members of the Board of Regents: Parents Demand More Accountability in the Appointment of Members of the Board of RegentsFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 25, 2013More information contact: Eric Mihelbergel (716) 553-1123; nys.allies@gmail.comLisa Rudley (917) 414-9190; nys.allies@gmail.comNYS Allies for Public Educa
by mike simpson / 3h 
Common Core’s Role in Building Global Competencies | NEA Today
Common Core’s Role in Building Global Competencies | NEA Today: Common Core’s Role in Building Global CompetenciesNovember 25, 2013 by egraham  Filed under Common Core State Standards, Featured News, Top StoriesLeave a CommentBy Edward GrahamAs schools and districts across the country begin to implement the Common Core State Standards,experts say that a focus on global learning must be a key compo
by mike simpson / 3h 
ENGAGE! A Need for a Common Definition | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights
ENGAGE! A Need for a Common Definition | LFA: Join The Conversation - Public School Insights: ENGAGE! A Need for a Common DefinitionBy National PTA on November 25, 2013By Sherri Wilson, Senior Manager of Family and Community Engagement, National PTAThis week, one of our state PTA leaders contacted the National PTA office to ask for a simple definition of family engagement. This reminded me of one
by mike simpson / 3h 
The Federal Student Aid Program Is Breaking Its Promise to the Poor - Theodore R. Johnson - The Atlantic
The Federal Student Aid Program Is Breaking Its Promise to the Poor - Theodore R. Johnson - The Atlantic: The Federal Student Aid Program Is Breaking Its Promise to the PoorStudents from households with more than $100,000 in income received more federal aid in recent years than those from households with less than $20,000 in income.THEODORE R. JOHNSONNOV 25 2013, 1:39 PM ET One hundred dollars.Thi
by mike simpson / 3h 
The Movement Against Testing in Schools -- New York Magazine
The Movement Against Testing in Schools -- New York Magazine: The Opt-OutersWhat happens if enough New York parents say they don’t want their kids to take tests?Add CommentBy Robert Kolker Published Nov 24, 2013 ShareThisFamilies and teachers protesting high-stakes testing in front of the offices of the Department of Education in April.  (Photo: Greg Dunkel)More than a year before 7-year-old Oscar
by mike simpson / 4h 
Two States Delay Fully Implementing PARCC | Truth in American Education
Two States Delay Fully Implementing PARCC | Truth in American Education: Two States Delay Fully Implementing PARCCFiled in Common Core Assessments by Shane Vander Hart on November 25, 2013 • 0 Comments9Two states last week made moves to address Common Core concerns, specifically the implementation of the PARCC assessment.Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White announced a 10-year plan whi
by mike simpson / 5h 
3 Ways Districts Can Pay For Special Education Students: Report
3 Ways Districts Can Pay For Special Education Students: Report: 3 Ways Districts Can Pay For Special Education Students: ReportPosted: 11/25/2013 12:59 pm EST  |  Updated: 11/25/2013 1:21 pm ESTWith the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act floating in legislative limbo, a conservative think tank is providing states and school districts with alternative ways to pay for special education.Acc
by mike simpson / 5h 
Native American, American Indian or Indian?
Native American, American Indian or Indian? « MomsRising Blog: "And I told them not to dig for uranium, for if they did, the children would die. They didn't listen, they didn't listen, they didn't listen to me.And I told them if the children die, there would be no keepers of the land. They didn't listen.And I told them if they destroy the sky, machines would come and soon destroy the land. Th
by mike simpson / 5h 
In the News: Vallas' firm urged closings, teacher layoffs | catalyst-chicago.org
In the News: Vallas' firm urged closings, teacher layoffs | catalyst-chicago.org: In the News: Vallas' firm urged closings, teacher layoffsBy: Cassandra West / November 25, 2013Tags: Paul VallasLast summer, in a little-publicized $311,000 consulting deal with the Illinois State Board of Education, former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas who is now Gov. Pat Quinn’s newly named running mate offered a
by mike simpson / 5h 
‘Did You Grow Up Around Black People?’ | EduShyster
‘Did You Grow Up Around Black People?’ | EduShyster: ‘Did You Grow Up Around Black People?’ My year working for “America’s Most Trusted Educator”By Ebony Murphy-RootFolks in the national media are just beginning to take note of Dr. Steve Perry’s colorfully threatening metaphors and heated ‘no excuses’ rhetoric, but during my year as a teacher at Capital Prep, the school Perry runs in Hartford, CT,
by mike simpson / 5h 
Best Walmart Video
Best Walmart Video:JOHNSONBest Walmart VideoNOVEMBER 25, 2013Show this one at Thanksgiving!!See What’s Walmart’s Business Secret? at the AFL-CIO blog.The six Walton heirs own about 50% of the company and have a combined wealth of $142 billion. This means they have more wealth than 42% of all Americans combined.Connect the dots: This stock is worth so much partly because taxpayers subsidize Walmart
by mike simpson / 6h 
Cali Education Headlines Monday, November 25, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: California switches testing plans, but may still risk losing $3.5 billion in federal fundsEducation HeadlinesMonday, November 25, 2013FCMAT 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.San Luis Coastal district may spend $1
by mike simpson / 6h 
Talent Transfer Initiative: A new education experiment finds that merit pay can work.
Talent Transfer Initiative: A new education experiment finds that merit pay can work.: What Happens When Great Teachers Get $20,000 to Work in Low-Income Schools?17614541Results.By Dana GoldsteinTeacher merit pay. It’s one of those perennially popular policy ideas that, historically, hasn’t worked very well.A few years ago, New York City offered teachers in select schools $3,000 if the entire scho
by mike simpson / 7h 
11-25-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - Be #ASCDThankful Tonight — Whole Child Education
Be #ASCDThankful Tonight — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGBe #ASCDThankful TonightNovember 25, 2013 by ASCD Whole Child BloggersWhat are you thankful for this school year? Join @wholechildadv and @ASCD Monday, November 25, at 8 p.m., eastern time, for a Twitter chat with fellow educators entirely devoted to gratitude and giving thanks. 11-21-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - Getting Local Comm
by mike simpson / 7h 
11-25-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Education News RoundupLocally (and thanks to reader Carolyn), news from Real Change newspaper about getting food to needy students for the weekends.  While the kids of John Hay Elementary School play outside, LaRock carries bags of food into classrooms and surreptitiously slips them into the backpacks of 15 kids at the 500-student school on Queen Anne Hill. Each ba
by mike simpson / 7h 
Sometimes more is really less
Reflections on Teaching » Blog Archive » Sometimes more is really less: Sometimes more is really lessSample Items | Smarter Balanced Assessment ConsortiumThe item above comes from a sample item on the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) website, and it’s supposed to assess the writing  of an argument (what used to be called persuasive writing). Click on the image to get a larger view to
by mike simpson / 7h 
Is Robo-Grading Driving the Design of Common Core Tests? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher
Is Robo-Grading Driving the Design of Common Core Tests? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher: Is Robo-Grading Driving the Design of Common Core Tests?By Anthony Cody on November 25, 2013 9:44 AMAs we read of the 17 states across the country where a strong backlash has grown against Common Core, my own state of California is conspicuous by its absence. California has yet to see a strong r
by mike simpson / 7h 
Morning Wink 11-25-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTS mark as readToday: Education Moments Twitter Chat Student VoiceStudent Voice: Today: Education Moments Twitter Chat  This Monday at 8:30pmEST, the #StuVoice Twitter chat will be about our favorite education moments. We all have moments in our schooling that have shaped us, for better or for worse. This week’s chat aims to reflect and share these deep mome
by mike simpson / 8h 
Today: Education Moments Twitter Chat Student Voice
Student Voice: Today: Education Moments Twitter Chat  This Monday at 8:30pmEST, the #StuVoice Twitter chat will be about our favorite education moments. We all have moments in our schooling that have shaped us, for better or for worse. This week’s chat aims to reflect and share these deep moments. Whether you’re a student who has memories of your friends, a teacher who has had a significant turn
by mike simpson / 8h 
Common Core Debate Is Really Just Another Chapter of Test-and-Punish | janresseger
Common Core Debate Is Really Just Another Chapter of Test-and-Punish | janresseger: Common Core Debate Is Really Just Another Chapter of Test-and-PunishPosted on November 25, 2013 by janressegerThe debate about the Common Core Standards and the Common Core tests is not really about whether our public school curriculum ought to be more uniform and perhaps more challenging from place to place. That
by mike simpson / 8h 
11-25-13 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: Brace yourself: Pearson has a ‘new global education strategy’Pearson, the largest education company in the world, has “a  new global education strategy.” What exactly is it? Cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham explains in this post. Willingham is a professor and director of graduate studies in psychology at the University of Virginia and author of “Why Don’t Students Like Schoo
by mike simpson / 8h 
11-25-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Common Core's Myriad Corporate ConnectionsMorna McDermott: Flow Chart Exposes Common Core's Myriad Corporate ConnectionsThe friends of my enemies are not my friends. I can't find the AFT/UFT and NEA connections on this chart. Where would you put them on this chart? Where there is the biggest chance to get a brown nose. Here is Morna McDermott on the video version: Walking the Laby
by mike simpson / 8h 
11-25-13 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: Privatized Custodial Services Bring Corporate Windfalls and Dirty Schools to MemphisSince school fragmentation consolidation went into effect in Shelby County (Memphis) Schools, the lawyers in charge of SCS have been trying to save every dime they can to pay for the $212 million dollar donut hole created to pay for corporate welfare charter reform schools for the urban poor. Part o
by mike simpson / 8h 
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What Vallas did in North Chicago
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: What Vallas did in North Chicago: What Vallas did in North Chicago“Vallas ushered in an era of massive expansion of standardized testing; the privatization of public schools through outsourcing and charter school expansion; and the devastating policy of school turnarounds, which resulted in the firing of scores of black and veteran teachers,” Lewis said after Vallas
by mike simpson / 9h 
State Supreme Court: Governor had legal authority to oust six... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com
State Supreme Court: Governor had legal authority to oust six... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: State Supreme Court: Governor had legal authority to oust six DeKalb school board members COMMENT(9) 2 16 45 67View Larger KENT D. JOHNSON / AJCFormer Dekalb School Board chairman Eugene Walker looks towards spectators as Dr Mark Elgart, President and CEO of AdvanceEd, parent company of SACS, testifies o
by mike simpson / 9h 
Many school districts are giving their report cards a facelift for Common Core | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC
Many school districts are giving their report cards a facelift for Common Core | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC: Many school districts are giving their report cards a facelift for Common CoreAdolfo Guzman-Lopez | November 25th, 2013, 6:00amAdolfo Guzman-Lopez/KPCCLong Beach fifth grade teacher Gina Bonetati holds her old report card, left, and the new transitional report card issued by her district.Schoo
by mike simpson / 9h 
11-25-13 Fred Klonsky | Running for our pensions. | VOTE 4 Fred Klonsky.
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Active and retired teachers and all state employees. We’re all in this together.From Illinois Retired Teachers Association: Greetings from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association.  [Some members of the General Assembly] want to solve the state’s budget woes with your money, and they blame you. They
by mike simpson / 9h 
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-25-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Who Are Our Highest-Paid Government Employees?The Center for Media and Democracy has compiled a list of America’s highest-paid government employees. They are not teachers or nurses or social workers. “Time and again we’re told that librarians, nurses and teachers are to blame for state and local budget problems,” said Lisa Graves,
by mike simpson / 9h 
11-25-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Updated Resources On Immigration ReformHere are new additions to The Best Resources About The New Push For Immigration Reform: In Report, 63% Back Way to Get Citizenship is from The New York Times. Illegal Immigrants Are Divided Over Importance of Citizenship is from The New York Times. What Happened To Immigration Reform i
by mike simpson / 9h 
11-25-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: Wait, What? – A weekend of political news and commentaryConnecticut and American Politics: Will Rogers, the “unequal distribution of the money” and the elections of 2014 and 2016 Meanwhile…..John Rowland? No Dannel Malloy Malloy continues to cash in on Education Reform initiative (corrected version)   Bridgeport: Mayor Bill Finch, Paul Vallas: UPDATED: Secret Deal for Malloy Political
by mike simpson / 9h 
11-25-13 teacherken Daily Kos: Krugman: I give you California
Daily Kos: Krugman: I give you California: Krugman: I give you CaliforniabyteacherkenFollowWhat would happen if we unveiled a program that looked like Obamacare, in a place that looked like America, but with competent project management that produced a working website?Well, your wish is granted. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you California.The words above are the key to Paul Krugman's column today,
by mike simpson / 9h 
11-25-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Cuomo's Education Reform Agenda ExposedTim Farley wrote a letter to Governor Cuomo, part of which made it to the Times Union.In it, Farley shows just how much of the NY State reform agenda is Cuomo's agenda.He notes how Cuomo has been trying to distance himself from the state reform agenda in recent days, as public outrage over the reforms has grown, then writes:  This seems
by mike simpson / 9h 
Choosing Democracy: Public Universities Should be Free
Choosing Democracy: Public Universities Should be Free: Public Universities Should be FreePublic education should be free. If it isn't free, it isn't public education.Aaron Bady.  Al Jazeera.This should not be a controversial assertion. This should be common sense. But Americans have forgotten what the "public" in "public education" actually means (or used to mean). The problem
by mike simpson / 9h 
Editorial: Arts center at Fremont School deserves rave reviews - Editorials - The Sacramento Bee
Editorial: Arts center at Fremont School deserves rave reviews - Editorials - The Sacramento Bee: Editorial: Arts center at Fremont School deserves rave reviewsBy the Editorial BoardPublished: Monday, Nov. 25, 2013 - 12:00 amAmid all the consternation that the Community Center Theater renovation is stuck in neutral, another important arts project for Sacramento is speeding ahead.If all goes as pla
by mike simpson / 10h 
The Educated Reporter: Chronic Absenteeism: New York City Makes Strides Toward Keeping Kids In School
The Educated Reporter: Chronic Absenteeism: New York City Makes Strides Toward Keeping Kids In School: Chronic Absenteeism: New York City Makes Strides Toward Keeping Kids In SchoolWhen it comes to tackling the problem of chronic absenteeism, students who already already have a track record of skipping class can be a particularly tough crowd to sway. But a new report out of New York City suggests
by mike simpson / 10h 
NYC Educator: Not My Job, Man
NYC Educator: Not My Job, Man: Not My Job, ManSo says self-proclaimed "student lobbyist" Andrew Cuomo, when confronted with the controversy swirling around the enactment of Common Core in his state. Oddly, Mr. "I am the government" took a decidedly different stance. But with his formerly high favorability ratings circling the toilet, Cuomo's role, first and foremost, is Opportu
by mike simpson / 10h 

YESTERDAY

Common Core, Aligned Curriculum, and Other NGA/Duncan-decided Issues | deutsch29
Common Core, Aligned Curriculum, and Other NGA/Duncan-decided Issues | deutsch29: Common Core, Aligned Curriculum, and Other NGA/Duncan-decided IssuesNovember 24, 2013In this post, I would like to offer information on the beginnings of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and its interconnectedness with other so-called reforms. I refer to three documents (all linked below) from June 2008, June 2
by mike simpson / 20h 
Comments on NJ’s Teacher Evaluation Report & Gross Statistical Malfeasance | School Finance 101
Comments on NJ’s Teacher Evaluation Report & Gross Statistical Malfeasance | School Finance 101: Comments on NJ’s Teacher Evaluation Report & Gross Statistical MalfeasancePosted on November 25, 20130       1 VotesA while back, in a report from the NJDOE, we learned that outliers are all that matters. They are where life’s important lessons lie! Outliers can provide proof that poverty doesn
by mike simpson / 22h 
'We're Losing Our Little Boy': One Family's Heartbreaking Fight For Their Son's Education
'We're Losing Our Little Boy': One Family's Heartbreaking Fight For Their Son's Education:'We're Losing Our Little Boy': One Family's Heartbreaking Fight For Their Son's EducationPosted: 11/24/2013 6:31 pm EST WASHINGTON -- Greg Masucci just wants to hear his little boy say his own name.That's what he tells developmental specialists as he sits in an office at John Tyler Elementary School for what
by mike simpson / 22h 
Corporatist Ed Reform as Symptom | educarenow
Corporatist Ed Reform as Symptom | educarenow: Corporatist Ed Reform as SymptomPosted on November 24, 2013 | Leave a commentTwo recent pieces came out that insightfully show that the current push of corporatist education reform is actually a symptom of something much more ominous, the destruction of all that is held for the common good, all that is “public.” Both the recent Commonweal review of Di
by mike simpson / 23h 
Nite Cap 11-24-13 #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 CAPmark as readSchooling in the Ownership Society: Helen Gym -- The New 'Pay for Play'Schooling in the Ownership Society: Helen Gym -- The New 'Pay for Play': Helen Gym -- The New 'Pay for Play'Helen GymHelen Gym, a Philadelphia public school parent
by mike simpson / 23h 



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The Network For Public Education | Grass Roots Report: Videos and account of hearings on the dangers of inBloom and private data-sharing in Albany and Chicago

The Network For Public Education | Grass Roots Report: Videos and account of hearings on the dangers of inBloom and private data-sharing in Albany and Chicago:

Grass Roots Report: Videos and account of hearings on the dangers of inBloom and private data-sharing in Albany and Chicago

admin November 25, 2013 Grassroots Reports
inBloom hearingsNPE Board member, Leonie Haimson, the Executive Director of Class Size Matters, testified recently at hearings related to student data privacy. Here is a post from Leonie’s website, NYC Public School Parents.
Video  of Wednesday’s excellent NY Assembly hearings in Albany on inBloom and student privacy are online and below, including riveting critiques from many of the Assemblymembers from both parties, who grilled Commissioner King and Associate Commissioner Ken Wagner of the NYS Education Department.  In turn, King and Wagner continued to obfuscate and tried as much as possible to avoid answering their direct questions or responding to their concerns.
Chair of the NYS Assembly Education Committee Cathy Nolan was also particularly upset because inBloom refused to show up for the hearings after being asked to testify.  InBloom claimed a “prior engagement” –  the exact same response the NYC Council received from the company when the Education Committee held their hearings last month.
I was disturbed to learn that the state had already uploaded a large amount of personal student data to the inBloom cloud, only without names attached, apparently to help inBloom 

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Opinion: Why so many parents hate Common Core | CNN.com
By Diane Ravitch Editor’s note: Diane Ravitch is research professor of education at New York University and a historian of education. She is the author of more than a dozen books about education, including the recent bestseller “Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and The Danger to America’s Public Schools.” (CNN) — ...read moreThe post Opinion: Why so many parents hate Common Core | CNN.com appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
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Paul Thomas: Grit and “No Excuses” Not Enough | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Paul Thomas of Furman University has emerged as one of the most eloquent voices on behalf of children in poverty. In this essay, linked by Maureen Downey in the Atlanta Journal-Consitution, Paul explains why “grit” and “no excuses” are not enough to overcome the burdens of poverty. Paul says that the reformers’ narrative is not ...read moreThe post Paul Thomas: Grit and “No Excuses” Not Enough | Diane Ravitch’s blog appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
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Vallas’ cure for N. Chicago schools — mass layoffs — riles teachers union | Chicago Sun-Times
BY DAVE MCKINNEY Springfield Bureau Chief November 24, 2013 7:22PM SPRINGFIELD — Since landing work outside Illinois more than a decade ago, former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas hasn’t just focused on leading troubled school systems in Philadelphia, New Orleans and Bridgeport, Conn. Last summer, in a little-publicized $311,000 consulting deal with the Illinois State ...read moreThe post Vallas’ cure for N. Chicago schools — mass layoffs — riles teachers union | Chicago Sun-Times appeared first on NPE News Briefs.
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TODAY

Indiana Governor Pence’s War Against Democracy | Diane Ravitch’s blog
Governor Mike Pence just can’t get over the fact that challenger Glenda Ritz beat State Superintendent Tony Bennett, even though Bennett had a 10-1 spending advantage. Pence may be miffed because Ritz got more votes than he did. But her worst crime is that she does not share the governor’s nihilistic ideology of destroying public ...read moreThe post Indiana Governor Pence’s War Against Democracy
by admin / 7h 
Brace yourself: Pearson has a ‘new global education strategy’ | The Answer Sheet
BY VALERIE STRAUSS November 25 at 10:00 am Pearson, the largest education company in the world, has “a  new global education strategy.” What exactly is it? Cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham explains in this post. Willingham is a professor and director of graduate studies in psychology at the University of Virginia and author of “Why Don’t Students Like ...read moreThe post Brace yourself: Pear
by admin / 7h 
Common Core Debate Is Really Just Another Chapter of Test-and-Punish | janresseger
Posted on November 25, 2013 by janresseger The debate about the Common Core Standards and the Common Core tests is not really about whether our public school curriculum ought to be more uniform and perhaps more challenging from place to place. That would be a debate worth having.  But really instead the Common Core is ...read moreThe post Common Core Debate Is Really Just Another Chapter of Test-a
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Is Robo-Grading Driving the Design of Common Core Tests? | Anthony Cody – Living in Dialogue
By Anthony Cody on November 25, 2013 9:44 AM As we read of the 17 states across the country where a strong backlash has grown against Common Core, my own state of California is conspicuous by its absence. California has yet to see a strong reaction against the Common Core, for several reasons. The State ...read moreThe post Is Robo-Grading Driving the Design of Common Core Tests? | Anthony Cody –
by admin / 7h 
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National Day of Action December 9th | WeArePCAPS

National Day of Action December 9th | WeArePCAPS:

National Day of Action December 9th

Untitled 3
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National Governors Association Pushes for Third-Grade Reading Proficiency |

National Governors Association Pushes for Third-Grade Reading Proficiency |:

National Governors Association Pushes for Third-Grade Reading Proficiency

November 25, 2013 by Alyssa Haywoode
Photo: Alessandra Hartkopf for Strategies for Children
Photo: Alessandra Hartkopf for Strategies for Children
“The time is now to redesign this country’s approach to language and literacy instruction, and governors who choose to can lead the charge,” according to the National Governors Association (NGA) report, “A Governor’s Guide to Early Literacy: Getting all Students Reading by Third Grade.”
Acknowledging the fact that only one-third of America’s fourth graders are reading proficiently, the report points out that America’s governors can help address this challenge. They can build a bridge between knowledge and action, connecting what researchers know to what policymakers do.
What the Research Says
To provide the research background on the literacy issue, the report points to three widely accepted research findings:
1.  “Starting at kindergarten is too late.” Because literacy skills start developing at birth and because achievement gaps show up early, infants, toddlers and preschoolers need effective, high-quality early education and care programsthat introduce early literacy concepts.

2. “Reading proficiency requires three sets of interrelated skills and knowledge that are taught and cultivated over time.”  The three sets are:
- language and communication skills
- mechanics of reading – such as matching letters to sounds
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Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions a Bad Teacher | deutsch29

Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions a Bad Teacher | deutsch29:

Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions a Bad Teacher

November 25, 2013


I teach. I blog. I speak publicly. I advocate. I advise. I counsel.
Not much time left for reading for pleasure.
However, from the very opening paragraphs of John Owens’ firsthand account of the contemporary, reform-beaten American classroom, Confessions of a Bad Teacher, I was hooked:
After we read the section of Homer’s The Odyssey where Odysseus and his men confront the Cyclops, we watched a movie clip of how the clever Greek hero blinded that wine-swilling, man-eating, one-eyed monster and escaped. We discussed the story for a while, and then I asked my eighth-grade class to break up into groups and write down various plot points. After about ten minutes, we reviewed the points out loud.
The kids loved the blood, bellowing, running around, and sailing away. But there was a lot of confusion about who was who and what was going on. In other words, a lot of the students were having a tough time figuring out the story. So I set to work helping them figure it out. After all, its hard to understand the significance of a story if you don’t understand the story itself.
The assistant principal, who was observing the class, later scolded me for the lesson’s “lack of academic rigor.”…
I could immediately identify with the reform-promoted, administrative disconnect between the classroom realities (and the teacher’s use of his or her own critical thinking and experience on how best to promote learning by identifying where 
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11-25-13 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE:




@drsteveperry wants to use a strap on, or strap up, or whatever it’s called. @edushyster
The Edushyster has a really evocative piece up, a first person account, of that oddly aggressive charlatan and carpetbagger “Dr.” Steve Perry, whose EdD dissertation is insanely inadequate to keep forcing those initials upon us at every speaking engagement. A pathetic non-man, this Steve Perry is. Lame and limp. 
by Shaun Johnson / 1h 

Book Review: John Owens’ Confessions of a Bad Teacher
I teach. I blog. I speak publicly. I advocate. I advise. I counsel. Not much time left for reading for pleasure. However, from the very opening paragraphs of John Owens’ firsthand account of the contemporary, reform-beaten American classroom, Confessions of a Bad Teacher, I was hooked: After we read the section of Homer’s The Odyssey […]
by deutsch29 / 23min 



11-24-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Safe Spaces for Teachers’ Professional Voices in a Public SphereSafe Spaces for Teachers\’ Professional Voices in a Public Sphere. via Safe Spaces for Teachers’ Professional Voices in a Public Sphere.by plthomasedd / 15min YESTERDAYCommon Core Unrest Obvious in 17 StatesProponents of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are fond of saying that CCSS “has been adopted by 45 state
by mike simpson / 47min 
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WTF: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement (for $89,995) - The Washington Post

Q&A: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement - The Washington Post:

Q&A: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement




 Earlier this year, a D.C. government agency paid a Chicago consulting firm $89,995 to participate in a one-day parent-engagement conference. The agency used D.C. tax dollars to pay the fee — which included a half-hour keynote speech, three 45-minute parent workshops and hundreds of copies of parenting books to be given to conference attendees — though other speakers that day volunteered.
As The Washington Post has reported, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education hired the firm without soliciting or considering other bids. The agency selected SPC Consulting based on a recommendation by Chief of Staff Jose Alvarez, a top agency official who knew the firm and its founder from a previous job in Chicago.
More news about education

Q&A: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement

Q&A: Consultant Sunny Chico urges parental involvement
Emma Brown 12:32 PM ET
Longtime educator ran D.C. workshop that focused on engaging parents in their children’s success.

Does U-Va. have a quota for Northern Virginia applicants?

Does U-Va. have a quota for Northern Virginia applicants?
Michael Alison Chandler 8:06 AM ET
Many NoVa students feel stiffest competition comes from within their own classrooms.

Md. test exclusion rate raises questions

Md. test exclusion rate raises questions
Lyndsey Layton NOV 24
Maryland excludes many English language learners and kids with learning disabilities from a key test.
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The founder and head of SPC Consulting is Sunny Chico, a former U.S. Education Department official who contracts with school systems. She is married to lobbyist Gery Chico, who ran for Chicago mayor in 2011 and serves as chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education.
Chico answered questions by e-mail about her firm, its parent-engagement program, known as “You: Your Child’s First Teacher,” and about her thoughts, generally, on the state of public education. Her responses are reproduced below.
What do you think is the most important aspect of public education today?
SPC Educational Solutions (SPC) was created to help all forms of education: 
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