12-3-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites | The Best Posts & Articles On 2012 PISA Test Results

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

Collection Of Excellent Posts, Videos, Quotes & Articles Commenting On PISA Results

Here are some excellent additions to The Best Posts & Articles On 2012 PISA Test Results I posted this morning just after they came out: NASSP Statement on PISA Results: Despite Fervor Over Scores, US Continues to Ignore Lessons My View of the PISA Scores is by Diane Ravitch. The PISA Puzzle is by Dana Goldstein. Here are a couple of excerpts from her Slate piece: There’s another PISA result t

by Larry Ferlazzo / 39min 

The Best Posts & Articles On 2012 PISA Test Results

The Internet is awash today with articles about this morning’s release of the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, test results. I’m just quickly posting the best resources I’ve seen this morning, and articles offering real insightful commentary will be coming later. However, I’ve included a few pieces that came out prior to this morning and, of course, you can also check o

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

  

12-2-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: 36th ELT Blog Carnival Just Published!Eva Buyuksimkesyan has just published the 36th ELT Blog Carnival (formerly known as the ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival) and it’s a great one on holiday lessons. Teachers from around the world have contributed posts. I’m adding it to The Best Places To Learn About Christmas, Hanukkah, & K

by mike simpson / 9h 

12-3-13 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.:

Unions promise court fight.

Statement of We Are One, the coalition of state public employee unions. UNION COALITION STATEMENT ON PENSION-CUTTING BILL Following passage of the pension-cutting Senate Bill 1, the We Are One Illinois coalition of unions representing more than 1 million Illinois public employees and retirees issued this statement: “This is no victory for Illinois, but a dark day for its citizens and public servan

by Fred Klonsky / 3:43 PM UTC-8 

The House Black List.

  Dec 03, 2013 62 YEAS 53 NAYS Y Acevedo Y Andrade Y Anthony Y Arroyo N Beiser Y Bellock N Bost Y Bradley N Brady N Brauer N Brown N Rosenthal Y Sandack N Scherer Y Schmitz Y Senger Y Sente N Sims N Smiddy N Smith N Sommer N Sosnowski Y Soto N Stewart Y Thapedi Y Tracy N Tryon Y Turner N Unes Y

by Fred Klonsky / 44min 

The Senate Black List.

State of Illinois 98th General Assembly Senate Vote ___________________________________________________________________ Dec 03, 2013 30 YEAS First Special Session Senate Bill No. 1 ADOPT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT #1 CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT THIRD READING 24 N

by Fred Klonsky / 48min 

The #pension theft now goes to court.

Minutes ago the Illinois House and Senate, like synchronized swimmers, passed SB1. The General Assembly #pension theft is now complete. The lawyers retirement will be sweet.

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Representative Manley’s Joliet office yesterday.

Fred, Here are pictures from the pension rally at Representative Manley’s office in Joliet yesterday. Sorry that some of them are dark. We had somewhere between 30 and 50 folks in attendance. (My guess, not being a crowd expert.) Paul Dr. Paul J. Mikulcik A National Distinguished Principal, Retired      

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Ten minute drawing. Fahner says it’s a fair and good deal. Uh oh.

by Fred Klonsky / 3min 

Park Ridge Senator Dan Kotowski “inclined” to vote for #pension theft. Call him.

  I am hearing that Park Ridge Democratic Senator Dan Kotowski is calling people and telling them he is inclined to vote for #pension theft. Call him. Springfield Office: Senator 33rd District M118 Capitol Building Springfield, IL   62706 (217) 782-3875 (217) 782-2115 FAX District Office: 350 S. Northwest Hwy. Suite 300 Park Ridge, IL  60068 (847) 656-5414 (847)

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

#Pension theft. Protest at Marion district office of John Bradley.

Read the entire story in The Southern. “Our pension didn’t cause the problem and stealing will not fix it,” said Alan Latoza, President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) IL Retirees Subchapter 93. “The average salary for a retired employee is around $32,000, but in Representative Bradley’s district it is much lower,” Latoza said. “Over 75 percent of retirees

by Fred Klonsky / 8min 

#Pension theft. Taking names. Michelle Mussman.

Smart money says that if SB1 is going to be stopped today it will be stopped in the Illinois Senate. Senate President John Cullerton is on board and is said to be working the bill, but the Senate has a more independent streak. Democratic Speaker MIchael Madigan heads a group of craven sycophants. Democrats run as progressives. They take money from our unions (which are often too easy a mark). And

by Fred Klonsky / 52min 

Urgent this AM. Oppose #pension theft. Create a witness slip.

One thing that teachers and employees can do is officially register their opposition to SB1 with the pension committee that will be meeting in the Illinois Senate today at 8:30 a.m. Step 1 - Click on this link: http://my.ilga.gov/Hearing/HearingDetail/11356?SCommittees12%2F9%2F2013-page=1&SCommittees12%2F9%2F2013-orderBy&SCommittees12%2F9%2F2013-filter&committeeid=0&chamber=S&n

by Fred Klonsky / 2h hide  //  save

Street heat putting on the pressure. Schakowsky opposes pension theft.

When Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky met with our Skokie Organization of Retired Educators (S.O.R.E) IEA Retired chapter, we let her know that we expected her to speak against pension theft sponsored by those in her party, particularly those state legislators in her district. Sun Times: U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., is joining a growing chorus of lawmakers and elected officials who oppose Illinoi

by Fred Klonsky / 2h 

More coverage of Biss office action by teachers and retirees.

Read the entire report at the Evanston Review: The last time teachers — both those retired and those now working — protested proposed pension reform in front of State Sen. Daniel Biss’ Skokie office, they feared what could be coming. At that time, proposed legislation on pension reform was still amorphous and did not take the shape of a specific bill. When Biss came outside in October to talk to t

by Fred Klonsky / 3h 

12-2-13 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.: Friends.. This morning as I head for a round of Illinois legislative district offices I am grieving. I’ve lost a friend. Not a real friend. A Facebook friend. Apparently David Ormsby has defriended me. Unfriended? Disenfriended?  This has happened before and losing a friend, even a virtual friend, isn

by mike simpson / 8h

12-3-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University):

Why Are We (Still) Failing Writing Instruction?

We have two recent commentaries that detail how schools and teachers fail students in the teaching of writing—one comes from a college student and the other, from a former teacher. While both reach the same conclusion about the teaching of writing, the reasons for those failures are in conflict, suggesting that we must consider whether schools and teachers are fumbling the teaching of writing, and

by plthomasedd / 24min

End Zero-Tolerance Policies: A Reader

What do zero-tolerance policies, “no excuses” practices, and grade retention have in common? They all negatively and disproportionately impact children from poverty, minority children, English language learners, and boys; and nearly as disturbing, all are discredited by large bodies of research. Is the tide turning against at least zero-tolerance policies? Lizette Alvarez reports: Faced with mount

by plthomasedd / 4min 

12-1-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Belief Culture: “We Don’t Need No Education”“Four in 10 Americans, slightly fewer today than in years past, believe God created humans in their present form about 10,000 years ago.” This December 2010 poll also includes the finding that a scant 16 percent of the U.S. pop

by mike simpson / 9h 

12-3-13 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE:

Why Are We (Still) Failing Writing Instruction?

Why Are We (Still) Failing Writing Instruction?. via Why Are We (Still) Failing Writing Instruction?.

by plthomasedd / 0min 

Sandra Stotsky Responds to My Common Core-Achieve Post

On December 2, 2013, I wrote a post about the role of the governor- and business-run nonprofit, Achieve, Inc., in the creation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). In my post I also discuss Achieve connections to (now designated) “founding partner” of Student Achievement Partners, Sue Pimentel, and I refer to the College and […]

by deutsch29 / 1h 

End Zero-Tolerance Policies: A Reader

End Zero-Tolerance Policies: A Reader. via End Zero-Tolerance Policies: A Reader.

by plthomasedd / 35min 

iGradeU: The 7 Superpowers Every Teacher Must Master

Are you a superhero teacher? Well, what about a good teacher with superpowers? Personally speaking, I rather be the latter. Here’s my list of superpowers, which I’m constantly developing. By no means does this imply that I have the magic formula. However, this is a list I use to remind myself that teaching requires constant […]

by Angel Cintron Jr. / 3h 

  

12-2-13 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: @slekar dabbles with #edrefrom memes: Take 2.I thought of the  meme above while driving from Madison, WI to Dover, OH for Thanksgiving break.  This image has always represented (for me) the pinnacle of the racist belief that education should “sanitize.”  “Kill the Indian. Save the Man.” There were no thoughts that equated the image above and the modern education reform reference

by mike simpson / 13h 

12-3-13 With A Brooklyn Accent - Job Description for New Teachers

With A Brooklyn Accent:

Job Description for New Teachers

Job Description: New Teacher.Your Mission: To Squeeze Excellent Test Results out of Frightened and Angry Children and Shatter The Achievement GapThings to Ignore: Hunger, Homelessness, Disability, Language, Chronic Illness, Family and Neighborhood Violence, Children's Talents, Personalities and Aptitudes.Things to Sacrifice: Play, Recess, The Arts.Job Security: Dependent on Results on Standardized

by Mark Naison / 3h 

With A Brooklyn Accent: A Tennessee Teacher's Letter to President Obama

With A Brooklyn Accent: A Tennessee Teacher's Letter to President Obama: A Tennessee Teacher's Letter to President ObamaNovember 29, 2013Dear Mr. President,I generally don't remember my dreams, and I generally don't dream about presidents, but this time, I did both. Go figure. Anyway, in my dream, I had the opportunity to meet you and talk to you face to face. You have to understand, in my dream,

by mike simpson / 9h