12-12-13 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet:

The most important unplanned lesson for teachers

The American University community in the nation’s capital was on lockdown for some time on Wednesday night after a man with a gun was spotted on campus. Here is a post about how one faculty member and her class handled the situation — and the larger issue of whether and how teachers are prepared to […]    

by Valerie Strauss / 33min 

Are MOOCs already over?

Are MOOCs already over? It may seem like an odd question given that the Massive Open Online Courses have been touted as the future of higher education, and that it seems like just yesterday that the country’s major universities were rushing to create courses to grab their share of the expected global market. New data […]    

by Valerie Strauss / 4min 

Secret policymaking on school reform is on the rise

Education reform policy around the country is increasingly being made in secret or without public input — and with a lot of private philanthropic money. A number of  recent stories reveal the extent to which policy makers and school reformers are going to push their reform agenda to expand charter schools and vouchers in an […]    

by Valerie Strauss / 4h hide  //  save

College Board’s effort to have ‘fun’ by sending cow stickers to schools falls flat

The College Board just tried to have a little fun with high schools but some college admissions counselors are less than amused. The organization sent out to thousands of high schools around the country stickers with pictures of a cartoon-like cow and the words, “Gee Whiz” — a reference to a critical reading question on […]    

by Valerie Strauss / 5h 

12-11-13 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet: The 10 school districts with the most charter school studentsA new report on charter schools says that charter school enrollment around the country has grown 80 percent over the past five years — but represents only 5 percent of  total public school enrollment (a statistic that may seem surprising given all of the attention that school reformers give to charters). The report, whi

by mike simpson / 8h 

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

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

“Unusual” Art….

I’ve just updated The Best Examples Of “Unusual” Art. Feel free to offer additional suggestions….

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

All Of My “Best Of 2013″ Lists In One Place!

Here are my nineteen end-of-the-year “Best…” lists. I do have three more to do — one highlighting infographics, another listing Theory of Knowledge resources, and other one listing my personal favorite posts — but I might not get to them for a week or two. I thought readers would find it helpful to gather all of the rest in one place: The Best Ways To Create Online Content Easily & Quickly In

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h hide  //  save

The Best Ways To Create Online Content Easily & Quickly In 2013 – Part Two

This list (a not particularly long one) brings together what I think are this year’s best ways to create online content easily and quickly — at least, the ones that have become available since Part One of this list was published six months ago. These web tools are excellent ways for English Language Learners, and others who might not be very tech-savvy, to have a good experience working with tech

by Larry Ferlazzo / 35min 

Resources On New Year Celebrations

I’ve just updated The Best Sites For Learning About New Year Celebrations. Feel free to make additional suggestions for the list….

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

YESTERDAY

December’s Best Tweets — Part Two

Every month I make a few short lists highlighting my choices of the best resources I through (and learned from) Twitter, but didn’t necessarily include them in posts here on my blog. I’ve already in earlier posts several new resources I found on Twitter — and where I gave credit to those from whom I learned about them. Those are not included again in this post. If you don’t use Twitter, you can a

by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h 

12-11-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Video: Wild Cycling!Show English Language Learners this video and have them describe what they see — but be sure to warn them to try this at home!by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h hide  //  saveYESTERDAYThe Best Year In Review Features — 2013I’ve usually done two different types of “year in review” annual posts — one focusing on photo

by mike simpson / 8h

12-12-13 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.:

NEA to retirees: Plan ahead. What?

  DVR to Illinois teacher retirees: Hope you made good retirement plans. H/T: Ken Previti So, maybe the NEA didn’t hear about Senate Bill 1. Or they’re trying to be helpful in some weird way. But a little more than a week after the Illinois’ General Assembly passed and the governor signed a bill cutting our retiree pension the NEA posts a cover story on their web site suggesting ways to make our

by Fred Klonsky / 29min 

The Illinois senior tax. Retirees pay 25%. Corporations pay zero.

Reader Phil writes: All calculations indicate most retirees will lose 25-35% of their revenue stream over the next 20-30 years under the new law. This has the same effect as taxing us seniors by a rate of 25%. So we now have a tax system in Illinois where vulnerable and modest income retired public employees are taxed at a rate of 25% and millionaires are taxed at 5% (set to return to 3%) and huge

by Fred Klonsky / 23min 

Pension thieves.

  Michael Connelly is a Republican State Senator representing Wheaton’s 21st district. State Senator Michael Connelly voted for cutting retiree pensions and then wrote: “Dear constituent: Thank you for sharing your opinion with me regarding Senate Bill 1. As the son of a retired public school teacher and public school nurse who rely on their pensions for retirement and the brother of a current

by Fred Klonsky / 43min 

Lee R. Talley. Reform this! A citizen’s guide to government reform in Illinois.

- Lee R. Talley is a retired teacher from Tinley Park. So…I went to my bank this week to see my loan officer.  Upon shaking hands and sitting down, I proudly stated, “I regret to inform you that the original mortgage agreement I signed back in 2002 is no longer applicable.”  The officer paused, a queried expression on his face, then asked, “Why?” I replied, “When I signed that contract I had every

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Life in Rahm’s Chicago. Rangel is a distraction? From what? From who?

Rangel and Rahm. A thumbs up. Juan Rangel resigned as head of the United Neighborhood Organization last week. Yesterday The Mayor claimed Rangel was a distraction. What are we being distracted from? We are not being distracted from the fact that the state’s largest charter operation is under federal investigation. We are not being distracted from his close ties to The Mayor. He was Rahm’s electio

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

12-11-13 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.: Pension Thieves.  Greg Harris is a Democratic State Representative from the 13th District on Chicago’s north side. He targets older people, retired police, fire fighters, public service workers, public school teachers and state university employees. Approach with care. He should be considered a Republ

by mike simpson / 8h

12-12-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Norm in The Wave: On Poverty, Education, Labor: Is Obama Really a Liberal?

A total (much-needed) rewrite of a blog post I did on a Paul Krugman column with some expanded political points.Published Friday, December 13, 2013 in The Wave and at www.rockawave.comOn Poverty, Education, Labor: Is Obama Really a Liberal?By Norm ScottAs a lefty/progressive (don’t dare call me a liberal), family events like Thanksgiving with a mostly conservative/tea party family can be either en

by ed notes online / 47min 

NYC Principal Brian De Vale: I am Daniel-San

I would like to thank John King for forcing this system upon me. My job has never been easier. In fact a high functioning ape could now probably do my job.... Brian De Vale, NYC PrincipalIt doesn't get any better.From: De Vale BrianSent: Wednesday, December 11, 2013 7:24 PMTo: Logan Ernest (SCA); mmulgrew@uft.org; Suransky ShaelSubject: I am Daniel -SanI think the entire New Teacher Evaluation Sys

by ed notes online / 35min 

22,091 homeless children, how many are at a Moskowitz Success Academy Charter School?

Their numbers have risen above anything in the city’s modern history, to a staggering 22,091 this month. If all of the city’s homeless children were to file into Madison Square Garden for a hockey game, more than 4,800 would not have a seat... Andrea Elliot, NY TimesAnd how many would find a seat at an Eva Moskowitz Success Academy Charter School? Or in fact, how many of these 22,000 children are

by ed notes online / 5min 

Rosalie Friend Reports on Ravitch and Farina at PS 15

Excellent report from Rosalie as a follow-up to the report I received yesterday (Carmen Farina Introduces Diane Ravitch at PS 15K Community Library Opening).And by the way, for those who don't get what school-based organizing is all about, check out an expert like Julie Cavanagh. From Rosalie Friend to Change the Stakes Listserve:At the presentation at PS 15, Carmen Farina seemed to back Diane's a

by ed notes online / 5min 

Carmen Farina Introduces Diane Ravitch at PS 15K Community Library Opening

Yesterday was a big day for the PS 15K community in Redhook with two red hot ed superstars, Diane Ravitch and rumored next chancellor Carmen Farina, in attendance. Actually in my book, 3 superstars if you count Julie Cavanagh, PS 15 chapter leader and one of the event organizers.Carmen Farina has been the chair of the "Friends of PS 15 Committee" for 3 years and helped get the school a n

by ed notes online / 10h  

12-11-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Substance: Chitown CEO Nixed in NYC!... Byrd Bennett strikes out in New York City as her slavish adherence to Rahm's school closing quota catches up with herChicago schools Chief Executive Officer Barbara Byrd Bennett completed her main assignment from Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the Board of Education's May 22, 2013 meeting when she recommended the gutting of the city's real public sch

by mike simpson / 8h 

12-2-13 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE:

Teachers Fleeing New Mexico Districts

This article will be updated as more formal reports are released. Thanks to an orchestrated drive to punish good teachers and reward those who follow the rules (yes, there is a big difference), the number of early retirements and resignations in districts throughout New Mexico are increasing rapidly.  There is always turnover to be expected, […]

by Kris Nielsen / 24min hide  //  save

What Are Tests Really Measuring?: When Achievement Isn’t Achievement

What Are Tests Really Measuring?: When Achievement Isn\’t Achievement. via What Are Tests Really Measuring?: When Achievement Isn’t Achievement.

by plthomasedd / 13min 

Anti-union, Nonprofit Shill Attacks AFT

On December 10, 2013, the Center for Union Facts (CUF) (don’t believe the name) sponsored a full-page ad in the New York Times attributing the “high school slip in global rankings” to a single issue: The failure of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten to promote merit pay for teachers. The ad reads, We have fallen […]

by deutsch29 / 1min 

Thomas: Charter schools not a smart investment for S.C.

Thomas: Charter schools not a smart investment for S.C. (The State, Columbia, SC). via Thomas: Charter schools not a smart investment for S.C. (The State, Columbia, SC).

by plthomasedd / 2h 

12-10-13 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: VAM Fails Test, Again: The Bizarro World of Education ReformVAM Fails Test, Again: The Bizarro World of Education Reform. via VAM Fails Test, Again: The Bizarro World of Education Reform.by plthomasedd / 1h   12-8-13 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: Mandela: Dishonored by Passive Radical MythMandela: Dishonored by Passive Radical Myth. via Mandela: Dishonored by Passive Radical

by mike simpson / 8h 

12-12-13 With A Brooklyn Accent

With A Brooklyn Accent:

Why A "One Size Fits All" Curriculum is a Catastroph

Today, I had lunch in Riverhead with parent activist Al Wicklund. Our meeting symbolized the new alliances being forged in the anti-testing movement- the Cop and the Professor; the Marine Corps Veteran and former anti-war protester united in an effort and to prevent Common Core and uncontrolled testing from demoralizing students and driving out our best teachers.The lunch was illuminating in many

by Mark Naison / 39min 

When Common Core Is Viewed as "Just War"- The NY State Ed Dept's Politics of Cynicism

After seeing  NY State Regents Chair Merryl Tisch in action at the Bronx Common Core Forum without Commissioner King present, I am convinced the Regents are approaching the transition to Common Core as a "just war" in which they are willing to accept a very high number of casualties. The only way to stop them, since their own children will not be among the casualties, is to make the pric

by Mark Naison / 11min 

12-11-13 With A Brooklyn Accent

With A Brooklyn Accent: The Regents and Collateral Damage- Thoughts from a Bronx Common Core ForumThe amount of "collateral damage" those who call themselves "School Reformers" are willing to endure in their quest to prepare children ( including those not yet born) ready to compete in the Global Economy never ceases to amaze me. They claim to be motivated by idealism and a pass

by mike simpson / 9h