1-1-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":

“Is Parental Input the Key to Healthy Student Eating Habits?”

Is Parental Input the Key to Healthy Student Eating Habits? is a good explanation and analysis of a recent study that showed sending home “report cards” on student lunch eating habits caused them to eat healthier. I just wonder, though, if instead of that, or “twinned” with such a report, some non-preachy lessons on the impact of good nutrition might be a less “behaviorist” way of improving studen

by Larry Ferlazzo / 18min hide  //  save

“New Schools Chancellor Stresses ‘Fun’ and Parent Communication”

The New York City public schools have had a long history of problems engaging parents. The new Chancellor, however, promises to change that. Here’s an excerpt from The New York Post’s article, New Schools Chancellor Stresses ‘Fun’ and Parent Communication: Ms. Fariña emphasized the need to treat parents as partners, not adversaries–a frequent critique of the outgoing Bloomberg administration. She

by Larry Ferlazzo / 18min 

 

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": “Ways to Use Technology to Engage With Parents”Ways To Use Technology To Engage With Parents is a useful short article at EdTechReview. I’m adding it to A Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Using Technology To Help Engage Parents.by Larry Ferlazzo / 35min “Closing The ‘Word Gap’ Between Rich And Poor”Closing The ‘Word

by mike simpson / 11h 

1-1-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Video - Union leadership connections: To the Words of "Backstabbers"

Let's get the New Year off to a rousing start. his has been floating around since May - but I don't think I shared it yet.The video was produced by a parent activist opposed to high stakes testing named Sara Wottawa who had a piece published on Diane Ravitch's blog.Published on May 19, 2013 This Video has been made to bring awareness to teachers that their union has sold them out. Many parents i

by ed notes online / 1h 

12-31-13 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Message to Farina and de Blasio: Undo the Damage"The schools of Baghdad and Kabul will recover sooner than the NYC school system under your management." ... Norm Scott to Joel Klein --- quoting my self from a c.2004-6 PEP meeting.Eterno and Epstein: Revoke Jamaica High School's Death Sentence... NEW YEAR APPEAL TO INCOMING MAYOR AND CHANCELLOR: SAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE HIG

by mike simpson / 5h 

1-1-14 @ THE CHALK FACE

@ THE CHALK FACE:

2014: The Year of Common Ground or Common Argument?

Hopefully, 2014 will be the year we find more common ground in education policy, and not entrenched special interests and protracted arguments. Although constructive critiques are healthy, the 24/7 all-you-can-tweet rants against CCSS, without offering practical solutions, is falling on deaf ears, at best. At worst, it’s creating an unproductive narrative that is moving any, […]

by Angel Cintron Jr. / 17min hide  //  save

Tri State/EQuIP Rubric

Reblogged from An Antique Teacher: http://www.engageny.org/resource/tri-state-quality-review-rubric-and-rating-process So, this little gem is finally making its way to my school, and I can't contain my excitement!! Finally, all those folks at Achieve (http://www.achieve.org/contributors) have developed a rubric to let me know how well my lesson planning aligns to the "shifts and rigor of the

by antiqueteacher60 / 1h 

“A Question of Power”—Of Accountability and Teaching by Numbers

\”A Question of Power\”—Of Accountability and Teaching by Numbers. via “A Question of Power”—Of Accountability and Teaching by Numbers.

by plthomasedd / 2h 

My New Year’s Post

When I awoke on December 31st, I planned to write my New Year’s post. However, AFT’s 10 Myths rattled my cage, so I spent the better part of the day writing my response. For me, 2013 has been a remarkable year. How my life has changed, and much of it due to this blog. I attended college for […]

1 by deutsch29 / 6h 

12-31-13 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: Maryland Takes Florida’s Place-Why?Post by Morna McDermott- http://www.educationalchemy.com Set out runnin’ but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine -Grateful Dead- Is this any way to start off a new year? Are you scratching you head wondering…wondering why it is that Maryland has decided to become the PARCC fiscal agent? First of all, […]by educationalchemy

by mike simpson / 8h 

1-1-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

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

“A Question of Power”—Of Accountability and Teaching by Numbers

Almost three years ago (March 12, 2011, at OpEdNews), I posted the piece below and then adapted it as a section of Ignoring Poverty in the U.S. (IAP, 2012; see Chapter Five: The Teaching Profession as a Service Industry). Below I am posting the draft version from Ignoring (with a few added hyperlinks), and feel that the key point about the misuse of accountability—drawing on a scene from Ralph Ell

9 by plthomasedd / 1h 

12-31-13 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): An Open Letter to K-12 Teachers: A Call for SolidarityIn the U.S., “solidarity” and “community” are very difficult concepts. Having lived my entire life in the rural South, I’d argue ”solidarity” and “community” are nearly foreign concepts here—a very painful claim to ma

by mike simpson / 8h 

1-1-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Ain't Gonna Work On Mayor Mike's Plantation No More

Apparently the invocation at today's de Blasio inaugural ceremony threw some people off:During the election season, Bill de Blasio was often painted by conservatives as a leftist radical. But at his inauguration today, it was not Mr. de Blasio who dropped the most aggressive lines, but the first two speakers at the event.In particular, Rev. Fred Lucas Jr., who was among several chaplains represent

by reality-based edu... / 10min 

Potential Blizzard Takes Aim At NYC Thursday-Friday

Yikes - from Accuweather:A snowstorm taking aim at New York City Thursday will evolve into a blizzard Thursday night. Expect dry travel weather into Wednesday night in the immediate area. A snowstorm will affect New York City and much of the Northeast on Thursday into Friday. As the storm strengthens Thursday night, increasing winds, powdery snow and plunging temperatures will allow a blizzard to

by reality-based edu... / 2min 

Does The Obama Administration Have A "Starr Group" Out To Destroy Joshua Starr?

Valeria Strauss reported in the Washington Post that two members of the USDOE, including Arne Duncan himself, lobbied against Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr for the NYC schools chancellor position.Duncan and Company don't like Starr because he has called for a three year moratorium on high stakes standardized testing and has expressed skepticism around the validity of the te

by reality-based edu... / 46min 

Arne Duncan Personally Lobbied De Blasio NOT To Pick Joshua Starr For Chancellor

So much for that "The Federal Government Doesn't Interfere In Local Districts" nonsense:U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and at least one other Education Department official urged New York Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and his team not to choose Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr as the city’s next schools chancellor, according to several people knowledgable about

by reality-based edu... / 53min 

Bloomberg Couldn't Resist Reminding Us How Wealthy He Is

Bloomberg left amid crowd of cheering supporters and staff. Gold balloons were released as he walked out— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) December 31, 2013What an ass.Good riddance.

by reality-based edu... / 5h 

12-31-13 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Are We Sure Carmen Farina Is More "Pro-Teacher" Than Current DOE Leadership?Farina is seen as much more pro-teacher than recent DOE leadership, but she's a tough boss. As principal, she replaced 80% of her staff.— Lindsey Christ (@LindseyChrist) December 30, 2013Jose Vilson responded: @MrHonner @LindseyChrist Agreed too. I don’t know enough about that school to mak

by mike simpson / 8h 

Letter to Georgia Legislature: Help teachers help students and... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

Letter to Georgia Legislature: Help teachers help students and... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

Letter to Georgia Legislature: Help teachers help students and everyone wins 

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The Georgia General Assembly is about to meet in Atlanta. What will lawmakers do for education? jgetz@ajc.com

Previous Posts

• Inspiring moments in the classroom. They happen and they matter
  December 31, 2013
• Fire the teacher who told student we don't need another black president
  December 30, 2013
• Should Georgia change its constitution to allow Dunwoody and others to create own schools?
  December 30, 2013

By Maureen Downey

 DeKalb high school teacher Rita Robinzine, a 24-year educator, wrote this opinion piece directed to the Legislature, which is about to assemble in Atlanta for the 2014 session.

By Rita Robinzine

During the upcoming legislative session, the legislators, governor and state school superintendent should take the emphasis off of teacher performance as education reform and focus on helping all children of Georgia to get a good public school education. That should be their chief reform plan instead of continuing to pass legislation that has only served to frustrate teachers and caused them to leave the profession or lose the joy of teaching.  

 Help teachers help students.

The state has reduced the amount of funding that would normally go to the local school systems and have forced the local school boards to make up the difference. This is a difficult task for local school systems when property values have decreased significantly. When there is no money, then there are no resources, yet teachers are still expected to have all their students do well on state mandated tests or they are at risk of losing their jobs because their 

Revamped, computerized GED test unveiled this week | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC

Revamped, computerized GED test unveiled this week | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC:

Revamped, computerized GED test unveiled this week

Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | January 1st, 2014, 6:00am

Diane Orson/WNPR

Donald Desmond teaches Abdesa Bustina to use a computer at the New Haven Adult and Continuing Education Center. The new GED will be offered only on computer, but many students here don't know how to use one.

After decades as a paper and pencil, multiple choice test, the New Year has brought with it a new  GED test administered solely on computer.

Its creators said the content of the made over General Education Development test will now better reflect high school learning standards that increasingly focus on critical thinking and problem solving skills.

They also said the new test - a seven-hour exam - is harder and measures more skills valued by employers, meaning it'll help open the door for college and the job market.

The GED is a national test given to adults who dropped out of high school or didn't 

UC System's ban on smoking and e-cigarettes begins

Starting January 1, 2014, smoking will be banned at all UC campuses.; Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Starting Wednesday, students, employees and visitors to University of California campuses will no longer be allowed to smoke, chew tobacco or use e-cigarettes on school property. Even parking lots will be smoke-free zones. The new ban comes two years after former UC President Mark Yudof firs

by Mary Plummer / 50min 

Green, possible SRC chief, gives views on schools - Philly.com

Green, possible SRC chief, gives views on schools - Philly.com:

Green, possible SRC chief, gives views on schools

CLEM MURRAY / Staff Photographer

By Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer

POSTED: December 31, 2013

Is Bill Green interested in becoming chair of the School Reform Commission?

Sources say he is a finalist for the job; Green is mum on the subject.

But the current city councilman is clear in his view that the Philadelphia School District is failing far too many children, and change must come quickly.

"Eliminating all the bad seats in the School District is a concept I think is important to pursue," Green said Monday. "There are tens of thousands of kids in underperforming schools."

The district's governing body has been leaderless since Oct. 23, when Pedro Ramos resigned because of a family emergency. Gov. Corbett has acknowledged the need for a speedy decision on a new SRC chair, and said he is down to "a few names," but has said he will take the time he needs to find the right person.

As the district heads into its budget-building season, the unpaid job takes on extra importance. The school system's financial crisis shows no signs of abating, and the SRC must adopt a 2014-15 preliminary budget in March.

Green declined to comment on his candidacy for SRC chair, but did speak about some of his educational philosophies.

In the last four years, he has issued two policy papers suggesting "radical and transformative" fixes for the district - more charters, fewer district schools, vouchers, longer school day and year, breaking up big schools, more social and academic supports.

His views have evolved, Green said. He previously advocated abolishing the SRC; now he believes that it has all of the powers it needs to make change, and that it should continue to exist.

Traditional public schools are still necessary, Green said, but not for tradition's sake. Some district schools are doing a great job, 

Taxpayer-Funded Aid Program Benefits Richer Students | Hechinger Report

Taxpayer-Funded Aid Program Benefits Richer Students | Hechinger Report:

Taxpayer-Funded Aid Program Benefits Richer Students

By Jon Marcus

This story also appeared at:

Greg Noll balances his engineering major at Columbia University with a work-study job in the university’s fitness center, filling spray bottles, wiping sweat off the machines, and picking up towels for 20 hours a week at $9 an hour.

He uses the money for his living expenses—buying books and food and going out with friends on the weekends.

“I try to put some away, but it’s college,” Noll says. “Everyone here needs money, whether they come from better-off families and don’t have the money to live a life they’re used to, or don’t have money in general and are really just trying to live.”

In fact, much of the more than $1 billion a year in federal taxpayer-funded work-study money is going to the children of better-off families at expensive private universities, and not their lower-income counterparts, under a 50-year-old formula those pricey universities are unlikely to willingly relinquish.

Nearly one in four work-study recipients come from families with incomes of more than $80,000 a year. Fewer than half meet the federal definition of financial need.

The formula “disproportionately benefits the students who need it the least,” says Rory O’Sullivan, research and policy director at the youth advocacy organization Young Invincibles. “At a time of tight budgets, it doesn’t make sense. It should go to people who can benefit the most.”

Unlike other federal financial aid, the money for work-study isn’t allocated based on how many students at a university actually need it, but on how much the university got the year before, an

My New Year’s Post | deutsch29

My New Year’s Post | deutsch29:

My New Year’s Post

January 1, 2014

When I awoke on December 31st, I planned to write my New Year’s post. However, AFT’s 10 Myths rattled my cage, so I spent the better part of the day writing my response.

For me, 2013 has been a remarkable year. How my life has changed, and much of it due to this blog.

I attended college for thirteen years– six for my undergrad; two for my masters, and four for my doctorate. Not once in thirteen years of college did I pull an all-nighter. In fact, I cannot remember staying up past midnight in order to work on any assignment.

I laugh at that idea now, for I cannot count the number of times I have had four (or fewer) hours of sleep because I wanted to write a post for this blog. I consider doing so to be well worth my time.

Apparently readers nationwide (some, even worldwide) believe reading my work is well worth their time, also. It used to be that a google search of my name produced only automobile ads.

No more.

On Christmas Day, my mother and I stopped by her neighbor’s to say hello. Her 

Where’s The Outrage? – redqueeninla

Where’s The Outrage? – redqueeninla:

Where’s The Outrage?

Written by redqueeninla in LAUSD

 In this season given over to wrapping-up the designated twelve-month unit’s worth of happenings, Education may be mentioned nominally as an issue of great import while in matter of fact, there is very little gravitas escorting it. As vested and as mesmerized as the next by all things education-political, yet along with everyone else, I find myself sort of glazing-over when confronted with the reporting of it.

Yet, oh does this dispassion matter. For it is in the wake of fatigue and ennui and confusion that so much that is so bad for our children gets enacted. So much!

When will you get involved? It’s time to push through the stultifying verbiage and listen to – really hear — the underlying meaning. In the spirit of the season, here are some sample outrages for your consideration:

• School class sizes on the order of 50 pupils per teacher. I don’t care what the published average norms are [2013-14 range: 24 - 42.5 depending on school- and class-type and grade (42.5 is "district norm" for grades 6-12)]. The reality is that some children are sitting in some classrooms where a single teacher is expected to teach, somehow, your child as one among fifty. Because these norms are averages across the district, games are played with the overall numbers resulting in this untenable situation in not-rare instances. It is not possible for one individual to instruct 50 students, no matter the theorizing otherwise. It simply isn’t. And if this reality doesn’t get your 

2014 Resolution: Stop Watching Feel-Good Teacher Movies - Joshua John Mackin - The Atlantic

2014 Resolution: Stop Watching Feel-Good Teacher Movies - Joshua John Mackin - The Atlantic:

2014 Resolution: Stop Watching Feel-Good Teacher Movies

Films like Freedom Writers and Stand and Deliver perpetuate destructive stereotypes about inner-city schools.

 

Paramount Pictures

2014 promises to be a banner year for education in the news. New York City’s new mayor, Bill de Blasio, will likely reverse some of his predecessor’s reform-minded policies. States are moving forward with implementing the Common Core standards despite increasing opposition.  And a number of closely watched court cases around tenure rules will have rulings handed down—with potentially wide-ranging effects.    

How will Americans process education news in the coming year? How will they decide which policies they support and which ones they oppose? How will they determine not only what’s best for their own children, but for children from other, less advantaged backgrounds? Unfortunately, many Americans’ experience with failing schools and struggling students comes from what they  see in films such as Stand and Deliver, Dangerous Minds, Freedom Writers, andLean on Me. These movies are popular: Dangerous Minds made more than $80 million at the box office in 1995, and the star of Stand and Deliver was