LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-13-14 Diane Ravitch's blog A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all:

Missouri: Draft Report Calls for Dismantling of Kansas City Public School District

Reporter Garrett Haake of KSHB In Kansas City reported that State Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro and the State Board commissioned a report that calls for a radical restructuring of the Kansas City school district. “It calls for replacing the top-down district structure with a much smaller, near purely administrative entity called a Community Schools Office (CSO). The CSO would retain some f

6 by dianeravitch / 1h 

Principal of Troubled School is a Graduate of “Leadership Academy”

The principal of PS 106 in Far Rockaway, now in the news for its lack of curriculum or books, is a graduate of New York City’s vaunted Leadership Academy. When Joel Klein took charge of the New York City schools in 2002, one of his earliest “reforms” was the creation of the Leadership Academy, a fast-track program for new principals. Originally, it was funded for three years with $75 million from

by dianeravitch / 4min 

The School the Bloomberg Administration Forgot

The New York Post ran a story about a public school in NYC that sounds like a holding pen for hapless children than a school. According to the article by Susan Edelman: “Students at PS 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens, have gotten no math or reading and writing books for the rigorous Common Core curriculum, whistleblowers say. The 234 kids get no gym or art classes. Instead, they watch movies every da

by dianeravitch / 18min 

The Untold Story of the Emails That Brought Down Indiana’s Tony Bennett

Adam Wren at Indianapolis Monthly writes a compelling account of the search for the emails that embarrassed star “reformer” Tony Bennett and caused him to resign as Commissioner of Education in Florida. As you may recall, Bennett was upset by Democratic educator Glenda Ritz in the fall elections in 2012, although he spent ten times as much as she. Bennett was a superstar in the rightwing privatiza

by dianeravitch / 34min 

New Rochester Mayor Pledges More Charter Schools

Upstate New York has had its share of failed charter schools. Some years back, Edison Schools had a charter school in Rochester, which was a disaster and later shuttered by its state authorizer.  Not far away another charter (acquired by Imagine Schools)  in Syracuse was shut down due to poor academic performance, and county bond holders were left holding the bag for the closed school.  In Buffalo

by dianeravitch / 8min 

Invitation: First National Conference of Network for Public Education

The Network for Public Education, formed earlier this year, will hold its first annual conference in Austin, Texas, on March 1 and 2. Please register now! NPE was created to give voice to those opposing privatization, school closings, and high-stakes testing. It demands a positive agenda for change based on love of learning, respect for educators, and dedication to the healthy development of child

2 by dianeravitch / 1h 

Parent to NC Legislature: Stop Assaulting Our Teachers!

Deborah R. Gerhardt, a parent of school-age children in North Carolina, is upset that her children’s teachers–including their best teachers–are leaving. They are leaving because the Legislature is driving the state’s best teachers away, she says. Ten years ago, she and her family moved to North Carolina because of its reputation for investing in its public schools. But that reputation has been squ

3 by dianeravitch / 2h 

Mike Petrilli: 2014 as the Year of “Universal Proficiency”

Mike Petrilli of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute in D.C. is the member of the “reform” movement for whom I continue to hold out hope. Mike is intelligent–as are other members of the “reform” movement–but unlike most of the others, he is known to question his assumptions from time to time. He occasionally challenges himself and takes a tiny step away from the other advocates of privati

3 by dianeravitch / 3h  

LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 1-12-14 Diane Ravitch's blog A site to discuss better education for all

Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: New Volume About Teacher Evaluation and High-Stakes Testing Now AvailableA group of expert researchers have published a new collection of articles about teacher evaluation and high-stakes testing and their consequences. The collection appears online in the Teachers College Record. It is called “High-Stakes Teacher Evaluation: High

by mike simpson / 9h 

1-13-14 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 On Grit: “Trust Your Power”

Here’s a great video I’m adding to The Best Video Clips Demonstrating “Grit”:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 35min hide  //  save

From The Archives: “Merit pay and ‘loss aversion:’ Nonsense studies”

I’ve recently re-started an effort I’ve tried to do previously by regularly highlighting previous posts and articles I’ve shared in previous years that I think might be worth a second look. Today, I’d like to highlight a piece I wrote for The Washington Post about some appalling research done on students and teacher. It’s titled Merit pay and ‘loss aversion:’ Nonsense studies. Here’s how I ended i

by Larry Ferlazzo / 35min 

My New BAM! Radio Show Is On The Air & First Episode Is On “Flipping” Classrooms

I’ve just begun a weekly ten minute BAM! Radio Network podcast where I interview a couple of guests who have written responses to the “question-of-the-week” at my Education Week Teacher advice column. You can listen to the first show, which is on “flipping” classrooms, with at the BAM! site or download it (and subscribe for free) on iTunes. I interview guests Jon Bergman and Troy Cockrum about t

by Larry Ferlazzo / 3h 

My Latest NY Times Post: Learning Prepositions & Using Badly Translated Signs For Language Learning

My latest New York Times post for English Language Learners is on prepositions AND language-learning with badly translated signs. It includes a student interactive and teaching ideas. You might also be interested in The Best Collections Of Funny Signs (For Use In English Classes). You can see all my previous NY Times posts here.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

YESTERDAY

From The Archives: “Teacher Eyes on the Wrong Prize?”

I’ve recently re-started an effort I’ve tried to do previously by regularly highlighting previous posts and articles I’ve shared in previous years that I think might be worth a second look. Today, I’d like to revisit an article I wrote for Education Week Teacher over three years ago. It’s titled Teacher Eyes on the Wrong Prize? Here’s an excerpt:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h 

Resources From All My Blogs

In addition to this blog, I regularly post at several other sites: Engaging Parents In School: Weekly Posts At Classroom Q & A With Larry Ferlazzo: Weekly Posts At The New York Times Learning Network on Teaching English Language Learners: Periodic Posts at Edutopia: All My Class Blogs: Class Blog: Beginner & Intermediate ELD Class Blog: ESL/EFL Student Showcase Class Blog: Intermediate EL

by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h 

More Resources On Gratitude

Here are new additions to The Best Resources On “Gratitude”: How to Teach Kids to Be Grateful: Give Them Less is from The Atlantic. The Science of Gratitude is from Nautilus. Raising Children With an Attitude of Gratitude is from The Wall Street Journal.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h 

1-12-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Fun & Useful Video: “ESL Verb English Grammar Vocabulary Rap Song”I’m adding this video to The Best Web Tools For Teaching Irregular Verbs & Verb Tenses — Contribute Your Suggestions!by Larry Ferlazzo / 11min hide  //  saveVideo: “What my beagle does when we’re not home”Here’s another fun video to show English Langu

by mike simpson / 10h

1-13-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

When the members demand unity in the fight for our pensions, our leaders will unite.

A good statement from Illinois Education Association President Cinda Klickna and Illinois Retired Teachers Association President Bob Pinkerton. We the presidents of IEA and IRTA, respectively, wish to express our commitment to successfully defending our organizations’ members against the unfair and unconstitutional Senate Bill 1. Our two organizations have different constituencies, therefore it’s

by Fred Klonsky / 9min 

Illinois GOP candidates for governor debate minimum wage.

by Fred Klonsky / 21min 

Keeping retirement weird. 450 years of teaching experience.

When I retired from teaching in June of 2012, I walked out of my building on the last day of school with nothing in my hands. Anne picked me up and we drove to the airport. All the retirement celebrating had been done. My union honored me and my retiring colleagues. The staff in my building honored us. I even threw a memorable party for myself at the Red Line Tap. Tony was there. But my district’

by Fred Klonsky / 51min hide  //  save

Chicago Teachers Union moves to establish an Independent Political Organization.

Resolution for the Chicago Teachers Union to Launch an Independent Political Organziation (IPO) Whereas, the Chicago Teachers Union hopes to transform the traditional means of engaging in politics and legislative activities in Chicago and Illinois to engender authentic political engagement to amplify the voice and representation of working and poor people in politics and legislative process, and W

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

ISBE Special Education class size limits. Who to call.

The vote to eliminate State special ed class size limits, and to eliminate the State 70/30 rule - the 30 percent limit on the percentage of students with an IEP that can be in a regular general ed class - will be first at the Board of ISBE, and then at JCAR. On Wednesday, January 22, and on Thursday, January 23, at the ISBE office at 100 N. First Street in Springfield, the Board of ISBE will first

3 by Fred Klonsky / 2h

1-12-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Sunday reads.There is no such thing as clean coal. A tiny padded room at KIPP Star Washington Heights Elementary School was a real-life nightmare for two young boys who were repeatedly detained in the tot cells. Parents and students charged Chicago charter schools Tuesday with targeted expulsions inte

by mike simpson / 7h 

1-13-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

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

“What Do Parents Want in Their Child’s School?”

What Do Parents Want in Their Child’s School? is a good post by Bill Carozza summarizing a semi-recent poll of parents by the Fordham Institute. I had thought I had posted about the survey already, but I couldn’t find it, so I guess I just thought I had…. Of course, I have posted about many other parent surveys, and you can find all those here.

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 6h 

1-12-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": “Nominate The 2014 Toyota Family Teacher Of The Year”From The National Center For Families Learning: “Know a teacher that deserves an “A+” for engaging parents, children and educators in the learning process? Nominate them for the Toyota Family Teacher of the Year Award and the chance to win $20,000 for their school or non-

by mike simpson / 10h 

 

1-12-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Fun & Useful Video: “ESL Verb English Grammar Vocabulary Rap Song”I’m adding this video to The Best Web Tools For Teaching Irregular Verbs & Verb Tenses — Contribute Your Suggestions!by Larry Ferlazzo / 11min hide  //  saveVideo: “What my beagle does when we’re not home”Here’s another fun video to show English Langu

by mike simpson / 10h

1-13-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:

Hey Steve Perry – Tell us about Capital Prep’s “Table of Shame”

Located in the cafeteria of the Capital Preparatory Magnet School at 1304 Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut is the “Table of Shame.” At part of Capital Prep Principal Steve Perry’s “zero-tolerance” policies even the slightest “violations,” such as wearing the wrong colored belt, will result in punishments designed to humiliate and demean students. For example, […]The post Hey Steve Perry – Tell

by jonpelto / 11min 

Malloy administration action raises more ethics questions…

Stefan Pryor, Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, is no stranger to ethics issues. Pryor and his operatives at the State Department of Education are now engaged in activities that raise even more potential ethics violations. As reported yesterday in a post entitled, “Pryor schedules Corporate Education Reform Industry Lobby Group for Alliance District Meeting,” Commissioner […]The post Ma

by jonpelto / 1h 

1-12-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Pryor schedules Corporate Education Reform Industry Lobby Group for Alliance District MeetingAnd that is just the tip of the iceberg… Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and his sidekick and aide, former Achievement First principal Morgan Barth, are pushing the ethical envelope ever further while telegraphing where Malloy really stands when it comes to teachers,

by mike simpson / 6h

The Educated Reporter: Deadlines Approaching For Journalism Fellowships

The Educated Reporter: Deadlines Approaching For Journalism Fellowships:

Deadlines Approaching For Journalism Fellowships

Deadlines are approaching for several journalism fellowships, including one designed specifically for education reporters. Each provides an extraordinary opportunity to step away from the daily grind of the beat and consider how you want the next chapter of your career to play out. It's also a chance to refresh the skills you have, learn plenty of new ones, and broaden your world view.

The Nieman Fellowship at Harvard and the Knight-Wallace Fellows at the University of Michigan both target typically mid-career journalists from a wide range of mediums, including print, broadcast and online outlets. (Full disclosure: I'm a member of KWF's Class of '11.) Each offers the opportunity to take university classes and did deep into a particular area of study.

• The Nieman program includes opportunities for international journalists, as well as some specialized spots, including the Reynolds Fellowship in Community Journalism, which is earmarked for reporters working for smaller news outlets. The deadline is Jan. 31. 

• The Knight-Wallace Fellowship also has a few spots for international reporters, and travel abroad is a critical aspect of the experience: The entire class visits South America and Turkey. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1.

• The Spencer Education Fellows at Columbia University spend the academic year working on a long-form journalism project. The fellows take classes at both the Columbia Journalism School and Teachers College. It's not uncommon for recipients to produce books based on their fellowship projects. (Check out works by Sarah Carr, Sarah Garland, Alexander Russo and Peg Tyre for just a few examples.) The deadline to apply is Jan. 31. 

• The John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford was reconfigured with a focus on innovation. Fellows propose tools, approaches and platforms to re-imagine journalism, and then spend the academic year turning their idea into reality. The deadline is Wednesday. (Apologies - I forgot this one sneaks up a little earlier.)

And speaking of deadlines, EWA is now accepting entries for our 2013 National Awards for Education Reporting. You can find all the pertinent details here. We've added some new categories this year, including data journalism and education organizations and experts. If you want a good idea of the superb caliber of the entries we receive, take a look at the winners of the 2012 contest.

Have a question, comment or concern for the Educated Reporter? Email EWA public editor Emily Richmond at erichmond@ewa.org. Follow her on Twitter: @EWAEmily.