3-3-14 Wait What? All Week

Wait What?:

Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor lies to Education Committee

A last  Friday’s Democrat’s informational  “non-public” hearing on the Common Core and the Common Core Smarter  Balanced Field Test, Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, couldn’t even manage to tell the truth about this year’s Common Core Smarter Balanced Assessment Field Test. called SBAC. Pryor is not only the Commissioner of Education and a […]The post Commissioner of Educ

6 by jonpelto / 2h 

A real public hearing on the Common Core and Common Core testing fiasco?

Many parents, teachers, public school advocates and taxpayers are asking whether the Connecticut General Assembly will hold a real public hearing on  the Common Core , Common Core testing fiasco, and the flawed teacher evaluation system? The answer is …  yeah, sort of, maybe… it depends on what you call a real public hearing. When Governor Malloy […]The post A real public hearing on the Common Cor

by jonpelto / 9min 

Malloy administration’s farce of a hearing on Common Core

The development and implementation of the Common Core and its related Common Core testing scam is one of the most important issues facing American public education. The Common Core was developed in relatively secrecy and forced upon the states by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.  Some of the people who developed the Common Core Standards were even […]The post Malloy administration’s far

7 by jonpelto / 35min  

3-2-14 Wait What? All Week

Wait What?: Connecticut to end non-credit remedial courses at public collegesNo really….  A Connecticut law passed in 2012 made it illegal for Connecticut public colleges to provide non-credit remedial courses starting in 2014. Long time Wait, What? readers may remember the discussion on the blog. Led by Democratic Governor Dannel Malloy and the Democratic controlled General Assembly, Connecticut

by mike simpson / 8h 

3-3-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet:

What was on ’12 Years a Slave’ director Steve McQueen’s wrist on Oscar stage?

Director Steve McQueen was wearing a red wristband Sunday night when he ascended to the stage after his film, “12 Years a Slave,” won the Oscar for Best Picture. What was it? McQueen was wearing a wristband that said  ”Stand Up4Public Schools,” given to him by David A. Pickler, president of the National School Boards Association, […]    

7 by Valerie Strauss / 9min 

Why school isn’t for children anymore — teacher

Dawn Neely-Randall, a 24-year veteran teacher in Ohio,  has watched with alarm the rising influence of standardized testing on public education in recent years. In an e-mail, she said she is “weary” of the “testing abuse inflicted” on her students and profession. Neely-Randall wrote the following piece a few days ago about what she sees […]    

100+ by Valerie Strauss / 6h 

3-2-14 The Answer Sheet

The Answer Sheet: Your kid is being bullied at school — but not in the way you thinkHow bad is the standardized testing obsession in public education? Really bad, says James Arnold, the former superintendent of Pelham City Schools in Pelham, Ga., in the following post. A version of this appeared on his blog.   By James Arnold Are you defined by a test? If you were born before 1985, chances are the

by mike simpson / 7h 

3-3-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter:

Alan Morrison: Another Indiana Amway/Walmart Player

By Doug MartinAfter Indiana House District 42’s Republican Alan Morrison appeared at a crackerbarrel session in the small town of Clinton over the weekend, someone noted on facebook that “Morrison was very condescending and argumentative to some of the citizens, especially to a couple of local school teachers.”   This is no surprise to people closely following the school privatization movement in

36 by Doug Martin / 2h 

3-2-14 Schools Matter

Schools Matter: The Witch of Wall Street May Go to CourtFederal Judge Orders Michelle Rhee Suit to Go Forward, will Broaden to Concealment and Fraud ClaimsA US federal judge has denied a Motion to Dismiss by former DC Public School Chancellor Michelle Rhee in a wrongful termination lawsuit over the mass firings of DC Public School teachers back in 2009. Case to be amended to add concealment and fr

by mike simpson / 13h 

3-3-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

Carnival Updates!

Here are new additions to The Best Sites To Learn About Mardi Gras & Carnivals: From Brazil to Macedonia: Carnival Ignites Colorful Celebrations is a photo gallery from NBC. Carnival 2014 Around the World is a photo gallery from The Atlantic. 2014 Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is a photo gallery from The Los Angeles Times.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 47min hide  //  save

Updated Dinosaur Resources

Since my latest New York Times post for English Language Learners is on dinosaurs, I thought I’d take the opportunity to update The Best Sites For Learning About Dinosaurs. Feel free to make additional suggestions…

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

Practice Pronunciation With Tongue-Twisters AND Learn About Dinosaurs!

Practice pronunciation with “tongue-twisters” and learn about the dinosaurs at the same time with my latest New York Times post for English Language Learners. A student interactive and teaching ideas are included. I’m adding this post to The Best Sites For Learning About Dinosaurs.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h hide  //  save

This Week In Web 2.0

In yet another attempt to get at the enormous backlog I have of sites worth , I’ve recently begin a regular feature called “The Week In Web 2.0.” (you might also be interested in The Best Web 2.0 Applications For Education In 2013): Flip Quiz is an easy site that lets you create an online Jeopardy-like game board that students can play. Thanks to a Journey In TEFL for the tip. Common Core in Act

by Larry Ferlazzo / 9h 

3-2-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “Mythbusters” Music Video: “It’s Time For Science!”Check out this fun Mythbusters music video, made by Melody Sheep:by Larry Ferlazzo / 23min Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Week… 3-1-14 …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLarry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFLLARRY FERLAZZO’S WEBSITES OF THE

by mike simpson / 6h 

3-3-14 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.:

Chicago Tribune endorses Guzzardi, “though we disagree with his position on pension reform.”

Challenger Will Guzzardi gets an endorsement from the Chicago Trib in spite of his opposition to pension theft. “Proud to disagree with the Trib on pensions, and proud to be endorsed anyway,” responded Guzzardi. 39th District: Will Guzzardi lost the Democratic primary in 2012 to state Rep. Toni Berrios by just 125 votes. Guzzardi is trying again to defeat the daughter of Joe Berrios, the Cook Cou

by Fred Klonsky / 0min 

Fear and loathing in Chicago.

- Chicago Teachers Union CHICAGO—The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) this week continues its steadfast support of the teachers at Saucedo Scholastic Academy and Thomas Drummond Montessori School who are boycotting the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT), but is extremely concerned about the ever-growing confusion generated by Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in its communication to parents regard

by Fred Klonsky / 4min 

The shameless Civic Federation isn’t done with seniors yet. Why not just take it all?

  Soup kitchen at Representative Robin Gabel’s office protesting pension cuts Not satisfied with Senate Bill 1 which cut public employee pension benefits, the Civic Federation of Chicago wants pension and Social Security benefits taxes, while reducing personal income taxes on the wealthy and Illinois corporations. Don’t write to me that you’re not surprised. I’m not surprised. It doesn’t mean I’m

4 by Fred Klonsky / 27min 

Breaking: Pensions suits consolidated by order of Illinois Supreme Court.

Associated Press: SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — The Illinois Supreme Court has ordered that four lawsuits challenging Illinois’ new pension reform law be consolidated. The March 3 order transfers the case filed by a group of retired teachers in Cook County Circuit Court to Sangamon County Circuit Court, where the three other cases were filed. The court says all of the cases will be heard together in Spr

by Fred Klonsky / 5min 

Today is the first day of early voting. I won’t be voting for Kirk Dillard.

Today is the first day of early voting in Illinois. After some coffee and breakfast I will head over to the library on Milwaukee Avenue and vote for Will Guzzardi in the 39th State Representative District. I promised to do that when Toni Berrios voted against our constitutionally protected pensions back in May. If I voted in the 26th district I would be voting for Jay Travis. If I lived in the 40

4 by Fred Klonsky / 1

3-2-14 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.12 Years a Slave is my pick for best picture in the Oscars tonight. There’s a Republican Party in Illinois. It’s called the Democratic Party. Rahm should stick to Polar Plunges with Jimmy Fallon and leave the schools alone. Hasn’t he learned? Every time he intervenes, he only make things

by mike simpson / 8h 

3-3-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

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

Student-Led Conferences: “Instead of Mrs. Haug telling us what we learned, we tell her what we learned.”

Teachers switching format of parent conferences is an article in St. Louis Today sharing how teachers in one school began moving their parent-teacher conferences into student-led ones. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Parent/Teacher Conferences.

3 by Larry Ferlazzo / 7h hide  //  save

My Best Posts On Parent Engagement Over The Past Three Months

I thought readers, and I, would find it useful to review and list my choices for the best posts on parent engagement I’ve written since I posted My Best Posts On Parent Engagement In 2013 three months ago. You can also see all my “Best” lists related to parent engagement here. Here are My Best Posts On Parent Engagement Over The Past Three Months: Infographic: Math Cheat Sheet For Parents Infogra

5 by Larry Ferlazzo / 7h 

 

3-2-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement": “Research Findings From Learning at Home: Families’ Educational Media Use in America”Q & A With Lori Takeuchi: Research Findings From Learning at Home: Families’ Educational Media Use in America is from the Harvard Family Research Project. Here’s the part most useful to educators: How can practitioners support families

by mike simpson / 5h

3-3-14 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online:

Video Inspiration: Karen Lewis and John Kuhn @ Network for Public Education Conf, Austin, TX

from Vincent Precht at http://vimeo.com/87984834

by ed notes online / 10h 

3-2-14 Ed Notes Online Week

Ed Notes Online: Portelos on SCI LiesIf you had sat through the 23 day3020a trial and listened to the evidence, there were many "break out laughing" moments at the farce the DOE was engaging in. But more of that another time.Many people who have dealt with the office of the Special Commissioner of Investigations (SCI), which goes after school employees, don't believe there arehonest brok

by mike simpson / 8h