5-7-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Useful Posts & Articles On Education Policies

Here are several recent useful posts and articles on educational policy issues: What If Teacher Evaluation Isn’t Actually Broken After All? by Paul Bruno is a really excellent post. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About Effective Student & Teacher Assessments. Merit Badges for Teachers? You’ve Gotta Be Joking is by John Thompson. Failing Schools: Conflicts over How to Write,

by Larry Ferlazzo / 19min hide  //  save

How Much Do We Teachers Spend On Our Classrooms?

Last year, I posted this infographic reporting what a survey says the average teacher spends on their classroom. I thought it was a “low-ball” figure, and at least some readers agreed: Teachers Spend Hundreds of Own Funds to Keep Up With Classroom Needs infographic by ginatomko.     Today, Vox published a number of very good charts on the same topic (I’d encourage you to check out Most teache

by Larry Ferlazzo / 19min 

This Week In Web 2.0

In yet another attempt to get at the enormous backlog I have of sites worth blogging about, 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). I also sometimes include tech tools that might not exactly fit the definition of Web 2.0: Twoople lets you set up a permanent chatboard that you can sha

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h

“Pixteller” Lets You Make Visually Attractive Quotations

Reader Irina let me know about Pixteller, another tool that lets you easily create visually attractive quotations. Here’s an example (the quote comes from a piece I wrote about Social Emotional Learning for The Washington Post): I’m adding it to The Best Tools For Creating Visually Attractive Quotations For Online Sharing.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 47min 

“How Can Administrators Support an Engaging Curriculum in the Classroom?”

How Can Administrators Support an Engaging Curriculum in the Classroom? is my latest “question-of-the-week” at my Education Week Teacher column. Feel free to leave your responses here in the comments section or there…

by Larry Ferlazzo / 57min 

I Learn Another Great Game For English Langage Learners From Jimmy Fallon

Last year, I wrote about a fun game for English Language Learners that I learned from late-night talk show host Jimmy Fallon (see Jimmy Fallon Comes Up With A Great Game For English Language Learners). Today, I learned another one… He calls it Word Sneak, and it’s a simple one — two people are given five words that they have to fit into a conversation. Obviously, it’s very funny the way he uses

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

“What Are the Best Ways for Teachers to Work With School Counselors?” Is Topic Of My Latest BAM! Program

What Are the Best Ways for Teachers to Work With School Counselors? is the topic of my latest ten minute BAM! Radio program. I talk with Mindy Willard, 2013 American School Counselor of the Year, and Leticia Gallardo, who is the best counselor I’ve ever seen. They are both contributors to an upcoming Ed Week column I have on the subject.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h 

5-6-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: The Best Articles Showing Why Education Reform Is NOT The Best Way To Fight PovertyPaul Bruno has described one of my common frustrations: When charged with “ignoring poverty”, many education reformers will respond that in fact improving education is the best way to fight poverty. Arne Duncan once went so far as to say that

by mike simpson / 7h 

5-7-14 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 Teachers Union adopts resolution opposing the Common Core State Standards.

Today the Chicago Teachers Union passed a resolution opposing the Common Core standards. A similar New Business Item was not permitted to be voted on at the recent Illinois Education Association state convention. It was ruled out of order by IEA President Cinda Klickna. The NBI had been introduced by veteran Park Ridge fifth grade teacher and delegate, Jerry Mulvihill. From CTUnet: Today, members

53 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Jose Vilson’s This is Not a Test is released today.

Jose Vilson’s book, This is Not a Test, was released today. I thought I would repost the review I wrote last March. This is Not a Test. Jose Vilson. Haymarket Books My friend Professor Bill Schubert, who is also my professional mentor, advocated the very Deweyian idea of teacher lore as a basis for educational research. Schubert’s idea is to extend to teachers “a progressive faith acknowledging t

3 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Ten minute drawing. Caution. No safe passage.

by Fred Klonsky / 30min hide  //  save

60 years since Brown. Don’t let them turn back the clock.

by Fred Klonsky / 4min 

Getting rid of the wiener on the Fifth Floor.

The news hasn’t been great for Rahm this week. There was the story that his motorcade regularly speeds through school zones and red lights. His sexist snub of the great Whitney Young High School girls basketball state champions. The arrest of his fugitive money-laundering Comptroller in Pakistan. The editorial in the Tribune that called him a “walking personality disorder.” And that was just THIS

by Fred Klonsky / 1min 

Tuesday night with Karen Lewis and Chicago’s political nerds.

Ben Joravsky and Mick Dumke are members of that very small circle of people that can justifiably claim the titles of Chicago journalists. They both write for the Chicago Reader. Full disclosure. Joravsky is an old friend. Old enough that I think twenty years ago he threw me off his bowling league team. They weren’t very good. Clearly, I was worse. Joravsky and Dumke have now created something uni

by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

5-6-14 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.: Maybe I’m amazed. Rahm can’t afford to buy his own Paul McCartney tickets. And no lunch with Rauner.Fresh on the heels of stories about Rahm’s law-breaking motorcades and his snub of the great Whitney Young girls state championship basketball team comes the latest scandal. Actually, it’s not a scandal

by mike simpson / 7h 

5-7-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Vera Pavone on the UFT Contract

The power of a union derives from the power of its membership acting together. But also, its ability to get the support of a wider part of the community.So, the main job of a union is to build solidarity among its membership and with its natural allies. In the case of a teachers’ union the natural allies are parents, community, students, other unions and workers, and other teacher unions throughou

by ed notes online / 53min 

Former Unity Caucus Member: Arthur Goldstein is telling the truth about loyalty oaths

Loyalty to the truth rather than Unity makes for better sleeping at night... Roseanne McCosh, PS 8X, former Unity Caucus memberThis is in response to attacks on Arthur challenging whether there is a loyalty oath. Remember when Lauren Cohen mentioned the loyalty oath at the NYSUT convention? They started booing her. Touchy, touchy, touchy.There are Unity Caucus people who agree with us. I know beca

by ed notes online / 8min 

Roseanne McCosh: Why I Am Voting No to the UFT Contract

Roseanne has been in touch for a number of years - she follows issues very closely and shares them with her staff at PS 8 in the Bronx. She was chapter leader for a number of years before passing it on to the next gen. She shared this with teachers in her school. She has never been to a MORE meeting. So Roseanne represents rank and file teachers. So when Unity attacks the opponents of the contract

by ed notes online / 10min hide  //  save

MORE Press Advisory: NYC Public School Educators to UFT Leaders: “Go Back to the Bargaining Table!”

This was sent out to the press last night. Even if you are not part of MORE, join the campaign by downloading and printing leaflets for your school. MORE is willing to help organize events in your local area around your school to discuss the contract to counter the Unity spin.FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: May 6, 2014 CONTACT: Harris Lirtzman (917)806-8233 (during the school day) OR Megan Moskop (252)367-

by ed notes online / 1h  

5-6-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Press Conf Protesting Charter Law at 9AM/ Charter Gold Rush to Come in NYS9AM: presser starting now, followed by 10AM City Council hearing on charters.WHAT:          Press conference to protest new state law requiring New York City to give charter schools preference for space and resources, while schools in community school districts need space and resources to properly serve publ

by mike simpson / 7h 

5-7-14 Wait What?

Wait What?:

Malloy and Democrats eviscerate “Transform CSCU 2020” in the new State Budget

It was with great “fan-fare” that Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy traveled to Manchester Community College this past January to announce his “Transform CSCU 2020” initiative. Malloy claimed that his plan would provide Connecticut’s State Universities and Community Colleges with an extra $60.2 million in funding.   Governor Malloy stated at the time, “This is only a […] The post Malloy and Democrats e

by jonpelto / 27min 

The Destruction of Public Education in Bridgeport courtesy of Malloy and Mayor Bill Finch

When it comes to the corporate education reform industry’s strategies and tactics, Bridgeport has become one of their “ground zero” targets. Thanks to Governor Malloy, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, Malloy’s Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and education reformer extraordinaire Paul Vallas, the Democratic establishment has presided over an ongoing effort to destroy Bridgeport’s public educat

10 by jonpelto / 1h 

5-6-14 Wait What?

Wait What?: Malloy’s “NO TAX” pledge will send Connecticut into the abyssAs a result of Governor Malloy’s gimmick ridden state budget, the candidate who wins the 2014 gubernatorial election will take office facing a projected state budget deficit of $1.3 billion or more. By using one-time revenues for on-going expenses, purposefully under-funding various government programs and utilizing a series

by mike simpson / 8h 

5-7-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE:

Weingarten Wants Common Core; Lewis Says We’re Done

In spring 1991, I completed my student teaching at Ascension High School in Gonzales, Louisiana. I taught Lord of the Flies, a creepy novel about the dangers of groupthink. So often when I think of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Unity Caucus mindset of unquestioned (and unquestionable) allegiance to a single position on an issue impacting teachers and […]

3 by deutsch29 / 14min 

PISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, Repeat

PISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, Repeat. via PISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, Repeat.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical

1 by plthomasedd / 1h hide  //  save

Duncan Flunks the “State led” Test with His Indiana NCLB Waiver Warning

Corporate reformers love tests. It seems that now, the test is on them. Is the federal government usurping state authority over public education? Consider the protestations that the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are not a federal mandate, as noted on the corestandards.org website: Fact: The Common Core is a state‐led effort that is not part of […]

6 by deutsch29 / 8h 

5-6-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: If This Is Teacher Appreciation, I’m Glad It Is Only a WeekIf This Is Teacher Appreciation, I’m Glad It Is Only a Week. via If This Is Teacher Appreciation, I’m Glad It Is Only a Week.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical1 by plthomasedd / 1h 5-5-14 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: “TAKING BACK OUR SCHOOLS” May 17th  Come and bring your families, your friends, and your coll

by mike simpson / 8h 

5-7-14 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):

PISA Brainwashing: Measure, Rank, Repeat

When Mary Catherine Bradshaw, a teacher since 1984 in Nashville, TN, announced her retirement from public schools, Bradshaw pointed her finger at one major reason, standardized testing: [S]he says standardized testing is the reason…. Testing, she said, has taken away from instructional time and taken the joy out of learning. Much has changed, she said, since she took her first job as a teacher at

10 by plthomasedd / 1h 

5-6-14 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): If This Is Teacher Appreciation, I’m Glad It Is Only a WeekTalk back, speak up, be heard. Bill Ayers, To Teach. This is not the time for the teacher of any language to follow the line of least resistance, to teach without the fullest possible knowledge of the implication

by mike simpson / 8h