A Question for Bill Gates: How Can We Motivate Students When Their Futures Are Bleak? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

A Question for Bill Gates: How Can We Motivate Students When Their Futures Are Bleak? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

A Question for Bill Gates: How Can We Motivate Students When Their Futures Are Bleak?

By Anthony Cody on July 3, 2014 9:58 AM

I am trying to make sense of the education reform project, which seems a mass of contradictions. On the one hand, we have a seemingly utopian project with bold pronouncements about the boundless capacity of all students - even those with serious learning disabilities - to succeed on ever more difficult tests. On the other hand, we have tests that are apparently intentionally designed to fail in the realm of two thirds of our students. I am focusing on the thinking of one of the chief architects and financial sponsors of corporate reform, Bill Gates. His vision guides one of the largest philanthropies in the world, which has made education reform its number one priority within the US, so his thinking has huge consequences for our schools. 

As I wrote yesterday, Gates seems to be awakening to the role "student motivation" plays in the capacity for students to learn - at least when technology is involved. This is a huge and important insight, because it is the clue that tells us there are limits to the degree to which we can manipulate others. Human agency is ultimately a determining factor. And once we begin to explore the motivation of our students - or lack thereof, we can learn some very important things.

I think one of the key pieces that Gates has missed with his approach to education is the connection between students' motivation and their life prospects. This goes beyond the material conditions of poverty that directly impinge on students' capacity to learn - neighborhood violence, hunger, unstable housing and so on. This has to do with what students perceive are their own opportunities in life. These perceptions are influenced by what students see around them. How are older relatives and friends in the neighborhood doing after graduating from high school?  Is the promised path of high school diploma, followed by four-year degree, actually working out? Or are they seeing older peers forced to drop out, or graduating saddled with debt, without the high-paying jobs that A Question for Bill Gates: How Can We Motivate Students When Their Futures Are Bleak? - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher:

Our National Anthem’s Two Questions | Taking Note

Our National Anthem’s Two Questions | Taking Note:

Our National Anthem’s Two Questions

by JOHN MERROW on 03. JUL, 2014 in 2014 BLOGS

As we celebrate our nation’s independence, it might be worth recalling that the first stanza [1] of our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” poses two questions but answers only the first, leaving the second for each generation to wrestle with.

Some of you may now be singing the song to yourselves, figuring out just what the anthem poses. Let me save you the trouble. The first question is presented in the song’s opening lines:

O, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?”

In other words, did our flag survive the bombardment of Fort McHenry in what is known as the Battle of Baltimore in 1814? It was still flying, the lyrics assure us:

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

However, Francis Scott Key poses a second question–which he does not answer–in the last two lines of the first stanza:

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

I suspect that most of us do not think of it as a question. We sing it, loudly and proudly, telling the world that we are the land of the free and the home of the brave. But Key wrote it as a question, not an Our National Anthem’s Two Questions | Taking Note:

7-3-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

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

Attack on “Balanced Literacy” Is Attack on Professional Teachers, Research

The allusion in Robert Pondiscio’s Why Johnny won’t learn to read accomplishes something different than intended. Pondiscio’s uninformed swipe at balanced literacy actually reveals that, once again, ideology trumps teacher professionalism and literacy research. The reading wars are about almost everything except reading, but the most important lesson from this newest version of the same old thing

1 by plthomasedd / 1min 

7-2-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University)

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): Schneider’s Ten Reform Claims: A ReaderJack Schneider’s Ten Reform Claims That Teachers Should Know How to Challenge provides a powerful framework for educators to mobilize our much needed roles as teachers for the wider public. I want here to use his ten claims as a bas

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-3-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?:

Wait What? 

How much did you or your UConn student contribute to Hillary Clinton’s $251,000 speaking fee

Here is the latest on UConn’s payment of $251,000 to Hillary Clinton for speaking on the Storrs Campus earlier this year Pat Eaton-Rob of the Associated Press writes, HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut on Thursday defended its decision to have former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speak on campus in April […] The post How much did you or your UConn student contribute t

1 by jonpelto / 7min 

Malloy and Pryor:  The Connecticut Charter School Debacle Expands

Thanks to Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy and his Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, Connecticut’s charter school industry has been sucking up tens of millions of dollars in public funds that could have been going to help Connecticut’s real public schools. Malloy’s unlimited commitment to charter schools runs so deep that when he brags that he […] The post Malloy and Pryor:  The Connecticut Cha

by jonpelto / 57min 

7-2-14 Wait What? - Jonathan Pelto: Gubernatorial Candidate and A Really Nice Guy

Wait What?: Wait What? CT Post Editorial: A long-overdue step on chartersThe Connecticut Post has published a powerful editorial about the Jumoke/FUSE charter school debacle and the Malloy Administration’s failure to properly oversee the growing charter school industry in Connecticut. Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy, his Commissioner of Education, Stefan Pryor, and Pryor’s minions of charter school a

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-3-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet:

The July 4th quiz

How much do you really know about the history of the Declaration of Independence and events surrounding the famous date of July 4th, 1776? When, for example, was independence actually declared by the second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia? Who was the first signer of the declaration? Who wrote it? You can take our quiz […]

by Valerie Strauss / 7min 

Why we still need affirmative action for African Americans in college admissions

Affirmative action in college admissions for African Americans has been losing support in the United States for some time, with new “colorblind” methods of ending gaining ground in the courts. In this powerful defense of affirmative action, Richard Rothstein explains why pretending color doesn’t matter doesn’t actually work and why it is unfair. Rothstein is […]

8 by Valerie Strauss / 6h 

7-2-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: What you know about July 4th is wrongYou learned in school about what happened in July 1776, and think you have a good handle on events surrounding American independence from Great Britain. Right? Well, if you think that was the day that America’s independence was declared by the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, you are wrong. And if you think that that […]by Valerie Str

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-3-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

Can You Help? Looking For Stories Of People Learning Self-Control Or Grit From Challenging Circumstances

© 2011 marc falardeau, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Regular readers know I’m a big believer in teaching Social Emotional Learning (see The Best Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Resources) and that I also have a healthy skepticism of how it’s sometimes used (see The manipulation of Social Emotional Learning). Readers also know that I have a particular interest in focusing on the assets students bring

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h

More Ramadan Resources

© 2009 yeowatzup, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are new additions to The Best Sites To Teach & Learn About Ramadan: Here’s a short video explainer from The Associated Press. Ramadan: A centuries-old American tradition is from Al Jazeera. 9 Questions You Were Too Embarrassed To Ask About Ramadan is from BuzzFeed. Ramadan: Five things you may not know is from The BBC. Ramadan Chant is from The

by Larry Ferlazzo / 47min 

Several More Useful Resources On Race

© 2010 Viktor Nagornyy, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are new additions to A Collection Of Useful Posts, Articles & Videos On Race & Racism: Why we still need affirmative action for African Americans in college admissions is from The Washington Post. The Major Disadvantage Facing Black Students, Even In Kindergarten is from The Huffington Post. Everyone does drugs, but only minorities ar

by Larry Ferlazzo / 21min 

The Best Posts & Articles About OECD’s Survey Of Teacher Working Conditions

#155562776 / gettyimages.com The OECD’s 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey was recently released, and I thought I’d bring together a few good commentaries on it. You might also be interested in The Best Posts & Articles About The Importance Of Teacher (& Student) Working Conditions, since those working conditions are the focus of the OECD survey. Let me know if you have sug

by Larry Ferlazzo / 37min 

TED-Ed Video: “What you might not know about the Declaration of Independence”

Here’s a nice TED-Ed video and lesson I’m adding to The Best Websites For Learning About The Fourth Of July:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h 

7-2-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Five Good Resources For Project-Based Learning© 2010 hackNY.org, Flickr | CC-BY-SA | via Wylio Here are some useful additions to The Best Sites For Cooperative Learning Ideas: Personalized PBL: Student-Designed Learning is by Andrew Miller. Five Keys to Rigorous Project-Based Learning is from Edutopia. What Project-Based Le

by mike simpson / 6h 

7-3-14 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.:

NEA RA. A 45 minute break.

It was a long morning of speeches. There were speeches from candidates for a bunch of NEA executive offices, including President. And Dennis Van Roekel gave his farewell address as he enters the relatively large club of former NEA Presidents. He gave pretty much the same speech – although a lot longer – that he gave to the Retired conference that was – it seems like – a month ago. Although it was

1 by Fred Klonsky / 24min hide  //  save

Pension news while I was in the convention hall…

  While I am participating and covering the NEA RA, Glen, John and Ken are posting about today’s Illinois Supreme Court decision upholding the pension protection clause and ruling against the imposition of state police powers to grab our pensions. Glen Brown: “The Illinois Supreme Court ruled [6 - 1] today that subsidized health care premiums for retired state employees are protected under the Il

1 by Fred Klonsky / 51min 

Bob Lyons. Pension theft in Illinois almost certainly doomed.

- Bob Lyons represents retirees on the TRS board of trustees. THURSDAY, July 3, 2014 PENSION REFORM LAWS ALMOST CERTAINLY DOOMED HEALTH INSURANCE RULING IS CRYSTAL CLEAR In a sweeping 6-1 decision, the Illinois Supreme Court today struck down an attempt to force government retirees to pay more for their subsidized state health insurance, and in the process made it abundantly clear that the new pen

by Fred Klonsky / 17min 

Denver Thursday forecast. Sunny with intermittent blogging.

In a break between the morning Illinois caucus and the opening of the RA in an hour. Good news from back home today. The Illinois Supremes ruled 6-1 in a case involving public employee health care. They rejected the two key arguments that the state is making in the Senate Bill 1 case. They ruled against the state on both the pension protection clause of the Illinois Constitution and the state’s

by Fred Klonsky / 1min 

NEA RA. NBI on Common Core.

This NBI from the NEA Board of Directors will be voted on at the RA later this week. NEW BUSINESS ITEM C In recognition of supporting quality teaching, as well as learning over testing, NEA will work with state affiliates in states that have adopted the Common Core State Standards or other state standards to ensure that the standards are properly implemented and that educators are empowered to lea

by Fred Klonsky / 49min 

7-2-14 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.: The view from the IEA Retired section in the back of the hall at the first Illinois caucus session yesterday.NEA RA. NBI A. Toxic testing.New Business A will be presented to the RA Thursday.   NEW BUSINESS ITEM A NEA CAMPAIGN AGAINST TOXIC TESTING NEA will conduct a comprehensive campaign to end the h

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-3-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

Have a SAFE 4th

How the UFT Sits By and Watches Discontinued Teachers Go Down

Plainly, the UFT basically doesn't give a shit when teachers lose their jobs.With the new tone between the UFT and Farina, why won't UFT Officials pick up a phone and save a teacher's career? One of the major reasons for the weakness of the union at the school chapter level is the unlimited power principals have to blackball probationary teachers from the system for life -- in addition to all the

by ed notes online / 1min 

Worse than Michelle Rhee: Teachers and public schools have a shocking new enemy

Isn't it time for teacher unions to issue a Declaration of Independence from the Democratic Party? Thomas Jefferson for AFT president. Again thanks to Jeff Kaufman for coming up with this article by Jeff Bryant writing at Solon. Note that our fearless union leaders keep sucking at the teat of the Democratic Party no matter how much they smash teachers and their union.TUESDAY, JUL 1, 2014 12:55 PM

by ed notes online / 2min hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

Tier 4, 5, 6 Pension Plans Comparisons: The later you enter, the more you get screwed

Thanks to Jeff Kaufman for sending this to ICE Mail. We used to joke about Tier 12 - we're up to Tier 6 so we are half way there. Coming one day - Work 'till you are 80 --- but we know the reality -- few will make it to full pension. Tier 4 Pension Plan (applicable to members hired before 01/01/10)Employee Pension Contribution.............3% for ten years, *0% after (*except for special earlier

by ed notes online / 8h 

6-30-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: How Will UFT Be Affected if Supreme Court Rules Negative on Dues?Will disaffected UFTers quit the union? Will people think they are not getting their dues money's worth?I know this decision might come down any minute but I wanted to speculate a bit before it does on how the UFT might be affected.First, the essence of the case: You don't want to pay union dues (agency shop fees) if

by mike simpson / 8h