Wednesday, July 9, 2014

7-9-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL, & EF

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







I’ll Be Interviewed Online About My Student Motivation Books At 10:50 AM (PST) On Thursday
  The Reform Symposium Free Online Conference (RSCON) is going to be doing a series of live interviews with authors in a Google Hangout tomorrow, Thursday, and I’m scheduled for 10:50 AM Pacific Time to discuss my series of books on student motivation. You can see the interview here as well as see the line-up of other authors participating. Viewers will be able to participate in a chatboard to c
by Larry Ferlazzo / 53min 


Perhaps My Last Listing Of New Resources For This Year’s World Cup
© 2010 Capture Of Dreams, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio Here are what are perhaps the final additions to The Best Sites For Learning About The 2014 World Cup In Brazil: ESPN has a phenomenal site for the World Cup called World Cup Essentials. Life in Brazil – during – the World Cup, in Pictures is from Vox. So You Think You Can Flop? is a fun Washington Post interactive.
by Larry Ferlazzo / 53min 


A New Tool For Creating Email Newsletters From Wix
© 2011 FontShop, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio The ability to create an email newsletter can come in handy for bloggers, teachers and other writers. and I share a number of free tools that let you make them easily at The Best Applications For Creating Free Email Newsletters. Now Wix, the popular website-creating tool, has announced a new feature they call Shout Out that lets you send one out. It appe
by Larry Ferlazzo / 13min hide  //  save
The Best Resources For Learning About Balanced Literacy & The “Reading Wars”
© 2011 Official U.S. Navy Page, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio The so-called “reading wars” on how best to teach literacy are back in the news with the recent announcement that “balanced literacy” is back on the approved list for New York City schools to use. It should come as no surprise to readers that I’m a big supporter of Lucy Calkins and the balanced literacy approach, as my recent tweet demonst
by Larry Ferlazzo / 13min 

Watch This Video & Complete The Sentence: “This Is An Allegory For_______”
We’ve all seen dogs barking at each other through fences. But I doubt you’ve ever seen them do this…. If you feel like it, leave a comment completing this sentence: “This is an allegory for…….” And if the video doesn’t come through on an RSS Readers — believe me, it’s worth clicking through to see it.
by Larry Ferlazzo / 20min 


Video: Donald Duck On Self-Control
I’ve previously shared the videos Sesame Street has done this year promoting the virtue of self-control. They’re pretty creative and entertaining. I just learned that Walt Disney apparently had similar ideas in 1938, and put out this cartoon of Donald Duck teaching and learning about self-control — in his own unique way:
by Larry Ferlazzo / 6h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

Two Fun Links To Learn About The World’s Cultures
Here are two new additions to The Best Sites For Learning About The World’s Different Cultures: The McDonald’s meals abroad that may come as a surprise... is actually pretty interesting and is from The Daily Mail. And here’s an infographic sharing the national flowers of many countries:
by Larry Ferlazzo / 7h 
“The New Yorker” Makes All Articles Available For Free Until November
The New Yorker, my favorite magazine, has just announced that they will eliminate their online paywall and make everything available for three months beginning on July 21st. At the end of that period they will unveil a revised paywall. Right now, they make about a third of their articles available for free each week. It’s good news for the short-term and bad news for the long-term. I’ve been a s
by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h


7-8-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL, & EF
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Useful Article: “How to Read Education Data Without Jumping to Conclusions”How to Read Education Data Without Jumping to Conclusions is a good article in The Atlantic by Jessica Lahey & Tim Lahey. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Understanding How To Interpret Education Research. Here’s an excerpt:by Larry Ferlaz
by mike simpson / 6h 






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7-9-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE:



About the radio show
Join Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar 
LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST 
on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. 

Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. 
You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursday at 7PM EST.
Visit the @ the Chalk Face radio main page for more information on the show and syndication.





An (Unofficial) DCPS Feeder Patterns & School ESEA Classification
Originally posted on EdCentrist:?
1 by Angel Cintron Jr. / 1h 




Ignoring the Job Market (and How We Do Are Jobs) When Studying Teachers’ Job Satisfaction
“Estimating the Effects of No Child Left Behind on Teachers and Their Work Environments and Job Attitudes,” by Jason Grissom et. al., uses NCES polling data from 1993-94 to 1999-2000 to 2003-04 to 2007-08. It begins by reviewing and challenging “anecdotal” evidence from great journalists and education writers. As I explained previously, I believe the […]
2 by John Thompson / 59min 


New York Magazine Writer Thinks Ravitch Will “Make” Unions “Go Republican”
I just finished writing a post about American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten’s allegiance to the Democratic Party above all else, and what link do I open up next? That of a New York Magazine article by Jonathan Chait, entitled, Teachers Unions Turn Against Democrats. Now that’s funny. Apparently Chait is upset that the two political parties are not […]
9 by deutsch29 / 8h 




7-8-14 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: About the radio showJoin Drs. Shaun Johnson and Tim Slekar LIVE Sundays at 6PM EST and Wednesdays at 7PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for progressive, pro-public education talk radio. Call in to speak live with Tim and Shaun during the show, (805) 727-7111. You can also listen to our Monday "Sunday-Replay" at 7PM EST, and re-broadcasts of the archives every Tuesday and Thursd
by mike simpson / 7h 


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7-9-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:






Cuomo Is Full Of Shit
On Monday, Sheriff Andy Cuomo said this about the looming possibility of a LIRR strike because the MTA and the LIRR unions can't come to a contract agreement:“It’s actually Congress that can end a strike and impose a settlement one way or the other,” he said. “So right now it seems that Congress is pivotal to what happens here, and from what I read in the newspapers it’s going to depend on what Co
by reality-based edu... / 3min 


MTA Looks To Get Congress Involved In MTA/LIRR Unions Dispute
From the NY Post:The MTA’s negotiations with unions representing LIRR workers broke down Tuesday afternoon, 12 days before hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders would be left stranded by a strike.With the walkout looming, MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast penned a letter to US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner asking them to say what
by reality-based edu... / 1h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

Vallone Scholarship Back For CUNY Students
This is great news:Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and a slew of elected officials announced today the restoration of the CUNY Merit-Based Scholarship Program, formerly known as the Peter Vallone scholarship. In the new city budget, the City Council allocated $11.1 million into the program that will provide merit-based scholarships to New York City high school student graduates who are able
by reality-based edu... / 10h 


7-8-14 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: How Is This Tweet Harassment?The Daily News:Two city parents who signed onto a suit to end teacher tenure in New York State say they’re being harassed by an educator who backs the protection.Mona Davids and Sam Pirozzolo of the New York City Parents Union say they were targeted by teacher Francesco Portelos in a Sunday tweet.“U need your protection removed so if you see a di
by mike simpson / 7h 




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New York Magazine Writer Thinks Ravitch Will “Make” Unions “Go Republican” | deutsch29

New York Magazine Writer Thinks Ravitch Will “Make” Unions “Go Republican” | deutsch29:



New York Magazine Writer Thinks Ravitch Will “Make” Unions “Go Republican”

July 9, 2014


I just finished writing a post about American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten’s allegiance to the Democratic Party above all else, and what link do I open up next?
That of a New York Magazine article by Jonathan Chait, entitled, Teachers Unions Turn Against Democrats.
Now that’s funny.
Apparently Chait is upset that the two political parties are not engaging in “national political debate” over “the Obama administration’s educational reforms.” Chait believes that the Republicans don’t want to admit that the Democrats are winning the competition for more charter schools and “teacher accountability.”
Republican Jeb Bush is still selling charters–but he is doing so on behalf of Democraric-run New York. Hmm. Hard to score that one.
As for “teacher accountability,” the very-test-score-driven Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is urging USDOE to not bend when it comes to testing– and that in order to “effectively” use value-added modeling (VAM) to test teachers, more tests are better. However, Democratic Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy backed off of VAM– in favor of something worse. But then, Republican Rick Scott signed VAM into law in Florida in 2011, and it still sticks. Who s winning: Democrats or Republicans? Another tough call.
I wonder who has been appointed official scorekeeper. Who will tease out the nuances of bipartisan support for so-called “education reform”?
Anyone will do just so long as the numbers tell the preferred story, eh?
Chait also believes that “the unions” don’t want to “force” members to “choose between the union’s agenda and Obama’s.”
I don’t think “the unions”– the national unions, that is– care too much about what membership thinks. Otherwise, they might have dumped the Common Core State New York Magazine Writer Thinks Ravitch Will “Make” Unions “Go Republican” | deutsch29:
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Lily Eskelsen Garcia Elected to be the Next President of NEA | Lily's Blackboard

Lily Eskelsen Garcia Elected to be the Next President of NEA | Lily's Blackboard:





Lily's Blackboard Rotating Header Image


We Are Fearless and We Will Not Be Silent

Jul 9th, 2014 
by LilysBlackboard.
NEA president-elect Lily Eskelsen Garcรญa, after praising those who have supported and worked in concert with her, concluded NEA’s 152nd Annual Meeting with a strong message to those “who don’t know what they’re talking about”: We will not be silent.
“We,” of course, refers to the three million educators who know what’s best for students, learning, and the teaching profession.
The former Utah Teacher of the Year spoke of the practices from the likes of moviemakers, billionaire brothers, and conservative politicians who have made poor decisions on behalf of U.S. students.
Lily Eskelsen Garcia
“People who don’t know what they’re talking about are talking about increasing the use of commercial standardized tests in high-stakes decisions about students and about educators…when all the evidence that can be gathered shows that it is corrupting what it means to teach and what it means to learn,” Eskelsen Garcรญa told the delegate assembly.
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NYC Educator: Who Will be a Jedi Teacher?

NYC Educator: Who Will be a Jedi Teacher?:



Who Will be a Jedi Teacher?

Under the new NYC contract, teachers in some schools will be picked from among the highly effective, effective (and satisfactory, where applicable) for leadership positions designated as ambassador, model and master teachers.  Teachers who apply must be approved by a committee composed of D.o.E. and Union officials with the Chancellor, in most cases, having power over the last word.   
These teachers will share their expertise with other teachers throughout the school year as well as work 2-3 days prior to Labor Day and 2-4 additional hours per month outside of contractual obligations.  Ambassador teachers will bring their expertise to an exchange school for one year and receive an additional $7,500.  Master teachers will provide instructional support activities within their schools, leading teacher teams, coaching, "debriefing," assisting teachers with professional goals and modeling best practices.  They will teach one less period.  They will receive an additional $20,000 per year.  Model teachers will open up their classrooms as laboratories for observation of best practices.  Model teachers will receive an additional $7,500 per year.  

My recommendation:  Hold out for the position of Jedi Teacher.  Experience counts for much more here.  Teachers who fit this category will be drawn from the ranks of the ridiculously effective.  They will need to NYC Educator: Who Will be a Jedi Teacher?:

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States Fail at “Running the Local Schools,” Despite What Chris Christie Says | janresseger

States Fail at “Running the Local Schools,” Despite What Chris Christie Says | janresseger:



States Fail at “Running the Local Schools,” Despite What Chris Christie Says

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Public schools are human institutions, places where adults work to foster the intellectual, linguistic, mathematical, social, ethical, emotional, and physical growth and development of children. Schools must be structured to foster a climate of physical and emotional safety and support. They need to connect with families in a natural way, for parents and guardians are children’s primary teachers.  Children thrive when there is mutuality between the school and the family.  Schools are primary social institutions in the neighborhood, places where the interests of the community converge.
The novelist Ivan Doig, who has set most of his books in the tiny homesteading communities of northern Montana’s high plains, captures this understanding in his novel about the meaning of a remote one room school.  The narrator, looking back at his seventh grade year, describes how he came to understand the importance of his school one day as he gazed at the prairie where it is set: “So there in the dwindling light of the afternoon I tried to take in that world between the manageable horizons.  The cutaway bluffs where the Marias River lay low and hidden were the limit of field of vision in one direction.  In the other was the edge of the smooth-buttered plain leading to Westwater…. Closer, though, was where I found the longest look into things.  Out beyond the play area, there were round rims of shadow on the patch of prairie where the horses we rode to school had eaten the grass down in circles around their picket stakes. Perhaps that pattern drew my eye to what I had viewed every day of my school life but never until then truly registered: the trails in the grass that radiated in as many States Fail at “Running the Local Schools,” Despite What Chris Christie Says | janresseger:
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Democratic Party’s Divide On Education Policy Gets Worse

Democratic Party’s Divide On Education Policy Gets Worse:










Will Anyone Stop Charter School Corruption?

When politicians and pundits take to the barricades to defend “wonderful charter schools,” is this what they’re thinking of? A recent article in a Minnesota newspaper reported about a change in state law that could imperil the existence of a charter school that serves a student body sorely in need of heroic efforts. According to […]
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