8-6-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum:

C & I Meeting on Monday, August 11

The agenda for the 8/11 Curriculum and Instruction Policy Committee meeting has already been posted.There's a lot there for folks interested in Special Education along with a couple of tasty items for those interested in high school graduation requirements, creative approach schools, Native American education, and discipline.By the numbers:a. Creative Approach Schools Update (Michael/Misa)The last

by Charlie Mas / 1min 

Vermont's NCLB Letter

A beautifully written letter that Seattle Schools should emulate.Vermont is one of five states, along with Washington state, that does not have a NCLB waiver.

by Melissa Westbrook / 20min hide  //  save

The Coming Presidential Election: Public Education and the GOP

It is becoming very clear that both Democrats and Republicans are going to have public education as a major talking point in the 2016 Presidential election.  This is good and bad.  Good because those voters who are paying attention will be able to clearly see who values what and, hopefully, why.It's bad because it may fracture one or both parties. It may make or break candidates (see Chris Christi

by Melissa Westbrook / 53min 

Common Core Math; From a Math Professor's View

Thanks to S Parent for bringing this to our attention. From the Wall Street Journal and UC Berkeley math professor, Marina Ratner, I think it is one swell piece of writing that - in a straight-forward manner - explains why Common Core is deeply flawed. Ms. Ratner is professor emerita of mathematics at the University of California at Berkeley. She was awarded the international Ostrowski Prize in 19

by Melissa Westbrook / 6min

8-5-14 Seattle Schools Community Forum Week

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadHard to believe at this late date that this is news but the company Land's End is producing - by popular demand- shirts for girls that are science-themed.Still on the clothing theme, there's a new campaign by a group, Too Small To Fail, to impress upon parents to teach their pre-school children news words by talking to them more.  How?  The cute

1 by mike simpson / 20h 

8-6-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online:

More Gypsy Pics and Vids

They just keep popping up on facebook and I can't resist posting. I may be pessimistic long-term, but optimistic short-term.Here is a unique view of NYC teachers Steve Ryan and Kim Simek, video by Frank Verderame from the wings. They are both powerhouses, even though they often hang out with Mike Schirtzer.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr30IbliDqE&feature=youtu.beI never got to take my pic w

by ed notes online / 38min 

Common Core Math: Suicide Bombers + Ebola = HOLY CRAP!

The situation in the Middle East is a bit like World War I. Iraq is breaking apart, and its border with Syria exists only on maps. A Kurdistan is in formation. Jordan and Lebanon are endangered. The Israeli-Palestinian situation is threatening to produce real violence. Three Israeli youths have been kidnapped from the West Bank; another has been killed near the Syrian border. Egypt has returned to

by ed notes online / 28min 

8-5-14 Ed Notes Online

Ed Notes Online: Gypsy Finale - Joy and SadnessThe Sunday matinee was our last performance - 9 out of 10 were sold out. The cast party afterwards was also a howl as the little kids did their version of the grown-ups acting. An 8-year old doing the strippers had us in stitches.Sadly, today we struck the set and started building the set for Godspell. When a show ends it is like a school year ending

by mike simpson / 9min

“No Exceptions and No Excuses” |:

“No Exceptions and No Excuses”

 In an excellent, descriptive article written in The New Yorker two weeks ago, the author describes how educators in a high-needs, struggling school in Atlanta (during the now infamous cheating scandal that surrounded Atlanta’s public schools in the late 2000′s) made a series of “shocking choice[s]” to artificially inflate and boost their students’ test scores to meet state/federal mandates (i.e., No Child Left Behind [NCLB]). Choices they justified so that they could pacify others,’ including said state/federal policymakers,’ “relentless focus” on data and data-driven accountability, mainly to keep their school in tact and what they believed to be safe in their community.

While this all occurred at the same time the “new and improved” value-added measures (VAMs) as we now know them were being introduced to the country, that is to (theoretically) support even better and more accurate data measurements and data-driven accountability policies, some pro-VAM folks still make explicit their beliefs that using VAMs will inherently (i.e., without research evidence) decrease incidences of cheating, artificial score inflation, system manipulation/distortion, and the like (as so poignantly described within this article).

It is important to note, and continuously recall should you read this article in full, that really nothing has changed since this or the other cheating scandals that arose post NCLB. Likewise, incidences such as these are still arguably widespread and still most common in schools like the school described herein. If anything, we are now even more “enthusiastic about judging teaching by what [now] appear[s] to be an [even more] objective metric” than the metric used before (i.e., Adequate Yearly Progress vs. VAMs in widespread use now); hence, there is absolutely no reason to believe (and again no research evidence to support) that such incidences (even with increased security “No Exceptions and No Excuses” |:

Shanker Blog » How Boston Public Schools Can Recruit and Retain Black Male Teachers

Shanker Blog » How Boston Public Schools Can Recruit and Retain Black Male Teachers:

How Boston Public Schools Can Recruit And Retain Black Male Teachers

Posted by Travis Bristol on August 6, 2014

Our guest author today is Travis J. Bristol, former high school English teacher in New York City public schools andteacher educator with the Boston Teacher Residency program, who is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) at Stanford University.

The challenges faced by Black male teachers in schools may serve as the canary in the coalmine that begins to explain the debilitating condition faced by Black boys in schools. Black males represent 1.9% of all public school teachers yet have one of the highest rates of turnover. Attempts to increase the number of Black male teachers are based on research that suggests these new recruits can improve Black students’ schooling outcomes.

Below, I discuss my study of the school-based experiences of 27 Black male teachers in Boston Public Schools (BPS), who represent approximately 10 percent of all Black male teachers in the district. This study, which I recently discussed in Boston’s NPR news station, is one of the largest studies conducted exclusively on Black male teachers and has implications for policymakers as well as school administrators looking to recruit and retain Black male educators.

Here is a summary of the key findings.

Early experience in teaching influenced participants’ decisions to become teachers.

Black male teachers described multiple pathways into the teaching profession. About 63 percent of study participants had an early experience teaching in high school, college, an after-school program, or as a substitute teacher, which influenced their decision to enter the teaching profession.

Participants felt more like behavior managers than teachers.

Black male teachers believed that their colleagues, particularly White females, sought their help in dealing with misbehavior rather than their advice about teaching. They also expressed frustration that their primary interaction with colleagues was to receive assistance redirecting students’ misbehavior, as opposed to support with teaching content. As one participant noted, “I can see most people would feel enthused that they’re helping out their colleagues – like they picked me because they respect me – [but] it’s also becoming a burden now because I have other things to do.  I have to plan.  I have to plan for my kids to be on a specific track, plan my scope and sequence, and correct papers.  Just the regular things that teachers do.”

There were challenges associated with being the only Black male teacher.

Black male teachers’ experience and satisfaction depended on whether they were the only Black man in the school (a “Loner”)  or one of many Black men (a “Grouper”). Loners believed they were socially alone and disconnected from the core mission of the school. One participant noted: “It almost feels like I’m in someone else’s house, intruding.” Shanker Blog » How Boston Public Schools Can Recruit and Retain Black Male Teachers:

Marie Corfield: The Gentrification of Camden's Schools Part I

Marie Corfield: The Gentrification of Camden's Schools Part I:

The Gentrification of Camden's Schools Part I

gentrification—noun 1. the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper- or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families and small businesses.

Since public educators have been largely excluded from the education 'reform' agenda, it's up to bloggers and others on social media to tell our side of the story. And that story cannot be told without including the socioeconomic and developmental impacts on children living in poverty. Nowhere in the United States exemplifies this like Camden. 

The bitingly witty Massachusetts ed blogger EduShyster recently posted a guest blog by Camden educator, Keith Benson, on how the gentrification of that city is really for 'other people'. Please be sure to read it. This quote sums up what Keith lives every day:

It’s as if the city so desperately needs people with disposal income that those who have it are catered to relentlessly. And underneath such puzzling interactions is a deep frustration that much of Camden is not designed for its residents because of their low incomes…The message to local residents is clear: The nice things here aren’t for you. We need other people.

That post inspired me to write this companion piece about how elected and appointed officials from every political stripe continue to hammer nails into Camden's coffin in the Marie Corfield: The Gentrification of Camden's Schools Part I:

8-6-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

Fun Video For ELLs: “Sneaking Lion Cub Gives Dog Fright”

I have a fun collection of videos titled The Best Video Clips Of Sneaky Critters. They’re great to have English Language Learners watch and then describe — both verbally and in writing — what they saw. Here’s a new one I’m adding to that list:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 0min hide  //  save

Today Is The Anniversary Of The Atomic Bombing Of Hiroshima – Here Are Related Resources

© 2010 Jordan Emery, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Today is the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. You might be interested in The Best Resources For Learning About The Atomic Bombings Of Japan.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 0min 

‘Digital Leadership’: An Interview With Eric Sheninger

‘Digital Leadership’: An Interview With Eric Sheninger is my latest Education Week Teacher post. For today’s author interview, Eric Sheninger offered to answer a few questions about his book, Digital Leadership: Changing Paradigms For Changing Times. Here are a couple of excerpts:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 1:12 PM UTC-7 

Mental Imagery, Olympians, “Pickles” & Student Success

© 2009 Karola Riegler, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio I’ve written a lot about using visualization techniques with students (see My Best Posts On Helping Students “Visualize Success”) and even have a chapter about it in my book, Self-Driven Learning. Here are some resources I’m adding to that “The Best” list. I had been meaning to add the NY Times articles for awhile, but was prompted to finally do

by Larry Ferlazzo / 6min

The Best Resources For Learning About The Rosetta Mission

© 2014 DLR German Aerospace Center, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio The European Rosetta spacecraft has just arrived at its comet destination. Here are some interactive resources on the mission: European Spacecraft Pulls Alongside Comet is from The New York Times. Rosetta spacecraft closes in on comet – interactive is from The Guardian. ‘We’re in orbit!’ Rosetta becomes first spacecraft to orbit comet

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13min hide  //  save

Just Published! 41st ELT Blog Carnival: Teaching With Humor

Carissa Peck has just published the 41st edition of the ELT Blog Carnival (formerly known as the ESL/EFL/ELL Blog Carnival) and it’s a great one on teaching with humor. Teachers from all around the world have contributed their ideas! You can see all the previous Blog Carnivals here. And you can express your interest in hosting a future edition of one here.

by Larry Ferlazzo / 13min 

Resources: Advice For New Teachers

© 2014 Ilmicrofono Oggiono, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio It’s that time of year again! Readers might be particularly interested in two “The Best” lists: The Best Advice For New Teachers The Best Resources For Planning The First Days Of School

by Larry Ferlazzo / 12min 

8-4-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: “Detentions make no difference, pupils claim”As any regular reader of this blog or my books knows, I’m not a big fan of using punishment in the classroom (you can see many of my previous posts on the topic here). I know they have their role in very serious offenses, but I’ve been fortunate enough in my teaching career to be

by mike simpson / 6min 

8-6-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):

Teachers go negative on Johnson, call him an education ‘rookie’

Teachers go negative on Johnson, call him an education ‘rookie’ Until recently, only one group had gone negative in the campaign between Alex Johnson and George McKenna for the open LA Unified school board seat. The African American Voter Registration, Education and Participation Project (AARVEP), which supports Johnson, sponsored three mailers, calling into question McKenna’s background as a sch

3min 

Why some schools choose laptops over iPads

Why some schools choose laptops over iPads Via the Atlantic | Megan E. Murphy For an entire school year Hillsborough, New Jersey, educators undertook an experiment, asking: Is the iPad really the best device for interactive learning? It’s a question that has been on many minds since 2010, when Apple released the iPad and schools began experimenting with it. The devices came along at a time when ma

7min 

Vergara legal team joining similar teacher case in New York

Vergara legal team joining similar teacher case in New York Marcellus McRae, a lawyer for Vergara plaintiffs at a news conference The LA-based legal team that prevailed in Vergara v. California, convincing a California judge to strike down state laws governing teacher employment, has been brought into a similar lawsuit now underway in New York. Students Matter, sponsor of Vergara, said today that

3 9min 

As talks resume, LAUSD, teachers union still far apart

As talks resume, LAUSD, teachers union still far apart Negotiators for LA Unified and the teachers union, UTLA, resume contract talks later today amid charges and counter-charges of which side is responsible for the lack of progress. Teachers are set to return for the opening of the school year next week. Late last week, the sides exchanged letters, each sharp in tone, that sought to blame the oth

by Michael Janofsky / 5min 

Morning Read: Supporters want school bond back on ballot

Morning Read: Supporters want school bond back on ballot Backers push to put school bond on ballot Despite widespread bipartisan support from state legislators and school districts, Gov. Jerry Brown is remaining mum on whether he supports putting a multi-billion-dollar school construction bond on the ballot in November. The governor had no comment, his press office said in an email. EdSource New

5min 

8-5-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District): Morning Read: Education bills pile up for returning CA lawmakersMorning Read: Education bills pile up for returning CA lawmakers Lawmakers face long list of education bills Standardized testing inaccuracies, funding for new adult education programs and new Common Core assessments for students with disabil

by mike simpson / 22h 

6 Ways Wall Street Is Hosing Chicago Teachers - Working In These Times

6 Ways Wall Street Is Hosing Chicago Teachers - Working In These Times:

6 Ways Wall Street Is Hosing Chicago Teachers

In 2012, Chicago teachers rocked the city with their historic strike. Yet their pensions could still be on the line.   (Sarah-Ji / Flickr / Creative Commons)

During Andrew Cuomo’s tenure as attorney general of New York, he noted, “In New York, the biggest pool of money is the state pension fund.” This is true with public pension funds across the nation—and Wall Street firms have leaped to take advantage of the bounty, often in unsavory ways. Over the last five years, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has routinely unearthed “pay-to-play” scandals, in which overseers of pension funds make investment choices based on personal gain.

In most cases, politicians control the investment-making decisions at pension funds. A select few, however, are controlled by their members—meaning they could invest in projects for the public good on Main Street rather than private investment funds on Wall Street.  One such fund is the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund (CTPF), a nearly $10 billion pool charged with assuring the retirement security of tens of thousands of education professionals. Despite a Board composed of 12 member-elected trustees, however, Wall Street still has its hands in the kitty. Here are six ways America’s biggest investment firms have the potential to sink Chicago teachers—and just how the CTPF board can stop that from happening.

1. Underperformance 

Historically, pension funds have been extremely conservative investors out of caution for their members’ finances. Only in the past 20 years have they amped up their allocations to higher-risk endeavors. And as Wall Street has quaked, so too have member livelihoods.

Over the past five years, the CTPF’s assets in traditional investments—domestic equities (stock in large, financially sound companies) and fixed income (stable bonds)—have been far more profitable than the portfolio as a whole. In that time period, the former returned 7 percent annually; in other words, if the fund had invested $100 in 2008, it would have made roughly $140 by 2014. Fixed income bonds, meanwhile, returned 6 percent.  A traditional 60 percent stock, 40 percent bond portfolio, then, would have returned 6.6 percent. In order to be considered fully funded, the CTPF’s investments must return 8 percent; though neither stocks nor bonds fulfilled this completely, they were still far closer than the CTPF’s total investment return, which was a paltry 4.6 percent—a loss of around $200 million per year.

The CTPF’s performance in low-transparency, high-risk private equity and real estate was particularly poor: It returned 3.3 percent and -1.9 percent, respectively, in the last half decade.

Considering the stakes, experts say, pension fund board members should stick with safer traditional investments in bonds and 6 Ways Wall Street Is Hosing Chicago Teachers - Working In These Times: