9-8-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

Heganoo Looks Like A Very Nice & Easy Online Map-Making Site

Heganoo looks like a very nice and easy online map-making site. After a quick registration (though I never received a confirmation email, but was still able to use the site without it) you can identify any location or locations on a map and make it a point-of-interest where you can add text, links and, most importantly as far as I’m concerned, an image by just pasting its url address. That abilit

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 2min 

My Latest British Council Post Shares A Fun Introductory Activity I Do Every Year

Building Relationships is the title of my latest British Council post where I share a fun introductory activity I do with students at the beginning of each school year. It includes a link to a downloadable student hand-out, along with this artistically challenged teacher model I use: By the way, you can see all my previous British Council posts here.

8 by Larry Ferlazzo / 56min hide  //  save

NEA Today Unexpectedly Runs Article Featuring Classroom Practice Of…Me?

More Teachers Adopting Restorative Discipline Practices is the title of an NEA Today story that unexpectedly features my classroom practice. I had a short email interaction with the writer over the summer, but hadn’t thought much would come of it. You might find it interesting. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Classroom Management.

7 by Larry Ferlazzo / 1h 

Here’s The Cover Of My Upcoming Third Book On Student Motivation (Along With Free Resources)

This is the cover of my upcoming third book on helping students develop intrinsic motivation (my own little trilogy ). It will be published by Routledge in early 2015. You can get free resources from all my six books here, including downloading all student hand-outs from my previous two student motivation books.

6 by Larry Ferlazzo / 37min 

Study: “Asking for Advice Makes You Seem More Competent, Not Less”

New York Magazine (and a bunch of other news outlets) recently reported on new research which found, as the headline of the magazine article and this post says, that “Asking for Advice Makes You Seem More Competent, Not Less.” Here’s an excerpt: I’ve certainly found this to be true, and often ask parents and students for their teaching advice, and definitely never hesitate asking the same of my c

11 by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h hide  //  save

Four Valuable Posts On Classroom Instruction

© 2012 Port of San Diego, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are several recent and valuable resources on classroom instruction: No More Language Arts and Crafts is a must-read post by the one-and-only Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer. Dispelling the Myths: The Truth about Student Engagement is from the Alabama Best Practices Center. I’m adding it to The Best Posts & Articles On Student Engagem

7 by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h 

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

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: Quote Of The Day: “The Book That Got Teaching Right”Samuel G. Freedman has written a great column in The New Yorker about the book Up the Down Staircase whose author, Bel Kaufman, died this past summer. His column is headlined The Book That Got Teaching Right. Here’s an excerpt: I certainly had heard of the book and movie b

1 by mike simpson / 9h 

9-7-14 Wait What? - Malloy allocates $500k to figure out how to reduce standardized testing…

Wait What?:

Malloy allocates $500k to figure out how to reduce standardized testing…

After wasting tens of millions of taxpayer funds instituting his massive Common Core Smarter Balanced Assessment Coalition (SBAC) tests, Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy has now said that he wants to “to reduce the time Connecticut students spend taking standardized tests” and has even come up with $500,000 in grants to hand out to schools to […] The post Malloy allocates $500k to figure out how to re

11 by jonpelto / 1h 

9-6-14 Wait What? - In the New York Democratic Primary: It is Governor Andrew Cuomo vs. Zypher Teachout

Wait What?: In the New York Democratic Primary:  It is Governor Andrew Cuomo vs. Zypher TeachoutThis coming Tuesday, Zypher Teachout, the liberal Fordham University law professor is challenging Governor Andrew Cuomo. Like Governor Dannel “Dan” Malloy, Governor Cuomo supported some progressive causes like gay marriage and gun control.  But, also like Malloy, Cuomo has championed corporate welfare p

1 by mike simpson / 3h 

9-8-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet:

Anti-testing movement growing, finding success around country

A new report on growing resistance to high-stakes standardized testing around the country finds that the movement is growing and meeting some success in numerous states where officials have decided to cut back on the numbers of tests students must take and/or the consequences for students and educators. The report, titled “Testing Reform Victories: The […]

2 by Valerie Strauss / 0min 

Why kids should choose their own books to read in school

  At one time many public schools gave students time to read books of their own choosing, an activity based on the common-sense theory that kids will read what interests them, and that kids who can choose what they read will learn to enjoying reading, and, hence, read more. Unfortunately, many schools no longer let […]

12 by Valerie Strauss / 2h hide  //  save

Interactive science classes benefit black, first-generation college students, study finds

A new study about college-level science shows that all students do much better when traditional lecture classes are made interactive — but those most helped are first-generation and black students. The study — titled “Getting Under the Hood: How and for Whom Does Increasing Course Structure Work?” — looked at data from six semesters of large science lecture […]

2 by Valerie Strauss / 3h 

‘We must push back against the misguided and dangerous belief that a new generation of teachers can emerge spontaneously’

The Urban Teacher Education Consortium is a national consortium of teacher educators who are dedicated to development strong preparation programs for cities across the country. Members of the consortium have just released a position paper on the training of teachers, releasing it at a time of “encroaching dehumanization and disempowerment of both teachers and their […]

10 by Valerie Strauss / 5h 

9-7-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: Does holding kids back a year help them academically? No. But schools still do it.It may seem to make sense to hold back for a year a student who can’t read well but a mountain of research shows that it doesn’t actually help. Unfortunately, school reformers don’t seem to care what the research says. Here to discuss this is Paul Thomas, an associate professor of education at Furman Un

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

9-8-14 Hemlock on the Rocks

Hemlock on the Rocks:

Tomorrow Lausd Boe Needs To Step Up On Confront The Tech Project

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-lausd-ipad-20140903-story.html Debugging LAUSD's iPad deal Editorial There is no room for secrecy when it comes to the billion-dollar technology project undertaken by the Los Angeles Unified School District and its superintendent, John Deasy. Not after the release of emails that reveal early and extensive communication among Deasy, his to

by Rene Diedrich / 1h hide  //  save

Are Deasy's critics playing politics with iPads? - LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-deasy-ipad-20140908-story.html# 0Are Deasy's critics playing politics with iPads Opinion No one could blame John Deasy, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, for feeling under attack these days. The iPad program he trumpeted so enthusiastically, aiming to provide an iPad with related, interactive curriculum for every

by Rene Diedrich / 1h 

Not everyone is rejoicing over halt to LAUSD's iPad program

http://laschoolreport.com/not-everyone-is-rejoicing-over-halt-to-lausds-ipad-program/ Not everyone is rejoicing over halt to LAUSD's iPad program Click to enlarge image Principal Steven Martinez of John Burroughs Middle School in Hancock Park figured the worst that could happen is that his school's new iPads wouldn't connect to the Apple TVs that staff bought to enhance lesson plans. He figured w

by Rene Diedrich / 14min 

rene diedrich's invitation is awaiting your response

                rene diedrich would like to connect on LinkedIn. How would you like to respond?       rene diedrich   writer/poet at Freelance     Confirm you know rene    

by Rene Diedrich / 5h 

9-7-14 Hemlock on the Rocks

Hemlock on the Rocks: Fwd: Twelve Theses on Education's Future in the Age of Neoliberalism and TerrorismTwelve Theses on Education's Future in the Age of Neoliberalism and Terrorism Thursday, 04 September 2014 10:03 By Jeffrey R. Di Leo, Henry A. Giroux, Kenneth J. Saltman, and Sophia A. McClennen, Paradigm Publishers | Book Excerpt 101 font size   Print Email (Image: Paradigm Publishers)This exce

by mike simpson / 9h 

9-8-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Randi Weingarten Robocalls For Andrew Cuomo's Pro-Gun, Anti-Immigrants' Rights Running Mate

From Daily Politcs:Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, has done a last-minute robocall for former Buffalo-area Rep. Kathleen Hochul, Gov. Cuomo's preferred lieutenant governor candidate.Weingarten's call comes a day before the primary between Hochul and insurgent liberal Democratic candidate Tim Wu, a Columbia law professor. Political insiders say Wu has a shot at p

1 by reality-based edu... / 1h 

Cuomo, Worried About Primary, Increases Campaign Ad Buys

Will Brunelle at Capital NY:Governor Andrew Cuomo has purchased a reminder to Democratic voters about Tuesday's primary, in the form of $850,000 in broadcast television ads, according to F.C.C. filings reviewed by Capital. The latest buy, running from Sept. 1 until the close of polls on Tuesday, September 9, is part of the most significant ad campaign Cuomo has run since late July, and is more tha

1 by reality-based edu... / 31min 

Cuomo, De Blasio Threaten To Derail Pet Projects Of Any Democrats Who Endorse Teachout/Wu

Fred Dicker in today's Post:Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio used threats and intimidation in recent days to block prominent Democrats from backing leftist law professors Zephyr Teachout and her running mate, Tim Wu, in Tuesday’s primary, party insiders have told The Post. The largely successful pressure has been especially intense to stop endorsements for Wu, who is given a real chance of defeating

by reality-based edu... / 2h hide  //  save

Tell Your Colleagues: Vote Teachout/Wu On Tuesday September 9th

We have two more days to try and get as many Democrats to vote for Zephyr Teachout and Tim Wu in tomorrow's Democratic Primary.Try and talk to as many people at school today and tomorrow as you can about Teachout/Wu.Introduce those who don't know much about Teachout and Wu with this from the Teachout/Wu website:My name is Zephyr Teachout, and I am a constitutional law professor and organizer. I am

2 by reality-based edu... / 5h 

9-7-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Andrew Cuomo Snub Of Opponent Zephyr Teachout At Parade Goes ViralAnd now the rest of America gets to see what an arrogant little man-child our governor is.Here's Politico's coverage of the Cuomo/De Blasio snub of Teachout New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo greeted participants in New York City’s Labor Day Parade on Saturday, but one person didn’t get a warm welcome: his primary opp

1 by mike simpson / 8h 

10 Thoughts on the New AP U.S. History Framework :: Frederick M. Hess

10 Thoughts on the New AP U.S. History Framework :: Frederick M. Hess:

10 Thoughts on the New AP U.S. History Framework

by Frederick M. Hess  •  Sep 8, 2014 at 9:10 am
Cross-posted from Education Week

Print

Send

RSS

Share

The College Board's revision of the AP U.S. History curriculum framework has ignited a firestorm. The new framework was released in 2012, but it's only drawn notice in the past few months. It's been blasted as an ideological rewrite of U.S. history, with critics providing examples and raising questions that have given me cause for concern. As a former high school social studies teacher, this is an area that strikes close to home. I've been holding off on opining until I had a clearer grasp of things. Now I feel like I've got it, so please excuse the length of today's post--it's too long, just because I feel like there's a lot to say.

On Thursday, the College Board's Trevor Packer was kind enough to visit with me at length. (Packer is senior vice president for AP and instruction, which means he oversees the College Board's Advanced Placement program.) Packer explained that the new curriculum framework is the first rewrite for AP U.S. History in recent memory, with the new 80-odd page framework displacing the five-page topical framework that had been in place for decades. Packer says that the effort started in 2006 as a response to concerns that the U.S. History test was a grab bag of historical trivia, driven by the personal agendas of higher ed faculty who submitted the questions, and forced teachers to skim through so many topics that they couldn't teach deeply or well. The rewrite process was driven by a set of volunteer history professors and teachers. An initial committee generated a list of "must-teach" topics. The College Board sent these to fifty-odd professors for reaction. That cut the list down considerably. A second committee took that handiwork and revised it. The result was an extensive and reasonable process, but one that, I fear, was allowed to reflect the biases and blind spots of participants. Here are 10 thoughts I have on the new framework:

First, I see no evidence of conspiracy or untoward behavior on the part of the College Board. As I understand things, it seems that the College Board ran a responsible process. That said, I think Packer put it very fairly and very well. He noted, "It's very difficult, given the dominance of liberal perspectives in college and high school history departments, for faculty committees to avoid unintentionally muting, eliding, or obfuscating the perspectives of the right."

Second, given that reality, it seems to me that the College Board has not done enough to push for intellectual diversity. I believe the College Board is trying--but it needs to do better. Packer argues, convincingly, that the rewrite was intended, in part, to encourage teachers to make sure they are teaching a more balanced and robust history than many were reportedly doing. (For instance, he notes that AP U.S. History syllabus studies since 2007 show an extraordinary omnipresence of Howard Zinn.) Even so, for reasons I'll discuss 10 Thoughts on the New AP U.S. History Framework :: Frederick M. Hess:

Louisiana Educator: Holding Our Legislators Accountable

Louisiana Educator: Holding Our Legislators Accountable:

Holding Our Legislators Accountable

2014 LAE Legislative Report Card Now Available. Click Here.

There is no question that by far the most important decision makers affecting public education and the welfare of public school employees are our Louisiana state senators and representatives. The Louisiana legislature considers dozens of bills each year that impact our public education system so much that one could say that the future of public education is primarily controlled by our state legislators. In addition, the benefits of teachers and employment rights of teachers and other educators can change drastically in only one legislative session.

In only one legislative session in 2012, teachers and parents saw the introduction of vouchers and greatly expanded charter schools that siphon millions of dollars from public schools and damage the retirement system for public school teachers. Some of these expanded charter schools threaten to degrade public schools by competing for high performing students without having  the constraint public schools have of serving all students. (Look at this article today about damage to the Baker school system.) Some of the charter schools simply dump out low performers and discipline problems right back to public schools in order to raise their performance scores at the expense of public schools.

In the same 2012 session, Governor Jindal pushed through changes in teacher benefits basically destroying teacher tenure, all seniority rights, and by firmly tying teacher employment decisions to the extremely unreliable VAM system. In just a few weeks teachers lost all job protections and often found themselves potential victims of conditions over which they had no control. Oh, and at the same time, the legislature removed all education credentials necessary for college graduates to teach any subject in any charter school. Our legislators voted on every one of these extremely damaging bills. Are we holding them accountable for damaging public education and destroying educator protections and benefits?

I have pointed out in this blog many times that teachers and other public educators could take control of their own destiny by becoming much more active in expressing their opinions to their local legislators about important education bills. Educators could have more influence on legislators because each educator can Louisiana Educator: Holding Our Legislators Accountable: