Teachers Using What They Know - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher

Teachers Using What They Know - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher:

Teachers Using What They Know

By Nancy Flanagan on September 12, 2014 1:12 PM

It happened again last week. I posted a comment on a Detroit Free Press article on the Common Core, and the first thing that popped up under my comment was this (and I'm paraphrasing): Pay no attention to anything Nancy Flanagan says. She's a teacher. Therefore, she's a Democrat and an MEA member. And therefore, her opinions are predetermined, controlled by others and invalid.

The irony? I was trying to inject a little nuance into a what had turned into a vicious battle resembling the Hatfields and the McCoys, if most of the combatants couldn't tell a Hatfield from a McCoy but were seriously interested in shooting somebody, anybody. Right now. Over academic standards. Fire, ready, aim.

The level of take-sides aggression over education policy has come to an interesting place. You can't tell the players without a scorecard, in spite of partisan affiliation, union membership or aversion, the spokesperson's genuine level of expertise and experience around the policy in question--or whether someone is paying for their "opinion."

There's also this: Teachers (contrary to popular opinion) are not monolithic. About a third of them identify as Republicans and vote that way in national elections. A whole lot of them, especially those who were raised with the idea that unions were for people who work in factories, find rough-and-tumble union politics distasteful.

We read all the time about teachers who claim to have "no time" to sift through, read and discuss the very policies that control their daily work. As a long-time practitioner, I recognize some validity in this claim. Teaching well is incredibly time-consuming and stressful. If you're paying dues, you may well decide to out-source your policy thinking to an advocacy group that has the time and expertise to deconstruct the ed-policy du jour and predict how it will impact your work, and your students.

However. Once you've lived with a decade of time-sucking, high-stakes, grade-by-grade Teachers Using What They Know - Teacher in a Strange Land - Education Week Teacher:

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 9-12-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:

L.A. Unified Should Rescind Plan To Delete Year-Old Emails

“ The District's email rule might not be intended to hide district shenanigans, but it certainly could prove a useful tool for doing so. „ Editorial by The L.A. Times Editorial Board | http://lat.ms/1BzXuCn 12 Sept 2014  ::  It's possible L.A. Unified's plan to delete emails after a

2 by smf / 34min 

Congressional Research Service Says Common Core Not Coercive

by JCM from the Brustein & Manasevit Federal Update, by email 12 Sept 2014 | Washington DC  ::  A new report from the research arm of the Library of Congress supports arguments that the Common Core State standards are voluntary and do not constitute a violation of legal standards which prohibit the federal government from setting curricula.  In this document, researchers from the Congressional

by smf / 0min 

Deasy Lawyers Up

From the bio page of Deasy’s lawyer, Harvey I. Saferstein | http://bit.ly/1tITRoL   Harvey Saferstein Member “Harvey has also represented persons and companies alleged to have been involved in criminal price fixing.” and under “Representative Matters”: “Currently representing a company in a bid-rigging investigation in Los Angeles County”

1 by smf / 53min 

4LAKids Sports Page: DEASY PLAYS HARDBALL? …OR GOES FISHING? LAUSD superintendent’s request for board members' emails opens a new front in battle over iPad plan

By Howard Blume | LA Times |  http://lat.ms/1tPJKCp John Deasy, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is requesting records of contacts between board members and tech companies. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times) 12 Sept 2014  ::  LAUSD Supt. Deasy is requesting records of contacts between board members and tech firms L.A. Unified leaders request for board members'

1 by smf / 16min 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 9-11-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Updated: LA SCHOOL BOARD TO RECONSIDER ITS EMAIL ARCHIVING POLICY  by Annie Gilbertson| 89.3 KPCC  | http://bit.ly/1owOzcV School board member Monica Ratliff in her former classroom at San Pedro Street Elementary. Rebecca Hill/KPCC September 10, 06:11 PM  ::   The Los Angeles Unified School District said Wednesday the board will revisit its email archiv

by mike simpson / 31min 

Recognizing Real Leadership For Education Progress: Mayor Bill de Blasio

Recognizing Real Leadership For Education Progress: Mayor Bill de Blasio:



Recognizing Real Leadership For Education Progress: Mayor Bill de Blasio

 What’s wrong with this picture?

During the nation’s back-to-school season, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has been touring states in a bus to “highlight the champions of reform.”

At one stop, where he spoke to an audience of parents at a Nashville, Tenn., middle school, he challenged the National PTA, according to reporters for Education Week, to “make education a presidential campaign issue.”

Good idea. But when the secretary offered to the audience an example of an ideal candidate, he pointed to a Republican.

“Duncan pointed out that Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, is one of the few politicians who has followed through on promises of being ‘the education candidate,’” reported Lauren Camera.

Sadly, there are too few leaders in the Democratic Party who would qualify as education champions. But there is one very clear example. Not only is he a Democrat, but he is an unabashed progressive. And if Arne Duncan really wants to find politicians who “walk the walk” of real education reform, he can find an example of authentic progress coming not from Republicans, but from the left wing of his own party.

But first to dispense with the Haslam-hysteria that has overcome the Secretary.

Haslam Is No Education Hero

Duncan’s proof of Haslam’s supposed accomplishments and ability to “walk the walk” (Duncan’s words) of education progress is the “state’s recent academic gains. Tennessee’s students made the biggest improvements in the country in math and reading on the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Duncan said the increased scores are a direct result of the state implementing the Common Core State Standards.”

Crediting Tennessee’s NAEP scores to adoption of the Common Core is a huge leap of faith for sure, especially since the state has backed out of using Common Core-aligned tests created by one of the two national consortia endorsed by Duncan.

Also, Tennessee is chronically one of the nation’s poorest performers on NAEP, so it had the most ground to gain in comparison to other states. And for every state Duncan can identify as a “top performer” on the NAEP assessment, one can find at least one state or more that has excelled in NAEP score gains without adopting the measures Tennessee has exemplified.

A more recent and comprehensive gauge on Tennessee student achievement – the state’s own assessments – shows that student performance levels have barely budged at all, even Recognizing Real Leadership For Education Progress: Mayor Bill de Blasio:

Camel Brown: It's MY Lawsuit - Judge Approves Merger of Teacher Tenure Lawsuits in New York - WNYC

Judge Approves Merger of Teacher Tenure Lawsuits in New York - WNYC:

Judge Approves Merger of Teacher Tenure Lawsuits in New York

Two different lawsuits challenging teacher tenure in New York will now be consolidated into one.

A Staten Island judge, Philip Minardo, agreed on Thursday with the State Attorney General's request to combine the two cases because they are so similar, and because neither party objected.

The suits were filed over the summer by Mona Davids, of the New York City Parents Union, and by a group founded by former TV anchor Campbell Brown. Both claim the tenure system violates the state's constitution because it doesn't do enough to prevent ineffective teachers from working with children. Each suit is modeled after a similar case in California, and each includes several parents among the plaintiffs.

The consolidated suits will proceed in Staten Island, under the name Davids v. New York, because that's where the first suit was filed. Brown's group filed its suit in Albany. 

But that doesn't mean things will proceed smoothly. Davids has accused Brown of "bullying" the law firm Gibson Dunn into reneging on its offer to represent her group. The firm, which represented the plaintiffs in California, denied Davids' claim. She is represented by a local lawyer.

"To Campbell Brown, we will not be bullied," Davids said. "You will not be allowed to reform your image, make yourself relevant for your next career on the backs of our children.  We may be poor, we may be low income, we may be black or Hispanic, but these our children and we will be damned if you push us aside and speak for them."

Keoni Wright, a parent of twins and lead plaintiff in the case brought by Brown's group, the Partnership for Educational Justice, issued a statement calling Davids' accusations "disgusting and ludicrous."

Brown's own statement said that Gibson Dunn is a legal powerhouse and that she would welcome their involvement. "Our view has always been the more parents, lawyers, and families supporting this effort, the better.”

Meanwhile, the state is expected to ask the court to dismiss the case which could drag on for years.

The judge also approved a request by the city teachers union to be an Judge Approves Merger of Teacher Tenure Lawsuits in New York - WNYC:

9-12-14 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):

Next election season opens for 2015 primary

Next election season opens for 2015 primary With more than a month left before November’s election, the Los Angeles City Clerk is already looking toward the next election season. It announced today that candidates intending to run for office in the primary, slated for March 2015, must live in their respective districts by October 3. According to the City Charter, failure to meet the residency requ

2 3min hide  //  save

Kamala Harris: absenteeism interferes with ‘students’ rights’

Kamala Harris: absenteeism interferes with ‘students’ rights’ Attorney General Kamala Harris (photo by KNX) California Attorney General Kamala Harris appeared at LA Unfiied’s Malabar Elementary School today to highlight a report on truancy released by her office this week that shows a high correlation between attendance problems and both income and race. But the argument she’s using to bring atten

2 by Jamie Alter Lynto... / 8min 

Morning Read: Deasy’s attorney asks for LA school board emails

Morning Read: Deasy’s attorney asks for LA school board emails Attorney for Supt. Deasy asks for L.A. school board emails An attorney representing Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy is seeking records that would explore possible links between school board members and technology vendors. LA Times L.A. Unified should rescind plan to delete year-old emails Editorial: The requirement that most emai

2 13min 

9-11-14 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: LA Unified board enforces email deletion ruleMorning Read: LA Unified board enforces email deletion rule L.A. school board approves contract to destroy emails after a year The Los Angeles Unified School District took steps this week to enforce rules under which emails are deleted after one y

1 by mike simpson / 22h 

BustED Pencils BLOG: "That's the kind of student I am."

BustED Pencils BLOG: "That's the kind of student I am.":

BustED Pencils - Fully Leaded Education Talk - BustED Pencils:

BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is a progressive talk radio show. The show is hosted by Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Jed Hopkins.

 BustED Pencils - Fully Leaded Education Talk - BustED Pencils:

"That's the kind of student I am."

Dear Teachers everywhere,

Please read the following excerpt from a student essay.

The type of student I am? Well I would say I love to ask questions.  I question some of the weirdest things, like why is a chair called a chair? Or, why do we have bones, weird things like that. 

I love to learn so many new things.  I remember things fast. We think I might have a photographic memory.   

I pick up dance steps really fast and when I see words I can close my eyes and picture the exact same thing with every little detail.  That's the kind of student I am. 

I love to read books with lots of facts.  I just think that some of the facts are really amazing, like the facts in Ripley's Believe It or Not books and National Geographicmagazines.  I just love to learn. 

I love to write scary stories because you have to add so much detail.  I can really get into it when writing.  I really like to add deep details in my stories to help the reader better visualize.  Writing is one of my favorite subjects. 

My strengths in school are probably every subject because I love school and I love to learn.

This was written by a brand new 6th grader during the first week of school.

Read it "closely."
Savor it.
Think about it.
Reflect on it.

Imagine the student standing or sitting in front of you.  Are you ready?

Have you written your personal learning objectives? PLOs

Have you written your student learning objectives? SLOs

Are your data walls ready?

Have you made sure there is fidelity between your lesson plans and the common core standards?BustED Pencils BLOG: "That's the kind of student I am.":

9-12-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet:

Proposed Texas textbooks are inaccurate, biased and politicized, new report finds

When it comes to controversies about curriculum, textbook content and academic standards, Texas is the state that keeps on giving. Back in 2010, we had an uproar over proposed changes to social studies standards by religious conservatives on the State Board of Education, which included a bid to calling the United States’ hideous slave trade […]

by Valerie Strauss / 0min 

Strauss: How a Koch foundation influenced a university economics department

Earlier this year, I published a piece about the role that the billionaire Koch brothers are playing not only in conservative politics but in pushing their own agenda in higher education. The piece was written by Dave Levinthal of the Center for Public Integrity, one of the country’s oldest and largest nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative news organizations that reveals abuses of power, corruptio

7 by Valerie Strauss / 52min

9-11-14 Answer Sheet

Answer Sheet: Kindergarten teacher: ‘There is a good possibility I will be fired but…’Teachers are increasingly speaking up about the onslaught of standardized tests that students in all grades — including  kindergarten — are required to take in public schools today. Some are refusing to administer the tests, which can result in a teacher being dismissed for a breach of contract. Here is a letter

1 by mike simpson / 20min 

Who Let the BATS Out?

Who Let the BATS Out?

Badass Teacher (BAT) Association

WELCOME TO THE BAT CAVE

Badass Teacher Association Web Site

D'oh
I Let the BATs Out

Shutting Out The LAUSD Stakeholders - ChangeTheLAUSD

Accountability - ChangeTheLAUSD:

Shutting Out The LAUSD Stakeholders 
“I would like to move that we move the remainding [sic] of board meetings that are tentatively scheduled for 4:00 PM to 1:00 PM...Makes it easier for parents, certainly in my district, who might want to come speak to not be here at 11:00 at night when they have kids to put to bed and homework to supervise and it is impossible to get here during rush hour from most parts of the city to pull comment cards...A lot of us have other responsibilities that we need to take care of and I would really like to move the meetings back, like they are today with a 10:00 AM closed, 1:00 PM open so if we need to stay late we can but, otherwise, I think it works best, not perfect, there really is no time when it is convenient to everyone. But the 4:00 PM I thought would keep us here sometimes to 2:00 AM in the morning with nobody here to participate and that is not something that I support. So I would like to move all of them to 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM.”

- Tamar Galatzan

According the the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 88.2% of married-couple families with children had at least one parent employed. (1) Both parents are employed in 59.1% of these households. (2) In single-parent households, 68.2% of women and 81.2% of men are employed. (3) While not all of these parents are working nine to five jobs, the vast majority are not available to wait in line to get a chance to participate in a school board meeting at 1:00 in the afternoon. While a 4:00 PM start time does not move meetings away from the work day, it at least gives working parents a chance to join a meeting in progress.

Even for stay-at-home parents, a 1:00 PM start time interferes with the end of school. These parents cannot spend an afternoon waiting to attend a board meeting and pick up their children at school. Certainly, students and teachers cannot participate at these meetings and give their input. If the earlier start time is not convenient for these stakeholders, whose interest is Ms. Galatzan looking out for?

Of the five board members who voted for this change, Ms. Galatzan may have benefited the most by its enactment. When she says that “a lot of us have other responsibilities that we have to take care of,” she does not seem to be including the job requirements of the second government paycheck that she receives. While she expresses concern that the board members will have to work until 2:00 in the morning, this would certainly be a very rare exception. It seems to me that her actual concern is cutting into her personal time rather than her work time with the City Attorney.

The truth is that, in her seven years on the school board, Ms. Galazan has shown that she is not very interested in having the board or the district be accountable to its stakeholders. In fact, she does not even want the voters of the district to have a say who is on the school board.  Instead, she supports “some sort of [mayor-] appointed board.” (4)

In his dissent of this proposal, newly elected board member George McKenna correctly stated that “this meeting is for the public not the board members.” If given the opportunity to replace Ms. Galatzan I will back up this sentiment and fight for the following:

A rotating meeting schedule that gives parents, students and teachers a chance to participate in board members. There is no perfect time where all people can have the opportunity to participate so these meetings should not be held according to one set schedule. They should be held at different times, including weekends and evenings.
Changing the meeting space to one that can accommodate the people who want to participate. Even with an inconvenient time, the board room is too small to fit everyone who wants to attend and people are often left waiting outside for hours. A room with an occupancy limit of 155 is not adequate for a district with 640,000 students.
A rotating meeting site that gives stakeholders equal access to the proceedings. There are seven districts within the LAUSD. The stakeholders of each district should have equal access to the board.
____________________________________________
(1) (2) (3) http://www.bls.gov/news.release/famee.nr0.htm
(4) http://laschoolreport.com/board-member-galatzan-tells-almost-all/

Fire Superintendent John Deasy
The students of the LAUSD have started this new school year amid chaos. First, the district ignored warning signs that it was not ready and pushed through the implementation of the MiSiS student management system. This resulted in the disruption of education for thousands of students. The district then showed an ignorance of the seriousness of the situation by continuously publicising the talking point that “only” 1% of the students were affected by this error. Even if this statistic had been accurate, and the facts show that it was not, this talking point created the impression that the education of 6,400 students was insignificant.Accountability - ChangeTheLAUSD: