In Which the Hope Embedded in the Cal Expo Arena is Sapped, If Not Destroyed - Sactown Royalty

In Which the Hope Embedded in the Cal Expo Arena is Sapped, If Not Destroyed - Sactown Royalty:

"Mayor Kevin Johnson obviously touched a nerve Tuesday in his blog post bemoaning Sacramento's loss of hosting privileges for the NCAA Tournament and questioning the pace of the Cal Expo arena plan development. Bee reporters Tony Bizjak and Ryan Lillis found NBA rep John Moag, the leader of the Cal Expo effort, and synced him up to the mayor's concerns.
The result is not particularly ebullient."

My View: UC Davis strike: We must stand up now for the long-term good of the UC system - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

My View: UC Davis strike: We must stand up now for the long-term good of the UC system - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"We need to renew the social contract that binds the University of California with the people of the state. We need California residents to reconnect with the university as their own, and for the UC leadership to make more convincing cases as to why increased public support is warranted.

The University of California belongs to all of us. Let's come together to make it, and the rest of the state's education system, as great as the public it serves."

My View: UC Davis strike: Teaching is more than just about being paid - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

My View: UC Davis strike: Teaching is more than just about being paid - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"While the proposed walkout has now expanded to include student groups, unions and others protesting a variety of issues, all this chatter has spurred the two of us to think about a couple of very basic questions that drove us to do what we do today:

Where would we be today as professors without students? And, just as important, where would those students be without us?"

Bravo, Braziel, on dropout piece- Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Letters to the Editor - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

Bravo, Braziel, on dropout piece

"Re 'The time to act is before the dropout gets arrested' (Viewpoints, Sept. 20): I want to thank The Bee for printing Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel's perspective on the dropout crisis. His testimony before the Select Committee on Lowering California's High School Dropout Rate was very insightful and I appreciate his dedication to raising awareness about the issue and offering solutions."

Dozen UC Davis students flash flesh to protest fee hikes - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Dozen UC Davis students flash flesh to protest fee hikes - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"About a dozen UC Davis students flashed a bit of flesh today to protest University of California President Mark Yudof's proposal to raise fees 30 percent over the next year.
The scantily clad student protesters said their lack of attire was to symbolize that students are 'being stripped' of their right to accessible, quality public education."

'Naked rally' at UC Davis sets stage for Thursday walkout - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

'Naked rally' at UC Davis sets stage for Thursday walkout - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Now the walkout has grown to include students who are upset about a proposal to increase fees by more than 30 percent and non-teaching staff who are locked in labor negotiations. Across UC campuses on Thursday, union workers will picket, students will rally and professors will walk out."

Sacramento diocese sees big drop in Catholic school enrollment - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Sacramento diocese sees big drop in Catholic school enrollment - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Diocesan leaders are responding quickly to the recent drop by trying to increase awareness of Catholic schools. Over the next month, they will educate principals on public relations, talk to parents of students in faith formation classes about sending the children to parochial schools, and reach out to the Latino community – the fastest growing segment of the church.
Tuition at a Catholic K-8 school in the Sacramento diocese averages $3,800 annually. Financial assistance is available to needy students."

Education News & Comment

Education News & Comment:

"Sacramento City Council Member Bonnie Pannell and Council Member Sandy Sheedy have endorsed Patrick Kennedy’s campaign for Sacramento City Council, District 5.

“I am proud to have the support of Council Members Pannell and Sheedy. I have had the great privilege of working with them over the years and look forward to continuing that relationship when I am on the City Council,” said Patrick upon the announcement.

Pannell represents District 8 in South Sacramento and Sheedy represents District 2 in North Sacramento. They join their colleagues, Council Members Ray Tretheway (District 1) and Steve Cohn (District 3) in endorsing Patrick Kennedy for Sacramento City Council."

SCUSD Observer: No child left behind races to the top?

SCUSD Observer: No child left behind races to the top?

No child left behind races to the top?
Last week's release of the AYP Progress report for SCUSD shows that many of the schools in our district are failing to adequately educate Sacramento children according to No Child Left Behind standards.SCUSD schools in year 1 of program improvement status jumped from 3 in 2008-09 to 15 to 2009-10.

Circumference, Radius, Diameter, Oh My! | Activities | Education.com

Circumference, Radius, Diameter, Oh My! Activities Education.com:

"Even though middle school geometry can be tough, there's no reason to fear the friendly circle. Big words like 'circumference,' 'radius,' and 'diameter' may sound intimidating, but they're just fancy words for different measurements of a circle. Here's a quick, kid-friendly intro to those geometry terms, and a fail-safe way to calculate circumference, no matter what!"

Buying Educational Software? Start by Asking the Right Questions - Educational games and software

Buying Educational Software? Start by Asking the Right Questions - Educational games and software:

"But how do you know which program to pick? The array of educational software programs available can be both tantalizing and confusing. Before you start shopping, you should understand how educational software works, what your child's specific needs and interests are, and how to find a reliable program tailor-made to your child's needs and learning style."

A Wise Latina Woman: Reflections on Sonia Sotomayor | Teaching Tolerance

A Wise Latina Woman: Reflections on Sonia Sotomayor Teaching Tolerance:

"As schools open this month, I hope that teachers take the opportunity to begin a conversation about the Sotomayor confirmation and hearings, and that they invite their students to share their thoughts and feelings about this momentous event. I hope too that teachers frame this conversation as part of the larger American story of struggle and achievement on the part of the dispossessed. It is a noble story, one that is not yet over. And that is why it is important, and necessary, that we now have a wise Latina on the Supreme Court.
Sonia Nieto is a noted education scholar and co-chair of Teaching Tolerance’s Teaching Diverse Students Initiative (TDSi) Advisory Committee."

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... Bringing Teaching for the Gifted to All Kids

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... Bringing Teaching for the Gifted to All Kids:

"His mother Sadie said it was '100 percent different' than the way she was taught as a child, and she liked what she saw. Dominic relished getting into debates with other children about the ethics of playground squabbles. He is a pint-sized philosopher with a karate T-shirt and a frank and surprisingly adult manner, who readily picks out what his teachers call the 'Big Ideas' -- one of the buzzwords that mark the new strategies -- in classic stories such as the Tortoise and the Hare."

"The turtle was slow. The hare judged him. No one really thought that the hare wouldn't win -- he's the fastest living creature in the universe," Dominic, now in 2nd grade, explained after school. "So the big idea is, 'Don't judge a person.'"

Strong Mayor Initiative Reviewed - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Strong Mayor Initiative Reviewed - Most Popular News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Committee member Jo Ann Fuller said so far they see no major changes needed in the way Sacramento's government is run.
'At no time has anyone come before us and said this is not working to where we need some big changes,' Fuller said.

Committee chair William Edgar said there are some changes they would like to see such as allowing the mayor to have appointment power, allowing him to select a city manager, but he said they believe it should be up to the city council excluding the mayor to approve the selection.

Johnson said he was disappointed with the committee's findings so far, saying the committee hasn't taken significant steps to change the way the city is run."

Amato's job may be on line | Recordnet.com#STS=fzww1i4f.1qun

Amato's job may be on line Recordnet.com#STS=fzww1i4f.1qun:

"STOCKTON - The long-running leadership drama in the Stockton Unified School District may reach a decisive final act tonight when trustees meet in closed session to discuss suspending or dismissing Superintendent Tony Amato.

Anti-Amato forces have organized what they say will be a heavily attended rally outside the district office before the meeting. As pressure from union leaders mounted Monday, Amato defended his 14-month tenure, saying the opposition he has faced is the natural result of the arrival of a superintendent working to bring sweeping change. He also acknowledged that his future in Stockton Unified is murky."

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Poll: New York governor not getting job done « - Blogs from CNN.com

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - Poll: New York governor not getting job done « - Blogs from CNN.com:

"'Voters say Gov. Paterson is well intentioned but ineffective. They say he lacks leadership skills and is off the mark on handling the state's fiscal situation. Voters say he's not too liberal but is not fighting for people like me,' says Siena New York pollster Steven Greenberg. 'While voters overwhelmingly don't believe that Paterson's blindness hinders his ability, they believe his actions – or lack of actions – as Governor define him as ineffective.'

Paterson has even lost his own party, says Greenberg: Democrats, 'by a significant margin,' believe he is well-intentioned but ineffective, bad on fiscal issues and lacking leadership skills."

Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook: The Changing Landscape of Teacher Learning

Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook: The Changing Landscape of Teacher Learning:

"One of the big challenges is just making time for teachers to participate in any type of quality professional development, whether online or face-to-face. That’s especially true if it’s something that requires thought and effort outside the experience itself. It’s one thing to go to a make-and-take session, like a traditional workshop. In that case, you just go to the session and get something that maybe enhances what you are already doing and then hopefully take it back to the classrooms and do it. It’s another thing if you’re part of a professional development experience that essentially challenges you to rethink your pedagogy, your content, and your assessments, and that expects you to go try some things in your classroom and reflect on how well they went, and then come back and discuss them with a community of other teachers doing similar things. That’s a much more substantial commitment."

Chico teachers agree to lesser insurance package - Chico Enterprise Record

Chico teachers agree to lesser insurance package - Chico Enterprise Record:

"In a telephone interview from her office, Combes said the district will continue to pay the full premium for full-time employees for the insurance package until June 30, 2012.
The biggest change in the insurance package has to do with the deductible.

Under the previous contract, the CUTA-covered employees had the 'Silver Plan' offered by the Butte Schools Self Funded Programs. Under the new contract, starting Nov. 1 and continuing through the end of this contract, the employees will have the so-called 'Red Plan.'

According to Christy Patterson, executive director of the Butte Schools Self Funded Programs, the maximum deductible in one year for an employee with two or more dependents under the old plan would have been $300. Under the new plan, the deductible for that same family of three or more will be $1,000 a year."

Bridging Differences: The NCLB Paradox Enters the Twilight Zone

Bridging Differences: The NCLB Paradox Enters the Twilight Zone:

"Behind these promises and threats lies a simple theory: scores are not high enough, because teachers are either lazy, don't work hard, or aren't motivated enough to do a good job. So teachers will work harder and be more successful if they can get more money, and they will work harder and be more successful if their livelihoods and reputations are on the line.

The problem with the incentives and sanctions approach is that it works. It does produce higher scores. We see scores going up in many states, sometimes at rates that defy belief. Some states may actually reach that dreamy goal of 100 percent 'proficiency' by 2014."

At New York City Teachers’ Union Helm, Michael Mulgrew - NYTimes.com

At New York City Teachers’ Union Helm, Michael Mulgrew - NYTimes.com:

"Mr. Mulgrew also differs from his predecessors in one key way: he is the longest-serving classroom teacher ever to head the union, something that could help him earn the respect of veteran members who are often the most active members. (He also happens to be the first non-Jewish leader in the 49-year history of the union.)

Mr. Mulgrew needs to win a unionwide election next spring to secure the presidency. While he is expected to have broad support, the union, which has 228,000 members, also has its share of internal dissent."