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

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

The Best Resources On Parent Engagement In Countries Other Than The U.S.

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 3 hours ago

I’ve written quite a few posts about parent engagement in countries other than the United States, and decided to bring together the best resources into one list.You can see all my parent engagement-related “The Best” lists here. Here are my … Continue reading →

The Best Resources On Teaching & Learning Critical Thinking In The Classroom

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 hours ago

Teaching and learning critical thinking in the classroom will be the topic of my next Education Week Teacher column (contribute your ideas there, please), so I wanted to develop a “The Best…” list with supporting materials. I put out a … Continue reading →

“APPitic” Looks Impressive

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 hours ago

I just learned about APPitic, which describes itself as: …an directory of apps for education by Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) to help you transform teaching and learning. It has over 1,300 categorized apps, including a ton organized by Bloom’s Taxonomy. … Continue reading →

This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good School Reform Posts & Articles

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 6 hours ago

Here are some good recent posts and articles on school reform issues: Principals rebel against ‘value-added’ evaluation is from The Washington Post. I’m adding it to The Best Resources For Learning About The “Value-Added” Approach Towards Teacher Evaluation. Turning the … Continue reading →

Amazing Bird Formations

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 7 hours ago

I just had to add this video to The Best Sites For Learning About Animals. At forty-five seconds into the video it really gets amazing. You might have to click through to my blog to see it:

“Life In A Day” Video

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 7 hours ago

From The Los Angeles Times: “Life in a Day” is a groundbreaking film produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald that solicited user-generated content from around the world that was shot on July 24, 2010. With more than … Continue reading →

I Like “Reading Bear”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 8 hours ago

Reading Bear is a new free interactive site for teaching beginning readers through the use of phonics in a relatively engaging way. It doesn’t appear that registration is necessary, and they say it will remain free. It’s from Watch Know … Continue reading →

“How Can We Teach Critical Thinking Skills?”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 8 hours ago

How Can We Teach Critical Thinking Skills? is the new “question of the week” at my Education Week Teacher column. Please considering leaving your ideas in the comments there or on this post.

“My Best Posts, Articles & Interviews On Parent Engagement”

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

My Best Posts, Articles & Interviews On Parent Engagement is the latest “The Best…” list I’ve posted at my other blog, Engaging Parents In School. As always, feedback is welcome.

U.S. Justice Department Begins Investigation Of How Alabama Law Affects Students

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

The U.S. Justice Department has requested information from all Alabama schools. As Ed Week reports: Among other things, the letter requests records of enrollment by race and lists of students who have withdrawn since the beginning of the school year, … Continue reading →

“K-12 Online Conference” Presenters Announced

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

Presenters for the annual K-12 Online Conference, set to begin in late November, have just been announced. You can get all the information here. It’s a great opportunity to get high-quality and free professional development.

It Might Be Worth Checking-Out These English Language Development Standards

Larry Ferlazzo at Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... - 1 day ago

In September, WIDA released a draft version of the English Language Development Standards, 2012 Edition, Kindergarten through Grade Twelve. Their comment period ends on November 11th. I’ve never paid much attention to WIDA’s standards in the past since California has … Continue reading →

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Gov. Walker got one thing right in Chicago speech -- "Rahm is echoing me..."

Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Gov. Walker got one thing right in Chicago speech -- "Rahm is echoing me...":

Gov. Walker got one thing right in Chicago speech -- "Rahm is echoing me..."

Protesters disguised as Republicans lay in wait for Walker inside Union League Club

Wisconsin's union-busting governor tried to slip quietly into Chicago yesterday, to talk with supporters at the stodgy, tie-only Union League Club. So protesters donned business attire and sneaked inside and greeted Walker with chants of, "Union busting -- it's disgusting!" before they were finally escorted out by

Schools Matter: Still Time to Vote for Save Our Schools National Steering Committee

Schools Matter: Still Time to Vote for Save Our Schools National Steering Committee:

Still Time to Vote for Save Our Schools National Steering Committee

by Judy Rabin

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

The Save Our Schools March and National Call to Action took place this past summer in Washington, DC, on July 28-31, 2011 when more than 5,000 teachers, parents and citizens gathered for a 4-day conference to organize and begin the important work of saving public education from the corporate takeover and privatization of public education and end the abuse and misuse of high-stakes testing. Since then, the SOS Interim Steering Committee has been working to establish a permanent National Steering Committee to lead SOS into the future.

The election is underway and if you haven't already signed up at the Save Our Schools website, there is still time to cast your vote for members of the Steering Committee between now and November 7.

If you are tired of politicians, businessmen and billionaires making harmful decisions about our schools and our children and the damage caused by high stakes testing;

If you are tired of the inequality in school funding and would like to help schools in poor communities meet the needs of our most vulnerable students; restoring the arts, social studies, music and real science programs and a well-rounded curriculum instead of the drill and kill testing mania that has overtaken our public schools;

If you believe that young children need quality play and playful learning in school because childhood is a journey, not a race to the top;

Then join the Save Our Schools movement and get involved. Once the Steering Committee is established, there will be many opportunities for you to make a difference.

Save Our Schools Guiding Principles:

For the future of our children, we demand:

Equitable funding for all public school communities

• Equitable funding across all public schools and school systems
• Full public funding of family and community support services
• Full funding for 21^st century school and neighborhood libraries
• An end to economically and racially re-segregated schools

An end to high stakes testing used for the purpose of student, teacher, and school evaluation

• The use of multiple and varied assessments to evaluate students, teachers, and schools
• An end to pay per test performance for teachers and administrators
• An end to public school closures based upon test performance

Teacher, family and community leadership in forming public education policies

• Educator and civic community leadership in drafting new ESEA legislation
• Federal support for local school programs free of punitive and competitive funding
• An end to political and corporate control of curriculum, instruction and assessment decisions for teachers and administrators

Curriculum developed for and by local school communities

• Support for teacher and student access to a wide-range of instructional programs and technologies
• Well-rounded education that develops every student’s intellectual, creative, and physical potential
• Opportunities for multicultural/multilingual curriculum for all students
• Small class sizes that foster caring, democratic learning communities

The power of reading and the role of school

by skrashen

Sent to the Taipei Times, November 3, 2011

Lii Ding-tzann (“Reading your way to true wisdom,” Nov. 3) argues that reading in a way that connects to your own life makes a powerful contribution to our intellectual development. Research strongly supports his position: Studies show that wide, self-selected reading is related to our literacy development, our knowledge of the world, and achievement: People who read more read and write better, know more, and accomplish more in life.

Creativity researcher Dean Keith Simonton has concluded that "omnivorous reading in childhood and adolescence correlates positively 

The Washington Teacher: Closing Time For More DC Public Schools

The Washington Teacher: Closing Time For More DC Public Schools:

Closing Time For More DC Public Schools

by Candi Peterson

By Candi Peterson

Empower DC, a well respected community grassroots organization hosted a gathering on Thursday evening, November 3 at the Dorothy Height Library to discuss DC's plans to close more traditional public schools. People assembled from all walks of life including Ward 7 residents, parents, teachers, former principals, nurses, representatives of Teamsters-local 639, community activists, ANC representatives and yours truly. Some familiar faces that I saw included: Mary Levy, former

Florida Math, Reading Scores Flat; Duncan Says “Achievement Not Happening Fast Enough” | Scathing Purple Musings

Florida Math, Reading Scores Flat; Duncan Says “Achievement Not Happening Fast Enough” | Scathing Purple Musings:

Florida Math, Reading Scores Flat; Duncan Says “Achievement Not Happening Fast Enough”

by Bob Sikes

From the Miami Herald:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Fewer than 40 percent of Florida’s fourth- and eighth-grade students have scored at the proficient or advanced levels in math and reading, according to a national assessment released Tuesday.

Also known as the Nation’s Report Card, it shows Florida’s scores in both subjects have remained flat since the last National Assessment of Educational Progress two years ago. There’s also been little change in the gaps between minority and white students.

Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson issued a statement noting some bright spots in

A GOLDEN CHALK AWARD GOES TO — « Teachers Fight Back

A GOLDEN CHALK AWARD GOES TO — « Teachers Fight Back:

A GOLDEN CHALK AWARD GOES TO —

by alkleen

Another Golden Chalk Award has been given out. This one goes to Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman with the Illinois State Board of Education. She was explaining to reporters why Illinois students did so poorly on the national tests, but much better on the Illinois Standards Achievement Tests.

She was quoted as saying, ” It’s a different test and our students are not necessarily taught to the standards of that test. They are taught to the standards aligned to the Illinois Standards Achievement Tests”.

Way to go Mary! What a great phrase you used, “not taught to the standards of that test”. Thank you for being so honest. Is “not taught to the standards of that test”, the same as “not teaching to the test”? Wow, it’s so

Eviction Defense! | OccupyWallSt.org #OWS

Eviction Defense! | OccupyWallSt.org:

Eviction Defense!

by OccupyWallSt

Sign up for the eviction defense text blast!
Send a text to the number 23559, with the the message @occupyalert
This will be used for emergency alerts and announcements.

Three weeks ago NYPD delivered what was effectively a notice of eviction, telling residents of Liberty Square that Brookfield, with the help of the city, was going to clean the park. Instead, #OWS mobilized, organizing a mass clean up, mobilizing thousands of supporters, and flooding the mayors office with phone calls. An amazing pre-dawn defence packed the square with thousands of people. Brookfield stood down and the eviction was averted.

Washington Post Co Silences Employees with Intimidation: Kaplan again | Dailycensored.com

Washington Post Co Silences Employees with Intimidation: Kaplan again | Dailycensored.com:

Washington Post Co Silences Employees with Intimidation: Kaplan again

Written by Danny WeilBusiness, MediaNov 3, 2011

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Many of you know of the case of Pfc Bradley Manning. The government has alleged he leaked documents to Wikileaks and has caged him for months now in an attempt to let others know not to mess with the US government and its classified documents. Well, wlelcome to The Washington Post Company, a company that appears to be using similar tactics such as employment termination, criminal prosecution and civil suit to silence whistle blowers and initimdate future whistleblowing by employees just like the government is doing with Bradley Manning. Case in point: Ben Wilcox, former director of legal studies at WaPoCo’s Kaplan University was sentenced to prison on about July 20, 2011 as a result of these tactics.

Kaplan University, the for profit college subsidairy of the Washington Post C

Some High-Performing Florida Charter Schools “Run by or Connected” to Legislators | Scathing Purple Musings

Some High-Performing Florida Charter Schools “Run by or Connected” to Legislators | Scathing Purple Musings:

Some High-Performing Florida Charter Schools “Run by or Connected” to Legislators

by Bob Sikes

From Jeffrey Solochek at GRADEBOOK:

Keeping with new state law, the Florida Department of Education has blessed 104 charter schools as “high performing” this year. The appellation grants these schools added powers, making it even more difficult for local school boards to govern them. (See Pasco County’s recent deliberations over a Charter Schools USA application.)

The new abilities granted to these high performers include adding enrollment annually without outside permission, expanding grade levels without sponsor approval, getting 15 year contracts, and opening “replicated” schools anywhere in Florida with minimal barriers. Of course, that replication is limited to one per year, but that hasn’t stopped some operators from proposing