Big Education Ape

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Los Angeles school district’s popular magnet program has a new deadline for applications this year -- Nov. 16 -- because of the early start of the school year.

“Everything got moved up a month,” said Felipe Echávarri, a coordinator for Student Integration Services. “We want parents to be aware.”
Officials said families will receive automated phone reminders and an alert by postcard, but magnet-program brochures and applications are no longer mailed out. Those mailings ended last year, when the district switched to an online system.
Families without computer access can obtain paper applications, starting Monday, at schools, L.A. city public libraries and district headquarters. The application is available in Armenian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Farsi, Tagalog and Vietnamese as well as English.
The school system has 172 magnet programs that enroll just over 59,000 students. More than 25,000 students failed to get into their chosen program and landed on a waiting list last year.

What Your Kids Are Really Doing Online | toteachornototeach

What Your Kids Are Really Doing Online | toteachornototeach:

What Your Kids Are Really Doing Online

by aristotlethewise

What Your Kids Are Really Doing Online

by Michael Levin
The Internet affords children endless opportunities to get into serious trouble, downloading what they shouldn’t download, looking at what they shouldn’t be looking at, and getting ideas about what they shouldn’t be getting ideas about.
But the good news is that if your kids are like mine, they may be doing some or all of those things… but there’s another use for the Internet that’s attracting their time and attention.
It’s called teaching.
That’s right — your kids are most likely teaching other kids how to do things that interest them. The online world, especially YouTube, has turned into an academy without walls, entrance fees or final exams. The

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Economic Crisis cost 300,000 Teachers' jobs

SACRAMENTO PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE: Economic Crisis cost 300,000 Teachers' jobs:

Economic Crisis cost 300,000 Teachers' jobs

by Duane Campbell

The 300,000 teacher gap

In September, public-sector employment increased by 10,000. However, over the last four years, it has declined by 572,000. With kids heading back to the classroom this fall, it’s worth considering how much of that drop has hit public schools. Around 40 percent of the decline in public sector employment over the last four years was in local government education,

Bill Gates and Me | Seattle Education

Bill Gates and Me | Seattle Education:

Bill Gates and Me

by seattleducation2011

Someone asked me today while we were waiting to be seated for a filming of a debate regarding I-1240 (more on that later), why everything Bill Gates, or for that matter the Walton’s, fund, I am opposed to.
Well, I’m not. I appreciate the money that Bill Gates and his wife spent to create the sculpture park in Seattle that faces the sound. It is a beautiful transition from the water to the low-rise condo’s along that stretch of waterfront. I also appreciate that they helped to fund the construction of the building that is now our central library although unfortunately all of the libraries in Seattle must close a few days each month due to financial constraints. If Gates assisted with keeping our libraries open, or pay his fair share of taxes, there would be many grateful students, particularly in the Central District, who rely heavily on the Douglass-Truth Library for the use of the computers and tutoring after school. I used to live in the Central District and after school everyday when I

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 10-6-12

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

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

SOUTH LA SCHOOLS TEAM UP TO FIGHT RECONSTITUTION

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 23 hours ago

By Vanessa Romo, KPCC Pass-Fail | http://bit.ly/PZTTGL “Reconstitution and turn around never works. Only fresh squeezed works-- there is $10 billion in failed turn around work nationally. That would be a lot of new high quality schools at $500k a piece.” - former LAUSD school board president/Charter school champion Caprice Young

POLICE PEPPER SPRAY BREAKS UP FIGHT AT NARBONNE HIGH SCHOOL

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 23 hours ago

A fistfight between two girls that drew a crowd of onlookers ends abruptly when a school police officer shoots pepper spray into the air, forcing 47 students to seek medical help, officials say. By Matt Stevens, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/SHxT14 Students are released from Narbonne High School in Harbor City after 47 of their classmates sought help for respiratory and eye irritation

LAUSD’s TABLET PLAN DOESN’T COMPUTE …and “the legality is somewhat sketchy”

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

Supt. John Deasy wants to provide a tablet computer to every teacher and student. But he doesn't have a real plan; it's more like a notion — and that's not enough LA Times Editorial | http://lat.ms/QOyjTZ October 5, 2012 :: Superintendent John Deasy wants to buy every teacher and student in Los Angeles Unified School District a tablet computer within a year or two — 700,000 of the

GRADING TEACHERS: L.A. Youth’s staff writers say there are better ways to evaluate teachers than using students' test scores

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

by the LA Youth Teen Staff - From the September Issue of L.A. Youth, the newspaper by and about teens, http://bit.ly/PWCnly At a recent staff meeting, we talked about how schools can determine if a teacher is effective at helping students learn. It came up because the Los Angeles Unified School District wants to use student scores on standardized tests as part of their teacher evaluations. The

IN CHICAGO, THE TEACHERS’ LAST STAND

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

Photograph by Michael Hitoshi/Getty Images By Drake Bennett Bloomberg Businessweek. http://buswk.co/PbQvve September 13, 2012 :: In February of last year, Rahm Emanuel was running for mayor of Chicago when neighboring Wisconsin exploded. The state’s governor, Republican Scott Walker, had introduced a budget-repair bill stripping most collective bargaining rights from public sector workers.

VETO PITS CHARTER SCHOOL AUTONOMY AGAINST REDUCED PRICE MEALS

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

Joanna Lin California Watch | http://bit.ly/PB1zwF DC Central Kitchen/Flickr October 3, 2012 | Arguing that he did not want to "erode the independence and flexibility" of charter schools, Gov. Jerry Brown last weekend vetoed legislation that would have required charters to provide low-income students free or reduced-price meals. Brown's veto message [PDF] of AB 1594, authored by Assemblyman

“THE TEXAS MIRACLE” v.2.0: EL PASO SUPERINTENDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO PUSHING LATINO STUDENTS OUT

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

El Paso Superintendent Pushed Latino Students to Drop Out Posted on Latino Ed Beat by Katherine Leal Unmuth | http://bit.ly/SKudfR October 4, 2012 :: During his time in power, El Paso Public Schools superintendent Lorenzo Garcia sought to identify struggling students who hurt the district’s ratings and then worked to push them out of the system. At a time when efforts to reverse the dismal

FACT CHECK: On education, gains difficult to demonstrate

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

By Howard Blume LA Times Politics NOW | http://lat.ms/Re4ddi Mitt Romney and President Obama during their first presidential debate at the University of Denver. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images / October 3, 2012) This post has been updated, as indicated below. October 3, 2012, 7:59 p.m. :: On education, President Obama correctly noted that his ideas for reform have been drawn from ideas

INGLEWOOD HIGH GRAD TAKES OVER CITY’S TROUBLED SCHOOL DISTRICT

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

Kent Taylor, who graduated from Inglewood High in 1982 and was recently an education official in Kern County, steps in to lead the state-controlled district. By Kurt Streeter, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/PT2ZUv October 4, 2012, 2:04 a.m. :: Kent Taylor, superintendent of education in southern Kern County, was selected Wednesday to lead the Inglewood school district — the first major

Fading Dreams: COMMUNITY COLLEGES’ CRISIS SLOWS STUDENT’S PROGRESS + New Law: THOSE RESPONSIBLE HELD UNACCOUNTABLE

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 1 day ago

Community colleges' crisis slows students' progress to a crawl Thousands of degree seekers are able to enroll in only one class at a time. Hopes of graduating or transferring wither as years pass. By Stephen Ceasar, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/UhrVLE Cinthia Garcia, 24, was able to register in only a Web design class at Pasadena City College. After years of struggle, she has given up

PARENT COUP: INSIDE THE NEXT PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOWDOWN. Moms in the Mojave Desert are trying to take over an elementary school with the help of some deep-pocketed friends.

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 days ago

By Caroline Winter Businessweek http://buswk.co/Reokbr Chrissy Alvarado opposes the takeover of Desert Trails - Photograph by Geordie Wood for Bloomberg Businessweek September 13, 2012 :: In Spanish, adelanto means “progress.” That’s exactly what Doreen Diaz and her family hoped for when they moved the 17 miles to Adelanto, Calif., from nearby Hesperia in 2007. The Diazes bought one of

The Presidential Debate: EDUCATION ISSUES BARELY BREAK THE SURFACE

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 days ago

by Emily Richmond/The Educated Reporter - Commentary on education coverage, writing and a few other things from the Education Writers Association | http://bit.ly/QRRDDh Thursday, October 4, 2012 :: The first presidential debate was peppered with references to education issues, although some of the more controversial topics, such as vouchers and teacher evaluations, barely surfaced. However

An Education: HOW PROP 32’s BACKERS HAVE TRIED TO DITCH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 days ago

by Matthew Fleischer, Frying Pan News: Hot Ideas for a Cold Economy | http://bit.ly/ODbeYU October 2, 2012 :: The billionaire backers of Proposition 32 are an eclectic bunch–from bow-tied Tory parodies like Charles Munger Jr., to Bible-thumping fire-breathers like Larry T. Smith, to old-fashioned oil tycoons like the Koch brothers. Over the years members of this crew have combined to push a

EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM STALLS IN CALIFORNIA

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 days ago

DAN WALTERS - Sacramento Bee | http://bit.ly/VggqU9 October 02, 2012 - 7:45 am EDT :: There's a tale behind the death of California's proposed school funding allocation overhaul. The measure, Assembly Bill 18, was one of the casualties as Gov. Jerry Brown waded through hundreds of bills from the hectic, final hours of the 2012 legislative session. — Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica, carried

ARNE DUNCAN WOULD STAY ON FOR 2nd OBAMA TERM, TRIES TO PATCH RELATIONS w/TEACHERS, CALLS FOR MOVE TO DIGITAL TEXTBOOKS

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 2 days ago

Arne Duncan would stay on for second Obama term Posted by Lyndsey Layton to Washington Post Election 2012 | http://wapo.st/PP6qM1 September 27, 2012 at 3:59 pm :: Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Thursday that he intends to remain in the Obama cabinet if there is a second term. “I’m in it for the long haul,” Duncan said. “I’m staying, unless the president gets sick of me.” Duncan is

LAUSD “RUNNING ON FUMES” GOING INTO NOVEMBER TAX VOTES

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago

By Barbara Jones, Staff Writer, LA Daily News from the Pasadena Star News | http://bit.ly/RbgkrD ONLINE: Link to LAUSD PowerPoint about impacts Prop. 30 and Prop. 38 would have on the district 10/02/2012 06:04:12 PM PDT :: Trying to toe the line without crossing over into advocacy, Los Angeles Unified's finance chief on Tuesday outlined the impacts of the two proposed tax-hike initiatives

MIRAMONTE ATTORNEY CALLS FOR MORE AGGRESSIVE MEASURES, CRITICIZES ART

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 3 days ago

Did Picasso made him do it …or make kids insensitive? Post-Miramonte, attorney calls for more aggressive measures by Howard Blume, LA Times/LA Now | http://lat.ms/PSOIIu October 1, 2012 | 3:38 pm :: An attorney representing two dozen students urged school officials Monday to take more aggressive action in response to alleged lewd conduct at Miramonte Elementary School. The Los Angeles

Teaching+Learning Artfully: ARTS INTEGRATION FOR DEEPER LEARNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 4 days ago

video and articles from Edutopia/The George Lucas Educational Foundation about the Arts Integration Program at Bates Middle School in Annapolis Md. | http://bit.ly/PHeT3H Critical thinking, risk taking, and collaboration -- along with academics and discipline -- are just some of the areas where Bates Middle school educators report big improvements since integrating the arts across all subject

Art In Public Schools: COULD A MORE CREATIVE CURRICULUM LOWER DROPOUT RATES? + FANNING THE FLAME OF CREATIVITY

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 4 days ago

Brianna Sacks | Staff Reporter | Neon Tommy-USC/ Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism|http://bit.ly/Sgx31t September 30, 2012 | 6:04 p.m. PDT :: Where do Los Angeles Unified students go when they have fallen so far behind in high school that they are at risk of not graduating on time, or considering dropping out entirely? (Creative Commons/Parker Michael Knight

TALKS CONTINUE ON TEACHER EVALUATIONS: UTLA remains opposed to tying evaluations to individual AGT/VAM ratings.

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 6 days ago

From The September issue of United Teacher | http://bit.ly/SrBsNd 21 September 2012 :: UTLA is in court-ordered negotiations with LAUSD officials over changes to the teacher evaluation system, but no agreement has been reached. The union continues to push back against LAUSD’s proposal to link a percentage of a teacher’s evaluation to his or her individual Academic Growth Over Time score. AGT

di·chot·o·my: VOUCHERS GAIN FOOTHOLD AMONG STATE, LOCAL DEMOCRATS meets RIFT EMERGES IN GOP ON COMMON CORE

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 6 days ago

VOUCHERS GAIN FOOTHOLD AMONG STATE, LOCAL DEMOCRATS RIFT EMERGES IN GOP ON COMMON CORE By Sean Cavanagh, Education Week | http://bit.ly/UYAkTq September 18, 2012 :: This year's presidential campaign offers at least one unequivocal contrast on education issues: The Republican candidate supports private school

U P D A T E D: EXPIRED FOOD PRODUCTS BEING SERVED BY WALMART FOUNDATION FUNDED LAUSD BREAKFAST IN THE CLASSROOM + smf’s 2¢

smf at 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit - 6 days ago

"So long as there are children who are coming to school hungry, there will be a need for school breakfast programs, and until workers are guaranteed a living wage, there will undoubtedly be hungry kids." — Dana Woldow: Why Walmart loves free school breakfast - Sep. 10‚ 2012 by Robert D. Skeels - Echo Park Patch - Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:26 pm | http://j.mp/PJTRm5 Expired

1	How has technology in your classroom impact student learning and achievement? Posted by David Petrick on October 3, 2012
2	Why Education in Finland Works Added by Thomas Whitby on September 25, 2012
3	Technology is here to stay Added by Rachelle Babcock on September 24, 2012
4	Six Word Memoirs by Teens Added by Thomas Whitby on August 30, 2012
5	Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds Added by Thomas Whitby on February 25, 2010
6	Beautiful Minds: Stephen Wiltshire Added by Thomas Whitby on February 2, 2011
7	The David Griffith Live Conversation: Education Policy and Funding Posted by Shelly Terrell on September 5, 2012
8	Educator Elena Aguilar on How to Teach Interdisciplinary Projects Added by Sasha Reese on September 23, 2012
9	The Future Starts Now - 2012 edition Added by Thomas Whitby on September 23, 2012
10	Teaching kids to work as a team Posted by Desiree Armisstead on September 25, 2012
11	Socratic Seminars Succeed With Tech Tools! Added by Ary Aranguiz on September 30, 2012
12	The Voice of the Active Learner Added by Holly Owens on October 5, 2012
13	Happiness is a choice Added by Eric Skanson on October 5, 2012
14	Why We Need Common Core: A Parody Added by Thomas Whitby on October 4, 2012
15	iPads in the Classroom Added by Betsy Spence on October 5, 2012
16	John Carver: Changing Education's DNA.mov Added by Thomas Whitby on October 5, 2012
17	If it is not cross platform then I am not Interested! Added by Richard Nelson on October 4, 2012
18	How to Tackle The Adolescents and Give Them Proper Guidance Added by Melissa Spears on September 28, 2012
19	Is Jamaica the Ultimate Destination to Build Careers Added by Melissa Spears on September 28, 2012
20	How do you help younger kids memorize Posted by Diana on October 5, 2012

Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, October 6, 2012

The 300,000 teacher gap