1-7-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.:

Ten minute drawing. Dibs.

1 by Fred Klonsky / 23min 

Weingarten trashes value added measures. What do we do now?

Good news. Diane Ravitch’s blog yesterday reported that AFT President Randi Weingarten has changed her mind about value added measures in teacher evaluation. VAM uses test student test scores to measure teacher effectiveness. It is junk science. Weingarten’s reported new view may have a positive impact on future bargaining of AFT local contracts. I hope so. Many members of both the AFT and the NE

2 by Fred Klonsky / 29min 

Man, that was awkward.

Watching the Mayor’s press conference was really awkward. First, let me point out that the Sun-Times photo of the Mayor and Barbara Byrd-Bennett is credited to Fran Spielman. The story is by Sun-Times reporter Art Golab. Fran is the city political reporter for the Sun-Times, but since the Sun-Times fired all their staff photographers, she has been reduced to taking iPhone pictures of BBB and the

3 by Fred Klonsky / 1h 

Ken Previti. Loyalty, Chicago style.

Ken Previti’s blog: This reminds me of a situation I encountered during my 20 years as a supernumerary (an extra) at Lyric Opera of Chicago on one opening night backstage. Opening nights are attended by big-shots, politicians, donors, critics and even a few opera lovers with money for those extra-expensive Opening night tickets. On that night Carol Fox, the founder and director of the Lyric who wa

by Fred Klonsky / 2h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

Todd Mertz’ pension news.

Friends and Colleagues I have not written since Dec. 5th.  Here are some noteworthy items since SB1 passed: Tribune Cartoon:  Portrays Teachers and State Employees as a Neutered Dog On December 4th, the day after the Senate and House passed SB1, which will steal between 30% and 50% of retirees and active teachers’ pensions, theChicago Tribune had the audacity to publish a truly tasteless cartoon. 

by Fred Klonsky / 12h 

Todd Mertz. Pension news.

Friends and Colleagues I have not written since Dec. 5th. Here are some noteworthy items since SB1 passed: Tribune Cartoon: Portrays Teachers and State Employees as a Neutered Dog On December 4th, the day after the Senate and House passed SB1, which will steal between 30% and 50% of retirees and active teachers’ pensions, the Chicago Tribune had the audacity to publish a truly tasteless cartoon. W

by Fred Klonsky / 12h 

1-6-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher

Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Welcome to Anchorage on the Lake.by Fred Klonsky / 2h 1-5-14 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacherFred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Sunday reads.Glen Brown. The sinners of the last round lie completely sealed in

by mike simpson / 9h 

teacherken at Daily Kos 1-7-14: : Putting students at risk for testing?

Daily Kos: Putting students at risk for testing?:

15 Months in Virtual Charter Hell: A Teacher's Tale

One major phenomenon that has blossomed as part the corporatization of education in the two most recent presidential administrations is that of virtual charter schools -  schools with no mortar and brick buildings, or building of any kind.  The teachers and students communicate in virtual space.  In some cases these schools receive as much public funding per student as would a traditional public s

6 by rss@dailykos.com ... / 2h 

 Putting students at risk for testing?

The weather in the Washington DC Metro area is dangerous this morning - temperatures at best in the single digits, with the wind having wind chills below zero. If you check the list of school closings, in Virginia the vast majority of the school systems are closed, with several (notably Arlington and Alexandria) only on 2 hour delays. If you cross the Potomac to the Maryland side, the picture is v

by rss@dailykos.com ... / 3h 

teacherken at Daily Kos 1-5-14: One Marine's Dying Wish

Daily Kos: One Marine's Dying Wish: One Marine's Dying Wishis the title of this must-read column by Frank Bruni in today's New York Times It is about Hal Faulkner, a 79 year old who is dying of cancer. Faulkner enlisted in the Marines in 1952 and was discharged in 1965, having served more than 3 years and risen from private to sergeant, showing how highly he was regarded. There were no real blots

by mike simpson / 8h 

1-7-14 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit

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

Preschool, Teacher Training, Investment + Student Health Funding Needed/Top 12 Ed Issues for 2014/The Hard Part will be Implementing LCFF

all from Edsource today | http://bit.ly/JFCp3O Preschool, teacher training and student health funding needed to offset child poverty, report says January 6th, 2014 | By Jane Meredith Adams It’s far too soon to tell if the state’s new education law will improve outcomes for the neediest students, but more investment in the public school system, including quality preschool, teacher training

by smf / 8min hide  //  save

MEMO SURFACES ON OPTIONS TO FILL VACANT LAUSD BOAD SEAT + smf’s 2¢

by LA School Report Posted on January 6, 2014  ::  LA School Report has learned that a deadlock of the LA Unified school board on how to fill the vacant seat could lead to an election. See the County Seal>> Note the lack of the cross above the Hollywood Bowl – where it used to be on the seal. Note the lack of the cross on the image of the Mission San Fernando (which still is a Catholic

1 by smf / 36min 

LA SCHOOL BOARD TO DEBATE FILLING LAMOTTE’S SEAT – Tonight at 6:15/Live on KLCS

  Annie Gilbertson | | Pass / Fail | 89.3 KPCC http://bit.ly/K1BGJP January 6th, 2014, 6:15am  ::  The board of the Los Angeles Unified School District on Tuesday will discuss how to fill the seat left vacant after the death of Marguerite LaMotte. They'll weigh two options: appointment or special election. Marguerite LaMotte  via lamotte.laschoolboard.org>> L.A. Unified is the

1 by smf / 1h 

Sandy Banks: L.A. UNIFIED SHOULD APPOINT A SUCCESSOR TO LAMOTTE

Delaying until an election to pick a replacement for Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who died last year, risks shortchanging students at a vulnerable time. Op-Ed by LA Times Columnist Sandy Banks | http://lat.ms/1dcspM9 The L.A. Unified board is trying to decide how to replace Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who died last year. (Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times / December 17, 2013)

1 by smf / 1h 

Genethia Hayes & George McKenna: TWO WELL-KNOWN CANDIDATES, SO FAR, ASPIRE TO REPLACE LAMOTTE

By Howard Blume, L.A. Times | http://lat.ms/1bNkUF2 Interest is heating up among possible replacements for L.A. school board member Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte, who died in December. (Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times / March 6, 2007) January 6, 2014, 6:21 p.m.  ::  An election is not yet even scheduled but already there are two heavyweight contenders ready to vie for the Los Angeles

1 by smf / 2h 

YESTERDAY

The Spectacular Role Of School Libraries In Protecting Students From The Effects Of Poverty

By Dr. Stephen Krashen FROM HIS BLOG SKRASHEN | http://bit.ly/1icpgLt Stephen Krashen is professor emeritus at the University of Southern California,[1] who moved from the linguistics department to the faculty of the School of Education in 1994. He is a linguist, educational researcher, and activist. Saturday, January 4, 2014 Published in: iLeader: Journal of School Library Association of

1 by smf / 7h 

Public School Choice: WHEN COMPETITORS CONVERGED, COLLABORATION BEGAN IN LOS ANGELES UNIFIED + smf’s 2¢ and more

By Charles Taylor Kerchner / Special to EdSource | http://bit.ly/1gBz4y4 January 5th, 2014  ::  Nearly a quarter century ago, two Stanford University professors wrote that market forces could reform public education in ways that government dominated by interest groups, like teachers unions, could not. “Politics, Markets, and America’s Schools” by John Chubb and Terry Moe remains a

1 by smf / 8h 

1-5-14 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: Can a non sequitur be apropos?comic by wiley miller | http://bit.ly/1ezTh5sby smf / 1h 4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 1-4-144LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit:4LAKIDS - SOME OF THE NEWS THAT DOESN'T FIT  THE LAUSD BOARD OF ED NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION …and that decision should be to appoint a representative to fill Marguerite LaMott

by mike simpson / 4h 

1-7-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE:

Hanna Skandera’s Reforms Cause More Than ‘Discomfort’

Education Secretary-Designate Hanna Skandera recently wrote an editorial to the Albuquerque Journal stating more untruths, vague ideas, and plenty of blame against those who are questioning her initiatives.  She suggests that there will be some “discomfort” during her period of reforms.  I suggest that discomfort isn’t the problem; what we’re fighting against is the actual […]

2 by Kris Nielsen / 2h 

Tone, pt. 4: Dystopian Fiction, Passion, and the Education Reform Debate

Tone, pt. 4: Dystopian Fiction, Passion, and the Education Reform Debate. via Tone, pt. 4: Dystopian Fiction, Passion, and the Education Reform Debate.

1 by plthomasedd / 9min 

Evidence Refutes TFA Expansion

Teach for America: A Return to the Evidence, by Julian Vasquez Heilig and Su Jin Jez, may be too optimistic in its subtitle (not sure we’ve ever lingered at all with the evidence in order to return to it), but that aside, this report offers yet another clear message that TFA is far more agenda- than evidence- […]

1 by plthomasedd / 1h hide  //  save

Should California Embrace Common Core? My Response to Bill Honig

On January 7, 2014, California Instructional Quality Chair Bill Honig published a letter on Diane Ravitch’s blog in which he carefully details his reasons for supporting the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in California. (Copy of letter ) In his letter, Honig encourages California districts wary of CCSS to reconsider their positions. He notes, “In California, there is widespread, […]

1 by deutsch29 / 2h 

YESTERDAY

Teaching within a low SES school is bittersweet.

Teaching is a demanding profession. The average teacher, regardless of his or her assignment, overcomes many obstacles throughout the school year. With that said, teaching within an economically disadvantaged neighborhood school is physically, mentally and emotionally draining. For better or worse, teaching within low socio-economic status (SES) neighborhood school is bittersweet. Teaching within

3 by Angel Cintron Jr. / 12h 

1-6-14 @ The Chalk Face

@ THE CHALK FACE: Trickle-Down Administration: Education Reform in a Culture of Distracting OutrageTrickle-Down Administration: Education Reform in a Culture of Distracting Outrage. via Trickle-Down Administration: Education Reform in a Culture of Distracting Outrage.Filed under: PAUL THOMAS: Becoming Radical2 by plthomasedd / 2h 1-5-14 @ The Chalk Face@ THE CHALK FACE: I wonder if Secretary Dunca

by mike simpson / 9h 

1-7-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University):

Tone, pt. 4: Dystopian Fiction, Passion, and the Education Reform Debate

Two early scenes in Shaun of the Dead require viewers to understand zombie narrative tropes in order to achieve the film’s satirical intent—distinguishing Shaun of the Dead from the zombie horror films it skewers: Shaun makes nearly identical trips from his apartment to a local convenience store, the first involving a normal day and the second after the (unknown to him) zombie apocalypse. Througho

1 by plthomasedd / 14min

Behind the Advocacy: TFA Remains Mostly Spin, Distraction

Schools Matter: Behind the Advocacy: TFA Remains Mostly Spin, Distraction

1 by plthomasedd / 1h 

1-6-14 the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness by P. L. Thomas, EdD

the becoming radical | A Place for a Pedagogy of Kindness (the public and scholarly writing by P. L. Thomas, Furman University): King’s Next Shining Novel: More “True History of the Torrance Family”Stephen King’s career reminds me of the career of Kurt Vonnegut in three ways: (1) they suffered the negative consequences of being associated with writing genre fiction, (2) they are often devalued as

by mike simpson / 9h

1-7-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Shelly Silver Says Case For Delay In Common Core Reform Agenda Has Been Made

SED Commissioner King and Regents Chancellor Tisch seemed not to be listening to the public during their Gospel of the Common Core Tour in November and December, but the members of the legislature - including Assembly Speaker Silver - were:ALBANY—Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said Tuesday he expects the state Board of Regents to form a plan for improving and possibly delaying implementation of t

by reality-based edu... / 10min

De Blasio Vs. Cuomo

Inevitable that Sheriff Andy would want to make sure Bill de Blasio knows he's the boss.Cuomo says he can get an extra $250 million for full-day pre-k funding without raising taxes - a kind of one year windfall in the budget.De Blasio says the funding needs to be sustainable and over a period of years - in short, taxes need to be raised on individuals making $500,000 or more, as his plan calls for

by reality-based edu... / 10min hide  //  save

Baby Its Cold Outside

6 degrees in #NYC ties the record low from 1896! Feels like -13. Regional temps: http://t.co/2dBYBSORkF @ABC7NY #RecordCold— Lee Goldberg (@LeeGoldbergABC7) January 7, 201413 class days until the ELA Regents exam. 6 degrees out, -14 with the wind chill.Going to guess attendance isn't going to be so great today.

by reality-based edu... / 3h 

1-6-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School: Cuomo To Call For More Common Core Professional Development For TeachersJust in case you thought he was going to walk back his support of his education reform agenda:Cuomo is also expected to propose additional funding for professional development to help teachers who are struggling with the new, more rigorous Common Core standards, a source said. Both the Regents and the Se

by mike simpson / 9h