7-28-14 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL

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

Students Seeing Assets, Not Deficits, In Their Neighborhoods

My favorite lesson each year is when my students compare their neighborhood with the wealthiest neighborhood in Sacramento, and then write a persuasive essay about which one they think is better. At least ninety percent of them choose their neighborhood. You can read — at length — about that lesson at A Lesson Highlighting Community Assets — Not Deficits. Here’s a powerful tweet about Chicago stud

by Larry Ferlazzo / 21min hide  //  save

More Resources On Sleep & Teenagers

© 2011 Pink Sherbet Photography, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are a new additions to The Best Resources For Helping Teens Learn About The Importance Of Sleep: Too little sleep may trigger the ‘munchies’ by raising levels of an appetite-controlling molecule is from Science Daily. To Get More Sleep, Get More Sunlight is from Forbes. Experts Make a Case for Later School Start Times is from Ed Week

by Larry Ferlazzo / 21min 

Video: “Barbecue From Around The World”

I’m adding this video to The Best Sites For Learning About The World’s Different Cultures:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 24min hide  //  save

Create A Map Of Places You Want To See With “KLM Must See”

The KLM Must See Map lets you create a map of most major cities in the world, along with the key places you want to see in them. No registration is required. If you want, you can invite others to make suggestions, too. Once you add sites to your map, you’re also provided with a link to go to where you can find out more about information about it. It’s very easy to use. It does have two drawbacks,

by Larry Ferlazzo / 24min 

Two Good Resources For Virtual Field Trips

© 2011 Wesley Fryer, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio Here are two new additions to The Best Resources For Finding And Creating Virtual Field Trips: 6 virtual field trips to give lesson plans a boost is from Education Dive. Here’s a map of virtual field trips and webcams that I learned about from Richard Byrne. You can see a bigger version here. View Virtual Tours & Webcams in a larger map

by Larry Ferlazzo / 2min 

The Best Articles Highlighting Parallel Critiques Of Increasing School & Health Care “Efficiency”

© 2011 401(K) 2012, Flickr | CC-BY-SA | via Wylio There have been a number of articles and posts over the years highlighting efforts in education and in health care to institute similarly misguided changes in both areas. Here are ones that I’ve seen, and feel free to suggest more: Medicare Penalizes Nearly 1,500 Hospitals For Poor Quality Scores is from NPR, and shows that some hospitals get penal

by Larry Ferlazzo / 10min hide  //  save

NY Times Column Skewers Performance Pay

Many school reformers view teacher merit pay as one of the “be all, end all” solutions to the challenges facing schools, even though it’s been found to never work (see The Best Resources For Learning Why Teacher Merit Pay Is A Bad Idea). Today, The New York Times published a column that highlights all of what is wrong about merit pay. However, they talk about it in the context of doctors and the m

by Larry Ferlazzo / 10min 

“Race To The Top Has Been A ‘Fiasco’”

Race To The Top Has Been A ‘Fiasco’ is Part Two in my series on the Race To The Top program, which has just had its fifth anniversary. Today, Barnett Berry, Ariel Sacks, John Thompson, Alice Mercer and David B. Cohen weigh in with their thoughts, and I include comments from readers, too. Here are some excerpts:

by Larry Ferlazzo / 6h hide  //  save

YESTERDAY

Amazing Video: 1980 Bush & Reagan Comments On If Undocumented Children Should Be Able To Attend Schools

This is amazing. What has happened to the Republicans? I’m adding this to The Best Resources About The New Push For Immigration Reform. Remarkable. MT@jdickerson-1980: Reagan & Bush discuss whether the children of illegals should attend school 4 free. https://t.co/0lWrYz1O2V” — Daniel Pink (@DanielPink) July 28, 2014

by Larry Ferlazzo / 8h 

7-27-14 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 To Help Promote A Physically Healthy Lifestyle For Our Students© 2014 Juhan Sonin, Flickr | CC-BY | via Wylio I’ve published a fair amount number of posts about lessons and tools I use to help promote a physically healthy lifestyle for my students, including research that shows how essential it is for lea

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-28-14 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. What’s that noise.

by Fred Klonsky / 38min 

Madigan’s Iron Dome.

Mike Madigan has been Speaker since 1983. Remember Lee Elia? All this debate about whether we should vote for Quinn or not. Save your breath. When November’s election rolls around, the most powerful man in Illinois will be re-elected to office. And you won’t be voting for him. That would be the State Rep from the 22nd House District. He will get the votes of a few thousand people, out of couple m

by Fred Klonsky / 17min 

John Dillon. A Bitter Pill: Illinois Supreme Court’s decision and Chicago corporate media.

- John Dillon is a retired teacher, pension activist and blogs at Pension Vocabulary. Bitter Pill is an idiom that arises from usage nearly a century ago or in some lexicons even earlier.  Imagine a time when medicine was less than palatable or manageable, and you have a start.  Later on, during the malaria infestations of the Panama Canal  (1880 – 1920) project, “bitter” became the operative adj

by Fred Klonsky / 51min 

7-27-14 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.: An ethnic slur.A few days ago, in my continuing sadness about what is happening in Gaza, I posted on Twitter. “One Palestinian child is killed every hour in Gaza.” People all over the world have taken to the streets to call for an end to Israel’s military assault on what is the prison called Gaza. I a

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-28-14 Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement"

Engaging Parents In School… | Going Beyond Parent "Involvement":

“Federal Data-Privacy Guidelines Urge Better Communication With Parents”

Federal Data-Privacy Guidelines Urge Better Communication With Parents is a new post over at Education Week. Here’s how it begins: The tug-of-war over student data privacy continues. Friday, the U.S. Department of Education released new, non-binding guidance containing suggestions for schools and districts to better inform parents about how their children’s sensitive educational data is being used

by Larry Ferlazzo / 16min 

“Raising Readers” Is A Scholastic Program For Teachers To Use With Spanish & English-Speaking Parents

Raising Readers is from Scholastic, and it has a lot of free materials — in both English and Spanish — to help promote activities parents can do with their children to encourage reading. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure exactly how useful they are, but it’s always nice to have some decent materials in a language other than English for parents. So, I’m adding it to The Best Multilingual Resource

4 by Larry Ferlazzo / 4h 

“Clinton launches Talk, Read, Sing campaign”

Ed Source reports on a recent visit by Hillary Clinton to Oakland: Hillary Clinton spoke to a friendly crowd at Oakland’s UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital on Wednesday about her new campaign (no, not that one) to get parents to spend more time talking, singing and reading to their young children. “Brain research is showing us how important the first years of life are,” Clinton said, “and how much

4 by Larry Ferlazzo / 4h 

Feds Open Civil Rights Investigation Into What’s Going On In Newark

I’ve published quite a few posts about the craziness that’s been going on in Newark schools — the misuse of Zukerberg’s millions in donations, their “Twilight Zonish” perspective on parent engagement, their banning of a parent leader from school grounds. Well, now the U.S. Department of Education has begun an investigation: The deeply flawed state school reorganization plan known as “One Newark” f

5 by Larry Ferlazzo / 4h hide  //  save

New Congressional Effort To Generate Funds For Community Schools

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill. have announced they are introducing a Congressional bill that would generate funds to support the development of community schools. You can read more about it at: Bipartisan House Bill Would Boost Community Schools at Ed Week Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Expand Community Schools at the Coalition For Community Schools. I’m addin

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 4h 

Useful Parent Involvement Infographic

Here’s a visual representation of parent involvement researcher Joyce Epstein’s work: Epstein's 6 Types of Parent Involvement for Successful Partnerships—> RT @GaDOEParents: pic.twitter.com/xh1Wu0qk20 #ptcamp #ptchat — Joe Mazza (@Joe_Mazza) July 23, 2014 I’m adding it to The Best Infographics About Parent Involvement In Schools.

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 4h 

British Prohibition On Taking Kids Out Of School Reaches New Low: “Mother of terminally-ill boy fighting fine for taking son on ‘last holiday’”

I’ve posted a lot about the ridiculous British policy of fining parents if they take their kids on a trip while school is in session. The Telegraph reports on a new low in this article: Mother of terminally-ill boy fighting fine for taking son on ‘last holiday’ The headline says it all…

2 by Larry Ferlazzo / 4h 

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-28-14

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

NEW CalArts RESIDENCY TRANSFORMS ARTISTS INTO TEACHERS

Mary Plummer  | 89.3 KPCC |  http://bit.ly/1nNQjmc Teaching artist in training Anthony "Chuck" Gloria, left, works with animation co-directors Ruah Edelstein and Masha Vasilkovsky on a performance blending music and animated pieces. Maya Sugarman/KPCC   3:45 Listen to Radio Story July 28, 2014  ::  A new program at the California Institute of the Arts is taking some of the

by smf / 14min 

CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS FACE LAWSUIT OVER PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES + smf’s 2¢

By Sara Hayden, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/1qHdz7J A physical education classes at Van Nuys Middle School in 2006. Several California school districts are being sued for allegedly not providing enough time for kids to exercise. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)  ●●smf: This article and the subject lawsuit is about P.E. in elementary school. It is telling that The Times  photo editors

by smf / 19min hide  //  save

3 of 4 KIDS WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS DON’T GET HELP, LAUSD CUTS MENTAL HEALTH FOR SPECIAL ED STUDENTS

Study finds 3 out of 4 children with mental health needs don't get treated by Adrian Florido  | 89.3 KPCC |  http://bit.ly/1Aq7iza 0:51 Listen to radio story UCLA researchers say only one-quarter of California children aged 4-11 with mental health needs receive treatment. Maya

by smf / 23min 

Suppose they hold a school board election and nobody votes? THE LAUSD BOARD ELECTION MATTERS; VOTERS SHOULD TURN OUT

  OP-ED by Jim Newton, Los Angeles Times | http://lat.ms/1pujSor A lone voter fills out his ballot in the June 3 election at the International City Masonic Temple in Long Beach. (Christina House / For The Times) On Aug. 12, voters in Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education District 1 will choose between Alex Johnson and George McKenna.

by smf / 8h

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit 7-27-14

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: MOODY’S ASSIGNS Aa2 RATING to LAUSD’s GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS: $138.4 million new debt affected; rating affirmed on outstanding parity and COP debtThe Wall Street Transcript from Moody’s press Release  |  http://bit.ly/1zjrUb3 New York, July 25, 2014  Issue: General Obligation Bonds, Election of 2004, Series J (2014); Rating: Aa2; Sale Amount: $71,435,

by mike simpson / 1h 

7-28-14 Curmudgucation

CURMUDGUCATION:

David Coleman Is Superman!

Politico dipped into the David Coleman at Aspen Ideas festival file and pulled out a quote in which Coleman admits that “I think then we make a great mistake by caricaturing the opponents of the standards as crazies or people who don't tell the truth." They call this "a big takeaway." They also catch Coleman admitting that it's no sign of great paranoia to be concerned about how ind

3 by Peter Greene / 15min 

Seasoned Teachers Not Getting Filthy Rich

In other news, scientists anticipate the sun rising in the East tomorrow morning.Okay, this might actually be news to some folks. To listen to the merit-based pay crowd, you would think that we are currently throwing bales of teachers based on years of experience. But an issue brief  released last week by the Center for American Progress suggests that in many states that's simply not true."Mi

36 by Peter Greene / 2h

7-27-14 Curmudgucation Week

CURMUDGUCATION: Pearson Set Cut Scores for NYSOver at lohud, actual journalists like Gary Stern have been working long hours trying to pry loose some facts from the state of New York, and it's worth the while of folks from all states to see what they've dug up because it's a bright red warning flag about how the CCSS-linked testing program actually works.Gannett Publishing had to pry open the stat

by mike simpson / 8h 

7-28-14 Perdido Street School

Perdido Street School:

Moreland Mess: The Parade Of The Browbeaten

Michael Powell on Twitter:The Parade of the Browbeaten. Various NYS Democrats issue Press Releases Hailing Moreland Commission and Himself.— Michael Powell (@powellnyt) July 28, 2014And indeed, that's what we got today from former Moreland Commission members as well - a coordinated PR effort, starting with a long statement released by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick:Onondaga

by reality-based edu... / 27min 

Cuomo Says Moreland Commission Was "A Phenomenal Success"

Matthew Hamilton at Capitol Confidential:Throughout the back-and-forth with Buffalo and limited Albany media, Cuomo stuck to his guns and didn’t waver from his stance that the commission was a success and that there wasn’t interference from his office; rather, conversations and dialogue were just that.“The Moreland Commission was a phenomenal success,” Cuomo said. “It generated all sorts of intere

by reality-based edu... / 12min 

Cuomo Says He Disappeared To Finish His Book

Here's Governor Cuomo explaining why he has been MIA for seven straight days, five of those coming after the NY Times/Moreland expose:Cuomo: "I'm in the middle of writing a book."— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 28, 2014 Cuomo says "it's really, really difficult" to write a book.— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 28, 2014Here's the video: There you have it.

by reality-based edu... / 24min 

NY Post: Cuomo "Paralyzed" And "Humiliated" By Moreland Mess

Fred Dicker in his Monday column:Gov. Cuomo’s reputation has been severely damaged and his chances of running for president destroyed by revelations that he interfered with the Moreland Commission’s efforts to probe political corruption, influential Democrats have told The Post.The Democrats, who called the disclosures in last week’s New York Times “a political game changer” and a “Cuomo nightmare

by reality-based edu... / 2min 

7-27-14 Perdido Street School Week

Perdido Street School: Campbell Brown Uses A Paid Organizer Of StudentsFirstNY As The Face Of Her Tenure/Seniority LawsuitFrom the Daily News: Seven families will file suit Monday to end teacher tenure in the fiercest attack yet on job protections enjoyed by New York State educators. The families, including five from some of the most impoverished communities in the city, claim their children were

by mike simpson / 8h