“To be or not to be, that is the question” — William Shakespeare. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] As the school year ends and we move into summer there are things we do as educators and […]
Posted inFrom the Front Lines, The State of Education
The State of Education: Montana
By Peggy Cordell Two state educational issues in Montana are receiving some attention these days. The first is an issue of equity in school funding. Our bicameral legislature has struggled to find a fair funding formula between large (urban) and small (rural) school districts. Through the years, legislative school funding measures have passed and lawsuits […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Principals' Corner, School Improvement
The Necessity of Failure: The Challenge of Assessments
I have just finished grading final exams for high school sophomores, and I can’t help but wonder if I am guilty of cheating. Balancing high standards with opportunities for retakes shapes my approach to developing assessments. In my view, a student who fails one section of multiple choice should have the opportunity to write more […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Parents
Working with Struggling Readers at Home
For most of us, summer is already here. Your child has survived the school year and is ready to move onto other things – video games, camp outs, vacation, sleeping in late, etc. However, if your child struggles with reading, your child cannot afford to completely take the summer off. Following are tips I have […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Kindergarten, Uncategorized
Refugee Students: Who will advocate for the UN-Common students who got Left Behind during the Race to the Top?
By Jennifer Healey Portland, OR The notion that ALL students can be lifted up and freed from their circumstances, past language barriers, out of poverty and away from war and crime and drugs, upward and onward toward a glorious middle-class future, is absurd. If we insist on being a country with an elite high school […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Middle School, Opinion
Summer Slip Sliding Away — a Case for Year-Round School
Summer slide. Summer brain drain. All teachers know what it is no matter what you call it. Students forget over the summer. Math and reading skills will fall by the wayside no matter where you teach. How much the students lose does depend on where you teach. The lower the average income of the parents […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Featured, Fine Arts, From the Front Lines
Museum Education: Yes, I Get Paid For This!
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] A wild, crazy year is finally wrapping up in the NYC museum education scene. Post conference, post rush for field trips, post bus strike and post Sandy – we are all […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, High School, Middle School, Opinion, Parents
No End to the School Year for an Unschooling Child
The end of the school year — a time of celebration for students and teachers alike! For my son and I, it is a little different this year. This last year was his first school year as an unschooled kid. It has been quite a journey for us, and as I reflect on what we’ve […]