After the teaching staff in her school were once again “warned” that each child must make a year’s growth (for reading) based upon new “MAP” scores which seem to be unreliable, this Pennsylvania teacher couldn’t remain silent. The staff at her school is incredibly hard working and extremely exhausted. So she wrote a letter to […]
Opinion
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Kindergarten, Opinion, Uncategorized
Another Testing Season Arrives: Is this Really What Education is About?
[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”] Last week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan co-authored an article in Huffington Post touting what they call this administration’s “comprehensive plan to […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Current Events in Education, Featured, High School, Opinion, Principals' Corner, School Improvement
Ready or Not? (Charter School Diaries #8)
Week – 2/25 – 3/1 What do you do when you’re a teacher and there is poor instructional leadership capability amongst the administrators within your building or within your district? Usually, if you are in a school and/or district where there is a lack of instructional leaders, there is an overabundance of procedural leaders – […]
Posted inCommon Core, Opinion, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
In Texas, Progress; But the Fight Continues
This is a cross-post from EdGator.com. [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”] I got involved in the scrap over education two years ago when I wrote an epistle known as “The Alamo Letter” to my state legislators. […]
Posted inBook Review, Current Events in Education, Featured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion
It’s Time for High School Students to Take Charge of their Learning – But How? — Book Review
[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”] Book: Students Taking Charge: Inside the Learner-Active, Technology-Infused Classroom Author: Nancy Sulla Publisher: Eye on Education The high school classroom can be a challenging arena for teachers these days. With overcrowded […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, Kindergarten, Opinion
Race DOES Matter: A Male Teacher of Color Reflects
When it comes to my job, there are very few things that bother me. However, the one thing that does is the reality that within my district, I am the ONLY African American teacher in any of our high schools (our district has 2 high schools). I am always reminded of this whenever students come […]
Posted inBook Review, Featured, Opinion, Uncategorized
Do your 'Assignments Matter'? A Book Review
Eleanor Dougherty’s Assignments Matter is a great book. Assignments make up a bulk of what teachers do, and probably take for granted. We give assignments because that’s what teachers do. Dougherty shows that just giving assignments is not enough. She encourages teachers to analyze the process so they are choosing assignments that provide an authentic […]
Posted inCommon Core, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Kindergarten, Opinion, Uncategorized
Common Core Should Share Common Language
[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 visitor walking into a school encounters the school’s mission statement on a banner or etched on a plaque, or painted on to the wall. The mission statement defines the school’s […]