CPSI: "“In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”--Eric Hoffer"
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Will Richardson presentation
Love this quote....
Will Richardson
CPSI: "Kids aren't distracted...they're just looking for more interesting stories from us. "
Monday, April 4, 2011
MrNussbaum.com - Teacher Dodgeball
MrNussbaum.com - Teacher Dodgeball
Do we really a game like this online?
I'm all for practice...by why the confrontation? The media has already beat us up pretty bad, then comes the Republican party and tea party slash and burn....now this.
Talk about kicking or hitting us when we're down. Ouch
Do we really a game like this online?
I'm all for practice...by why the confrontation? The media has already beat us up pretty bad, then comes the Republican party and tea party slash and burn....now this.
Talk about kicking or hitting us when we're down. Ouch
Friday, April 1, 2011
Visit classrooms early and often, and give new tools to principals - The Boston Globe
Visit classrooms early and often, and give new tools to principals - The Boston Globe
So much is being written about teachers right now and how they are overpaid and there is no way to remove ineffective at best or poor teachers at worst.
There has to be a happy medium. Certainly there are excellent teachers and then there are less than excellent or average teachers and of course as in all professions there ineffective or even poor teachers.
Much of the legislation being passed (or about to be passed) in various states is being done (at least according to the experts) in order to make it easier to remove teachers. Kim Marshall argues in the Boston Globe that our current evaluation system is a big part of the problem.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2011/03/25/visit_classrooms_early_and_often_and_give_new_tools_to_principals/
I like many of his suggestions but wonder if is it within a principal's capabilities to accomplish what Marshall is asking. I see how long the evaluation process is for my own administrator and wonder if she could pull off the number of evaluations Marshall recommends. I certainly agree with Marshall that it would lead to a truer assessment of a teachers capabilities. I also think more assessments will lead to more accurate assessments of teachers and less of a the typical dog and pony show teachers will put on for a scheduled assessment. Advance notice of an evaluation is just silly.
So much is being written about teachers right now and how they are overpaid and there is no way to remove ineffective at best or poor teachers at worst.
There has to be a happy medium. Certainly there are excellent teachers and then there are less than excellent or average teachers and of course as in all professions there ineffective or even poor teachers.
Much of the legislation being passed (or about to be passed) in various states is being done (at least according to the experts) in order to make it easier to remove teachers. Kim Marshall argues in the Boston Globe that our current evaluation system is a big part of the problem.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2011/03/25/visit_classrooms_early_and_often_and_give_new_tools_to_principals/
I like many of his suggestions but wonder if is it within a principal's capabilities to accomplish what Marshall is asking. I see how long the evaluation process is for my own administrator and wonder if she could pull off the number of evaluations Marshall recommends. I certainly agree with Marshall that it would lead to a truer assessment of a teachers capabilities. I also think more assessments will lead to more accurate assessments of teachers and less of a the typical dog and pony show teachers will put on for a scheduled assessment. Advance notice of an evaluation is just silly.
What I learned this week 04/02/2011
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Education Research Report: Poor Behavior Doesn't Always Lead to Poor Academics
Yes, I've been guilty of this one....the assumption that the kids acting up don't learn as much or are struggling. Research doesn't support it....
Ohio’s Anti-Union Law Is Tougher Than Wisconsin’s - NYTimes.com
Ohio’s Anti-Union Law Is Tougher Than Wisconsin’s - NYTimes.com
Interesting read....I've wondered why Ohio's SB 5 didn't get as much attention as that of WI. Related to state history and simple timing.
Now were is that petition I need to sign to get this on the ballot?
A Nation of Bubblers
"One thing I never want to see happen is schools that are just teaching the test because then you're not learning about the world, you're not learning about different cultures, you're not learning about science, you're not learning about math. All you're learning about is how to fill out a little bubble on an exam and little tricks that you need to do in order to take a test and that's not going to make education interesting."Guess who said the above quote. Well, who is it?
That's right....it was said by our own President....Mr. O'Bama.
Well, I'm glad you are starting to notice what is actually happen in our school Mr. President.
Sadly, I think we are already at the point (have been there for some time now) where much of what we do in the classrooms is geared towards filling in the correct bubbles. Why is that? Teachers want to teach and they want to grow their kids....yet, at the same time they know how they are being measured if not evaluated. They know they are being judged on how well their kids fill out the bubbles.
Mr. President....what gets measured is what gets taught. Sadly, what is most valued isn't what is being measured and as a result the best we can say is that those same things we value most are not being taught (at least as much as they were before).
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
What I learned this week 03/31/2011
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shared bookmarking and clipping service....looks good
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Flubaroo Overview - Welcome to Flubaroo
This is going to be a big help
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Corkboard.me - Shareable sticky notes web-app.
Another wallwisher type app
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Engrade - Free Online Gradebook
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Put your class online....an option?
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How to Look at Multiple-Choice Assessments Formatively | Edutopia
Interesting process to use test results formatively
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When standardized test scores soared in D.C., were the gains real? - USATODAY.com
Fascinating read about cheating accusations in DC....test results too good to be true. It is looks like cheating, smells like cheating, and acts like cheating.....pretty good chance it is cheating. Otherwise...better start playing the powerball or at least stay indoors when there is lightning in the area.
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Paranoid Michelle Rhee blames her "enemies" for cheating report - War Room - Salon.com
Rhee defends herself and her admin from accusations of cheating....uses the "hates gonna hate" defense
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USA Today investigates DC Public Schools’ standardized testing anomalies | The Education Blog
Uh oh....although I respect some of Rhee's changes in DC...perhaps the pressure for improvement was too much. Looks like someone was changing student answer sheets.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Library Privatization
I don't like the idea of privatization one bit....for libraries. Ugh...please no. Help us Andrew Carnegie!
Monday, February 21, 2011
What I learned this week 02/22/2011
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Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership – Printable Graphic | Connected Principals
Practices of exemplary leadership
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Twurdy Search - Search for Readable Results
Search and rank by reading level
Sunday, February 20, 2011
What I learned this week 02/21/2011
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I think this would make an excellent project....now I just have to sell it to someone at school
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
What I learned this week 02/13/2011
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Keyboarding Games for Kids - Learning to Type Games for Kids | Learning Games For Kids
More keyboarding games
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Typing Speed Test - how fast can you type?
Typing test
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Free Technology for Teachers: Seven Free Platforms for Teaching Online Courses
Viable alternatives to Blackboard?
Sunday, February 6, 2011
What I learned this week 02/07/2011
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What Id Hold YOU Accountable For. - The Tempered Radical
Right on post dealing with innovation in classrooms that is getting a lot of Twitter and blog buzz.
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Math: Third Quarter - Google Docs
Interesting approach to report cards
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We so often work with something that starts in paper....what a great, easy way to put it on the web
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Learning Something New....
Students need to learn something new every time they are with us. When was the last time you learned something new....something really challenging?
Listen to Jay McTighe's video (half of the UBD team). It made me think of my own learning. Jay gives great advice about remaining resilient as a learner...something we can help kids with by modeling it.
For Jay is was surfing and for me it is learning to play the piano. One of Jay's criteria for staying resilient is making use of feedback to improve. As teachers we should be giving feedback to students on how to get better. For my playing of the piano I only have my own ear and my lesson books for feedback. No, I am not taking lessons, at least not yet, but I do practice everyday and truly enjoy using what I believe is a different part of my brain.
What I learned this week 02/06/2011
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Knoword | Expand your vocabulary!
Inreresting word/vocab game
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My Top Multiplication Games - HOME - Edgalaxy: Where Education and Technology Meet.
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Fridge | Simple and private social networks
Social networking tool...might work in the classroom
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Teacher Zone - Free Library of Math Video Lessons
Math videos as instruction
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Art Project, powered by Google
Way cool Google produced site on some great art work
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
What I learned this week 01/31/2011
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SymbalooEDU | PLE | Personal Learning Environment
Delicious alternative
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Google Apps Webinar 2 and 3 « Teach It, Tech It, Learn It, Lead It
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seen this before? been around a few years but really speaks to the power of student learning tools
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From the State of the Union Address (Practical Practice)
great quote from SOTU address.
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Perhaps run it during a movie so students can chat as they view
Saturday, January 29, 2011
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