Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
from this post
"How about ten free, subtle, simple things teachers can do to begin the process of re-claiming–transforming–education?
1. Smile at children. Often. Especially when they say things that are true, profound, and childlike.
2. Stop talking about how much standardized tests “matter.” Stop feeding the test-anxiety machine. Immediately.
3. Invent reasons to do lessons outside. Even in the winter. Even with high school kids. Measure snow, feed birds, write group poetry, play games in the parking lot– or something.
4. Find something good one of your least creative colleagues does and compliment that person. Encourage them to do it more.
5. Take a traditional school basic practice and develop a learning question: What would happen if we didn’t take attendance? If students graded teachers? If seniors taught kindergarten, instead of teachers? If students chose the music instead of the music teacher? This is totally adaptable to all levels/subjects. Why do we have levels and subjects, anyway?
6. Get brave and start a reading club (it only takes two) and read an article about innovative schools. Talk about out-there educational ideas and models (that would never fly in your community) at lunch. Better yet, invite parents to join–both the reading, and the lunch.
7. Volunteer to handle a bulletin board or showcase for a semester–and use it to post provocative questions. Invite everyone at the school to contribute to the conversation.
8. Ask students what they haven’t learned in school that they wish they knew. Post the answers someplace where the superintendent and school board can read them.
9. Be silent for a day. Communicate with students via written word and hand signals. Ask them to take over their own learning. If necessary, pretend to have laryngitis.
10. Touch your students. Do it carefully–the shoulder pat, the hair ruffle, one finger on an arm, a handshake–but understand the power of human touch."
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Zais is wrong about the role of poverty (it is huge and no one is using it as an excuse, but suggesting that some do is at least offensive):
And wrong about VAM, holding teachers accountable for test scores:
SC needs leadership that looks at evidence, has experience as a K-12 educator, and resists political talking points.