SAT redesign

So, the College Board is going to revamp the SAT. There's considerable information out there to show that the SAT doesn't do what it's supposed to do, doesn't measure what we assume it measures. My question, then, is this: What is the Value-Added Measure for the SAT? How effective a tool is it?

Folllow the money

http://www.pressherald.com/news/virtual-schools-in-maine_2012-09-02.html

If Finland has figured it out, why don't we try their approach?

They outperform us on the almighty International Assessments, yet instead of looking closely at how they do it, we are doing the opposite. This list of 10 facts is eye-opening.

http://www.takepart.com/photos/ten-surprising-facts-finlands-education-system-americans-should-not-ignore#

Pinterest is cool

I can keep and access lots of resources, personal and professional, both at home and at work (it's not blocked yet) for later use. Love it. When there's an interesting article or infographic that might be useful for a lesson later, or good reading when there's more time, I just Pin It. Then i can go back later and do whatever I had in mind.
www.pinterest.com

from the state of Mississippi...

and the state of Georgia. Not so different. Even now, and this is not a remote rural community...

http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/01/21/diary-first-year-teacher-racism-still-alive-and-well-mississippi-delta?cmpid=tp-ad-outbrain-general

Educators Issue VAM Report for Secretary Duncan - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

This is a great idea. We need a VAM report and ranking for all of our public officials. No results, and you are out. Of course, we'll use an "objective" metric to make this decision...

Educators Issue VAM Report for Secretary Duncan - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher

and they probably have kids

Let's see, the best you can think of for making money involves multiple violations of state AND federal laws. Really?!? How is this behavior going to be justified? 99 counts. Guess he got carried away...

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional/three-charged-with-bear-poaching-more-arrests-expe/nWTdT/

When the Minimum Wage Makes Economists Smile

http://blogs.hbr.org/fox/2013/02/the-minimum-wage-and-textbook.html

on the topic of crazy gasoline prices

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/02/130225-us-gas-price-spike-refineries


Not sure I buy this

learn to appreciate what you hate

This should apply in many other areas as well. Art, languages, mathematics, science, culture, etc. Now to get kids, and more importantly, their parents, to buy in...

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/02/15/172120886/can-you-learn-to-like-music-you-hate

role of data

Finally, someone who recognizes that data is not the end-all be-all of decision making. It can guide our decisions, but should not rule them. Now if only this could be extended to my classroom...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/opinion/brooks-what-data-cant-do.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

You might be a reformer if...

...you have bought the lie that an "effective" teacher can single-handedly counteract the effects of inadequate nutrition, parenting, medical care, clothing and housing.

...you believe that minority students in the city need hours of test prep instead of authentic, problem-based learning.

...you cut Science and Social Studies lessons from your elementary classroom in favor of what "counts".

I could go on and on..,.

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2013/02/yes_virginia_there_really_is_a.html

Is the morning after pill turning us into tramps?

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/02/emergency-contraception-plan-b-women

I guess not. A small segment of women have ever used it, most of them just once. One of these days I'll sit down and calculate the actual numbers.

The myth of a STEM 'shortage'

http://vtdigger.org/2013/02/17/mathis-stem-as-vermonts-urban-myth/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mathis-stem-as-vermonts-urban-myth

Just like the mythical teacher shortage that we've heard about since I was a kid in school. It's not really true.

Just follow the rules, please

Years ago a friend told me “There is a place in this world for people who won't follow the rules.” How true. And, how sad that some don't figure it out until it's too late. By then the damage is done, and irreparable. It's a bellthat you can't unring. A felony record is forever, and it will disqualify you from many of life's most desirable employment options. Serial suspension is no walk in the park either.

More bad news from the Met Life teacher survey

Met Life has done this since 1984. This year they included leadership in thier survey. The picture doesn't get better. Teachers and their principals are less satisfied and more stress due to increasing mandates with fewer resources to meet the demands.

How about cursive writing?

I know from experience that many parents have complained about their babies being 'made' to practice and learn this skill. After a while, like homework completion, it's just not a fight worth pursuing. Besides, it's not tested, therefore not balued, so it gets short shrift. a couple of days of modeling, maximum, and then it's time to move on to test prep. Consequently, my students complain even about my connected letters, b/c they can't read them...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/23/should-cursive-writing-be-required-a-n-c-bill-would-mandate-it/

charters and those left behind

http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2013/02/19/parent-trigger-and-charters-as-we-offer-more-school-choice-what-happens-to-children-left-behind/

what's up with the price of gas?

I don't hear any explanations/lies offered for why this is happening. Pay close attention to the line for crude in camparison with the lines for retail prices of gasoline. And Ga has nothing on California...
Again, I'd just like to know whyit's gone up 50 cents at the pump in a munth's time.

Here's why NCLB is a bust

And race to the top is no better. The model it was all based on is a failure at best, fraud at worst.