It’s an Education Fact: 10/29/2013
1) Teachers in traditional public schools average almost 14 years of experience. 2) The number of teachers with 5 or fewer years of experience role to 28% in 2007-08 from 17% in 1987-88. 3) A SmaartBrief on Ed Tech poll finds that 86.67% of respondents are excited...
Quotable Education-Related Quotes: 10/28/2013
** "... These days, any school with low test scores is called a 'failing school' without any inquiry into the circumstances of the school. Instead of closing the school or privatizing it, the responsible officials should act to improve the school. ... Firing the staff...
Making Education News: 10/24/2013
1. California's move to suspend most of its accountability testing for one year as it transitions from its own state assessments to field testing the Common Core tests caused Education Secretary to threaten withholding funding if the state proceeds. 2. The...
Education-Related Websites to Visit: 10/23/2013
*** www.googlelittrips.com ~ These are "free downloadable files that mark the journeys of characters from famous literature on the surface of Google Earth." *** https://edshelf.com ~ This is "a directory of websites, mobile apps, and desktop programs that are rated...
Making Education News: 10/17/2013
1. The final application for the second Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge is now available. Up for grabs: $280 million, of which Pennsylvania is for hoping for $52.2 million. 2. The Gates Foundation has already pumped more than $160 million into developing and...
Education Websites to Visit: 10/16/2013
*** www.ReadyCommonCore.com ~ Saying, "We make harder easier," this site offers instructional materials, full-length practice tests, a teacher resource book, and an online Teacher Toolbox. *** http://creativecommons.org ~ This site, "helps you share your knowledge and...
Education Facts: 10/15/2013
1) The U.S. ranked 30th in math literacy, 20th in science, and 14th in reading on the international PISA test. 2) Says the U.S. Department of Education, only 25% of our 52 million K-12 students are performing on par with those in the highest-performing countries. 3)...
Education Quotables: 10/14/2013
** "There is no question that American society is becoming increasingly callous and coarse, and part of the reason is that derelict moms and dad refuse to set boundaries for their children. Many parents are distracted and care more about themselves than their...
Education News: 10/3/2013
1. Due to parental concerns, the Chicago Public Schools is moving from 25 standardized tests a year to 10. 2. Teach for America will add 400 teachers in 9 cities--including 286 in D.C.--thanks to a $20 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation, which has also...
It’s an Education Fact: 10/2/2013
1. Obama has changed the PLUS loan program to help thousands of families qualify for college financial aid. Those denied PLUS loans are eligible for an extra $4,000 that carry lower interest rates. 2. The House bill to revise ESEA (aka NCLB) now promotes...
Quotable Education-Related Quotes: 9/30/2013
** " ...Teachers and other staff members know much more about what is happening with kids than those school employees ever report. We know which kids are showing up hung over, which kids hide in the library to avoid the lunchroom, which kids are suddenly ostracized...
Websites to Visit: 9/26/2013
*** www.teachingbooks.net: This site says, "If you read fiction and nonfiction books in any discipline or settling, TeachingBooks.net's database of instructional materials will enliven your K-12 reading and library activities." *** www.jason.org: This site "connects...
It’s an Educational Fact: 9/24/2013
1) Nearly 20% of public schools required uniforms in 2010, and more than 50% have some sort of dress code--with 57% of those having a "strict dress code." 2) Says Pathways to Prosperity, "middle skill workers" make an average of more than $50,000 a year. Electricians...
Quotable Education Quotes: 9/23/2013
** "Parents need to understand how fantastic these [common core] standards are going to be for their children because, for the first time, we actually started looking at college and career readiness. In many states, including mine, the old kindergarten math standard...
Student Punctuation Guide
PUNCTUATION GUIDE PERIODS: A-1: At the end of sentences: (I am a student.) A-2: After abbreviations: (N.Y./New York) (Dr./Doctor) A-3: After numbers and letters that label items: (A. 1. A.) COMMAS: B-1: To separate 2 sentences joined by such conjunctions...
Worth Quoting: Ashton Kutcher
"The sexiest thing in the entire world is being really smart, and being thoughtful, and being generous. Everything else is crap, I promise you." Ashton Kutcher, actor
Education-Related Websites: 9/19/2013
*** www.classdojo.com: This site says it makes it easy to keep students alert and on task, while it "improves behavior in class with one click of a smartphone, laptop, or tablet.: *** www.safetotalk.org: This site is "committed to reducing and eliminating bullying and...
It’s an Education Fact: 9/17/2013
1) The Common Core Standards do not call for teaching cursive writing or reading; plus, at least 41 states don't require it, either, and that troubles many educators. 2) The number of schools adding hours or days has jumped 53% since 2009, according to the National...
Quotable Education Quotes: 9/16/2013
** "The rituals and rhythms of summer are seductive. Long, light-filled days. Afternoons in the neighborhood swimming pool. Fresh tomatoes plucked off the vine. When I was a child, summers gave me freedom to roam on my bike, to pick berries, to play sandlot softball...
At Issue: Homework and Helpful Tips to Get It Done Right
French President Francois Hollande made headlines in American newspapers last year when he proclaimed a no homework policy as part of his education reform plans. As he said, “Education is a priority. An education program is, by definition, a societal program. Work...
