I Guess I Agree

Nye on Common Core In fact, I do agree. I'm not sure if I still can teach the way I love to, but we do need some basic standards.

Thoughts at the beginning of the school year

5 Education Myths

Exuberant Discovery

This is the why. It fits the Common Core philosophy. I do wonder, often I do wonder, HOW to get to this place with unmotivated, reluctant learners.  Especially with such a prescribed set of learning experiences. No matter. It is  worth the effort. Neuroscience Behind Stress and Learnin

It's a Beautiful Thing, Wonder

http://www.radiolab.org/story/tell-me-wave-where-did-you-come-who-made-you_kw/#.U8_4Al6wsFg.facebook

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics

AKA "advocacy research".   It occurred to me that money isn't as scarce for the Walton family , or for the charter school corporations, as it is in public schools. http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/07/22/334049393/charters-money-and-test-scores?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20140722

And Just For Fun

Should I teach this video? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc

Yay

http://danielskatz.net/2014/07/21/donna-brazile-ted-strickland-and-jennifer-granholm-to-defend-public-education/

A Voice of Reason

Without shouting, Lily Eskelson Garcia makes sense.  http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/lily-eskelsen-garcia-national-education-association-president-108596.html

That's Too Much

Eight hours is too much and kindergarten is too young. http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/common-core-test-anxiety-108527.html?hp=l7

Teaching Creativity

This is the Catch 22, http://creativesomething.net/post/84942658350/the-challenge-with-teaching-creativity

Students First?

I always worry about my own effectiveness. I think I'm as effective as this, and yet she is judged highly ineffective. http://dianeravitch.net/2014/06/29/is-ms-mclaughlin-grossly-ineffective-or-teacher-of-the-year/

Class Dojo

Sounds cool. I want to learn more. I have a particular student in mind.  http://talkingtechwithrobin.blogspot.com/2014/06/class-dojo-with-secondary-twist.html

Crappy Job Conditions = Crappy Applicants

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/06/12/vergara-court-decision-shows-war-teachers-full-effect.html

Vergara, tenure and the politics of a free, decent public education

Tenure and Politics
I wonder why we bothered to support Arne Duncan?  It seems he would rather have the money he gets from the Gates Foundation and other interests.  How long will I stay in the classroom? 

Also, Diane Ravitch did a great job of listing all the factors that affect students -- but she missed one:  parents.

I Wish I Knew

But I do love, love, love writing in cursive. http://moorpark.patch.com/groups/trending-in-america/p/poll-should-cursive-handwriting-still-be-taught-in-us-classrooms13707467?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook