Curriculum Matters November 2013: November 2, 2013

Your daily education news and insight for November 2, 2013. View as web page.

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Students photograph themselves with an iPad during a class at Broadacres Elementary School in Carson, Calif. —Bob Chamberlin/Los Angeles Times/AP

Digital Curriculum From Pearson Raises Worries in Los Angeles

New concerns have surfaced about the district's plan to distribute iPads to thousands of students, this time focused on a digital curriculum from Pearson that’s being rolled out despite being incomplete. Read more.

(Education Week)

• In Ala. District, Publisher Links Tech., Curriculum

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			Three Teacher's Choice Award Winners! See why the Common Core Practice Math Sets, which have K-6 content with different levels of support, just won a Classroom Award, as did the Alphabet Animal Friends Sets for K-1 students. A Teacher's Choice Family Award went to the I Can Read! Family Involvement Kits for K-2. FREE sampler.

Transition to Online Testing Sparks Concerns

As states move to common-core exams, many students at first will take paper-and-pencil assessments, raising questions about educational equity and the comparability of results. Read more.

(Education Week)

Infographic: Math Achievement on the Global Scale

Most States Surpass Global Average in Math, Science

A study finds achievement in states such as Massachusetts and Vermont exceeds all but a handful of nations, while traditionally lower-performing states are much further back in the pack. Read more.

(Education Week)

• Infographic: Math Achievement on the Global Scale

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			The Common Core is here. Are you ready? Announcing Problem Solving for the Common Core, K-5, Exemplars' online resource with newly developed performance tasks and classroom tools to support the implementation of CCSSM (including rubrics and anchor papers). It's a new era. Exemplars will help you succeed. View sample tasks.

Common Core Ratchets Up Language Demands for English-Learners

The standards' focus on persuasion, analysis, and other discourse skills is accelerating the push to teach English-language learners to master 'academic' English. Read more.

(Education Week)

'Read-Aloud' Assistance on Common-Core Tests Proves Contentious

Plans to make accommodations for students with dyslexia are proving controversial amid a clash of philosophies. What some see as a useful tool others decry as a crutch. Read more.

(Education Week)

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Exploring the Cost of Common-Core Tests

A new study finds that the cost of the PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments won't rise by more than a few dollars per student if some states drop out of the consortia. Read more.

(Curriculum Matters)

Study: Teachers Aiming Too Low With Reading Assignments

A new survey of teachers shows that as they begin teaching to the common-core standards, most assign readings based on a student's ability level, rather than his grade level. Read more.

(Curriculum Matters)

COMMENTARY

Common Core and Disadvantaged Students

The common-core standards offer the potential to raise the achievement of struggling students from low-income, minority communities, Thomas Toch says. Read more.

(Education Week)

MORE CURRICULUM NEWS

NSF Grant to Help Connect Pittsburgh Teachers With Mathematicians
(Curriculum Matters)

Assessment Consortia: Who's In And Who's Out?
(Curriculum Matters)

Study Reviews Alignment of Standards for Career Tech. Education
(College Bound)

Study: Starting Older Immigrant ELLs in Lower Grades Helps Math Achievement
(Inside School Research)

Ed. Dept.: Calif. Could Lose At Least $15 Million in Federal Funds Over Testing
(Politics K-12)

Rural Leader to Develop Dust Bowl Curriculum for Schools
(Rural Education)

Testing Reduction Announced by N.Y. Education Chief
(State EdWatch)

Student Turns Civil War Passion Into Powerful Learning Experience
(Time and Learning)

After-School Program With Focus on Mentors Leads to Academic Gains
(Time and Learning)

UPCOMING EVENTS

WEBINAR - Wednesday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m. ET

Strengthening Writing Instruction Through Formative Assessment

Two instructional experts will discuss how to use formative assessment to improve student writing and engagement. They'll delve into research and share classroom examples of the assessment techniques teachers are using to inform writing instruction. Register now.

Sponsor: Mentoring Minds

FREE SPOTLIGHT

Literacy and the Common Core

Teachers are adapting their reading and writing instruction to the common-core standards. In this Spotlight, explore some of the interdisciplinary approaches that teachers are taking, discover how poetry fits within the standards, and find out what the latest research says about building vocabulary. Download now. Read more.

PD RESOURCE

Professional Development Directory

Search our exclusive online directory for PD opportunities in Common Core, Math, English, Social Studies, English Language Learners. Read more.

MOST POPULAR STORIES

1. Teacher Exodus Is No Surprise (Walt Gardner's Reality Check Blog)

2. Hurdles in Pairing General, Special Education Teachers

3. Why Ed Tech Is Not Transforming How Teachers Teach

4. Is Advanced Placement's Value in the Class or the Test? (Inside School Research Blog)

5. ESEA Reauthorization Efforts Running Up Against Senate Calendar (Politics K-12 Blog)

+ High School Math and Science Teachers (STEM-based High School) The Interdistrict Science Magnet Schools at the Fairchild Wheeler Campus, Bridgeport, CT

+ SAGA TUTOR SAGA Innovations, Multiple Locations

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