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Coach G's Teaching Tips

Just in time for the new school year, instructional coach David Ginsburg offers sage advice on classroom practice. Read his first post: Owning and Overcoming Classroom Woes (Sept. 3, 2010)

Teacher Leaders Network

Teaching Secrets: Tips for New English Teachers

Award-winning English teacher Renee Moore offers four enduring lessons that contributed to her own success in the classroom. (September 1, 2010)

Teaching Now

Schools Without Administrators, Ctd.

Teacher-led schools are cropping up at various points around the country. Plus: Can Someone Fix the A/C? (Sept. 2, 2010)

L.A. and Ariz.: Will Data Conflicts Spur a Chill Effect?

Scholars worry that two high-profile controversies over sharing data on teachers could make it harder to do research on schools. (September 3, 2010)

L.A. Board Wants Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations

The Los Angeles Unified School District board has endorsed the controversial system of using student scores on standardized tests as a way to measure teacher performance. (September 3, 2010, AP)

Some i3 Winners Still Scrambling for Grant Match

Just days before the deadline, some in line for federal innovation grants still must find the private funds needed to secure their money. (September 2, 2010)

Commentary

All of My Favorite Students Cheat

With dishonesty now a virtual classroom norm, writes Christopher L. Doyle, talking openly with students about it might help teachers seek solutions. (September 1, 2010)

Colo. A.G.: School Officials Can't Divulge Teachers' Crimes

The Colorado Attorney General's Office informed the state board of education that breaching the controversial shroud of secrecy that drapes teacher arrest records maintained by the state constitutes a crime. (September 2, 2010, MCT)

Two State Groups Win Federal Grants for Common Tests

A third state consortium that applied for a smaller Race to the Top grant to build high school exams failed to garner an award. (September 2, 2010)

Wash. Suspends Teaching Certificate of Convicted Teacher

Washington state's schools chief suspended the teaching certificate of a teacher who was convicted of inappropriately touching girls and then was brought back into the classroom after a short suspension.

19 States Piloting Teacher Prelicensing Exam

Nineteen states have joined forces on the assessment, which would be used to judge teacher-candidates’ classroom effectiveness. (September 1, 2010)

Commentary

Teacher Tess in Testing Land

Lewis Carroll could have had a ball with today's topsy-turvey, test-dominated place called school, writes Nel Noddings. Nothing there is as it seems. (September 1, 2010)

NYC Study Gives K-8 an Edge Over Middle Schools

In a study released today, researchers found that middle school students lost more academic ground than they might have had they stayed in elementary school longer. (September 1, 2010)

Commentary

Merit Pay or Team Accountability?

Kim Marshall argues that, rather than rewarding individual teachers for good test scores, we create incentives for teachers to work together to improve learning. (September 1, 2010)

Students Head Back to Globe-Trotting Classrooms

A North Carolina county has made it a focus to push their curriculums towards a more global education, with students fully immersed in a foreign language by kindergarten. (August 30, 2010, AP)

Pa. Cyber Schools Going Viral

In the decade since cyber charter schools first opened to Pennsylvania students, turning on a computer instead of hopping on the bus has just ..clicked. (August 30, 2010, AP)

'Superman' Documentary Draws Praise, Controversy

The buzz is growing around a soon-to-be-released documentary on schools by the director of "An Inconvenient Truth." (September 1, 2010)

Politics K-12 Blog

N.J. Schools Chief Fired Over Race to Top Gaffe

Gov. Chris Christie has fired Bret Schundler for the mistake that cost the state $400 million on its Race to the Top application.

How Colorado Lost Race to the Top

A closer look at the reviewers' scores suggests Colorado's bid for $175 million in federal funding was hampered by fears that union opposition would prevent the spread of reform.