September 30, 2015

Education Week, Vol. 35, Issue 06
Education Letter to the Editor Rigid AP Grading Rubrics Disregard Some Good Answers
To the Editor:
Millions of high school students take Advanced Placement examinations each year. I have been grading the free-response questions on the AP Psychology exam for more than a decade. Over the years, I have come to believe that sometimes students who understand the material do not earn credit, and that sometimes students who might not actually understand the material do receive credit.
September 29, 2015
1 min read
Mathematics Letter to the Editor Watch Your Math Language: Not Everything Is 'Anxiety'
To the Editor:
Today, I read a blog post written by Education Week Teacher contributing blogger John Troutman McCrann, in which he talks about strategies for addressing "math anxiety." I think the strategy McCrann highlights, maze moments, is wonderful.
September 29, 2015
1 min read
College & Workforce Readiness Union Fees, Affirmative Action on High Court's 2015-16 Docket
Cases before the U.S. Supreme Court this term may reach into teachers' paychecks, union treasuries, and college admissions offices.
Mark Walsh, September 29, 2015
6 min read
College & Workforce Readiness New Federal College Data Elicit Praise, Skepticism
While the updated College Scorecard offers more indicators for consumers, like college graduation rates and debt loads, it may fall on high school counselors to interpret the data for students.
September 29, 2015
5 min read
Professional Development Common Core and Professional Development: Survey Results
New data from the RAND Corp. tracks teachers' PD needs, with a focus on topics connected to the common core.
September 28, 2015
BRIC ARCHIVE
Illustration by Ross Brenneman
Standards Teachers Turn to Twitter for Solutions, Connection
Educators say the social media platform offers immediacy and practicality often missing from school PD programs.
Ross Brenneman, September 28, 2015
7 min read
Newly minted teacher leaders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington go through an exercise during a summer training session on instructional coaching. The summer coaching intensive is a key component of the District of Columbia’s Teacher Leadership Innovation program, designed to provide structural supports for teacher-leader roles in schools.
Newly minted teacher leaders from Bancroft Elementary School in Washington go through an exercise during a summer training session on instructional coaching. The summer coaching intensive is a key component of the District of Columbia’s Teacher Leadership Innovation program, designed to provide structural supports for teacher-leader roles in schools.
T.J. Kirkpatrick for Education Week
Standards To Tailor PD, D.C. Looks to Groom Teacher Leaders
An initiative in the nation's capital aims to give select teachers more time to work with colleagues.
Anthony Rebora, September 28, 2015
7 min read
Kathryn Parker Boudett
Kathryn Parker Boudett
Teacher Preparation Is Collaborative PD Time Being Wasted in Schools?
Kathryn Parker Boudett, co-author of Meeting Wise: Making the Most of Collaborative Time for Educators, offers ideas on what makes school-based meetings work well—and why they often don't.
Anthony Rebora, September 28, 2015
7 min read
Reading & Literacy The Common Core Raises Questions About Teachers' Questioning Skills
A number of new PD initiatives aim to help teachers elicit more complex responses and interpretations from students.
Sarah D. Sparks, September 28, 2015
6 min read
Standards Lesson-Sharing Sites Raise Issues of Ownership, Use
Key sources of common-core related PD, online lesson sites for teachers come with fine-print complexities.
Stephen Sawchuk, September 28, 2015
9 min read
Leo Ramos and Amy Pendray of the Long Beach district in California look on as educators from Avalon Elementary School, on Santa Catalina Island, review a new course on formative assessment. The course is party of myPD, an online system that tailors professional-development offerings for teachers and tracks progress toward their learning goals.
Leo Ramos and Amy Pendray of the Long Beach district in California look on as educators from Avalon Elementary School, on Santa Catalina Island, review a new course on formative assessment. The course is party of myPD, an online system that tailors professional-development offerings for teachers and tracks progress toward their learning goals.
David Walter Banks for Education Week
Standards Long Beach District Sets Course to Personalize Teacher PD
The closely watched California district recently launched a "myPD" platform to help teachers select their own training paths.
Stephen Sawchuk, September 28, 2015
7 min read
Sera Lee, a 5th grade teacher at Freedom Hill Elementary School in Fairfax, Va., works on a problem during a small-group session at a math-modeling training at George Mason University. Experts say that introducing modeling to younger students can improve their critical-thinking and application skills in math.
Sera Lee, a 5th grade teacher at Freedom Hill Elementary School in Fairfax, Va., works on a problem during a small-group session at a math-modeling training at George Mason University. Experts say that introducing modeling to younger students can improve their critical-thinking and application skills in math.
Swikar Patel/Education Week
Standards Math-Modeling PD Takes Teachers Beyond the Common Core
A pilot professional-development program funded by the National Science Foundation introduces elementary school teachers to a method of advanced problem-solving.
Liana Loewus, September 28, 2015
7 min read
In a video produced by the Center for the Collaborative Classroom, teacher Nina Morita demonstrates how educators can build community around writing practice and instruction. Experts say that, when used within a structured PD program, classroom-practice videos can help teachers improve their skills and negotiate instructional shifts.
In a video produced by the Center for the Collaborative Classroom, teacher Nina Morita demonstrates how educators can build community around writing practice and instruction. Experts say that, when used within a structured PD program, classroom-practice videos can help teachers improve their skills and negotiate instructional shifts.
Standards Video Gaining as Key Tool in Teacher-Learning Plans
As platforms evolve, more school districts are using video in professional development to boost teacher collaboration and refine classroom practice.
Michelle R. Davis, September 28, 2015
8 min read