Blogboard
Teacher’s read on news, developments, and blogs. This blog is no longer being updated.
Education
Blaming Teachers: A Marketing Problem?
Attending an education-policy conference recently, Cindi Rigsbee was amazed at the disconnect between what policymakers and academics say about teachers and the work that teachers actually do on a day-to-day basis. In her words: "It didn't take me long to realize that there are very bright folks who don't really know what's going on in our schools."
Education
The Truth About Testing
Tweenteacher takes a humorous yet not altogether farfetched look at what happens behind closed classroom doors on testing day.
Education
Evaluating Testing-Based Teacher Evaluation
This past weekend, Ryan of I Thought a Think decided to take to the numbers and analyze actual testing data to determine the “Most Valuable Teacher” from a group of four 1st grade teachers. He stumbled upon a problem pretty quickly: he ended up finding different points of statistical analysis that qualified all four teachers as the “winner.” Teacher A’s class experienced the highest rise in scores during the year, while Teacher C’s class’ average score trumped the rest, and Teacher B and D earn their keep by raising their students above state-standard lines.
Education
Writing Instruction Gone Wrong?
Mr. McNamar grapples with the question of how to teach English effectively in his blog, The Daily Grind. He bravely declares his shortcomings, detailing his perceived inability to help a student with still-developing writing skills.
Education
What's in a Name?
With the Education Department reportedly planning to change the name of the No Child Left Behind law, Nancy Flanagan says she's still working on a recommendation, but is pretty sure it will include the word "investment."
Education
Firings Happen
D.C. teacher Mr. Potter reports that several teachers at his school recently received termination notices (as part of an apparent year-end district purge). While he says he questions some of the decisions, he suggests that teachers in general are too quick to proclaim rank injustice and civic tragedy at the news of teacher firings:
Education
Fatigue
Feeling beat? Happychyk discourses on the phenomenon of early-summer teacher collapse.
Education
Summer Activities
Mister Teacher provides a list of 12 Things Teachers Should Do Over Summer Break. Number 7 sounds like good advice:
Education
Iran and the New News
Will Richardson observes that the coverage of the election protests in Iran—coming to us via twitter, raw video, and personal blogs—illustrates that we are in a whole new ball game when it comes to media literacy. In his formulation, we are all editors now. Are kids equipped for this role? Richardson's not so sure:
Education
At Least They Were Honest!
“My dog ate it” just doesn’t seem to cut it these days. Mr. Potter of Harry Potter and the Urban School Nightmare had a student offer the following excuse to get out of a recent test:
Education
How Do You Define Academic Success?
Pondiscio at Core Knowledge provides a cautionary reminder that it's entirely possible for a kid to ace standardized tests and still not know all that much:
Education
School's Out Blues
Hobo Teacher can't find it in himself to end on a positive note this year. He's got some harsh words:
Education
Alternate Realities
A fascinating and troubling post: Middle school teacher Bill Ferriter is noticing some signs that kids are increasingly confusing video games with reality:
Education
How Would You Spend the Education Stimulus Funds?
Ariel Sacks, guest blogging at Public School Insights, says she would invest in efforts to keep effective teachers from leaving the classroom. For her, that means creating and compensating teacher-leadership roles—something that is shamefully lacking at present: