Curriculum Matters
This blog covered news on the common core, literacy, math, STEM, social studies, the arts, and other curriculum and instruction topics. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: common core, reading & literacy, mathematics, STEM, social studies, and curriculum.
Science
Calling All Chemistry Teachers (And Others)
The American Chemical Society, a big organization that seeks to take an active role in school science and math issues, is seeking to hone its message on these topics and figure out a way it can have a bigger impact. And they're looking to the K-12 community to give them ideas.
Science
Brookings Report Takes on the PISA
As state leaders and education advocates weigh evaluating U.S. students using international benchmarks, a new report argues that one prominent test, the PISA, is flawed and may not be appropriate for judging American schools on global standards.
Curriculum
How to Teach About Islam and Not Focus on Religion
Teachers College released today a free guide for teachers "designed to enhance understanding of Islam and promote tolerance of Muslim students," according to the press release for the guide (download it here). After all, about one in 10 of New York City's students are Muslim, estimates Louis Cristillo, a research assistant and lecturer at Teachers College who developed the guide.
Science
Major Math Curriculum Study
Two sets of early-grades math curricula, Saxon Math and Math Expressions, emerged as big winners in a major study released by Mathematica. A curriculum that's drawn major heat from parents in some districts, Investigations in Number, Data and Space, did not fare as well. Nor did Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics. Read my colleague Debbie Viadero's story here.
Standards & Accountability
Governors Approve Idea of 'Common Core' of Standards
Don't miss my colleague David Hoff's post over at NCLB: Act II about a vote at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association to approve a policy statement that could lead to a set of national standards.
Science
"Investigations" Curriculum: No Verdict Yet, WWC Says
One of the elementary math curricular programs that tends to raise the ire of parents locked in the so-called "math wars" is Investigations in Number, Data and Space. Well, a federal review of that program is in, and the grade is (drumroll) incomplete.
Reading & Literacy
Tension Over Spending for Reading First
"Reading First is still out" of the spending bill for fiscal 2009 expected to soon be taken up by the U.S. Congress, according to my colleague Alyson Klein over at Politics K-12. But at the same time, Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon of California, the top Republican in the House Education and Labor Committee, is expressing discontent about the committee's decision to kill what had been the flagship reading program of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Curriculum
Adapting Technology to Meaningful Lessons
Over at the Digital Education blog, my colleague, Katie Ash, has an interesting report on a discussion she heard at the Northwest Council for Computer Education's "Navigating the New World With Technology" conference in Portland.
Curriculum
Have You Hugged A Museum Today?
With all the wondrous and free exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution, we here in the Washington, D.C., area tend to take museums for granted. But the availability of such resources in communities large and small is not guaranteed, particularly as the economic crisis continues to put pressure on budgets.
Reading & Literacy
What Does 21st-Century Writing Look Like?
A press conference about "Writing in the 21st Century" hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English today here in the nation's capital promoted two seemingly different strains of thought concerning the teaching of writing to students.
Education
Amid Job Losses, GED Gains?
Difficult economic conditions are having an impact on students' pursuit of GEDs, recent reports suggest.
Science
Science and Math in the Stimulus
While the stimulus provides a major cash infusion to the nation’s schools, the flow of federal money to school and college “STEM” education efforts, in particular, is smaller and more difficult to track.
Education
Vouchers Improve Public Schools (Pro-Voucher Group Says)
A report by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice says that vouchers improve the academic achievement of public schools. The author, Greg Forster, reviewed 17 empirical studies on that topic. All but one found that vouchers improved public schools, and none found that vouchers detract from them, according to the report.
Science
Out-of-Class Science Ed on Capitol Hill
Informal science experiences—trips to zoos, museums, TV shows, computer games, and the like—can play an important part in improving students' science learning, a recent study found. Now the House Science and Technology Committee, chaired by Rep. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, is delving into that topic, holding a hearing on Thursday, Feb. 26, on those out-of-school science connections.