“Ooch” Before You Leap

In this thoughtful article in ASCA School Counselor, authors Chip Heath and Dan Heath share an excerpt from their new book, Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work (Crown Business, 2013). In this piece, the Heath brothers make the case for “ooching”, which is their word for doing a small experiment to reality-test a hypothesis before making an important life decision. 

Here’s an…

With summer break approaching its end and back to school specials part of the media blitz, my mind drifts back into teaching mode. This is the time of year that I always penned my literacy message to staff. As I prepare for a new role as ELA consultant, I am filled with the same sentiments that greet each new school year. To honor the tradition of writing an opening greeting…

Over the years, the classroom has been looked at as the ground upon which learning is both fashioned and enhanced. Since the 20^th century, we have seen the evolution of classroom settings from teacher-directed environments to inquiry-based centers. Technology has advanced, affording educators with opportunities to stay connected and engage students in active learning opportunities. There is high visibility for the…

http://www.teacherstechworkshop.com/2013/08/6-amazing-facebook-templates-to-use.html

The Common Core and the Common Good

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The current issue of NEA Today features this cover story on zip codes and achievement gaps.  The focus on the educational inequalities in our country reminded me of my previous posts, A Tale of…

Ken Robinson wants to create a creativity curriculum, and downgrade "academics." By academics Robinson and his supporters mean all the things that schools traditionally taught, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.



If you care about any aspect of the traditional curriculum, you have to watch this development with concern. 



The schools are doing a dreadful job of teaching reading now. Can you imagine if they…

http://www.teacherstechworkshop.com/2013/08/top-5-most-tweeted-educational-hashtags.html

We are looking for a way to spread out when students are assessed during the school year.  Students are consistently loaded down with exams (chapter tests, unit tests, quarterlies, etc.) on Fridays and we are looking for a way to spread out their assessments throughout the week.  Does anyone use a testing calendar throughout the year?  Thank you.

Bryan Bookamer

Assistant Principal

Westhampton Beach High School

In Testing, a Principal Leans on Her Experience

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