Standardized Tests & Comparing Student Scores: Relics of 20th Century Ed Systems

Making School Work for Mobile Students and Others

As a public school student, I was required to read Ethan Fromefour times. My family moved frequently, and, as we crisscrossed the United States, I was regularly thrown…

Every Friday on Twitter, Tweeters will make recommendations based on their personal experience of exceptional people to follow on Twitter. As an educator, if I follow those recommendations I will almost certainly improve the quality and quantity of tweets I get on education since educators are the people who I follow for my own Personal Learning Network. Each of these tweets of recommendation will be tagged with the telltale hashtag #FF. This identifies them as such a recommendation and…

Weeping in the Workplace

Should educators cry at work? asks Allison Vaillancourt (University of Arizona) in this Chronicle of Higher Education article. Is it a sign of weakness and lack of control? Is it unprofessional? Vaillancourt thinks not, and cites a new book (It’s Always Personal: Navigating Emotion in the New Workplace by Anne Kreamer, Random House, 2013) that found 41 percent of women and 9 percent of men have wept in the…

It is reported that our school systems are graduating students who go to college require a high level of remediation. Over time, colleges have developed and incorporated a remediation system that allows students to be "admitted" but not really to collegiate level courses. The programs are designed to get those students college ready. It is exactly what we are charged to do. (Leadership 360 Blog at…

I am forty six years old, and a mother of three boys ages 7,10 & 12. I have extensive experience in caring for children, it is my gift. For years now I have been offering child care services for teachers in the privacy of my home. I am located in South Bellmore and will have one opening for the school year starting in September 2013. My decision to only care for teachers children is so that our school calendar complies with my family needs. It has been working out now for many years. I…

  Did you know that studies have shown dirt to be good for your brain?  Apparently, there are types of bacteria that are naturally found in soil which activate the neurons that produce serotonin – a key chemical in many bodily functions, as well as a natural anti-depressant.  In other words, dirt can actually help make you feel happy. (And I’m not just talking about the mud wraps at the day…

Prevention First: A Physician's Prescription for Safer Schools