The idea of being connected in the Twentieth Century had a very different meaning than it does today. Back then being connected conjured up visions of pinstriped suits and shoulder holsters. Today, being connected brings up visions of computers, Smartphones, and tablets. A general misconception is that to be a connected educator, one needs to be a computer geek, with a vast knowledge of all things having to do with social media. Of course this is a vision that could be overwhelming to anyone…

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Solving the Parent Involvement Puzzle

Anne T. Henderson is a Senior Consultant with the Annenberg Institute for School Reform and based in Washington D.C., where her…

Full-Day Kindergarten: One Educator's Change of Heart

What do you do with a 5-year-old, sobbing mess? I can distinctly remember dropping my daughter, Sara, off for her first day of kindergarten several years ago. Up until then, Sara was what my wife and I called, a "preschool journeyman." She had attended at least three different preschools between the ages of 3 and 5. However, these were all half-day programs, and this was our first…

Emphasize the Ambitious: Q&A With Kati Haycock

Kati Haycock, the president of The Education Trust and a warrior in the battle to close achievement gaps, reflects on the value of NCLB, what’s she learned about the task, and what’s required to move ahead, in an interview with Phi Delta…

Report Card Redesign – What Should Be Reported?

I read a blog post recently which talked about a gathering of technology product executives and politicians who came together to express their vision for learning using technology in education. The author seemed quite pleased with the ideas that were bandied about. I did not disagree that technology may play a big role in education, but I was struck by the fact that there were no classroom educators in the group. I am always offended when politicians step…

Of Monsters and Math

Keven Kroehler is the Director of Operations at EdVisions Schools in Henderson, MN. In this post, he explores student engagement and the lessons from the Pixar film, Monsters Inc. (Just in time for Halloween!)

Think about it. Engaged students might learn more than unengaged students. Yep, that makes sense. So the solution to our education woes may be as simple as engaging our students. But how easy is…

Teacher Leadership's Gaining Momentum--Where Are We Going?

The Parent Portal: The Pros and Cons of Transparent Gradebooks

Heather Wolpert-Gawron

Connecting the dots is an intuitive process that has been around since the beginning of time.  It makes sense that the sky became an element of mystery; an untouchable piece of magic.  The Orion (read educator) holds his shield against the mighty bull (read political/educational agenda), who is ready to charge the warrior.  Through our own careful examination, thousands of years later, we can see this glorious moment of violent tension in the crisp winter sky just by…