Anonymous on Flappiness.com 

http://flappinessis.com/2011/12/01/an-apology-from-your-childs-former-teacher/

Dear Parents of Special-Needs Children I’ve Taught In the Past,

I need to make…

Today's Newsday contains an article in which associate commissioner for curriculum and assessments, Ken Wagner comments on the new assessments aligned for the first time with the Common Core.  He states, "the expectation is that results from those assessments may go down."  Interestingly, there was no comment on using those test results to evaluate teachers.  Read more about it on my Literacy Connections blog.

I am both a parent of a special needs child and a teacher for over 25 years. Once again as the school year approaches, as a parent, I find that it is not only my child who is anxious about going back to school but I too am anxious about sending him there. It is not my child’s disability in this instance that causes me anxiety but rather it is the uncertainty of knowing whether or not my child’s teachers truly understand just how important their role is in the education and emotional…

Invitation to a Dialogue: A Student’s Call to Arms

Published: October 9, 2012

Want to Ruin Teaching? Give Ratings

By DEBORAH KENNY

Published: October 14, 2012

Which is better for students and teachers, e-readers or traditional books?  Check out the Nook vs. Book Heavyweight Championship on my blog, Literacy Connections to decide for yourself.

Click here to learn about a true story to help you meet the Common Core's requirement for a balance of informational text and literature.  The book, Fireboat:  The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey, is about a retired fireboat, called back into service to help with the rescue and recovery missions on 9/11.  This weekend you can see the real John J. Harvey at the Oyster Bay Oyster Festival.  Visit…

Dear Teacher, Johnny Is Skipping the Test

By SONI SANGHA

NY Times

LATER this month, children at 169 New York City elementary and middle schools will, for the second time in a calendar year, take a 40-minute “field test” in math and English language arts to determine which questions will go on future state standardized exams.

Lori Chajet’s daughter will not be among them, though the tests are scheduled to…

How Good Books Can Change You…

Check out these writing opportunities for educators on my Literacy Connections blog.