Reject the Tax Cap
NY Times Editorial - May 26, 2011
Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature have already adopted a state budget that drastically cuts funds to schools and local communities — cuts that were far deeper than needed to balance the budget because of Mr. Cuomo’s indefensible refusal to extend a tax surcharge on New York’s wealthiest residents. Now they want to adopt a cheap political tool — …
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Added by Michael Keany on May 26, 2011 at 9:24am —
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How patience, attention saved a struggling learner
By Valerie Strauss
Washington Post
Thirty five years ago Gary Cohen, a Minneapolis businessman, was a struggling learner. Here’s his story about how a sixth grade special education teacher saved him.
This is the latest installment in a series on The Answer Sheet called “…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 25, 2011 at 3:42pm —
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Added by Jamie Nolan on May 25, 2011 at 9:45am —
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A response to the article on this link: http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/tilles-don-t-grade-teachers-on-test-scores-1.2880880
I agree with Regent Roger Tilles regarding evaluating teachers and competing in the global market. Evaluating teachers is an important component of good teaching. In recent decades, state standardized tests masked as "diagnostic assessments," which…
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Added by Joseph A. Coladonato, Ed.D on May 23, 2011 at 10:58pm —
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CEOs and School Leaders:
The Good Ones are More Alike than Different
The Dim Bulb
The Occasional Musings of an Educator
by Michael Keany…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 23, 2011 at 1:37pm —
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Whose Failing Grade Is It?
By LISA BELKIN
NY Times
SINCE the subject today is schooling, let’s start with a quiz:
1. A third grader in Florida is often late for class. She tends to forget her homework and is unprepared for tests. The teacher would like to talk to her…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 23, 2011 at 8:23am —
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Bixhorn: LI voted to protect its schools
Newsday
May 19, 2011 by GARY D. BIXHORN Gary D. Bixhorn is the chief operating officer of Eastern Suffolk BOCES.
Long Islanders have again stared down tough economic conditions and voted to increase their already excessive property tax burden to…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 23, 2011 at 8:00am —
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Principal: ‘Kids, it’s you and your teacher against the test’
By Valerie Strauss
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This was written by Carol Corbett Burris, principal of South Side High School in New York. She was named the 2010 New York State Outstanding Educator by the School Administrators Association of New York State.
By Carol Corbett Burris
My work day starts…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 20, 2011 at 10:04am —
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COMMENTARY
Principal Preparation: Moving Beyond Assessment
By Ann Hassenpflug
Increasingly, principal-preparation programs are getting the national scrutiny that has been focused on teacher education for some time.
Today, many principal-training programs run by public and private higher education institutions have been modified to align them with national standards from the Educational Leadership Constituent Council, or ELCC. To receive…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 18, 2011 at 11:45am —
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Editorial: 40% for tests adds up right
Originally published: May 17, 2011 6:27 PM
Updated: May 17, 2011 8:15 PM
Newsday
Something shocking happened among New York's custodians of public education on Monday. For a fleeting moment, common sense prevailed.
Under intense pressure from Gov. …
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Added by Michael Keany on May 18, 2011 at 10:47am —
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Tilles: Don't grade teachers on test scores
May 16, 2011 by ROGER TILLES /Newsday
Roger Tilles is Long Island's representative on the New York State Board of Regents.
Last summer, legislation based on the federal Race to the Top program was passed in Albany to create an accurate system of evaluating teachers and principals. Yesterday, the question before the Board of Regents was whether the proposed system would actually achieve that goal. I…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 17, 2011 at 1:34pm —
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Guest post from Amy Baeder, who is a teacher educator and doctoral candidate at…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 13, 2011 at 8:48am —
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Whatever happens first in California tends to…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 13, 2011 at 8:46am —
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In Praise of Principals (in Hard Times)
By Elena Aguilar
TLN
For the last few years, I have worked as a school leadership coach in Oakland, Calif. Primarily, I support principals to develop their capacities—work that gives me a wide-angle view on the daily lives of our public school leaders. I have long recognized that principals’ jobs are challenging, but this year I have seen Oakland’s principals rise to tackle a new array of difficulties. As 2011…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 12, 2011 at 10:26am —
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Under the best of times there are those who challenge and question the priorities and decision making of local school districts. Arriving at a consensus regarding any proposed spending plan is difficult and far from a perfect science. In many districts including Southold, we have established a long-term strategy of examining spending, maintaining adequate reserves in general, and specifically planning for the future with the establishment of both a capital and repair reserve…
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Added by David A. Gamberg on May 12, 2011 at 8:17am —
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Teaching Secrets: The Last Day of School
By Larry Ferlazzo
It's that time of year again—the last few weeks of school. Many of us work hard at plans to keep students engaged during this time but, at least in my experience, far fewer have a well-considered plan for the last day of school.
This final day together can be an important time for both the students and the teacher. It's a time to reflect, to celebrate, to…
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Added by Michael Keany on May 5, 2011 at 7:00am —
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Sometimes the simple act of having a genuine and respectful dialogue can serve a broader purpose than the topic of discussion. Today I had an unplanned exchange with two teachers about their instructional practice. We did not do extensive planning for our meeting. We sat down at small tables designed for young children. The 10 -15 minute dialogue produced commitments to conduct a follow-up email exchange that would sharpen our focus, and lead to further steps aimed at reaching as yet…
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Added by David A. Gamberg on May 1, 2011 at 3:00pm —
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Cheating and Other Deceptions About Students’ Learning
By Bill Tucker 04/01/2011
We’re learning that there are many ways to cheat.
The …
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Added by Michael Keany on April 28, 2011 at 9:49am —
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Active Learning Means Using the Body
by Ben Johnson
Edutopia
Good morning students! We are going to learn how to make multiplication problems. Today we have traveled back in time to the age of the dinosaurs. Dinosaurs reproduce by laying…..? Right! Eggs. The dinosaurs lay their eggs in …? Correct again. Nests. In your baggy, you will find several paper nests and two colors of eggs.
I would be excited to…
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Added by Michael Keany on April 25, 2011 at 1:30pm —
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COMMENTARY
More Argument, Fewer Standards
By Mike Schmoker and Gerald Graff
If we want record numbers of students to succeed in postsecondary studies and careers, an ancient, accessible concept needs to be restored to its rightful place at the center of schooling: argument. In its various forms, it includes the ability to analyze and assess our facts and evidence, support our solutions, and defend our interpretations and…
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Added by Michael Keany on April 22, 2011 at 2:49pm —
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