Blog

(A review of John Merrow's new book). A good read. What's wrong with education and how to fix it. I am quoted in the book--which is always nice!

(New Jersey district bans D's--Students can earn A's, B's, C's, and F's). Very creative. I agree with the rationale.... students shouldn't pass with D's and just slide through. Let's hope this creative approach works to increase hard work, effort, and learning!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSQMXkqVGgQ&feature=player_embedded

(New York City test scores go from 81% pass to 18% pass). Sobering. Defining standards down is dangerous for America. We need to link this story with Mr. Caperton's above and get sober fast.

(US losing its #1 spot in college graduates) The head of the College Board sounds the alarm. We must ask if our public education policies make sense. Many don't. Is college readiness the right goal for every student? And if so, how can we graduate high school students who don't have basic arithmetic skills? Yesterday I spoke with a lovely and dedicated woman who is a math tutor for college students at a community college. Her story is sobering. Her young students people 'graduated' [...]

(Diane Ravitch on Race To The Top and evaluating teachers). In all of these moves to evaluate students and teachers on the basis of testing, we assume that the tests are valid and the results reliable. This is a major assumption that needs to be explored. Fast. My experience with testing students with disabilities and the use of accommodations and modifications concerns me greatly--as the use is often inconsistent and the validity of test results is assumed. Again, we need to [...]

(A back story of Massachusetts and the Common Core standards) An amazing story of the politics behind the vote in Massachusetts to end its high standards and go with the Common Core.... Say it ain't so. And how do we follow the money on this development?

(Creativity not taught in America) Research indicates that creativity is on the decline in American children. Now what do we do? First, read this fascinating cover story in Newsweek by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. Neuroscience research plays a key role in our understanding of creativity. next? It turns out that creativity needs to be nourished. Yet, in our schools now, it is largely not. We should act on this reality, teaching facts AND creativity--both are needed. And, for [...]

(Boulder's efforts for inclusion) As I read this article, I am concerned about the purpose of the move to more inclusion. What is that purpose? Let's be very clear! It is to improve learning outcomes for ALL students in the schools--regular and special education, gifted and average, 'at risk' and all others. I echo and strongly support the folks who focus the purpose of inclusion on improving teaching and learning for ALL students. I am very concerned about those who focus on [...]

Thinking a bit more about that College Board report (Friday's blog)..... When I came to America in 4th grade, unfortunately, it became time to slide by in my schooling. Yes, I had to learn English. And I did that. But, the substance of our learning so much easier than what I was used to... Consider. In Holland, we had learned the multiplication tables up to 20! In our heads! No calculators. No aids. 18 x 17. 13 x 16. Etc. And it was fun! In the public school in New Jersey, where I [...]