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Interesting piece. The saga goes on and on.... about using student test scores for everything.  Will doing the dishes be next?http://www.joannejacobs.com/2011/05/the-exaggerated-power-of-test-scores/comment-page-1/#comment-163857 But WAIT!! Before we use test scores for any accountability--student and/or teacher and/or schools, let's be sure the tests are valid--that is, that they actually measure what they say they measure. Check out my friend, Marcia Kastner's new book, TESTING THE [...]

Here's my friend, Marcia Kastner's email blast about her COMMENTARY this week! Thought you'd like to see this. Before we start to base so much on testing (student, school, and teacher accountability, for starters), let's be sure that the tests are valid and reliable. Hello everyone,  As you know, I’ve written a book titled “TESTING THE TEST:  How to Recognize When Math Tests Are Flawed, How to Fix Them, Why We Should Care.”  If you’ve had a chance to read my book, I hope you’ve found it [...]

Here it is! A great help for teachers, parents, and test makers. Accommodations and modifications are NOT the same. Let's get them straight--so we can have honest and valid test results and grades in our nation's classrooms. Sticker #6: AccommodationModification You can get these FREE stickers in two ways:  if you order books from School Law Pro--you'll get a complete set. Otherwise, send a stamped, self addressed envelop to School Law Pro. PO Box 960515 Boston, MA 02196 And... a [...]

Her story, Wu wins mathcounts... 87.5% of participants in this middle school math contest are Chinese Americans. That says it all to me. Our laws focus on closing the gap--from the bottom to the middle. Check out NCLB, AYP, even the special ed law, the IDEA. It's more than time for us to work on closing that other huge gap--from the middle to the top. What laws and policies focus on that now? I can't think of one.  We need to change this approach.

Time on task.  Let's measure that in our nation's classrooms, so says this wonderful op-ed piece. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/opinion/01bausell.html?src=recg.  A great read. Yes, this approach makes sense to me. Let's measure what takes place in the classroom. More time on task usually leads to more learning. This seems to be a far more direct way to measure effectiveness, more than the indirect way of measuring student performance on tests designed to measure student [...]

Joanne Jacobs has an interesting piece about reformers who went to private schools trying to fix public schools. http://www.joannejacobs.com/2011/04/its-the-academic-content-stupid/ We can go around and around with that one, but how about this radical idea for true reform?  I've always thought (and written once in an op-ed piece) that, truly, the only way to fix our public schools is to close all the private schools. Radical, eh? Only in that way, schools will matter for everyone--not [...]

Again, it's what lawyers will tell you..."NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED." What does that mean?  If you try to please by skirting rules, that 'good deed'  may lead to a bad outcome.  This sticker is a great reminder. To get the selection, please see the earlier posts.  I look forward to sharing these with you. Sticker #5: No good deed goes unpunished!

http://www.educationnews.org/ednews_today/154424.html#comment-30853.  Frankly, I am NOT surprised.  Are you? As a former teacher, and current school attorney, I found that direct instruction worked best for my students (who were at all achievement levels).  Now, so many years later, it's gratifying to see research confirming that approach. Of course, a blend of approaches-- direct and problem solving--is probably the way to go.

Here's the fourth FREE sticker--it's what lawyers will tell you every day of the week: If it's not in writing, it did not happen! Educators need to document what they do.  This sticker should help get the message out! How does  it work?  When you order books from School Law Pro (See Store), you'll get a selection of FREE stickers. Or, send a stamped, self-addressed envelop to School Law Pro, PO Box 960515, Boston, MA 02196, for a FREE selection. Enjoy!

Teachers and administrators are experts.  Here's a sticker for them! Sticker #3: Experts-R-Us! If you order books from School  Law Pro, you'll receive a FREE selection of stickers. Or, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to School Law Pro, PO Box 960515, Boston, MA 02196 for a selection.