In 1985 I went to a state University and majored in elementary education. In 1989 I taught 32 second graders in Virginia In 1991 I moved to Pennsylvania and taught fifth graders In 1995 I finished my Master’s Degree and began work on my PhD at the University of Maryland at College Park. From 1996-1999 […]
#optout is so much more than “angry parents” @John_Merrow
June 3, 2013 By 10 Comments
Last week Shaun and I interviewed John Merrow concerning Michelle Rhee’s blatant cover up of cheating in DCPS while she was the Chancellor. John did his homework and presented a factual documentation that at a minimum deserves further media attention. It was an enlightening conversation and I’m still flabbergasted by the reluctance of any other media outlets […]
Enough of the “I am a white person and I refuse to acknowledge the opportunity gaps created by poverty” narrative.
May 30, 2013 By 8 Comments
Today in EdWeek, teacher (not really. instead she is a Teach Plus teaching fellow) Casie Jones attempts to use the poverty is no excuse crap to pat her own back and talk about how she makes a “substantial difference.” There is no doubt that a caring individual will help any child regardless of socio-economic situation. Love […]
Chiefs for Change or Puppets for Propaganda?
May 29, 2013 By 3 Comments
The “Chiefs for Change” led by Hanna Skandera have put their collective foot down. There will be no stopping, pausing, or breathing when it comes to implementing and shoving high stakes test down the throats of Common Core adoption states. According to Skandera, “Accountability delayed isn’t real accountability.” Why do we care what Hanna Skandera thinks? […]
The bird is the word!
May 26, 2013 By 6 Comments
In this episode of @the chalkface Radio, Shaun and I talk to CTU president Karen Lewis. Enjoy: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/chalkface/2013/05/26/at-the-chalk-face-progressive-edreform-talk However, we started the show by talking about actions WE can take to fight edreform. Karen said something simple but powerful. She suggested that instead of showing our disgust for the reformers and their vision of public […]
Toddler Testing
May 24, 2013 By 3 Comments
Ed. Dept. Launches Competition for Kindergarten Entry Assessments “Kindergarten-entry assessments are designed to measure a child’s “essential domains of school readiness,” which include language and literacy development, cognition and general early knowledge, readiness to learn, physical well-being, and social and emotional development.” @the chalkface is developing the “NON essential domains of school readiness” kindergarten entry […]
Tom Vander Ark is selling snake oil.
May 21, 2013 By 1 Comment
Why do Common Core supporters get to make unsubstantiated statements? Why? Look at the latest piece in Huffington Post by Tom Vander Ark. Below are a collection of statements made by Mr. Vander Ark. It’s exciting to see 45 states voluntarily adopting common college and career ready expectations for students — it makes the U.S. […]
Michelle Rhee in the poor house?
May 20, 2013 By 5 Comments
I hate it when I do this. I hate when I write about Queen Rhee. She get’s more time than any reform charlatan deserves but she opened her mouth (for how much $) at the Center for Leadership Development and Research at Stanford’s graduate business school and then decided to write about her profound insights into […]
Pennsylvania business and military leaders lack 8th grade writing skills.
May 16, 2013 By 3 Comments
Someone has to say it! Pennsylvania business and military leaders lack 8th grade writing skills and need a serious academic intervention before they make one more stupid suggestion about teaching, learning, child development, and public schools. As reported today in The Triadvocate, Mission Readiness (a supposed “nonpartisan” group) released: All Children Prepared for Success: Common […]
Trust a Teacher. By John Stoffel
May 15, 2013 By 2 Comments
An assumption exists that teachers are against high-stakes testing because they don’t want to risk evaluation. It continues that if teachers are not evaluated by testing data, they will have no incentive to do their job well. If teachers fail to do their job, then a generation of young children faces a bleak future. What […]
Pennsylvania launches full frontal assault on Education at all levels.
May 15, 2013 By 3 Comments
From the Notebook: Ronald Tomalis will step down as Pennysylvania’s education secretary at the end of the month, Gov. Corbett announced today in a statement. He is to be replaced by Cumberland Valley schools chief William Harner. Tomalis, who served as the state’s top education official for two years, will become a special adviser to […]
#edweek finds Nirvana.
A new piece of propaganda published by EdWeek and written by Crowe, Allen, and Coble begins with this assertion: Better-prepared teachers and greatly improved teacher-preparation programs are the essential ingredients of stronger academic outcomes for this nation’s K-12 students. It is then followed up with this evidence to support it. ?????????????????? That’s right. Nothing! It […]