Friday, August 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Top 5 Reasons Why Teacher Turnover Is Rising
Top 5 Reasons Why Teacher Turnover Is Rising: "Top 5 Reasons Why Teacher Turnover Is Rising"
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
LA Times - Comments
In today's L.A. Times, there's a column about the US/Mexico soccer game that took place at the Rose Bowl yesterday (US lost 4 - 2). It's an interesting story and one that made me sympathetic to the US team and the larger point the story was making - mind you, I don't follow soccer and am completely disinterested in soccer. More interesting than the story itself are the reader comments. It's disheartening to see so many racist, ignorant and just flat out dumb comments people leave behind. I'm not sure why I spend time reading the story comments. Maybe, I'm hoping to find a cogent, intelligent and/or thoughtful point. I guess I'll keep looking.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
From ed.gov
In Honor of Teacher Appreciation Week: An Open Letter From Arne Duncan to America’s Teachers
I have worked in education for much of my life. I have met with thousands of teachers in great schools and struggling schools, in big cities and small towns, and I have a deep and genuine appreciation for the work you do. I know that most teachers did not enter the profession for the money. You became teachers to make a difference in the lives of children, and for the hard work you do each day, you deserve to be respected, valued, and supported.
I consider teaching an honorable and important profession, and it is my goal to see that you are treated with the dignity we award to other professionals in society. In too many communities, the profession has been devalued. Many of the teachers I have met object to the imposition of curriculum that reduces teaching to little more than a paint-by-numbers exercise. I agree.
Inside your classroom, you exercise a high degree of autonomy. You decide when to slow down to make sure all of your students fully understand a concept, or when a different instructional strategy is needed to meet the needs of a few who are struggling to keep up. You build relationships with students from a variety of backgrounds and with a diverse array of needs, and you find ways to motivate and engage them. I appreciate the challenge and skill involved in the work you do and applaud those of you who have dedicated your lives to teaching.
Many of you have told me you are willing to be held accountable for outcomes over which you have some control, but you also want school leaders held accountable for creating a positive and supportive learning environment. You want real feedback in a professional setting rather than drive-by visits from principals or a single score on a bubble test. And you want the time and opportunity to work with your colleagues and strengthen your craft.
You have told me you believe that the No Child Left Behind Act has prompted some schools—especially low-performing ones—to teach to the test, rather than focus on the educational needs of students. Because of the pressure to boost test scores, NCLB has narrowed the curriculum, and important subjects like history, science, the arts, foreign languages, and physical education have been de-emphasized. And you are frustrated when teachers alone are blamed for educational failures that have roots in broken families, unsafe communities, misguided reforms, and underfunded schools systems. You rightfully believe that responsibility for educational quality should be shared by administrators, community, parents, and even students themselves.
The teachers I have met are not afraid of hard work, and few jobs today are harder. Moreover, it’s gotten harder in recent years; the challenges kids bring into the classroom are greater and the expectations are higher. Not too long ago, it was acceptable for schools to have high dropout rates, and not all kids were expected to be proficient in every subject. In today’s economy, there is no acceptable dropout rate, and we rightly expect all children—English-language learners, students with disabilities, and children of poverty—to learn and succeed.
You and I are here to help America’s children. We understand that the surest way to do that is to make sure that the 3.2 million teachers in America’s classrooms are the very best they can be. The quality of our education system can only be as good as the quality of our teaching force.
So I want to work with you to change and improve federal law, to invest in teachers and strengthen the teaching profession. Together with you, I want to develop a system of evaluation that draws on meaningful observations and input from your peers, as well as a sophisticated assessment that measures individual student growth, creativity, and critical thinking. States, with the help of teachers, are now developing better assessments so you will have useful information to guide instruction and show the positive impact you are having on our children.
Working together, we can transform teaching from the factory model designed over a century ago to one built for the information age. We can build an accountability system based on data we trust and a standard that is honest—one that recognizes and rewards great teaching, gives new or struggling teachers the support they need to succeed, and deals fairly, efficiently, and compassionately with teachers who are simply not up to the job. With your input and leadership, we can restore the status of the teaching profession so more of America’s top college students choose to teach because no other job is more important or more fulfilling.
In the next decade, half of America’s teachers are likely to retire. What we do to recruit, train, and retain our new teachers will shape public education in this country for a generation. At the same time, how we recognize, honor, and show respect for our experienced educators will reaffirm teaching as a profession of nation builders and social leaders dedicated to our highest ideals. As that work proceeds, I want you to know that I hear you, I value you, and I respect you.
Arne Duncan is the U.S. Secretary of Education.
Cross-posted from Education Week.
I consider teaching an honorable and important profession, and it is my goal to see that you are treated with the dignity we award to other professionals in society. In too many communities, the profession has been devalued. Many of the teachers I have met object to the imposition of curriculum that reduces teaching to little more than a paint-by-numbers exercise. I agree.
Inside your classroom, you exercise a high degree of autonomy. You decide when to slow down to make sure all of your students fully understand a concept, or when a different instructional strategy is needed to meet the needs of a few who are struggling to keep up. You build relationships with students from a variety of backgrounds and with a diverse array of needs, and you find ways to motivate and engage them. I appreciate the challenge and skill involved in the work you do and applaud those of you who have dedicated your lives to teaching.
Many of you have told me you are willing to be held accountable for outcomes over which you have some control, but you also want school leaders held accountable for creating a positive and supportive learning environment. You want real feedback in a professional setting rather than drive-by visits from principals or a single score on a bubble test. And you want the time and opportunity to work with your colleagues and strengthen your craft.
You have told me you believe that the No Child Left Behind Act has prompted some schools—especially low-performing ones—to teach to the test, rather than focus on the educational needs of students. Because of the pressure to boost test scores, NCLB has narrowed the curriculum, and important subjects like history, science, the arts, foreign languages, and physical education have been de-emphasized. And you are frustrated when teachers alone are blamed for educational failures that have roots in broken families, unsafe communities, misguided reforms, and underfunded schools systems. You rightfully believe that responsibility for educational quality should be shared by administrators, community, parents, and even students themselves.
The teachers I have met are not afraid of hard work, and few jobs today are harder. Moreover, it’s gotten harder in recent years; the challenges kids bring into the classroom are greater and the expectations are higher. Not too long ago, it was acceptable for schools to have high dropout rates, and not all kids were expected to be proficient in every subject. In today’s economy, there is no acceptable dropout rate, and we rightly expect all children—English-language learners, students with disabilities, and children of poverty—to learn and succeed.
You and I are here to help America’s children. We understand that the surest way to do that is to make sure that the 3.2 million teachers in America’s classrooms are the very best they can be. The quality of our education system can only be as good as the quality of our teaching force.
So I want to work with you to change and improve federal law, to invest in teachers and strengthen the teaching profession. Together with you, I want to develop a system of evaluation that draws on meaningful observations and input from your peers, as well as a sophisticated assessment that measures individual student growth, creativity, and critical thinking. States, with the help of teachers, are now developing better assessments so you will have useful information to guide instruction and show the positive impact you are having on our children.
Working together, we can transform teaching from the factory model designed over a century ago to one built for the information age. We can build an accountability system based on data we trust and a standard that is honest—one that recognizes and rewards great teaching, gives new or struggling teachers the support they need to succeed, and deals fairly, efficiently, and compassionately with teachers who are simply not up to the job. With your input and leadership, we can restore the status of the teaching profession so more of America’s top college students choose to teach because no other job is more important or more fulfilling.
In the next decade, half of America’s teachers are likely to retire. What we do to recruit, train, and retain our new teachers will shape public education in this country for a generation. At the same time, how we recognize, honor, and show respect for our experienced educators will reaffirm teaching as a profession of nation builders and social leaders dedicated to our highest ideals. As that work proceeds, I want you to know that I hear you, I value you, and I respect you.
Arne Duncan is the U.S. Secretary of Education.
Cross-posted from Education Week.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The End of Childhood Obesity???
LAUSD to remove chocolate, strawberry milk from schools, superintendent says
During an appearance with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, LAUSD Supt. John Deasy says the Los Angeles
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
From the HuffingtonPost
Judge Rules 'I Heart Boobies' Bracelets Are OK For Students To Wear
I've noticed a lot of our kids wearing these bracelets. I haven't said anything to the kids who wear them. As far as I know, the bracelets haven't become a distraction. I can see how they could become a distraction in middle school and even in the fourth/fifth grade. I'm a bit surprised by the judge's ruling. I'm curious as to how many of the kids wearing the bracelets actually understand the true message of the bracelet. I'm going to guess very few.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Vacation!
Three weeks of vacation couldn't have come at a better time. I definitely need some time away from the job. I'm going to enjoy every single minute of this break.
During the break I'm going to enjoy a few meals at a restaurant that I have added to my list of faves. It's a Peruvian place in Torrance...El Polla Inka. The chicken is delicious. The decor is cool and they have Andean music on Friday and Saturday nights. Check it out if you happen to be in the South Bay. The location is 23705 Hawthorne Blvd, just North of PCH.
During the break I'm going to enjoy a few meals at a restaurant that I have added to my list of faves. It's a Peruvian place in Torrance...El Polla Inka. The chicken is delicious. The decor is cool and they have Andean music on Friday and Saturday nights. Check it out if you happen to be in the South Bay. The location is 23705 Hawthorne Blvd, just North of PCH.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
LAUSD Drops Open Court
L.A.
The board drops Open Court, which many teachers said robbed them of independence. California Treasures 'is very supportive if you don't have the expertise and respectful of those who do,' says a review panel member.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
From cnn.com
Interesting piece from cnn.com...check it out!
Mother hopes others will opt out of standardized testing
Mother hopes others will opt out of standardized testing
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Traffic
My normal ten/fifteen minute drive home took almost one hour and 20 minutes! Traffic on PCH was crazy!! I feel sorry for the folks who have to deal with traffic all the time. Horrible.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
More wounds...
We have a new kid who doesn't want to come to school and when she does come it's a chore trying to get her in the room. So today as I was trying to get her in the room, she gouged her nails in my hand. Ouch! I'm getting really tired of dealing with all of the nonsense.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Great News
Great news. No one assaulted me or cussed at me today! Hooray!
Today at the patio party one of the kids asked me if I thought she was fat. Another kid looked at me and said "that was a weird question."
Today at the patio party one of the kids asked me if I thought she was fat. Another kid looked at me and said "that was a weird question."
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday
Today was another crazy day. Cheryl and I had to "gently" coerce a third grader into her room. Eventually she calmed down. I've had more exercise this week than I've had in the last month. I'm actually kind of sore. The academic awards are over. So much time and work goes into the awards. I'm glad it only happens once a trimester. I was surprised to see so many parents attend the assemblies. It was good to see. I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday. I'm looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Still Not My Week...
So today I got kicked and bit on my arm (left a pretty large bruise). I was also called a fat bitch. I know I've gained a little weight during the last couple of months, but please. Call me chubby, not fat. There are some days when I just don't want to get out of bed. I feel like tomorrow is going to be one of those days.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
It's Not My Week...
Today I didn't get cussed at but one of the preschool kids did mock me when I said hello to his teacher. The kid repeated my hello in a mocking tone. I'm going to assume that maybe he was having a bad day or maybe he's just a mean kid. Other than that, it was a busy day but not too crazy. I saw a couple of great mini-lessons...which made me very happy. Hopefully, tomorrow will be another calm day. I need to start writing the Change essay. Good thing that I have the whole month of February to do it.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Moments...
There have been some crazy moments since we've been back on track. Crazy. Last week a bunch of parents and kids were upset because they thought they saw a floating head in the basement. It was so bad, I had to take one of the parents down to the basement to show her that there isn't anything down there except the boiler. Oh brother. Today as a parent was leaving the office, she decided to call me a f#*king a*$hole. I'll spare you the details of what caused her to have such a low opinion of me. Obviously, she wasn't happy with me. Granted, sometimes I can be an a-hole, but NEVER a f-ing ahole.
I think I need to start blogging again. Everyday is packed with juicy goodness and/or badness. On Friday I received an anonymous complaint letter from a teacher. That was a first. Usually, the anonymous letters I receive are of a religous nature...someone offering their prayers for me.
Since scholars set long and short term goals and since I'm a scholar, I'm going to set a goal to blog everyday this week. Let's see if I can do it!
I think I need to start blogging again. Everyday is packed with juicy goodness and/or badness. On Friday I received an anonymous complaint letter from a teacher. That was a first. Usually, the anonymous letters I receive are of a religous nature...someone offering their prayers for me.
Since scholars set long and short term goals and since I'm a scholar, I'm going to set a goal to blog everyday this week. Let's see if I can do it!
Monday, January 17, 2011
From the L.A. Times
State faces a moving target in implementing 'parent trigger' law
As the Board of Education continues to weigh the details of how parents will go about forcing overhauls of low-performing schools, debates over transparency, public input and special interests drag on.
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