Teacher Refuses to Give State Tests

I know many of you have concerns about the impact of state testing on students. Here is how one Washington state teacher, Charles Chew, responded to the call for state mandated testing. Read his comments found in a Seattle newspaper paper, and post your responses. What do you think of his method of protest? What about his going public on the issue? Other news stories are now proliferating about his action, and perhaps you have read them or seen some videos online or caught a news story on television about the case. You will also notice that 40 reviewers as of today posted comments to his stories, so you might want to peruse the comments quickly before posting your own responses. The topic of state mandated testing affect us all, so please take the time to respond.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/360071_chewletter23.html?source=rss

Image from: http://www.freespirit.com/

Save Our Libraries

Now, you don’t have to leave home to check out books from public libraries. Better yet, you can forget those pest late fees. Libraries are now starting to offer books for download with expiration for loans built in, so access is denied after a pre-determined date, and no late fee is incurred.

For those with vision problems, libraries accommodate not only by offering audio books but also loan MP-3 players to listen to those books. Library videos also can now be checked out online, similar to movie online subscription services, but without the out-of-pocket fee.

To learn more about how public libraries are implementing technologies to accommodate patrons, check out this April 20, 2008 New York Times article. How do you think changes in the public library will affect school-aged children? What do you think your local public libraries should be doing technologically to make their services more attractive to this population? In general, what do you think of libraries offering more online services, which might affect their in-person patron services? Here is the link to The New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/20Rlibrary.html

Hope you can access it without having to log on. Even if you can’t access it, you can still post comments to the topics summarized in this blog posting. I have also heard that libraries might be opening cafes to duplicate the experience of bookstores with this amenity What do you think of that idea? What about ice cream parlors in libraries? Will that attract young patrons for the right or wrong reasons?

Picture on left from: http://www.aaronlouie.com/

Picture on right from: www.cfilibraries.org

Instant Messaging 's Effects on Our Brains!

Numerous linguistics experts have confirmed that instant messaging is not leading to the demise of the English language among our youth. Although some believe that shorthand used in instant messaging might be causing teens to transfer that form of communication to their academic work, studies conducted by reputable organizations such as the Pew Institute do not confirm that hypothesis. Rather, researchers have found that teens are smart enough to know to adjust their writing approach for the audience, and most teens will write differently for their teachers and adults than for peers.

To learn more about what researchers are finding out about the effects of instant messaging on teen’s communications styles, please refer to a thoughtful post found on Dennis Barone’s “Web of Language” blog. Note his posting on the topic also contains several hyperlinks to access the specific studies that he refers to in his post. You might want to read all are part of the studies. If you are taking an educational research course, you might find the topic of instant messaging and school writing worth exploring for a major assignment. The graphic above is offered by Dennis Barone on his blog and shows the screen of The Librarian General's warning as it is written. Please remember to post your comments after checking into Barone’s blog. Does his posting or the findings of research studies allay or intensify your concerns about the effects of instant message?

On another note, Barone also addresses concerns about text messaging while driving. As some of you might know, high school seniors in upstate New York were killed last year in a car accident when the teen driver was text messaging and hit a truck. However, that tragic accident speaks more so to cell phone use while driving than the effects of instant messaging on written communication for academic purposes.

Other concerns that Barone notes are students diverting their attention during classes to text message, but how is that different than in the old days when distracted students handwrote and passed notes to friends, or students at any time just sitting in class and doodling or daydreaming? Can we be “mind police” over the diversions students find during class time, or is the answer to create more stimulating lessons that engage students so deeply that the thought of diversions don’t even cross their minds? Moreover, do we blame the medium or the messenger?

Without further ado, here is the link you need to read more, and let’s hear from you!

http://webtools.uiuc.edu/blog/view?blogId=25&topicId=1828&count=1&ACTION=VIEW_TOPIC_DIALOGS&skinId=286

Teens Stymied by Writing Research Papers

Teen Space, the Internet Public Library, offers a website to help high school and introductory college students write research papers. A step-by-step guide in an easy-to-follow format is provided. Students can navigate the site on their own, but it would be a good idea for a teacher to introduce it and give an overview of what is available. Check the site. It might even have some applicability for students in the middle school. Let us know what you think and if you would recommend the site to other teachers.

http://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/stepfirst.htm

Student’s Attack on Course Textbook Is Taken Seriously

A student who voiced concern about political biases reflected in a highly popular American history textbook has been taken seriously. Senior, Matthew LaClair, of Kearney, New Jersey, noted several incorrect statements in his AP government textbook, US Government, among them statements on separation of church and state and global warming. He brought his concerns to the Center for Inquiry, and the textbook publisher, Houghton Mifflin, has since agreed to review the well-used textbook for inaccuracies.

The concerns that LaClair raised about erroneous information about global warming have been taken up by NASA Goddard Institute for Space Science, James Hansen, who is helping LaClair in his appeal to have the publisher make amends for the errors. The concern centers on how the book downplays global warming and indicates scientists really do not know the extent of global warming and whether we are really experiencing this phenomenon. In short, the textbook, widely used in high schools and colleges, simplifies aspects of civics and science, yet it is widely available to our students, and it has taken a high school senior to call attention to errors that appear to have gone largely unnoticed or ignored by others.

Visit this link from MSNBC to learn more about this story and post your comments:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24018762/

Social Studies Resources

Here is a valuable portal to online resources for teaching social studies. The information might be useful to others. The list of resources was compiled by a librarian with the middle school social studies teacher in mind. The list is extensive, and chock full of resources for helping teachers design lesson plans, and find useful online resources for students. The resource is also listed as useful to parents. Check it out, and enjoy exploring:

http://www.sldirectory.com/teachf/socsci.html

Image on left from http://www.stjoanofarc.org/; image on right from http://www.hcbe.net/

Let us know what you think. Post comments.

States Mandate Teaching Internet Safety

Illinois, Texas, and Virginia have passed legislator regarding the teaching of Internet safety. In Virginia, teaching Internet safety is now a mandatory part of the curriculum.

In these states, lessons are prepared at all grade levels, K-12, to teach about Internet safety. Topics covered include the dangers of Internet predators, the risks of sharing personal information online, and permanence of what might be posted on the Internet.

Other states are requiring similar curriculum initiatives. Curricular kits have been put together for schools by such companies as Verizon and Symantec.

Do you believe it is the school’s role to teach students about Internet safety? If so, how do you propose the matter be handled? Who should do the teaching and how?

See this Education Week article for more details:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/04/06/78573internetsafetyclasses_ap.html.html?print=1

Image from: www.ri.net

Credible Sources

In the age of the Internet, we have all likely noticed that writers don't always use the most credible sources. Check out this excellent, entertaining websites to help students learn how to critique websites. It will take you between 5 and 10 minutes to go through the tutorial. be sure to the sound on, and use the Next button at the site to advance through the tutorial. Let us know if you think this tutorial will be helpful to use with students. Here is the URL:

http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/webevaluation/

Image from www.problogger.net

An Obituary for Newspapers

What is the future of newspapers in the age of Internet? Do you still read the newspaper in print form? How will newspaper reading change in the future and what might be the implications for teaching? Check out this article in the March 31, 2008 edition of The New Yorker, “Out of Print: The Death and Life of the Newspaper.” The usual New Yorker cartoon is included. After reading the article, post your comments about where the institution of the newspaper is heading for the future and what all this might mean for other print media, such as magazines? How might our reading habits change as more and more print media transfer to an online format? How will the process of reading itself change? Be sure to respond. This is a critical topic we all need to think about as the newer generations increasingly move away from traditional print sources. The article reports that as of May 2004, newspapers have become the least favorite source of information among the young generation. As educators, we just can’t ignore this topic of reliance on the Internet for news and how this information is accessed and read. So, let’s hear from all of you!

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/31/080331fa_fact_alterman

Image is from the article itself found by using the above link.

How Literacy Has Changed!

Literacy no longer means reading and writing, according to the National Council of Teacher of English (NCTE), who has formulated a new definition of literacy. Check out the organization’s definition of literacy, and post your reactions to the definition. Here is the URL to access the definition from the NCTE site.

http://www.ncte.org/announce/129117.htm

A Sample Wiki for Science Education

Check out this Heartlandscience wiki for a wealth of information. Take some time to explore, and let us know your response.

http://heartlandscience.pbwiki.com/

Image is from the Heartlandscience wiki front page.

Engaging Students in Science Education

Check out how one school is using the Kinetic City website to engage students in learning science. Though the after-school program is intended for students in grades 3-5, the program speaks to the need to strengthen the ways in which we teach science to students in all grades. In addition to checking out how this one school is using the Kinetic City website, click on the link in the article to access the Kinetic City site. Post your comments about what you think of the school program as well as the website. While reading the article, note also the link to the Benchmarks for Science Literacy. You might click on that link for further details. We look forward to your comments.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2008/03/27/index.html

Image from www.mise.org

What is STEM, and Why is it Important?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. As you might have guessed, tremendous pressure to increase students’ skills in all of these areas exists. Recently, a Technology Counts 2008 report was released. This report contained broad information about how students in the United States are performing as well as links to detailed state-by-state reports. I am providing the link to the Connecticut state report for your review. As a teacher or future teacher in Connecticut, you should be aware of where our students stand in terms of STEM and what the implications are for the future. Check the report, and post your comments. I am also providing in the second link access to the main report.

Connecticut: Technology Counts, 2008 STEM Report
http://www.edweek.org/media/ew/tc/2008/30CT_STR2008.h27.pdf

Education Week: Technology Counts Report Main Page
http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2008/03/27/index.html

Image is from the Education Week article, March 28, 2008, accessible from the link above.

Probeware Changes Science Curriculum

Results are in: students using probeware in their science classes are outpacing peers on standardized test. What is more, companies are donating the equipment to schools to spread the word of the value of probeware to enhance the teaching of science. To learn more about the state of the arts with probeware, check this Education Week article that ran on March 24, 2008. Be sure to post your comments about where you see the teaching of science heading and whether you believe new technology will revolutionize the teaching of this discipline and contribute to student engagement with it.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/03/26/29tech_ep.h27.html

Image is taken from the article itself, found through the link above and is offered courtesy of PASCO scientific, a maker of probeware.

Tips for Teaching with Computer Technology

Follow the link below for a helpful article that will offer you a range of ideas for managing computer use in your classroom. The tips range the gamut from curriculum suggestions to classroom management tricks. Let us know what you find useful in the article. There are 33 tips offered, so happy hunting. The information is provided from Education World, a generally useful website for teachers, chock full of resources.

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech116.shtml

Clip art image is directly from the article, “Managing Technology, Tips from the Experts”

Why Teachers Should Have Blog Sites

Edublog, a blog hosting site, names 10 reasons for teachers to have a blog site. Review the suggestions provided, and post your responses after considering the implications of the 10 suggestions. Here is the URL to access the information:

http://edublogs.org/10-ways-to-use-your-edublog-to-teach/

Do Computers Belong in Children's Rooms?

Although not directly to school use of computers, an article, “Computers Should Be Kept out of Kid’s Rooms,” also leads to the question of where to best place computers in the school setting. Refer to the article that appeared in a British publication on the results of a finding about where to keep computers in the home. Post your comments about where you believe computers are best kept in both the home and school, and why. Here is the direct link to the article for your review:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/22/nputers122.xml

Photo is from http://www.henricolibrary.org/

Who Are Our Kids Today?

Check out the Salon online article, “What's the Matter With Kids Today?” with its subtext: “Nothing, actually. Aside from our panic that the Internet is melting their brains.” That title and comment alone should pique your interest.

The article's author, Amy Goldwasser, writes of kids today:

“...they choose to write about themselves, on their own time, rather than its being a forced labor when a paper's due in school. Regularly, often late at night, they're generating a body of intimate written work. They appreciate the value of a good story and the power of a speech that moves: Ninety-seven percent of the teenagers in the Common Core survey connected 'I have a dream' with its speaker -- they can watch Dr. King deliver it on demand -- and eight in 10 knew what 'To Kill a Mockingbird' is about.”

“This is, of course, the kind of knowledge we should be encouraging. The Internet has turned teenagers into honest documentarians of their own lives -- reporters embedded in their homes, their schools, their own heads.”

She adds we need to stop fearing that the Internet is the downfall of literacy skills. To the contray, she contends kids' online lives are making the next generation more literate than any other, noting:

“Teenagers today read and write for fun; it's part of their social lives. We need to start celebrating this unprecedented surge, incorporating it as an educational tool instead of meeting it with punishing pop quizzes and suspicion.”

As educators, we need to ponder the ideas that Goldwasser covers in her piece. Pay particular attention to her admonitions to her adult audience to accept the digital world's potential to have extraordinary positive effects on promoting literacy.

Check out her full article, and please leave a comment.

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/03/14/kids_and_internet/

Imaga contribution www.abetterdj.com

How To's

Here are some fast links for finding information off my website. Note some of these links will take you to a PowerPoint with directions and some will take you to a simple web page with directions. I have provided links for information on How To’s for PowerPoint and How To’s for website work. Take some time to explore what you need to learn over the two-week break. I also have a link to information on the annotated list of websites component of the website project, and it certainly is not too early to start that component. You don’t want to wait until the last minute!

How To’s PowerPoint

PowerPoint: How to Do Dimming
PowerPoint: How to Create a Hyperlink
PowerPoint: Custom Animations and Effects Options
PowerPoint: How to Create Transitions
PowerPoint: How to Do Dimming
PowerPoint: How to Create a Hyperlink
PowerPoint: Custom Animations and Effects Options


How To’s Website

PowerPoint on Website Tips
Tips for Annotated List of Websites
Tips on Using Tables to Control Layouts
Tips on Inserting Clip Art, Pictures, and Setting Up a Picture Folder
Tips on Inserting Backgrounds

Why We Teach?

Many of you have already acknowledged that you did not enter the teaching profession for the salary. But how does an annual salary of $125,000 sound? A new magnet slated to open in 2009 will be paying its teachers just that, and the principal will earn $90,000, with the goal of one day being promoted to teacher.

The initiative is based on the theory that what really matters in a child’s education is the teacher! The goal is to attract the most qualified and brightest teachers in the nation.

The school will serve the middle grades, 5 through 8. All students must take two courses: Latin and music! Class size will be 30.

Okay, where is this school? It is in New York City's Washington Heights. The principal has already been selected. Recruitment of teachers is in process. Even if you are not interested in relocating to the Big Apple, do you think paying teachers over $100,000 is the best way to achieve excellence in education? Will expert teachers be able to significantly improve students' scholastic skills?

To read more about this innovative school, click on the link below, and also check the credentials sought in the school's teachers. Be sure to post your responses.

Information based on New York Times, March 7, 2008 article written by Elissa Gootman, “Charter Schools, Higher Pay.” Photo of Zeke M. Vanderhoek, creator of a charter school, due to open in 2009. Photo by Marilyn K. Yee of New York Times

Click on the hyperlink for the story. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/nyregion/07charter.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=march+7%2C+2008&st=nyt&oref=slogin