Viewing: Educational Policy
Carmageddon: The 405 Closure and Education
Just a few thoughts before all hell breaks loose over here in Los Angeles. First of all, I woke up this morning wondering if the closure of the 405 freeway was going to be like the staged Anthrax scare in
The Power of the Backchannel Discussion: Todaysmeet.com
Sometime ago, I began experimenting with Twitter in the classroom as a means to create a B-storyline of Think Alouds, questions, and Advice from students in different classrooms. The point was to create an academic-level note-passing environment that could function
Eye On Education Webinar: The Skills of Tomorrow for the Students of Today
I recently presented a webinar for my publisher, Eye on Education, about some of the topics in my new book, ‘Tween Crayons and Curfews: Tips for Middle School Teachers. It all started with a survey I conducted of my readers
Sexy Data Analysis: Google Motion Charts
My district has started up a great summer professional development workshop series this summer. They asked teachers all over the district if they would like to teach a skill to other teachers, and in so doing, we have a heck
Breaking What Works
My school is a very large facility. Upgraded with bond money passed by our local community, it is made up of a new big building here, an even bigger new building there, older wings of classrooms fitting in between, etc….
The Top 5 Skills Students Need For Their Future: The Results Are In!
Thank you to everyone who responded to my survey calling for the Top 5 Skills students need for their future. The list to choose from initially came from one included in my book, ‘Tween Crayons and Curfews: Tips for Middle
Essential Skills Survey: Your Input is Needed!
In my book, ‘Tween Crayons and Curfews: Tips for Middle School Teachers,” I explore strategies to make school more meaningful to students. I examined the newest draft of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in its goals for college and
The Hunger Games of Education
I sat in the room of saddened and anxious teachers, some of whom had dedicated up to 10 years with my district, waiting to hear about some RIF settlement that our district and union had negotiated on our behalf. As
Teachers are the Supplemental Material: Storytelling to Teach Deeper Thinking
The following is an excerpt from my new book, ‘Tween Crayons and Curfews: Tips for Middle School Teachers.” In the unabridged chapter, I explore specific cross-curricular lessons and activities that teachers can use to help encourage metacognition, think aloud, and
The Ten Commandments of a Pink Slipped Teacher
I recently wrote an article for The Huffington Post that highlighted the history, pros and cons of education’s seniority list. However, little did I know that as I submitted my piece, my own pink slip was in the mail. The
Should tenure function like a drivers license?
Surely we all understand the controversy with the existence of tenure. Currently, it is seen as a near-impenetrable armor which protects the supposed hoards of ineffective teachers which abound in our system. But to really talk about tenure, one needs
Tweenteacher Update
I owe my readers a mea culpa for the last month or so, and I wanted to let you in on a little of what’s been going on with me both personally and professionally. No worries, however, I’ll be back
The Equation of Student Success Webquest: Top 10 Responsibilities of Teachers to Avoid Student Failure
I have written before in the past on various blog sites and networks about the vital equation that must exist in order for a student not to fail in our schools: Family + Student + School + Policymakers/Voters = Student
Cybersafety and the Home/School Connection: Parent Tech Institute
I recently had our middle school Parent/Teacher conferences, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that 99% of my students (most of whom are Title I) have a computer in the home. However, there was absolutely no oversight of what
Tweenteacher at Edutopia and The Huffington Post
I have two new posts up this week to tell you about, each very different in their own ways. The first can be read at Edutopia and is called “My Love Affair with TED (.com). It’s about the miracle of
Tweenteacher is live at The Huffington Post
Hey all! My first post is up at The Huffington Post. I now find myself wondering where my-little-website-that-could really stands in this edublogosphere. I mean, I post a lot about practice on Edutopia. Now, I’m posting for HP. Where does
What is a Teacher’s Shelf Life?
My OBGYN was running about 45 minutes late. I had no cell phone reception at the hospital and I had already read through the latest Entertainment Weekly, so I got out some paper and pen and started planning out my
Teachers Under Quarantine
I have deep sadness sometimes when I think about the frenzy surrounding so-called education reform. This should be a time of unity, where all those involved are called upon to solve the multitude of problems that plague our system and
Blogging with Middle Schoolers: Frontloading and First Steps
So I just finished introducing blogging to my middle school classes. They are hooked, as each year before them was hooked. I use it as a substitute for Reading Logs, that dreaded love-of-reading killer which causes eye rolls in many
Google’s Top Ten Golden Rules and Education
There are so many policy makers that want to see education run like a business. Now, before I came to education, I was in the private sector. And as much as schools would like to think there’s nothing to be
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