The rumor on the winds that whispers through the halls is that funding for the National Writing Project will soon be threatened. I understand that the Obama administration is moving to consolidate expenses by merging a number of programs into one fund. I realize that the intent is to create this bigger pool of money that can be used to pay for any number of programs, but the fact is that by bleeding programs together, you undermine the uniqueness of purpose and proven success that has become the National Writing Project. You are messing with what works, breaking what never needed to be fixed.(...)
Read the rest of Mr. Duncan: Save the National Writing Project (1,018 words)

© heather for tweenteacher.com, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: arne duncan, education, k12, obama, professional development, writing project

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© heather for tweenteacher.com, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: education, k12, obama, schools, sept 8, speech, students

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OK, guys.  So I got it from the horse’s mouth at CUE.  According to the ISTE Director of Governmental Affairs, No Child Left Behind is not going away.  

In the weeks leading up to the election, the Obama administration talked the talk, proving that Educational Technology was on their radar, but if you’ve been listening, the silence on Ed Tech has since become deafening.  (...)
Read the rest of How to be an Ed Tech Advocate (515 words)

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Post tags: achievement gap, blog, budget, CUE, Ed Tech, education policy, EETT, equity, ETAN, fundraising, internet literacy, k-12, k12, learning, lobbyist, middle school, NCLB, obama, online, school accountability, school funding, technology, Title I, tween, UCI, writing

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I recently watched John Merrow’s interview with Michelle Rhee on the NewsHour.  Michelle seems like a real mixed blessing for education. On one hand, she’s willing to clean house, and education does seriously need it.  On the other hand, however, and much like the sweeping policies of NCLB, she’s a bit of an all-or-nothing authority.  (She’s also known as a Chancellor, which gives me a mental picture of a Lilliputian bearing a sash and gold medal, so sometimes it’s hard to shake the image even while listening to her policies.) (...)
Read the rest of NewsHour with Jim Leher: Michelle Rhee (601 words)

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Post tags: 100% accountability, 2008, achievement gap, assessments, blog, k-12, k12, Language Arts, middle school, NCLB, newshour, obama, rhee, school accountability, school funding, standardized testing, teaching, Title I, TLN, tween, Writers Project, writing

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The Boston Globe is reporting that some students deliberately “shoot themselves in their own foot.”  Some of the reason is that trying hard is frightening.  Now, don’t get all uppity.  Let’s face it; even the most mature of adults may have postponed reaching for their dream out of the effort it might take to reach it or for fear of failure.  (...)
Read the rest of But what if the child does everything in their power to be “left behind?” (400 words)

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Post tags: 100% accountability, 2008, achievement gap, ASCD Brief, ascd community, k-12, k12, metacognition, middle school, MMA, obama, Title I, TLN, Writers Project, writing

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© heather for tweenteacher.com, 2008. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: carnival of education, digital immigrants, middle school, obama, world of warcraft, writing

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Clearly, not all of these rank quite as high as the memories from last night, but there are those events in life that stand out for us as events of united memory.

Tapping into those united memories in the classroom and making students feel like they were present for history will help their own unity and comprehension.  Think Aloud about this moment.  Even if their families voted for McCain, remind them that they should feel pride for being present during the making of history, whether it be is the unprecedented voter turn-out, the possibility of a female vice-president who may even run in 2012 to become president, or the reality of an African-American president.  It happened here, now, during their lifetime.

Remind them too that there are children once again in the White House.  This is an opportunity to discuss Point of View, Tone/Mood, and Figurative Language.  Have them write from the Point of View of the Lincoln Bedroom.  Maybe it’s going to be Malia’s?  What history has it seen?  Write from the Point of View of Sasha seeing The East Wing for the first time.  There are so many possibilities.  So much hope.

Where were you last night?

© heather for tweenteacher.com, 2008. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: History, k12, middle school, obama, president, race, Think Aloud

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