Eric Zorn

Thoughts on kids & common core standards

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2010/10/which-side-of-the-fire-line-are-you-on.html

Where do you figure out what side he's on? Is the last line about health care?

Educators advised to be smart on facebook

2 page article about how “school employees do not have the same free-speech rights as the general public,” even on “private” social networking sites. Several specific cases of lost jobs are given as examples. Excellent last-paragraph quote: “Do we want teachers to be moral exemplars, or is it OK if they’re just academic technicians?”

Chicago Public Schools adding 90 minutes to each day

CPS is using a $5.5 million federal education grant to add 90 minutes to every school day. The program is mandatory at certain schools. The kids will be getting instruction via computers and monitored by community groups. (i.e… they’re doing an end-around teachers with federal education money. Alarming?)

Chronicle Article: How to write less badly...

This is for academic writing. http://chronicle.com/article/10-Tips-on-How-to-Write-Less/124268/

Extra Reading Class Boosts Pupil Skills, but Not Permanently

Extra Reading Class Boosts Pupil Skills, but Not Permanently

See third paragraph, especially

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2010/09/extra_reading_class_boosts_stu.html

Florida Class Sizes Limits Challenged.

Florida's constitution has class size limits...18 for 1st and 2nd, 22 for middle grades, 25 for high school.

This article talks about a challenge to the constitution.

Doug Reeves An Accountability Lesson From Michelle Obama

article

Here’s an intriguing argument by one of my favorite ED writers Doug Reeves about equating learning with “test results”… Great points!