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jbdrury

Paul B. Weinstein | Movies as the Gateway to History: The History and Film Project | Th... - 5 views

www.historycooperative.org/...weinstein.html

film social studies history teaching film in the classroom movies and history movies film and social studies movies and social studies film and history how to use film how to use movies

shared by jbdrury on 09 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Finally, students gain an increased appreciation of the power of mass media to shape perception and to affect interpretation of the past. This heightened awareness should enable them to be more discriminating in processing the images and information bombarding them daily.
  • Finally, students gain an increased appreciation of the power of mass media to shape perception and to affect interpretation of the past. This heightened awareness should enable them to be more discriminating in processing the images and information bombarding them daily.
  • Finally, students gain an increased appreciation of the power of mass media to shape perception and to affect interpretation of the past. This heightened awareness should enable them to be more discriminating in processing the images and information bombarding them daily.
    • Adrea Lawrence
      Adrea Lawrence on 11 Oct 09
       
      It looks like the same highlight is repeated...repeatedly.
  • ...47 more annotations...
  •  Finally, students gain an increased appreciation of the power of mass media to shape perception and to affect interpretation of the past. This heightened awareness should enable them to be more discriminating in processing the images and information bombarding them daily.
  •  Finally, students gain an increased appreciation of the power of mass media to shape perception and to affect interpretation of the past. This heightened awareness should enable them to be more discriminating in processing the images and information bombarding them daily.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • , a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
  • , a study of over one thousand Americans representing a cross-section of the population found that over forty percent of the participants cited movies and TV programs among the most cited means of connecting with the past.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      I am adding this sticky note at the top to make certain anyone looking at this post checks out "Appendix B" at the bottom of the page.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      The main idea is to join primary sources to the film.
  • These shortcomings, however, can actually be turned to advantages when students and instructors utilize film as a gateway to history.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      This is a rundown of the technique Weinstein uses for his undergrad students. It involves a wide variety of film choices, which may be unrealistic for a social studies class. However, the principle remains the same even if it were for just one film.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      This pamphlet, found at the bottom of the page in Appendix B, could be very useful.
  • Every student receives a pamphlet I have developed, "History Written With Lightning," outlining the rationale for using commercial film as a historical tool and describing specific elements to be examined for accuracy, such as costumes, sets, chronology, and behaviors (see Appendix B).
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      This is a common argument made by those advocating the use of film or TV in the classroom; however I feel it is an extremely valid point. I hope I don't offend anyone here, but FOX news is a great example of why students should be provided with critical thinking skills that are applicable to moving images.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      I must admit my jaw dropped at this comment. For those unfamiliar with Griffith or his "The Birth of a Nation", wikipedia him/it. We should all be comforted that his statement did not come true.
  • This assignment I have outlined can be adapted to suit the specific goals of any instructor at college or secondary level. For example, students could be required to consult one or more primary sources as part of their research, or the instructor could assign one or more specific readings to be studied in conjunction with a film. At one time, I matched films with chapters in the course's anthology reader as the starting point for research.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      Weinstein provides a list of potential films and matches them to specific time periods, which is useful, but in my opinion a bit dated. This list could definitely be expanded upon by some more recent films.
  • HISTORY WRITTEN WITH LIGHTNING
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      This is the handout that he provides to his students at the beginning of the semester - I think sharing this with the social studies classroom before using films would set students up for the rest of the year to critically analyze films.
  • Because we are so accustomed to the moving image, we sometimes become indifferent to the hidden messages, social content, and meaning of what we watch. In other words, we do not view from a critical perspective.
  • filmmaking pioneer D. W. Griffith
  • One wide-eyed reviewer consequently greeted Griffith's Civil War epic, The Birth of a Nation (1915)
  • Facts can be twisted, timelines conflated, endings revised for perceived audience satisfaction.
  • Griffith confidently predicted that "in less than ten years...the children in the public schools will be taught practically everything by moving pictures. Certainly they will never be obliged to read history again."
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      These "what to look for" subheadings could form the basis of any number of in-class and out-of-class activities for students to engage with the film.
  • What to Look for in Historical Films
  • 1. The History
  • 2. Setting, Details, and Design
  • 3. Behavior
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
       
      Important point on the dangers of presentism in a historical film.
  •  Beware of one of film's greatestโ€”at least to the historianโ€”sins: presentism.
  • Presentism is a serious flaw in any film that seriously aspires to present a believable picture of the past.
  • 4. Agenda, Values, Effects
  • jbdrury on 09 Oct 09
     
    Paul Weinstein wrote this article primarily geared towards undergraduate history professors, and how they might use film in their classroom. However, much of this is still applicable for us as secondary social studies teachers. In particular, his Appendix B has a sort of study guide he provides for each of his students at the beginning of the semester to get them thinking about how to analyze film for its historical perspective.
jbdrury

Rosh Hashanah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 0 views

en.wikipedia.org/...Rosh_hashanah

rosh hashanah judaism jewish holiday history jewish culture jewish new year religion religious holiday

shared by jbdrury on 18 Sep 09 - Cached
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      Rosh Hashanah is a holiday my schools recognized given the sizeable Jewish population of Montgomery County, however it is not officially recognized by all school disricts and continues to cause controversy in regards to holiday schedules
  • Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ืจืืฉ ื”ืฉื ื”โ€Ž, literally "head of the year," Biblical: [หˆษพoสƒ haสƒหษ”หˆnษ”h], Israeli: [หˆสoสƒ haสƒaหˆna], Yiddish: [หˆrษ”สƒษ™หˆสƒษ”nษ™]) is a Jewish holiday commonly referred to as the "Jewish New Year."
  • Rosh Hashanah is observed as a day of rest (Leviticus 23:24) like other Jewish holidays.
  • ...8 more annotations...
  • In Jewish liturgy Rosh Hashanah is described as "the day of judgment" (Yom ha-Din) and "the day of remembrance" (Yom ha-Zikkaron). Some midrashic descriptions depict God as sitting upon a throne, while books containing the deeds of all humanity are opened for review, and each person passing in front of Him for evaluation of his or her deeds.
  • The Hebrew Bible defines Rosh Hashanah as a one-day observance, and since days in the Hebrew calendar begin at sundown, the beginning of Rosh Hashanah is at sundown at the end of 29 Elul. The rules of the Hebrew calendar are designed such that the first day of Rosh Hashanah will never occur on the first, fourth, or sixth days of the Jewish week[9] (ie Sunday, Wednesday or Friday)
  • Jewish law appears to be that Rosh Hashanah is to be celebrated for two days, due to the difficulty of determining the date of the new moon.[7]
  • September 18, 2009
  • Historical origins In the earliest times the Hebrew year began in autumn with the opening of the economic year. There followed in regular succession the seasons of seed-sowing, growth and ripening of the corn (here meaning any grain) under the influence of the former and the latter rains, harvest and ingathering of the fruits. In harmony with this was the order of the great agricultural festivals, according to the oldest legislation, namely, the feast of unleavened bread at the beginning of the barley harvest, in the month of Aviv; the feast of harvest, seven weeks later; and the feast of ingathering at the going out or turn of the year. "Aviv" literally means "Spring". (See Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:1-16). It is likely that the new year was celebrated from ancient times in some special way. The earliest reference to such a custom is, probably, in the account of the vision of Ezekiel (Ezek 40:1). This took place at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month (Tishri). On the same day the beginning of the year of jubilee was to be proclaimed by the blowing of trumpets (Lev 25:9). According to the Septuagint rendering of Ezek 44:20, special sacrifices were to be offered on the first day of the seventh month as well as on the first day of the first month. This first day of the seventh month was appointed by the Law to be "a day of blowing of trumpets". There was to be a holy convocation; no servile work was to be done; and special sacrifices were to be offered (Lev 23:23-25; Num 29:1-6). This day was not expressly called New-Year's Day, but it was evidently so regarded by the Jews at a very early period.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      As we are social studies teachers, it is useful to know the basic history of the holiday
  • Traditional Rosh Hashanah greetings On the first night of Rosh Hashanah after the evening prayer, it is the Ashkenaz and Hasidic custom to wish Leshana Tova Tikoseiv Veseichoseim (Le'Alter LeChaim Tovim U'Leshalom) which is Hebrew for "May you immediately be inscribed and sealed for a Good Year and for a Good and Peaceful Life" Shana Tova (pronounced [สƒaหˆna toหˆva]) is the traditional greeting on Rosh Hashanah which in Hebrew means "A Good Year." Shana Tova Umetukah is Hebrew for "A Good and Sweet Year." Ketiva ve-chatima tovah which translates as "May You Be Written and Sealed for a Good Year."
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      Could be a fun way of teaching/explaining the holiday to curious students
  • jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
     
    This my second posting for Rosh Hashana. It is a fairly basic rundown of the holiday provided by Wikipedia. I believe it is useful for teachers to have a knowledge of and be able to explain the major religious holidays where classes or school events may be cancelled, or if some of their classmates may not be present in school.
James Leslie

30,000 Teachers May Not Be "Highly Qualified" | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth - 2 views

www.nbcdfw.com/...Highly-Qualified-65580922.html

education standards teaching

shared by James Leslie on 23 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Updated 1:15 PM CDT, Thu, Oct 22, 2009 var partnerID=522927; var _hb=1; window.onerror=function(){clickURL=document.location.href;return true;} if(!self.clickURL) clickURL=parent.location.href; Print var partnerID=522927; var _hb=1; window.onerror=function(){clickURL=document.location.href;return true;} if(!self.clickURL) clickURL=parent.location.href; Email function position(o) { var pos = Position.get(o); Position.set('share_box',pos); } Share yahooBuzzArticleHeadline = "30,000 Teachers May Not Be "Highly Qualified""; nbc_dallasfor814:http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/30000-Teachers-May-Not-Be-Highly-Qualified-65580922.htmlBuzz up! TWITTER .postToFBArticlePage { background:transparent url(http://media.nbclocalmedia.com/designimages/facebook.gif) no-repeat scroll 0 0; display:block; float:left; height:14px; padding-right:5px; width:70px; text-align:right; } .postToFBArticlePage span { padding-top:0px; margin-top:3px; display:block; } #slideshow .showcase #slideCount { /* THIS DOES NOT BELONG HERE */ padding-left:140px; } #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToTwitterArticlePage span, #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToFBArticlePage span { margin-top: 0px; } #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToTwitterArticlePage a, #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToTwitterArticlePage a:link, #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToTwitterArticlePage a:visited, #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToFBArticlePage a, #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToFBArticlePage a:link, #slideshow .yahoo_buzz .postToFBArticlePage a:visited { color:#C3C7C7; } // also publish comment to Facebook nbc.fbparamshare = { contentTitle: "30,000 Teachers May Not Be "Highly Qualified"", contentUrl: "http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/30000-Teachers-May-Not-Be-Highly-Qualified-65580922.html?__source=Facebook", contentThumbUrl: "http://media.nbcdfw.com/images/100*75/090209+classroom.jpg", bundleId: "104938618682", contentType: "article", summary: "Tens of thousands of Texas teachers could be in jeopardy of losing their jobs if they aren't certified as "highly qualified."" }; FACEBOOK $(document).ready(function(){ $('#jqm_wrp_1') .jqDrag('.jqDrag') .jqm({ trigger: '#jqm_trg_1', ajax: 'http://www.nbcdfw.com/i/dispatcher/?command=LoadImage&id=22644077&caption=Gay+slurs+don%27t+%3D+firing.', target: '#jqm_cont_1', overlay: 0, onShow: function(h) { h.w.css('opacity',1).fadeIn("fast"); G.doPixelTracking(83); }, onHide: function(h) { h.w.fadeOut("fast",function() { if(h.o) h.o.remove(); }); } }); });
  • According to those requirements, teachers must be "highly qualified" in reading, math, writing, education and social studies.  Most new teachers hired this year passed only a certification exam in a specific subject, according to the Dallas Morning News. 
  • The Morning News reports that as many as 30,000 new teachers may now have to take a competency test in order to keep their jobs under the new interpretation of the No Child Left Behind law.
  • James Leslie on 23 Oct 09
     
    Knowing your subject may not be enough for long. New "No Child Left Behind" law may make teaching more difficult.
  • James Leslie on 23 Oct 09
     
    Knowing your subject may not be enough for long. New "No Child Left Behind" law may make teaching more difficult.
James Leslie

Texas board revises history books | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Texa... - 0 views

www.dallasnews.com/...RT.State.Edition1.4bcc6be.html

schools standards social studies

shared by James Leslie on 18 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Meeting with several writing teams for social studies in all grade levels, the board asked for several revisions in the first drafts laying out the new standards for history, government and other social studies courses in Texas schools.
  • Meeting with several writing teams for social studies in all grade levels, the board asked for several revisions in the first drafts laying out the new standards for history, government and other social studies courses in Texas schools.
  • Meeting with several writing teams for social studies in all grade levels, the board asked for several revisions in the first drafts laying out the new standards for history, government and other social studies courses in Texas schools.
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • Meeting with several writing teams for social studies in all grade levels, the board asked for several revisions in the first drafts laying out the new standards for history, government and other social studies courses in Texas schools.
  • Meeting with several writing teams for social studies in all grade levels, the board asked for several revisions in the first drafts laying out the new standards for history, government and other social studies courses in Texas schools.
  • Meeting with several writing teams for social studies in all grade levels, the board asked for several revisions in the first drafts laying out the new standards for history, government and other social studies courses in Texas schools.
  • When some board members questioned why former Secretary of State and four-star Gen. Colin Powell was being dropped from the standards for elementary grades, they were told that former President Ronald Reagan was being substituted for Powell. That ended the questions.
  • When some board members questioned why former Secretary of State and four-star Gen. Colin Powell was being dropped from the standards for elementary grades, they were told that former President Ronald Reagan was being substituted for Powell. That ended the questions.
  • When some board members questioned why former Secretary of State and four-star Gen. Colin Powell was being dropped from the standards for elementary grades, they were told that former President Ronald Reagan was being substituted for Powell. That ended the questions.
  • When some board members questioned why former Secretary of State and four-star Gen. Colin Powell was being dropped from the standards for elementary grades, they were told that former President Ronald Reagan was being substituted for Powell. That ended the questions.
  • Another board member, citing her own experiences in elementary school, called on one writing team to include the Liberty Bell as a historical artifact that should be studied by students.
  • Two of those experts, evangelical minister Peter Marshall of Massachusetts and Wallbuilders president David Barton of Aledo, were asked about their earlier recommendations to drop labor leader Cรฉsar Chรกvez and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first black member of the court, from the standards.
  • Marci Deal, social studies coordinator in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district, quickly cooled off one controversy that erupted when the writing team for sixth grade initially recommended that Christmas be dropped from a list of holidays of the major religions in a world cultures and geography course.
  • James Leslie on 18 Sep 09
     
    This article examines how the State of Texas went about designing new standards for history government and social studies. Also, there are comments that people have made for and against the new standards.
Laura Wood

The New York Times Learning Network - 1 views

www.nytimes.com/...index.html

New York Times lesson plans Curent Events news resources teaching reference learning lessons research

shared by Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Daily Lesson Plan
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09
       
      So there are usually Daily Lesson Plans but apparently they are revamping the site so these are temporarily on hiatus. However you CAN access the over 2,000 lesson plans (in the "Lesson Plan Archive" below) they have on the site. I did a search for 9-12 grade economics lessons and hit paydirt. I <3 NY Times.
  • News Snapshot
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09
       
      The site says that the "News Snapshot" is for younger kids BUT it might be a great way to gather background information on a picture and gives you all the information to give students contexts about current events.
  • On This Day in History
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09
       
      Wasn't someone saying that their students demanded that this be on the board every day. Well here's a one stop shop to find information about what happened today (historically speaking of course).
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • Crossword Puzzle
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09
       
      SERIOUSLY!?!?!? The New York TImes makes themed historical crossword puzzles!?!?! So many to choose from. I'm not sure how helpful this will actually be to students. It may be neat if they could play it online and google search for answers. Might be a cool way to learn even more information on events we cover in class. It would be important to not just make this busy work (why I had word finds).
  • News Summaries
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09
       
      Daily headlines with one sentence summaries. Short and Sweet. Could be easily followed with "Daily News Quiz" (below).
  • Test Prep Question of the Day
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09
       
      You can't escape standardized tests. The NY Times offers a test question of the day sponsored by Kaplan. They also explain the answers.
  • Laura Wood on 02 Oct 09
     
    This site is RAD! Current and Recent Events resource From the website: "Students can read the day's top stories using Knowledge Tools, take a news quiz about today's world, and play special crossword puzzles. . . . Teachers can access a daily lesson plan for grades 6-12, written in partnership with The Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Each lesson plan and the article it references can be printed out for classroom use. Previous lessons are available in the archive and in thematic lesson plan units. . . The site additionally provides teachers with the latest education news from the newspaper. "
Kenneth O'Regan

War and Terrorism | National Council for the Social Studies - 3 views

www.socialstudies.org/...moments

war history geography resources september 9_11 terrorism bin laden saddam iraq afghanistan bush obama world trade center taliban iraqi IED

shared by Kenneth O'Regan on 20 Sep 10 - Cached
  • Kenneth O'Regan on 20 Sep 10
     
    This section of the National Council for the Social Studies website appears to be a little bit dated, but the materials that are presented seem to be a useful resource. It must be difficult for social studies teachers to tackle the tough subjects of current global conflict, terrorism, Afghanistan, Iraq, and September 11, 2001. I am sure many school districts are still using textbooks that were printed prior to 2001 or 2002, and just don't cover this relevant information. Some of the items listed on this page are basic and practical (maps, etc.) and others are a bit more engaging and dynamic, aiming to help students develop an emotional connection to the subject matter.
  • Adrea Lawrence on 04 Oct 10
     
    How might teachers use what's there, even if it is dated?
  • Kenneth O'Regan on 04 Oct 10
     
    Global issues classes in high schools will probably cover this subject matter; mine did in-depth. Some of the resources could be useful as hand outs, especially the maps. As an example, maybe over the course of a week or so of instruction, a teacher using this site as a resource could put together a lesson that stretches over the 5 class meetings, chronologically examining the roots of the second War in Iraq, stemming from the Persian-Gulf war, through Clinton's involvement, to 9/11, terrorism, Al-Qaeda being used as a pretext for war, concluding with an examination of the anti-war movement and the short course of the "traditional" war against the Iraqi military. The following week could move in to the insurgency or another related topic. Basically, I see this website as a place where a teacher looking to present the outlined events can find some extra resources that won't be in most textbooks.
Lindsay Andreas

Downloadable Media @ your library: District of Columbia - 0 views

overdrive.dclibrary.org/...default.htm

technology ipod audiobooks mp3s ebooks

shared by Lindsay Andreas on 27 Sep 09 - No Cached
  • Now Playing - OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks!
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 27 Sep 09
       
      Some notable audio/mp3/ipod selections from the DC Public Library that I feel would be great for Social Studies, specifically. The Civil War (Shelby Foote) He is considered a top scholar, along with James Mcphereson. If there are two names you should be familiar with for Civil War scholarship, they are it! My Brother Sam is Dead. You may have read this when studying the American Revolution, a great way to incorporate literature into the study of history. Thomas Jefferson & His Time (Multiple Volumes) TJ, enough said!
  • Newest Video Additions
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 27 Sep 09
       
      For the visual learners of your class. Some PBS Home video selections, a very reputable education source.
  • Learning a Language:
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 27 Sep 09
       
      This doesn't relate to Social Studies directly but I think it is a pretty cool feature, language tapes can be really expensive, why not utilize a free library membership?
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Audiobooks
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 27 Sep 09
       
      Why fight it? It is well accepted in the education field that students learn in multiple ways. Specifically, students with learning disabilities should also be kept in mind. I know we are studying to be general educators but you will be dealing with IEPs and a working knowledge of special education must not be overlooked.
  • Lindsay Andreas on 27 Sep 09
     
    I was at the National Book Festival yesterday, it was wonderful, great resources overall. They were really pushing eBooks and audiobook downloads and I think it is an important education trend we need to be aware of. The kids are becoming so tech-oriented, why fight it? We need to use it to our advantage.
jbdrury

Re-thinking Newsweek and U.S. News Rankings - 0 views

www.bethesdamagazine.com/...rethinking-rankings.php

school rankings achievement montgomery county newsweek U.S. News bethesda measuring top schools best schools

shared by jbdrury on 18 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Re-thinking the Rankings
  • B-CC had been ranked as the nationโ€™s 64th best high school on the 2008 Newsweek list, but it was missing from U.S. Newsโ€™ top 100. One parent e-mailed: โ€œShould I be worried?โ€
  • In the 2009 Newsweek rankings, released in June, four county schools (Richard Montgomery, B-CC, Thomas S. Wootton and Winston Churchill) were ranked among the nationโ€™s top 100, with two others (Walt Whitman and Walter Johnson) narrowly missing
  • ...31 more annotations...
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      Not to detract from MCPS, but I have often wondered if the fact that the designer of the index happens to live in the Bethesda is at all a coincidence?
  • Most years, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has more schools in the top 100 of both lists than any other school system in the country
  • rankings validate that the school system is โ€œseeing the benefits of providing the academic support that allows our students to aim high and achieve at the highest levels.
  • But do the rankings really mean much?
  • I feel obliged to question the validity of the methods used to rank high schools.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      This is the basic explanation for how Newsweek ranks its schools; interesting to note that it is based almost solely on a sort of "preparation for college" mindset
  • Newsweek ranks schools based on the Challenge Index, which was developed by Washington Post education reporter (and Bethesda resident) Jay Mathews. A schoolโ€™s Challenge Index score is the number of Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge tests taken by all students in a school year divided by the number of graduating seniors. (AP courses are well-known; IB and Cambridge also consist of rigorous courses for which students can receive college credit. Like AP, their standardized exams are graded by outside examiners.)
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      The author speaks directly with the designer of Newsweek's index
  • Mathewsโ€™ goal is to improve studentsโ€™ academic preparation, especially in lower-and middle-income neighborhood schools. His solution is to expose more students to challenging course work, and he unapologetically describes his purpose as โ€œadvocacy as well as evaluation.
  • He says the Challenge Indexโ€™s key attributes make it the singular best measure of a schoolโ€™s quality: It can be easily understood; it points directly to implementing positive change through rigorous course offerings; and it can be applied meaningfully to all schoolsโ€”unlike quality evaluations based on traditional measures such as test scores, which, he says, are inherently biased toward schools in wealthier, upper-middle-class neighborhoods.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      As a side note; this is my former social studies teacher and the person I credit most with making me want to become a teacher
  • Walter Johnson Principal Christopher Garran
  • Critics
  • have attacked the Challenge Index for not effectively capturing what it purports to measure (school quality), in part because it doesnโ€™t gauge student achievement, only the number of rigorous course exams taken.
  • for ignoring graduation rates and achievement gaps among socioeconomic and ethnic segments.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      U.S. News also uses its own "college prep" index, but includes standardized test results, and takes socio-economic and racial differences into account
  • U.S. Newsโ€™ approach
  • far more computationally complex
  • a school must do significantly better on standardized state English and math tests than statistically expected given its economic makeup; be in the top half of its state (approximately) in the performance of its minority students
  • โ€œCollege Readinessโ€ formula combines two components: the percentage of 12th-graders who had taken an AP or IB exam during or before their senior year; and the percentage who passed at least one examโ€”equivalent to an AP test score of 3 and an IB score of 4.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      He also directly quotes the manager of the U.S. News' index
  • U.S. News project, cites three ways its methodology is superior: โ€œWe measure success [tests passed]โ€”not just quantity of tests taken. We factor in how well schools do in serving economically disadvantaged students and minorities. And we recognize schools within their respective state.โ€
  • The U.S. News rankings have been attacked by education experts for intermixing highly selective โ€œeliteโ€ schools, such as Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va.โ€”currently their top-ranked school in the U.S.โ€”with schools having open admissions
  • Unlike U.S. News, Mathews eliminates some academically elite schools, setting the cutoff at the level of the highest average SAT/ACT scores of any โ€œnormal enrollmentโ€ school in the country.
  • โ€œIt would be deceptive for us to put them [schools above this threshold] on this list [because] the Challenge Index has been designed to honor schools that have done the best job in persuading average students to take college-level courses and tests. It does not work for schools that have no, or almost no, average students.โ€
  • As of 2009, schools with AP exam pass rates lower than 10 percent (schools that would have made the list in previous years) have also been eliminated from the main Newsweek ranking. Most of these schools, which are typically located in low-income neighborhoods, have recently introduced their students to academically challenging courses as a form of โ€œshock therapy.โ€
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
       
      A summary of the author's thoughts; pro's and con's of both methods
  • Just as the Challenge Index is too limited in its concept of best schools, the U.S. News procedures try to cover too much. The crux of the problem is combining three essentially different criteria (college readiness, overcoming economic disadvantage and minimizing ethnic group disparities) into one ranking. Schools that excel in one arenโ€™t necessarily those that excel in the other(s). Some schools that do the greatest job of preparing their minority students might not have total-school achievement scores that are among the best. Other schools characterized by superlative overall college readiness might score only slightly above average relative to their economic profile. In trying to incorporate โ€œeconomic disadvantageโ€ and the reduction of ethnic group (minority) achievement gaps together with schoolwide high achievement, the U.S. News ranking risks confounding different educational objectives. Depth and breadth of performance, and exceeding expectations, should be reported separately, rather than conjoined. Separate rankings would be easier to understand, more informative and less disputableโ€”although perhaps less likely to help sell magazines.
  • Several principals, including Whitmanโ€™s Goodwin, noted how nonacademic programs that help students succeed and are a huge part of some studentsโ€™ lives (arts, music, sports, civic activities, etc.) are not examined.
  • comparing large and small schools can be misleading
  • eferring to the many qualitative features that go into making a great school, Doran says, โ€œThe rankings are measuring the brain of the schoolโ€”not the heart of the school.โ€
  • jbdrury on 18 Sep 09
     
    Having grown up in Bethesda, I am well aware of the preoccupation with the ranking of U.S. schools. This article shares some insight into how two of the more popular (or circulated) ranking systems come up with their results.
Joellen Kriss

'Race to the Top' - we expected better - 0 views

www.sfgate.com/...article.cgi

Reforms Race to the Top Obama Policy

shared by Joellen Kriss on 18 Sep 09 - Cached
    • Joellen Kriss
      Joellen Kriss on 18 Sep 09
       
      Strong start, right out of the gate!
  • From the perspective of a classroom teacher, reform must be rooted in classroom practice and supported by research.
  • Public education faces complex problems and won't be fixed by simplistic solutions. Standardized tests can be a useful tool among others to assess student learning. But it is too narrow of a measure on which to base a student's grade, let alone gauge a teacher's performance.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • States must enact a laundry list of federally mandated "reforms" to qualify for the competition. Duncan and Obama call this initiative "Race to the Top."
    • Joellen Kriss
      Joellen Kriss on 18 Sep 09
       
      Hittleman talks about how they'd looked forward to education law that helped, and race to the top doesn't look that much different from NCLB
  • funding mandates are controversial because they have never been shown to improve student learning.
    • Joellen Kriss
      Joellen Kriss on 18 Sep 09
       
      Totally on target with the fact that there's so much more to education than tests and standards.
  • No Child Left Behind, an education law that focused on one-size-fits-all standardized testing.
  • A portfolio that includes multiple-choice tests but also essays, research projects, homework and classroom presentations gives a much more complete picture of student achievement.
    • Joellen Kriss
      Joellen Kriss on 18 Sep 09
       
      A very well rounded argument, bringing in all of the factors outside of the classroom that affect learning.
  • Likewise, to judge teacher effectiveness solely on student test scores ignores a range of factors outside a teacher's control, including support (or lack of it) in the home, changes in the student's situation from year to year, or even whether the student happened to be sick on the day of the test.
    • Joellen Kriss
      Joellen Kriss on 18 Sep 09
       
      At the end of the day, teachers want reforms that WORK, made by people who know about teaching from first hand experience.
  • We are for reforms that work, which include standards-based and common curricula that have multiple source assessments; student data available for classroom teacher use based on a comprehensive approach; smaller class sizes; new teacher mentoring; and peer assistance and review. What we oppose are reforms based on the latest bright idea that has caught the eye of a politician or pundit with no experience teaching.
  • Joellen Kriss on 18 Sep 09
     
    Marty Hittelman offers one of the most comprehensive, well rounded opinions on the current policy reforms being enacted. It covers everything, which might be something I think because I agree with it all, but just read it. It's pretty good.
Maria Mahon

N.B.A. Players Return to Where They Once Hastened to Leave - College - NYTimes.com - 1 views

www.nytimes.com/...06nba.html

staying in school sports stars

shared by Maria Mahon on 10 Oct 09 - Cached
  • โ€œI have a younger brother, and it sets an example for him and how important it is,โ€ said Westbrook, who declared for the N.B.A. after his sophomore season at U.C.L.A.
  • People who criticize me for that have something to think about, I think, because thatโ€™s an important time in anybodyโ€™s life,โ€ Carter said at the time. โ€œThereโ€™s not one person who could sit there and say that they would miss their graduation for nothing.โ€
    • Maria Mahon
      Maria Mahon on 10 Oct 09
       
      Role models who pursue education should be made available to the students, I think. Rather than not wanting to discuss sports stars or entertainers, I think it would be great to hold up the ones who do prize education.
  • Maria Mahon on 10 Oct 09
     
    This article caught my attention because my practicum placement cooperating teacher has a bulletin board and he encourages students to bring in newspaper articles that catch their attention. However, he has said that he hopes that they will not all be about sports stars and entertainers. Yet, the students are constantly talking about entertainers (especially Lil Wayne - he's all the rage in middle schools apparently!) and sports starts. I feel like a story like this could be used to help inspire the students to stay in school - seeing people they admire commit to their education could be very valuable.
Lindsay Andreas

Constitutional Convention - 0 views

www.uen.org/...preview

constitutional convention lesson plan template

shared by Lindsay Andreas on 30 Oct 09 - Cached
  • How did the delegates to the Convention resolve their differences of opinion through compromise?
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 30 Oct 09
       
      This is an excellent essential question for an entire unit because you can tie this directly back to prior lessons on the Continental Congress.
  • Assess the foundations and principles that led to the development of the Constitution.
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 30 Oct 09
       
      This is for Utah, but I would assume a similar objective/standard would be covered in DCPS.
  • A biographical list of our founding fathers.
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 30 Oct 09
       
      The National Constitution Center has an excellent biographical list of all of those that attended the convention, you can search by interactive map. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were not at the Constitutional Convention, as they were serving as ambassadors in Europe.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • This lesson should be taught after the Articles of Confederation are taught. Students should have a knowledge of what the Articles of Confederation were and why they failed to work.
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 30 Oct 09
       
      This is a time when chronological teaching is most helpful because the Article of Confederations is the entire basis for the Constitution and that connection should be a main emphasis. The movie 1776 is an excellent way to teach the Articles because it is a musical, which helps the students remember the people, which can be confusing. It is also a way to incorporate multiple intelligences.
  • Make sure to arrange groups so that struggling students will be included into stronger groups. If a large number of these students are present, the entire activity can be done in a group discussion format.
    • Lindsay Andreas
      Lindsay Andreas on 30 Oct 09
       
      Since we had our whole discussion about differentiation recently, I thought it was helpful that the lesson planners added a separate section for this.
  • Lindsay Andreas on 30 Oct 09
     
    I will be teaching the Era of the Constitution this upcoming Wednesday. When I was in US history in high school we did a cool simulation where we played the roles of the convention's members and I thought this was a pretty good lesson plan for doing such an activity.
Maria Mahon

Visiting Winterthur - 0 views

www.winterthur.org/...school_programs.asp

Primary Sources Winterthur research

shared by Maria Mahon on 01 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Packets may be borrowed in three-week blocks. A reservation can be made by phone but is not complete until we receive a $10 deposit.
    • Maria Mahon
      Maria Mahon on 01 Oct 09
       
      I thought the idea of borrowing the packets for $10 for three weeks is an interesting copy. This might be useful for schools without the budgets to purchase more expensive packets of materials.
  • Education in America from the Colonial Period to 1850
    • Maria Mahon
      Maria Mahon on 01 Oct 09
       
      JoEllen, I think maybe you were working on the Colonial Period. Under "For Teachers" tab, Winterthur also provides a useful bibliography.
  • Maria Mahon on 01 Oct 09
     
    Winterthur (in Delaware) is the former country estate of Henry Francis duPont. He was one of the first avid collectors of American fine and decorative arts and the museum (aside from being a beautiful place to visit) is now a leading center for scholarship in the field. The museum has created packets of primary-source materials that can be used in classrooms if a field trip is not possible.
James Leslie

CITE Journal - Social Studies - 1 views

www.citejournal.org/...article1.cfm

social studies technology teaching

shared by James Leslie on 18 Sep 09 - Cached
  • New technologies are disseminated into our nation's schools at a rapid rate. To utilize these technologies effectively, teachers need not only to be proficient in technology but also well versed in the effective integration of technology into their instruction. The key in meeting this expectation is the teacher preparation methods class. In the methods class, students see their teachers modeling the use (or lack of use) of technology, and these students are likely to go on to do likewise in their future teaching (Cooper &amp; Bull, 1997; Handler, 1993).
  • New technologies are disseminated into our nation's schools at a rapid rate. To utilize these technologies effectively, teachers need not only to be proficient in technology but also well versed in the effective integration of technology into their instruction. The key in meeting this expectation is the teacher preparation methods class. In the methods class, students see their teachers modeling the use (or lack of use) of technology, and these students are likely to go on to do likewise in their future teaching (Cooper &amp; Bull, 1997; Handler, 1993).
  • New technologies are disseminated into our nation's schools at a rapid rate. To utilize these technologies effectively, teachers need not only to be proficient in technology but also well versed in the effective integration of technology into their instruction. The key in meeting this expectation is the teacher preparation methods class. In the methods class, students see their teachers modeling the use (or lack of use) of technology, and these students are likely to go on to do likewise in their future teaching (Cooper &amp; Bull, 1997; Handler, 1993).
  • ...5 more annotations...
  • New technologies are disseminated into our nation's schools at a rapid rate. To utilize these technologies effectively, teachers need not only to be proficient in technology but also well versed in the effective integration of technology into their instruction. The key in meeting this expectation is the teacher preparation methods class. In the methods class, students see their teachers modeling the use (or lack of use) of technology, and these students are likely to go on to do likewise in their future teaching (Cooper &amp; Bull, 1997; Handler, 1993).
  • New technologies are disseminated into our nation's schools at a rapid rate. To utilize these technologies effectively, teachers need not only to be proficient in technology but also well versed in the effective integration of technology into their instruction. The key in meeting this expectation is the teacher preparation methods class. In the methods class, students see their teachers modeling the use (or lack of use) of technology, and these students are likely to go on to do likewise in their future teaching (Cooper &amp; Bull, 1997; Handler, 1993).
  • New technologies are disseminated into our nation's schools at a rapid rate. To utilize these technologies effectively, teachers need not only to be proficient in technology but also well versed in the effective integration of technology into their instruction. The key in meeting this expectation is the teacher preparation methods class. In the methods class, students see their teachers modeling the use (or lack of use) of technology, and these students are likely to go on to do likewise in their future teaching (Cooper &amp; Bull, 1997; Handler, 1993).
  • To achieve the desired gains with technology, social studies methods courses must not focus only on making preservice teachers proficient at using technology, but must promote strategies to integrate technology to enhance teaching and learning (Cantu, 2000). Technology rich instruction models effective use, explores the barriers and benefits of technology integration (Keiper, Harwood, &amp; Larson, 2000), and thereby surmounts the traditional absence of technology in methods courses (Rose &amp; Winterfeldt, 1998).
  • To achieve the desired gains with technology, social studies methods courses must not focus only on making preservice teachers proficient at using technology, but must promote strategies to integrate technology to enhance teaching and learning (Cantu, 2000). Technology rich instruction models effective use, explores the barriers and benefits of technology integration (Keiper, Harwood, &amp; Larson, 2000), and thereby surmounts the traditional absence of technology in methods courses (Rose &amp; Winterfeldt, 1998).
  • James Leslie on 18 Sep 09
     
    Since more and more schools are using smart and promethean boards, teachers should be trained to use them.
  • ...1 more comment...
  • James Leslie on 18 Sep 09
     
    This amount of computer literacy, is not enough for today's classrooms.
  • James Leslie on 18 Sep 09
     
    Teachers should have more course work that deals with how to use computers to enhance the learning experience of their students.
  • James Leslie on 18 Sep 09
     
    To achieve the desired gains with technology, social studies methods courses must not focus only on making preservice teachers proficient at using technology, but must promote strategies to integrate technology to enhance teaching and learning (Cantu, 2000). Technology rich instruction models effective use, explores the barriers and benefits of technology integration (Keiper, Harwood, & Larson, 2000), and thereby surmounts the traditional absence of technology in methods courses (Rose & Winterfeldt, 1998).
Laura Wood

United Nations Cyberschoolbus - 0 views

cyberschoolbus.un.org/index.shtml

United Nations human rights lesson plans Model UN Global Globalization resources Peace poverty Hunger indigenous international news statistics facts countries

shared by Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09 - Cached
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      Curricula with information for teachers and lesson plan ideas. For example the "Peace Education" section has 5 units which each contain suggested activities for class, suggested reading, links to more resources, and projects and activities. I like that there are both background readings for teachers AND activities and lesson plans for classrooms.
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      The Community page has lots of projects that youth around the world have completed - art, video, writing, etc. This may be inspiring for students or may help to give faces to kids in other countries and places.
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      Sweet! Games! Definitely play any of these before you pass them on to your students, the Flag Tag game would be great for Global Studies and the Water Quiz might be an interesting introduction to a lesson on world problems. The "Against All Odds" game is SO intense, why does everyone put it up? Anyway lots of games . . .
  • ...2 more annotations...
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      Each of these boxes contains information on different global conflicts and issues. You could have your students explore this website and pick an issue to learn more about. Students could, for example, use the "web quest" in the box below to learn about child soldiers and then give a presentation for the class about the various issues affecting child soldiers and their opinion of what should be done to help these youth and their communities. Each student could select a different global challenge . . .
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      The "Resources" page is the UN trying to be kid friendly. They have "student" versions of various treaties (and things) and UN Publications for download or order. If you were studying a specific international treaty or event the student versions contained here might be helpful (or you could go to the primary documents). I think it'd be better to have your students CREATE student versions of these documents than to use these, but there are some videos and some links that are helpful. The global map is outdated and slow. There are better maps elsewhere.
  • Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
     
    "The United Nations Cyberschoolbus was created in 1996 as the online education component of the Global Teaching and Learning Project, whose mission is to promote education about international issues and the United Nations. The Global Teaching and Learning Project produces high quality teaching materials and activities designed for educational use (at primary, intermediate and secondary school levels) and for training teachers. The vision of this Project is to provide exceptional educational resources (both online and in print) to students growing up in a world undergoing increased globalization." \n\n "Within the Cyberschoolbus site there are a number of activities and projects that teach students about global issues in an interactive, engaging and fun way."
jbdrury

iLearn Technology ยป Social Studies - 3 views

ilearntechnology.com/?tag=social-studies

technology education education technology iLearn blog technology websites

shared by jbdrury on 16 Oct 09 - Cached
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 16 Oct 09
       
      Each post has tags like these
  • Meet Me at the Corner
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 16 Oct 09
       
      I thought this "Meet Me at the Corner" site was particularly interesting, and with the proper resources it could be cool to involve a class in creating videos to post in connection with DC history.
    • jbdrury
      jbdrury on 16 Oct 09
       
      Furthermore, this could be connected to neighborhood studies, perhaps done by the students themselves and added to this site
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • What it is: Meet Me at the Corner is an inventive site that seeks to take students on virtual field trips through videos created by students.&nbsp; The site started with video podcasts of the history and people of New York City.&nbsp; As the site grows through student submissions, people and events of other towns, cities, and nations will be highlighted.
  • jbdrury on 16 Oct 09
     
    I'm not certain this hasn't already been posted; I did a search in our groups and didn't see it. iLearn Technology is an interesting and useful blog, where people post descriptions and links to other tech-savvy web sites and applications that can be a great resource to teachers. Though most of the sites I have looked at would probably be aimed more towards K-6 classrooms, others extend at least into middle school. Much like our diigo, each post is tagged with keywords so that you may search their site by subject or category.
kimhoss

Democracy Dies in the Blinding Light of Day - 0 views

theintercept.com/...acy-ends-david-runciman-review

shared by kimhoss on 13 Jul 18 - No Cached
  • outcome of the election may not have been a product of sober public reason โ€” a necessary element of a fully functioning democracy
    • kimhoss
      kimhoss on 13 Jul 18
       
      To what means will one go to obtain power? (loaded question which can be answered in many ways based on varying events, conflicts, and histories which define our past... But what does it mean for leaders to run with honor, truth, and integrity? Are these basic characteristics no longer most important to Americans, to the individual? But instead does it come down to popularity, immorality, and intimidation as the characteristics that define our "leaders" and are supported by Americans? Has there always been a lack of empathy and lack of morals?
  • George Orwell in โ€œ1984,โ€ democracy is bludgeoned into submission by totalitarian brutality. In many ways, it was the competing post-democratic vision of Aldous Huxley, articulated in his famous novel โ€œBrave New World,โ€ that seems to be closer to fruition. Huxley argued that freedom would be slowly eaten alive by technological change and an insatiable public appetite for entertainment. Reflecting on that possibility in his 1985 book, โ€œAmusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business,โ€ cultural critic Neil Postman wrote, โ€œAs heโ€ โ€” Huxley โ€” โ€œsaw it, people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.โ€
    • kimhoss
      kimhoss on 13 Jul 18
       
      Orwell and Huxley - it is interesting how stories written in the past about the future become the ideas, perspectives, and truths of our reality today... Individuals have become oppressed bystanders in our society today, due to the love and satisfaction they gain from the use and presence of today's technologies (not the only reason but a big contributor) People cannot or rather don't think for themselves. Their brains cannot process ideas, perspectives, scenarios as it is meant to, imaginatively because it is blocked by the bombardment of news, tweets, statuses, and fomo which comes from the over presence of technology use.
  • But it seems ridiculous that in this time of incredible change that the future of politics has only one possible path or set of options. Coming out of the 1990s and the end of the Cold War, political choice seemed very limited. But now the future is wide open. And there is some hope in that.โ€
    • kimhoss
      kimhoss on 13 Jul 18
       
      Enjoyed the article. I feel the need to share with others as it makes you think about the past, present and obviously the future. Pretty powerful points made which I have highlighted and comment on throughout. Although I am not very argumentative, I can say that democracy has withstood for much longer than many in the past had prescribed and I think as a society we are changing and will continue to change and that is necessary - what was defined and meant in one way in the past is not exactly best defined in that way today. I will be honest to say I don't like change but it is necessary and important for those who are a part of change to be knowledgeable and aware of the process. Democracy is not dead. One cannot return from the dead, but instead it is and has changed and needs to be challenged and needs to be altered to fit the advancing society of today.
Alan Edwards

D.C. Launches Rigorous Teacher Evaluation System - 0 views

www.washingtonpost.com/...AR2009093004729_pf.html

teacher evaluation DC Michelle Rhee

shared by Alan Edwards on 02 Oct 09 - Cached
    • Alan Edwards
      Alan Edwards on 02 Oct 09
       
      Bill Turque's article in yesterday's Washington Post feels like a balanced view about a controversial plan. It definitely relates to some of the issues we've been chatting about in and out of our classes. These issues of teacher evaluation, standardized tests, teaching methods, and unions is important for anyone teaching in DC.
    • Alan Edwards
      Alan Edwards on 02 Oct 09
       
      So this year, it appears that the folks downtown will be testing a new method of teacher evaluation based on five in-class evaluations and the teacher's students grades and test scores. The program will only apply to about 20% of the teachers in D.C.
    • Alan Edwards
      Alan Edwards on 02 Oct 09
       
      DCPS will use a team of expert teachers to evaluate the teachers in 2 of the 5 evaluation sessions. They will look for active student engagement, diverse teaching methods, and teachers who work to create a safe learning environment for their students. I think that it's great that teachers will be a part of this evaluation process because great teachers have opportunities to give the best advice for these teachers. Moreover, the experts would have a degree of independence from the school's administration and union influence.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • Rhee is investing $4 million in the system, called IMPACT, which will also assess teachers against an elaborate new framework of requirements and guidelines that cover a range of factors, including classroom presence and how carefully they check for student understanding of the material. But IMPACT is likely to be another flash point in Rhee's turbulent relationship with local and national teachers union leaders. They say that growth statistics are too unreliable to include in performance evaluations and that the new assessment system -- which the District can legally impose without union consent -- is an instrument to identify and remove struggling teachers, not a means to help them improve.
  • This year only reading and math teachers in grades 4 through 8 -- fewer than 20 percent of the District's 3,800 classroom instructors -- will be evaluated on the basis of growth on the annual District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System, or DC-CAS. Student value-added will account for half of their evaluation.
  • To allay teacher concerns that assessments will be tainted by personality clashes with principals, IMPACT will employ a corps of third-party "master educators" to conduct two of the classroom observations. The District's old system, like those in most other cities, required fewer classroom visits and left them largely to school administrators, who often had neither the time nor the expertise in subject matter to render fair evaluations, educators say. The master educators, who do not report to the principals, have backgrounds in the teachers' subjects.
  • IMPACT documents suggest that no nuance will be left unexamined in the 30-minute classroom visits. Observers are expected to check every five minutes for the fraction of students paying attention. Teachers are supposed to show that they can tailor instruction to at least three "learning styles" (auditory, visual or tactile, for example). They can lower their scores by "using sarcasm that visibly hurts or decreases the comfort of one or more students." Among the ways instructors can demonstrate that they are instilling student belief in success is through "affirmation chants, poems and cheers."
Maria Mahon

Teaching Cops to See | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian Magazine - 0 views

www.smithsonianmag.com/...Teaching-Cops-to-See.html

Descriptive Analysis Art in Classrooms Museums

shared by Maria Mahon on 23 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Herman has taken her lessons to heart. When her 7-year-old son, Ian, was in preschool, his teacher worried that he wasn't verbal enough and suggested that Herman try some of her exercises on the boy. Herman pressed him to describe in detail what he saw when they were at home or on the street. "It worked!" Herman says.
    • Maria Mahon
      Maria Mahon on 23 Sep 09
       
      Here we are offered a much more personal way in which practicing descriptive techniques can help students/children. Herman worked with her own son and asked him to describe in great detail what he saw and this helped him become more verbal.
  • Maria Mahon on 23 Sep 09
     
    I just came across this article in the most recent issue of the Smithsonian Magazine. While it describes law enforcement officials being taught the skills of describing in great detail what they see, I thought it provided an interesting example of how helpful looking at works of art can be. While many students might at first not feel confident in describing works of art in the classroom, I think this shows how applicable the skills can be.... not only to use them as a starting point for a history discussion but for other things as well.
Laura Wood

Millennium Development Goals - 0 views

www.un.org/...index.asp

United Nations millenium goals social justice World global UN hunger HIV AIDS education girls pregnant schooling food action projects 2015 gender environment

shared by Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09 - Cached
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      Each button at the top stands for one of the development goals. Each page contains video clips, a short web game (very simple) and information about what that goal is, what students around the world are doing to make a difference and suggestions for actions more students can take.
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      The "Add your voice" portion has a place where students can send in videos that they have made about the Millenium development goals. There's also a Youth Action Guide that you can download and print for your classes!
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      For each goal there is: * Information about the goal * Information on how much progress has been made towards that goal * Projects that other students have done * What still needs to be done * Links to more information This information is not particularly engaging but it is condensed in an easy to find location. It's certainly not a game or anything and kids won't be tricked into learning by any cool effects or anything.
  • ...2 more annotations...
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      From the Millenium Campaign website: "*End poverty by 2015.* This is the historic promise 189 world leaders made at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 when they signed onto the Millennium Declaration and agreed to meet the "Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).":/goals The MDGs are an eight-point road map with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving the lives of the world's poorest people. World leaders have agreed to achieve the MDGs by 2015."
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
       
      This short (3.34) youtube video is much more enticing than the webpage. http://www.youtube.com/mcampaign Perhaps a teacher could show the video and then ask students to research one of the goals using this site. The culmination could be designing an action to participate in on the date of action. This year that is Oct 16th-18th. May be a good introductory activity to get kids to see the importance of global issues before launching into global history (or concurrently :-) Website for the event: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/
  • Laura Wood on 18 Sep 09
     
    The UN's Millennium Goals as they have constructed them for kids. It's still a ton of information and not in the easiest or most engaging format but it might be a great place for students to get started examining world issues like Hunger, HIV/AIDS or Infant Mortality and what they can do.
Laura Wood

FBI Youth - Home - 0 views

www.fbi.gov/...6th12th.htm

Middle school High School internet safety primary documents Kansas City Massacre FBI Youth crime bureau Roosevelt Hoover detective investigate files SNCC KKK antrax

shared by Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09 - Cached
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09
       
      So clearly the coolest link on this webpage is the "History" link. This will link you to the history of the FBI which is interesting in and of itself BUT also contains some links to primary documents. For example there is a link in 1966 called "six civil rights activists murdered" that takes you to the FBI file of the murder investigation. It might be really neat to have students look at this file and look at other accounts of this incident to understand how police/FBI officers interact with communities and crime. There's another neat account under June 1933 of the Kansas City Massacre!
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09
       
      The "FBI Investigates" tab is a little like the spy museum. It takes you through two cases, what happened and how investigators solved the crime. For any CSI - philes this might be some great info.
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09
       
      "FBI Adventures" is a little not as cool as I'd hoped. While they do give brief snapshots of country profiles, students don't get to actually investigate anything on their own. What they Could do is begin to see how even crime is globalized and how countries now have to work together to protect citizens - an interesting angle on globalization/global studies.
  • ...3 more annotations...
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09
       
      The "SA Challenge" is tragically lame. It's basically a cyber scavenger hunt to find the answers to questions about the website. Then you self check. If you find all the answers you get to be the director of the FBI - at least that's what the website says. Lame.
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09
       
      Again, "Games" are tragically low tech and pretty lame. Word hunt, etc.
    • Laura Wood
      Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09
       
      "A day in the life" would be good for any students who were thinking about becoming FBI agents. Always good to give students career choices.
  • Laura Wood on 24 Sep 09
     
    FBI's youth website. Probably designed to entice kids to want to be in, support and trust the FBI. Some very cool stuff (no lesson plans). Check out the super rad "History" link!
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