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incremental changes herald the disappearance of K-12 age-graded public schools or the dominant patterns of teacher-centered instruction. What these gradual changes will translate into is a broad array of options for teaching and learning available to both teachers and students. About these ads var wpcom_adclk_hovering = false; var wpcom_adclk_recorded = false; var wpcom_adclk_theme = "Pilcrow"; var wpcom_adclk_slot = "wpcom_below_post_adsafe"; var wpcom_adclk_network = ( typeof wpcom_adclk_network === "undefined" ) ? "" : wpcom_adclk_network ; jQuery(document).ready( function() { function wpcom_adclk_hover_yes() { wpcom_adclk_hovering = true; } function wpcom_adclk_hover_no() { wpcom_adclk_hovering = false; } jQuery(".wpa").click(wpcom_adclk_click); jQuery(".wpa iframe").hover( wpcom_adclk_hover_yes, wpcom_adclk_hover_no ); jQuery(".wpa object").hover( wpcom_adclk_hover_yes, wpcom_adclk_hover_no ); jQuery(window).blur( function() { if ( wpcom_adclk_hovering ) { wpcom_adclk_click(); } }); }); function wpcom_adclk_impression() { var stat_gif = document.location.protocol + "//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv"; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_theme=" + wpcom_adclk_theme; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_placement="+wpcom_adclk_slot; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_network=" + wpcom_adclk_network; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_theme_network="+wpcom_adclk_theme+"_"+wpcom_adclk_network; new Image().src = stat_gif + "&baba=" + Math.random(); return true; } function wpcom_adclk_click() { if (wpcom_adclk_recorded) { return true; } // no double counting var stat_gif = document.location.protocol + "//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv"; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_theme=" + wpcom_adclk_theme; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_placement="+wpcom_adclk_slot; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_network=" + wpcom_adclk_network; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_theme_network="+wpcom_adclk_theme+"_"+wpcom_adclk_network; new Image().src = stat_gif + "&baba=" + Math.random(); wpcom_adclk_recorded = true; var now=new Date(); var end=now.getTime()+250; while(true){now=new Date();if(now.getTime()>end){break;}} return true; } if ( typeof GA_googleAddAttr == 'function' ) { GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("LangId", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Domain", "larrycuban.wordpress.com"); GA_googleAddAttr("BlogId", "8903150"); GA_googleAddAttr("PageURL", "https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/predictions-about-technology-in-k-12-and-higher-education-for-2025/"); GA_googleAddAttr("AdSafe", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "education"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "how-teachers-teach"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "technology-use"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "how-teachers-teach"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "technology"); GA_googleAddAttr("Partner", "AOL"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_bg", "ffffff"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_border", "bbbbbb"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_text", "333333"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_link", "1c9bdc"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_url", "1c9bdc"); GA_googleAddAdSensePageAttr("google_page_url", "https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/predictions-about-technology-in-k-12-and-higher-education-for-2025/"); GA_googleFillSlot("wpcom_below_post_adsafe"); } jQuery( window ).load( function() { if ( jQuery(".wpa script[src*='virool.com']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa script[src*='shareth.ru']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa iframe[src*='boomvideo.tv']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa iframe[src*='viewablemedia.net']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa .sharethrough-placement").length > 0 ) { jQuery( '.wpa' ).css( 'width', '400px' ); } setTimeout(function(){if(typeof GS_googleAddAdSenseService !== 'function'){new Image().src=document.location.protocol+"//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv&x_noads=adblock&baba="+Math.random()}},100); } ); Share this:ShareTwitter29share-li

None of these incremental changes herald the disappearance of K-12 age-graded public schools or the dominant patterns of teacher-centered instruction. What these gradual changes will translate into is a broad array of options for teaching and learning available to both teachers and students. About these ads var wpcom_adclk_hovering = false; var wpcom_adclk_recorded = false; var wpcom_adclk_theme = "Pilcrow"; var wpcom_adclk_slot = "wpcom_below_post_adsafe"; var wpcom_adclk_network = ( typeof wpcom_adclk_network === "undefined" ) ? "" : wpcom_adclk_network ; jQuery(document).ready( function() { function wpcom_adclk_hover_yes() { wpcom_adclk_hovering = true; } function wpcom_adclk_hover_no() { wpcom_adclk_hovering = false; } jQuery(".wpa").click(wpcom_adclk_click); jQuery(".wpa iframe").hover( wpcom_adclk_hover_yes, wpcom_adclk_hover_no ); jQuery(".wpa object").hover( wpcom_adclk_hover_yes, wpcom_adclk_hover_no ); jQuery(window).blur( function() { if ( wpcom_adclk_hovering ) { wpcom_adclk_click(); } }); }); function wpcom_adclk_impression() { var stat_gif = document.location.protocol + "//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv"; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_theme=" + wpcom_adclk_theme; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_placement="+wpcom_adclk_slot; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_network=" + wpcom_adclk_network; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_theme_network="+wpcom_adclk_theme+"_"+wpcom_adclk_network; new Image().src = stat_gif + "&baba=" + Math.random(); return true; } function wpcom_adclk_click() { if (wpcom_adclk_recorded) { return true; } // no double counting var stat_gif = document.location.protocol + "//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv"; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_theme=" + wpcom_adclk_theme; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_placement="+wpcom_adclk_slot; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_network=" + wpcom_adclk_network; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_theme_network="+wpcom_adclk_theme+"_"+wpcom_adclk_network; new Image().src = stat_gif + "&baba=" + Math.random(); wpcom_adclk_recorded = true; var now=new Date(); var end=now.getTime()+250; while(true){now=new Date();if(now.getTime()>end){break;}} return true; } if ( typeof GA_googleAddAttr == 'function' ) { GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("LangId", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Domain", "larrycuban.wordpress.com"); GA_googleAddAttr("BlogId", "8903150"); GA_googleAddAttr("PageURL", "https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/predictions-about-technology-in-k-12-and-higher-education-for-2025/"); GA_googleAddAttr("AdSafe", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "education"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "how-teachers-teach"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "technology-use"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "how-teachers-teach"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "technology"); GA_googleAddAttr("Partner", "AOL"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_bg", "ffffff"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_border", "bbbbbb"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_text", "333333"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_link", "1c9bdc"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_url", "1c9bdc"); GA_googleAddAdSensePageAttr("google_page_url", "https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/predictions-about-technology-in-k-12-and-higher-education-for-2025/"); GA_googleFillSlot("wpcom_below_post_adsafe"); } jQuery( window ).load( function() { if ( jQuery(".wpa script[src*='virool.com']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa script[src*='shareth.ru']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa iframe[src*='boomvideo.tv']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa iframe[src*='viewablemedia.net']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa .sharethrough-placement").length > 0 ) { jQuery( '.wpa' ).css( 'width', '400px' ); } setTimeout(function(){if(typeof GS_googleAddAdSenseService !== 'function'){new Image().src=document.location.protocol+"//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv&x_noads=adblock&baba="+Math.random()}},100); } ); Share this:ShareTwitter29 cl

chools or the dominant patterns of teacher-centered instruction. What these gradual changes will translate into is a broad array of options for teaching and learning available to both teachers and students. About these ads var wpcom_adclk_hovering = false; var wpcom_adclk_recorded = false; var wpcom_adclk_theme = "Pilcrow"; var wpcom_adclk_slot = "wpcom_below_post_adsafe"; var wpcom_adclk_network = ( typeof wpcom_adclk_network === "undefined" ) ? "" : wpcom_adclk_network ; jQuery(document).ready( function() { function wpcom_adclk_hover_yes() { wpcom_adclk_hovering = true; } function wpcom_adclk_hover_no() { wpcom_adclk_hovering = false; } jQuery(".wpa").click(wpcom_adclk_click); jQuery(".wpa iframe").hover( wpcom_adclk_hover_yes, wpcom_adclk_hover_no ); jQuery(".wpa object").hover( wpcom_adclk_hover_yes, wpcom_adclk_hover_no ); jQuery(window).blur( function() { if ( wpcom_adclk_hovering ) { wpcom_adclk_click(); } }); }); function wpcom_adclk_impression() { var stat_gif = document.location.protocol + "//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv"; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_theme=" + wpcom_adclk_theme; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_placement="+wpcom_adclk_slot; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_network=" + wpcom_adclk_network; stat_gif += "&x_ads_imp_theme_network="+wpcom_adclk_theme+"_"+wpcom_adclk_network; new Image().src = stat_gif + "&baba=" + Math.random(); return true; } function wpcom_adclk_click() { if (wpcom_adclk_recorded) { return true; } // no double counting var stat_gif = document.location.protocol + "//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv"; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_theme=" + wpcom_adclk_theme; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_placement="+wpcom_adclk_slot; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_network=" + wpcom_adclk_network; stat_gif += "&x_ads_click_theme_network="+wpcom_adclk_theme+"_"+wpcom_adclk_network; new Image().src = stat_gif + "&baba=" + Math.random(); wpcom_adclk_recorded = true; var now=new Date(); var end=now.getTime()+250; while(true){now=new Date();if(now.getTime()>end){break;}} return true; } if ( typeof GA_googleAddAttr == 'function' ) { GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("LangId", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Domain", "larrycuban.wordpress.com"); GA_googleAddAttr("BlogId", "8903150"); GA_googleAddAttr("PageURL", "https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/predictions-about-technology-in-k-12-and-higher-education-for-2025/"); GA_googleAddAttr("AdSafe", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Autotag", "education"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "how-teachers-teach"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "technology-use"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "how-teachers-teach"); GA_googleAddAttr("Tag", "technology"); GA_googleAddAttr("Partner", "AOL"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_bg", "ffffff"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_border", "bbbbbb"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_text", "333333"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_link", "1c9bdc"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_url", "1c9bdc"); GA_googleAddAdSensePageAttr("google_page_url", "https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/predictions-about-technology-in-k-12-and-higher-education-for-2025/"); GA_googleFillSlot("wpcom_below_post_adsafe"); } jQuery( window ).load( function() { if ( jQuery(".wpa script[src*='virool.com']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa script[src*='shareth.ru']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa iframe[src*='boomvideo.tv']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa iframe[src*='viewablemedia.net']").length > 0 || jQuery(".wpa .sharethrough-placement").length > 0 ) { jQuery( '.wpa' ).css( 'width', '400px' ); } setTimeout(function(){if(typeof GS_googleAddAdSenseService !== 'function'){new Image().src=document.location.protocol+"//pixel.wp.com/g.gif?v=wpcom-no-pv&x_noads=adblock&baba="+Math.random()}},100); } ); Share this:ShareTwitter29https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2014/

Blended learning, including “flipped” classrooms, continue to spread across the country. Many teacher and principal bloggers tout how they have integrated the use of new devices into daily lessons, including lessons for Common Core standards

With all of the above occurring, one would think that by 2025, age-graded schools and the familiar teaching and learning that occurs today in K-12 and universities  would have exited the rear door. Not so.

etting access to powerful electronic devices for all students and teachers is surely a victory for those who believe in better technologies solving teaching and learning problems. But access does not dictate use, especially the kind of use that vendors and  technophiles ardently seek

In the past four years, I have predicted that textbooks will be digitized, online learning will spread, and the onset of computer testing will create more access to devices across schools and accelerate classroom usage. These developments will occur incrementally over the next decade and will be obvious to observers but hardly dominant in K-12 age-graded schools.

While higher education textbooks  have shifted markedly to e-books and less expensive ways of getting content into students’ devices, the K-12 market remains a proprietary domain of a handful of publishers (e.g. Pearson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and McGraw-Hill Education) in part due to the mechanics of  certain states (e.g.Florida, California, and Texas) dominating which texts get chosen.

12 online learning will also spread slowly, very slowly, as blended learning and “flipped” classrooms gain traction. Both of these innovative twists on traditional classroom teaching, however, will reinforce the age-graded school, not dismantle it.

"Don't smile till November," because that's what she was taught in her teacher education program.

make better teachers

So why does teacher education only give you theory and theory and tell you about standards and tell you about all of these things that have nothing to do with the basic skills, that magic that you need to engage an audience, to engage a student?

content and theories with the absence of the magic of teaching and learning means nothing.

And if we could transform teacher education to focus on teaching teachers how to create that magic then poof! we could make dead classes come alive, we could reignite imaginations, and we can change education.

Even more than selecting the right devices for the classroom, professional development is the key ingredient in successful 1:1 computing programs in K-12 classrooms.

that everyone is working at the appropriate level of understanding, allowing students to construct learning and providing learning in easy-to-digest nuggets. Those principles will also help build effective professional development.

Next, design training to fill in gaps and give teachers what they want. Ensure that each session is designed to be self-contained so that teachers can choose to attend workshops only in the areas where they need extra learning.

4.  Spotlight Respect For All Cultures: Reaffirm the message about being supportive of one another, kind, understanding and patient. Encourage everyone to openly talk about their personal cultures, traditions and languages. Have parties celebrating the different cultures in the class, sharing music, historical family photos, dances, games, food and traditions.  Hold discussions about the history of America, immigration, and the value of diversity and differences. Encourage students to share their own stories of immigration, passed down from generation to generation.

5.  Community: If the parents and/or guardians do not speak English, request an interpreter if possible for all school communication, including parties, conferences and special events. Invite parents to all school community functions to encourage and foster a sense of belonging. If possible, introduce other students and/or families who speak the same language as the ESL student. Sharing cultural commonalities will provide strong bonds for students, parents and teachers.

6.  Assess Students Informally: Assess ESL students on an informal basis when they first arrive to class, and ongoing during the school year. It is imperative to primarily check for understanding in regard to basic and social needs. Pay attention from the sideline to see if they know numbers, letters and/or short English phrases. Continuously check for comprehension and growth informally, make notes and never be afraid to raise the bar and challenge a bit.

7.  Don’t Discourage Native Language Use:  With all good intentions, this is a common mistake teachers can make. ESL students who have a stronger foundation of their native language will have a shorter route to acquiring English. Don’t discourage native language use, as this will result in negative feelings about the student’s language and culture, and may cause delay in English language acquisition. Provide free time for the ESL student to read and write in their native language

8.  Use Manipulatives, Visuals, Games, Music and Hands-On Activities in the Classroom: According to William Glaser, we learn 80% of what we experience, and 95% of what we teach others. ESL students do exceptionally well when this theory is followed. Involve them in projects that will encourage them to talk as much as possible with their classmates.   Some ideas for projects are the following:  cooking (following easy directions), art (drawing, painting, sculpture), musical activities (music provides an amazing platform for learning), and acting (for example, charades).

9.  Provide Various Opportunities For Talking and Consider Seat Placement: It is very important to consider seat placement in the classroom for the ESL student. All too often, ESL students are seated in the back of the classroom, which leads to a great lack of contribution, listening, and  participation. Try and seat the ESL student close to the front, especially with other students who are inviting and enjoy conversation. Provide the most opportunities as possible for talking and listening to others in the class via group work. You will be surprised how much shorter the silent period will end. 

10. Communicate with the ESL teacher: Maintain communication with the ESL teacher as much as possible. The sooner both teachers are working together, the quicker the student will learn English. Be open to the ESL teacher’s suggestions, let him/her share in the modification of classwork, and invite the ESL teacher into your classroom. 

Collective Participation:

Training takes time

5 Key Points of Professional Development

allowing teachers to actively engage in their own learning can help them retain lessons on using technology to solve classroom challenges.

Active Learning

Sustained Duration:

Content Focus: When providing technology coaching, concrete examples are key

K–12 teachers are interested in adopting technology, but low confidence in their abilities to use it well enough to make the integration worth the investment is a significant barrier. 

K–12 teachers are interested in adopting technology, but low confidence in their abilities to use it well enough to make the integration worth the investment is a significant barrier. 

5 Key Points of Professional Development

allowing teachers to actively engage in their own learning can help them retain lessons on using technology to solve classroom challenges.

Training takes time

Flexible Differentiated Plan

how can we make them more independent

requires much collaboration, discussion, and time, because each plan is tailored to that campus and to individual teachers' needs.

improvement in instruction takes work, practice, and a determination to not just recognize systematic problems, but to fix them.

Some would argue that grit is inherent in Albert Bandura’s research on self-efficacy, and that resilience is also part of i

tackling grit in my classroom and school.

Read Books About Grit

Talk About Grit

Share Examples

elp Students Develop a Growth Mindset

rol Dweck from Stanford University teaches us that students who have a growth mindset are more successful than those who think that intelligence is fixed. 5. Reframe Problems Using stories and examples from Malcom Gladwell's book David and Goliath, we talk about "desirable difficulties." Students need perspective about problems to prevent them from giving up, quitting or losing hope. 6. Find a Framework I use Angela Maiers' Classroom Habitudes as my framework. The KIPP framework specifically includes grit as one of its seven traits. Find one that works for your school and includes clear performance values. 7. Live Grittily You teach with your life. Perhaps that is why Randy Pausch's Last Lecture and David Menasche's Priority List resonate. These teachers used their own battle with death itself as a way to teach. But you don't have to die to be an effective teacher. Our own work ethic yells so loudly that kids know exactly what we think about grit. 8. Foster Safe Circumstances That Encourage Grit Never mistake engaging, fun or even interesting for easy. We don't jump up and down when we tear off a piece of tape because "I did it." No one celebrates easy, but everyone celebrates championships and winners because those take grit (and more). We need more circumstances to help kids to develop grit before they can "have it." Tough academic requirements, sports and outdoor opportunities are all ways to provide opportunities for developing grit. Verena Roberts, Chief Innovation Officer of CANeLearn says: One of the best ways to learn about grit is to focus on outdoor education and go out into the wild. Grit is about not freaking out, taking a deep breath, and moving on. 9. Help Students Develop Intentional Habits Read about best practices for creating habits, because habits and self-control require grit. 10. Acknowledge the Sacrifice Grit Requires Grit takes time, and many students aren't giving it. In their 2010 paper "The Falling Time Cost of College", Babcock and Marks demonstrate that, in 1961, U.S. undergraduates studied 24 hours a week outside of class. In 1981, that fell to 20 hours, and in 2003, it was 14 hours per week. This is not to create a blame or generation gap discussion, but rather to point out the cost of being well educated. We are what we do, and if we study less and work less, then we will learn less. Educators Need Grit Now we as teachers just need the grit to do whatever it takes to turn education around, and that starts with hard work and our own modern version of true grit. Teaching it and living it is now front and center in the education conversation. Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher's Profile Sign in or register to post Sign in to vote! (3) The Educational Benefits of GritThe character traits of determination, adaptability and reflection add up to a critical 21st century skill.<< Previous Next >> Learn More About Education Trends Latest Reconnecting Adults With Playful Learning A New Must-Read for All Educators Google for Educators: The Best Features for Busy Teachers What Is Personalization, Really? 20 Top Pinterest Tips Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher Computer Fundamentals, Computer Science and IT Integrator from Camilla, GA follow: http://www.facebook.com/coolcatteacherhttp://www.twitter.com/coolcatteacherhttps://plus.google.com/+VickiDavishttp://www.youtube.com/coolcatteacher/http://www.linkedin.com/in/coolcatteacher/http://www.pinterest.com/coolcatteacher Related Tags: Education TrendsCollege ReadinessResilience and GritCharacter EducationAll Grades In This Series T

Their new plan to impose spending caps on school budgets might help accomplish that goal

The cap means officials could not present to voters any budget plan that resulted in a more than 2 percent increase in per-pupil costs. And it’s this language that teachers object to the most. Allen says it’s a blunt policy instrument that will inflict serious harm on public schools.

If a vote for a community exceeds 2 percent per pupil in expenditures, it’s deemed to have failed,” Sharpe says

But the most contentious provision in the bill calls for a hard cap on per-pupil spending increases.

But even diehard proponents of education funding reform say the House Education Committee’s approach could do more harm than good.

“It’s unfortunate, taking away more authority from local school boards and local decision makers and local voters,” Scheuermann says.

The House Committee on Ways and Means will d

bate the proposed spending cap when lawmakers return to Montpelier next week. Sh

arpe says the version of the cap in the education committee’s bill is admittedly flawed, insofar as it fails to recognize various factors that might make a per-pupil spending increases of more than 2 percent necessary for some districts.

Working with mentor teachers, we found that they had an assumption that young student teachers would naturally know the latest and greatest. The truth is that some do but many don’t, so training is essential!

They became models for the classroom teachers

All classes in our research site were inclusive with a diverse community of learners at every grade level including students with IEPs, 504 plans, autism spectrum disorders, and English language learners.

made the mistake of assuming the kids would immediately know how to use the technology in an appropriate way.

Success was more attributable to the fact that teachers who integrated iPads into their lessons tended to do more Project Based Learning (PBL), which has been found to improve student learning across grade levels (Cheu-Jay, 2015)

the hard-to-reach, reluctant, oppositional Edwards all became engaged when introduced to opportunities that the iPad gave them.

students enjoy learning and stay more focused when using iPads

with a little hands-on support, created technology-rich lessons with a minimum of training or professional development. The bottom line was that when we mixed training with support we created a successful and innovative learning experience for teachers and their students.

Of course, some computer skills are valuable, like keyboarding, creating multimedia projects, manipulating programs they'd use in life and school,

"They can run an iPhone like a champ, or the iPads we have here at school. But they're not that exposed to keyboarding skills or using the mouse to move something up and down on a screen."

said her students have been honing their keyboarding skills while using an online curriculum for computer coding.

Using an online math program, they learn to move and click a mouse, and cut and paste text. As they move through the grades, they add more skills, integrated into their core-content study, Ms. Warr said.

"If we were trying to teach the tech skills in isolation, there would be a huge pushback [from teachers], but we integrate them into other subjects," Ms. Warr said.

But because the Smarter Balanced assessment expects more "writing in one shot" online, he's encouraging teachers to shift their "quick writes" to the computer, he said.

1st graders are starting with a free online game called Dance Mat, where they pick out letters one at a time, and work up to typing their names, Mr. Decker said. In 2nd grade, students begin using an online program called Type To Learn three times a week. Third and 4th graders continue it twice a week, and by 5th grade, it's down to weekly.

School administrators and teachers grappling with the often confusing and contradictory premises of these popular initiatives can draw on three useful sources of information: (1) meta-analyses of research studies regarding program effectiveness and instructional practices that support and enhance achievement, (2) studies of the initiatives' effect on English language learners' English language acquisition and academic achievement, and (3) databases that compile language assessments administered to large populations of English language learners over time and across grade levels. Several myths about the instruction of English language learners do not stand up to scrutiny when examined through the lens of this research base.

The "One-Size-Fits-All" Myth

Schools throughout the United States use a variety and range of theoretically sound programs to meet the needs of their specific populations of English language learners, who vary in demographic and linguistic characteristics.

For instance, bilingual programs are appropriate and effective in schools that serve concentrations of students who use a common native language

In many schools, however, English language learners speak a number of different native languages; such schools often use English as the common language of content-area instruction. Therefore, some state agencies and language-minority educators advocate a mix of services and program types in response to each school district's demographic mix—an approach that contradicts the state laws requiring a default model of sheltered English immersion

The "Language of Instruction" Myth

But according to Education Week, cumulative and comparative studies based on National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) scores suggest that statewide mandates limiting bilingual education in California, Arizona, and Massachusetts have produced "less-than-stellar" results (Zehr, 2008, p. 10).

Proponents of the ballot initiatives mandating sheltered English immersion argue that bilingual education is the reason for low levels of English proficiency among immigrant students—especially Latinos, the group served by the vast majority of the bilingual programs.

(Parrish, Pérez, Merickel, & Linquanti, 2006). The study found that students participating in English-only education programs had no statistically significant advantage in terms of academic achievement over those in bilingual education programs that parents chose through the waiver process under the law.

Thus, ballot initiatives have not realized their goal of improving English language learners' academic achievement.

In denying the injunction against the implementation of Proposition 227, the U.S. District Court in Valeria G. v. Wilson (1998) ruled that structured English immersion was based on delivery of English language and content instruction that was "sequential" rather than "simultaneous."

This focus is based on the belief that the "problem" facing these students is essentially a "language problem.

K-12 Program Continuity and Coherence Programs for English language learners must be proven models with a demonstrated track record. Programs must have long-term goals and continuity in the curriculum as students move up through the grade levels. As students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English grow, the focus of instruction should shift, and instruction should be differentiated according to students' language levels (Mora, 2006). Differentiating the curriculum in this way requires monitoring students' progress toward performance benchmarks in English language proficiency, literacy, and content-area learning (Gottlieb & Nguyen, 2007)

Targeted Professional Development Educators must view the education of language-minority students as a shared responsibility. Teachers must have ample professional preparation in how to use appropriate curricular materials and teaching strategies to promote English language learners' achievement. Both new and experienced teachers need intensive professional development above and beyond the teacher education coursework required by the state credential and certificate programs. For example, teachers should be knowledgeable about second-language acquisition and cross-linguistic transfer so that students learning in their second language can capitalize on the commonalities in literacy with their native language, regardless of whether their instruction is in dual languages.

Local school districts must have the freedom and support to establish sheltered English immersion programs and/or bilingual education programs depending on community values, parental choice, and available resources. Policies must allow flexibility in use of students' native languages—especially for development of literacy skills. In states with anti-bilingual mandates, local jurisdictions should apply liberal and open interpretation of petition and waiver requirements to support parent empowerment and involvement in program selection.

Research-Based Policies to Replace Politically Based Policies