11 Signs You’re a Teacher on Summer Break
Here are our 11 signs you’re a teacher on Summer Break 1. You don’t know what day it is — but you know what day school starts! 2. You’ve been on a lake in Maine for a week — reading the latest curricular materials. “Finally! A chance to catch up!” 3. You’re on Facebook. A lot. […]
Bloomberg’s Educational Legacy
11-4-13 DEBATING BLOOMBERG’S EDUCATIONAL LEGACY by Jared Gellert We are going to see a fierce debate about the legacy of Mayor Bloomberg’s educational reforms as he leaves office and we gain a new mayor and chancellor. The fight, I think, will center on the following issues: High School Graduation rates. What accounts for their increase? […]
Measuring Success in Schools
Ed Reform and Measuring Success by Jared Gellert 10-21-13 HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL? We are going to have a debate about the efficacy of Mayor Bloomberg’s educational reforms over the next few years. As I read one article passionately defending what he has done, it occurred to me that we really don’t […]
New Teacher Evaluation Results
10-22-13 New Teacher Evaluations – 1st look The controversial Teacher Evaluations are here. This is the first time we’re seeing evaluations from the new system. NY Ed Commissioner John King is releasing the evaluations today, and there will be plenty of story-lines floating. For now, we have ears on the ground and some context for […]
Does Academic Performance Predict Good Teaching?
10-10-13 Teach for America v. Traditional Teacher Training Does academic performance in an undergrad program predict good teaching, more than a traditional teacher training program? Opinion Piece — by Jared Gellert There’s a great article in the Atlantic from a former Teach for America member. http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/09/i-quit-teach-for-america/279724/ The article discusses her experiences and her training. Here […]
NYC Test Scores Question
A Reaction to the NY Test Scores By: Jared Gellert The test scores that came out on August 7th revealed a dramatic plunge. The proportion of New York students who were “proficient” in English/Language Arts fell from 55.1% to 31.1%. The percentage of students “proficient” in math fell even more, from 64.8% to 31%, according […]
The End of Our Photo Contest
9-6-13 Our Photo Contest is Over As of today, our first photo contest is over. And we’ve learned a lot! Unfortunately (let’s lay this out up front) because of fraudulent voting, we have to cancel the contest. That’s right, and it makes us sad, too! But this contest has been compromised by paid votes and […]
Teachers Want To Teach
Amid all the test-score hoopla, the Florida/Indiana Education scandal, and the Common Core brouhaha you may have missed this one — This article was going around last week, and in case you missed it, we’ve put the link here. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/09/a-warning-to-college-profs-from-a-high-school-teacher/ This newly-retired high-school teacher takes us through the challenges he faced on a daily basis: […]
