In every core domain of learning (reading/math/skills), there is another core element of effective instruction that is so simple, it is often overlooked. However, we ignore these core elements at great expense to our budgets and the eternal frustration of our greatest asset… our students! To be clear, the Success Pyramid still applies. We must
Read More
Common Core: Why It’s the Worst and BEST Thing to Happen to Education!
Very few things stir more controversy than the mention of Common Core. There are numerous complains, but most seem to center on a few common themes: “Common Core doesn’t make sense.” “The math is killing our kids.” “Common Core doesn’t teach American History, Civics, or Government; our children will not have an understanding or appreciation Finland: Worldwide Leader in Education More than 30 years ago, Finland made dramatic changes to the political infrastructure of their school system. A generation later, they emerged at the top of the world in international assessments for managing “real-world” situations. They are one of the leading political models to investigate. Finland has created a system Education Reform – Part II: Practical Implementations of Complete Human Education In previous articles, we focused on: the core problems of education in the United States, a simple model for effective learning, and how that model helps us resolve our top problems. We also explored how this model relates to special education. From this point Today is the beginning of the largest policy conference in the country, the Mackinac Policy Conference (MPC). Right now, Brian and I are on our way up to Michigan’s magnificent Mackinac Island to participate. The MPC gets it’s name from the conference location, but the focus is primarily on the city of Detroit. The #1 topic Research consistently confirms there are two critical ways to raise test scores on standardized tests: Build “cognitive flexibility” with metacognitive strategies.1 If students don’t have problem-solving strategies for learning the content, well… they won’t learn it! Obviously. Teach the curriculum, not “to the test.” Teaching “to the test” –also known as “item teaching”– actually lowers test scores; “I am convinced that a ‘good’ teacher is a ‘self-abuser’ teacher!!” My grad-school professor said this in class one day. He was lamenting that his wife, a kindergarten teacher, had been on leave for two years to have their two children. He specialized in reading development and used his wife’s classroom as an observational “lab” Why Do You Have to Work So Hard to Make Students Learn? You work harder and harder, but clearly feel a drag. You are tasked with more things to do, document, and correlate every day. Your extended efforts never seem to be enough. Students become more apathetic. Many people are quick to blame technology. But, “My students think they are ‘broken,’” lamented one special education teacher. “They don’t have dreams because they don’t think their dreams matter.” The truth is, our education system is not equipped to help any student explore their dreams and options beyond high school. But special education students have an even greater disadvantage; they don’t think On Sunday, I had the opportunity to deliver the following message of inspiration to 5000 educators at ASCD’s Empower 17 Conference. We sponsored a special showing of Disney’s World of Color as a “thank you” to educators… Good evening! As you settle in to enjoy the show, I encourage you to think back to when youFinland: A Political Model of Education Reform
Read MoreIdeal Instructional Models: Successful Examples of Complete Human Education
Read MoreDetroit: A Vision for the Worst-Performing School System in the World
Read MoreStandardized Tests:
Two Proven Ways to Raise Test Scores“A ‘Good Teacher is a ‘Self-Abuser’ Teacher!”
Read MoreThe “New Initiative” Bandwagon:
The One Fatal Flaw of Every Education Initiative
The One Fatal Flaw of Every Education Initiative …” rel=”nofollow”>Read MoreCollege and Career-Readiness for Special Education
Read MoreEducators: “Without YOU, There Is NO Show!”
Read More
