Yo, #Education [and other reading enthusiasts]:

Has anyone read A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind?

If so: What were your thoughts? Do you think it’s appropriate to lend to a very mature 8th grade gentleman who is feeling the struggle of standing out because of his intellectual ability and/or is feeling the pain of not fitting in with his peers because of his different values/beliefs about his education?

I’ve seen news articles and documentaries about Cedric Jennings, but it’ll take me a few days to read through the book with school starting back up from Spring Break. I just thought I’d peek around on Tumblr first. Thoughts?

I am one grateful muffin! I think I have liked, commented on and/or reblogged everyone who mentioned support for me as an #Education editor. I cannot tell you what all this public support means to me. Not only do I respect you all as phenomenal professionals — but: I respect you all as an amazing network of friends. 

I did receive a response from Support and was given editors@tumblr.com to email in regards to being removed. I’m hoping for a [positive] response soon! 

A million thanks and hugs to each and every one of you.

kbkonnected:

Mmmmm! This is delightful.

roughdrafts1:

In reality, then, these standards were written by highly educated adults who do not teach children at present and, possibly, never did. Unconnected to the scientific research on children’s intellectual and emotional development and the everyday realities of children’s needs, interests and behavior, these writers relied only the folklore of academia, fantasizing not only what children should be expected to know and do, but also what adults need to function in actual colleges and workplaces.

I am not against having National Standards. However, if what this author says is true in her post, the elementary standards may not be very realistic. As a high school teacher, the standards for elementary seem high, but I am not as familiar with how primary students learn. My own son is but four, so I haven’t even had parental experience with which to comment. I would be curious to know from elementary teachers what they think about the Common Core. 

This was really interesting. I’m the lead teacher at my school and attend all the county workshops. After the workshops, we’re required to present it back to the other teachers. The resistance that everyone’s putting up toward the Common Core is astounding. It’s surprising people are so stuck in their ways.

heysnix:

Exactly.

1,097: Average number of hours U.S. teachers spend per year on instruction.

Students across the U.S. are enjoying or getting ready for summer vacation, but teachers may be looking forward to the break even more. American teachers are the most productive among major developed countries, according to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data from 2008 — the most recent available.

Among 27 member nations tracked by the OECD, U.S. primary-school educators spent 1,097 hours a year teaching despite only spending 36 weeks a year in the classroom — among the lowest among the countries tracked. That was more than 100 hours more than New Zealand, in second place at 985 hours, despite students in that country going to school for 39 weeks. The OECD average is 786 hours.

BUT FOR REAL, GUYS.

girlwithalessonplan:

via Post Secret

This isn’t funny, but: I JUST LAUGHED HYSTERICALLY. I want to hug whoever sent this in. I wish teachers got paid more on a daily basis, man.

Text “msclark” to 50500 and marvel over the absolute coolest new website I have found! I can’t see your number and it’s totally legit — pinkie promise! 

Oh, man. I’m going to have fun with that.