Teacher Update: High-Tech Teaching in a Low-Tech Classroom

[Howard Hartman]

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	August 11, 2011 [Mobile] [Online Version] [Printer-Friendly] [Login]
	TOP STORY Teacher Leaders Network High-Tech Teaching in a Low-Tech Classroom Technology integration expert and high school teacher Jennifer Barnett offers tips on how to support learning and familiarize students with technology when classroom digital tools are limited. Advertisement No More "I'm Done!" guides primary teachers in fostering independent writers by setting up the right classroom environment and establishing routines that allow kids to move through the writing process at their own pace. Includes more than 50 mini-lessons. Browse the entire book online! MORE HEADLINES Teachers Head Back to School With a Shortage of Money—and Morale Along with changes to retirement and insurance plans, Alabama no longer reimburses teachers for the out-of-pocket money they spend on school supplies. (McClatchy-Tribune) N.Y. Thinks Outside Teacher Education Box The regents have approved multiple teacher-training approaches, including giving nonuniversity programs authority to grant master's degrees. (Education Week) Cheating Scandals Intensify Focus on Test Pressures Experts say cheating comes with the territory, but split on whether the solution is better security or lowering the stakes. (Education Week) Study Finds Learning Gains for Title I Students At a time when a majority of states may be falling short of federal testing goals, a report suggests that students in the Title I program for disadvantaged students are making progress. (Education Week) Commentary Beverly Hall: The Scandal Is Not the Whole Story Former Atlanta schools Superintendent Beverly Hall writes that she regrets not having done more to prevent cheating on state tests, but that many of the gains in the Atlanta public schools were real. (Education Week) TEACHING NOW Education Week Teacher's editorial blog, Teaching Now, provides the latest news, ideas, and resources for teacher leaders. Comments welcome. • Is it O.K. for Male Teachers to Hug Students? • Graphic Novels: Snooki in Book-form? • Bringing Chinese Teachers to U.S. Schools • Using iPads for Formative Assessment • Policy Expert's Response to SOS: Duncan Is Doing His Job Advertisement Featured Company from the Directory of Teacher PD Sourcebook Eye on Education is an independent provider of books and other resources for the educational community. The Professional Services department offers customized professional development solutions and best practices for topics impacting educators at all levels. Free consultations and eNewsletters are available. Click here for details. TEACHER BLOGS Charting My Own Course Teaching the At-Risk: A Matter of Life and Death Marilyn Rhames points out the similarities between being a doctor and being a teacher as she reflects on the first student she tried to save. Unwrapping the Gifted International Day of the Gifted Tamara Fisher describes the ways people around the world can celebrate and raise awareness about giftedness. Living in Dialogue Say No to Duncan Dollars: Rookie Reform Has Run Its Course The U.S. Department of Education is trying to drive reform with their version of Behavior Bucks—and it isn't working, says Anthony Cody. Teacher in a Strange Land The Five Million Dollar Demonstration Nancy Flanagan says the number of attendees at the Save Our Schools March isn't as important as what actually drove people to come. A Place at the Table Learning How to Live Susan Graham discusses her middle school Family and Consumer Science curriculum, and the life skills that students take away from it. Coach G's Teaching Tips Mentors: The One You're Assigned and the Ones You Find David Ginsburg says teachers should create a network of mentors rather than rely on just one person. The Book Whisperer Reading, What's Love Got to Do with It? Donalyn Miller questions a recent article claiming that reading is a pastime accessible to a privileged few. Leading From the Classroom Teacher Leadership or Teacher Extra Duty? Patrick Ledesma discusses teacher "leadership" opportunities versus "extra responsibility" experiences. Learning Forward's PD Watch It's Time to Dream in Color The director of Learning Forward's Center for Results asks: If school staffs aren't ready to dream big, how will they accomplish the difficult task of transformation? On Performance MassMutual Recruits Teachers to Sell Insurance An insurance company is actively recruiting former or would-be-former teachers to sell insurance, points out principal Justin Baeder. Featured Discussion Wise Words for Teachers In her first blog post on Education Week Teacher, charter school teacher Marilyn Rhames discusses the four words that changed her teaching life. When a veteran teacher walked into the lounge to hear a group of colleagues one-upping each other with classroom horror stories, he said, "It happened to them." Rhames says she will never again forget that kids feel the effects of such classroom stories for the rest of their lives, while adults can eventually tell them for entertainment. Are there any lessons or words of advice from a mentor that ring in your ears as you teach? What words of wisdom do you wish all teachers could hear? Join the discussion! Upcoming Webinars Clearing the Hurdles: Helping Low-Income Students Get Into College Wednesday, August 17, 2011 2 p.m. EDT To help more low-income students get into college, new mentoring programs are being offered and changes are being proposed to financial-aid policies. Hear about the latest innovations to improve access to higher education for the country’s increasingly diverse population of students. Register now for this free live event. Closing the Academic Achievement Gap for African-American Boys Tuesday, August 23, 2011 2 p.m. EDT Underwriting for the content of this webinar has been provided by The Joyce Foundation. Join two leading experts, Oscar A. Barbarin III of Tulane University and Aisha Ray of the Erikson Institute, for an in-depth look at preparing teachers to foster social and emotional development in children, with a focus on supporting African-American boys to do well in the early years of school. Register now for this free live event. Bringing Common Standards Into the Classroom Tuesday, August 30, 2011 2 p.m. EDT Underwriting for the content of this webinar has been provided by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Using a "train the trainer" approach, Hillsborough County, Fla., is immersing teams from every elementary, middle, and high school in a deep content dive into the standards, digging especially into their "text complexity" demands. Cleveland is focusing first on K-2, with teachers doing the nitty-gritty work of revamping their scope and sequence and assembling instructional materials aligned to the standards. Register now for this free live event.		FOLLOW US Teacher on Twitter Follow all of the latest Teacher news on Twitter. Teacher on Facebook Become a fan of Teacher on Facebook to stay up-to-date with teacher-related news! ANNOUNCEMENT The Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching Education Week Teacher readers are encouraged to apply or nominate colleagues for the new Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching. The award will honor educators who excel at teaching students from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Get more info. Most Popular Stories 1. Charting My Own Course: Haunting Words to Inspire Every Teacher 2. Four Steps to Staying Sane as a Teacher 3. Coach G's Teaching Tips: The Deskless Teacher 4. The Book Whisperer: Reading, What's Love Got to Do with It? 5. Unwrapping the Gifted: Seeing the Light Some stories may require subscription. TEACHER PD SOURCEBOOK Real-World Learning: Creating Authentic Lessons in Math and Reading The Spring 2011 issue of the Teacher PD Sourcebook is now online. This issue looks at how innovative educators are working to build stronger connections between math and literacy instruction and students' own lives. See the complete table of contents. Plus, browse or search our exclusive directory of K-12 professional development products and services. EdWeek Leadership Forums Ed Tech 2012: Boosting Student Achievement Philadelphia, Pa. Tuesday, October 4, 2011 8 a.m. EDT Chicago, Ill. Friday, October 7, 2011 8 a.m. CST Join education technology experts at Ed Tech 2012 for an interactive day focused on learning how schools are using ed tech to improve teaching, learning, and school management. Click here to find out more. EDUCATION WEEK EVENTS Clearing the Hurdles: Helping Low-Income Students Get Into College Webinar Aug. 17, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Register now. Closing the Academic Achievement Gap for African-American Boys Webinar Aug. 23, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Register now. Bringing Common Standards Into the Classroom Webinar Aug. 30, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Register now. Ed Tech 2012: Boosting Student Achievement | Philadelphia Live Event Oct. 4, 8:00 a.m. Eastern Register now. Ed Tech 2012: Boosting Student Achievement | Chicago Live Event Oct. 7, 8:00 a.m. Central Register now. Search Education Jobs + Senior Manager for Partnerships and Business Development The Strategic Data Project www.gse.harvard.edu/sdp, Cambridge, MA + Superintendent Jefferson Parish Public Schools, Jefferson Parish, LA EDUCATION WEEK SPOTLIGHT Spotlight on Classroom Management It's not always easy to keep a classroom running smoothly. Learn valuable, practical tips from teaching veterans in this Spotlight on Classroom Management. See other Spotlights. White Papers Boost PD & Student Outcomes with Less Time & Money Blackboard Collaborate Elementary Math Intervention & Adaptive Learning Dreambox Learning Engaging Students & Parents via Social Media Blackboard Imagining the Future: A Story About a Leap in Learning Productivity Promethean Virginia District Reduces IT Support by 60% Faronics Leverage ROI Analysis for Ed Tech Investments Blackboard Ensuring Effective Data Use in Education SAS Using Adaptive Instruction to Ensure RtI Success Mimio
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