Nancy E. Bailey's Blog, page 59
July 4, 2016
What’s Individualized about the IEP and ESSA?
I am reviving an old post that raises questions about the relevancy of the Individualized Educational Plan when it is written according to the general grade level content standards. If everyone is expected to be alike, how important is the IEP? Under the Every Student Succeeds Act almost all students with disabilities must follow the […]
July 1, 2016
It’s Like Invisible Drones Following Students in School
Trustworthy Computing is the highest priority for all the work we are doing. We must lead the industry to a whole new level of Trustworthiness in computing. Bill Gates in an email sent to his employees, discussed in Wired January 17, 2002 __________ Happy 4th of July! This is a good time to think about […]
June 25, 2016
The Dangers of Eliminating Teacher Preparation
Wisconsin is thinking about letting anyone teach. No degree will be required to enter the classroom and work with students. Isn’t it bizarre to encourage young people to go to college but claim their teachers don’t need a college degree? Surely this is quackery. But I thought it would be a good time to do […]
June 21, 2016
What Digital Games Miss—Socialization
Today, I approach the closet I have been dreading, for there, perched on the shelves are the games my family has played for years. These aren’t digital games, though we have not been opposed to some of those when alone. But these are games I can actually touch and hold in my arms. I can […]
June 18, 2016
When ADHD Collides With Grit: What to Do?
How does a student with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) get grit, when everything about grit is contrary to ADHD? Grit, defined, is perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Grit entails working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress. The gritty individual approaches achievement as a […]
June 11, 2016
The Summer Reading Rigor Rebellion
If middle school students require summer reading assignments to coax them to read, shouldn’t we be looking at what went wrong with reading instruction in elementary school? By the time a student reaches middle school, shouldn’t they like to read? Yesterday I noticed some of these summer reading assignments posted online. Reading rigor is found […]
June 8, 2016
4 Reasons Why Charter Schools Should Not Do Special Education
A common complaint about charter schools is that they don’t provide special education. This makes charter schools much different from traditional public schools which provide services to all children. Charter schools should not get district special education funding for services they do not provide. But I don’t think charter schools should provide special education. Here’s […]
June 5, 2016
Charter Schools 25 Years Later—and What to Expect in the Future
The charter movement has since expanded to include 43 states plus the District of Columbia, and over 2.5 million students—or about 5 percent of the total K-12 public student population. Arianna Prothers, Education Week June 4, 2016 Charter schools are 25 years old. My, how time flies. Yesterday, Education Week printed an interview with Ember […]
June 2, 2016
The LA Times Editorial—A Distraction
There’s so much bad news about public schools. When one article makes you want to pop the cork and dance in the streets, it is easy to get excited. Don’t. The tables haven’t really been turned. The LA Times Editorial criticizes the Gates Foundation for their poor philanthropic use of billions of dollars spent on […]
May 28, 2016
The Theft of the Tradition of Music in OUR Public Schools
How do politicians eliminate a school orchestra in this country and still sleep at night? How does a community adjust to such a theft when they tried so hard to keep the music playing? The Loss of the Lafayette Elementary School String Orchestra In 2013, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago politicians put an end to […]
