Explorations of Other Problems
June 14th – 24th
This module delves into some specific issues we're facing as teachers (and parents and citizens). Make sure you allow yourself enough time to view all of the videos and complete all of the readings.
Keeping Abreast of Current Events and Thinking about the Problems Facing Teachers
DUE: ongoing
A great deal is happening everyday. There is no way to present an established course (with pre-determined readings) that covers what is happening currently. I highly recommend checking the following sites on a daily basis. Some of these sites have news feeds or are associated with Twitter and Facebook feeds. Join and follow the Facebook groups and Twitter feeds.
- Badass Teachers Association
- This association started as a Facebook group a little over a year ago and now has over 46,900 members. It's free to join and participate. Although some "venting" occurs here, a lot of useful information is communicated. The members (BATs) also provide a broad support network.
- Facebook Group page
- BATs Website
- BATs Blog
- The Collaboraider
- Collaboraider - Blog (you can submit entries, if you wish)
- Education4.Org - Reclaiming the Conversation
- A group dedicated to opening up the dialogue about education and educational issues.
- Education4.org Website
- Education4 Facebook Group
- Reclaim Ed on Twitter
- @The Chalkface
- A group promoting public education.
- At the Chalkface Website
- @ The Chalkface on Blog Talk Radio
- @ The Chalkface on Facebook
- @TheChalkface on Twitter
- @TheChalkface Through Paper.li — an online newspaper format with daily e-distribution
- Diane Ravitch
- Diane Ravitch is a former U.S. under-secretary of education and educational historian
- Diane Ravitch's Blog
- Susan Ohanian
- Susan Ohanian is a prominent education activist.
- Susan Ohanian's Website
- Susan Ohanian on Twitter
- Susan Ohanian on Facebook
- Deborah Meier
- Deborah Meier is an education activist and writer.
- Deborah Meier's Website and Blog
- Deborah Meier on Twitter
- Deborah Meier on Facebook
Common Practices and Their Problems
DUE: June 16th
- READ: Alfie Kohn (1993). Choices for Children: Why and How to Let Students Decide. (Password Protected)
- READ: Alfie Kohn (1993). The Case Against Gold Stars. (Password Protected)
- READ: Alfie Kohn (1996). What to Look For in a Classroom. (Password Protected)
- READ: Alfie Kohn (1999). The Trouble With “Back to the Basics” and “Tougher Standards.” (Password Protected)
- READ: Alfie Kohn (2001). Fighting the Tests: A Practical Guide to Rescuing Our Schools. (Password Protected)
- READ: Alfie Kohn (2006). The Trouble With Rubrics. (Password Protected)
- READ: Alfie Kohn (2007). Rethinking Homework. (Password Protected)
Discussion Questions:
- What assumptions and orientations, etc. do you see in these position papers by Alfie Kohn?
- How do the ideas in these papers affect children (i.e., your students) and teachers (i.e. you and others)?
- How can we work towards changing some of these practices?
Discuss on the Wiki Forum
Deadening Schooling, Teaching, & Learning
DUE: June 17th
- WATCH: Ken Robinson's “How Schools Kill Creativity”
- WATCH: Ken Robinson's “Changing Education Paradigms”
- Both of these videos appear on the same webpage.
Discussion Questions:
- How do you see this problem manifesting in your school?
- What factors contribute to this problem?
- What underlying assumptions, orientations, frameworks, and patterns are involved in perpetuating this problem?
Discuss on the Wiki Forum
Issues of Schooling
DUE: June 18th
- WATCH: State Controlled Consciousness — John Taylor Gatto (former NY Teacher of the Year)
- READ: Valenzuela, A. (2010). Uncovering internalized oppression. In M. C. Fehr & D. E. Fehr (Eds.), Teach boldly! Letters to teachers about contemporary issues in education (pp. 77—83). New York: Peter Lang.
- READ: Gatto, J. T. (2002). Some lessons from the underground history of American education. In R. Kick & R. Metzger (Eds.), Everything you know is wrong: The disinformation guide to secrets and lies (pp. 274—287). New York: The Disinformation Company.
- READ: Wood, G. (2010). The limits of schooling. In M. C. Fehr & D. E. Fehr (Eds.), Teach boldly! Letters to teachers about contemporary issues in education (pp. 105—107). New York: Peter Lang.
Discussion Questions:
- What are the implications of the issues brought up in these articles and the video?
- How do you see these ideas manifesting (or not) in your school?
Discuss on the Wiki Forum
The Common Core, Standardized Tests, and Attacks on Teachers
DUE: June 19th
- WATCH: Transferred Highland Park Teacher Resigns
- WATCH: Parents and Kids Protest Testing in New York City
- WATCH: The Power of Children's Imaginations -- Common Core and Tests Undermine Children's Potentials
- WATCH: Standardize Boycott — An Interview with Cynthia Copeland
- WATCH: Blue Hat Movement (Opting Out) and a Sixth-Grade Girl's Courage
- WATCH: Parents Take Action Against Standardized Tests
- READ: Who is David Coleman? — Diane Ravitch's blog
- READ: Eight problems with Common Core Standards — The Answer Sheet, The Washington Post
- READ: Corporate Commercials Selling Standards?
- READ: How Education Generates Profits for the Canny — Diane Ravitch's blog
- READ: Questions about the questions on new Common Core tests — The Answer Sheet, Washington Post
- READ: Mercedes Schneider: Do Most Teachers Support Common Core? —Diane Ravitch's blog
- READ: Weingarten Wants Me to Want the Common Core State Standards
- READ: Common Core (sic) Standards — Susan Ohanian Speaks Out
- READ: Fourteen Words that Are Cursing America's Children- A Connecticut Teacher Speaks About Common Core
- READ: A Principal Retires on Principle — @ THE CHALK FACE knows SCHOOLS MATTER
- READ: Tennessee Teacher on PARCC Testing — on Diane Ravitch's blog
- READ: Lies, Lies and so on… — Deborah Meier on Education
- READ: Education is None of Our Business
- READ: Naison: I Will Not Forget or Forgive Those Who Destroy What I Love — on Diane Ravitch's blog
Discussion Questions:
- What is happening in your schools as they relate to the issues raised in these readings and videos?
- What are you experiencing as a teacher?
- What are the reactions of parents to these issues?
Discuss on the Wiki Forum
Additional Explorations
DUE: June 20th — 24th
- Share, post, and react to any additional videos, Tweets, blogs, articles, etc. Post these on appropriate pages on the wiki and refer to them through the Wiki Forum.
ASSIGNMENT:
- Critical Analysis #2
- should focus on readings through June 23rd
- DUE: June 24th
Modules
MODULES | DATES | TOPICS | ASSIGNMENTS DUE |
Module #1 | 6/2 to 6/3 | Introduction and Initial Explorations | |
Module #2 | 6/4 to 6/13 | Making Sense of and Analyzing Problems and Issues | Critical Analysis 1 – 6/13 |
Module #3 | 6/14 to 6/24 | Exploring Other Problems and Issues | Critical Analysis 2 – 6/25 |
Module #4 | 6/25 to 7/1 | Making a Difference | Project Update – 6/26 |
Final Project – 7/1 |
June—July, 2014 | ||||||
S | M | T | W | Th | F | S |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
29 | 30 | 1 |
© 2011 Jeffrey W. Bloom