What Teachers Are Talking About This Week
March 16, 2017 | Sign up to receive The Teachers Edition.
Modeling Imperfection in the Classroom
Many new teachers and even some veterans are moved by the need to feel like they've accomplished their daily tasks perfectly. Yet as Justin Minkel, teacher at Jones Elementary (Springdale, Ark.) writes, "The children we teach need to know that they can be imperfect and still be wonderful." Therefore it is imperative that teachers offer models for students in the art of being imperfect, learning from mistakes, and "making the path by walking" (Minkel, Education Week).
 Teachers Win Big at Oscars
In the February awards show, many Oscar winners thanked teachers for their success. Moonlight's Mahershala Ali winning for best supporting actor, gave a shout out to teachers who had taught him valuable lessons he applied to his acting career. And winning for best original song City of Stars in La La Land, Justin Paul, a 2003 Staples High School (Westport, Conn.) graduate, thanked his public school teachers for their value and recognition of the arts (Will, Education Week).
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OSERS Seeks to Improve IDEA Website
ED's office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is seeking input from users of the IDEA.ed.gov website as part of our effort to provide updated, easy-to-navigate IDEA resources to children with disabilities and their families, teachers, administrators, advocates, and other stakeholders. Secretary DeVos has expressed her commitment to ensuring that infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families receive support and services they are entitled to under IDEA. As ED seeks to make improvements, the current website will remain available.
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Kenwood Academy High School principal Gregory Jones (Chicago, Ill.) is just one of the nation's school leaders making a difference to students by creating a sense of community and holding their students accountable. Kenwood's graduation rate "reached 85 percent last year, up from 74 percent in 2012, the year Jones arrived." In David Leonhardt's New York Times Op-Ed, he says, "To Fi x Schools, Go Get the Principal" (Lott, New York Times photo). |
Each year, students at three schools in the Los Angeles area engage in an in-depth study of playwright August Wilson's work led by Center Theatre Group's August Wilson In-School Residency Program. Four classrooms get visiting artists once a week to help direct the study. This year's investigation of Fences takes on significance because of its presence at the Academy Awards. Students write about the plot in 140-character tweets and participate in a monologue contest (Neely, 89.3KPCC).
 Could Catering to Learning Styles Hurt Students?
Recently, several scientists have penned their concerns to the The Guardian about the use of learning styles by teachers. Their biggest concern is the lack of scientific evidence that supports teaching to students' learning styles and the harm that can be done by catering to certain styles. Read on to make your own call on how to utilize learning styles in the classroom (Weale).
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5. "To care for myself, I adjust my schedule to include more moments of peace." Teacher, California
4. "The more duties and stress you have as a school leader, the more important it is to take time for yourself." Superintendent, Colorado
3. "I'm working on an opportunity with students to share thanks to their teachers through Media Club." Teacher, Wisconsin
2. "Oxymoron alert: Looking ahead to 'in the moment,' I'm hoping to get some outdoor writing practices when it warms up." Teacher, New Jersey
1. "Ask students what they think about an idea, or ask for theirs. I've found students provide the best professional development." Teacher, Alaska
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