| News for the Education Profession |  |
| Learning and Teaching |  |  |
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- "7 Habits" help guide education in Utah district
Twenty-one schools in the Jordan, Utah, district have adopted a program based on author Stephen Covey's, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," in which they learn skills in leadership, conflict resolution and more. The Leader In Me Program is intended to help transform the school culture for the better by helping students learn about accountability, communication and teamwork, while also instilling in them the importance of working toward their goals. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
(11/29)      
- Foreign-language pilot is part of STEM curriculum in Md. district
Students at two elementary schools in a Maryland district take a semester of Spanish and a semester of Chinese each year as part of a pilot program, now in its second year, that seeks to infuse foreign-language instruction in a curriculum based on science, technology, engineering and math. The language courses primarily are focused on science, but they also incorporate culture, health, language arts and social studies. The Baltimore Sun
(11/29)
| School Leadership | | |
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- Teachers' role in defining the profession
 The teaching profession is changing, writes middle-school teacher Heather Wolpert-Gawron. In this blog post, she urges teachers to be part of that transition by helping to define the profession and direct its future. For some, she writes, their contribution could come outside of the classroom, as they explore other roles in education leadership. Edutopia.org/Heather Wolpert-Gawron's blog
(11/29)
| Technology in the Classroom | | |
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- What is the correct way to use classroom technology?
When it comes to using technology in the classroom, there is a right way and a wrong way, writes high-school English teacher Nicholas Provenzano. In this blog post, he writes that the wrong way is to consider how to build a lesson around technology. Instead, he writes, educators should build their lesson plans and then consider how technology could be added to help reach learning goals. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education
(11/29)
| Managing Budgets | | |
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- Study: States spend about $1.7B annually on testing
States spend about $1.7 billion each year on standardized testing -- or an average of $65 per student -- according to a recent report that analyzes data from 44 states and the District of Columbia. That amounts to about a quarter of 1% of total spending on K-12 education, according to the Washington-based Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution. Data also show the District of Columbia spends the most on standardized testing per student, at $114, while New York spends the least, at $7 per student. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org)
(11/29)
| Policy Watch | | |
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- Chicago gets 4-month extension on school-closing plan
Lawmakers in Illinois have given Chicago Public Schools four more months to produce a list of schools it recommends for closure. The original deadline was set for Saturday. Supporters say the closures are necessary because of the large number of underused schools in the city. However, the proposal was described as a "mess" by Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis. "It's a huge round of closings without a plan," she said. Chicago Sun-Times
(11/29)
- States differ in approach to teacher evaluations
New systems to evaluate teachers are being implemented in about 30 states, but so far most differ on the skills they are assessing. While Los Angeles schools will evaluate teachers based on 61 indicators, Louisiana is using just five. Two common indicators that have appeared on evaluations nationwide, however, are "classroom climate" and "teacher interaction with students." The Hechinger Report
(11/29)
| Faculty Lounge | | |
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- Exercise balls help improve student behavior in Ind. class
Fifth-grade teacher Sara Wright is using exercise balls instead of chairs to improve students' attention spans and cooperation during class. Studies show using exercise balls improves behavior and "legible word productivity" of students with attention-deficient/hyperactivity disorder. "I've noticed a big difference," Wright said. "There's not many fifth-graders that love to come to school, but they come in and sit right down. They're excited to be here in the morning." Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Ind.)
(11/25)
| ASCD News | | |
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Getting a head start on ASCD's 2013 Annual Conference
Our 2013 Annual Conference and Exhibit Show -- coming to Chicago on March 16 to 18 -- promises myriad networking and professional growth opportunities. As you start planning your experience, don't miss our lineup of Pre-Conference Institutes, which will enable you to kick-start your conference learning one, two, or three days before the main event. In a recent post, Inservice blogger Marissa Bialecki discusses what's in store for pre-conference attendees. Among the highlights are new hands-on learning opportunities. Read on.
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Webinar -- Ask Dr. Judy: The essential neuroscience of learning
The Ask Dr. Judy webinar series has covered topics such as how to teach the teen brain and how to help students remember what you teach. At 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 11, neurologist, educator, and ASCD author Judy Willis will return for the latest installment in the series. In this webinar, on the essential neuroscience of learning, Willis will discuss how to teach students to take ownership of their cognitive and emotional successes. Register.
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