Learning and Teaching

• N.C. district gives high-school students a head start on college
  The Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., school district is offering high-school juniors and seniors the opportunity to earn college credits -- for free -- ahead of graduation. The "cooperative innovative high school" model calls for high schools to be established on college campuses. The schools, open to students through an admissions process, boast high test scores, graduation rates and impressive college-admissions statistics. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (2/11)     

• Benchmarking leads to higher math scores in some Mo. schools
  Two Missouri school districts have posted higher scores in math on state standardized exams since adopting the benchmarking approach in which students must demonstrate proficiency in a skill or concept before moving on to the next one. While the change has prompted more confidence in some students, it hasn't made all students like math or inspired them to enroll in higher-level math classes. Still, educators emphasize the benefits, including higher ACT scores, better transitions to college math and workforce preparation. The Kansas City Star (Mo.) (2/8)     

• Other News

• Commentary: Instruction tailored to individual needs is getting results
  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (tiered subscription model) (2/9)     

	Personalizing instruction reduces “math anxiety.” Accelerated Math Live™ software creates individualized assignments at each student’s level, which builds student confidence, dramatically reduces math anxiety, and creates an interactive and engaging learning environment. Request free information.

School Leadership

• The future requires "quantum leap" in digital leadership
  More administrators say they are leading by example by encouraging educators to use more digital technology in the classroom. They say this type of leadership will become increasingly important as districts work to implement the Common Core State Standards. "Modeling is crucial. If you want your kids and teachers to be users of 21st-century tools, ... you have to show that you can do it too," said Spike Cook, principal of an elementary school in Millville, N.J. "It shows that I'm still a teacher -- I can still instruct and still learn." Digital Directions (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (2/6)     

• Common core gives librarians a chance to lead
  The Common Core State Standards are being embraced by many school and public librarians, who say they view the change as an opportunity to reach out to teachers and students. Much of what the common core emphasizes -- learning through inquiry and the use of primary-source documents -- is part of what librarians already do as information specialists. "A common phrase that has been circulating throughout the library world is, 'We are the Common Core.' And that is the truth," said Margaux DelGuidice, a school and public librarian in New York state. Publishers Weekly (2/5)     

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Technology in the Classroom

• Will the common core require technology upgrades?
  The consortia tasked with designing tests for the Common Core State Standards have released guidelines aimed at ensuring school districts have the necessary technology in place to effectively implement them. Among the guidelines released by one group are recommendations to replace the popular Windows XP with Windows 7, upgrade computers to at least 1 gigabyte of internal memory, ensure computer screens measure at least 9.5 inches -- with at least a 1024 x 768 resolution -- and have secure browsers in place. Digital Directions (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (2/6)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by ASCD SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Should AP courses be open to all students? (The Record (Hackensack, N.J.))

• Would starting school later benefit high-school students? (Press-Telegram (Long Beach, Calif.))

• How education will adjust to the common core (Edutopia.org)

• Why educators need to teach introverts to talk in class (The Atlantic online)

• Educators: Use real-world situations to boost student engagement (Aiken Standard (S.C.))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

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Policy Watch

• NCLB rewrite raises questions on federal involvement
  As the U.S. Congress considers its next steps on an overdue rewrite of No Child Left Behind, some lawmakers are calling for a less prescriptive approach by federal officials in their involvement in local education. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the government has established measures of progress for recipients of NCLB waivers and that it "does not serve as a national school board." However, debate continues on the requirements attached to waivers issued by the Obama administration. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (2/9)     

• Valentine's Day is no less sweet under new policies
  In some Chicago-area classrooms, Valentine's Day will be celebrated this week with peanut-free cupcakes, yogurt and fruit slices instead of candy. Educators say the changes to the way the holiday is celebrated come as more schools are serving students with severe food allergies and increasing focus on nutrition. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) (2/11)     

• Other News

• Tenn. district to give nonresident teachers 5 years to move into county
  The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) (free registration) (2/10)     

Faculty Lounge

• Ind. school's students send violent video games to recycler
  Students in an Indiana elementary school have voluntarily agreed to give up violent video games and other media following concerns that such games could lead students to be desensitized to violence. Parents say they support the change, especially following the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn. In four days, officials say families turned in 70 violent games that will be recycled. The Times (Munster-Hammond-Merrillville-Valparaiso, Ind.) (2/9)     

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ASCD News

• EL announces 2013-14 themes
  In the coming school year, Educational Leadership will be covering a diversity of topics that include leveraging teacher leadership, building school morale, and writing: a core skill. If you're considering submitting your manuscript for consideration, browse upcoming themes and access deadline and submission information on ASCD.org. Most published articles are between 1,500 and 2,500 words, are written in a conversational style, and cover topics that are useful for preK-12 educators. Read the latest issue of EL online.     

• How to transform your classroom into a Results Only Learning Environment
  In "Role Reversal: Achieving Uncommonly Excellent Results in the Student-Centered Classroom," ASCD author Mark Barnes walks middle and high school teachers through the fundamentals of a ROLE. Results-only learning eliminates traditional practices -- homework, worksheets, tests, and even grades -- and replaces them with student-driven, yearlong projects that enable students to sharpen and expand their skills. Learn more.
  
  • Get your copy.
      

Position Title Company Name Location K-12 School Teachers Needed for International Schools The International Educator Multiple Locations, International Senior Associate Leadership and Professional Development Community Training and Assistance Center Boston, MA Teach Overseas! International Schools Services Multiple Locations, International Director, Content & Curriculum-World Languages The College Board Duluth, GA Executive Director Visual Thinking Strategies Brooklyn, NY Assistant Professor of Special Education Saint Joseph 's College Standish, ME Teach in San Francisco! San Francisco Unified School District San Francisco, CA Principal at Brooklyn Excelsior National Heritage Academies Brooklyn, NY Founding High School Principal Charter School for Global Leadership Camden, NJ Regional Assistant Director, IL Center for School Improvement American Institutes for Research Naperville, IL Professional Development Facilitator NWEA Washington, D.C., DC Director, DoDDS Pacific and DDESS Guam (Regional Superintendent for all DoDEA Pacific Schools) Department of Defense Education Activity Okinawa, Japan Cluster Director/Area Superintendent Green Dot Public Schools Los Angeles, CA Senior Associate National School Reform Community Training and Assistance Center Boston, MA Manager for Regional Support -IL Center for School Improvement American Institutes for Research Naperville, IL Leadership Opportunities VOICE Charter School New York City, NY Senior Turnaround Consultant American Institutes for Research Washington, DC Senior Consultant - District and School Improvement American Institutes for Research Naperville, IL Education Consultant - CONTRACT Confidential Dallas, TX Senior Communication Strategist American Institutes for Research Naperville, IL

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SmartQuote

The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor; he takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. ... The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them." --George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright