Learning and Teaching

• New D.C. curriculum focuses on play to improve learning
  A pilot curriculum that uses intense and structured play to improve students' "executive function" is being used with preschool, pre-K and kindergarten students at 28 Washington, D.C., schools this year. The Tools of the Mind curriculum is based on the work of the late Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who believed that play was essential to learning. Among other things, the new curriculum -- which targets disadvantaged students -- also is meant to improve students' classroom behavior, reduce gender stereotypes and raise academic achievement. The Washington Post (11/11)     

• Why science, math teachers should collaborate on lessons
  Because "science is the application of math," one should not be taught without the other, suggests education consultant Ben Johnson. In this blog post, he asserts math lessons also will be more effective if students have a real-world application to tie them to, such as a science experiment. Johnson suggests science and math teachers collaborate to more effectively integrate the teaching of the two subjects. Edutopia.org/Ben Johnson's blog (11/11)     

Improved learning goals. Higher student achievement. Goal specificity begins with making a distinction between your desired learning outcomes and the assignments and activities that best support them. Hear Dr. Robert J. Marzano walk you through the process in this complimentary webinar.

School Leadership

• Uncertainty surrounds new teacher evaluations in Chicago
  Chicago Public Schools will replace its current system for evaluating teachers, principals and other staff, next year with one that is based, in part, on students' test scores. Some education experts, however, point out many questions about the new system have yet to be answered. Officials have not negotiated with the teachers union over the criteria that will be used to measure effectiveness or how those who teach non-tested subjects will be evaluated. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Chicago News Cooperative (11/12)     

• Report finds gap between minority students, teachers
  Just 17% of the country's teachers are minorities, compared with 40% of public-school students, according to a report by the Center for American Progress. "This is a problem for students, schools, and the public at large. Teachers of color serve as role models for students, giving them a clear and concrete sense of what diversity in education -- and in our society -- looks like," the report states. The report links the gap to low graduation rates among minority students and the increasingly high cost of obtaining a college education. The Huffington Post (11/11)     

• Other News

• Why are pass rates on NYC teacher tests so high?
  New York Post (11/14)     

Hear Richard DuFour, Robert Eaker, and Rebecca DuFour as they address the most important aspects of school culture that must change as you create your PLC. Learn how to change assessment and grading practices, confront resisters to change, and more.

Technology in the Classroom

• A day in the life of a flipped classroom
  In this article, teachers explain their process for using a "flipped" instructional model, where online media is used to access classroom lectures at home and hands-on learning and small-group work is the focus in the classroom. The model is becoming more common in schools, as educators create instructional videos and find ways to ensure that students who may not have access to the Internet at home have the time and access to complete the online assignments. Harvard Education Letter (November/December 2011)     

• Online game engages students in study of Latin
  Latin teacher Kevin Ballestrini uses an online virtual-reality game to teach the dead language to his students at Norwich Free Academy in Connecticut. Students play the role of Romans in ancient Pompeii or Rome and work in teams to direct their characters -- in Latin -- to solve mysteries that help them win the game. Students say they look forward to playing the game, which is now being used in 30 classrooms across the country. "I took Spanish for four years and I don't think I've learned as much as I have in that class ... in just two months," said student Caroline Scheck. KQED.org/Mind/Shift blog (11/10)     

Hot Topics

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

• Studies suggest students should be praised for effort over smarts (KQED.org)

• Should financial literacy be taught in schools? (OnWallStreet.com)

• Students offer ideas for educational apps (T.H.E. Journal)

• Educators use "process method" to bring history to life (Anderson Valley Post (Calif.))

• NYC principal finds long-lasting success with simple practices (The New York Times (tiered subscription model))

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

Provocative and bold, Tom Vander Ark looks at the innovation-driven world in Getting Smart and makes a case for blended learning to meet 21st Century goals. Read more, and save 25% with free shipping.

Policy Watch

• Court supports schools' efforts to avoid conflict over national flags
  A U.S. district judge in San Francisco, sided with a school principal in a case over students' rights to wear to school on the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo shirts bearing the American flag. The judge agreed the principal could have "reasonably forecast that (the shirts) could cause a substantial disruption," and ruled that officials did not violate the students' rights to free speech by asking them to either turn the shirts inside out or return home for the day. San Francisco Chronicle (11/12)     

• N.J. to introduce report cards for schools
  School officials in New Jersey this week are set to unveil new statewide school report cards as part of the state's bid for a waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements. The proposed School Performance Reports will rate schools, both statewide and against their socio-economic peers, on such factors as overall achievement growth, disparities in achievement among groups and graduation rates. NJSpotlight.com (New Jersey) (11/14)     

• Families struggle with students' homeless-shelter placements
  Students living in homeless shelters in New York City oftentimes are not placed in shelters near the schools where they are enrolled, leaving parents to choose between long commutes or having their children change schools during an already unstable time. Studies show moving students to closer schools may lead to higher rates of absenteeism, but the difficult commutes also can lead to increased tardies and absences that interfere with the students' education. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (11/13)     

Faculty Lounge

• Poor diet in high school raises later risk of diabetes
  High school students who followed a Western-style diet high in desserts, processed meats and refined grains had a 29% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later years, partly due to weight gain, according to a study in Diabetes Care. Researchers said the findings underscore the importance of adopting healthy dietary habits in adolescence to prevent the onset of diabetes in adulthood. PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (11/11)     

	The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) DC Event Tomorrow: Book Signing and Briefing with Thomas Friedman, Marc Tucker, and Luke Russert NZ & KSA studies show dramatic improvement in writing with thinking-based writing techniques developed by a TX teacher Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.

ASCD News

• Don't miss tomorrow's common core webinar episode
  This Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard time, our free common core webinar series returns with a special presentation by ASCD Public Policy Director David Griffith and ASCD Common Core State Standards lead strategist Efrain Mercado. Tune in for an in-depth exploration of how Common Core State Standards' adoption has affected education policy and find out how you can overcome common hurdles in the standards implementation process. Finally, don't forget to mark Tuesday, Nov. 22 on your calendar; Molly McCloskey, managing director of Whole Child Programs, will explain the connection between a whole child approach to education and common standards. Register today.     

• Data literacy: A road map for teacher learning
  Build the skills that will help you harness data use for instructional improvement this school year. ASCD presenter and teacher leader Jennifer Morrison will be leading a two-day professional development institute on data literacy on Jan. 26 and 27 in Charlotte, N.C. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn about the connections between summative and formative assessment, find out how you can use standardized assessments formatively, practice classroom data analysis and more. Register.
  • Browse other upcoming institutes.
      

Position Title Company Name Location Teacher | Curriculum Designer DreamBox Learning Bellevue, WA Full and Part time consultant openings - located in 14 different states Renaissance Learning, Inc. Multiple Locations, United States K-12 School Teacher The International Educator Worldwide, DC PK-12 Jobs in Private/Independent Schools in the South Southern Teachers Agency Multiple cities & states around the South, VA Innovation Consultant Authentic Education New York, NY Executive Director Voices 4 Delaware Education Wilmington or Dover, DE Senior Executive Service Leaders Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Arlington, VA Senior Technical Assistance Consultant- Leadership American Institutes for Research Naperville, IL Manager, Whole Child Programs ASCD Alexandria, VA Principal- Research Triangle Charter Academy National Heritage Academies Durham, NC Executive Director Children’s Literacy Initiative Philadelphia, PA Overseas Educators International Schools Services Multiple Locations, International Chairperson, Department of Elementary Education Ball State University Muncie, IN

Click here to view more job listings.

SmartQuote

Imagination is more important than knowledge." --Albert Einstein, German-born physicist