Top Story

• What if lectures are unnecessary?
  Students may learn better through investigation or discussion -- rather than in-person or videotaped lectures, even if teachers have adopted the flipped instructional model, writes instructional coach David Ginsburg. In this blog post, he describes a scenario in which teachers work during class time to assess what students' know and the areas in which they need additional help. Then, they would develop a whole-group discussion "students would benefit from such as sharing solutions and insights, addressing common misconceptions, and scaffolding understanding to a deeper level." Education Week Teacher/Coach G's Teaching Tips blog (2/10)     

	A must-have book for primary teachers just got better. In the revised edition of Reading with Meaning, Debbie Miller adds new planning and assessment tools, updated "go-to" children's book titles, and FAQs. Follow Debbie through an entire school year as she models the kind of decision-making increasingly demanded by new standards. Preview the entire book!

Focus on Practice

• Managing student needs and district-required textbooks
  Teachers in many schools may find that district-mandated textbooks are lacking and struggle against the prescriptive nature of the lessons. However, responding to a question posed in Larry Ferlazzo's blog, long-time teacher Rick Wormeli offers 11 steps to deal with such situations, including that educators discuss alternative approaches with administrators, analyze data to ensure the approach is effective, and describe the concept as a "pilot" program so others are not scared off by a permanent change. Education Week Teacher/Classroom Q&A blog (2/10)     

• Tech expert argues for math curriculum changes
  Math is essential in day-to-day living, jobs in technical fields and logical thought, says Conrad Wolfram, an innovator in technology and founder of ComputerBasedMath.org. Conrad, who has contracted with the Estonian government to revamp the math curriculum there, says understanding computer programming and re-imaging math assessments are two important pieces in the transition to modern math. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (2/10)     

Schools Today

• Will revised NCLB reduce federal input in schools?
  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)     

• Other News

• Ky. schools' data rooms help educators track students' progress, needs
  Cincinnati Enquirer, The (tiered subscription model) (2/10)     

• Does the common core represent a de facto national curriculum?
  Education Week Teacher/Teacher in a Strange Land blog (2/9)     

Developing Leaders

• S.D. NBCT: National Board Certification is valuable credential
  The process of becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is demanding and worthwhile for teachers, says Stacy Otten, one of 10 educators in South Dakota to earn the status in 2012. Otten says the rigorous process helped her gain valuable insight into herself and her teaching. "They are looking at student involvement and how the teacher is interacting with the students," she said of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. "They want to see how you get students to understand the content, the strategies you are using and how you deal with situations." Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan (S.D.) (2/9)     

	The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Guiding Readers uses a structured 18-minute small-group lesson format to support all of your students as they access more sophisticated texts, with tips for setting learning goals, practical lesson routines, and how to select appropriate texts for readers at each stage. Includes chapters on nonfiction & functional reading. Preview the entire book! When you walk into a successful math classroom, what should you see, hear, and feel? Math Sense helps teachers self-assess, distills the key components of a good lesson, and offers ideas for improving classroom spaces, discourse, and engagement. Preview the entire book! Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.

Policy News

• Policy changes mean adjustments to Valentine's Day celebrations
  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

• Wash. state considers dropping 2 of 5 graduation exams
  The Seattle Times/The Associated Press (2/9)     

Most Read by Educators

Top five news stories selected by Accomplished Teacher® by SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Digital programs to try in the high-school classroom (U.S. News & World Report)

• Weekly math problems help prepare NYC students for exams (Good Magazine)

• How to encourage students to think critically about history (SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education)

• Teacher: "We must slow down" (Education Week Teacher (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org))

• 7 tips for addressing dishonesty in the classroom (Edutopia.org)

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

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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