Learning and Teaching

• Should schools take a greater role in teaching values?
  The education system currently discourages the teaching of values and morals, despite the fact that students are growing up as much at school as they are at home, write Katherine Casey and Francesca Kaplan Grossman, both of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In this commentary, they recommend that educators evaluate their school climate, include "community capstones" in graduation requirements and integrate values education as part of the Common Core State Standards. Education Week Teacher (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (2/27)     

• Schools, communities celebrate Seuss, Read Across America
  Schools and libraries across the country marked March 2 as the 109th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, or Dr. Seuss, and Read Across America with events Friday and over the weekend. Students at Sandpoint Middle School in Idaho spent the week studying the famed author's use of vocabulary, invention of words and poetry in his writing. The Simi Valley library in California was packed as teachers and principals, police officers and firefighters read books to children, while events in Lynchburg, Va., included a book drive. Bonner County Daily Bee (Sandpoint, Idaho) (3/2), The News & Advance (Lynchburg, Va.) (3/3), Ventura County Star (Calif.) (free registration) (3/2)     

	Now learning the ABCs is as easy as uno, dos, tres. Introducing Imagine Learning Español, a new educational software solution designed to help pre-K and kindergarten students build Spanish language and literacy proficiency. It's a better way to give young learners a strong foundation to build on. Click here to see the program in action.

School Leadership

• Standardized testing boycott sparks growing debate
  Backlash against standardized testing has drawn boycotts from teachers in Seattle and elsewhere, as well as support from education historian Diane Ravitch and others. At issue is whether certain high-stakes standardized tests are effective in evaluating students' achievement and should be used to assess teachers' effectiveness. "We are just seeing the very beginning of this testing revolt," Jesse Hagopian, one of the teachers who has protested exams in Seattle, adding, "[m]aybe you can call it the 'Teachers' Spring.'" Reuters (3/3)     

	STAR Assessments Aligned to the CCSS. STAR Enterprise™ is a favorite of teachers and is also a vital part of an administrator’s ability to make data-driven decisions. STAR Enterprise assessments are aligned to the Common Core State Standards, linked to state tests, and also received the highest ratings by the National Center on Response to Intervention. Learn more.

Technology in the Classroom

• Idaho launches first-of-its-kind partnership with Khan Academy
  Idaho will launch a pilot program in the fall, becoming the first state to partner with the Khan Academy to provide free, online access to math, physics and history classes. The program, to be implemented in 47 schools, is funded through a $1.5 million grant from the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation. "Idaho has the students, the schools and the determination to succeed in showing the nation how to innovate within our public education system," said Jamie MacMillan, the foundation's executive director. KBOI-AM (Boise, Idaho)/The Associated Press (2/28)     

• National PTA signs Kindle to sponsor reading program
  Amazon's Kindle has been named the exclusive sponsor of the National PTA's Family Reading Experience, a newly created program that encourages children and families to read together. Fast Company online (2/28)     

• Other News

• ITunes U downloads hit huge milestone
  The Washington Post (2/28)     

Hot Topics

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

• Does homework improve student achievement? (District Administration magazine)

• Common core math tasks students with explaining their answers (San Diego Union-Tribune)

• Math-teaching techniques are changing at Kan. schools (The Miami County Republic (Paola, Kan.))

• Is the latest teaching trend right for all classrooms? (SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education)

• Schools increase focus on character education (Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org))

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

Policy Watch

• Student: Calif. district's grading system monopolizes teachers' time
  A student from Yuba City Unified School District in California says a new grading system, in which teachers are required to submit grades through an online system within seven days, is leaving educators with little time to help students before and after class. During a recent school board meeting, River Valley High School student Sumana Kondle said the system, which applies to sixth- through 12th-grade teachers, has led her biology teacher to opt for more multiple-choice testing. The district's superintendent, Nancy Aaberg, said the grading system is intended to improve communication with parents, and teachers who refuse to meet deadlines could face disciplinary action. Appeal-Democrat (Marysville-Yuba City, Calif.) (2/27)     

• N.Y. school officials expect test scores to drop under common core
  New York officials are preparing for the expected decline in test scores as it becomes one of the few states to align this year's tests with the Common Core State Standards. Officials in Florida, Georgia and Kentucky have reported lower scores since the implementation of the common core. The New York State United Teachers questions the decision to test students on the new standards so soon after their introduction in classrooms. The Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) (3/1)     

• Other News

• N.C. district's teachers group expresses concern about student discipline policy
  Winston-Salem Journal (N.C.) (3/3)     

Faculty Lounge

• Efforts ramp up to stop cyberbullying
  The cyberbullying epidemic increasingly is affecting students -- on social media and beyond -- with about one-quarter of teenagers reportedly having experienced cyberbullying at some point, according to one researcher. Experts and advocates recommend keeping a record of online bullying and showing evidence, such as an e-mail or Facebook communication, to a trusted adult. The organization WeStopHate.org also provides a place where victims of bullying can connect, find resources and share their stories. CNN (3/3)     

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ASCD News

• PD: Targeted, ongoing, and an opportunity to develop teacher leaders
  In a recent post, ASCD EDge community member Patrice Bucci blogs about the many changes occurring in the professional development space. "Delivery models are evolving" and "teachers are rapidly becoming consumers of their own professional development," she points out. In her post, Bucci offers tips on how to navigate this new PD landscape and what to focus on as you do. Read on.     

• How an ASCD institutional membership can support your work
  ASCD institutional membership is available to any school or district interested in creating or strengthening its professional development program. The institutional membership offers educators group access to professional learning tools, publications, online research archives and more. Learn about the specific member benefits associated with this type of ASCD membership and find out how you can use it to grow your professional learning community.     

Position Title Company Name Location Teach Overseas! International Schools Services Multiple Locations, International Educational Trainer/Consultant Confidential Oklahoma City and Tulsa Metro Areas, OK K-12 School Teachers Needed for International Schools The International Educator Multiple Locations, International Assistant Superintendent for Organizational Development Baltimore County Public Schools Towson, MD Rosalyn S. Heyman Endowed Chair in Educational Administration Pepperdine University Malibu, CA Tenure-Track Position in Policy Development Pepperdine University Malibu, CA Principal / Director of Alternative High School Taunton Public Schools Taunton, MA Independent Sales Representative USATestprep, Inc. Multiple Locations, United States Assistant Professor of Special Education Saint Joseph 's College Standish, ME Founding High School Principal Charter School for Global Leadership Camden, NJ

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SmartQuote

The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret." --Henri Frédéric Amiel, Swiss philosopher, poet and critic