Stories from School: Practice meets Policy

A Good Custodian

2012-01-29T01:00:00-08:00

By Mark Caretaker, keeper, steward, guardian. One who protects, maintains, facilitates. Teachers are custodians of our children and thus our future. I strive to be a good custodian. Someone else who strives to be a good custodian--a true caretaker, guardian,...

An Education Worth Paying For

2012-01-26T22:46:18-08:00

By Tamara With levy renewal votes on the horizon for many of Washington’s districts I’ve been thinking a lot about what an education worth paying for should look like. I think we can all agree a solid grasp of fundamental...

The Bill That Shifts The RIFs

2012-01-25T12:41:38-08:00

Each spring the uncertainties of student enrollment, teacher transfers or retirement, and funding make budgetary predictions difficult. To remain financially sound some districts send out pink slips to the newest teachers. In no way is this ideal. These teachers face...

Which students deserve my time and energy

2012-01-23T20:28:03-08:00

By Mark Here's some data for you. Between my first and second period English classes, I have 60 students total. Certainly, a reasonable number for a large high school. At the six-week progress report in October, a whopping 15 of...

I'm Not a Student Driver Anymore

2012-01-20T09:57:39-08:00

By Kristin Something's been bugging me lately. While I support testing to gauge whether a child's where she's supposed to be or not, and I support using that information as one of the many possible measures of a teacher's impact...

Charter Schools - No Lincoln Continental

2012-01-19T07:31:55-08:00

By Kristin Here's a Lincoln Continental. I had the opportunity to have the entire back seat to myself one long summer drive, going from Atlanta to Miami, and I'm here to tell you that the back seat was bigger than...

Charters Schools in Washington?

2012-01-18T16:41:35-08:00

By Tom I’m pretty sure my house needs a new roof. It’s not leaking right now, but it looks like it might. There’s moss here and there, and the shingles look old and limp, like they’re about ready to give...

Praise (Part 1.)

2012-01-17T01:00:00-08:00

By Mark One day my oldest son, at the time a kindergartner, came home distraught. Eventually, my wife and I were able to coax out the whole story. He said he'd done everything he was supposed to do: day after...

How Education Can Benefit From NOT Meeting

2012-01-15T21:24:56-08:00

By Travis It has been 15 years since I started teaching and I have taught in a number of schools, spending the most time in three. Each time I move to a new school, I see an environment for greatness...

The McCleary Decision; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

2012-01-08T18:09:05-08:00

By Tom After enjoying Mark’s take on the recent Washington State Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, you now get to endure mine. Sometimes two views on the same topic is a good thing. Sometimes it’s not. First the good: The decision...

The Supreme Court... so now what?

2012-01-05T17:26:36-08:00

By Mark You've probably read about it: The Washington State Supreme court stated in an 85-page opinion that the State of Washington has not met it's constitutional obligation to fully fund its public schools. (Here's the actual majority ruling in...

Resolutions and Reform

2011-12-31T19:17:17-08:00

By Tamara We talk a lot here about reform: change in education. But do those conversations lead us to action? Or more conversation? Not that more conversation is bad. More conversation is often needed to flesh out ideas. It's New...

Time Management

2011-12-31T04:41:00-08:00

By Tom There are about seventeen hours from the time I say goodbye to my students until the time I say hello to them the next day. Of those seventeen hours, I like to spend about eight in bed. That...

A New Role

2011-12-29T11:22:07-08:00

By Rob Some time ago I was struggling to set up procedures during my literacy instruction. I was attempting to meet with a guided reading group while the reminder of my class was engaged independently in a meaningful activity. For...

Camp Fired

2011-12-26T04:59:00-08:00

By Travis The message is clear. Very clear. On the surface, the message comes across as positive, saying there is an organization out there to help children. I am all for helping children. However, there is hidden message. An agenda,...

Motoring Towards Privatization?

2011-12-23T11:55:25-08:00

By Rob Tom has written some thoughtful posts (here, here, and here) about charter schools. When I read about charter schools with a cohesive staff, a common vision, and high standards for all I’m excited about the possibilities for their...

The Achievement Gap Between African Americans and African Immigrants

2011-12-20T09:46:00-08:00

By Tom The Seattle Times came out with a story today about the “Alarming” achievement gap between African American students and the children of African immigrants. Apparently the Seattle School district studied their data and found that African American students...

It's the Principal of the Matter

2011-12-18T07:56:00-08:00

By Travis Principals are near useless. Near…I would not be so mean as to say totally. I know they serve a purpose. But, hey, let’s be honest. How often is your principal in your classroom? If you are lucky, it...

What We Expect from Teachers or What We Expect from Ourselves

2011-12-16T14:35:11-08:00

By Tamara For the last few weeks I have been reflecting on Tom’s observations and analysis of charter schools. Rather than the question about the role charter schools should or shouldn’t play in Washington, what has had me thinking most...

Passion Driven Conversation

2011-12-14T22:04:41-08:00

By Kristin I admit, when my friend read this to me there was a moment - about when he read "Being an educator means that you are a part of the noblest profession ... Quite frankly it takes a special...