Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington, Forest Whitaker Aim to Adopt Failing Schools Through New Initiative (Huffington Post)
Chicago teachers, who recommended more art classes be offered in elementary schools and that arts be integrated into the curriculum in high school, would support the White House’s new pilot schools: “Organizers said they aim to demonstrate research that shows the arts can help reduce behavioral problems and increase student attendance, engagement and academic success.”
Charlotte Danielson on Teacher Evaluations (YouTube)
The creator of the Danielson Rubric (the rubric VIVA New York teachers recommend be used for teacher evaluations in their policy report: Opening Doors to Professional Communication and Collaboration) has some interesting comments on high-stakes teacher evaluations and “what should count as evidence and how… that evidence (can) be attributed to an individual teacher.”
Advocates Worry Implementation Could Derail Common Core (Education Week)
Right now, Arizona Charter School Teachers are grappling with this very issue: “faithful translation from expectations on paper to instruction in classrooms.”
Common Core Webinar (Center for Teaching Quality)
Arizona teachers are not the only ones trying to understand Common Core. On Wednesday, May 2 from 7-8:30pm ET / 4-5:30pm PT you can “step back and learn the basics from the experts who are leading this effort: teachers who are actually using the standards and others beyond the classroom who are designing tools to make it easier for teachers to align teaching with the Common Core.” To take part in the webinar, teachers should reply to Kristoffer Kohl at kkohl@teachingquality.org by April 28.