(This was written/posted about a week ago…then WordPress opened on my iPhone in my bag to my posts page, and I deleted this post on accident. Ugh. Therefore–repost!) Sunday afternoon/evening brings the inevitable “Have you done all your homework?” question to Alexandra, our first grader. Each weekend she has to read two level-appropriate books, do … Continue reading
I feel that by the title of this post alone, you all will understand what I’m talking about. Students today have the five paragraph essay format drilled into their brains to the point of writing paralysis. They are five paragraph essay zombies. The five paragraph essay structure is essential for survival in the public school … Continue reading
After teaching high school in Brooklyn for 10 years, I took a job as an Assistant Professor of English at what is now the Stella & Charles Guttman Community College (formerly the New Community College) in the City University of New York system. What I have realized in the past two years is that being … Continue reading
Yesterday I spent approximately FIVE grueling hours doing online research compliance courses in order to begin my new research project next Fall as a professor at CUNY. I had to take an online course on the Responsible Conduct of Research and an additional online course on the Protection of Human Subjects. Each were over 2 … Continue reading
This spring I joined my daughter’s elementary school’s High Stakes Testing Committee (HSTC). It’s a group of concerned parents who are interested in spreading information to the larger school body about what high stakes testing is, the impact of high stakes testing on our children’s education, and our options for action. It has been an … Continue reading
As per my last post, my mind is everywhere considering the testing quagmire and I feel stuck in as a parent. But I am feeling the need to do something. Something big. Don’t know what that is yet, but I’ll keep you posted. This image/quote came across my facebook feed when I got home that … Continue reading
Working in a Title I high school for ten years where the poverty level of the students exceeded 80%, we were forced to face many educational reform movements head on. Due to our students’ low literacy and numeracy skills, we struggled to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for No Child Left Behind every year. Each … Continue reading
