Students First? Tech First?

The recent issue of Educational Leadership (March 2013  Vol. 70 No. 6) is chock-full of articles that challenge the way we think about learning and technology. I was especially drawn to Marc Prensky‘s article, Our Brains Extended. He asks,

Is the human brain still the smartest thing on the planet? When enhanced by technology, it is. . . Wise integration of our evolving and powerful technology demands that we rethink our curriculum.

And, I agree with him.

Math and the Common Core

Educational Leadership Vol. 70 No. 4, Common Core Now What? we’ll take a look at Math and the Common Core.  One of my all time favorite educators is Marilyn  Burns, a math guru who knows math and how to teach kids.  A classic math book I highly recommend to all math students and teachers is The I Hate Mathematics! Book, originally published in 1975.  But I digress. Ms. Burns pens the article  Go Figure: Math and the Common Core.

Close Reading–effective way to achieve deep comprehension

This week, another look at the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).  Dr. Nancy N. Boyles in the Educational Leadership article, Closing in on Close Reading, Vol. 7 No. 4, states,

We can’t wait until middle school to teach students to read closely.  

Common Core–framework for the 21st century

Educational Leadership, a monthly publication of ASCD, takes on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in its recent issue, Common Core: Now What?, Vol 70, No.4.  Let’s start with Timothy Shanahan‘s piece, The Common Core Ate My Baby and Other Urban Legends, where I am lifting information presented by Mr. Shanahan.

Legend 1: The new standards prohibit teachers from setting purposes for reading or discussing prior knowledge. There is no ban on prereading in CCSS, but the shape and scope of reading lessons have changed.

Quality Feedback–”Nice job!” is encouraging, but is it helpful?

In the July 2012 edition of Education Update, a publication of ASCD, Katie  Rapp gives a concise and helpful overview of Quality Feedback: What is it and how to give it.  ”Giving quality feedback, frankly, can take a lot of time.” Here are her Quick Tips from experts in the field: