Most Clicked ASCD SmartBrief Stories
1. First-grade algebra has long-term dividends
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 30, 2008
Some Oregon students are being introduced to algebra as early as first grade -- an approach that is paying off in later grades with 80% of Lebanon eighth-graders passing state math exams. Instead of using flash cards and memorization techniques, students are asked to defend how they arrived at an answer, which teachers say helps them understand the lessons. Oregonian (Portland), The (12/28)
2. Unprepared kindergartners may cost Minn. schools $113 million a year
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 31, 2008
Students who enter kindergarten without adequate preparation are more likely to drop out, plus they're more likely to need special education or have to repeat a grade at a cost of some $24.4 million, additional English instruction for $11 million and more resources to deal with delinquent behavior, at a cost of $6 million, according to a Wilder Research report. Teachers are also more likely to quit or miss work due to the resulting behavior and academic problems, costing some $28.9 million, researchers said. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) (12/29)
3. Country facing critical shortage of science, math teachers
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 29, 2008
Officials estimate that 200,000 more science and math teachers will be needed in the next decade, and many districts currently confront shortages. Schools looking to recruit science and math teachers have implemented more mentoring programs for new teachers and added salary incentives, and President-elect Barack Obama has said he hopes to recruit more teachers by offering additional scholarships. Christian Science Monitor, The (12/29)
4. Is cursive instruction worth valuable lesson time?
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 31, 2008
Educators say that young students spend less than 10 minutes each day learning about penmanship, including cursive, which has all but disappeared from classrooms as teachers fill class time preparing for mandatory state exams and teaching students about new technology. "Nowadays, parents would be pretty upset if we sent kids to handwriting camp," said Carl Brown, principal of Manatee Elementary in Viera, Fla. "Kids just don't write letters now. They send e-mails or text messages. ... A lot of those old ways are going away. How many bills do you pay by writing a check anymore?" Florida Today (Melbourne) (12/29) Sacramento Bee (Calif.), The (free registration) (12/30)
5. Obama recovery plan to include school renovations
ASCD SmartBrief | Jan 02, 2009
U.S. schools need an estimated $255 billion in repairs, according to the American Federation of Teachers. President-elect Barack Obama hopes to include school renovations in his economic-stimulus plan, although he has not yet disclosed the total that he wants to dedicate to schools. Obama's transition team has announced an initial $25 billion should be split between schools and deteriorating roadways. USA TODAY (12/30)
6. Music teacher turns school choir into Internet sensation
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 29, 2008
A Staten Island school choir has gained millions of fans after the school's music teacher began posting videos of their rehearsals and blogging about their progress singing contemporary music. "I didn't expect this level of ability from a children's choir and was really blown away, touched, thrilled and inspired all at once," said singer-songwriter Tori Amos, after hearing the students' rendition of one of her songs. New York Times, The (12/25)
7. Boston schools may lay off hundreds of teachers
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 29, 2008
Boston Globe, The (12/27)
8. Catholic school teacher fired for marrying divorced man
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 31, 2008
San Antonio Express-News (Texas) (free registration) (12/30)
9. All About Assessment/Anchoring Down the Data
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 30, 2008
Today's educators, inundated by a profusion of students' test scores, face a data overload. An article in Educational Leadership examines how, despite repeated calls for educators to get more instructional mileage out of the assessment data they have on hand, two deterrents typically stand in the way of most educators' effective use of test data. First, there's a missing realization, and second, there's a missing skill. Read more
10. Duncan may face new challenges as U.S. education secretary
ASCD SmartBrief | Dec 31, 2008
As President-elect Barack Obama's choice for U.S. education secretary, Arne Duncan will face myriad challenges, including the postponed NCLB reauthorization. His collaborative attitude should serve him well, many educators say, but he'll eventually need to make tough decisions that could alienate some groups. Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org) (01/07) Education Week (premium article access compliments of Edweek.org) (12/30)
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