TeacherJay's EduBlog » school reform

Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction

teacherjay — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:12:32 +0000

Ralph Tyler presented a model of curriculum design in 1949 that is still the foundation of many designs used today. [...]

Redefining Literacy (eBook Series Part 6)

teacherjay — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:47:11 +0000

With the technological advances of the 21st century does it make sense to continue teaching students with a 19th century mindset?, or do we need to update our concept of what it means to be literate in today’s world? [...]

School (District) Size

teacherjay — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:08:40 +0000

Although conventional wisdom tells us that small schools and small districts are the best way to go, that may no always be the case. Last week, the Open Education blog posted an article on the school district consolidation taking place in Maine. I ahve experience with large and small school districts beign measured by student population [...]

Cash for Grades

teacherjay — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:29:36 +0000

I have reported on this concept before and thus do not wish to take too much space for it here, but to post the link to a NY Times article that is rehashing the issue, yet again.

Perhaps the best line from the article comes in the second paragraph, “many economists and businesspeople disagree [with psychologists], [...]

Opposition to Zero to Five Plan

teacherjay — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:23:59 +0000

As mentioned in a previous post, there are those out there that are opposed to Obama’s agenda on preschool education. Although many of the arguments are solidly formed and to be expected, there are a few out there who seem to get public education confused with propaganda.

While I would welcome healthy debate from those opposed to [...]

Change for Education

teacherjay — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:14:41 +0000

During his 23-month campaign for the presidency, Barack Obama, promised a change for America. I personally am very happy to have him as our president as he has instilled hope and brings the possibility of reform with him. There were many mentions of the failings of America’s schools and how that was damaging the future of [...]

The American Dream and the Public Schools

teacherjay — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:31:19 +0000

Jennifer Hochschild and Nathan B. Scovronick teamed up to show the ways in which the public education system advances, but also hinders, the ability to pursue the “American Dream”, in their 2003 book The American Dream and the Public Schools. After first coming up with a definition of what the American dream is, they explore what Americans [...]

New School for the Obamas

teacherjay — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:08:37 +0000

Yesterday was an exciting day for Sasha and Malia – Barack Obama’s young daughters. Not only are they preparing to move to perhaps the most famous residence in the world, but they also started at a new school. This post will not be about the girls as I take the same view as the major press [...]