What is the Purpose of Assessment in Education? I think most elementary teachers with experience are able to give a full report of what their students strengths and weaknesses are at any given moment. Are they struggling with writing, reading, math...
I was at Office Max the other day and out of curiosity I pulled a teacher supply list from the six foot tall spinner that was at the store's foyer. I shook my head, though not surprised, to see lists of supplies that started at the top of the paper and...
Let's start by taking a look at a typical elementary school. Children are rewarded for reading or doing homework regularly. Some are identified as Students of the Month, others are given one hundreds consistently much to the chagrin of their secretly...
I recently read a fascinating three book series by Catherine Fosnot and Maarten Dolk entitled Young Mathematicians at Work that shares their inspiring approach to teaching mathematics to elementary children. Broken into three sections to deal separately...
In a previous article I discussed the ills of ranking and sorting children by means of administering an assessment that should have only one purpose, to provide feedback to the teacher so he can plan future instruction accordingly. I have a great bumper...
Here we are in the midst of sweeping change in education where our policy makers have decided that in order to make our educational institutions better places for learning they would double the number of standardized tests. I guess the idea was that by...
By the time I read Alfie Kohn's amazing book The Homework Myth I was already in serious doubt about the necessity of homework or the value of it. Let's face it, we validate our own beliefs and philosophies when we become acquainted with others who share...
As parents prepare to send their children back to the classroom some are wondering how well their children are going to do, I guess numerically speaking. Even further, some parents are already lining up tutors before their children even set foot through...
As a teacher I've heard more grumbling than joyous outcry over the No Child Left Behind initiative among those in education. Of course, this initiative is nothing new, and perhaps in the future talk about the problem with the NCLB will be moot. Until...