Teach And Learn

CCMS's Knowledge Sharing Institute

The latest update from the AAAS's Project 2061 Center for Curriculum Materials in Science is now available online, and features an overview of the recent "knowledge sharing institute". CCMS is a pretty cool project to develop the "knowledge and leadership needed to improve the quality and use of curriculum materials for K-12 science teaching and learning so that all students can achieve science literacy." They mostly focus on PhD programs in science curriculum development, but still seem to have some pretty interesting topics on their agendas.

Seven Warning Signs of Bogus Science

Bob Park of UMD writes a wonderful blog called What's New that is a "weekly satirical and skeptical take on current news." This related article was rising in blogosphere, and is a handy summary of seven warning signs of bogus science.

Great for all those nature of science discussions that don't happen nearly often enough in our classrooms.

Dark Matter

It's a pretty significant discovery, and a rather elegant experiment. Certainly exciting to hear science breakthroughs like this on the nightyly news.

I'm also cringing at how this idea will be dissected and explained in countless science classrooms this fall. Between this one and Pluto, and we have lots of re-learning that's going to be needed...

District Administration on Gates

I was surprised to read this open letter to the Bill Gates in the current issue of District Administration. Written by Gary Stager, an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, it is insightful and critical--a real surprise for a magazine that's generally filled with product reviews and fluff. While I don't agree with all of the letter--it's a bit too much establishment-centered whining for me--it's great to see something that takes a stand in these pages. It certainly means I'll look forward to the next District Adminstration that lands in my mailbox.

But the real exciting news about the Gates Foundation work is here.

DonorsChoose Studious 54 Party

I'm a big fan of DonorsChoose. Please join DonorsChoose and me for Studious 54, a benefit to raise funds and awareness for public school classroom needs. It's Wednesday, September 27, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, at Reserve, 858 West Lake Street, in Chicago.

Enjoy complimentary drinks and appetizers as you mix and mingle with fellow DonorsChoose supporters and Chicago teachers! Street parking and valet service available. Tickets are $65, and available online.

Sad Times For Pluto

Was on the phone with a few reporters to day as Pluto was stripped of status by astronomers. Such a great opportunity to teach students that science is tentative by nature.

[Image from the Hubble Space Telescope via Astronomy For Kids.]

Three Big TFA Ideas, Summer 2007

Wendy Kopp's annual speech to new corps members is now online, and, as usual, it's an inspiring and energizing piece. While still sidelined by many in the education establishment, I think it's clear that now more than ever TFA is really at the leading edge of some of the big issues facing our schools and country.

Her three big ideas, paraphrased:

1. We'll only solve the achievement gap problem through effective, long-term, and sustained leadership at all levels the education system.
2. We need to take some pressure off of schools--they can't take care of all the social ills of the day.
3. We need to change the prevailing ideology within the country that says that closing the achievement gap is not actionable. Kids aren't the problem; adults and their systems are.

It's neat to hear how TFA fits within these three big ideas, and how they've become the core foci that are driving the organization to bigger and better things.

Math Panel Watch

Some of the people associated with MathematicallySane (I think) have set up a blog called MathPanelWatch to follow the deliberations of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel. Plenty of intersting information and commentary there.

It'd be a real shame if this group wasn't able to transcend some of the divisiveness of the field and really set a strong vision for the future.

Learning From Sugarcane Academy

I met a few New Orleans friends this past weekend, and they reminded me of this great new-school story among all the Katrina sadness. A group of parents all from the Lusher Elementary neighborhood found themselves in New Iberia after the storm, and decided to start a school as they waited to return to the city. The result is Sugarcane Academy, which was housed at Loyola University New Orleans and served Orleans Parish students.

I always thought that real community driven schools were powerful, and this seems like such a great example of families coming together under dramatic circumstances to take care of their children. I understand that there's a book that will be published shortly about the school and the families involved.

Slate: Who Cares About Poincaré?

Slate magazine's Jordan Ellenberg writes a great story about the Poincaré conjecture. Instead of just explaining what the fuss is all about (he links to this great CUNY page with descriptions, including, for all you Literacy types, this short story version) he describes why discoveries like this are so important.

There's also a hint of social commentary within the article:

"Like the family, math is a subject everyone agrees is very important without being able to specify exactly why."

It is much easier to tell someone why it's important to learn to read, isn't it?