The most contentious issue in education captured all attention last week when New York published the rankings of its 18,000 public school teachers. Should teacher rankings, using controversial value-added methods, be public information? Read the background story about the fight in NY courts over the release of scores. Then, read op-eds by Bill Gates, Mayor Bloomberg, economist Eric Hanushek, and Stanford professor Linda-Darling Hammond to hear the arguments, pro and con. If you aren’t sure of your position, it’s likely that after reading these articles you’ll know where you stand! Does dealing with sibling rivalry vex you? Watch this heart-warming TED talk by researcher Jeffrey Kluger and let his sibling science update your perspective. Not heard of Gamestar Mechanic? It teaches kids (age 7-14) systems thinking as they make their own games.
Parenting
Pointing, the Gesture of Authority - Wray Herbert, Huff Post Science
How Gaming is Good for You - Robert Lee Hotz, Wall Street Journal
The Sibling Bond - Jeffrey Kluger, Ted Talk
Doomed or Lucky? The Future of the Internet Gen - Tina Barseghian, Mind/Shift
Learning
Learning Can Be Passive - Annie Murphy Paul, Time
Timing and How the Brain Learns - Marlene Cimons, National Science Foundation, US News
Guess, Predicting Answers Leads to Deeper Learning - Annie Murphy Paul, Mind/Shift
Does Preschool Matter? - Jonah Lehrer, Wired
Education
Teacher Ratings Aired in New York - Stephanie Banchero, Wall Street Journal
Parents Have Mixed Views on Teacher Rankings - Anna M. Phillips, New York Times
Value-Added Evaluation Hurts Teaching - Linda Darling-Hammond, Education Week
Shame is Not the Solution - Bill Gates, New York Times
The Value of Releasing Value-Added Teacher Ratings - Eric Hanushek, Education Next
Parents Deserve to Know Teacher Evaluation Results - Mayor Bloomberg, Education News
Resources
Gamestar Mechanic, teaches kids systems thinking via game design - Gamestar Mechanic
10 Recommended Educational iPad Apps - Explore Knowledge Academy, eSchool News
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