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Neighborhood Education Issues for June 10 – 16, 2012
Patch and READKIDDOREAD: Check out the kid’s reading lists for summer
Patch has teamed up with James Patterson’s READKIDDOREAD program to bring you reading lists for every age. Here, James Patterson’s summer reading picks for tweens and teens, ages 11-up. http://cascade.patch.com/articles/summer-reading-list-for-tweens-and-teens-11-up-48e0bd17?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001
Atlanta Public Schools is looking for a new person to become principal of North Atlanta High
Atlanta high schools are looking for the right principals for North Atlanta High and Jackson High, but the positions are still up in the air. We may be lucky that we have our principal in place for Perkerson Elementary.
From the AJC http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2012/06/09/aps-pick-for-north-atlanta-high-principal-declines-offer/
Presentation of Ruth and the Green Book, by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, June 28, 2012 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm at Stewart-Lakewood Library 2893 Lakewood Ave, SW Atlanta GA, 30315
Ruth and the Green Book, by Calvin Alexander Ramsey, is a children’s book which takes place in the 1950’s during the time of Jim Crow laws when African-Americans met serious challenges traveling through the south. Ruth and her family were aided by the The Negro Motorist Green Book, which informed them of businesses that would welcome them during their travels. The story is told through the eyes of Ruth, a young African-American girl going south with her parents. This book, through its story and the beautiful art work by Floyd Cooper, shares a vital part of history with young readers.
Mr. Ramsey will be available for book signing after his presentation. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4196932568034&set=o.163233173692278&type=1&theater
The Criterion-Referenced Competency Test for Georgia improved in 2012
“Georgia students did better this year in English/language arts, social studies and reading, while scores remained flat or dipped slightly in math and science. . The CRCT, administered each year to public school students in grades three through eight, measures whether students meet expectations in English/language arts, social studies, reading, math and science.”
From the AJC http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/georgia-students-make-strides-1457888.html
Dunwoody teacher writes about the importance of learning a second language
Clarissa Adams Fletcher wrote a letter to the AJC on the importance of learning a second language. Fletcher was named National Language Teacher of the Year by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
From the AJC Get Schooled Blog by Maureen Downy http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/06/08/dunwoody-language-teacher-learning-a-second-language-is-vital/?cxntfid=blogs_get_schooled_blog
Learning a second language early is taking root all around the world
“Growing numbers of pupils around the world are learning a foreign language at an earlier age – with some starting as three-year-olds, says a major study released today.
At least 11 countries have lowered the age at which children start learning a second language in the past decade, with two of them – Spain and Belgium – introducing the subject for pupils aged three.”
From the article in the Independent, “Britain’s children left behind in languages by the time they’re three” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/britains-children-left-behind-in-languages-by-the-time-theyre-three-7844893.html
Cobb teacher, Ryan Lund Neuman, writes that school culture is key to great schools
“Some teachers want power. Some want a paycheck. Some want to pay it forward. And look, it’s not even that simple. There’s about 50 grays of shade in between those three statements alone but here’s the thing, there are those who simply want to be great. And you know what, that’s the only thing you really need in education. Good people who want to be great teachers. You get some good people doing genuinely great things and you don’t have to dwell on all that other garbage. Everything else will fall into place.”
From the AJC Get Schooled Blog by Maureen Downy http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/06/16/leading-the-culture-committee-and-learning-the-way/?cxntfid=blogs_get_schooled_blog
New Study by Southern Regional Education Board Urges Caution with Class Size Increases
WABE’s Denis O’Hayer spoke with the Southern Regional Education Board’s Jeff Gagne, who wrote study urging caution with class size increases.
“A new report from the Southern Regional Education Board says that even when budgets are tight, states should protect smaller classes in the early grades and study the effects of larger classes on student achievement.
Research shows that students perform better in small classrooms, especially in kindergarten through third grade, according to Smart Class-Size Policies for Lean Times. Yet shrinking class sizes is one of the most expensive education initiatives for states: Reducing average class size by even one student could cost the nation more than $10 billion per year. In Florida, a statewide class-size reduction policy cost nearly $22 billion over a nine-year period.”
Read the press release for the study and download the report here http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093&id=638eb98753
Listen to the PBA interview http://pba.org/post/new-study-urges-caution-class-size-increases-talk-study-author-jeff-gagne
