Is Michelle Rhee’s Olympics-Inspired Ad Attacking American Education?

Michelle Rhee, former chancellor of the Washington D.C. public schools, and founder of Students First, a political advocacy organization for education reform, has tapped into the hype of the 2012 Olympic Games while encouraging major changes in our education system. The ad, however, has drawn criticism from educators who find Rhee's message to be degrading and insulting to American schools.

The advertisement features an out-of-shape athlete competing for the United States in a baton-twirling Olympic sport. The athlete is unprepared, out of br…

 

Innovative Teaching: Does Our Education System Allow It?

With lagging STEM performance and a need for technology to be weaved into the classroom, the Department of Education (ED) is attempting to get regional school districts to band together to accelerate the innovation of education through technology.

The ED is discussing a movement called "Education Innovation Clusters," whose purpose and necessity are highlighted in a recent article on the ED website.

“At a time when advances in technology and digital …

Tips for Teachers: Creating a Teaching Portfolio Online

Do you have a professional teaching portfolio? Is it accessible online? While you may have created an assessment portfolio during your pre-service curriculum or have a current requirement to maintain evidence of your work as part of a performance evaluation system, it could be time for an update. Creating an online presentation of your accomplishments is easier than ever and may be worth your time if you are contemplating a future career move.

Masters of Education: Obama Pledges $1 Billion to Create Elite Group of STEM Teachers

 On Wednesday, President Obama announced that he would create an elite group of teachers to become masters of education in the STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This "Master Teachers Corps" is part of an overall agenda of the administration to improve the quality of education in high demand areas that are essential to economic prosperity. Obama has pledged $1 billion to reward high-performing teachers with additional salary stipends of up to $20,000. $100 million will be available immediately from existing funds for incentivizing teachers, and the rest of the funding …

California Lawmakers Vote on Color-Coded Student ID Cards

On June 18, lawmakers in Orange County, California, finally voted on a bill that would address a controversial practice by the Anaheim School District. A.B. 166, proposed by Assemblyman Jose Solorio, prohibits school districts from including information about a student’s test scores or grades on identification cards or “any object a student might be required to carry while at school.”

Last fall, for the second year, Anaheim schools were issuing mandated student identification cards that were color coded based on the student’s performance on the previous year’s standa…

4 Outrageous Methods of Student Cheating

Besides students who are struggling, unmotivated or disruptive, there’s one difficulty you’re bound to come across during your career: cheating. Studies show that an overwhelming number of students cheat, be it copying a classmate's homework, plagiarizing an essay or attempting to outsmart a high-stakes exam.

The Internet, cell phones and other technological gadgets have made it easier and (unfortunately) more efficient for students to cheat. Students who cheat are becoming sneakier and more creative as they think of new ways to avoid actually studying. But as long as teachers are vigilant and know what to look for, it’s still easy to pick up on the methods your students are using to cheat. The following are four …

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