In a case of a little mistake turning into a major kerfuffle, the Chicago Public Schools system was left apologizing to families for sending an email with a link to an erotic Web site.
According to CBS Chicago, the email was intended to inform parents of changes that are being made to a standardized test administered by the state of Illinois. The email contained a link to the state board of education’s Web site. However, rather than starting the URL with ISBE (an acronym for Illinois State Board of Education), the URL read, “ISBEL…” That link directed parents to ISBEL.com, a site that touts “Sex and Sensuality Illuminated.”
The mistake was discovered, and an apology was issued.
My family lives in a PARCC state. For months, we have heard from our school district about preparing for the upcoming PARCC assessment. This has been a particularly “interesting” time for our house, as it will be the first time one of the kiddos is slated to take a state exam.
In recent weeks, the talk shifted to my son and his need to take two rounds of PARCC tests this spring. The first will begin in just a few short weeks, and will run through much of March. The second...
On Sunday February 22, 2015, Apple Distinguished Educator Jon Corippo joined the TechEducator Podcast to discuss the process of becoming an ADE. In this excerpt from the show, Jon talks about the...
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(Left to right top row: Adam Steiner, Susan Bowles, Richard Wells, Todd Finley/Middle row: Vicki Davis, Lisa Currie, C. M. Rubin, Pauline Hawkins, Joe Bower/Bottom row: Craig Kemp, Silvia Tolisano, Tom Bennett, Karen Lirenman)
...World Book Day!

Did you know that March 5 is World Book Day? The day was established 17...
Want a full-proof lesson for gifted students?
Read on.
I learned this lesson from a colleague, and it works really well with a variety of subjects. First, I need to refer to Bloom’s taxonomy (revised version), which features six levels of thinking. At the bottom, students simply memorize facts and regurgitate them. At the highest level of the pyramid, students synthesize information and create-the most complex thinking.
These higher-levels are what you want to aim...
What are the differences between happy teachers and unhappy teachers? While I have no data, I can say after 44 years in this ever-changing, fast-paced, engaging and spirited profession, I am happy! I owe it to some of the following:
Love vs. Fear I address each student as I have been taught; teach each as if she/he was my own. I want their successes, happiness, and inquiry to be central to my daily work. Each...
"The use of online assessment tools is giving teachers a more fine-grained understanding of individual students’ skills, and assisting them to determine the necessary next steps to enable them to achieve their own learning goals. We are seeing more effective differentiation in classrooms as a result".
-- Susan Mann
I am delighted to welcome back today to The Global Search for Education, Susan Mann, CEO of Education Services...
Black History Month:
Dr. Carter G. Woodson, organized a two week period in February,in 1926, to highlight contributions of African Americans. In 1976, the month of February was established as Black History Month.
The month of February was selected as it was the month in which both Frederick Douglass(abolitionist) and Abraham Lincoln (Emancipation Proclamation)were born. Black History Month is...
"Highly effective schools in Australia are not different from highly effective schools anywhere. They have a strong focus on continual improvement, often with explicit school-wide goals for improving current school practices and levels of student achievement". -- Geoff Masters
In his paper “Is School Reform Working?” Professor Geoff Masters (Chief Executive Officer, Member of the Board Australian Council for Educational Research) explores whether or not the policy...
Presidents’ Day is coming!
Share some fun facts about our Presidents: