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December 4, 2008 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise News for the Education Profession   Eye on Curriculum    Students can benefit from tackling hardest material first While most teachers progress from easier topics to more advanced ones, that may not always be the best approach, according to a new study. When students were taught to classify materials according to complex criteria, they scored better when they worked on harder problems first. Researchers said those who started with easy items tended to oversimplify and did not think abstractly enough to do well. ScienceDaily (12/1) Texas district's Broad success credited to training, data Despite more than 94% of its students living in poverty, Brownsville, Texas, schools have successfully narrowed the achievement gap and boasts one of the best bilingual programs in the country. "Academic excellence is not an accident," said superintendent Hector Gonzales, in a profile of the district's success after winning the $1 million Broad Prize for Urban Education. "It's a very deliberate approach." Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (12/1) Other News Next NAEP may measure college, work preparedness Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (12/1) Some Va. students serve suspensions helping others, modifying behavior Daily Press (Newport News/Hampton, Va.) (12/1) NEW!!! MORNING MEETING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT KIT. A powerful and practical way to teach your staff the practice of Morning Meeting. Kit includes detailed instructions for 8 weekly sessions plus DVDs. Just add copies of The Morning Meeting Book for each participant. Purchase once, use again and again. Click here for details.   Professional Leadership    Selling ad space on tests helps teacher cover supply expenses A San Diego calculus teacher is selling ad space on his test pages after district budget cuts curtailed spending on supplies by nearly a third. Some of the ads, which cost $10 for a quiz, $20 for a chapter test and $30 for a semester final, are inspirational messages, but others are ads from local businesses, which have collectively brought in about $350. USA TODAY (12/2) Students empowered by sewing lessons Sewing classes at a Boston-area shop have drawn about 8,000 students since it opened 13 years ago in Needham, and teacher Laurén Johnston has already opened a second Sew Easy branch in West Roxbury. Students choose from among 300 projects, and select everything from the pattern to the fabric -- a process that Johnston says "empowers" her students. The Boston Globe (12/4) Other News Md. district teachers agree to give up 5% pay raise to help balance budget The Washington Post (12/4) Biosphere to become science, math teacher-training site Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (12/4) At last, a laptop created for education PC and Mac continue to trade punches in the mainstream media, but neither is listening to what teachers really want. Visit www.laptopsmackdown.com to see the only laptop designed for classrooms.   Learning and Teaching    Teacher shares 10 secrets for classroom organization Organization can become a luxury in the classroom, according to Cossondra George, a Michigan middle school teacher, who said she has found 10 organization secrets that can help any teacher. Those include having a designated spot for students to turn in work and one where absent students can pick up work they missed. Teacher Magazine (free registration) (12/3) American Public University, a member of the regionally accredited American Public University System, offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, many tailored to the needs of educators and counselors. All courses are online, affordable, and conveniently scheduled for the working professional. www.apu.apus.edu/education   Technology Solutions    Web site helps students get paid for good grades Students from middle school to college who upload their transcripts to GradeFund.com each semester can seek out sponsors for their A's, with donors pledging cash for each A earned; site founder Michael Kopko hopes the model will help motivate younger students and aid older ones with college costs. TIME (12/2) Promote school success and prevent bullying Give your middle school students the skills they need to succeed. The new, research-based Second Step: Student Success Through Prevention is designed to promote school success and prevent bullying, violence, and substance abuse. Download a free lesson to see how this teacher-friendly program can help!   Policy Watch  Report: U.S. education spending often haphazardly distributed The U.S. education system often spends more on well-off students than poor ones and more for elective and AP classes than core and remedial ones, according to a new report about financing at the 97,000 U.S. schools. "Because we have a system where money is not connected to outcomes, we're not able to answer the question, 'How much should we be spending?'" said project research director Marguerite Roza, a University of Washington research associate professor. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (12/2) Gates calls for federal investment in education: Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has called on President-elect Barack Obama to invest in U.S. public education despite the sagging economy. "In a crisis, there is always a risk that you take your eyes off the future and you sacrifice long-term investments for short-term gains," said Gates. "We should have a bigger goal than getting the economy growing again. I think we should expand the number of people who are contributing to the economy and benefiting from it." The Washington Post (12/4) , CNN (12/3) Will California run out of lunch money? Increasing numbers of California families participating in free and reduced-priced lunches could force many districts to dip into their budgets or alter food choices, said state superintendent Jack O'Connell. O'Connell is requesting $31.1 million from the general fund to prevent the state from running out of meal money during this school year. Los Angeles Times (12/3) It's time to get strategic about hiring. Reach thousands of engaged professionals with SmartBrief Jobs. Need to find the best and the brightest? SmartBrief Jobs will deliver your openings directly to the people who matter the most. Start your focused recruiting campaign now. The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Debbie Miller helps teachers define their beliefs about teaching and learning and align them with classroom practices in her new book, Teaching with Intention. Get practical suggestions for classroom organization, lesson design, teacher language, assessment, conferring, and more. Click here for details! Are you ready for a conference experience like no other? Then make plans now to attend the 2009 National Conference on Singapore Math for grades K-6, July 13-16 in Las Vegas. You'll gain innovative strategies for improving your students' understanding and mastery of basic math concepts. Exclusive Offer: Receive $100 in FREE books when you register by Dec. 31, 2008 for 3 or more days. Learn more. Penn's Leadership Program -- Reshape education. Lead thought and practice. Join a select group of experienced colleagues in an executive format, cohort-based, intensive 3-year program. Penn's Mid-Career Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership draws on top faculty, leading practitioners and the broad resources of an Ivy League institution. Interested in learning more about advertising in ASCD SmartBrief? Contact Joe Riddle at (202) 737-5500 x228 or jriddle@smartbrief.com.     In the Field  Report: College tuition increased 439% from 1982 to 2007 Rapidly increasing college tuition is causing the U.S. to lose some of its education advantage when compared to other countries, according to a new National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education report. "I don't know what it's going to take to get our nation to wake up to what's happening with regard to the education deficit we're building," said William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. The Washington Post (12/3) , The New York Times (12/3) , Los Angeles Times (12/3)   Association News  Beyond the Test Bubble: Accountability, Expectations and Planning How can we hold schools accountable while ensuring that students receive a rich education, graduate from high school, and are prepared for the challenges of the 21st century? An ASCD blog post highlights this month's whole child podcast. During the podcast, Richard Rothstein shares his vision for a broader accountability system. Tommy Bice, deputy superintendent of the Alabama Department of Education, will explain how Alabama is responding to the growing dropout crisis with its First Choice plan. Finally, John Brown, author of Educating the Whole Child: An ASCD Action Tool, will explain how schools can implement a comprehensive planning process that moves beyond our current conception of accountability. Listen to this month's podcast at www.wholechildeducation.org/podcasts. View the post Bryk Decries Dearth of Research Anthony S. Bryk, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, spoke at the American Enterprise Institute on Nov. 19 about the future of education research. An ASCD blog post highlights his speech in which he talks about how changes in the economy, technology, and society will directly influence public education. He also presented a plan which pushes for schools to approach education research in the same manner as the commercial sector. The post asks readers if we should be spending more on research and development, and if they think schools make good use of existing education research. 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