| News for the Education Profession |  |
- Report: Participation in Advanced Placement increases
Students' scores on Advanced Placement exams rose in 2012, as did the number of students taking the exams, according to data released Wednesday by the College Board. The report finds that 32.4% of high-school graduates -- or 954,070 students -- took AP tests last year -- an increase from 18% who did so in 2002. However, the report also found that a large number of students considered likely to succeed in AP classes do not take the exams, particularly students who are "traditionally underserved" minorities or from low-income families. InsideHigherEd.com
(2/21)      
- New learning path moves math grouping to middle school
It used to be that elementary-school teachers in Ridgefield, Conn., determined which math track students would be on during middle school, but with transition to Common Core State Standards under way in area schools, officials have decided to ask middle-school teachers to make this decision after students complete their first year. While some expressed concern about the changes, district officials said they will add more teacher development and formal guidelines to the process to help during the transition. The Ridgefield Press (Conn.)
(2/16)
 | Now learning the ABCs is as easy as uno, dos, tres.
Introducing Imagine Learning Español, a new educational software solution designed to help pre-K and kindergarten students build Spanish language and literacy proficiency. It's a better way to give young learners a strong foundation to build on. Click here to see the program in action.
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- Principal: Technology frees professional learning to happen anywhere
 Technology has made learning an ongoing process no longer limited to annual events, writes Steven Weber, principal of Hillsborough Elementary School in North Carolina. While attending the annual North Carolina ASCD Conference gave him invaluable opportunities to connect with some of the more than 1,000 fellow educators in attendance and learn from experts, Weber writes in this blog post that such learning is not confined to annual conferences alone, but it also occurs on Twitter and through videos, blogs and other venues. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education
(2/20)
 | Begin the journey to transformative learning
Our collection of Common Core pathways offers premium, on-site PD for sustainable implementation. Develop a comprehensive plan based on your school’s or district’s most critical challenges. Best of all, each step is completely customizable! Choose the pathway that makes the most sense for your school or district. Need help creating a plan? Start here.
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| Technology in the Classroom |  |  |
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- Online math program adds up to fun for N.C. students
Davidson County schools in North Carolina have adopted an online math portal -- called First in Math -- where K-8 students can interact and compete with peers. High scorers receive recognition each month. "I'm very proud of them. The students enjoy it," said principal Dan Shamblen. "It's engaging. They see immediate feedback. It's more in line with the curriculum." The Dispatch (Lexington, N.C.)
(2/18)
| The Whole Child | | |
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- Learning resilience through playtime
Allowing children to have time for "free play" is key to helping them become successful adults, according to Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, an author and pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This blog post describes Ginsburg's seven characteristics of resilience and suggests that unstructured play is the self-learning method children use to develop them. KQED.org/Mind/Shift blog
(2/15)
- Switching to positive TV programs may improve child behavior
Limiting preschool children's exposure to violent TV programs and increasing their time watching educational programs resulted in significant improvements in behavior after six months, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers noted that those who were encouraged to watch positive programs were less aggressive and showed healthier social behavior. USA Today
(2/18)
| Policy Watch | | |
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- Ohio schools are urged to share technology resources
Leaders in Ohio are encouraging school districts to look for opportunities to share technology resources to improve efficiency and cut costs. Such efforts could save as much as $1 billion annually statewide, one group estimates. Beginning March 1, the city of Monroe, Monroe Schools and the Butler County Educational Service Center will begin a rare partnership in which they can share a team of five technology experts. Cincinnati Enquirer, The (tiered subscription model)
(2/18)
| ED Pulse | | |
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Which idea presented during Tuesday's State of the Union address do you think would most improve education?
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Make high-quality preschool available to every child in America |
57.58%
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Ensure high-school students graduate with the necessary job skills |
14.58%
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Implement a "Fix-It-First" program to improve infrastructure, including modernizing schools |
10.80%
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Redesign America's high schools to gear up grads for a high-tech economy |
9.28%
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Reward high schools that focus on STEM and develop partnerships with colleges/employers |
3.79%
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Create a "College Scorecard" that rates schools on their cost/value |
2.27%
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Attach colleges' federal aid to their affordability and value |
1.70%
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Which would most benefit a new school-based administrator?
 | Making connections between leadership theory and day-to-day work |
| Short-term and long-term mentorship programs |
| Ideas for how to leverage technology to connect with fellow administrators |
| A personalized professional-development plan |
| A full understanding of the superintendent's expectations |
| Building relationships with students, staff and parents |
| Faculty Lounge | | |
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- Poll: Teachers are stressed out after years of reform
After two years of dramatic education reform efforts, teachers nationwide are reporting their lowest levels of job satisfaction in 25 years -- 39% -- according to the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. Among the greatest concerns expressed by the teachers who were polled was increased stress, and principals also reported job dissatisfaction, with 75% of principals saying their jobs are too complex. The survey also revealed that most principals and teachers are unsure whether the Common Core State Standards will improve students' performance. The Hechinger Report
(2/21)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
The language you use in the classroom can change students' lives. In Opening Minds Peter Johnston (author of the groundbreaking Choice Words) shows how words can shape students' learning, their sense of self, and their social, emotional, and moral development. Preview the entire book online!
PreK-1 educators: Confidently tackle the CCSS! Let SDE's experts help you unpack, understand, and be ready to implement the CCSS for your grade. Come to SDE’s PreK-1 Educators CCSS Academy in Chicago, July 20−22, 2013 and leave with strategies, resources, and a customizable, standards-based action planner! Register by March 15 to save $25 per day! Call us at 1-800-462-1478.
Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.
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| ASCD News | | |
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Devote Friday, March 15, to in-depth professional learning
If you're based in the Chicago area or traveling there for ASCD's 2013 Annual Conference and Exhibit Show next month, don't miss our lineup of one-day Pre-Conference Institutes. Topics include revolutionizing staff development and helping struggling students succeed. You also have the option to sign up for a one-day school visit. Visits will be conducted in groups of 20 participants or fewer, and will include a building and facilities tour; observation of classes; and meetings with staff, administration, and students (when possible). Browse all Pre-Conference Institutes.
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The freedom of interpretation: Building creative minds
After a year of visual thinking strategies, students at Tracy McClure, Carol Henderson and Diane P. Zimmerman's school "were not only confident viewers of art and poetry, but they were also increasingly interested in the artists' minds, beginning to apply what they had learned to be more creative." Five years into their school's visual thinking strategies or VTS program, McClure, Henderson and Zimmerman share lessons learned in a co-authored ASCD Express article. Read on.
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| Position Title | Company Name | Location |
| K-12 School Teachers Needed for International Schools | The International Educator | Multiple Locations, International |
| Educational Trainer/Consultant | Confidential | Oklahoma City and Tulsa Metro Areas, OK |
| Senior Associate Leadership and Professional Development | Community Training and Assistance Center | Boston, MA |
| Teach Overseas! | International Schools Services | Multiple Locations, International |
| Independent Sales Representative | USATestprep, Inc. | Multiple Locations, United States |
| Director, Content & Curriculum-World Languages | The College Board | Duluth, GA |
| Principal at Brooklyn Excelsior | National Heritage Academies | Brooklyn, NY |
| Professional Development Facilitator | NWEA | Washington, D.C., DC |
| Assistant Professor of Special Education | Saint Joseph 's College | Standish, ME |
| Regional Assistant Director, IL Center for School Improvement | American Institutes for Research | Naperville, IL |
| Founding High School Principal | Charter School for Global Leadership | Camden, NJ |
| Senior Associate National School Reform | Community Training and Assistance Center | Boston, MA |
| Manager for Regional Support -IL Center for School Improvement | American Institutes for Research | Naperville, IL |
| Senior Consultant - District and School Improvement | American Institutes for Research | Naperville, IL |
| Senior Communication Strategist | American Institutes for Research | Naperville, IL |
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| Click here to view more job listings. |
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| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed."
--Maria Montessori,
Italian physician and educator
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| | Recent ASCD SmartBrief Issues:
- Wednesday, February 20, 2013
- Tuesday, February 19, 2013
- Monday, February 18, 2013
- Friday, February 15, 2013
- Thursday, February 14, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Trigie Ealey
Contributing Editor: Erin Cunningham
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