Most Clicked ASCD SmartBrief Stories
1. Teachers say math transition to common core may be tough
ASCD SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
The switch to Common Core State Standards may be most difficult in middle-school math, say some New York City educators. Math concepts, which must build on one another sequentially, now will be taught in different grade levels, running the risk that some students will miss learning essential skills, they say. Administrators say the process will be difficult in the short term but will result in long-term gains. GothamSchools.org (New York) (05/22)
2. Can teacher effectiveness offset larger class sizes?
ASCD SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Class size has become a heightened topic for debate as school systems struggle to balance dwindling budgets, while teachers face increasing levels of accountability. Some administrators say teacher effectiveness is much more important than class size in determining student academic achievement. Other educators say larger class sizes create classroom-management issues, make individualized instruction difficult and can lead to teacher burnout. Denver Post, The (05/27)
3. Five recommendations for teaching math problem-solving skills
ASCD SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
Five core recommendations for teaching math problem-solving skills to students in fourth to eighth grades are included in a report issued by the U.S. Department of Education's What Works Clearinghouse. Recommendations include teaching students how to use visual representations, exposing them to multiple problem-solving strategies and helping them reflect on the problem-solving process. Education Week (05/24)
4. Summer widens academic achievement gap
ASCD SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
Summer is one of the prime causes of the achievement gap between low-income and more advantaged children, according to a panel of researchers and educators at a recent education writers conference. On average, students lose a month of learning over the summer, said panelist Catherine Augustine, but the loss is much greater for poor children who do not have access to high-quality summer-learning activities. The panel recommended school districts create engaging summer programs that students of low-income families will want to attend. Hechinger Report, The (05/24)
5. Report: High-school students are more focused on academics
ASCD SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Today's high-school students are more focused on school than students were a generation ago, according to an analysis by the National Center for Education Statistics. The report found that although the current high-school population is poorer and more diverse than ever, truancy and dropout rates are lower than they were in 1992 and on-time graduation rates have increased. The analysis also found that while many courses and assessment standards are more rigorous, students' standardized test scores have not noticeably improved. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (05/24) ABC News (05/24)
6. Understanding the role of the school principal
ASCD SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Elementary-school principal Peter DeWitt in this blog post writes that good principals support teachers and can use their experience as educators to effectively evaluate teachers. He also describes the role of the principal in improving the school community. Education Week (05/28)
7. Should students be required to read over the summer?
ASCD SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
An Illinois high school will require students to read a book this summer and answer several questions about it. The summer assignment is intended to help students return to school ready to learn and give teachers valuable information about the types of books that students like to read. Students largely will be able to select their own books, as long as they relate to a topic based on their grade level. However, incoming juniors will be asked to pick one of two school-selected books. News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, Ill.), The (05/28)
8. Which of the following most closely correlates with a principal's level of effectiveness?
ASCD SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
9. New site resembles education-focused Pinterest
ASCD SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
A new product, Learnist, allows users to take educational content from websites such as YouTube and Wikis and post them to a board -- similar to Pinterest. The format of the site, according to its creators, helps to prevent against misinformation found on websites, such as Wikipedia, and still give users access to the resources they need. Mashable (05/23)
10. Guidelines distinguish between free speech, bullying
ASCD SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
A new set of guidelines for school administrators attempts to clarify the distinction between a bully and a student exercising the right of free speech. Produced by the American Jewish Committee and the Religious Freedom Education Project/First Amendment Center, the guidelines state that while students have a right to attend school without feeling threatened, schools should not censor a student's right of free speech unless it is substantially disruptive to the education process. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (05/22)
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