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Most Clicked ASCD SmartBrief Stories


1. Does sorting students by ability exacerbate achievement gaps?

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 02, 2009

Educators in a New Jersey district are questioning whether grouping students by ability -- called leveling or tracking -- may be perpetuating racial achievement gaps, but teachers and parents are divided on whether embracing mixed-ability classes will solve the problem. Raising expectations in lower-level classes is a goal, says school Superintendent Brian Osborne, but the question remains whether sorting systems undermine students' confidence and send the wrong message. National Public Radio (10/31)


2. Group wants authors of common standards to disclose potential conflicts

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 03, 2009

The authors of new common national academic standards are being asked by a literacy-research group to make clear any ties to commercial entities that could constitute a potential conflict of interest as the standards are being written. The Literacy Research Association wants the disclosures because of concerns about relationships between the authors and companies that stand to profit financially from the sale of curriculum-related materials and assessments. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (11/04)


3. Whole Child E-Book Free Download

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 05, 2009

Through Nov. 17, ASCD's newest e-book, "Supporting the Whole Child: Reflections on Best Practices in Learning, Teaching, and Leadership," is free to download. This book, a collection of articles from Educational Leadership and other ASCD publications, explores the various meanings of support in the classroom, school and community, including how educators can build trust through exchanges that lead to positive behaviors and engagement, helping students confront new concerns and catching them before they falter. Authors such as Carol Ann Tomlinson, Douglas Fisher and Robyn Jackson share perspectives and strategies for shaping instruction, providing scaffolds and interventions, and preparing students for the 21st century.


4. 21st-Century Priorities -- What and How We Teach

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 03, 2009

At ASCD's recent Fall Conference, Mike Schmoker caught many in the crowd off guard with his presentation about 21st-century priorities. He warned against education's tendency to subscribe to unproven "fads" and said that schools should deliver a content-rich curriculum in which all students are encouraged to read deliberately, discuss what they've read and then write about it. A Conference Daily article summarizes the presentation and provides a snapshot of attendees' varied responses on Twitter.


5. Obama to highlight education-reform efforts on election anniversary

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 04, 2009

At a speech today in Wisconsin marking the first anniversary of his election, President Barack Obama is expected to highlight steps some states are taking to become eligible for federal funding under the $4.35 billion Race to the Top program. With the money expected to be disbursed in January, a number of states have already adopted reforms, including changing laws to allow teacher evaluations to be linked to student test scores and removing caps on charter schools. Wisconsin's legislature is close to signing off on the use of test scores in teacher evaluations. USA TODAY (11/04) Washington Post, The (11/03)


6. Private-school data is public domain on education Web site

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 03, 2009

An unheralded database on the Department of Education Web site is proving to be a comprehensive resource for families interested in private schools. Although not mandated, some 91% of private schools respond to survey questions about demographics, length of the school year and college-enrollment rates, among other things. Survey results are posted to the site in a searchable format that provides information that may not be otherwise available to the public. Washington Post, The (11/02)


7. Ford Foundation pledges $100 million for urban-school reform

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 06, 2009

The Ford Foundation has pledged $100 million over seven years to fund reform efforts at urban high schools in seven cities: Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Detroit and Newark, N.J.. The initiative will focus on teacher quality, student assessment, funding and the amount of time students spend in school. Jeannie Oakes, a school-reform advocate who will lead the initiative, said it will not support any one political ideology. "We just want to cut through this and think about building an outstanding public-school system for the kids who are least likely to have one now," she said. Los Angeles Times (11/05)


8. Opinion: Educators need to study teaching methods to be effective

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 04, 2009

An effort by Indiana schools Superintendent Tony Bennett's to de-emphasize the study of education methods in favor of more subject-area expertise in teacher training would reduce the overall professionalism of teachers and would likely put underqualified teachers in Indiana classrooms, argues this newspaper editorial. Teachers need to not only know the subject they are teaching, but also how best to teach it, the editorial board writes. Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Ind.), The (11/04)


9. Struggling California high school is undergoing successful turnaround

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 03, 2009

Pasadena, Calif., school officials are seeing a notable turnaround at John Muir High School after a schoolwide reorganization into four academies. Gains on state tests over the past two years have allowed the school to exit state monitoring for low performance. While officials say there is still work to be done, other improvements at the school include fewer absences, more participation in sports and more students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. Los Angeles Times (11/01)


10. Ex-engineer father writes math textbooks for struggling students

ASCD SmartBrief | Nov 02, 2009

Frustrated by watching his two sons struggle to learn math, Michigan engineer Nicholas Aggor began writing math textbooks. Aggor, who is originally from Ghana, says he hopes his textbooks will help struggling students reach their full potential. "When students are given effective math textbooks, they can excel. No student is unsalvageable, and ... there are gifted learners even among the poorest-performing students," Aggor says. Detroit News, The (11/02)




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