Comments for soetalk.com http://soetalk.com Where the Chalk Hits the Board Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:38:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Don’t miss this free event by Sydney Collins http://soetalk.com/?p=28&cpage=1#comment-4200 Sydney Collins Wed, 30 Jun 2010 10:38:54 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=28#comment-4200 K12 education is the best. Everyone should look out for it.;". K12 education is the best. Everyone should look out for it.;”.

]]> Comment on “Same Kind of Different as Me” book discussion by Betsy Emery - Student Affairs http://soetalk.com/?p=580&cpage=1#comment-4187 Betsy Emery - Student Affairs Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:34:42 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=580#comment-4187 I'm only 1/4 of the way through the book, but am enjoying it. The drastic differences in the lifestyles of the two characteres makes me wonder how they are ever going to come together? I look forward to finsihing this book. I’m only 1/4 of the way through the book, but am enjoying it. The drastic differences in the lifestyles of the two characteres makes me wonder how they are ever going to come together? I look forward to finsihing this book.

]]> Comment on “Same Kind of Different as Me” book discussion by Susan McLean http://soetalk.com/?p=580&cpage=1#comment-4186 Susan McLean Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:06:56 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=580#comment-4186 The book has its magical moments of inspiration as well as some terribly sad moments. I prayed about what could I do as an individual with limited physical capabilities...and that is it...I realized one thing I could do would be to add daily prayers for people in shelters, the homeless, and people that are being judged by their outward appearances rather than who they are. I have also begun tutoring someone in Microsoft applications that I normally would never have formed a relationship with because we are night and day in our differences. This book helped me in looking beyond the surface and realizing that one person can make a change. Just imagine what Baltimore city would look like if everyone took five minutes a day to pray for just one gang member to have a change of heart...nothing is impossible and nothing beats failure but a try! I think it is well worth reading-you may also become inspired! The book has its magical moments of inspiration as well as some terribly sad moments. I prayed about what could I do as an individual with limited physical capabilities…and that is it…I realized one thing I could do would be to add daily prayers for people in shelters, the homeless, and people that are being judged by their outward appearances rather than who they are. I have also begun tutoring someone in Microsoft applications that I normally would never have formed a relationship with because we are night and day in our differences. This book helped me in looking beyond the surface and realizing that one person can make a change. Just imagine what Baltimore city would look like if everyone took five minutes a day to pray for just one gang member to have a change of heart…nothing is impossible and nothing beats failure but a try! I think it is well worth reading-you may also become inspired!

]]> Comment on Maryland Applies for Race to Top Funds by Gregory http://soetalk.com/?p=576&cpage=1#comment-4179 Gregory Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:31:42 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=576#comment-4179 I am curious about how these reforms will be implemented. I wish MD all the best in this endeavor. It is a significant and worthy objective. I am curious about how these reforms will be implemented. I wish MD all the best in this endeavor. It is a significant and worthy objective.

]]> Comment on Register for “Closing the Achievement Gap” at the MCC on 4/27 by Brenda Davis http://soetalk.com/?p=547&cpage=1#comment-4131 Brenda Davis Tue, 04 May 2010 03:27:53 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=547#comment-4131 Keeping the Promise to All America's Children Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks to the Council for Exceptional Children, April 21, 2010 FOR RELEASE: April 21, 2010 America does not have expendable students. But education for all is more than an economic issue. It's a moral issue. I have often said that education is the civil rights issue of our time. Keeping the Promise to All America’s Children
Secretary Arne Duncan’s Remarks to the Council for Exceptional Children, April 21, 2010

FOR RELEASE:
April 21, 2010

America does not have expendable students.
But education for all is more than an economic issue. It’s a moral issue. I have often said that education is the civil rights issue of our time.

]]> Comment on Comment on ” Closing the Achievement Gap” Discussion by Brenda Davis http://soetalk.com/?p=555&cpage=1#comment-4130 Brenda Davis Tue, 04 May 2010 03:22:24 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=555#comment-4130 I did attend this event and had a chance to hear many interesting points and several suggested strategies to help begin the process of narrowing the achievement gap. One point (and or possible solution), is to recreate a teacher evaluation system that includes a more detailed rubric of performance. The evening atmosphere took on an unpleasant/different air to me and (several other educators from Prince George’s County) when one of the panelist implied that people from Prince George’s County could not possibly pose a question/statement fluently. Imagine, this person feels strongly that he can provide direction to solutions and answers to help close the achievement gap. I am inclined to disagree. However, I would like very much to have another panel discussion surrounding the issue of the achievement gap and include panelists such as Paul Gorski to share some of his findings on multicultural education. It appears that the lack of authentic multicultural systems of education is a major contributing factor to what has become known as the achievement gap. I did attend this event and had a chance to hear many interesting points and several suggested strategies to help begin the process of narrowing the achievement gap. One point (and or possible solution), is to recreate a teacher evaluation system that includes a more detailed rubric of performance.
The evening atmosphere took on an unpleasant/different air to me and (several other educators from Prince George’s County) when one of the panelist implied that people from Prince George’s County could not possibly pose a question/statement fluently.
Imagine, this person feels strongly that he can provide direction to solutions and answers to help close the achievement gap. I am inclined to disagree. However, I would like very much to have another panel discussion surrounding the issue of the achievement gap and include panelists such as Paul Gorski to share some of his findings on multicultural education. It appears that the lack of authentic multicultural systems of education is a major contributing factor to what has become known as the achievement gap.

]]> Comment on You Tube Video – meet SOE student and Baltimore City teacher by Mr. Edwards http://soetalk.com/?p=495&cpage=1#comment-4126 Mr. Edwards Mon, 03 May 2010 16:40:52 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=495#comment-4126 Thanks for this video, It helps show the challenges people in this line of work face on a daily basis. Thanks for this video, It helps show the challenges people in this line of work face on a daily basis.

]]> Comment on Comment on ” Closing the Achievement Gap” Discussion by Frederick Stichnoth http://soetalk.com/?p=555&cpage=1#comment-4122 Frederick Stichnoth Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:50:25 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=555#comment-4122 The presenters dealt with a generic and disembodied achievement gap. Their largely tacit conception of the gap ignores disparities in the high achievement, correlated with graduation from selective colleges and from graduate and professional programs, vital to social mobility, equal participation in social power, and simple equity. The presenters also markedly downplayed the importance of communities, stakeholders, socio-economic milieu and politics, thereby upholding professional, elite program tools over the reality of their application. In Montgomery County, poor and minority students and low school performance outcomes are concentrated by the geography of neighborhood. The presenter-MCPS common focus on a single generic gap, with its low cut point outcome measures, selects programming and strategies for these low SES neighborhoods only. There is no more significant an example of “institutional racism” in Montgomery County Public Schools than the exclusive focus on raising students in poor neighborhoods to low cut points. The presenters dealt with a generic and disembodied achievement gap. Their largely tacit conception of the gap ignores disparities in the high achievement, correlated with graduation from selective colleges and from graduate and professional programs, vital to social mobility, equal participation in social power, and simple equity. The presenters also markedly downplayed the importance of communities, stakeholders, socio-economic milieu and politics, thereby upholding professional, elite program tools over the reality of their application.

In Montgomery County, poor and minority students and low school performance outcomes are concentrated by the geography of neighborhood. The presenter-MCPS common focus on a single generic gap, with its low cut point outcome measures, selects programming and strategies for these low SES neighborhoods only. There is no more significant an example of “institutional racism” in Montgomery County Public Schools than the exclusive focus on raising students in poor neighborhoods to low cut points.

]]> Comment on Comment on ” Closing the Achievement Gap” Discussion by Janine Harig http://soetalk.com/?p=555&cpage=1#comment-4116 Janine Harig Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:22:04 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=555#comment-4116 Couldn't make it to the Closing the Achievement Gap discussion, but would love to hear more about it. Was it videotaped? Please share highlights if you attended. Couldn’t make it to the Closing the Achievement Gap discussion, but would love to hear more about it. Was it videotaped? Please share highlights if you attended.

]]> Comment on Writing Contest Opportunities for Students by gerry http://soetalk.com/?p=464&cpage=1#comment-4113 gerry Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:21:46 +0000 http://soetalk.com/?p=464#comment-4113 Interesting blog, way different than the others! Interesting blog, way different than the others!

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