Educational Weblogs

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN OUR STORE What we want to bring to parents and professionals is based only on accurate and up to date information! There are a lot of different kinds of parent directories all across the Internet. A lot of them include information that is selected by unknown persons using unknown criteria. This may or may not be meaningful information. Quite a few directories actually include so many programs and schools that are found when you search across the Internet that there is no way of knowing the specifics on how they came to be in that particular directory. There are ... Read Full Story

Beware of the Hype I used to be in awe of people who got a lot of publicity. My first smack in the face came when a PR company called me for a business launch of my upcoming book and had written a quote for me. They wanted me to approve the quote. I refused as it ethically did not match my intention of the book. So that's how the game works eh? Since then, I have had a love-hate relationship with PR. I realize it is important to stay "top of mind," however at the same time, it is so artificial and contrived ... Read Full Story

Horizon Family Solutions has a new website! It's been a full straight work week of nothing else in the making and has taken a great deal of time from Carl and Laurie Berg of The Graphics Ranch . For my content management Carl recommends Drupal . The road to this new site has been long and rocky at times over this last week. But we did it! www.horizonfamilysolutions.com The "other" website had been around in one incarnation or another since about 2001. In the early days, it was just a couple of pages . As the business grew, the site grew. As the industry ... Read Full Story

The Providence Journal had a story about a local East Greenwich High School Latin teacher who is leaving her job for a new job in New York. This does not sound like a big deal, but this is no ordinary job change. She is joining the "Dream Team" of teachers who are being assembled to teach at a new charter school in New York. The amazing part is the salary, which is $125,000 a year plus a $25,000 second year bonus if the school performs well. The school is called TEP Charter School and it is in the Washington Heights section of New York. ... Read Full Story

When freshmen in my Global Studies Class were given the opportunity to write an individual essay or work in a cooperative group and create an online presentation, more than half the class chose to write the essay. Why was I shocked by this? I was shocked because so many other educators have planted a seed in my head that groupwork is easier than individual work. I was shocked because students were relieved that they had the opportunity to do something easy [write and essay]. I shouldn’t have been shocked. In my own life working alone is easier. I don’t have to worry about others ... Read Full Story

In New Mexico there is a proposed "smaller schools" bill that has passed the state senate and is heading to the house for consideration. It puts a limit of 400 children in an elementary school or middle school. There is also a provision that would require a feasibility study, public hearings and approval from the Secretary of Education when combining or closing two or more small schools. The target population for the pilot, if passed, would be the low socio-economic population and Eglish Language Learners (ELL). The hope is to curb the high drop-out rate contributed to large schools. The argument is that smaller ... Read Full Story

Why are the Detroit Lions in a Death Spin? They are falling and spinning and they can't seem to get out of it. They have had first round draft picks, proven head coaches and innovative general managers. Still, they are dropping and spinning out of control. Meanwhile, teams like the Patriots, Steelers and Cowboys have numerous winning seasons and are often referred to as dynasty teams. The difference between teams like the Lions and the Steelers is a culture on winning. A team with a culture of winning has a management and coaching model that works and defines the roles of each person. They ... Read Full Story