I recently ran across Bill Gates’s blog. He was reviewing Yuval Noah Harari’s book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. The title of his post was, “The Purpose Problem: What if People Run Out of Things to Do?” Gates ironically reflects on what it means to have purpose in one’s life. I say ironically, […]
Proficiency-Based Learning: Focused on Skills While Missing the Big Picture
…tests are now broken down into specific sets of skills so teachers can identify how well students understand each task. When students get less than a proficient score, they must go back and study the skill they missed. They are then given a chance to retake the relevant portions of the test until they earn […]
Universal Design for Learning or Microcosm for Destruction?
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a part of the new Every Student Succeeds Act. It promotes what is heralded as a new way to reach students with diverse needs. It sounds new agey. But what does this miracle program have that those of us who worked in special education for years don’t? You may, […]
The LA Times Editorial—A Distraction
There’s so much bad news about public schools. When one article makes you want to pop the cork and dance in the streets, it is easy to get excited. Don’t. The tables haven’t really been turned. The LA Times Editorial criticizes the Gates Foundation for their poor philanthropic use of billions of dollars spent on […]
Gambling on Fast-Track Teachers in Nevada and Beyond and Personalized Learning
Nevada school officials claim they can’t find 1,000 teachers to fill their classrooms. Education Week is claiming this isn’t much different than what’s found in the rest of the country. In the middle of it all you will think about Personalized Learning. Education Week won’t let you forget it. If you don’t have a need […]