Faith, hope, and hard work: Reflections on Year One of Partnership Schools
Kathleen Porter-MageeJune marked the end of my first year as superintendent of Partnership Schools, a nonprofit school management organization that (thanks to an historic agreement with the Archdiocese of New York) was granted broad authority to manage and operate six K–8 urban Catholic schools.
Tapas-style curriculum
Editor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form at the Core Knowledge Blog.
Want to change school names? Involve students in the decision
Robert PondiscioI taught fifth grade for many years at P.S. 277, in New York City’s South Bronx. But the school's full name was the Dr. Evelina Lopez-Antonetty Children's Literacy Center.
Building Literacy Skills: The state of reading instruction in grades K–3
Robert PondiscioIt’s working! Evidence of positive changes in teaching practices under Common Core. Robert Pondiscio
A peek inside the classroom black box
Robert PondiscioDistrict curriculum choices should be transparent—and making it so is easy. Robert Pondiscio
Common Core's first breakout hit?
Robert PondiscioA free online curriculum taps a need—and a nerve.
Closing the Expectations Gap 2014
Chester E. Finn, Jr.We’re doing an awful job of ensuring that kids graduate from high school with the skills to succeed. Chester E. Finn, Jr.
Truth and consequences
Chester E. Finn, Jr.States shouldn’t sugarcoat the bad news when reporting Common Core test results to parents. Chester E. Finn, Jr.
The Paperwork Pileup: Measuring the Burden of Charter School Applications
Kathryn MullenA new AEI report raises the right questions—and promulgates some of the wrong answers. Kathryn Mullen Upton
EngageNY's ELA curriculum is uncommonly engaging
Kathleen Porter-Magee, Victoria McDougaldAdvocates hoped Common Core would incentivize good new curriculum. It’s happening. Kathleen Porter-Magee and Victoria Sears
NEW from Fordham: Is EngageNY uncommonly engaging?
The Education GadflySince we at Fordham began reviewing state academic standards in 1997, we have understood—and made clear—that standards alone are insufficient to drive improvements in student achievement.
Knowledge is literacy
Robert PondiscioEditor's note: This post has been updated to include the entirety of "Knowledge is literacy."
The American Dream in crisis: A conversation with Robert Putnam
The Education GadflyLast week, Fordham hosted Robert Putnam for a discussion of his new book Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, which argues that a growing opportunity gap is leaving many American children behind.
Games of knowledge: A review of Greg Toppo's "The Game Believes in You"
Robert PondiscioEditor's note: This post originally appeared in a slightly different form at U.S. News & World Report.I wanted to hate this book.
The promise of mastery grading
Jessica PoinerCall it mastery or competency-based education, it holds promise for students of all abilities
Getting observations wrong: the Phil Jackson Fallacy
David GriffithWas Phil Jackson really a great coach? Despite his reputation as the Zen master of hoops, I’ve never been convinced. After all, Kobe, Shaq, and His Airness would have made any coach look like a genius, and there’s never been a natural experiment quantifying Jackson’s impact.
Don't know much about history
Robert PondiscioEditor's note: This post has been updated with the full text of "Don't know much about history."
Ten arguments against Common Core presidential hopefuls should avoid
Tim ShanahanAn open letter to the candidates. Tim Shanahan
Shifting from learning to read to reading to learn
Robert PondiscioThis post has been updated with the full text of "Shifting from learning to read to reading to learn."
EdReports.org
Victoria McDougaldA great resource fact-checks textbooks’ “Common Core-aligned” claims. Victoria Sears
Moral facts and the Common Core
Kathleen Porter-MageeJust when you thought we’d run out of things to blame on the standards. Kathleen Porter-Magee
No time to lose on early reading
Robert PondiscioThis post has been updated with the full text of "No time to lose on early reading"
The Teaching Brain: An Evolutionary Trait at the Heart of Education
Megan LailBoth teacher and student characteristics ought to influence instructional design. Megan Lail
CPAC's Common Core vaudeville show
Robert PondiscioI’d like to see Bobby Jindal use a teleprompter the next time he attacks Common Core. I’d like to be reassured he knows how to read.
Finding life lessons for students on the obituary page
Character education with real characters. Peter Sipe
NEW from Fordham: Common Core and America's High-Achieving Students
The Education GadflyWhile the merit and politics of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been much debated and discussed, one topic has been virtually ignored: What do the standards portend for America’s high-ability students? In a new brief from Fordham, Jonathan Plucker, professor of education at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, provides guidance for districts
Can gifted education survive the Common Core?
Chester E. Finn, Jr., Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Higher standards are no excuse to ditch gifted services. Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.
The central problem with Jason Riley's argument
Michael J. PetrilliWe at Fordham are big fans of Jason Riley, a Wall Street Journal columnist who just joined the team at the Manhattan Institute.
Is Common Core too hard for kindergarten?
Robert PondiscioThere’s no such thing as too much, too soon in reading. Robert Pondiscio