Writing as a parent. ‘Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation’ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/20/books/review/beyond-measure-rescuing-an-overscheduled-overtested-underestimated-generation.html?_r=0  Fired for having a heart!  What??!!  We say “Higher the Hero” – Dalene Bowden is Busting Pencils!!! This Idaho Middle School Lunch Lady Was Fired for Giving a Free Lunch to a Hungry Student http://news.yahoo.com/idaho-middle-school-lunch-lady-233401253.html Update: Cafeteria worker fired over free lunch… Read more »

Fired-Religous Struggle-In Social Studies U.S. History Class. Muslim Teacher Fired After Showing Malala Video http://www.bluejersey.com/2015/12/3-5/ “…disregarding science in favor of a particular religious belief is unconstitutional,” writes Stephen D. Foster Jr. 11-Year-Old Student Sues His Florida Public School For Failing To Teach Evolution https://www.freespeech.org/text/11-year-old-student-sues-his-florida-public-school-failing-teach-evolution Reading for enjoyment??? What an idea! Teacher: Why I stopped assigning homework… Read more »

No meaningful link!  First part of this article rocks.  The second part doesn’t really relate to the standardized tests.  It more relates to the “teacher made” tests.  Take a look and decide for yourself. Four Tips to Make it Easier on Everyone http://southhills.macaronikid.com/article/1124535/too-much-testing Clap clap clap! BustED some Pencils!! How important is arts education? https://www.facebook.com/natgeotvUS/videos/10153617771436005/?fref=nf… Read more »

“the exposure to trauma has a profound impact…” , writes AISHA SULTAN The Limitations of Teaching ‘Grit’ in the Classroom http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/12/when-grit-isnt-enough/418269/ High-achievers segregated. The New ‘Education Segregation’ Hurting the U.S. http://www.forbes.com/sites/haroldsirkin/2015/12/03/the-new-education-segregation-hurting-the-u-s/   Gold for corporations! TS Gold – A Child’s Report Card http://www.pegwithpen.com/2015/12/ts-gold-childs-report-card.html Get BustED Pencils Trending News to come right to your in-box! Enter your… Read more »

Boring to students and teachers.  Type of bullying.  Follow the rules, do what you are told, ignore the interactive part.  Keep BUSTING PENCILS Barry!! The Sad Art of Closed Reading http://www.barrylane.com/2015/12/closed-reading/ RTI raises MANY concerns! “Response to Intervention”—An Excuse to Deny Services to Students with Learning Disabilities? http://www.livingindialogue.com/response-intervention-excuse-deny-services-students-learning-disabilities/ Smoke in Mirrors!!! Success Metrics Questioned in… Read more »

…”a much needed student centered redesign of public education”, writes Jamaal Bowman Principal to N.Y. Gov. Cuomo: Stop spreading a false narrative about public education https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/11/27/principal-to-n-y-gov-cuomo-stop-spreading-a-false-narrative-about-public-education/    Can the Kahn Academy “personalize” karate? Education is broken — but this entrepreneur has a stunningly simple idea to fix it http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-fix-education-khan-academy-ted-video-2015-11 The things we know that help children develop are… Read more »

The Bush-era law. Gone with NCLB.  Is ESSA (The Every Student Succeeds Act) even close to an acceptable replacement?? Congress set to dump No Child Left Behind http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/no-child-left-behind-education-bush-congress-216291#ixzz3t5wy3vba A public school teacher and a businessman walk onto a plane… (“Fewer people who think there is one single thing that would solve all of our problems… Read more »

        170 teaching vacancies in early November! UNPRECEDENTED for Detroit Public Schools. DPS facing surge of midyear teacher departures http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/11/26/dps-teachers-leaving/76311802/       Sick schools, air unfit to breath, teachers fear being fired if reported, Asthma (in some schools) reach epidemic levels. Crumbling Schools Add Health Problems to Classroom Stress http://news.yahoo.com/crumbling-schools-add-health-problems-classroom-stress-190223653.html   “As future… Read more »

Less testing AND listening to the community?!  Wow WV Department Of Education Suggests Dropping Common Core Standards, Replacing Them http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/WV-Department-Of-Education-Suggests-Dropping-Common-Core-Standards-Replacing-Them-231556.shtml#.VkskdGSrS2w   A trouble picture painted. What could be wrong with a “community school” model? http://appsphilly.net/what-could-be-wrong-with-a-community-school-model/ Overturn broad authority! Uh-oh!! Effort to curb schools superintendent’s powers goes before Wisconsin Supreme Court http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/effort-to-curb-schools-superintendents-powers-goes-before-wisconsin-supreme-court-b99615882z1-350061921.html?ipad=y Get BustED Pencils Trending News… Read more »

“Less school, (way) more play” 5 Reasons Finland Has More Effective Schools Than The U.S. https://www.facebook.com/HuffingtonPost/videos/10153486502541130/?fref=nf   Freedom and creativity in the classroom squashed by drilling and excessive state Standards testing. Burnt out: teachers overwhelmed and resigning http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_0fa3f74b-508b-54c1-8e96-e565c3d8fbe4.html   If this isn’t ass backwards… IEPs Must Be Aligned to Grade-Level Standards, Says New Federal Guidance… Read more »