Search Results for: blog nea presidet requests no child left behind reform

Keeping Good Teachers

In a previous article, I discussed the challenges of finding and keeping experienced and skilled teachers. Some states are beginning to track teacher performance by examining student gains. While tracking the gains of students from one year to the next can help administrators and school leaders see which teachers are possibly more effective, it too has it downfalls. States should never solely place a teacher’s creditably and worth into student gains on a state test. There are some factors that a teacher just cannot control. Class size and student economics are a couple. One of the problems is that the … Continue reading →

NCLB Highly Qualified Provision is Challenged

Common sense and research alike tells us that students perform better and have more academic success when they have an experienced, highly skilled and knowledgeable teacher. It is also a well known truth that schools with large ratios of minority students and/or low income students have a difficult time getting and keeping the teachers that they need. Determining how to get and keep skilled, experienced, good teachers is not an easy task. Many groups have different views on how this should be accomplished. Some believe that the teachers with high performance ratings should be paid more. Others feel that a … Continue reading →

Presidential Candidates Speak to NEA

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It is that time again when political candidates begin to fight for the support of educators. Eight of the presidential candidates met with the National Education Association (NEA) in Philadelphia. As expected, the candidates said just what the teachers wanted to hear. Illinois Senator Barack Obama was a popular speaker. He carefully discussed merit pay (which teachers are usually not in favor of). He placed a softer edge on the issue by promising to give teacher input to the topic. His idea was to work with the teachers and ease into the process together. Republican Mike Huckabee also gained support … Continue reading →

No Child Left Behind Tutoring Makes Progress

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The No Child Left Behind law has changed education. It has required teachers to meet tougher qualifications and for schools to meet tougher achievement goals. While the law has its various critics, it does have support also. As with many laws, the No Child Left Behind law has its pros and cons. However, I feel that any law that is designed to help education and allows for children to benefit cannot be all bad. One positive sign that the No Child Left Behind law is working is coming from schools that have been tracked for their free tutoring program. Under … Continue reading →

Retention- Whose Decision Is It?

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I am currently facing a torn issue in my class. I have a student that I feel does not need to move on to first grade. However, the parent is determined that the child will not repeat kindergarten. So who should make the ultimate decision? The child came to school lacking very important basic skills for building knowledge. He has made lots of progress but stills falls very short of being on level with the rest of my class. He has had intensive tutoring from the school in order to catch him up to where he is at the present … Continue reading →

Test Score Bribery

As you know, test scores and data are a big factor in a teacher’s life. The NCLB act has added even more to the stress faced by educators. However, I was shocked to read that some schools have decided to try bribing students for good test results. I recently read an article about a school in Miami that offered rewards to students with good scores. Naturally, they did not use the term bribery. They considered the act a way of trying to motivate students to excel. Florida has recently added science to its list of state comprehension assessments. The scores … Continue reading →

NCLB Results: Improving Education or Teaching to the Test?

The public school system has a hard job. They have to cater to thousands of students, treat each as individuals and yet somehow find a way to streamline the process so that it’s most effective for everyone. With the 5th Anniversary, NCLB (No Child Left Behind) is definitely on top of all the education headlines. The president has made clear that reauthorizing the act is a priority of his administration. Secretary Spellings, in her recent speech to educators and business leaders points to increased test scores to prove that NCLB is working. “The truth is,” she says, “that NCLB helps … Continue reading →

Why It’s Not Bad to Fail First Grade

Parents and kids hear the words ‘fail’, ‘retained’, or ‘held back’ and instant panic sets in. “Not my child!” I’ve even seen parents ‘bully’ their way to the principal’s office demanding reevaluation. For some reason, we as parents can’t get past the stigma of being left behind a grade. However, I am convinced that being held back in the early years is much more beneficial to the child than struggling through elementary school. A Developmental Process Maybe instead of saying a child is being retained we should say they are on a different learning curve. Truth be told things like … Continue reading →

No Child Left Behind Law Expires in One Year, What’s Next?

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The No Child Left Behind law is set to expire next fall and I am sure that leaves many teachers with a bit of a grin on their faces. After all, this law, while it has many positives to it, is just an added stress to already stressed out teachers. Because the law expires next year, something will most likely replace it or it will be amended to have new and improved aspects to it. Just what would the NEA (National Education Association) like to see happen next with The No Child Left Behind law? The NEA likes the idea … Continue reading →