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05 Feb 2006 - 19:46
My AlphaSmart is back in action, so I may try to bash out a letter to the LA Times while we're watching the Super Bowl. My AlphaSmart wasn't out of action, fyi. I was. After I switched from PCs to Macs I dragged my feet figuring out how to switch the AlphaSmart to the Mac. That was dumb. AlphaSmarts were designed by the folks who designed Macs, and it turns out that the only thing I had to do was plug the AlphaSmart into the Mac the exact same way I used to plug it into the PC, i.e. via USB cord. The AlphaSmart did the rest.
not a paid announcement AlphaSmarts may be the single best piece of kid (and adult) technology ever invented. They're indestructible, cheap ($139), as easy to use as an old-fashioned dial telephone, and they run 700 hours on 3 double-A batteries. I got interested in them when I read a mom's story on a writers' forum. She said her daughter's AlphaSmart had gone flying out the door of their still-moving station wagon & skidded all the way down the driveway to the curb without suffering the slightest slowdown in functioning. Now that I've had my own AlphaSmart for awhile, I believe her. These things are indestructible. I'm going to start using it with Andrew & his math. I'll have him type answers on the AlphaSmart. We can do the same thing with KUMON reading if I start him in that program this summer. Ed bought the first Dana to hit the market (larger screen & internet hook-up) but it's been glitchy. Don't know whether they've got all the bugs out by now. They may have.
back on topic Ben Calvin suggested these points:
same story in Sacramento Last week joannejacobs linked to a similar story that appeared in the Sacramento Bee: Test's moment of truth painful for some: With chances to pass dwindling, students feel the heat. This prompted the usual round of condemnations in Comments threads and letters to the editor. Lazy, no-good students and their lazy, no-good grammar; throw the bums out. Here's one, from an educator:
OK, Colby, here's how it shakes out. I'm happy to shoulder accountability. What I'm not happy to do is shoulder accountability and pay your salary. One more thing. I know a number of parents who've shouldered accountability. These parents are on the line for their children's educational success or failure. They are called homeschoolers.
A dejected Juan Calderon, a senior at Hiram Johnson High School, has just
learned that he failed to pass the math portion of the California High School Exit Exam. Juan crumpled [the test results] in his fist and threw it in the trash.
He growled in frustration and kicked a nearby garbage can with his
bright white sneakers. Then tears began to run down his flushed cheeks.
Gee. I wonder if lousy schools have anything to do with this situation?
I agree with Colby on one thing. If parents were fully accountable — if parents knew they were fully accountable — pass rates would soar.
failing algebra in Los Angeles
AlphaSmart
AlphaSmart reviews
AlphaSmart (& letter to LA Times)
AlphaSmart & Andrew & KUMON
AlphaSmarts reduced 30%
AlphaSmart to the rescue
the joys of primitive computing
-- CatherineJohnson - 05 Feb 2006 Back to main page.
Please consider registering as a regular user.
Look here for syntax help.
Isn't that basic management - if you're going to make someone accountable, you have to give them the resources to produce? So if parents are going to be accountable for their children's education, then they should have the money for doing so. Presumably Chris should have gotten $18,000 per year, based on his school contract that made him fully responsible for his grades. -- TracyW - 06 Feb 2006
GOOD ONE! -- CatherineJohnson - 06 Feb 2006
latimesalgebra algebrainlosangeles CAHSEE -- CatherineJohnson - 24 Aug 2006
I'm happy to shoulder accountability. What I'm not happy to do is shoulder accountability and pay your salary. Bears repeating. -- CarolynJohnston - 25 Aug 2006
letter to the LA Times
My AlphaSmart is back in action, so I may try to bash out a letter to the LA Times while we're watching the Super Bowl. My AlphaSmart wasn't out of action, fyi. I was. After I switched from PCs to Macs I dragged my feet figuring out how to switch the AlphaSmart to the Mac. That was dumb. AlphaSmarts were designed by the folks who designed Macs, and it turns out that the only thing I had to do was plug the AlphaSmart into the Mac the exact same way I used to plug it into the PC, i.e. via USB cord. The AlphaSmart did the rest.
not a paid announcement AlphaSmarts may be the single best piece of kid (and adult) technology ever invented. They're indestructible, cheap ($139), as easy to use as an old-fashioned dial telephone, and they run 700 hours on 3 double-A batteries. I got interested in them when I read a mom's story on a writers' forum. She said her daughter's AlphaSmart had gone flying out the door of their still-moving station wagon & skidded all the way down the driveway to the curb without suffering the slightest slowdown in functioning. Now that I've had my own AlphaSmart for awhile, I believe her. These things are indestructible. I'm going to start using it with Andrew & his math. I'll have him type answers on the AlphaSmart. We can do the same thing with KUMON reading if I start him in that program this summer. Ed bought the first Dana to hit the market (larger screen & internet hook-up) but it's been glitchy. Don't know whether they've got all the bugs out by now. They may have.
back on topic Ben Calvin suggested these points:
- The false rigor of adding Algebra req. without math foundation.
- Failure begins w/ basic K-8 math.
- Math education is cumulative
- Spiral vs Teach to Mastery
- Lack of Formative Assesment
same story in Sacramento Last week joannejacobs linked to a similar story that appeared in the Sacramento Bee: Test's moment of truth painful for some: With chances to pass dwindling, students feel the heat. This prompted the usual round of condemnations in Comments threads and letters to the editor. Lazy, no-good students and their lazy, no-good grammar; throw the bums out. Here's one, from an educator:
Re "Test's moment of truth painful for some," Jan. 25: It's about time our students were held accountable for their academic performance. An educator for the past decade, I have seen our state, districts and educators held accountable for what is taught in classrooms and the performance of students. To have this start coming full circle and encompass students is progress for the future. If student accountability were placed upon middle school students, it would create an early emphasis on the importance of being successful. This accountability would lead to students who could rise above the standards and cut down on the behavior issues that middle school educators must deal with. Ideally, the accountability will also have to be shouldered by parents. Will they accept being held accountable? The era of accountability is here, and everyone needs to play their part. Colby Franklin, Sacramento
OK, Colby, here's how it shakes out. I'm happy to shoulder accountability. What I'm not happy to do is shoulder accountability and pay your salary. One more thing. I know a number of parents who've shouldered accountability. These parents are on the line for their children's educational success or failure. They are called homeschoolers.
A dejected Juan Calderon, a senior at Hiram Johnson High School, has just learned that he failed to pass the math portion of the California High School Exit Exam. Juan crumpled [the test results] in his fist and threw it in the trash.
He growled in frustration and kicked a nearby garbage can with his
bright white sneakers. Then tears began to run down his flushed cheeks.
Gee. I wonder if lousy schools have anything to do with this situation?
...the head of one of the stronger LAUSD high school math departments lamented: "The mandatory 40-hour algebra training was worthless. We had to teach the trainers how to do algebra … the people in charge of making final decisions on math [in the LAUSD] don't know math!"
I agree with Colby on one thing. If parents were fully accountable — if parents knew they were fully accountable — pass rates would soar.
failing algebra in Los Angeles
AlphaSmart
AlphaSmart reviews
AlphaSmart (& letter to LA Times)
AlphaSmart & Andrew & KUMON
AlphaSmarts reduced 30%
AlphaSmart to the rescue
the joys of primitive computing
-- CatherineJohnson - 05 Feb 2006 Back to main page.
Comments
After entering a comment, users can login anonymously as KtmGuest (password: guest) when prompted.Please consider registering as a regular user.
Look here for syntax help.
Isn't that basic management - if you're going to make someone accountable, you have to give them the resources to produce? So if parents are going to be accountable for their children's education, then they should have the money for doing so. Presumably Chris should have gotten $18,000 per year, based on his school contract that made him fully responsible for his grades. -- TracyW - 06 Feb 2006
GOOD ONE! -- CatherineJohnson - 06 Feb 2006
latimesalgebra algebrainlosangeles CAHSEE -- CatherineJohnson - 24 Aug 2006
I'm happy to shoulder accountability. What I'm not happy to do is shoulder accountability and pay your salary. Bears repeating. -- CarolynJohnston - 25 Aug 2006
| WebLogForm | |
|---|---|
| Title: | letter to the LA Times |
| TopicType: | WebLog |
| SubjectArea: | MathWars |
| LogDate: | 200602051443 |