Two Things That Will Destroy a Competency Based Initiative

Two Things That Will Destroy a Competency Based Initiative

Guest Blogger David Cook is Director of Innovation and Partner Engagement at the Kentucky Department of Education. One of the most exciting movements in education today is the competency based learning movement.  The term “competency based learning” is sometimes...
Should we get rid of Teacher of the Year awards?

Should we get rid of Teacher of the Year awards?

Good teachers don’t get the recognition they deserve. So when I wonder aloud here whether we should do away with things like Teacher of the Year awards it’s not because I think they shouldn’t be honored and noticed; it is quite the contrary. We, at...
Was Life in the Middle Ages Really a Fairytale, Continued

Was Life in the Middle Ages Really a Fairytale, Continued

Guest Blogger Stella Baker is an English Language Arts teacher at Owsley County Middle School. She has been teaching in Kentucky schools for 29 years. Over that period of time she has taught a variety of subjects and grade levels, but has always returned to middle...
Using Technology to Increase Parent Engagement

Using Technology to Increase Parent Engagement

Last month I posted a blog entitled Parent Engagement Revisited, part on an occasional series on how to engage parents in the school and in their child’s education.  A webinar I participated in earlier this week made me return to this subject.  The webinar was...
The Difference Between Testing and Teaching

The Difference Between Testing and Teaching

It will take longer than 40 minutes to write this blog. It will take longer than 90 minutes to write this blog. In fact, I’ve been working on this blog for something like 23 years, when high-stakes testing first found its way into education policy and into my ELA...