The Carnival Of Education: Week 127

Welcome to the midway of the 127th Carnival of Education!

Here's the very latest roundup of entries from around the EduSphere. Unless clearly labeled otherwise, all entries this week were submitted by the writers themselves.

Folks interested in hosting an edition of the C.O.E. should please let us know via this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.

Thanks to everyone who helped spread the word about last week's midway, which was hosted by NYC Educator. Visit the C.O.E.'s archives here and see our latest entries there.

Next Week's Carnival will be hosted by us here at 'The Wonks. Contributors are invited to send their submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net, or use this handy submission form. Entries should be received no later than 9:00 PM (Eastern) 6:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, July 17, 2007. Please include the title of your post, and its URL, if possible. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the midway should open next Wednesday morning.

Let the free exchange of thoughts and ideas begin!

EduPolicy:

In many instances, the term "zero tolerance" has come to be synonymous with "zero brain function." Rhymes With Right further reinforces that idea with the strange case of the sixth grader who professed her affection for a boy on a gymnasium wall, got caught, and was then forced to change schools.

The Elementary Educator has published The Definitive Guide to School. (In version 2.0 no less!)

Citing a recent case in the Los Angles Unified School District, the need for schools to be ever-vigilent against all types of sexual harassement is the subject of this contribution by HorseSense and Nonsense.

In an effort to battle the ever-increasing levels of childhood obesity, the federal government has spent some $1 billion of the taxpayers' money on nutrition education. Joanne Jacobs has the skinny on what we're getting for our money.

Over at What It's Like on the Inside, the Science Goddess correctly (in our opinion) shows the disconnect between EduResearch and EduPractice and makes a proposal for what would be a most interesting doctoral dissertation.

What's in the name that we give to each of our public school campuses? Matt Johnston alerts us to the fact that even school names are now being subjected to the Diktates of Politikal Korrectness.

My goodness. Ms. Cornelius of A Shrewdness of Apes has the shocking news that in some upstate New York school systems they're actually comparing test scores... over time! (What's old is now new yet again...)

Given the current military situation is Iraq, what should public school teachers say when their students ask them about the military as a career? Respectfully submitted for your consideration is our post on how I will now answer my students who ask my opinion on serving in our armed forces.

Teaching and Learning:

New EduBlogger J. Bowman of 180 Days of English makes his Carnival of Education debut with this piece about on where accountability meets sustained silent pretending reading.

Among educators, the teaching of advanced learners in the classroom is nearly always a special concern. Kim's Play Place has some advice for the parents of advanced kindergartners.

One shouldn't have to say this, but it needed to be said and Nucleus Learning has said it: Before beginning a lesson which involves the use of manipulatives, explain the task first!

The Jose Vilson asks a very thought-provoking question: What does it really mean to read?

Who would have thought that there are some interesting parallels between learning to read and learning to play a video game that's all about.... dancing?

What's an algebra teacher to do when the the school year starts-off too easy for some learners?

Teacher Aquiram has a primer on the "how to's" on the delivery of differentiated instruction.

And now for something completely different: the use of water-spitting as a problem solving tool!

EduTechnology:

HuffEnglish shows us that a tech-saavy school administrator is indeed a "pearl beyond price" when it comes to supporting teachers' efforts to incorporate edutechnology into their classrooms!

School Governance:

Many of us EduBloggers are quick to criticize school administrators, but retired teacher Lorne is sounding a constructive note with some heartfelt advice for those individuals who bear the title "school principal."

Now here's a concept that we like: Leader Talk is a group blog written by school leaders for school leaders. In this week's C.O.E. entry, they address The Complaint Factor.

I guess when it rains teachers, it must pour school administrators... Meanwhile, NYC Educator has the tale of the summer school administratrix who learned a most humbling lesson about who really matters when it comes to summer school success.

Here's a Boston school principal who has written some highly readable thoughts on the importance of doing what can be done in order to make school more like a nurturing home away from home and less like an unfeeling institution.

Inside This Teaching Life:

What would you do if you worked for a principal who had no principles? See what one new teacher did when confronted with this very vexing situation...

Like many teachers, I'm forced to financially support not just one but several teachers unions. Darren of Right on the Left Coast sounds the clarion call for teachers' freedom of choice when it comes to being forced to pay for groups who support policies and political candidates with which they disagree.

Are school teachers more talkative than members of other professions? You make the call!

The title of this contribution by The Daily Grind says it all: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teachers.

Would you believe a high school math teacher invited his students to make college-type end-of-the-year course evaluations? Believe it!

Texas teacher J. Wagner has written the answers to some of the questions that just might save your career. (Be sure to follow the links.)

California Teacher Guy was recently downsized from his job but has developed an outlook that would be beneficial for any teacher to read, regardless of his or her job situation.

Lesson Ideas:

The recent buzz generated over the selection of the "new" Seven Wonders of the World is the inspiration for this idea for student projects that's suitable for the start of the next school year. Brought to you by History is Elementary.

Internationally EduViewpoints:

Our transatlantic cousins over at the British-based edublog Scenes from the Battleground urge us to Teach First, Repent at Leisure. (Here on this side of the pond, such a maneuver could be hazardous to one's EduCareer...)

The Secret Lives Of Teachers:

What should be our core values as Americans? On a Fourth of July in the not-too-distant past, Mamacita of Scheiss Weekly shared with us a variety of ideas that we found ourselves in agreement with.

As any public school educator will tell you, 'tis the season of professional development and I.B. a Math teacher is speculating on what will be that most dreaded of all P.D. activities, "the ice breaker."

Parent and Student Survival Guide:

Some out there in EduLand are saying that Mr. Rogers (of all people) is largely responsible for the fact that so many of our children have, to put it politely, "issues." The "30 Plus Teacher" over at Best Practices in Education weighs in on the whole self-esteem controversy from a very personal point of view.

I'm actually glad that those parents who do choose to home school their children don't have to write this type of letter to their county superintendent of public instruction.

EduHumor:

Who would have thought that math education and The Simpsons would have intersected?

Inside the Blogs:

Los Angeles' Locke High is one of the most troubled high schools that part of southern California. Friends of Dave brings us the latest dispatch from the front in the continuing struggle to reform this under performing school.

Education Notes Online has some heartfelt thoughts on the passing of activist Steve Orel...

How 'bout a couple cute math-related quotes?

And finally: This, like nearly all of our journeys around the EduSphere, has been both enjoyable and informative. We continue to thank all the contributors whose submissions make the midway's continuing success possible, the folks who give of their time to help spread the word, and the readers who continue to make it A Free Exchange of Thoughts and Ideas.
----------------------------This midway is registered at TTLB's carnival roundup. See our latest EduPosts here, and the (somewhat) complete Carnival archives over there.