iCivics’ Post

From article: "The board, which is slated to vote on the new courses Monday night, has been embroiled in controversy over its moves to reshape curriculum. After voting in December to reduce social studies requirements at the high school, the board moved to incorporate the Hillsdale curriculum. The 3,200-page curriculum, available for free online, has been pushed by the college amid conservative opposition to equity efforts and the New York Times’ 1619 Project. But historians have criticized it as ideologically driven; Princeton historian Sean Wilentz told The Inquirer the Hillsdale curriculum “fundamentally distorts modern American history into a crusade of righteous conservative patriots against heretical big-government liberals.” and "Underlying the conflict was disagreement over the Hillsdale curriculum, and to what extent teachers would have to use it. As she presented the social studies courses, Vitale said that while the 1776 Curriculum was listed as a “required” teacher resource, teachers would still have discretion as to how they used it. If that’s the case, asked Jonathan Russell, a board member opposed to Vermilion, why was the curriculum described as required? “You’re using it as a framework,” Blomgren said, adding that if it wasn’t listed as “required,” then “no teacher is even going to look at it.” Almost all of the community members who addressed the board opposed the curriculum changes. Some said they were troubled by what they had read in the Hillsdale curriculum. Hillsdale’s curriculum for third to fifth graders refers to Jamestown’s “original experiment with a form of communism,” which “helped produce a disastrous first year and a half for the fledgling settlement,” noted Stephanie Regina, reading from the curriculum." https://lnkd.in/gHVNwxzA #socialstudies #curriculum #pennsylvania #pennridge

We need more teachers like Mr. Pigden. For anyone who hasn’t seen the clip of Ian Wright meeting his former teacher - whom he credits with so much, it’s well worth a Google, and will surely bring a tear to your eye. There are many things which need to be done to level the educational playing field, but at its core is the ability of the profession to attract and retain the best values-driven people. These are the people, the Mr. Pigdens of this world, that can inspire children to rise up beyond the hand which they have been dealt in life and become their best versions of themselves. A fulfilling and life affirming education will always be one of the greatest gifts any society can give it’s young people. But we are in such serious danger of leaving so many behind that the beautiful game of life, for many, well, just isn’t fun anymore. Often the greatest satisfaction in life is found in the struggle and the best teachers will intuitively know this - set kids too easy a task and they finish early and are bored, or worse don’t even start the task because - well, it’s too easy. Similarly set a task which is too challenging and they give up, defeated with a sense failure. But find that sweet spot, the goldie locks zone where the level of challenge is just right, and with the correct encouragement and support - the task suddenly becomes more fun, time passes more quickly and magic can happen. Leaving anyone behind is far from acceptable, neither in the classroom nor in our wider society. England without the Ian Wright just wouldn’t be the same, an inspiration on and off the pitch. Finding that sweet spot, in life as in the classroom begins and ends with more teachers like Mr. Pigden. #IanWright #MrPigden #Teachers #Education #Equality

BLOG: A Call to Action: CPS Must Leverage the Arts Now to Help Tackle Student Learning Loss.... But the district has another lever it could be pulling harder to meet student learning needs in reading and math: integrating the arts more fully into all aspects of the curricula. In reality, successful arts integration for students depends on district leadership, teacher and principal professional development, as well as the engagement of willing and capable arts partners. #BecauseofArtsEd #KeeptheArts #ArtsEdWeek Americans for the Arts Chicago Public Schools https://lnkd.in/dmJfpHuR

Check out this great article highlighting School of Education alum who are transforming education! I’m honored to personally know and have worked with both Chuck Herring and Brianna Ross. They are truly making a difference! Hail to Pitt!

How did you mark Constitution Day yesterday? 📜 At the Roundtable, we're giving major kudos to organizations empowering educators with engaging and essential civics teaching tools. Let's support their year-round mission of preparing future citizens. Check out our blog and learn how to get more info on this important topic.

Exciting to see this development, but it's regrettable that the program had such long-standing support. Lucy Calkins, despite her prominence, is arguably anything but a 'literacy scholar.' Offering teachers opportunities for collaboration is valuable, but it shouldn't overshadow the curriculum's proven ineffectiveness, especially for students who need support the most. #EducationalChange #scienceofreading #dyslexiaeducation

Two weeks ago, TLT Lab’s Paulo Blikstein, Cassia Fernandez and Tatiana Hochgreb-Hägele, as well as Renata Araújo, science teacher in the city of Sobral, presented Project IDEIA during Lemann Dialogue 2024 at Stanford University. Lemann Dialogue is an annual conference that gathers academics, policy makers and subject matter experts to discuss pressing matters in Brazil. This year, the conference focused on how to create lasting advancements in Education. IDEIA is a multi-year project (now in its seventh year) to reform STEM education in public elementary and middle schools in Sobral, Brazil. In the panel “Necessary conditions to sustain ambitious learning”, TLT Lab researchers presented how Project IDEIA is advancing its view of an ambitious science education in Sobral. Renata Araújo also shared a teacher’s perspective on the project’s groundbreaking work, and reflected on the remaining challenges. "A set of conditions are necessary for educational reform to take place. There is no point in simply creating new curriculum, for example, and keeping everything else the same. With IDEIA, we analyzed and modified several of its components for long-term project sustainability. These include (in addition to the development of a new science curriculum): ongoing teacher training, new learning spaces, an additional person in schools to support pedagogical redesign, and new instructional units aligned to the curriculum." - Tatiana Hochgreb

Research continues to show the benefits of exposure to the arts for children—both in terms of academic performance and overall behavior. Excellent write-up in Public School Review sharing research-based insights on the importance, and long-term success, of art for K-12 students. https://lnkd.in/e_F7v7HR

“When you connect research with practice, light bulbs go off!” Check out what science of reading really looks like in schools that are crushing it. https://lnkd.in/eq2UWzX3. Matthew Rooney Edward Rangel share their schools story here. Relay Graduate School of Education #schoolleadership #principals #readingisfundamental

How Valuable Are The Arts In Education?