Maine ASCD Weblog

The Whole Child

The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) calls on parents, educators, policymakers, and communities to join forces to ensure our children become productive, engaged citizens. Our children deserve an education that emphasizes academic rigor as well as the essential 21st century skills of critical thinking and creativity.

This stunning video captures the spirit of this mission...Visit the Whole Child website for more information and to participate.

~John Brandt

Books Maine Educators Should Read

As a special "back to school" feature, this month we will be posting lists of the "top ten" books Maine educators should read, as recommended by members of the Maine ASCD Board of Directors.

This first installment comes from Carol Marcotte who is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at School Union #7 in Saco/Dayton. Carol is also the Maine ASCD Immediate Past President.

1. Leading Effective Meetings, Teams, and Work Groups in Districts and Schools by Matthew Jennings
2. Best Practice: Today’s Standards for Teaching and Learning in America’s Schools – 3rd Edition – Steven Zemelman. Harvey Daniels, and Arthur Hyde
3. Breakthrough – Michael Fullan, Peter Hill, and Carmel Crevola
4. The Educational Leadership Challenge: Redefining Leadership for the 21st Century – 101st Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, Part 1 – Joseph Murphy, editor
5. Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work – Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker, and Thomas Many
6. Differentiating Instruction: A Practical Guide to Tiered Lessons in the Elementary Grades – Cheryll M. Adams and Rebecca L. Pierce
7. Practical Fluency: Classroom Perspectives, Grades K-6 – Max Brand and Gayle Brand
8. Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days: A Month-by-Month Guide to Effective Instruction – Frank Serafini with Suzette Serafini-Youngs
9. Common Formative Assessments: How to Connect Standards-Based Instruction and Assessment – Larry Ainsworth and Donald Viegut
10. Accountability for Learning: How Teachers and School Leaders Can Take Charge by Doug Reeves.

Our next lists will come from Peter Lancia. Stay tuned.

~John Brandt

Teacher in Space

I guess like many of you, I held my breath during the launch of the space shuttle Endeavor the other evening. Everyone knows it is carrying Barbara Morgan, the first teacher in space and back up to Christa McAuliffe. I was happy that NASA held the launch during the "evening news hour" (at least on the East Coast) which in addition to allowing many people to see it live, made the news media stop and pay attention to a shuttle launch; something that in recent years has often been put at the end of the news (if at all).

I won't rehash the Challenger experience except to point out that just about everyone attending school - K-16 these days- were born after that fateful day 21 years ago in January 1986. For those of us who did live through it, it was a cruel blow in many ways. Being one of those kids who was born just in time for the space race, I have always been fascinated by astronauts and space travel. Like my fellow baby boomers, space travel had almost become routine and when the Challenger tragedy occurred; we were shocked that it could happen.

But the death of a teacher, a woman who looked just like the teachers I worked with every day, was a very sad and disturbing event. I had friends who had applied to the "teacher in space" program and that made the experience even more personal.

So, after Endeavor made it into orbit, and the news stations went back to reporting on other news, I hoped we do not forget this milestone. And I hope, despite the fact that many schools are not opened yet, many teachers will make this a "teachable moment" and that a new generation of kids fascinated with astronauts and space travel will be created.

And yes, I will still be holding my breath until Endeavor and her precious cargo have safely returned to Mother Earth.

~John Brandt

High School Reform Legislation Proposed

On Wednesday, August 1, 2007 Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-Nevada), Senators Murray (D-Washington) and Pryor (D-Arkansas) introduced the GRADUATES Act.  This legislation reflects much of the ASCD High School Redesign proposal you have heard so much about this year.

ASCD is extremely excited about the progress we are making to improve our high schools through greater flexibility, increased engagement and more autonomy for our educators. The GRADUATES Act provides a tremendous opportunity for educators to improve high schools.

Now we need to demonstrate our support for this legislation. Please take a minute to send an e-mail to your two U.S. Senators and ask them to become co-sponsors of this innovative legislation. ASCD has created a sample e-mail for your convenience. Use this link to use the sample letter

Questions regarding the new legislation can be addressed to Dan Fuller at ASCD

~John Brandt