Last night's show

We had two segments in this show. First, we had Mr. Eric Bean of CedarBridge Academy, talking about their upcoming 100 Men on campus day. This looks to be an event that is sure to make an impact on some young male scholar's life-if you have time, and you are male, check it out!

We also had our book chat, sponsored by iTEACH, discussing a few chapters in the book "The Dreamkeepers" .

Listen for yourself:

The Dame Jennifer Smith Awards

Last week Thursday they were held, we salute our young scholars from the East End who received awards. Well done! Keep up the good work!

Effective teachers key to better education-Whoa, I didn't know that....thanks

Gates Foundation study: Effective teachers key to better education
Posted by:
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spent billions of dollars exploring the idea that smaller high schools might result in higher graduation rates and better test scores. Instead, it found that the key to better education is not necessarily smaller schools but more effective teachers.
Some people might cringe while recounting how much money the foundation spent figuring this out. But the foundation's new CEO, Jeff Raikes, smiles and uses it as an example to explain that the world's wealthiest charity has the money to try things that might fail.
"Almost by definition, good philanthropy means we're going to have to do some risky things, some speculative things to try and see what works and what doesn't," Raikes said Wednesday during an interview with The Associated Press.
Raikes talked of a study of the Los Angeles Unified School District after an initiative to reduce class sizes led to a liberalization of rules on who could be hired to teach. The district found that whether a teacher had a certificate had no effect on student achievement.
Raikes said the district found that putting a great teacher in a low-income school helped students advance a grade and a half in one year. An ineffective teacher in a high-income school held student achievement back to about half a grade of progress in a year. Read more in this Associated Press article on Google's hosted news website.

Thought quote for the day:

"Kids need 2 watch teachers learn - not teach."

Reform is in the air...

It seems like all around, there are school systems talking about reform, trying to boost retention rates, graduation rates, and improve "failing" schools. Here is an exerpt from an interesting article, it highlights the approach that the newly appointed Secretary of Education, Arnie Duncan has taken:

CHICAGO—For years, the Julia Ward Howe School in Chicago's Austin neighborhood was beset by discipline and academic problems. At one point, only 20 percent of the students at the K-8 public school were meeting state academic standards. In 2008, Arne Duncan, then leader of Chicago Public Schools, was so fed up he approved what usually is seen as a nuclear option: To save the school, he fired the entire staff and put a nonprofit group in charge. New principals and teachers were brought in to set the school on the right path. "Sometimes it takes a fresh start," says Don Feinstein, executive director of the Academy for Urban School Leadership, the nonprofit group that took over Howe in September and now runs a total of eight "turnaround" schools along with six teacher-training academies in the city.

Interesting huh? Read the rest here.

What do you think? Leave your comments.

Parental Help with Goals Gets the Grades

In a new meta-analysis on parental involvement, researchers found the highest positive effect on student achievement among middle schoolers whose parents engaged them in goal setting that valued education as integral to future successes.

Though middle school is often marked by declining interest in academics in favor of social pursuits, it's also the time when adolescents begin to internalize personal goals. Parental guidance on goal setting and learning or studying strategies tied to achieving those goals goes a long way for students at this age.

Parental involvement with homework had less of a clear connection to academic gains--some students found parents helpful, while others found their parents' help confusing or over-bearing.

click here to read the rest

Support the Dame Jannifer Smith Awards this week

Every year Dame Jennifer Smith Awards are given to those students who exuded excellence in the public schools situated in St. George’s parish both primary & middle schools. It is housed at the East End Primary School every year. Parents, family & community members come out. Students receive plaques, books, etc.. from Dame Smith. It is a really nice function. Teacher Talk encourages you to go and support it-this Thursday, the 28th of May at 730pm at the East End Primary School.