Monthly Archives: July 2015

Can Peer Accountability Groups Help Students Achieve Their Goals? | MindShift

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By Zaidee Stavely

Supporting students emotionally, as well as academically, takes up a large portion of teachers’ time and energy. But some educators are discovering that students can take on this role for one another as well. When students hold each other accountable, many can demonstrate reflection on their learning and take responsibility for shortcomings.

Stanford researchers recently highlighted one school that applies a peer accountability program — Life Academy of Health and Bioscience in Oakland. The school is known for its low dropout rate and high number of graduates who persist through college for at least four years. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what is motivating Life Academy students, almost all of whom come from low-income backgrounds, to outperform their peers, but the student-centered school prides itself on health and science internships for every student and personalized academic mentoring and counseling.

via Can Peer Accountability Groups Help Students Achieve Their Goals? | MindShift | KQED News.

‘Project-based learning and Common Core are a natural fit’ | EdSource

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By Erin Brownfield

Tyler Graff is the incoming principal at the Claire Lilienthal alternative school in San Francisco Unified.

Previously, he was principal of Stevenson Elementary, a public school in Mountain View, where he kicked off a project-based learning initiative in 2012.

In project-based learning, students work on a complex problem or topic that often incorporates working as a team and involves a student presentation of work. At Graff’s school, the program started as a pilot and expanded each year.

Graff earned his bachelor’s degree and multiple subjects teaching credential from California State University, Chico. He earned his master’s degree in school leadership at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

via ‘Project-based learning and Common Core are a natural fit’ | EdSource.

Leading Education Trends & The Future of Edtech – Edublogger

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By Jason Teitelman

ISTE 2015 News

Technology experts from around the world presented the New Media Consortium Horizon Report’s K-12 2015 Edition at ISTE 2015. The report tells us where EdTech could be in five years and says that blended learning has emerged as a leading trend in education.

Also at ISTE, some big companies made some big announcements. EdSurge provides a list of the all the company news you need to know from ISTE.

In The Mix: Recent Posts Worth Reading

Shelly Terrell knows that “some of the most popular apps and social networks (Periscope, Meerkat, Vine, Instagram, Youtube, etc.) make it easy for anyone to quickly produce, publish, and share their videos.” She also realizes a lot of students are already making videos on their own. So, she asks, “why not have your students share their knowledge through video projects?”

via Leading Education Trends.

Digital Distraction: How Phones Are Taking Over The Classroom – Forbes

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By Maxine Joselow

You probably won’t finish reading this post without opening a new tab or checking your phone. Especially if you’re a college student, a recent study shows.

Students spend nearly 21% of class time using a digital device for an unrelated activity like email or social media, according to preliminary research conducted by Barney McCoy, associate professor in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. They also check a digital device 10.5 times per class day on average.

via Digital Distraction: How Phones Are Taking Over The Classroom.

High school exit exam may be suspended immediately | EdSource

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By Sarah Tully

The California High School Exit Exam may be suspended immediately, possibly letting off the hook thousands of seniors who need to pass it to graduate this year, under a bill passed today by a legislative committee.

The Assembly Education Committee approved the bill, SB 172, to suspend the requirement that students pass the exit exam starting with the Class of 2015. One member, Assemblywoman Young Kim, R-Fullerton, abstained.

The vast majority of seniors already completed the exam to graduate this past school year. State law started requiring students to pass the exit exam, which has English language arts and math sections, to graduate from high school starting with the Class of 2006.

via High school exit exam may be suspended immediately | EdSource.

SCC chief stepping down – Benicia Herald

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By Donna Beth Weilenman

Dr. Jowel C. Laguerre is leaving Solano Community College to become chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, Yashica J. Crawford, SCC chief of staff, said.

Laguerre will be succeeded by Stan Arterberry, chancellor emeritus of WestValley Mission Community College District, as interim SCC superintendent-president, Crawford said.

The Board of Trustees of Peralta, a northern Alameda County college district, unanimously approved a three-year contract June 23 with Laguerre, who will be paid a base annual salary of $305,000 starting Wednesday.

via SCC chief stepping down.

What schools and parents need to know about the new vaccination law | EdSource

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By Jane Meredith Adams

Now that Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law – which he did on Tuesday – a bill that says parents can no longer refuse to vaccinate their children based on their personal opposition, schools and parents are parsing the fine print to put the new law into practice.

The law, Senate Bill 277, will roll out in phases, giving school staff time to sort out vaccination compliance issues and parents who oppose full immunization time to sort through their options.

Most school districts in California will be affected, with 47 out of 58 California counties in 2014-15 reporting they had kindergartners with personal belief exemptions to school-required vaccinations. (To find out how many kindergartners opted out of vaccinations at your school, click here.)

via What schools and parents need to know about the new vaccination law | EdSource.

School board bids farewell to superintendent – Benicia Herald

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By Keri Luiz

The final 2014-15 meeting of Benicia Unified School District trustees opened with an appreciation for long-time Superintendent Janice Adams, who is retiring.

Board President Gary Wing, like all present trustees, spoke of his memories of Adams, saying he has known her since his daughters started at Robert Semple Elementary School, where Adams was principal. “You were always a pleasure to talk to and always had the kids at heart,” Wing said.

Added Trustee Peter Morgan: “From the first day I met her I was impressed with her humility and pure affection for the children.”

via School board bids farewell to superintendent.

BUSD OKs ’15-’16 budget – Benicia Herald

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By Keri Luiz

The final two acts of the Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees before the summer break were the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the 2015-16 budget.

There were public hearings for both of these items at the board’s June 11 meeting. On June 18 outgoing Superintendent Janice Adams presented the LCAP for approval.

The LCAP is required to receive state funding provided by the Local Control Funding Formula. The LCAP includes three sections: student outcomes, student and parent engagement, and conditions of learning.

“We had our public hearing last time, and went through this in detail. We did get an updated version, there were some revisions that the county suggested,” Adams said last week.

via BUSD OKs ’15-’16 budget.