My new toy...

My husband knows me well, he gave me a perfect gift last year-- exactly what a techie teacher needed...still being enjoyed up to now!

This is what I got from him this time, and this is perfect for a techie teacher who's always on the go! It connects all of my social universe: my blog, emails, Twitter, Facebook (yea, I finally gave in), RSS, etc. all into one feed on my new android celfone. Sweetie, you're the best!

Merry Christmas!

More teachers should take advantage of Internet tools

More teachers should use Web sites to share homework assignments and other information with parents, Jay Mathews argues. He writes in this blog post that parents could use the information to take a more active role in their child's education. While teachers might have trouble finding the time to update the Web sites, Mathews argues it will actually save time by eliminating some parent phone calls and encouraging more students to turn in their work. The Washington Post/Class Struggle blog

Assistive device helps Kansas first-grader communicate

Santos Ramirez and Rachel Osborn, first-graders at Jay Shideler Elementary School, are best friends. Rachel described Santos as cool and said he makes her laugh.

A Kansas first-grade student with limited speech because of ataxic cerebral palsy uses a DynaVox Vmax assistive device to help him carry out conversations. The Vmax has become a "second voice" for Santos Ramirez, his mother says. "I just want Santos to have his voice -- whether it be his own and/or the Vmax -- and the opportunity to speak his mind," she said. The Topeka Capital-Journal (Kan.)

Music therapy is used to benefit people with disabilities

Elizabeth "Lizzi" Gottlieb, 21, who has Down syndrome, plays at a lesson with instructor Bob Lieberman. "Lizzi will never be a total virtuoso, but she can play hundreds of songs and get joy out of it," he says. Playing the flute also built her breathing strength after surgery. (Tribune photo by Chris Sweda / November 21, 2009)

Music therapy is increasingly used with children and adults who have disabilities, and experts say it can help them improve their communication skills and process information in new ways. Playing an instrument can help challenge the area of the brain associated with paying attention, memory and making predictions, a Stanford University associate professor said. "This is a good way to engage multiple networks in the brain," he said. Chicago Tribune

Kim Peek, The Real 'Rain Man,' Has Died

You may not recognize his name, but there's a good chance you remember Rain Man, the 1988 movie starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise.

Hoffman's character, a mega-savant, was based on Kim Peek.

As NPR's Howard Berkes reports from Salt Lake City, where the 58-year-old Peek lived:

He "had severe mental handicaps but reportedly remembered everything he read and heard. Peek had difficulty with simple things like turning on lights or dressing himself, but his memory was legendary. Give him a date and he'd describe its events. Name a place and he'd name the zip code. He reportedly memorized every word in 9,000 books." (NPR.org)

Our life after the (snow) storm...

Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

It's snowing! Winter photos 09

Note: This is the good thing with having a writer for a husband, he gets to correct my careless mistakes in blogging especially when it's about our family :P

Can't go anywhere, we're stuck! The cars and the driveway are covered with 6 inches of snow. But we're still having fun :D

Rae and Rohan in front of the house...

Rohan: "Mom, get me out of here! Help!"

Rohan: "Ummm, I don't think this is a good idea making snow angels now..."

Our backyard this morning, what a surprise!

Started Facebook now, yay!

2009 class of NBCTs advances nation's school-quality reform movement

NBPTS continues its progress in advancing the National Board Certification education-reform movement with today's announcement of nearly 8,900 new National Board Certified Teachers. The announcement brings the total number of accomplished teachers and school counselors certified by NBPTS to more than 82,000. An "extraordinary group" is how Secretary of Education Arne Duncan referred to this year's class of National Board Certified Teachers in a September interview with NBPTS. Read more.

“What if every child had a chance to be taught by a National Board Certified Teacher? I think the difference it would make in students’ lives would be extraordinary,” said Secretary Arne Duncan. “As we move forward on this turnaround agenda nationally, I would love for National Board Certified Teachers to be at the forefront of that movement.” Copy that :)

I'm proud to belong to the Class of 2009 NBCTs!

Arne Duncan calls 2009 National Board Certified Teachers an "extraordinary group"

Secretary Arne Duncan made a visit to my school last Tuesday to see how students are learning using technology.In a video-recorded message, Education Secretary Arne Duncan thanked the teachers who achieved National Board Certification in 2009, calling these accomplished teachers an "extraordinary group."

NBCTs should take on leadership roles, NBPTS president says

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards encourages school districts to give leadership roles to National Board Certified Teachers, according to Joseph Aguerrebere, president of the organization. About 82,000 teachers are certified nationwide. "Our focus is expanding from individuals achieving national board certification to a systemic movement that changes the culture of classrooms, schools and districts by leveraging [certified teachers] to build human capital, especially in high-need schools," Aguerrebere said. The Cincinnati Enquirer

Is a value-added method the middle ground?

While teachers have largely criticized an effort to evaluate them based solely on student test scores, a columnist writes that a value-added approach is a possible compromise. Value-added education -- supported by Education Secretary Arne Duncan -- compares a student's achievement from one year to the next. However, teachers unions have been critical of the value-added approach, saying that standardized tests do not measure student achievement or progress. The Porterville Recorder (Calif.)

Letter from the Chancellor on IMPACT

My principal handed to me yesterday a letter from Chancellor Rhee while I was on hall duty during dismissal:

To Ms. Maria Angala,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the excellent work that you are doing on behalf of our students. Based on first round IMPACT ratings from the master educators and your school leader, I know how talented and dedicated you are. Your efforts are the key to our students' success.

I know that teaching is extremely challenging and that you give 100 percent every day in order to ensure that all of your children succeed. I am happy to give you this $100 gift card as a small expression of my gratitude for your efforts to close the achievement gap and increase student learning. With the diligence of excellent educators like you, I am confident that we can develop a school system in which all children achieve at high levels.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a relaxing winter break.

Sincerely,

(signed)

Michelle Rhee

Chancellor

Thank you Chancellor Rhee for the acknowledgement of the efforts that I do for my students. The Office Depot gift card will buy my students more supplies that we need for our project based learning in class. Happy holidays to you too!

Don't stop learning, says NBCT who is Rhode Island Teacher of the Year

Middletown High School Spanish teacher Dana E. Ramey is led to the podium by Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist after he was revealed to be teacher of the year.

A National Board Certified Teacher who makes learning Spanish a cultural experience for his students has been named Teacher of the Year in Rhode Island. Dana E. Ramey says a great teacher has patience, understands students and is a lifelong learner. "Don't stop learning about the subject you teach, and reach beyond the skills you already have," he said. The Providence Journal (R.I.)

Experts predict top trends in 2010 school technology

A look at the top technology tools and trends to keep an eye on in the coming year

Technology that tracks student progress and helps teachers develop more individualized curricula will be among the top five trends in school technology for 2010, experts predict. Other trends to watch are the use of personal devices like iPods and smart phones -- often banned from the classroom -- by a growing number of teachers to enhance lessons. Digital eBooks also make the list, with experts predicting a growth in their use in K-12 classrooms. T.H.E. Journal

1. eBooks Will Continue to Proliferate

eBook readers aren't going to replace traditional math and English textbooks anytime soon, but J. Gerry Purdy, chief analyst, mobile and wireless, for business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan in Atlanta, said the devices will gain traction in the K-12 arena this year.

2. Netbook Functionality Will Grow

One-to-one computer initiatives are proliferating throughout United States schools and are expected to become even more popular in 2010 as netbooks become even more affordable. Priced at $200 to $300, these small, inexpensive computers are helping to bridge the technology divide that exists at those schools where individual students don't have access to their own laptops.

3. More Teachers Will Use Interactive Whiteboards

Large, interactive display systems that allow teachers and students to work together in ways that traditional blackboards could not are gaining ground in the K-12 environment. Expect the trend to continue this year, said Sheryl Abshire, chief technology officer for Calcasieu Parish Public Schools in Lake Charles, LA.

4. Personal Devices Will Infiltrate the Classroom

Sometimes barred from the classroom owing to perceptions of security risks and student "distractions," smart phones and iPods are now making their way into the K-12 space, and with teachers' and administrators' blessings. "We're definitely on the cusp of seeing more of these personal devices in the classroom," Abshire predicted.

5. Technology Will Enable Tailored Curricula

On educators' and administrators' wish lists right now is an easier, tech-based way to assess, record and track individual student performance in the classroom. David Stienes, principal with private equity fund LLR Partners in Philadelphia, said those wishes could come true this year, courtesy of several emerging companies that are working on new student assessment tools.

Students with visual impairments praise Amazon's efforts with Kindle

As the chairman of Wayne State University's Board of Governors, Richard Bernstein led a call on Amazon.com in September to make its electronic reader accessible to blind and visually impaired people. (PATRICIA BECK/Detroit Free Press)

Students with visual impairments are lauding an announcement by Amazon that it will enhance its Kindle to be more user-friendly for consumers who cannot see. "This is the first time to have truly equal access to academic texts," said Jason Turkish, a law-school student in Florida. Richard Bernstein, chairman of the board of governors at Wayne State University in Michigan, said Amazon's move could revolutionize higher education for students with disabilities. Detroit Free Press

New Jersey student with dyslexia successfully lobbies for legislation

Samantha Ravelli, of Ocean City, talks with state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland at the Statehouse in Trenton on Thursday.

Samantha Ravelli -- a New Jersey seventh-grader who is dyslexic -- successfully lobbied New Jersey legislators to form a statewide Reading Disabilities Task Force. Ravelli and her mother began a campaign four years ago for more programs to help struggling readers. "Ordinary people can become extraordinary through their advocacy and what they fight for," state Sen. Jeff Van Drew said. "Samantha's work with her mother has advocated throughout New Jersey. She has achieved greatness." The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.)

Inclusion: Special-education efforts benefit all students

At a recent curriculum forum, educators in one New Jersey district told parents and colleagues that adaptations to curriculum made to improve understanding for students in special education often end up benefiting all students. Most of the district's 665 students in special education are integrated into classrooms with their peers. "All children are entitled to be in a regular education program," an educator said. "That's where you start." NorthJersey.com (Hackensack, N.J.)/The Item (Millburn and Short Hills, N.J.)

Schools use RTI to reduce number of students in special education

Linda Blankenhorn (left), city schools director of specialized services, and Caterina Leone Mannino, director of extended learning and intervention, say that the district's special-ed referrals can be reduced. PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK

Rochester, N.Y., educators are using response-to-intervention techniques to reduce the number of students in special education, which is the highest of any district in the state. Introduced in 14 district schools this year, RTI is helping teachers provide more timely help to students who may be struggling. Critics of the technique, however, say it does not do enough to prevent the misclassification of some students -- particularly minority boys -- with whom emotional or behavioral issues may be mistakenly categorized as learning disorders. City Newspaper (Rochester, N.Y.)

DCPS Inclusive Schools Week

To celebrate Inclusive Schools Week (12/7 – 12/11), the DCPS Office of Special Education will be hosting three evening screenings of the documentary Including Samuel (read about the film here: http://www.includingsamuel.org). The first screening will be on Wednesday, 12/9 at Noyes EC. The second screening will be on Thursday, 12/10 at Columbia Heights EC and third screening will be this Friday 12/11/2009; all will begin @ 6pm. Watch the preview:

Story about sibling with autism is featured on Disney Channel

The Disney Channel is regularly airing a two-minute segment called, "The Time I Realized My Brother was Different," featuring one child's experiences with a sibling who has autism. The segment is based on a book by Michigan 13-year-old Melody Igafo-Te'o, who wrote about life with her older brother, Michael, who is autistic. "Some people just think autism is a weird problem," Melody said. "... I hope that they won't think that as much -- that it's like having a regular sibling and just a little different." MLive.com (Michigan)

New policy gives teachers a little respect

An Ohio district has adopted a "Respecting the Authority of Teachers" policy that gives teachers control over classroom discipline. Among other things, the nine-point policy allows teachers to remove disruptive students from their classrooms and aims to ensure teachers work in a "safe, secure and orderly environment." The Ledger Independent (Maysville, Ky.)

TeachUp! program helps teachers infuse technology into lessons

Teachers in Louisiana and southern Mississippi are improving their understanding and use of classroom technology through the TeachUp! program, which pairs them with technologically savvy college students and graduates. About 160 schools are participating in the program. TeachUp! participants review a teacher's lesson plans and find ways to integrate technology. One tool being used is a a Web site called TrackStar that finds and organizes lesson-related Web sites for teachers. The Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.)

Quality teaching is the answer, not departmentalization

A National Board Certified Teacher says that it is unclear whether departmentalization for young students -- also known as platooning -- benefits teaching and learning. In this blog post, she writes that having elementary-school teachers specialize in different subjects and moving students to their classrooms can be beneficial. However, research shows that it is the quality of the teacher that matters most. Teacher in a Strange Land

NYC mayor is criticized for plan to tie tenure to student scores

The New York Times received several letters from current and former educators criticizing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to link teacher tenure to student performance. "If tenure is linked to test scores, why would idealistic young people want to teach in those schools where it is most difficult to significantly raise scores, and where that becomes the criteria for tenure?," a retired educator wrote. The New York Times (free registration)

Free Web site helps teachers improve math instruction

An educator in an Ohio district is using a free, Web-based computer program to enhance math lessons. Geogebra provides teachers with a venue for sharing lesson plans, creating work sheets and interacting with students at home and at school. "The neat thing about it is, the kids can be involved in it and can have a hand in changing or working with the equation. Kids can go in at home and practice with a dynamic worksheet," high-school math teacher Susan Kerkhove said. "It's not a piece of paper anymore. It's an experience." Middletown Journal (Ohio)

Maryland district hands out $1.1 million in merit-pay bonuses

About 280 educators in Maryland's second-largest school district will receive $1.1 million in bonuses today through a voluntary merit-pay program that awards them bonuses based in part on student test scores. Bonuses vary, with teachers being eligible for as much as $10,000 and principals able to receive up to $12,000. The merit-pay program is supported by the local teachers union. "It's an incentive for what you do, and you are getting paid for it. ... I just didn't see it hinder anybody," said a teacher who received a $1,500 bonus. The Washington Post

Washington state student with disabilities to swim in Paralympic games

Chris Goodenow / For The Herald (click to enlarge)
Kayla Wheeler swims during her individual practice at Harbor Square Athletic Club in Edmonds on Nov. 13.

A 13-year-old girl with disabilities from Washington state will compete this week in the 2009 International Paralympic Committee games in Rio de Janeiro. Kayla Wheeler, who was born without legs and with one arm, began hydrotherapy to improve her movement when she was 18 months old. Kayla says teacher Lib Rust was the first to seriously coach her. "You learn to never give up on somebody," Rust said. "You keep at it and you just keep at it and know that there are no boundaries if somebody wants to keep going." The Herald (Everett, Wash.)

Cell-phone technology helps people who cannot see navigate daily life

Cell phones programmed with software developed through a partnership between the National Federation of the Blind and Kurzweil Technologies are helping people with visual impairments decipher text they encounter. Users snap a picture and the device uses an electronic voice to announce what the item is. What sets the product apart, say users, is its small size, which allows it to be used easily throughout the day. Press And Journal

Funds for special education will pay for school technology

A Virginia school board has approved plans to use $1.7 million in federal stimulus money earmarked for special education to install interactive whiteboards in all of its kindergarten, first-grade and special-education classrooms. District officials said that the whiteboards will help students with special needs because many spend at least part of their school day in the classrooms receiving the technology. Leesburg Today (Va.)

Joining the NBCTLink

I received the invitation yesterday to join the NBCTLink:

Dear Maria Lourdes Angala,

Congratulations on achieving National Board Certification! The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is happy to welcome you and your fellow National Board Certified Teachers into the new NBCT online community: NBCTLink.

NBCTLink is your opportunity to connect with fellow NBCTs, share best teaching practices and learn new and innovative ways to enhance student learning – all via the Internet.

I logged in, posted my first entry, browsed around and on Leadership Opportunities found this:

NBCTs are recognized by Pi Lambda Theta (PLT), the most selective national honor society and professional association of educators, for meeting the high standards of National Board Certification. PLT programs can enhance the career of even the most accomplished teacher. For example, PLT will advocate with a member‘s potential funding source to support that members’ participation in education’s premier annual teacher leader conference.

I want to get more involved in Professional Learning Network like this that is focused on enhancing teacher effectiveness and student achievement. There is too much negativity clouding the school system at this time that makes me wonder if we are really focusing on what we are supposed to target: empowering the teachers and giving them all the supports, resources and training that they need to be successful in supporting, empowering, inspiring, and rigorously teaching the students to maximize their potential.

I believe that things are going to get better if only we all are willing to make a compromise and have a sincere desire to find agreements that occupy the middle ground. Right action produces right results.