Hypothetical Excellence
hhoerschelman | | 
1
Posted to Rio Grande Valley - Policy, Politics and Advocacy
Schools across the Rio Grande Valley are back in session this week. However, the true beginning of the new school season started much earlier when faculty members gathered in offices, cafeterias and classrooms to discuss their bold, new plans for the new year.
Michael Barnes for State Chair
macbarnes | | 0
Posted to Currently Running for Office, Rio Grande Valley - Policy, Politics and Advocacy, Obama Supporters
Hello all,
My name is Michael Barnes (CM '06) and I'm running for State Chair of our Texas Democratic Party! If you are interested in getting involved, please visit www.MikeBarnes2010.com to learn more. If you are a delegate, feel free to reach out to me, because you hold the keys to this election.
Texas Democratic Party, Democrats, Obama, Hillary, Convention, Texas (all tags)
SBOE Election Results
Check out these articles on SBOE election results. If you voted in the Republican Primary, get ready to vote in the April 13 run-off - Farney v. Russell.
Board of Education member Mercer wins primary
http://m.statesman.com/statesman/pm_23035/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=H5PxedUb
McLeroy, Miller upset in SBOE elections
http://m.statesman.com/statesman/db_43072/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=iuNk9fVa&src=cat
Dual Language and the Future of Texas
NOTE: I wrote this last week as a potential LEE Blog posting. This week, one of our fellow LEE members wrote an excellent piece advocating increased use of Dual Language Programs in schools. I couldn't agree more. As a proud Texan, I think this program is particularly important to the future of the Lone Star State. Here's my two-cents:
Last fall, one of my 11th grade United States History classes had a group of students who struggled with English. Having identified this early on, I was trying out various teaching strategies, looking for what best served their needs. One day, I created guided notes--essentially class notes with key information left out--in Spanish. My theory was that my students were having trouble deciphering my lectures, and a little guidance in their native tongue would do some good.
On the day I tried these notes out, my Teach for America Program Director happened to be observing my class. My PD, as he is called, makes regular visits to my class, checking up on students' progress, and then we chat later. That afternoon when we got together to go over the lesson he asked me about the students in question. I told him about my Spanish notes plan. I told him how these students had trouble understanding English, so I wanted to teach them with Spanish. He paused for a minute, as if contemplating his next move, and said, "But Pat, what makes you think they can read in Spanish?"
((Continued))
Get Informed About the Texas Social Studies Curriculum Overhaul
Texas has shelved plans to rewrite the state standards for social studies until next month, but there's no indication that some of the crazy ideas being floated around won't resurface then. I've cobbled together a primer that can quickly get you up to speed on exactly what's going on.
texas, social studies, curriculum, TEA, State Board of Ed (all tags)
