Category Archives: A Good Education

Reading is essential to success in classroom

Posted on May 26, 2013 by fsjenner

Who could quibble with this statement? “Reading is absolutely essential for success in school and in life, setting the foundation for access to and mastery of most other subject areas.” This quotation is the opening sentence in an op-ed piece … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Accountability, New Teachers, Professional Development, Teacher Education Programs, Teachers and Teaching | 9 Comments

Bullying

Posted on January 5, 2013 by fsjenner

Bullying can be so difficult to uncover–such a challenge to prevent. If I was still a third grade teacher, I know one simple, meaningful, and effective technique would be to incorporate selected titles from children’s literature to accomplish a few … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Children's Literature, Interesting Bits, School Days | Leave a comment

“Teaching reading IS rocket science.”

Posted on November 4, 2012 by fsjenner

I love this quote. I picked it up from a colleague and friend who taught reading for her entire career as a reading specialist and classroom teacher. I taught reading for 17 years as a third and fourth grade classroom teacher. … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Interesting Bits, Literacy, Reading, Science, Science Education | 2 Comments

Science Is Everywhere

Posted on November 3, 2012 by fsjenner

I am a science teacher. I taught science exclusively for 21 years—from 1990 to 2011. Each September, I introduced a new crop of students to my classroom, my curriculum, the practice of cooperative team learning, and my focus on science … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Curriculum, Literacy, Public Education, Science Education | 3 Comments

What’s the Diff?

Posted on September 1, 2012 by fsjenner

And from another Ravitch post on Common Core Standards, from earlier this summer–a frequent responder, Duane Swacker comments: “One quibble I have is with teachers and other educators using this concept of “raising student achievement” instead of attempting to increase student … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Quality Teachers/Quality Teaching, School Improvement, Student Success, Teacher Evaluation | 2 Comments

Primum non nocere,…

Posted on August 18, 2012 by fsjenner

Maybe every profession should have an expressed, noteworthy, and well-known tenet–words to live by. Check out this blog post by Donnalyn Miller, a 6th grade language arts teacher from Texas, who is known as The Book Whisperer, due to her … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Curriculum, Literacy, Students and Schools, Teachers and Teaching, Testing | 2 Comments

Trumping Childhood Poverty (Part 1)

Posted on June 16, 2012 by fsjenner

I never watch morning TV. If I did, I would never get to work on time. I can become completely mesmerized by TV, and lose track of time–my mother called it that “slack-jawed” effect. So, I never do anything more … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Accountability, Education Professionals, Education Transformation, Literacy, Quality Teachers/Quality Teaching, Student Success, Teachers and Teaching | 1 Comment

You can enhance reading and math instruction and learning by engaging kids in science.

Posted on June 15, 2012 by fsjenner

That’s right. It has been done. It has a proven track record. This concept has been taught by reading and science faculty at the University of Delaware (I know this to be true because I took their Science and Literacy … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Curriculum, Education Professionals, Literacy, Professional Development, Quality Teachers/Quality Teaching, School Improvement, Science Education, Student Success, Students and Schools, Teachers and Teaching | Leave a comment

How did time for elementary science get swallowed up by reading and math?

Posted on June 14, 2012 by fsjenner

Once upon a time, in a school district in a faraway galaxy, a pitched battle was taking place. Close your eyes and imagine that you were there–cause some of you were. Picture helpless little elementary school science cowering before GIMONGOUS … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Curriculum, Quality Teachers/Quality Teaching, School Improvement, Science Education, Students and Schools, Teachers and Teaching, Testing | Leave a comment

Whatever Became of Elementary Science?

Posted on June 13, 2012 by fsjenner

Starting in the winter of 1996, the Delaware Department of Education and curriculum leaders from seven school districts initiated several professional development opportunities arranged to show elementary school teachers—in grades K-6–a new, different, and greatly improved science curriculum. I remember … Continue reading →

Posted in A Good Education, Curriculum, Education Professionals, Literacy, Science Education, Student Success, Students and Schools, Teachers and Teaching | 2 Comments