Laura Waters, education writer for NJSpotlight.com, shares with us her insights on how New Jersey is one of the most segregated states in the nation.
Equity in Education from Education Roundtable on Vimeo.
Ethics in Education
Ethics in Education
Anthony J. Gray, Esq., President and CEO of Institute for Global Ethics shares his thoughts on Common Core and standardized testing. He also delves into the story of Princeton University neuroscience professor, Dr. Michael Graziano. His six year son had a disability called apraxia, but Princeton Public School educators accused the first grader of sexual deviancy.
This Wednesday 7pm EST – http://www.princetontv.org
Tonight’s Show – June 18, 2014 – New Jersey is one of the most segregated schools systems in the US
Laura Waters, writer for NJ Spotlight shares with us how New Jersey’s system keeps children of different races and economic statuses within specific districts.
7pm – EST
Education Reform in Newark NJ
Newark, NJ, embarked on education reform that allows parents to choose a school from a network of traditional public schools and charter schools. The network of schools is called One Newark, and parents utilize a web based system to select the school of choice for their children. The Superintendent of Newark Public Schools is hand selected by the governor of New Jersey. Currently, Cami Anderson is the superintendent, and she has faced much opposition from parents and educators. John Mooney, founder and education writer for NJSpotlight.com, discuss Newark, NJ’s education reform.
Education Reform in Newark, NJ from Education Roundtable on Vimeo.
Common Core Math Standards
The Common Core’s math standards focus on the objective of depth of understanding and ability to solve problems in multiple ways. On the subject of math facts, the Common Core directly state fluency goals for first graders.
Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 – 4 = 13 – 3 – 1 = 10 – 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 – 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).
However, the Common Core does not state how to achieve it. Commonly and traditionally, rote memorization and timed assessments dominate schools across the United States as the approach to teaching children fluency in math facts. Schools use popular programs like Rocket Ship Math, which give timed assessments. However, new research from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics find that timed assessments are actually detrimental to students. Board Member of NCTM, Dr. Jennifer Bay Willliams, PhD, of University of Louisville and Gina Garza-Kling of Western Michigan University wrote an article entitled “Assessing Basic Fact Fluency” in the journal Teaching Children Mathematics.
On Wednesday, May 29, 2014 at 7pm, Dr. Bay Williams and Ms. Garza-Kling will discuss their research in highly effective methods of teaching fluency. Please watch by going to http://www.princetontv.org.
Happy 2nd Anniversary!
This post celebrates Education Roundtable’s Second Year Anniversary with Princeton Community TV. Two years ago, the first show spoke of the new assessments that will be heading for New Jersey and the rest of the nation as a result of the Common Core. This year, Education Roundtable celebrates the anniversary with a discussion about New Jersey’s participation in the pilot PARCC tests.
Smarter Balance, another standardized test aligned with the Common Core, and PARCC ask questions in math and English Language Arts that assess for critical thinking. However, the emphasis on the test has caused much concerns throughout the education arena. Educators complain the root of the emphasis on testing stems from Race to the Top, a federal level education program that gives states economic incentive to innovate education.
However, the Common Core created a national educational goal that allows for highly mobile families to receive relative consistency in education standards. Furthermore, for the first time, a national dialogue on what this nation needs and wants in education commenced. Educators, parents and students across the United States are blogging, commenting, writing and speaking about what is important to them. Education Roundtable and Princeton Community TV are proud to be a vehicle for the presentation of educational ideas from the standpoint of an independent voice.
This Wednesday at 7pm, please watch Brad Currie, New Jersey blogger and middle school Vice Principal of Chester School District, their participation in the pilot PARCC assessment.
Education Roundtable is now syndicated
Education Roundtable is now syndicated in New Jersey. The first show to be syndicated interviews John Mooney, founder and education writer of NJSpotlight.com. We discussed the topic of One Newark, a education reform program in Newark, NJ, lead by Superintendent Cami Anderson. Facebook’s Mark zuckerberg contributed $100 million to Newark’s education reform, but one of the strings attached is that Governor Chris Christie, Commissioner Chris Cerf and Superintendent Cami Anderson needs to stay in leadership roles. With the departure of Commissioner Education Chris Cerf, Facebook’s money is now in question. The show also discusses teacher seniority, charter schools’ academic outcomes and other pertinent reform issues. The show is currently broadcasting this week on Princeton TV (www.princetontv.org):
Wednesday, May 7, 2014, 7pm (Eastern)
Thursday, May 8, 2014, 7am (Eastern)
Saturday, May 10, 2014, 7:30am (Eastern)
Thank you for all the support you have given to Education Roundtable and Princeton Community TV!
Latest NJ Education News – May 1, 2014
Tenure charges filed against custodian whose cigarette lit inferno at James Monroe Elementary
Loyd Nelson, NJ.com
EDISON – Tenure charges have been filed against the custodian at James Monroe Elementary School in Edison charged with starting the fire that destroyed the building in March.
NJ education officials release 2015 school funding levels for all districts
Peggy McGlone/The Star-Ledger
TRENTON — New Jersey education officials released school aid figures today that show K-12 school funding would need to grow by $1 billion to meet the formulas spelled out in the 2008 School Funding Reform Act.
Students at Newark’s West Side High School protest teacher firing: report
By Star-Ledger Staff
NEWARK — The firing of a popular teacher was met by an afternoon protest by students at West Side High School, News 12 New Jersey is reporting.
School-Aid Formula Numbers Released by State Add Up to $1 Billion Funding Shortfall
John Mooney | May 1, 2014 | Education
Notices sent to districts bolster those who accuse Christie administration of ignoring legal mandate 3 Comments
Another State Task Force, Another Look at Special Education in NJ
John Mooney | April 30, 2014
Governor appoints panel authorized in wake of reports citing lack of consistent quality and standards in programs for kids with disabilities
Against Backdrop of Contention, State Releases Anderson’s Bonus Payments
John Mooney | April 29, 2014
State-appointed superintendent of NJ’s largest school district consistently hits majority of her targets
State Testing Sees Growing Movement of Families Planning to Opt Out
John Mooney | April 21, 2014
Confusion abounds about what happens next for those refusing to take standardized exams
Fine Print: State Lays Out Guidelines for Complying with New Dyslexia Law
John Mooney | April 25, 2014
Memo to school districts gives details of requirements for screening children, training teachers and staff
NJ Charter Schools: A Conversation About Their Place in Our State
John Mooney | April 15, 2014
In a special audio report, NJ Spotlight’s John Mooney discusses some of the problems and possibilities presented by charters
Interview with Dr. Ed Belbruno
In schools, visualization and graphic organizers help students approach math problems. In the world of Dr. Ed Belbruno, techniques taught to young learners expanded to intertwining art and science. The volume of a blank canvas became the vehicle to organize the information of complex chaos math challenges. A documentary called Painting the Way to the Moon focuses on Dr. Belbruno, and it will be released this month. In this interview, audience can clearly see the complexity of the development of a child into an artist and researcher for Boeing, NASA and Princeton University, who solved the complex problem of leveraging gravitational fields to send rockets to the moon.
Tonight at 7pm – Dr. Ed Belbruno
Today’s show will introduce a guest who is also a friend, Dr. Ed Belbruno, an artist and mathematician researching at NASA, Boeing and Princeton University. Recently, a documentary called Painting the Way to the Moon (https://www.facebook.com/PaintingTheWayToTheMoon) was created to illuminate his career and life. Looking at one of his own paintings, he found a way to the moon that uses less fuel. However, the Ed Belbruno I met goes further than mapping a less expensive route to the moon. He’s entering the field of cosmology, the study of the beginnings of the universe without delving into the existence of God. Princeton’s favorite adopted son, Albert Einstein, looked into cosmology, too. He thought of time in the universe as endless and beginningless, and the universe is eternally oscillating between a rapid expansion and collapse. Ed Belbruno is currently working on the math of a such a universe.
The beauty of my friend’s thoughts clearly expresses itself in his art. As an educator, I could not help but wonder how the poetry started. The story he tells will surprise you. I hope you enjoy today’s show, as we consider how art, freedom and play in childhood form the universe of an artist mathematician.
Tonight at 7pm www.princetontv.org
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