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Stephen Sawchuk
Follow news on the common core, literacy, math, STEM, social studies, the arts, and other curriculum and instruction topics with veteran Education Week reporter Stephen Sawchuk.
October 2015 Archives
Arizona Students to Take Required Civics Test in 8th Grade
By Jackie Zubrzycki October 30, 2015 at 2:41 PM
Tucson-area students will take the test, now required for high school graduation, while still in middle school.
Social Studies/History/Civics
For Reading, Knowledge Matters More Than Strategies, Some Experts Say
By Liana Heitin Loewus October 29, 2015 at 4:00 PM
Improving reading comprehension is not about giving students good "strategies," it's about increasing their knowledge base about the world, a panel of experts argued.
Common Core Curriculum Early Childhood Education English/Language Arts Instructional Materials Reading/Literacy/English language arts
New Piano Technology Means Long-Distance Lessons in Kansas City
A digital piano allows Kansas City students to study the instrument remotely.
EdReports Revises Curriculum Ratings, Some Publishers' Scores Improve
A nonprofit that reviews curricula for common-core alignment, which came under fire after initially posting low ratings for nearly all the texts it analyzed, has tweaked its process—and consequently upped the scores for several publishers.
Common Core Curriculum Math Textbooks and Education Publishers
Math NAEP Scores Drop for 4th and 8th Grades
By Liana Heitin Loewus October 28, 2015 at 5:56 AM
U.S. 4th and 8th grade students are performing worse in math, and somewhat worse in reading, than they were two years ago, according to new data from a national test.
Achievement Gap Common Core Curriculum Federal Education Initiatives Math Reading/Literacy/English language arts Standards State Education Initiatives Testing and Accountability
NAEP and Common-Core Math Show 'Reasonable' Overlap, Study Says
A new study looking at the relationship between the National Assessment of Educational Progress and the Common Core State Standards for mathematics finds that the national test falls short on assessing some of the common standards.
Common Core Federal Education Initiatives Testing and Accountability
Illinois, Montana Arts Education Standards to Get Tech-Friendly Update
Illinois and Montana are revising arts standards to reflect the National Core Arts Standards.
Teachers Often Unprepared, Unsupported in Teaching Religion, Harvard Expert Says
The director of Harvard's Religious Literacy Project, Diane Moore, discusses teaching religion in public schools.
Tennessee Gov. Haslam Raises Concerns About Religion-In-Schools Bill
A Tennessee lawmaker's bill would prevent schools from teaching students about religious doctrine before 10th grade.
After Controversy Over Offensive Books, Minneapolis Dumps Reading Horizons
By Liana Heitin Loewus October 22, 2015 at 11:37 AM
The Minneapolis school district says it is immediately pulling an early-reader program that has books with racial, gender, and cultural stereotypes.
Curriculum English/Language Arts Instructional Materials Reading/Literacy/English language arts Textbooks and Education Publishers
If Math and Reading NAEP Scores Fall, Who's to Blame?
The newest round of math and reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the "nation's report card," are due out early next week, and some are saying they're likely to have fallen.
Education Research Federal Education Initiatives Math Reading/Literacy/English language arts State Education Initiatives Testing and Accountability
Common Core Makes Its Way to the Middle East
About 200 educators will learn more about the common-core standards, which are implemented in American-curriculum private schools in the Middle East.
Common Core International Education
At White House Astronomy Night, Obama Touts STEM Education (and Mars)
Several hundred "space buffs," including students, teachers, and astronauts, gathered on the White House's South Lawn for an evening of stargazing.
Federal Education Initiatives STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
How Does the Internet Work? New Code.org Videos Explain
Code.org says the new videos are intended to be used in classrooms across the country or just by anyone who wants a clear explanation of Internet operations.
Few States Require College- and Career-Ready Courses for Graduation, Study Says
Just four states and the District of Columbia require students to complete college- and career-ready level courses in math and English/language arts to graduate, according to a new report.
College Readiness Common Core Education Research English/Language Arts High School Reading/Literacy/English language arts
3rd Grade Reading Retention: A Closer Look at North Carolina's Literacy Law
Nearly 14 percent of 3rd graders in North Carolina were "retained" last year for not meeting reading proficiency standards—but the numbers are more complicated than they seem.
English/Language Arts Reading/Literacy/English language arts
Wonderopolis Creator to Lead English Teachers' Group
The National Council of Teachers of English has hired Emily Kirkpatrick, the vice president of the National Center for Families Learning, as its new executive director.
Professional Development Reading/Literacy/English language arts
The Next Generation Science Standards in Action: New Teacher Videos
Want to see teachers using the common science standards in their classrooms? Check out these new Teaching Channel videos.
Next Generation Science Standards Pedagogy STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math Standards
Students With Math-Anxious Parents May Benefit From Free App
Even a few conversations about math each week can boost students' math growth, a new study suggests.
Education Research Education Technology Instructional Materials Math STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
New Federal Law Means Computer Science Is Officially Part of STEM
By Jackie Zubrzycki October 9, 2015 at 5:09 PM
The STEM Education Act of 2015 was signed into law today.
STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Q&A: Ed. Dept.'s Ted Mitchell Talks ESEA, Turnover, and Education Philanthropy
By Liana Heitin Loewus October 8, 2015 at 6:39 PM
The U.S. Department of Education's undersecretary covered a range of topics in a one-on-one interview at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's recent learning forum.
Federal Education Initiatives Leadership Testing and Accountability
Gates Foundation Staying the Course on Teacher Effectiveness, High Standards
Bill Gates says his foundation remains committed to its current work in supporting the use of high academic standards and helping teachers improve through evaluation systems that provide useful feedback.
Common Core Testing and Accountability
Grammy Awards Name 25 Semifinalists for Top Music Educator
By Jackie Zubrzycki October 7, 2015 at 12:31 PM
Both public and private music teachers are spotlighted for this year's honor.
Bill Gates Plans to Give a Big Speech on Education ... What Will He Say?
By Alyson Klein October 6, 2015 at 6:23 PM
The co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is set to give the keynote address at the foundation's U.S. Education Learning Forum in Seattle.
Former Smarter Balanced Chief Joins Board of 'Nation's Report Card'
By Catherine Gewertz October 6, 2015 at 12:49 PM
Joe Willhoft is one of four new appointees to the panel that decides content and policy for NAEP.
History Textbook Referring to Slaves as 'Workers' Will Get an Update
A Texas mother garnered attention on Facebook for posting a picture of her son's McGraw-Hill history textbook, which said the slave trade "brought millions of workers from Africa."
Instructional Materials Social Studies/History/Civics Textbooks and Education Publishers
'The Martian' Is Full of Math Word Problems, Says Author Andy Weir
Andy Weir, the author of the best-selling book The Martian, which is now a film starring Matt Damon, says his novel is a collection of word problems that teachers can use in the classroom.
Math STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Parents Value After-School STEM Learning, Report Says
A majority of parents say access to quality, hands-on STEM projects is an important factor in selecting an after-school program for their children.
Education Research STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
Extra School Days Help High-Flyers More Than Struggling Students
More time spent in school seems to be especially helpful for Kindergartners who were already doing well academically.
Early Childhood Education Education Research
Testing Encroaches on Arts Time, New Jersey Educators Report
By Jackie Zubrzycki October 1, 2015 at 11:32 AM
Most New Jersey students get schooled in the arts, but time devoted to the subject has been dwindling.
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