These online "carnivals" are sets of related writings. The monthly listing itself becomes a destination and jumping-off point.
This one is being organized by Susan Gaissert.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
A New Blog-Carnival
These online "carnivals" are sets of related writings. The monthly listing itself becomes a destination and jumping-off point.
This one is being organized by Susan Gaissert.
New York and Connecticut
Unschooling Playgroup in CT and Western Mass ;) We are hearing a bunch of people say they would like an unschooler's playgroup formed here in CT. We would be happy to organize this. Since it's summer, let's start with outdoor places and find somewhere indoors later in the year. (We have a few options in mind.) How about everyone emails us privately and says what days do and do not work for them? We will pick a day that works for most people. We would love to make it a weekly or biweekly thing. Also email where you live and we can pick a nice playground/park in the middle of everyone. We can't wait to get our kids together. Our kids have gotten so much out of being with other unschoolers at conferences. We would love to have that on a more regular basis. Peace, Esther and Jean Elizabeth and Ethan (age 9) and Ryan (age: 1 week until I'm 6!!) |
laurie.marg AT gmail DOT com wrote:
My daughter and some of her friends are in this Off-Off Broadway Homeschool Production. Ticket prices are reasonable and you may be able to find parking on the street.
West End Theatre at Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew
263 West 86th St.
New York, NY 10024
Show Opens:
June 23, 2009
Show Closes:
June 27, 2009
Running Time: (includes 1 intermission)
Ticket Price: $10.00; $15.00 Opening Night
Tickets by Phone: 212-352-3101
866-811-4111(toll free)
Tuesday 6:00pm
Wednesday 7:00pm
Thursday 7:00pm
Friday 7:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm & 6:00pm
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
"Badman Report" in England
Jude sent this from England:
This is not the link Jude sent; this is a summary from the government press release site:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0105
What Jude sent is a PDF of the entire "Report to the Secretary of State on the review of Elective Home Education in England by Graham Badman"
http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/8318-DCSF-HomeEdReviewBMK.PDF
These seem to be still at the level of formal recommendations, but if people have follow-ups, please do leave comments. Also, clarification of whether this will affect other parts of the UK or just England itself would be good. —Sandra
UK
home educators are currently threatened with the draconian recommendations
of Graham Badman's report to the government - link below
Included are compulsory registration, monitoring including automatic right
of entry into the home on pain of criminal charges, and the enforcement of
a 'suitable education' (whatever that's supposed to mean). And the
recommendations are particularly short-sighted and plain ill-informed with regard
to autonomous approaches. Worse still is the conflation of home education
with child welfare issues - we're all being smeared as abusers, and the
onus seems to be on us to prove our innocence.
I wonder if the delightful (!?!) Mr Badman might appreciate an invite to
the London Unschooling Conference to hear some properly informed debate.
This is not the link Jude sent; this is a summary from the government press release site:
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0105
What Jude sent is a PDF of the entire "Report to the Secretary of State on the review of Elective Home Education in England by Graham Badman"
http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/8318-DCSF-HomeEdReviewBMK.PDF
These seem to be still at the level of formal recommendations, but if people have follow-ups, please do leave comments. Also, clarification of whether this will affect other parts of the UK or just England itself would be good. —Sandra
Monday, June 8, 2009
The gradual demise of SAT requirements
Loyola College Latest to Dump SAT
Loyola College in Baltimore is the latest of over 800 four-year institutions to make their admissions criteria SAT (and ACT) results optional. The change comes about six months after Monty Neill of Fair Test submitted invited testimony to the Maryland Board of Education on the "Limits and Dangers of High-Stakes Graduation Tests."
FairTest's testimony on graduation tests to the Maryland Board of Ed.
Better assessment methods are needed if high schools are to develop higher level skills students need for college and work. Unlike standardized exit exams, the use of assessment methods such as performances, exhibitions and portfolios has been shown to promote the development of skills, knowledge and disposition actually valued in college and employment (Wood, Darling-Hammond, Neill and Roschewski, 2007; Darling-Hammond and McCloskey, forthcoming). Employers have said they are more interested in examples of student work and problem-solving, such as portfolios, than they are in test results [or grades] (Peter D. Hart, 2008). Similarly, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (n.d.) has outlined a range of knowledge and skills students should acquire, much of which clearly cannot be measured with traditional paper-and-pencil tests – but can be assessed using other means. Only with a range of strong and flexible assessments can students or schools be fairly and comprehensively evaluated and learning outcomes improved
These links were sent by Kathryn, an unschooling mother of four. Thanks!
Loyola College in Baltimore is the latest of over 800 four-year institutions to make their admissions criteria SAT (and ACT) results optional. The change comes about six months after Monty Neill of Fair Test submitted invited testimony to the Maryland Board of Education on the "Limits and Dangers of High-Stakes Graduation Tests."
FairTest's testimony on graduation tests to the Maryland Board of Ed.
Better assessment methods are needed if high schools are to develop higher level skills students need for college and work. Unlike standardized exit exams, the use of assessment methods such as performances, exhibitions and portfolios has been shown to promote the development of skills, knowledge and disposition actually valued in college and employment (Wood, Darling-Hammond, Neill and Roschewski, 2007; Darling-Hammond and McCloskey, forthcoming). Employers have said they are more interested in examples of student work and problem-solving, such as portfolios, than they are in test results [or grades] (Peter D. Hart, 2008). Similarly, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (n.d.) has outlined a range of knowledge and skills students should acquire, much of which clearly cannot be measured with traditional paper-and-pencil tests – but can be assessed using other means. Only with a range of strong and flexible assessments can students or schools be fairly and comprehensively evaluated and learning outcomes improved
These links were sent by Kathryn, an unschooling mother of four. Thanks!
Friday, June 5, 2009
"The Impending Demise of the University"
THE IMPENDING DEMISE OF THE UNIVERSITY
By Don Tapscott
By Don Tapscott
For fifteen years, I've been arguing that the digital revolution will challenge many fundamental aspects of the University. I've not been alone. In 1998, none other than, Peter Drucker predicted that big universities would be "relics" within 30 years....(the rest of it)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
"101 Reasons I'm an Unschooler"
I've just bought and happily read a new book by PS Pirro called 101 Reasons Why I'm an Unschooler. It's sweet, it's short, and it's full of irrefutable information about school in the first section (school-related reasons to unschool) and life at home and in the real world in the second.
Those who have wished for something they could give relatives to read might have found the answer in this.
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