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JP Associates RSN Newsletter for February 8, 2011

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Too cold for recess?

What temperature is too cold for school children to go outside for recess?

The answer to this question varies based on the location of the school and what the kids are used to. In one northern Minnesota school, it must be 15 below zero for kids to be kept inside. In areas along the East Coast, temperatures below 35 and 40 can keep kids inside.

Canceling recess due to cold weather is not a small issue, especially considering there is not a national temperature standard.

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Improve K-8 math instruction with student-tested 'high-leverage' teaching practices with Deborah Loewenberg Ball

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2011 3:30-5 p.m. Eastern Time

The math teacher in American movies and television invariably stands in front of the classroom writing formulas on the board while telling often-bored students the procedures they must follow to solve a problem.

As many real math teachers know, this is not the most effective teaching strategy.

Unfortunately, this is the way many math teachers themselves learned math, and if they have too many disengaged students in the classroom, they may feel they have no choice but to go back to telling students what they need to know just to cover the curriculum.

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

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Charters vs. public schools: partners or rivals?

Read the article, then click the link at the bottom to join the discussion in the RSN Forums!

Team Charter or Team Public?

For years, charter schools have been regarded by many teachers, union leaders and school district leaders as intruders on the public education territory. Districts have two main complaints: one, charters attract the best students, and two, they take public money that would otherwise be theirs.

Charter school advocates, on the other hand, dispute both claims, pointing out charter schools are in fact public schools and furthermore, receive less money per student than traditional public schools.

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"Informative! Provided information that can be immediately transferred into the schools."

Quote from a principal participating in JP's 2010 Institute for Excellence in

Education

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Look for JP at ASCD this March!

Catch us in San Francisco, California March 26-28 as we participate in the ASCD's Annual Conference.

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The Haberman Foundation

Too Cold for Recess? (continued)

Decisions are made by principals or school districts at the local level. Physical activity boosts student performance, so many are concerned about recess being canceled. "Students need that time," Principal Greg Johnson of Pine Meadow Elementary in Sartell, Minnesota says. "The fresh air and exercise are really important." Still, as much of the nation shivers through what is possibly the coldest winter in a generation, some schools are calling outside recess off if the temperature is deemed too cold.

We'd like to hear your thoughts on this topic! Have you had to hold recess inside this winter? How do you think it affects student learning? How cold is too cold for outside recess in your school? Send your thoughts to rsn@jponline.com or post them in the Leadership forum in the Responsive School Network™.

Click here to read the original article.

Charters vs. Public Schools, partners or rivals? (continued)

Charter schools also claim to serve more minority and disadvantaged students than local public schools, which in

turn gives those students an alternative to failing school.

The argument has gone on for years, but lately, a new realization is sinking in - be it a charter or a public school, they share the same crucial goal, to educate students well.

In a growing number of communities, charters and districts are coming together and putting their differences aside. Charter-district collaborations have cropped up in New Haven, Connecticut, the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, Philadelphia, Denver, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and even more cities across the nation.

Furthermore, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced they would be encouraging efforts of collaboration between districts and charters by awarding $100,000 grants to cities where the parties are willing to sign "compacts" pledging cooperation and teamwork. Different cities will begin at different starting points, which will determine how much they are able to achieve. For example, in cities where there is a lot of animosity between charter schools and districts, the road to building trust will be longer.

Where do you stand on this issue? JP has long believed in educating the child, no matter what the school setting. With bleak budget outlooks and tough economic times looming, perhaps this is the answer public education has been looking for - everyone doing their part to contribute to the overall goal of educating our children, be it charter or public.

click here for the original article