Category Archives: Social and Emotional Learning

From One Atheist to Another: How Does Bill Gates Keep his Ego in Check?

Posted on February 1, 2014 by

Dear Bill, I understand that, like me, you are an atheist. I hesitate to share this piece of information about myself with others due to fears of being rejected and judged and/or being proselytized to.  One of my Italian-American Catholic … Continue reading →

Posted in Bill Gates, Common Core, Corporate Education Reform, Edreform, Microsoft, Morality, Social and Emotional Learning, Special needs, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Public Education is NOT an Industry

Posted on January 19, 2014 by

Image courtesy of EdVotes.org Dear Bill, I thought of you while reading Forbes’ 30 Under 30 2014 special report, which celebrates the professional achievements of 20-somethings in a variety of industries, including education.  Do you see your young self in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bill Gates, Billionaires, Capitalism, Corporate Education Reform, Democracy, Edreform, EdTech, Obstacle to Learning, Privatization, Race to the Top, Social and Emotional Learning, Special needs, Teach for America, Uncategorized, War on Public Education | Leave a comment

Freedom to Teach, Freedom to Learn: A Year at Mission Hill

Posted on September 14, 2013 by

Chapter 8 – The World of Work What “college and career ready” really means Bill, “College and career ready” is one of your ed reform slogans that’s repeated ad nauseam.  Your way of achieving this goal is to use the … Continue reading →

Posted in 826 Boston, Bill Gates, College and Career Ready, Common Core, Freedom to Learn: A Year At Mission Hill, Freedom to Teach, Mercedes Schneider, Mission Hill school, School has become testing facility, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Justice, Standardized Testing | 2 Comments

Freedom to Teach, Freedom to Learn: A Year at Mission Hill

Posted on September 3, 2013 by

Chapter 7 – Behind the Scenes http://www.ayearatmissionhill.com/index.php/chapter7  Bill, Yesterday I met a dyslexic man who told me he didn’t learn how to read until he was 37 years old. To avoid having to read out loud in grammar school, he’d hit … Continue reading →

Posted in Bill Gates, Collaboration, Common Core High Stakes Testing, Corporate Education Reform, Democracy, Freedom to Learn: A Year At Mission Hill, Freedom to Teach, Inclusion, Mission Hill school, Social and Emotional Learning, Special needs | 1 Comment

Freedom to Teach, Freedom to Learn: A Year at Mission Hill

Posted on August 20, 2013 by

Chapter 5: The Eye of the Dragon As we saw in chapter three of A Year At Mission Hill, knowledge and skills are taught – in part – through school wide themes, which involve the community.  At the beginning of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art instruction, Bill Gates, Common Core, Common Core High Stakes Testing, Democracy, Freedom to Learn: A Year At Mission Hill, Freedom to Teach, Our Schools Are NOT Broken, Real World Education, Schools are not broken, Social and Emotional Learning, Unique Talents | 3 Comments

Freedom to Teach, Freedom to Learn: A Year at Mission Hill

Posted on August 13, 2013 by

Chapter 4: Love and Limits Chapter 4 of A Year At Mission Hill gave me anxiety.  As a teacher of ELLs (English-language learners), some of whom have significant special needs, I pictured myself trying to teach NYS and NYC Common Core … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Freedom to Learn: A Year At Mission Hill, Freedom to Teach, Inclusion, Our Schools Are NOT Broken, Real World Education, Schools are not broken, Social and Emotional Learning, Special needs | 7 Comments