Great List of Tech Resources

There are lots of technology tools available for use in our classes today. Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to keep them all straight or find the right one for a specific task. I received a link for a free e-book from SimpleK12 that I found very helpful. It lists and categorizes 101 useful sites ranging from education videos to graphic organizer creators. The websites listed can be extremely useful in any classroom.

Link to the resource:
https://simplek12.leadpages.co/101freetechtools-ebook/?cc=email-p1

References:
101 free tech tools for teachers. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2017, from https://simplek12.leadpages.co/101freetechtools-ebook/?cc=email-p1

The Common Application

Years ago, I was pleased to hear about a common application for college that allowed students to fill in information that would be the same for multiple colleges on the common application. Then individual schools could request any other information required by the institution. Over the years, they have made improvements to the common application based on feedback from students, counselors, and college admissions offices. This year they will be adding integration with Google Apps, the ability to self-report courses and grades, and Spanish language support. According to the report, one of their goals is to make college entrance more accessible by making the process more user-friendly. Several videos, presentations, and webinars will be made available on the changes.

See the article:
https://www.districtadministration.com/news/new-innovations-coming-common-application-college-applications

References:
New innovations coming to Common Application for college applications. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2017, from https://www.districtadministration.com/news/new-innovations-coming-common-application-college-applications

What Should Be Required for a High School Diploma?

In reading an article concerning Tennessee students receiving a diploma without meeting the state's minimum requirements, I thought about what should really be required for a high school diploma. A study found that 1/3 of students receiving high school diplomas in the study did not meet the minimum requirements. Some were due simply to course code discrepancies or substitutions that should not have been made. However, a third was due to a lack of meeting the two year foreign language requirement. The state left in place the ability for students to request waivers on this requirement. I know that South Carolina's requirements differ from other states, but I wonder what courses should really be required for a high school diploma. Colleges can certainly determine which students have met their course requirements for admissions by reviewing student transcripts, so why make the requirements for a high school diploma the same for every student when some have no intention to go to college but instead seek a career. What classes are necessary to prepare students to succeed at these level and which courses should really be required for a high school diploma?

Read the article:
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/04/11/522770863/should-high-school-students-need-a-foreign-language-to-graduate

References:
Farmer, B. (2017, April 11). Should high school students need a foreign language to graduate? Retrieved April 13, 2017, from http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/04/11/522770863/should-high-school-students-need-a-foreign-language-to-graduate

Gun Education in High Schools

According to NBC Charlotte, lawmakers in North Carolina are considering Bill 612 concerning gun education. This bill would allow for a gun education elective in North Carolina high schools. The class would involve history, math, and science related to guns as well as gun safety. In addition, there would be no live ammunition. It appears that there are people on both sides of this topic, and it will be interesting to watch what happens with the bill.

When I was in school, we had gun education in 8th grade. We had gun safety training at school and actually went to a shooting range several times to use rifles and shotguns as part of our physical education class. I honestly cannot imagine this happening today.

What role do you think schools should play in gun education?

Watch or read the story:
http://www.wcnc.com/news/education/bill-would-create-high-school-gun-education-class/430359998

References:
Welker, H. (2017, April 11). Bill would create high school gun education class. Retrieved April 13, 2017, from http://www.wcnc.com/news/education/bill-would-create-high-school-gun-education-class/430359998

Hidden Costs of Special Ed Vouchers

Dana Goldstein recently published an article in the New York Times concerning special education students receiving vouchers to attend private schools. The article indicated a number of states where this was a great concern including Florida, Georgia, Colorado, and Tennessee. The main concern in the article was that of parents of students in special education being misled into accepting vouchers but giving up rights under IDEA in doing so. The article indicates that students may be giving up rights like the following: receiving a free education, being taught by a state-certified teacher, receiving services offered in public school, and the right to appeal disciplinary decisions. The parents mentioned in the article believed that they needed to be made more fully aware of the students' rights prior to accepting the vouchers. We have a scholarship program in South Carolina to assist special education students with attending private schools. The public school system is still responsible for testing these students if the parent desires and for providing certain services. However, there are definitely services that most private schools cannot provide to the same extent that a public school can. However, parents should be responsible for determining which educational situation will best serve their child. For many, a private school is a better fit for addressing their student's needs. This is especially true of Christian parents who desire a Christian education for their child.

Read the article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/us/school-vouchers-disability.html?_r=0



References:

Goldstein, D. (2017, April 11). Special ed school vouchers may come with hidden costs. Retrieved April 13, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/us/school-vouchers-disability.html?_r=0

Virtual Class Visits with Authors

As a student, I remember receiving an assignment to check out a library book, read it, do a book report, and write a letter to the author. I honestly do not remember the book I read or the author I wrote to, but I do remember being one of only a few in my class to receive a response from the author I chose. Hopefully, I will find it one day in the midst of all the packed away memories from my childhood.

Today, students are experiencing this same type of excitement in literature, but they are actually getting to interact with the author through technology tools like Skype and Twitter. This is a great way for teachers to get students excited about reading. I had not really thought of this idea until I read the article "Virtual Class Visits Link Book Authors to Students." As educators, we can really expand this idea to many different experts. Last year, our Lego Robotics team did a conference call with an entomologist from Canada. They were so excited about this opportunity, but I can imagine that they would have been even more excited to use Skype for this purpose.

Read the article:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/03/22/virtual-class-visits-link-book-authors-to.html

References:
Loewus, L. (2017, March 21). Virtual class visits link book authors to students. Retrieved April 02, 2017, from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/03/22/virtual-class-visits-link-book-authors-to.html

Christians in America

In an article about a recent national survey of Christians, some very concerning statistics were discovered. I was most alarmed by the fact that only 30% of believers have a biblical worldview (Faith and lifestyle, 2017). As a Christian and a school administrator, I find this statistic troubling because the greatest impact on the life of students is their parents. If their parents lack a biblical worldview, then the one being taught to them through the explicit and implicit curriculum of the Christian school in is conflict with what they are being taught at home. This conflict of views between those of great influence can be extremely difficult for a child. I think that we truly need to pray for renewed commitment to following biblical principles from Christians in America.

Read the article:
https://www.culturefaith.com/faith-and-lifestyle-of-born-again-christians-evaluated-in-extensive-national-survey/

References:
Faith and lifestyle of born again Christians evaluated in extensive national survey. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2017, from https://www.culturefaith.com/faith-and-lifestyle-of-born-again-christians-evaluated-in-extensive-national-survey/