Summary: Shawn & Troy discuss Advisory ideas, Why I didn't turn in my homework, Shout-outs, Graduation, and Debbie Silver's Lion Taming 101. Why I didn't turn in my homework... * I lost it fighting this kid you said you weren't the best teacher in the school. * I was mugged on the way to school and the mugger took everything I had. * Our furnace stopped working and we had to burn it to stop ourselves from freezing. * I didn't do it because I didn't want to add to your already heavy workload. * My father had a nervous breakdown and he cut it up to make paper dolls. * I didn't do it, because I didn't want the other kids in the class to look bad. * ET stopped by my house and he accidentally took it home with him. Shout outs: 1. C-O Connections bloggers . 2. Will Richardson 3. Jenny from Facebook Webspotlight: History Before and After Humans Shows an overview of the development of Homosapiens and the potential future of humans. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7348103/ Grad Nation: A Guidebook to Help Communities Tackle The Dropout Crisis It is a guidebook that provides a road map to help communities tackle the dropout crisis. It is designed to help communities develop tailored plans for keeping students on track to graduate from high school, prepared for college, work and life. Grad Nation is a natural outgrowth of our local summit work to ensure that solutions are developed to put our youth on a path to success. Grad Nation also includes ready-to-print tools and links to additional online resources, in addition to research-based guidance. It provides information and tools for developing and implementing a customized program that’s right for individual communities. News: Project Management Keeps Learning on Track Like other teachers spearheading ambitious collaborative units, Smith's two-pronged approach to managing the Monster Project -- developing his students into self-directed learners while also harnessing technology tools to help keep things on track -- has allowed him to smoothly complete complex projects while maximizing student learning opportunities. "Teachers are only successful if they understand how to manage the project cycle," notes Bernie Trilling, global director for education strategy and partnerships for the Oracle Education Foundation, which emphasizes project learning. San Jose dad in jail — and mom's on the way — for 13-year-old girl's chronic truancy It started back in third grade with polite letters from the school principal to the East San Jose couple: Your daughter has had a series of unexcused absences; please contact us. Back then, Carol Reynoso and Jayvee Geronimo's youngest attended school about 80 percent of the time. Now, Vanessa said she's willing to do anything if only the court would spare her mother from jail, including face her worst fear — school. "I'm willing to really try this time, to go to school,'' said Vanessa, whose family says she was mercilessly teased about her weight. "I know I've said that before, but I mean it.'' http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_11743743?source=rss Why All Teachers Must Learn How to Teach Online Patrick says that public education has struggled to incorporate technology into schools and just adding computers piecemeal is not enough to engage students. Educators properly trained to use the Internet and digital tools can teach in a traditional manner and have unlimited resources at their fingertips. Online learning can also help create more personalized learning plans for each student. http://ascd.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/patrick-speaker-spotlight.html NMSA '08 Conference Sessions Lion Taming 101 by Dr. Debbie Silver
