"Minnesota colleges reach out to younger students" (Minnesota Public Radio, 03/03/09)

Colleges used to wait until students were in high school before talking to them about higher education. But these days Minnesota colleges are reaching out to students in middle school and even elementary classrooms, to encourage them to prepare for college.

"Students school lawmakers on tech's value" (eSchoolNews, 03/05/09)

Students from four Georgia school districts were on Capitol Hill March 4 showing federal lawmakers how technology is being used to enhance teaching and learning in their classrooms--and why federal funding for school technology is important.

"Local teachers help inner-city students prepare for AP exams" (New Canaan News, 03/05/09)

Although separated by just a train ride, the classrooms in Baruch College in New York City are worlds away from what four New Canaan High School teachers are accustomed to. But over the next couple of months, they'll spend their Saturdays in the city helping to prepare inner-city high school seniors for upcoming Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

"Book controversy at Delphi High" (WLFI, 03/05/09)

Some Delphi High School parents are requesting three books be banned from the high school curriculum. The books are Chinese Handcuffs , by Chris Crutcher, The Bluest Eye , by Toni Morrison and In Country , by Bobbie Ann Mason. They are part of the junior class English curriculum.

"Schools flooded with substitute teacher applications" (The Virginia Pilot, 03/06/09)

School divisions throughout South Hampton Roads report that a skyrocketing number of people are signing up to be substitute teachers this school year.

In Norfolk, the number of applications has about doubled since last year, said schools spokeswoman Jennifer Francis. In Virginia Beach, there's a waiting list for new substitute orientation classes. Last year in Chesapeake, there were about 950 people in the pool; now there are around 1,400.

In good times, school divisions have typically drawn substitutes from the ranks of college students and retired teachers.

"Stimulus to Help Retool Education, Duncan Says" (Wash Post, 03/05/09)

To help struggling schools, the federal government will use stimulus funding to encourage states to expand school days, reward good teachers, fire bad ones and measure how students perform compared with peers in India and China, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said yesterday.

"Professor Takes Heat for Calling Cops on Student Who Discussed Guns in Class" (FOX News, 03/04/09)

A professor in Connecticut reported one of her students to the police after he gave a class presentation on why students and teachers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Now, free speech activists say the professor’s actions are what really need to be investigated.

"The riddle of education: Why is it the last priority?" (Boston Globe, 03/02/09)

ALTHOUGH it wasn't favored to win, and it didn't, "The Class" was film critics' "should win" pick for best foreign-language film. Because this deeply engaging movie addresses the subject of teaching underserved public school students, it points to the obvious larger question of why education itself so often should win, but doesn't.

"National Standards Gain Steam" (EdWeek, 03/02/09)

National standards—once the untouchable "third rail" of American education policy—now have the backing of the nation’s governors, a growing number of education leaders, and the U.S. secretary of education.

"Grammar cops get their day in print" (Rochester Post-Bulletin, 03/02/09)

Wednesday is National Grammar Day, as proclaimed by a group called the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, or SPOGG.

"Teaching method gets good grade from RC educators" (Braidwood Journal, 03/03/09)

With only three months left in the school year, the newly implemented differentiated instruction teaching model is seeing much success at the Reed-Custer school district.

"Prince William teachers learn digital storytelling" (Inside NOVA, 03/03/09)

Four educators from Prince William County Public Schools joined peers from across Virginia recently to learn how to teach their student to create digital stories using multimedia tools.

Digital storytelling is the art of combining music, video and photos with the author’s voice to create a multimedia narrative that engages viewers in dynamic ways.

"The Vocabulary of Snacking, Lightly Sweetened" (NYTimes, 03/02/09)

The confectionery behemoth Mars is introducing a major campaign for its best-selling candy brand, Snickers, that centers on a make-believe language called Snacklish.

"Writing for Writers" (Daily Pennsylvanian, 03/04/09)

Can a crusade consist primarily of gentle suggestions? Something along the lines of, "Hey all you heretics, how about maybe converting? Just think about it, OK? Please?" As an English major, I care a lot about usage and about not getting tangled in bad analogies. So it would definitely be incorrect to say that I'm on a personal crusade against the writing requirement. Let's say that I take issue with certain aspects of the logic with which this well-intentioned measure is currently implemented.

"Professors incorporate new teaching methods" (Kent State News Net, 03/03/09)

Some education professors say teachers must think creatively to educate minds for the 21st Century workforce. With ever-evolving technology and a demand for multimedia skill sets, traditional teaching methods may need to undergo a technological about-face said Trish Koontz, a mathematics and science education professor.

"Study: TMOT, Texting Can Help Reading Skills" (School Library Journal, 03/01/09)

The finding sounds 2G2BT, but British researchers say text messaging doesn’t harm literacy. In fact, those who regularly text have better reading skills, despite their frequent use of phonetic spellings, abbreviations, and omission of vowels.

"Constantly texting teens worry parents, experts" (EdWeek, 02/28/09)

More than 75 billion text messages are sent a month in the United States; the most avid texters are 13 to 17, according to researchers. Teens with cell phones average 2,272 text messages a month, compared with 203 calls, according to the Nielsen Co.

Some experts say there are downsides. They point to declines in spelling, word choice and writing complexity. Some indicate that too much texting is linked to an inability to focus.

"Hoping the Price is Right" (Inside Higher Ed, 03/02/09)

Bryce Jessup is looking to keep the family business going during hard times, and it’s fair to say he’s operating on faith these days. Jessup, whose father founded William Jessup University 70 years ago, is banking on the possibility that a recent decision to cut tuition rates will help keep the Christian college afloat, and perhaps even grow enrollment during an economic downturn.

"English teachers embrace 21st century composition skills" (Beta News, 03/02/09)

The National Council of Teachers of English isn't merely acquiescing to texting, blogging, video journalism, and all that newfangled tech stuff. In a fiery policy paper on "Writing in the 21st Century," past NCTE president Kathleen Blake Yancey makes a positive case for teachers to rethink how they teach "composing" skills in the classroom.

"Students' goals go beyond conversation" (Mail Tribune, 03/02/09)

For the English-as-a-Second-Language students in Oregon public schools, it's rare to have the upper hand when it comes to language.

But in Tracy Patterson's advanced Spanish class at North Medford High School, the Latino English Language Learners help teach Spanish to the Anglo students.

The bimonthly conversation group, launched three years ago with a Medford Schools Foundation grant, is intended to give Spanish students practice talking with native speakers and to foster leadership skills in the ELL pupils.

"Rewards for Students Under a Microscope" (NYTimes, 03/02/09)

For decades, psychologists have warned against giving children prizes or money for their performance in school. “Extrinsic” rewards, they say — a stuffed animal for a 4-year-old who learns her alphabet, cash for a good report card in middle or high school — can undermine the joy of learning for its own sake and can even lead to cheating.

But many economists and businesspeople disagree, and their views often prevail in the educational marketplace. Reward programs that pay students are under way in many cities. In some places, students can bring home hundreds of dollars for, say, taking an Advanced Placement course and scoring well on the exam.

"Well-Regarded Public Colleges Get a Surge of Bargain Hunters" (NYTimes, 03/01/09)

At SUNY New Paltz, as at many other well-regarded public institutions this spring, admissions calculations carefully measured over many years are being set aside as an unraveling economy is making less expensive state colleges more appealing.

"Computer lessons 'lagging behind'" (BBC News, 03/03/09)

The popularity of information and communication technology is declining rapidly despite the importance of the subject to adult life, a report says.