The Alabama Best Practices Center helps teachers and administrators develop the competence, commitment and courage to do whatever it takes to improve student learning.
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What I Learned in South Africa That Matters in Alabama Cameron's Big Dreams Charter Schools: Basic Info Your new "one-stop shopping" website Both/And Club want to join?
By Betsy Rogers
Guest Blogger
I recently had the opportunity to travel for the fourth time as a People to People citizen ambassador. This time our destination was South Africa -- a country I had longed to visit – and the experience was more powerful than I could have ever imagined.
If you’re not familiar with People to People (PTP), the program was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as part of the U.S. Information Agency. The purpose has always been to enhance international understanding and friendship by promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures. It’s important that Eisenhower, one of the great warriors of the 20th century, offered this explanation for his support: "I have long believed, as have many before me, that peaceful relations between nations requires understanding and mutual respect between individuals."
My PTP focus, as you might guess, has been around education. I love the description you’ll find on the Education page at the People to People website. It reads:
Teachers become students as they step into a classroom in a distant land. For education professionals, lifelong learning is the key to excellent teaching ...Read More...
Guest Blogger
I recently had the opportunity to travel for the fourth time as a People to People citizen ambassador. This time our destination was South Africa -- a country I had longed to visit – and the experience was more powerful than I could have ever imagined.
If you’re not familiar with People to People (PTP), the program was founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as part of the U.S. Information Agency. The purpose has always been to enhance international understanding and friendship by promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences directly among peoples of different countries and diverse cultures. It’s important that Eisenhower, one of the great warriors of the 20th century, offered this explanation for his support: "I have long believed, as have many before me, that peaceful relations between nations requires understanding and mutual respect between individuals."
My PTP focus, as you might guess, has been around education. I love the description you’ll find on the Education page at the People to People website. It reads:
Teachers become students as they step into a classroom in a distant land. For education professionals, lifelong learning is the key to excellent teaching ...Read More...
By Cathy Gassenheimer
Take a minute and look at the photos scrolling at the top of this page. With the exception of the results graphic, all of these pictures feature Alabama students and educators. Spend a little more time looking at the picture of a student reading with a retired educator. There’s a story there.
Cameron is a fifth grader at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School in Auburn. He has big dreams... Read More...
Take a minute and look at the photos scrolling at the top of this page. With the exception of the results graphic, all of these pictures feature Alabama students and educators. Spend a little more time looking at the picture of a student reading with a retired educator. There’s a story there.
Cameron is a fifth grader at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School in Auburn. He has big dreams...
Legislation to allow charter schools, or independently operated public schools, is currently pending in the Alabama legislature. So we pulled together some basic information that could help answer any questions you may have on the issue.
• A Frequently Asked Questions (or FAQ) about charter school explains the relationship of Race to the Top grantsRead More...
• A Frequently Asked Questions (or FAQ) about charter school explains the relationship of Race to the Top grantsRead More...
You told us that you wanted a user-friendly, “one-stop shopping” website, and today we are launching our best effort to meet your needs. Highlights include:
Read More...
- Easy online registration, right from the homepage
- What We’re Reading tool lists resources ...
Read More...
As we search for ways to help schools achieve more, it’s tempting to frame solutions as “either/or” choices. So often we take sides and expend a lot of time and energy insisting that our choice is the answer and must prevail. For example:
• Either we teach students to read using phonics OR we employ whole language.
• Either we teach kids to memorize important math facts OR we focus on the why and how of math.
• Either we teach a traditional core curriculum focused on mastery OR we teach kids how to get ready for our rapidly changing world by fully integrating technology and the Internet into our instruction.
I don’t know about you, but I’m more than a little weary with all these turf battles. I’m thinking about starting a both/and club. Want to join?!
I’m convinced that in most – if not all – of these endless debates...Read More...
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• Either we teach students to read using phonics OR we employ whole language.
• Either we teach kids to memorize important math facts OR we focus on the why and how of math.
• Either we teach a traditional core curriculum focused on mastery OR we teach kids how to get ready for our rapidly changing world by fully integrating technology and the Internet into our instruction.
I don’t know about you, but I’m more than a little weary with all these turf battles. I’m thinking about starting a both/and club. Want to join?!
I’m convinced that in most – if not all – of these endless debates...
