Greenhaus Education and Other "Effects"

I am very tired of all the negative things I read and hear about the Common Core. As a math teacher and teacher trainer, I applauded the Common Core when they came out because FINALLY, here were some standards that focused on helping students think, become problem solvers, communicate - so many things that unfortunately standardized testing and NCLB have forced out of learning. The Common Core themselves are NOT the problem - the problem is our culture of standardized testing and need for immediate results and improvement, when change, particularly quality change, takes time. Having been involved in the education arena for the last 24 years and having seen it from many perspectives - teacher, administrator, student, PD provider, publishing, etc., I realize that one of the biggest downfalls of our education system is the need for immediate results and unrealistic expectations for a quick turn-around. True change in the system will take a long time, but unfortunately, we are not willin...

Well, it's been a crazy long journey, but I finally finished my dissertation and have sent it off to the committee. One more step towards this ever elusive doctorate.  Two more weeks and I defend and hopefully all these years of learning, researching, writing, and writing and writing will pay off.  I know my husband is hoping so, as he has high hopes I will get a job now!! I will say this past 11 months of 'unemployment' while I devoted myself to research, research analysis and then writing have been very interesting. I managed to start my fledgling independent consultant business and do some interesting consulting that broadened my experiences and also provided at least some financial support. I helped one company develop a webinar strategy and helped another with suggestions for PD and curriculum standards alignments. I was able to work with the technology I love, TinkerPlots and Sketchpad, and train some teachers in two different large school districts. And I did some ...