Denise Fawcett Facey

Are you as tired as I am of the bullying, cyber-bullying and other mean-spirited behaviors we so often hear about among teens in the news? If so, a recent news story about Washington Township High School, in New Jersey, is a refreshing change. For the past nine years, guidance counselors there have quietly maintained a freshmen orientation program in which 25 upperclassmen assist the staff in preparing incoming freshmen to make the transition from middle school to high school. Convening for a four-day camp about a month before school begins, freshman learn the layout of the school building as they follow their new class schedules, moving from class to class. Then, in addition to instruction on test-taking, study skills and maintaining a positive outlook, the freshman, under the direction of the upperclassmen, engage in group activities that are designed to introduce them to each other individually and build bonds.

What an excellent way to acclimate freshman to the social and academic rigors of high school! The spirit of camaraderie engendered by such a program and the willingness of upperclassmen to take on the role of ambassadors in their school ensures not only an easier freshman year, but the prevention of hazing, bullying and other unsavory behaviors to which freshman are sometimes subjected. And while combating bullies may not have been the main intent of the program, for school districts and even entire states currently seeking to establish anti-bullying standards, they might well look to Washington Township for guidance.

That’s my opinion. What do you think?

Remember when homework occupied an hour or two of students’ time and not turning it in meant a plummeting average in that class? Well, times are changing. Now, some teachers, having decided that homework is not nearly as important as class work, tests, and in-class research, deem homework unworthy of grades or count it for a very small portion of the overall grade. Instead, (more…)

For every parent who wonders why his or her child hates reading, Richard Allington and Anne McGill-Franzen, educators at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, may have found the answer: choice. That’s right, giving students a choice of reading materials makes all the difference. And offering students free books, not only seals the deal, but also prevents the “summer slide” of decreased reading ability that educators often note, particularly in low-income students, after summer break.

Following two groups of randomly selected first- and second-grade students over the course of three years, (more…)

As virtually everyone knows, the ubiquitous website, Facebook, dominates the social networking world, with millions of people logging in throughout the day to keep abreast of their friends’ (and strangers’) lives. Now a group of faculty from the University of Arizona has devised a project incorporating Facebook into a self-teaching program for grades 6-12.

Called “Teach Ourselves,” this program is designed to (more…)

Often, as teachers, we contemplate how very different school would be if teachers were in the decision-making positions. Changing this daydream into reality, the Detroit Public Schools are joining school districts in Boston, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee by opening a school in which teachers are in charge of everything. Yes, everything! (more…)

What was once the purview of only the wealthy is now gaining popularity with middle-class students: the gap year. A period of exploration, self-discovery and just a respite from the daily grind of books, lectures and studying, the gap year occurs right after high school graduation, affording students a break before beginning college. In fact, many colleges, including those in the Ivy League, now encourage students to indulge in this time (more…)

Regular readers of this blog know my disdain for “teaching to the test.” So, naturally, I cheer when I find a school that bucks the trend by restoring learning to the center of education and putting tests where they belong — on the periphery. One such school is in Maplewood, New Jersey. And I love their results. (more…)

Steadily and quietly, public schools of single gender (and single-sex classes within public schools) have begun to multiply across the country and not everyone is pleased to see them return. Reigniting an old debate about gender differences — whether they exist academically and, if so, whether this necessarily indicates that one gender is inherently inferior — these same-gender classes have expanded from a mere 11 in 2001 to 540 now. (more…)

With the news so often filled with negativity concerning education — low test scores, high dropout rates, educators found cheating on high-stakes exams — I’m thrilled beyond measure by the achievements of the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men. Begun four years ago on Chicago’s very tough South Side, the school opened with 150 African-American boys, 85 percent of whom came from low-income families and only 4 percent of whom read at or above grade level at the time. (more…)

What’s the best way to prepare students to compete in a global economy? Increasingly, the answer among educators across the U.S. is engineering, and they’re teaching it as early as kindergarten. In fact, teachers have come up with some very original ideas for doing it. (more…)

Nowadays, with parents so actively involved in every detail of children’s lives, play dates have taken the place of children just simply playing outside with whomever happens to be around and parents orchestrate the details of their children’s social lives. Now, schools have entered the mix. In addition to school counselors mediating such situations as when a parent complains about an “unkind” text message received by his or her child, schools also are now actively discouraging “best” friends. (more…)

While incidences of cheating may not actually be more numerous than in times past, the means by which students do it are. Indeed, with technology offering so many new ways to cheat, teachers have had to become much more savvy in discerning this activity. For example, despite the prohibition against the use of cell phones in most schools, we know that students still bring them to school. But I recently read about at least one student who used his cell to cheat by taking photos of answer sheets inadvertently left on the teacher’s desk. Other students have used the internet (once again via cell phone) to get answers to test questions. And still others text message answers to friends. (more…)

When you combine the current economy, summertime and kids, this summer looks rather dismal. With the recession refusing to release its stranglehold on our economy, many school districts have decided to forego summer school and other summer programs, in the interest of budget cuts. So, I’m very enthusiastic about San Francisco’s solution to the problem of how to occupy children’s time this summer: summer camps and much more. (more…)

The start of educational efficiency seems to have arrived . . . finally. Last June, when I wrote about the imminent arrival of national education standards, 46 states favored standardized goals, agreeing essentially to teach the same topics during the same grades. Since then, all states have gotten on board, except Texas and Alaska. Moreover, last week, Maryland joined Kentucky in endorsing the new educational standards for reading and math, which is a precursor to actual adoption and implementation of the standards. Each state that participates will create its own curriculum, based upon the common standards. Then, once teachers have been trained and textbooks modified, students in every grade in the country will have one standard. (more…)

Do you remember an old public service commercial with the tag line, “Reading is Fundamental?” I was reminded of it recently by a wonderful reading program in Oakland, California, targeting at-risk children, and I was elated. Then I discovered, to my dismay, that our current dismal economy jeopardizes the program’s existence for the upcoming school year. So, the program’s sponsors, a non-profit group called Oakland Parents Literacy Project, may have to end their eight-year quest to raise reading ability in their school district. (more…)

Do you think of the words “gifted” and “minority” as mutually exclusive? Even if you don’t — or won’t admit it — far too many educators act as if gifted African American and Latino students are non-existent or, at the very least, a rarity. That’s why I’m so enthusiastic about the Los Angeles Unified School District’s effort to prove otherwise. (more…)

The equation often works something like this: student + misbehavior=student suspension. But consider what happens when teachers change their behavior. Shifting the paradigm, an increasing number of schools across the country are implementing a behavior management program called Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) in which teacher behavior changes before that of the students. And it works. (more…)

Remember when integrating public schools was considered a key component of improving education for all, particularly for minority students? Then, to what do we attribute the resegregation of schools? A recent ruling in Mississippi cast light on this situation when Senior Judge Tom S. Lee of the U.S. District Court of Southern Mississippi ruled that Walthall County schools could no longer resegregate by allowing whites to transfer to a predominately-white school nor could they continue to create segregated classrooms within schools. In 2010, are we still under the colossally ignorant belief that education of white students and black students together will somehow be deleterious to whites? (more…)

Does the following equation work: money plus rules equals school success? In this case, I’m not so sure, but the U.S. Department of Education is counting on it. Disbursing $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement Grants, (which were included in the federal stimulus package last year) to all 50 states, they have also attached strings to the money. Specifically, the revamping of the poorest performing schools in every state (as determined by each state) must accompany the money, with the programs’ implementation beginning by September 1, 2010. And that’s not all. (more…)

Faced with a choice between political expedience and educational support, Florida Governor Charlie Crist chose to stand with teachers last week. Not a resident of Florida, I nonetheless cheer for Gov. Crist’s courage in the face of increasing indications that teachers are under siege.

Vetoing an unprecedented education bill that would have ended tenure for new teachers and based teachers’ salaries on merit pay, Gov. Crist bucked the current trend of politicians vilifying teachers and requiring them to bear the brunt of society’s misfortunes. (more…)

In the wake of the new student loan reforms enacted as additional provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, I’m wondering what benefits might accrue to recent college graduates. Don’t misunderstand me — the changes are laudable, but they appear to be aimed solely at addressing the needs of current and future college students.
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Foreclosures, unemployment rates — everywhere we turn, from television news reports to newspapers to friends and neighbors, we hear stories of the significant impact the poor economy is having on individual people’s lives. And, unlike past downturns in the economy, education has not been spared the harsh realities this time. (more…)

Often using this space to spotlight innovations in education, I particularly like this one. Utah middle-school teacher Leslie Briggs discovered that using sign language with her hearing students produced several positive effects: improved behavior management, increased literacy and greater student participation. As a result of her findings and the terrific outcomes achieved with her students, Ms. Briggs is now teaching this practice to other educators. (more…)

There’s been a great deal of criticism of the No Child Left Behind law, which was the cornerstone of former President Bush’s education policy. Now, President Obama has put forth several changes to this beleaguered and somewhat ill-conceived legislation. Not only am I glad to see it overhauled, I applaud several specific proposed changes. (more…)

According to an article published by the Washington Post earlier this month, a survey of 40,000 teachers reveals that several factors are significantly more important to teachers than money. Leading the list of incentives for teachers was supportive leadership. Many also spoke up for (more…)

Remember when poetry meant memorizing lines by Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost, and then reciting or writing them for an exam? Well, times have changed. Chicago high school teacher Peter Kahn—who teaches not English but Spoken Word—has developed a Spoken Word Club whose impact is such that graduates return, to extend a helping hand to others, as members of his Motivational Mentorship panel. (more…)

You already knew that the average kid is far more advanced in modern technology than most adults, didn’t you? But, did you know that even without any prompting from a teacher, three- and four-year-olds can navigate an iPod and learn a multitude of skills quite easily? The mental picture alone makes me smile and that it’s a true story makes it even better. (more…)

Here’s a problem that no one anticipated: increasing numbers of homeless teens attending high schools. Counselors are discovering more and more 18-year-olds in their schools with nowhere to go, while advocates for the homeless report that the number of homeless teens in this age range far exceeds the services available to assist them. And while the persistently down economy doesn’t help, it’s not the only reason for this dilemma. (more…)

In keeping with last week’s blog on the need to incorporate African Americans into the curriculum, I’m impressed by a new course that will be offered this fall to all high school seniors in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Developed by a team of educators, the course will introduce students to books by and about African Americans. Encompassing the familiar (i.e. slavery) in innovative ways, this literature course also reveals diverse aspects of the African American experience not commonly presented to students. (more…)

If it’s February, it must be Black History Month. From schools and bookstores across the country to special television programs and even spots on the evening news, African Americans’ and their contributions to the U.S. are spotlighted this month. And in theory, this is great. However, it’s time to revisit this practice. (more…)

Remember how much you looked forward to recess when you were in elementary school? You couldn’t eat lunch fast enough to get outside and play. Now, some schools have decided to allow children to have recess first, and then have lunch. The result, for the most part, has been (more…)

Everything old really is new again. In this case, the old and new topic is the Chinese language. Although Spanish remains the dominant language taught in U.S. foreign language classes, Chinese is rapidly growing in popularity. And, like the propensity toward taking Japanese language classes in the 1980’s, a major impetus for the Chinese classes today is China’s emergence as a key player in the international business world. (more…)

High school students have some compelling academic choices nowadays. For example, which should they take: Advanced Placement courses that require rigorous work to achieve college credit or less arduous college courses offered at the high school for credit at both high school and college (i.e. dual-enrollment)? Yet, as the pendulum swings toward dual-enrollment replacing Advanced Placement courses, it’s a dilemma that increasing numbers of students won’t even have to solve. And this is where the battle is joined. (more…)

When it comes to broadening students' perspectives, deepening their understanding of divergent concepts and providing opportunities to meet and know people of diverse backgrounds, college offers wonderful opportunities. Yet, that being said, college is not for everyone. And therein lies the problem; many high schools don’t prepare students for anything else. (more…)

Think back to your high school graduation. Of all the good memories associated with that special occasion, do you include the students who were your class valedictorian and salutatorian? What were their names? You may not be able to remember their names, but some future graduates won’t have valedictorians or salutatorians to remember. (more…)

If you entered some classrooms, you might easily conclude that no teacher is present. Students run around, yell across the room, perhaps fight or even sing—whatever they feel inclined to do. Yet, on closer inspection, you would discover that amidst the chaos, a teacher is there, possibly even trying to restore order. And that’s the problem; (more…)

Does a military background prepare people to be successful teachers? The federal government thinks so, which is why the Defense Department runs and the Education Department finances a program called Troops to Teachers. The idea behind the program is that (more…)

When you think of school, what thoughts immediately pop into your head? In many large cities across the U.S, the answer to that question includes far more than academics. Labeled “community schools,” these schools use their ties forged with social service agencies to provide after school programs and tutoring for children, high school equivalency classes for adults and myriad other services that enrich the lives of community members throughout the entire year. (more…)

Have you ever noticed how much adoration we heap on athletes? Whether it’s the Super Bowl, the World Series or the NCAA championships, the winners are always feted at the White House, amid applause, camera flashbulbs and many accolades. And onlookers smile in approval. Clearly, sports are highly acclaimed in the United States and we tend to hail the winners as conquering heroes. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. (more…)

When Virginia Governor Tim Kaine announced last week that his state’s Education Department was reviewing minority students’ low rate of participation in Virginia’s gifted education classes, I began to wonder about the other forty-nine states. (more…)

As if the deep economic downturn of the last two years had not inflicted enough misery, it may claim a new victim: students’ grades. (more…)

Lost amidst the heated debates over the influx of immigrants into the U.S., is the fact that immigrant children—who are likely to remain in this country—need to become educated members of our society. (more…)

Educational changes can be good, but sometimes you need to weigh the benefits gained against the disadvantages that students might incur. What I’m talking about is the new practice of having elementary students change classes—or departmentalize—as middle and high school students have always done. (more…)

A recent study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition, indicates that students learn better when allowed to make mistakes. (more…)

A new educational philosophy is gathering steam as it travels around the country: don’t give students zeros. Some school districts have adopted a “no zero” policy and instead, mandate that teachers replace a zero grade with a grade of 50. Districts enact such policies in the interest of making it easier for students to dig themselves out of a hole, even when students have done no work on an assignment. (more…)

Recently, the Education and Labor Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives held a hearing attended by teachers and teacher representatives. The central focus of the meeting was how to develop a more equitable distribution of effective teachers, so that low-income and minority schools are not always at a deficit in this area. As you might expect, although the consensus was that these schools definitely need more teachers who are effective, there was little agreement on how to achieve this or even on how to define “effective.” (more…)

Who would have thought that technology and jewelry would mate to produce a means for keeping up with schoolwork? That’s exactly what has happened with a new bracelet, which when plugged into the USB port of a computer, downloads information from a teacher’s Smart Board, which students can then upload to their home computers. (more…)

Remember when clocks were not digital, telephones were not mobile and laptop computers were unknown? That’s a bygone era that no one under thirty even knows about. Now it seems that people will someday ask, “Remember when writing didn’t require a keyboard?” as penmanship is increasingly removed from classrooms in favor of 21st century technology. (more…)

Usually, you can determine what a society values by what it is willing to pay the most money to obtain. In our society, entertainment is king. So, why are music and art being cut from so many schools? (more…)

In a bid to create a safer environment and boost academics, more and more school administrators across the country are turning to uniforms for their students. (more…)

I’ve always believed that any school is only as good as its leadership and some recent findings seem to support my contention. (more…)

It’s not easy being a five-year-old nowadays. Blocks, paints and songs have given way to such serious scholastic endeavors as math, reading and the ubiquitous test taking. And the children had better meet the standard lest they be labeled “not proficient” and then forced to repeat kindergarten. Somehow, kindergarten was a lot more fun in the “olden days.” (more…)

Once upon a time SAT scores and grade point averages were the sole determinants of college admission. That notion may become as antiquated as a fairytale now that some colleges have added students’ personalities as an additional determining factor for admission. (more…)

When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced his plan to make passing fourth and sixth grades more difficult for students (and to retain those who fail standardized tests), it once again raised the issue of social promotion versus grade retention for struggling students. (more…)

This is not camp as we recall it from our own childhoods; too bad for us! Dance as a conduit for self-discipline, self-esteem, creativity and critical thinking is the basis for Ailey Camp. Developed twenty years ago by the venerable Alvin Ailey, this scholarship-based program continues under the auspices of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, providing an artistic outlet along with a big boost to self-awareness and interpersonal skills for at-risk urban youth in grades six through eight, in ten cities. (more…)

Everything old really is new again. In keeping with the trend in recent years toward returning to schools of only one gender, four schools in different parts of the country are working together to put a new twist on this idea. Beginning next month, these schools (Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland; Harpeth Hall in Nashville, Tennessee; Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut; and Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio) will now offer online courses for girls only. (more…)

School vouchers have been touted by politicians as the great equalizer as they afford students who might not otherwise be able to attend a private school the opportunity to do so, funded by tax breaks directly to parents. What could possibly be wrong with that idea? Well, supporters and detractors have been debating this issue for nearly two decades. (more…)

Well over four thousand charter schools have sprung up throughout the country in recent years. And although they’ve been hailed as a great revolution in education, I wonder if that’s true. (more…)

With the dismantling of the little red schoolhouse in front of the Education Department last month, Education Secretary Arne Duncan symbolically began the demise of No Child Left Behind. Let it die. (more…)

The recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Horne v. Flores may make it even more difficult for non-English-speaking students to obtain an equal education. In a 5-to-4 decision, the justices ruled that even if a state spends only the bare minimum on English language programs, as long as students improve, this is sufficient. (more…)

As frustrating and intrusive as technology can sometimes be, I have to acknowledge its usefulness as a teaching tool. In rapidly increasing numbers, students and teachers around the globe are connecting with peers via the internet, providing education that books cannot begin to offer. (more…)

A marvelous program that I’d like to see replicated across the country impresses me. Rainier Scholars was founded seven years ago in Seattle’s Rainier Valley by Bob Hurlbut—a man who simply wanted to make a difference in the world. (more…)

Do you remember fourth grade as a special time? According to a June 2, 2009 article in the online edition of Education Week, students who drop out of high school routinely mention fourth grade as the last time they felt successful. (more…)

Finally—educational changes that will work! The Obama administration’s effort to improve U.S. education includes a goal of restoring the United States to its former position as the nation with the highest proportion of college graduates. Toward that end, Education Secretary Arne Duncan proposes that high schools and colleges align their definitions of college-readiness, (more…)

With the advent of numerous social networking websites, this issue was bound to arise: are these websites useful educational tools or a dangerous intermingling of personal and professional lives? (more…)

I love an innovative new idea that has been developed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Educator and choreographer Erik Stern, along with Dr. Karl Schaffer—an educator, choreographer and mathematician—are the creators of a "math dance." (more…)

Would U.S. students benefit academically from a longer school year? I don't think so, but Education Secretary Arne Duncan does. Believing that a school year of at least eleven months—in conjunction with a lengthened school day and a six-day school week—will augment academic achievement, Secretary Duncan has concluded (more…)

I'm intrigued by the results of a study recently published in the journal Cognition and Instruction. The study, which focused on the relationship between cooperative learning and race, was conducted on 132 urban 4th and 5th graders in one northeastern school. (more…)