coronavirus

Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #1)
admissions · coronavirus · educational equity · Finding the Right School · online learning · remote learning · School Choice

Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #1)

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Ever since New York City School Chancellor Richard Carranza advised colleagues that one should “never waste a good crisis” in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, NYC parents have been in a panic. They assume he’ll use it as a backdoor method for ramming through all the changes he hasn’t been able to make via the… Continue reading Never Waste a Good Crisis: How NYC Families (And Teachers And Advocates) Can Take Advantage, Too (Part #1)

No Tests, No Grades, No Problem: What NYC Can Still Do
achievement gap · admissions · Blog · coronavirus

No Tests, No Grades, No Problem: What NYC Can Still Do

Alina Adams1 Comment

In March, the New York City Department of Education announced they would be cancelling state tests for the 2019-2020 academic year. Then, at the end of April, they revised the grading system so that those in elementary school will receive a final Meets Standards or Needs Improvement assessment, while those in middle school might also… Continue reading No Tests, No Grades, No Problem: What NYC Can Still Do

Remote Learning Shines Spotlight On Why Schools MUST Change
achievement gap · coronavirus

Remote Learning Shines Spotlight On Why Schools MUST Change

nyschooltalkLeave a comment

(This is a guest post by Padraig Shea, an educator and baseball coach in the South Bronx. He has taught in Arkansas, South Korea, and Houston. His writing has appeared in the Boston Globe, Valley Advocate, and Fulbright Korea Infusion.) New York City’s coronavirus quarantine has reached biblical proportions; schools and many businesses closed more… Continue reading Remote Learning Shines Spotlight On Why Schools MUST Change

3 Things Teachers Need to Let go of For Distance Learning to Work
Blog · coronavirus · NYC Teacher · remote learning

3 Things Teachers Need to Let go of For Distance Learning to Work

Gregory WickhamLeave a comment

Distance learning is an opportunity. Many teachers are frustrated that all the work they’ve done, which was preparing to teach students in a classroom, is now irrelevant. I suggest they mourn the loss and move on. If they try to continue to hold on to their old methods, the ghost of the classroom will haunt… Continue reading 3 Things Teachers Need to Let go of For Distance Learning to Work

COVID -19: A Dark Knight for Educational Equity?
coronavirus

COVID -19: A Dark Knight for Educational Equity?

nyschooltalkLeave a comment

(This is a guest post by Joseph S. Lento, a licensed Teacher of Orchestral Music and School District Administration. In 2014, President Obama named him a National Teacher of Arts and Humanities. Joseph also has commendations from Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. In 1999, he was named NYC Public Schools Bronx County… Continue reading COVID -19: A Dark Knight for Educational Equity?

Will NYC Students Have To Repeat a Grade? Can They? Should They?
Accountability · achievement gap · admissions · coronavirus

Will NYC Students Have To Repeat a Grade? Can They? Should They?

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

Will They? On Saturday, April 11, 2020, New York City mayor Bill De Blasio announced that, due to Coronavirus, all school buildings will remain closed for the duration of the academic year, which is scheduled to end on June 26. Remote learning, however, will continue.  A few hours later, NY governor Andrew Cuomo countered with… Continue reading Will NYC Students Have To Repeat a Grade? Can They? Should They?

How To Choose a School — When Schools Are Closed: Tips for Families On What To Ask (And How To Evaluate the Answers)
admissions · coronavirus · Finding the Right School · School Choice

How To Choose a School — When Schools Are Closed: Tips for Families On What To Ask (And How To Evaluate the Answers)

Alina AdamsLeave a comment

New York City notified 8th graders of their public high school placement for September 2020 on March 19th, and 5th graders of their middle school placement on April 6. Most charter schools held their lotteries on April 1 for all available grade levels. Still to come is General Education Kindergarten placement in “late April,” according… Continue reading How To Choose a School — When Schools Are Closed: Tips for Families On What To Ask (And How To Evaluate the Answers)

What Still Needs Work: An NYC Student’s Take On the Problems With Online Learning
coronavirus · online learning · remote learning

What Still Needs Work: An NYC Student’s Take On the Problems With Online Learning

Gregory WickhamLeave a comment

While online school is wonderful overall, there are still some issues with it. I’m not talking about technical or logistical concerns. Those are all fairly straightforward to fix.  I’m talking about those issues which will take more time, flexibility, and cooperation on both the students’ and teachers’ parts if we wish to make the transition… Continue reading What Still Needs Work: An NYC Student’s Take On the Problems With Online Learning

It’s a Matter of Equity: Petition Demands Free Internet for ALL Low Income NYC Families
achievement gap · coronavirus · educational equity · remote learning

It’s a Matter of Equity: Petition Demands Free Internet for ALL Low Income NYC Families

Laura WatersLeave a comment

As the COVID-19 pandemic closes schools for New York City’s 1.1 million students, remote instruction — teachers providing instruction through platforms like Zoom and Google Meet and YouTube — is the new normal. At least for the students who have access to laptops and the internet.  Yet many students are not so lucky, largely because… Continue reading It’s a Matter of Equity: Petition Demands Free Internet for ALL Low Income NYC Families

Pausing My Teacher: An NYC Student’s Take On the Pros of Remote Learning
Blog · coronavirus · online learning · remote learning

Pausing My Teacher: An NYC Student’s Take On the Pros of Remote Learning

Gregory Wickham1 Comment

I, like many of my fellow students in New York City, have been doing school online for over a week now. Online school is preferable to in-school school for many reasons, a few of which I will explain here: YouTube > Teachers Many of my teachers have assigned YouTube videos as part of daily lessons… Continue reading Pausing My Teacher: An NYC Student’s Take On the Pros of Remote Learning