This week, in the Wall Street Journal, Diane Ravitch, a leading educational figure, has produced an seminal article titled Why I Changed My Mind About School Reform. In a total reversal of her long advocacy for ideas such as school choice, accountability, “No child left behind” (NCLB) and charter schools, she makes the statement
“…deregulation and privately managed charter schools” are “not the answer to the deep-seated problems of American education. If anything, they represent tinkering around the edges of the system. They affect the lives of tiny numbers of students but do nothing to improve the system that enrolls the other 97%. “

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Posted by Marion Blank at 01:46 PM
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There is a basic distinction in writing that, in most curricula, receives far less attention than it deserves. It is the distinction between narrative (i.e., fiction) and expository (i.e., information) text. From grade one on, when reading is assigned, it is typically narrative material. Even in high school, the emphasis on this type of text continues. Almost all of the required books entail fiction.

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Posted by Marion Blank at 05:06 PM
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I often receive requests from parents about ways to improve their children's spelling. The following is typical of the kinds of concerns that are expressed.

Dr. Blank, My son struggles with reading, but far more with spelling. At the beginning of second grade, his reading is at the 1.5 grade level but his spelling is at the 1.1 grade level. What is the best way to improve his spelling?

The good news is that lots can be done. The less-than-good news is that the practices we need to use are unfamiliar. So it means getting used to some new ideas.

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Posted by Marion Blank at 03:00 PM
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