Author Archives: Travis Wittwer

You Cannot Measure with Measure 60 (ORE)

Picture_2I do not usually have a newspaper in my house. I usually do not read the newspaper. However, on this cold, wet Sunday, I read the newspaper. You see, it was left there by a guest and I am glad they did. I was able to read about Measure 60 in Oregon. Not our state you say, well, it is only one state away from Washington, and not too many away from the others.

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GRADES: A Necessary Evil?

Picture_1Fall is a beautiful time…the colorful leaves, the crisp air, and the grueling grading period. Many of you will be sending grades out soon. Have you ever reflected on how you grade? Every year, I find myself closer to the ideal grading situation. There is nothing inherently wrong with grades. However, grades have always been a hot topic in education. What are your thoughts?

Join in the discussion on grades. This post is unique. I have not written a 400 word post, carefully crafted with my opinion. I do have a bias and it is relatively transparent…I suppose the photo for this post is a bit revealing. However, I want to hear what you think; I came to my current philosophy on grades by talking with parents and teachers and adjusting my practices. If we each take from the discussion a new way to impact our teaching, the students will benefit.

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GRADE$$$ and TE$$$T $$$CORE$$$

26011383_1775530cbe_oWhat do you do with a struggling school or student? Bring in stronger teachers? NO. Improve the student to teacher ratio? NO. Offer before and after school support classes? NO.

What you do is throw money at the problem, and I do not mean investing the money in ways that will improving the educational system. What some groups are trying to do is throw money at students as a way to get the students to do better on state tests. Some say incentive, others say bribe.

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Educ. 609 What to Do When You Leave Teaching

Picture_3A million is often used as a metaphor for some large, unattainable, unimaginable number. My students often say things like, “That essay will take me a million years to do?” So, for students, a million is a large number. Me, I cannot conceptualize what a million looks like, let alone 1.5 million. But 1.5 million of the 3 millions teachers in American leave the profession every 5 years, mostly to go on to professions that have better pay or more pleasant working conditions. In Washington state, rather than 1/2 leaving the profession every 5 years, it is slightly less, at 1/5. However, that is still not a number about which to be proud.

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Washington, a TON of education

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Washington state is awesome, awe inspiring. I have just left a facilitator training for NBCTs interested in facilitating candidates who are pursuing National Board certification. I left the training pumped, excited, invigorated! Washington is changing how education is viewed and this change is strengthening the learning of our students.

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