This week is the beginning of a new era of parent engagement to improve public schools across California with the launch of @CAParentPower (formerly OpenSchoolsCA). Our mission has expanded beyond school reopening but we will continue to build upon this movement 1/
I know it sounds mundane but maybe the best thing you can do to install strong, healthy learning routines in your classroom is to plan your directions in advance & just maybe practice them a few times:
"When I say go--but not before I say go--you will have 30 seconds to jot down your first thoughts about the data set on the board.
Please be sure to work silently.
Afterwards I'll ask a few of you to share your thoughts.
Pencils ready? Go!"
Yes it does. Check (the CMF) Ch. 12, Lines 78-88, @mathillustrated. "A particularly damaging assessment practice to avoid is the use of timed tests to assess speed of mathematical fact retention, as such tests have been found to prompt mathematics anxiety (Engle, 2002).”
“SFUSD criss-crossed the country trumpeting a success which did not exist.”
Then its watered-down high school math approach spread across the country.
SFUSD parent Maya Keshavan:
“I have no idea why the 2017 Board of Education just accepted all this without asking questions. I pestered them too but if they weren’t ignoring me they were busy telling me I was a pushy mom.”
@rastokke@savemathnow@jaravis
In Sacramento today to advocate for upholding rigorous math standards before the Assembly Education Committee. Follow along on savemath.net.
Stay tuned. #LegalizeMath
We need to legalize math in California
Today the anti-math education bureaucrats are trying to force the UC system to water down math standards to accept fake data science courses that don’t teach algebra
We interviewed @minilek, CS division chair @ Berkeley to get the low down
In Sacramento today to advocate for upholding rigorous math standards before the Assembly Education Committee. Follow along on savemath.net.
Stay tuned. #LegalizeMath
We need to legalize math in California
Today the anti-math education bureaucrats are trying to force the UC system to water down math standards to accept fake data science courses that don’t teach algebra
We interviewed @minilek, CS division chair @ Berkeley to get the low down
Much respect for this California teacher's honest thread about California interest groups needing to stop their powerful advocacy that's undermining kids' Right to Read
@CalTog@WeAreCTA
Depressing state of literacy decisionmaking in CA with no compromise on literacy bill. I wrote down (way too many) thoughts below. 1/
edsource.org/2025/no-comprom…
Californians are playing Whack a Mole against Data Science courses that replace rigorous high schools math with lesser options.
At least we might see some headway in literacy this year:
Ai yi yi.
The same day that California advances a bill to build stronger reading foundations…
Advocates speak out about bills designed to water down math expectations.
We need to legalize math in California
Today the anti-math education bureaucrats are trying to force the UC system to water down math standards to accept fake data science courses that don’t teach algebra
We interviewed @minilek, CS division chair @ Berkeley to get the low down
The Oakland teachers’ union has the nerve to pretend it prioritizes the needs of children, but it feels like they are constantly looking for excuses to shut down schools.
New from me: I sat down with @ehanford to talk everything that's happened since Sold a Story, all the new laws and the criticism, and her takeaways. "If there's something that children need to know, I think we should commit as a society to teaching it." edutopia.org/article/how-a-p…
If school systems prioritized what works and examined the evidence of and conditions for success, they could avoid the senseless fumbles. Not just tutoring, and not just Detroit.
But it's good to hear board members asking questions about effectiveness.
Another strong essay from a member of Gen Z, decrying what phone-based life did to his generation and calling for phone-free schools and a return to real books. From Peter Biles.
(Where are the Gen Z defenders of smartphones?)
realcleareducation.com/artic…
“Cell phones and digital media have caused pre-teens and teens to disconnect from the real world, have increased mental health challenges, and have caused significant disruption in the important daily learning opportunities in their classrooms” — @VA_Supt
We’re establishing cell phone-free education in schools benefiting students, parents and educators across Virginia. This essential action will promote a healthier educational environment where every child is free to learn. governor.virginia.gov/newsro…