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=Welcome Richmond Doctoral Cohort II-Wingate University!=

Assignment 1-By June 22 you should have completed the following:

 * ==Read the book:**// The death and life of the great American school system, //** by Diane Ravitch. ==

Reflect on the following questions: (this should be ready to submit on June 22 in the form of a reflection paper with 1-2 paragraphs for each question)

 * 1) ==Ravitch makes the case that the improvement of curriculum and instruction is more effective in improving the quality of schooling than are changes in structure and governance, such as school choice and accountability measures. As you reflect on your own experience as an educator, to what extent to you agree with the author?==
 * 2) ==In summing up the shift to accountability as reform, the author wryly observes, "whatever could not be measured, did not count." What are the implications for public schooling and curriculum?==
 * 3) ==Chapter 4 ends with several questions. Discuss these questions and the tension that exists between the measurement of learning by test scores and practices that build good school cultures.==
 * 4) ==The author describes NCLB as "measure and punish". To what extent do you agree with that description? What is measured and who is being punished?==
 * 5) ==Identify and describe the limitations of standardized tests. Given the limitations, for what purposes should tests be used?==

=__June 4, 2012__= =__Additional Activities for Students:__=

= 1. Read this blog post:    __ @http://wp.me/s2odLa-1024 __=

=2. Read the editorial from **//The Charlotte Observer//** found at the "Pages and Files" tab=

=**3. Be sure you have accessed the course Syllabus found at the"Pages and Files" tab**=

=**4.** Read this blog post: http://t.co/ArpZIwrK=

=5. Another blog post to read: http://t.co/rXHEK79Z=

-_

=July 27 Class=

=Activity for in class completion: Link to and read the following articles about ACT testing for young children. Then view the short You Tube video. What are your thoughts about all of this? What implications does it have for you in your current role and in your future educational leadership roles? Jot down a few ideas for discussion.=

=http://dianeravitch.net/2012/07/04/a-sign-of-educational-madness/= = = =http://www.forbes.com/sites/alisongriswold/2012/07/24/college-and-career-prep-to-start-in-the-third-grade/= = = =http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=129939=

  []

__ **Final Class-August 10** __

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/07/29/can-school-performance-be-measured-fairly/tests-dont-assess-what-really-matters

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/07/29/can-school-performance-be-measured-fairly/school-assessment-tests-an-imperfect-but-vital-measure

=http://educationnext.org/is-the-us-catching-up/=

=http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/08/arne_duncan_better_education_s.html=

=http://dianeravitch.net/2012/08/08/why-and-how-to-end-the-misuse-of-testing/=

=**Just for Fun**= =**http://studentslast.blogspot.com/2012/08/grin-and-bear-it-teachers-paddled-in.html**=  