The Carnival of Education: Week 137...er, 138?

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this 138th edition of the Carnival of Education. [Explanation of why I thought it was number 137 before: Edition 134 was not listed in the "past posts" section on the Blog Carnival page, so my numbering got thrown off. Sorry!]

The last edition of the carnival was hosted by The Education Wonks. The next edition on October 3rd will be hosted at Evolution...not 'just a theory' anymore. The deadline for submission is 1:00 AM US Central Standard Time October 3rd. (Around midnight Tuesday in the US.)

Submissions can be sent directly to greg AT gregladen.com, or you can use the handy submission form.

If you're interested in hosting the carnival on your blog, send a message to this email address: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net.

It was a pleasure hosting this time, though I had no idea there would be so many submissions! The zeitgeist of the educational blogger community this time around is a little bit mellow, or even melancholy, as we dig into the academic year. I wonder what it's like to host the carnival in February or March, when attitudes really go sour!

Enjoy the following submissions, all submitted by the authors themselves, and organized into handy categories.

What's Wrong With Education

I Thought A Think compares racial disparities of the past with the present. Stop me if you know where this is going.

Teacher in a Strange Land explores why more men aren't attracted to teaching. As a male teacher myself, I agree with her conclusion: it's more about image and mobility than money.

Education Notes Online doubts that teacher quality is really the single most important factor in education. By the way, before you read this blog, it might help to know that "mishpucha" is Yiddish for "family".

Ideas for Change

NYC Educator asks whether schools should use cameras to record all their classes.

Dynamics of Cats, in two separate entries, wonders why American schools don't keep students in the same cohort group, with the same teacher, for at least a few years at a time.

Dave Saba takes a look at "alternative certification" schemes to bring in new teachers, and finds them lacking.

The Education Wonks tell us about a newspaper editorial board that supports radical education reform, and why they think that reform is imperative.

Judging the Merits of Merit Pay

A Passion for Teaching and Opinions deconstructs his local teachers' union's opposition to merit bonuses for teachers.

Eduwonkette, in a week-long series, looks at how (and how not) to measure and reward effective teachers.

Students Behaving Badly

Learn Me Good recounts a student who claimed to have temporary blindness, brought on by a science assignment.

Joanne Jacobs tells us the disturbing story of a cheating ring, and the reactions of parents and educators, at Hanover High in New Hampshire.

Bluebird's Classroom brings us the story of "Pout Boy," a kid from a good family who seems to be making bad choices. Thank God none of us are like we were in middle school!

Scheiss Weekly wants you to know how they feel about poorly-behaved kids in the classroom.

Siobhan Curious brings us tales of rudeness in the classroom, and considers how teachers should respond.

Evolution...(next edition's carnival host) is sick and tired of feeling like he's not allowed to take on the creation/evolution controversy in his classroom.

"Plays Well With Others"

Shrewdness of Apes finds that some people use co-teaching as a cover for slacking off.

What It's Like on the Inside explains why avoiding peer collaboration hurts more than it helps.

The Tempered Radical makes the case for using professional learning communities for staff development, instead of the latest self-help bestsellers.

Tales of Despair, Words of Encouragement

Just a Substitute Teacher tells us, "You know you’re old when the slang of your youth has been elevated to a 'Idioms and Clichés' worksheet."

Right Wing Nation is ticked off that no one has hired him as principal yet.

Successful Teaching offers an encouraging word to teachers who are ready to pack it in.

Universe of Success considers another problem that might bring teachers down: self-sabotage.

Ravi Vora takes on some of the discouraging things people tell you, and offers a different take on them.

Preparing for College (or Not)

Moolanomy sets some ground rules as he prepares to pay for his kids' college education.

Don't Mess with Taxes points out several possible tax breaks for people who are paying for a college education.

Online College blog has some things to consider if you want to complete an online degree program...quickly.

Great College Advice wonders aloud if all the emphasis on data and comparison makes choosing the right college easier.

Matthew K. Tabor explores the question, "Does it matter where you go to college?"

Ken Nubo, taking it a step further, tells young people that if they don't want to go to college, they should consider not going. He also suggests looking carefully at three other "life traps" before jumping in blind.

For the College Crowd

Casting Out Nines gives some hints for college students preparing for a teaching career. Although his focus is on future math teachers, what he says is true for any of the content areas in high demand.

Finance is Personal points out a great deal for college students. If you want the Microsoft Office suite, that is.

Ever read MAD Magazine's "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions? Halfway There offers a few of his own for college professors to use.

Holistic Learning

SharpBrains brings us a few snippets they enjoyed from a book about brain research.

Slow Down Fast shows us how bad we are at predicting how happy (or sad) our choices will really make us.

Martial Development points out that students who use all of their senses will learn lessons that others miss.

Homeschool2.0 gets in touch with nature as the author takes on a project to raise baby birds in need.

Life Without School explains the past and present of the "unschooling" movement, an attempt to connect learning and the real world outside the walls of a schoolhouse. Quite a compelling idea!

Let's Play Math takes a look at the critical link between reading (to understand word problems) and math education.

OEDb gives advice on how to get a "green education" that connects world problems with ecological issues.

Now, to throw a monkey wrench into the flow, Why Homeschool offers a critique of schools that lose their focus on teaching reading, writing, and math.

Teacher, Improve Thyself!

So You Want to Teach gives us his answers to a meme about teaching philosophy. I'd love to see how other teachers answer these questions, too!

Scenes from the Battleground takes up the issue of teachers as professionals...or rather, why many teachers aren't professionals at all.

I Speak of Dreams invites readers to tell their own professional development horror stories.

Role models

The Jose Vilson shows us two sides of teacher tenure: shielding mediocre teachers and protecting great ones from forced retirement.

Is satirist Stephen Colbert the perfect candidate for a Teach for America post? Blog and Deliver thinks so.

Miscellany

The NRCP shares a video about the role of paraeducators (or paraprofessionals) in education. I had a little problem with the audio, but maybe that's just me.

n2teaching explains how to set up an online classroom using TappedIn.

dy/dan tells us what he did on Back to School Night this year.

The DeHavilland Blog takes on Alfie Kohn's piece from Education Week, and makes the case that competition in school is important after all.

Going to the Mat takes a look at rules - both written and unwritten - that govern charter schools.

One quick plug before I go. Next week, a new blog carnival will be starting, focused on Educational Technology. Submissions are welcome!

Again, thanks for reading, and I hope you'll help keep the educational blogging community vibrant this week, by reading, commenting, and writing your own posts. Bye for now!