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Reporters hand-wringing about whether NYC could be doing more to improve remote seem to be missing a few things.
1. Piles of evidence that all-remote systems are failing. Even when ALL THE RESOURCES are there, outcomes are troubling. Which is why parents lobby for #openschools. https://twitter.com/alecmacgillis/status/1331285866602504194
1. Piles of evidence that all-remote systems are failing. Even when ALL THE RESOURCES are there, outcomes are troubling. Which is why parents lobby for #openschools. https://twitter.com/alecmacgillis/status/1331285866602504194
2. The role of site-based management.
Hear @CityCouncilNYC talk about the lack of cross-school sharing.
This is NOT A NEW PROBLEM. NYC has allowed every school to be its own island since shifting to school-based decisions ~2000. Lack of collaboration is a cost. https://twitter.com/keepnycschools1/status/1335687774876340234
Hear @CityCouncilNYC talk about the lack of cross-school sharing.
This is NOT A NEW PROBLEM. NYC has allowed every school to be its own island since shifting to school-based decisions ~2000. Lack of collaboration is a cost. https://twitter.com/keepnycschools1/status/1335687774876340234
3. These issues predated the COVID era, and aren’t limited to remote modalities.
NYC citywide literacy staff talked about challenge of getting schools to bring the “science of reading” in schools well before COVID.
Accordingly, the most popular ELA curriculum has huge flaws: https://twitter.com/karenvaites/status/1337060237271052289
NYC citywide literacy staff talked about challenge of getting schools to bring the “science of reading” in schools well before COVID.
Accordingly, the most popular ELA curriculum has huge flaws: https://twitter.com/karenvaites/status/1337060237271052289
If NYC schools was allowing principals to pick a curriculum that is panned by literacy experts before COVID, and every building got to do its own thing... that’s a real issue.
We need to look at these well-known structural issues to think about why NYC might fall short now.
We need to look at these well-known structural issues to think about why NYC might fall short now.
Note: every system is not like this!
In Baltimore, @SonjaSantelises has driven outcome gains in the very first year with new curriculum that addressed the issues with NYC’s #1 curriculum. Detroit, Guilford Cty, DC have similar stories of systemic
. https://eduvaites.org/2020/05/12/sonja-santelises-is-doubling-down-on-her-instruction-investment-heres-key-context/
In Baltimore, @SonjaSantelises has driven outcome gains in the very first year with new curriculum that addressed the issues with NYC’s #1 curriculum. Detroit, Guilford Cty, DC have similar stories of systemic
. https://eduvaites.org/2020/05/12/sonja-santelises-is-doubling-down-on-her-instruction-investment-heres-key-context/
In NYC last year, pre-COVID, there was actually a survey of school leaders underway to find out what schools were even using from a curriculum perspective.
Because the district didn’t even know what share of schools use the research-challenged vs research-aligned curriculum.
Because the district didn’t even know what share of schools use the research-challenged vs research-aligned curriculum.
NYC Reporters rarely delve into these matters of instruction. TY to @lesliebrody for being the rare exception with these 2 pieces on math curriculum.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-math-curriculum-counts-for-this-new-york-city-school-11560603602
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-has-a-new-way-to-teach-math-11557579600
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-math-curriculum-counts-for-this-new-york-city-school-11560603602
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-has-a-new-way-to-teach-math-11557579600
Which is a shame.
There is plenty of indication that the topic is of interest: https://twitter.com/lesliebrody/status/1128768469800030209
There is plenty of indication that the topic is of interest: https://twitter.com/lesliebrody/status/1128768469800030209
It has also been disappointing to me that we have struggled to get these instructional matters covered in NYC, when it does get focus in Baltimore & Detroit.
(Great piece on @Detroitk12’s work with @ELeducation by @levin_koby, btw.) https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2019/9/19/21108987/in-a-city-where-low-literacy-levels-take-your-breath-away-here-s-how-one-detroit-school-is-teaching
(Great piece on @Detroitk12’s work with @ELeducation by @levin_koby, btw.) https://detroit.chalkbeat.org/2019/9/19/21108987/in-a-city-where-low-literacy-levels-take-your-breath-away-here-s-how-one-detroit-school-is-teaching
Further, there are plenty of educator voices saying that these details really matter as schools shift instructional modalities.
Here’s @kyairb in Baltimore, who has taught remotely since March, saying it straight. https://curriculummatters.org/2020/05/05/curriculum-matters-even-more-in-a-crisis/
Here’s @kyairb in Baltimore, who has taught remotely since March, saying it straight. https://curriculummatters.org/2020/05/05/curriculum-matters-even-more-in-a-crisis/
I could go on abt the degree to which #CurriculumMatters pre-COVID and post-COVID.
The overall point I want to make with this thread is:
The instructional quality question is not just about remove vs in-person. Yet many act like it is.
When we talk about what NYC should do...
The overall point I want to make with this thread is:
The instructional quality question is not just about remove vs in-person. Yet many act like it is.
When we talk about what NYC should do...
And whether or not its instruction is going to leave us with learning growth or loss... and what NYC should do to accelerate student learning, this year and next... we need to get into nuances beyond the modalities. I think it’s fair to think about instructional time...
But all these other instructional details matter.
If remote instruction is delivered *beautifully* to 1st graders, but the curriculum teaches them how to guess words, not read them... we will have a problem!
Great video on point...
If remote instruction is delivered *beautifully* to 1st graders, but the curriculum teaches them how to guess words, not read them... we will have a problem!
Great video on point...
HT to parent @BerrinchudaM who created the video above, about issues with NYC’s #1 curriculum. @ReadOrPrison is also a good source on the experience of NYC dyslexic parents.
In sum, I worry that some reporters asking questions about quality of remote instruction don’t really understand much of the above, given lack of historic coverage. And that the critical conversation about instruction & remediation will stay at surface level.
@alexanderrusso
@alexanderrusso
