Alan Lawrence Sitomer » performance

Whoa, Dude, the boys are gettin’ their butt kicked!

Alan Sitomer — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:30:15 +0000

I see it with my own eyes from the front of my classroom each and every day. Overall, the boys are getting their butts kicked by the girls – particularly when it comes to reading and literacy skills.

Of course,…

Measuring teacher effectiveness: We Have Brought this On Ourselves

Alan Sitomer — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:02:53 +0000

Have we not brought this on ourselves? Truly, it’s our own fault we are mired in this whole “measuring teacher’s effectiveness” mess anyway.

And why? Because we, as teachers, have run amok.

We had a chance to police ourselves, we…

I am HUGELY skeptical of the word “objectivity”.

Alan Sitomer — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:36:23 +0000

Not so sure I buy into the “objective measure” argument in regards to student test scores being an inarguable method of insight into teacher performance. I mean just because all kids take the same test well, does it really mean…

Accountability and Irrationalism

Alan Sitomer — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:30:07 +0000

I genuinely do believe in accountability.

I think this message of mine gets lost when I rip on the bubble tests as being the end-all, be-all of assessment in public education.

Yes, I do want elevated academic performance.
…

It’s really hard to give a damn about a kid’s grades when a kid doesn’t give a damn themself.

Alan Sitomer — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:30:57 +0000

Let’s be honest… it’s really hard to give a damn about a kid’s grades when a kid doesn’t give a damn themself.

I know I am supposed to be mature, compassionate, professional and perpetually hopeful and encouraging but wow, sometimes…

I am privileged to be at NCTE and more should enjoy the same.

Alan Sitomer — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:30:28 +0000

Being at NCTE once again proves the point that mandatory conference attendance and professional development needs to become a prime focus if we are really going to elevate the performance of our schools.

I can’t even begin to cover the…