Yet another reason that being a teacher is fantastic— there are technically two "New Years" in a calendar year. The first is the beginning of the school year and the second is, of course, in January (Yes, my listing of them is chronologically incorrect, but in education the "beginning of the year" is the first day of school.)
A public charter school in St. Paul, Minnesota has been gaining national attention for its innovative vision and spin on learning. The Avalon School is a teacher-run school with no administrators, secretaries or even librarians. This school and others like it have been gaining steam as a means to challenge the classic public school environment, and according to a new study, are producing results.
As we wrap up 2010, websites and magazines of all topics are releasing their annual "best-of" lists. People in the education reform world are no different. This week, the Hoover Institution released its best and worst lists for 2010: