Is there a link between fitness and academic performance? Students who were able to pass a greater number of fitness tests in a pilot program used in 152 schools in Kansas during the 2011-12 school year were more likely to perform better on reading and math assessments. Students who met all the areas of the fitness tests had the best results, with 73.5% scoring above the standard in reading and 70.3% scoring above the standard in math. The pilot study was conducted in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education. Lawrence Journal-World (Kansas) (1/30) Some schools restructure for more student-driven learning Some schools are working with national architectural firm Gensler to re-imagine learning spaces and design settings that encourage student-driven learning and collaboration. The schools highlighted in this article include learning "pods," portable learning devices and shared spaces. "What we designed is like the petals of a flower, with math and science sharing the classrooms and a great melting pot in the middle," said Gensler's Mark Thaler of the firm's work with a school in New Jersey. KQED.org/Mind/Shift blog (1/28)  | Empower Greater Teacher Effectiveness
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 | Utah uses statewide pilots to help choose new math software Forty schools across Utah have been piloting a variety of math software programs and reporting their results to state officials in the new STEM Action Center, a part of the Governor's Office of Economic Development. Data collected from the pilots will be used to help the state determine how it will spend $8.5 million to improve middle- and high-school math scores. Once the software is chosen, officials will highlight the programs at schools around the state. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (1/30) | N.Y. districts to choose teachers to help lead implementation of common core School districts in New York are choosing teachers to become "district leaders" to help fellow educators adapt to Common Core State Standards. Districts can choose up to nine leaders, based on their experience and knowledge of curriculum changes, through a program sponsored by the state Education Department. "It's a great idea, and it's giving people who have experience in a specific content area a leadership role," said Lynn M. Roy, superintendent of the Madrid-Waddington Central School District. Watertown Daily Times (N.Y.) (1/30) | Mich. students to apply construction skills in Habitat project The Academy of Design and Construction in Grand Rapids, Mich., has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Kent County for a project that will connect students with mentors and give students opportunities to use their building and design skills. "We are constantly seeking to partner with organizations that are willing to offer insight into the professions available," said Gideon Sanders, director for Innovative Strategies for Grand Rapids Public Schools. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration) (1/29) Other News | Md. education board makes suspensions a last resort The Maryland State Board of Education has adopted new discipline regulations for schools that end the use of "zero tolerance" policies. The measure also makes suspensions a last-resort option. Under the new rules, school districts will submit plans to reduce disproportionate suspensions of minority students and students with disabilities and long-term suspensions. The Baltimore Sun/Inside Ed blog (1/28) | Assessment to enhance learning and teaching NCTM's Annual Perspectives in Mathematics Education replaces the NCTM Yearbooks. The second APME volume, "Assessment to Enhance Learning and Teaching," will focus on the important role that assessment plays in informing teacher practice and encouraging student learning. The deadline is March 1. Submission details. JRME podcasts Over the course of 2013, Math Ed Podcast interviewed seven mathematics education researchers about articles published in NCTM's Journal for Research in Mathematics Education (JRME). Each article and associated podcast explores a different topic, including teaching English-language learners, curriculum, assessments and standards. Listen to the full collection.
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