The Michigan Equity Education Blog
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Tom Torrento
- Jun 6, 2018
- 2 min
All Work & No Play Is Not Guaranteeing Kindergarteners Are More Prepared!
When I think back to my kindergarten days with Ms. Brock, I fondly remember learning my letters and discovering new knowledge, but beyond that I remember have an abundance of free time to play. The classroom had an enormous tub of lego's and if allowed I would sit and build every day. My classwork was always completed, but every day, we the students we provided time to be kids and explore. I had been very fortunate to have had my children educated by individuals who understan
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Tom Torrento
- May 31, 2018
- 1 min
Why Teachers are Walking Out!
This is hands down the best thing i've read addressing teacher walk-outs that are occurring around the country! Teachers matter! Give this a read as it speaks volumes about what is truly going on right now in education. https://sethnichols.wordpress.com/2018/05/17/why-teachers-are-walking-out/ #MIequityED #TeachersMatter
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Tom Torrento
- May 30, 2018
- 1 min
Court finds teacher evaluation system flawed
This article addresses something that is near and dear to my heart, teacher evaluation. Currently states use multiple models and while much of the content that determines ones "effectiveness" rating is very valuable, there is also much room for improvements to be made. My largest issue with current evaluation is that a percentage of my score is based on building wide data. If I do not/will not ever teach certain students, then their scores should not hold any weight on my per
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Tom Torrento
- May 22, 2018
- 2 min
How Our Schools are Suffering in Michigan
Michigan used to be a state that produced some of the best teachers in the country. As a result, we were able to hold on to the most talented educators and even had talented educators from outside of our state applying to come work here. Over the years, the system has been under attack and as a result we have issues retaining quality educators, resulting in our state rating of #36 for education in the US. As a teacher who works tirelessly for my students to ensure that they d
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Tom Torrento
- May 14, 2018
- 1 min
Standardized Teaching for Standardized Testing - Issues In Education Today
In this article, Luke Wilcox (2017-18 Michigan Teacher of the Year) addresses problems with our current profession by suggesting a change to the current teaching model. For to long the sage on the stage method of teaching has been the focal point with the authoritarian teacher in the front on the classroom preaching and oozing knowledge to a room of students fervently taking notes. While this process creates students who can answer questions with high levels of success, it do
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 26, 2018
- 1 min
Educating in Lower Socioeconomics!
This is a pretty amazing article. Teacher burnout is acknowledged which is an important fact as well as the concept of successful teachers moving up to wealthy schools. While I have no issue with my students being from a high poverty area and also embrace many of the struggles and challenges that come along with it, this does not address that most lower socioeconomic schools have substantially lower pay scales and smaller populations leading to poor funding. While I advocate
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 24, 2018
- 1 min
Getting Past Politics and Working Together!
It is time for a bipartisan commitment to public education reform. We need the politicians on both sides to prioritize real solutions to whats causing our steady decline across the board. This article brings light to the fact that public education is operating in "silo's of change". We are not currently working within one mechanism to truly address changes globally through our state. Districts are treading water and trying to stay afloat in their own pool, while not leaning o
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 24, 2018
- 1 min
Poverty Matters!
Michigan’s top 10 and 10 plan for Education reform acknowledges the fact that poverty matters. The real question will be whether or not our state adopts a system that is truly equitable in regards to standardized or state testing. This article resonates deeply as I’ve witnessed this exact circumstance and situation time and time over within my own teaching career. It’s time to wake up and give all students a fair shot! http://www.lovewhatmatters.com/i-lied-to-my-students-toda
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 22, 2018
- 1 min
Every Teacher Needs a Mentor
This is the most important factor to every great teacher! Great teachers know what they know and more importantly know what they do not know. My success as a teacher has been due to a ton of passion and dedication but also to the multitude of mentors and colleagues I’ve used to bounce ideas off of. This should be a major part of every teachers life both novice and veteran! Thanks to Lynne Dallmann for sharing such a great article. Your mentors are super proud of your accompli
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 22, 2018
- 1 min
Mental Health in Schools: The Current Crisis!
School mental health is an epidemic right now and most schools are severely understaffed/unequipped to truly handle it. The average case load for a counselor in the US today is roughly 500 students. How can someone truly properly handle the mental health of students when in many cases there are students whom the counselor might not even know? It is not their fault! The schools need to have added funding for mental health to lower the case load of counselors and have social wo
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 20, 2018
- 1 min
Utilizing Staff Meetings to Turn Around Underperforming High Schools!
A interesting approach to handle systemic issues in American High Schools! This intentional meeting practice is something that makes perfect sense. I’ve always said that if we don’t know our students as individuals (what drives them to success along with what causes them to act out) we can not teach them or empower them to help themselves. This BARR method deserves a solid look over, especially in poverty ridden schools. In order for this to work though, first the state will
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 19, 2018
- 1 min
Lansing Bound - MTOY 2018
Had the privilege of interviewing for Michigan Teacher of the Year in Lansing this morning and had wonderful conversations with the MTOY panel regarding public education in our state today along with my opinions and ideas to help improve the system making it truly equitable for ALL Michigan students. Also had the honor of meeting with Michigan Representative Patrick Green near the Capitol Building in his office. It was great sitting with a representative who is as passionate
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 19, 2018
- 1 min
Early Childhood Teacher Pay!
Early childhood is one of the most crucially developmental stages of a child’s life. The issue with teacher pay is not and should not be limited to K-12 teaching, especially with all the added pressures required of Kindergarten teachers (Lynne Dallmann). Teachers need to keep fighting for what we are truly worth. Our students deserve the best and we should be treated like the professionals that we are. https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/166634864152446/UzpfSTMwMzAxNzAzOjEwM
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 17, 2018
- 1 min
Four Myths About Teacher Pay
Don't want to start an all out war, but I will put it this way. Currently as a Director responsible for teaching and administering two full band programs, I am paid less per year than what I was making working in retail for Apple in 2015. While I understand that a school district only has so many resources available based on funding, I want to point out that no career that requires a college degree and furthering ones education, and continuing to pay for recertification while
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 15, 2018
- 2 min
Michigan children are guaranteed a free education, but not necessarily a quality one...
An interesting read regarding what the State Constitution guarantees to students in regards to free education. The question at hand is where the accountability lies. Are our schools failing on the low end because of the lack of funding which plans accountability on the legislature? Or, is this much more systematic as a result of poor governance by the executive branch? Either way, it is clear that in Michigan right now, the public education system is seemingly deliberately br
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Tom Torrento
- Apr 14, 2018
- 1 min
Educational Equity in Michigan is a Pipedream...
The sad truth about our current state of Education in our state! It is time for change! We need equitable education for EVERY student in Michigan and more charters and additional options are not the solution!
#MIequityED
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