jenni's blog

KOSU's Story On The Million Cell Phone as Incentive Reading Program

February 11, 2011 by jenni

Just recently, I was interviewed by a KOSU reporter regarding my thoughts on The Million Program - http://kosu.org/2011/02/study-rewards-reading-with-cell-phonesminutes/ - a private, non-taxpayer funded program to provide cell phones and minutes to 'underprivileged' students at TAFT Middle School in Oklahoma City as an incentive for reading.

This program was initiated by Harvard University and the OKCPS School Board decided to encourage TAFT to participate.

Oklahoma City Public Schools will now give away CELL PHONES to 6th and 7th graders to 'incentivize' reading

January 20, 2011 by jenni

This morning while watching News9 KWTV, I was absolutely stunned to see the following story on the FACT that Oklahoma City Public Schools will now be giving CELL PHONES to 6th and 7th graders for doing well in reading - using funds provided by a local energy company (not tax payers).

Intrinsic VS Extrinsic Motivation In Schools, or Why We Should NOT Give Kids Cell Phones As A Reward For Reading

January 20, 2011 by jenni

October 8, 2010 by jenni

Since the publication of my comments on the Oklahoma City Public Schools use of cell phones as incentives for reading (http://www.restoreokpubliceducation.com/node/586), I have received two separate emails from teachers gently and respectfully chastising me for my position.

After writing the response to one of these sweet ladies, I realized it needed to be published as extensively as possible, as so few of us anymore understand exactly what Extrinsic and Intrinsic motivators are and/or do.

Here is my response:

Thank You Oklahoma and ROPE Members!

January 17, 2011 by jenni

To All ROPE Members and Associates:

I am just now writing to you because I have just now regained some sense of higher brain function! Wow. What an absolutely outstanding night was last Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010.

I have not slept this poorly since college, but adrenaline is a POWERFUL thing!

Race To The Top of What?

May 2, 2010 by jenni

Race to the Top of What?

January 20th, the legislative agenda for the House Republicans was released.

Herein, we are told, “Reforming the state’s public education system will also be a focus this year as Oklahoma competes for federal dollars in its Race to the Top application. To qualify for those funds, reforms House Republicans have been pushing for years must be put in place, including performance pay for teachers and an expansion of the state’s charter school system. The reforms will ensure high standards by building additional accountability into the system.”

US history and civics curricula shouldn't be mandated (or "incorporated") but the Oklahoma Murrah bombing SHOULD

April 13, 2010 by jenni

Oklahoma students will study the effects of April 19
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: April 7, 2010

A bill signed into law two weeks before the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building stresses the need to educate Oklahoma public school students about the Oklahoma City attack.

Obama's Plan Promises Better Education for Kids - Revising No Child Left Behind - Hmmmm...call me skeptical on this one!

March 15, 2010 by jenni

Sunday an AP article, "Obama's Plan Promises Better Education for Kids", was published in the Daily Oklahoman. It described briefly, President Obama's plans for dismantling the federal program, No Child Left Behind.

Oklahoma Department of Education Will Ask For Yet MORE Strings Attached Money

March 2, 2010 by jenni

Please read the article below, published in the Oklahoman March 1st. I forward it because as I sat in the OKCPS Board meeting last night (Mon. March 1), I heard mention of this fabulous new FREE MONEY and what the school board could do with it! I thought that the rest of you - like me - would also be COMPLETELY excited about the prospect of more FREE FEDERAL MONEY for 'our kids' in Oklahoma public education!

Jenni's Response to OKC Consolidation Ideas

February 26, 2010 by jenni

Regarding "Consolidation draws debate” (news story, Feb. 16): I attempt regular attendance of Oklahoma City School Board meetings as a parent of students in the system. Meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. Parents wishing to address the board must place their names on the agenda by 5 p.m. After sitting through a program of reports that can last as long as three hours, parents are finally allowed to address the board for exactly three minutes, the end of which is signaled by an egg timer rung loudly into a microphone. No contact between board members and parents is allowed during this process.

TEACH FOR AMERICA. Teaching or Social Engineering?

February 11, 2010 by jenni

I have compiled three different pieces of information on this page so that you can make your own decision about a program that Oklahoma City Public Schools are mulling over. OKCPS would like to commit multimillions of dollars to the Teach For America program, as Tulsa already has.