The month of May is synonymous with spring, but in VA public education when someone mentions May, the first thing that pops into a teacher’s mind is Standards of Learning (SOL) testing.  For years teachers have advocated the individuality of our students and that not all students learn/test the same way.

Since 1983 when Dr. Howard Gardner introduced his theory of Multiple Intelligences, there has been an ongoing controversy as to its validity.  Edutopia of the George Lucas Educational Foundation recently did a Special Report: The Multiple Intelligences Redefine “Smart” .  Take a look at the articles, videos, and resources available at this site to see the latest findings and reactions.  Hopefully, at some point in time, everyone will finally come to the same conclusion that all students do learn differently, thus they need instruction/testing according to those individual needs.

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Are our students prepared to meet today’s global economical crisis? What comes after SOL testing?

Yes, we as teacher focus on preparing our students to do the very best possible, but are we taking them beyond the Standardized Test? In today’s economical situation with unemployment on the rise and world economy struggling, we need to help our students understand this changing environment, and how they can survive. There is no magic wand for this assignment, but being informed is the best defense.

Listed below are some sites with current information to help you think about how you can help your students prepare for their futures.

America Diploma Project

Preparing Today’s Kids for Tomorrow’s Jobs

Preparing Students for 21st Century Economy

Preparing High School Students for Successful
Transitions to Postsecondary Education and
Employment

Preparing for the Next Job Market

2008-2009 Series:
“Excellence and Equity in an Era of Accountability”

Tips for a Successful Interview

Students Preparing to Live More Modestly