Teaching Matters Launches New Magazine, Points of Practice

First Issue Addresses Common Core Implementation

For Immediate Release

New York, NY – March 27, 2014

Because of its shoulder-to-shoulder work with educators in urban classrooms, Teaching Matters, a non-profit dedicated to increasing teacher effectiveness, has a close-up view of what works and what doesn’t. Points of Practice, its new multimedia e-zine, is designed to offer varied perspectives and information on pressing education concerns.

The first issue addresses the highly charged and criticized rollout of Common Core State Standards.

In addition to our own overview, we feature these voices, in text or video form:

• Alan Lesgold, Dean of the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education, who talks about the history of and need for the Common Core
• Principal Brian Rosenbloom and Assistant Principal Robert Mitchell of Chelsea Career and Technical Education High School in Manhattan, describing this year's implementation 
• Jennifer Mandel, 6th grade English Language Arts teacher
• Margaret Overbagh, Senior Educational Consultant

We also include a resources section, as well as a cartoon that gets at some of the stress felt this year. 

“The education policy debate is so often polarized,” said Lynette Guastaferro, Teaching Matters’ Executive Director. “We want to increase understanding, not contentiousness,” she said.

Teaching Matters has been helping to implement the Common Core in schools around New York City. One of its programs, Writing Matters, anticipated many Common Core features. From that experienced vantage point, Teaching Matters has seen first-hand the most critical components of a smooth Common Core transition.

One essential: enough time, whether for curriculum alignment, group collaboration, or professional development support. Teaching Matters supports the standards, but recognizes the heavy lift they entail.

"I am heartened that teachers who are actually working with Common Core Standards increasingly appreciate their worth, and I am convinced the Standards can greatly help children learn deeply and well," said Guastaferro.

Points of Practice will appear periodically 2-3 times per year, gathering voices from multiple disciplines. To subscribe, sign up here.

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Contact: Sharon Rubinstein, 212 870-3505 ext. 8; cell 703-901-7947

Teaching Matters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing teacher effectiveness, one of the most critical factors in student success. Our services transform how educators work together at urban public schools, helping the most effective teachers develop the skills they need to lead their peers and drive school-wide improvement. We also partner with school leadership to create a work environment that equips teachers to succeed in the classroom. From nearly 20 years of working in New York City’s public schools, we’ve developed an understanding of realistic and lasting ways to improve student outcomes, and we’re committed to real, measurable results. Visit www.teachingmatters.org to learn more about how we’re making a difference for students and teachers at public schools.

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