June 2014: Infographics, Podcasts, and Partners--Maybe?

June Experiments

Last June, you might recall,
I joined a post-a-day "blogathon."

I had the goals of challenging myself to see if I could do it, and also seeing if it would increase my readership. It did both. I also learned some interesting blogging tricks and ideas, and I met some bloggers internationally. (I had guest posts from Singapore and Japan!)

But--it was exhausting. I do, after all, have a full-time job and kids.

So this year I am going to give myself a slightly different challenge, because--really--the reason that I started this blog had more to do with me than with schools.

Quick recap:
I was intrigued by blogging, but didn't fully understand it.
I felt the best way to learn about blogging was to learn by doing.
I searched for a topic and landed on local schools because
a) I already knew a fair amount about them and about education in general, and
b) I felt I wouldn't run out of things to say.

But--there are some blogging techniques I have not learned yet, and since this blog is supposed to be educational for me as well as for you, during June I am going to try to:

a) create at least two infographics, and 
b) record two podcasts or videos and post them.

Maybe I'll do more, but I'm hoping this will keep things fresh and fun--and by posting this, I'm hoping to keep myself accountable. [If you are good at this stuff, let me know because I may need to ask you some questions!]

I know that you are wondering--how can I cheer Ruth on?

Well. . . comments are nice.

Also--if anyone is interested in guest posting or coming on as a regular contributor, please let me know.

If you are a regular reader, you know that I have made this offer before, but I'll just point out that:

a. My youngest child is in high school. I could really use more information about the elementary and middle schools, and I also see that my time on this blog will have a natural end. . . you may be a few years behind me.

b. I don't have any kids utilizing special education services. I never have, in fact, so everything I learn about that system is from friends. . . but maybe you do have direct experience.

c. I do have teaching certification and an education background. But I am not teaching in any local school--public, private, or charter. But maybe you are.

d. I live in Ann Arbor and my kids have attended the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Let me tell you, the Ypsilanti, Dexter, Saline, Whitmore Lake, Manchester, Chelsea, Milan and Lincoln schools are crying out for more attention. And that's without even mentioning the need for coverage of charters! I'd love more out-county coverage.

e. History. Are you a history buff? There are lots of interesting stories in the education files at the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti libraries, as well as in the local history society files. Would you like to shine a light on some of these stories?



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A Month's Wordle of Posts: Blogathon 2013 Ends

It's the last day of the blogathon. This wordle comes from the titles of my 31 (!!) June posts. [I only needed to post one a day, but there was one day where I posted twice.] You can make your own wordle at wordle.net.

FOIA and the Education Achievement Authority

I've decided to join the great 2013 Blogathon, dreamed up by freelance journalist and WordCount blog owner Michelle Rafter. (WordCount answers lots of freelance writers' questions about blogging--it's quite a useful blog.) The blogathon is basically a group of bloggers who agree to post for 30 days straight. As you might notice, this is a lot more than I usually post, and we'll see if I make it! I was very much on the fence about it until I read a guest post on Michelle's blog by Joan Lambert Bailey. Joan has moved to Japan, and blogs about gardening, farming, farmers' markets and more, but once upon a time (when I knew her) she lived in Washtenaw County and worked at Avalon Housing. You can read her blog, Japan Farmers Markets, here. And this post is specific to the blogathon.

So here it is, Day 1! June 1! A Saturday. I almost never post on the weekend, so that is a change.

For today, I've got two related items.

1. Ed Vielmetti has a lot of good advice for people who want to FOIA documents (for example, public school documents) here. He has also been working on an e-book about FOIA, and you can find out about that at the same location. 

2. Rep. Ellen Cogen Lipton FOIA'd a lot of information about the Education Achievement Authority, and she is making it available for your perusal. According to this Mlive article: 

The website, "Inside the EAA," collects documents requested via the Freedom of Information Act from the agency by Lipton following a House Education Committee hearing on House Bill 4369, legislation that would codify the EAA in state law and make it easier to expand to other parts of the state.
That bill is pending before the Senate Education Committee after passing the House in March. Lipton issued a statement Thursday saying additional documents requested by the ACLU and individuals will be posted soon.
"This is a real crowd sourcing opportunity. I would encourage those who have interest in the EAA to roll up their sleeves and dig in," Lipton said in the statement.

So check out the website, and if you find things you think others need to know, you can share them using their "contact" form and/or in the comments here.

Oh, and while we're talking about the EAA? Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood is urging the (federal) Department of Education to reconsider a $35 million grant to the EAA because they falsified their application. No, I'm serious. Read about it here.