2016 Magnificent Seven TEDxCCSU Conference Talks

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Something a little different today readers. I have been the TEDxCCSU host for the past three years at Central Connecticut State University. This year we present The magnificent Seven at our 2016 TedxCCSU conference. 

The links for each 2016 TEDxCCSU speakers Of particular interest to the  to parents, teachers, students, and grassroots activists fighting against high-stakes assessment, the common core, and the privatizing of our public schools will be  four  well known  heroes in the struggle to save our public schools.

Dr. Ricardo Rosa
Ricardo takes us right to the point it Equates high-stakes testing with dictating bodies arresting minds; racism in disastrous education.  Warning Dr. Rosa holds no punchers, and Takes no prisoners.  He equates what’s happening to our children in our public schools in the name of education reform  as  and indoctrination of racism and white privilege. 
Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai9esk0vvPI

Dr. Denny Taylor
Danny stepped outside the box and challenges us two star immersing children in a meaningful curricula Conversation about saving their world by tackling climate change. Danny dedicated to talk to our children.  You are in for treat people foot Doctor Taylor  has never let anyone video one of the talks before.
Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFTOgyOiiY8

Dr. James Miller  just in case you aren’t familiar with Dr. James  Miller he is the host of the War Report on public education.  You’re in for a treat and an education from educator and a scholar who in 15 minutes sums up education reform as a war on children, parents, and their teachers and public schools.
Learn and Grow:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTr3sbfv_30

Principal Jamaal Bowman is the principal of Cornerstone Academy for Social Action middle school in the Bronx.. Principal Bowman is doing what he does best talking about is school with children more than test scores, where curriculum is meaningful,  and where school prepares young learners to become full participating citizens  in this Great American democracy.  Principal Bowman is given talks numerous times under topics of high-stakes testing.  He is the defender teachers, children, parents, and local public schools.  What is sweet about tomorrow’s talk in this link is  he offers us a glimpse for what education could be for all children. Principal Jamaal is quickly becoming America’s most loved principal. 
Learn and grow:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSjPizc4D7Y

Bishops John Selders JR: Now for those of you or interested in the bigger moral picture of race and justice this is the TEDx Talk for you. Bishops Selders, takes from Ferguson to the Moral Mondays and Black Lives Matter movement.  This TEDx talk is a must see. Bishop Selders challenges each and every one of us Live on that Moral Arch of social justice.   Trust me you are in for a real eye-opening treat listening to his TEDx Talk. For his as it church love, justice,  and hope. Here is Bishop John Selders JR. ” The Moral Instinct”.  

Dr. Ernest Pancsofar as a professor special education whose whole career has been dedicated to viewing Special Children as unique, gifted and talented.  There is no better advocate for special needs children Dr. Ernest Pancsofar. Sit back and enjoy Ernie’s TEDx Talk Creativity and ME. 

Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0QpXTPRCSE

Dr. Michele Dischino is one of Central Connecticut State University's rising stars. She is an engineer with a passion for learning and teaching who immerses our engineering students in community service. Her engineers quickly learn creativity and innovation can only be found on the road of learning from our mistakes. Her Projects are embedded would love of children. Enjoy her TEDx talk “Failure is an option: How one educator reengineered our approach to teaching” enjoy

Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZ4KSrUYpc

 If you are interested in listening to the song I was listening to on my walk over the Avon Mountain on this beautiful December morning it's A change is gonna come from Folsom. > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWBTWELtkeg <

Challenge anyone who reduces literacy to a test score

When someone talks to you about your child's literacy needs based solely on computerized test scores, or fill in the bubble sheets... with out listening to your child read, without looking at their writing, without observing them in their classroom, without working directly with your child, without interviewing your child, you, and their other teachers...You should challenge them every step of the way.

There is the data that matters, and the data that really matters.
To Politicians and policy makers the data that matters are CCSS assessments like SBAC or PARCC scores. In-perfect indicators labeling our children below, at, or above proficiency.
But to teachers, the data that matters is finishing your first real chapter book, that light bulb smile that goes off when a child gets something for the first time. When a child ask can I read all the "39 Clues" Books?
I teach children, and my superpower is I follow the child not the score.
Challenge anyone who limits any discussion of your child's literacy to test score parents!
Respectfully,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner
If you want to listen to what song I listened to on my morning walk over the mpoutain...it's Barry Lane's "Know Your Higher Self" > https://youtu.be/R-i872w3D2w <

Parents you hold every card. Opt Out!

What if we see the child not the test score?
What if the center of all learning became the child not the standards?
What if teaching became the focus of education and not testing?What if we respected teachers?What if we respected childhood?What if we told all those snake oil Education Deformers to leave our children, their teachers and our public school alone?
What if vigor not rigor became the focus of teaching and learning?What if individuality not conformity became the goal in teaching and learning?
What if rather than spending a trillion dollars on testing and standards we started spending that money on tutors, the arts, music, school libraries, and more Physical Education?
What if rather then measure children by proficiency levels in reading, we gave them time to read real books?
What if we decided the best way to educate poor children, second language learners, and children of color is to teach them the same way we teach wealthy children?
What if every parent opted out of this insane plan to our children into data, profits, and test-scores?
What if we teachers started hinting and whispering parents you have the power?
What if parents realized they have the power to change it by opting out of testing?
Parents you hold all the cards,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you like to listen to what this Walking Man is listening to on his walk over the Avon Mountain today....it's Barry Lane singing Hallelujah at the 2011 Save Our Schools March.
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkJQOv4h0Es &lt;
Word is Save Our Schools March, BATs UOO, and dozens of other groups are going back to DC this July.