#edchat: Looking at new fed data on high school grad rates, now Ga has to say 'Thank God for Nevada and New Mexico. ' http://bit.ly/U82S9F 

Khan Academy updates iOS app to work on the iPhone with access to over 3,500 educational videos. http://goo.gl/7g02s

Teachers you can go back to school yourselves this December 5. Take a convenient @teacherlinese course. http://ow.ly/ftmfm 

@JayCBarbour: On my holiday wish list: Keyspan Tripp Lite Pro 3 presentation remote. Outstanding performance for about $50 online. http://t.co/lUAsCkTb

@JayCBarbour: Ga Charter School Amendment: Choice is not a substitute for adequate funding, talented teachers and strong leaders. http://t.co/mC6sLoHm

@JayCBarbour: WATCH: Sierra Leone Teen Wows MIT With AMAZING Skill http://t.co/nqPLrpVT (via Instapaper)

Gwinnett Teachers Getting One-Time Pay Increase: GCPS teachers and other full-time employes should receive the extra... http://t.co/pnqo8BUB

When you ask the question you control the conversation. Prompt children to think in the desired direction. Suggestions: http://goo.gl/AQJdX

What if educators experimented with the lessons YouTube's success has taught us? Strategically apply these 10 in class. http://goo.gl/2oOQh

Equality Versus Equity

Why do the best teachers offer a different amount of support to different students?

We all have different needs. A standardized system that doles out the same resources to all persons will overcompensate some and under compensate others. This is an inherently wasteful system that ultimately fails to achieve the equality it seeks. After all materials are distributed uniformly the initial differences in achievement still remain, or in some cases become magnified.

Great teachers scaffold instruction to support students just enough to keep each one in an optimal learning zone. This is an incredibly challenging, but essential practice to maximize learning. In order to make it a somewhat reasonable goal for today's public school classrooms, we usually group students into three broad categories: those who are above, on, or below grade level. Additionally, our school structures provide unique opportunities for gifted students and students with disabilities. Is this fair? It all boils down to the concept of equality versus equity.

"The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal." ~ Aristotle

I believe resources should be applied in a manner that maximizes their benefit; that is, not everyone gets the same thing, but everyone gets what he or she needs. In order to be fair we must treat people with special abilities or disabilities differently from average people. Accommodations or accelerated curricula are not special favors, but rather tools to assist each individual student reach his or her full potential.

"There is physical and psychological pain in being thwarted, discouraged, and diminished as a person. To have ability, to feel power you are never allowed to use, can become traumatic." ~ Jan and Bob Davidson

We would never want to be denied the ability to earn a hefty salary just because our neighbor does not have the skills to earn the same salary. We would never deny a child the use of his or her glasses just because a classmate has perfect vision. Why then should we deny the student with a disability the use of whatever adaptive tool or technique allows him or her to overcome their disabling limitation? Do gifted students deserve less resources and services than “special needs” students? For both gifted students and students with disabilities the answer is the same: one size does not fit all. Educational equity does not mean absolute equality of services, but instead a customized opportunity to realize personal potential.

"All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent." ~ John F. Kennedy, Civil Rights Address

Research into HOMEWORK: Doesn't improve grades. Does boost test scores. More is not better. Must be carefully targeted. http://goo.gl/DLd7v

Nice collection of game templates for MS Office. Jeopardy game can show an extra answer screen to reinforce learning. http://goo.gl/E9DqU 

@JayCBarbour: Going to FLIP your class or workshop? Teachem.com helps integrate YouTube videos with online learning tools. http://t.co/klPlqLcA

Hi! As I return from social media break, I'm dropping cross posts to Google+. Follow @JayCBarbour on Twitter or visit http://jaybarbour.blogspot.com.