Martin Rayala, Ph.D.

@iteachspystuff @JustinAion I put “teaching to the test” in quotes that indicate NOT actually teaching to the test. The “test” proposed (note the quotes to indicate it is NOT actually a test) consists of a written statement, a journal, a portfolio, and a presentation about a student’s personal project.

@JustinAion Justin, I apologize for my clumsy remark that prompted your colleagues to rally to your support. Their response indicates that you are indeed an excellent teacher. While we don’t believe in standardized tests, we do need alternatives to demonstrate that learning is taking place.

@Sneffleupagus @JustinAion I don’t. That’s the whole point. What alternatives to standardized tests can we provide to demonstrate that learning has taken place?

@MartinRayala @JustinAion Why do you believe standardized tests are the only way to achieve this?

@Sneffleupagus @JustinAion Yes, I understand that from the responses. I’m in agreement that we shouldn’t teach to the test. That’s why the phrase is in quotes. The question remains, how do teachers, students, parents, employers, universities, etc. get a glimpse into what students know and are able to do?

@MartinRayala @JustinAion Except that's not what happened. You rudely implied Justin wasn't a teacher because he objected to your idea that teaching to some other test was a better alternative than teaching to current tests.

@JustinAion Sorry, I thought you were a teacher. My mistake.

@CatW54149243 @donwinslow It is not so much about what you “firmly believe” as it is about what is true. More people open carrying guns does not reduce gun violence. The “belief” that it does is demonstrably false and logically untenable.

@donwinslow Here's the thing about gun law restrictions. CRIMINALS DON'T CARE ABOUT LAWS THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CRIMINALS. I'm VERY middle of the road, but I firmly believe that people should be allowed to open carry. Not only for self defense, but defense of others. Do you boo!

I don't want to be an alarmist but it seems important to point out today that if these two mate the world will end.

@PhilLaRoche914 @SeeingThru @donwinslow Yeah, that’s the general idea. We are evolving as a species to the point where we no longer settle disputes with shootouts in saloons. Fifty years ago most people still revered the Wild West and The Godfather mentality of law and order, but people have moved on. Move on.

@SeeingThru @donwinslow I would open carry all day, every day, if NYC wasn't totally violating my 2A rights. Can't leave your house with loaded weapon, or unloaded and accompanied with ammo, unless transporting to range or another domicile of my own. Not home to work. Not to store. Not to friends home.

@joshreynoldson @mememe366 @CommentOnTWLB Our system of laws uses states as incubators to test ideas. Each state develops their own versions and provide data to help determine the efficacy of an idea. Some states have vast expanses with populations smaller than some cities so conditions often aren’t comparable.

@MartinRayala @mememe366 @CommentOnTWLB Each state has different laws governing the carrying of a weapon. Perhaps the answer to could be to stop with the hodge-podge of laws and make one universal law. Do you carry concealed in a store?

Note to all retailers, store owners, restaurants and franchise businesses: Regardless of local or state law, if I enter your establishment and see this, I leave, immediately and purchase NOTHING. And I won’t be back. Ever.

@joshreynoldson @mememe366 @CommentOnTWLB I am licensed to carry a gun and to drive a car. If I exercise either of those rights inside a store, I should expect those rights to be taken away from me.

@mememe366 @CommentOnTWLB To exercise the right to do it. If you don't exercise your rights, they will be taken away.

@twitch_______ @CommentOnTWLB Do you really want to stick with that foolish line of thinking? Think it through. An assault rifle is a tool for what? Why would a person carry such a tool into a public place?

@CommentOnTWLB Dude it’s just a gun, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t do it. but unless they are pointing it around I don’t care. At the end of the day a gun is just a tool.

@becksycan @CommentOnTWLB Your point is well taken, particularly if your state doesn’t prohibit openly carrying assault rifles in public places. Call the police first. Just like in the case of a bank robbery, your best course of action is to give them the money and then report the incident.

@CommentOnTWLB I get your point here. But...what do you want us, as retail employees, to do when one of these guys comes in? Do you want us to confront the possibly crazy guy carrying the huge ass gun? Do you want us to enrage him by telling him he can’t carry in our stores?

@Billythecabbie @CommentOnTWLB Your inability to foresee the illogic of your line of thinking is embarrassing. The extension of your argument is that by more people carrying guns the number of deaths by gunshot will be reduced. Do you really want to be remembered as a person who actually said that in writing?

@CommentOnTWLB It does look very scary I must admit seeing someone with a rifle slung over his shoulder in a store. But If I was standing next to the guy carrying a gun and a perpetrator comes in shooting guess who I would be looking to for protection.

@MsTerryMcMillan In a big box store, my friend asked a woman in a burka with just her eyes showing if she was so-and-so’s daughter. The woman was startled and said “Yes, how did you know?” My friend, who had never bet the woman, said, “Your mother showed me a photo and I recognized your eyes.”

Went to Trader Joes. A Black woman yelled, "Hi Terry McMillan." Shocked me. And I said hello back. "I read all of your books." And I said, "Thank you. But how did you recognize me with my mask?" She said, "Please. You know how we see us."

@teachergoals We are developing viable alternatives to standardized curriculum, instruction, assessment and educational management. Our alternative assessment validly and reliably measures 16 factors around communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. ensoeducation.com

For real! 💯

@SteeleThoughts Today there are three major purposes for education. (1) draw wisdom from the past; (2) live with joy and purposefulness in the present; (3) imagine, design and create a better future.

It’s not enough to teach kids. Education is about more than a lesson plan and more than a test score. The best schools help their students feel valued and connected.

@Leah_Zaidi @stanforddschool @lisakaysolomon @arielefant Great work! At Ensō Education Institute we do a combination of alternatives to (1) gaining knowledge, experience and good judgment from the past; (2) living mindfully with peace and fulfillment in the present; and (3) developing design thinking skills to create the future.

@VFleischfresser @SteeleThoughts The Arts ask the question “How am I unique?” Science asks “Why are things the way they are?” Design asks “What if things were different?” All are questions expressing curiosity.

@SteeleThoughts The Arts. The answer is The Arts.

I think the best education is driven by curiosity. So how do teachers cultivate curiosity?

@SteeleThoughts How to encourage curiosity is a great question. The current system actively discourages curiosity. The number of questions children ask declines as soon as they start school. They are admonished to stick to the topic and told their questions belong in a different class or year.