Andrea Hernandez

Recent Activity

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  Andrea signed the petition | over 2 years ago

  Fight Cancer: Tell Congress We Need Real Health Care Reform Now
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  Andrea commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Are College Application Essays Obsolete?

  Derek, I can relate to your feeling like it's a slap in the face, but take heart in what you have accomplished. We can only hope that the authentic eventually rises to the top. I don't know enough about the college admissions process to know why an essay is required if it really is not counted as part of the package. I can only hope that admissions officers are savvy enough to see the big picture and read between the lines when looking at applications. Good luck with your grad school admissions. 
  
  

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  Andrea commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Are College Application Essays Obsolete?

  Ok. So, is there anything which can't be bought? I guess a personal interview would be the closest thing to the real deal, but it's not likely that colleges are going to be able to personally interview each applicant. I've thought about this all for a long time, too. Personal statement videos, portfolios...they can all be enhanced by professionals for a fee. Where does it leave us? 
  On a side note, I once worked for an expensive SAT prep company as a tutor. I quit for several reasons, but one thing that really got to me was the intensity of the high-stakes. I was so impressed with each of my students. They were amazing people- smart, athletic, accomplished, articulate- and I couldn't stand the level of stress they felt over this one Saturday event. It also bothered me that the tutoring was so expensive. The company promised that they offered services for free in "under-served areas" but they did not.Just my 2 cents.

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  Andrea commented on the article | almost 3 years ago

  Research: Covering Less Means Learning More

  Thanks so much for doing my work for me. This is just the documentation that I need right now. I'm really lacking patience with the need to provide data for what is plain and simple common sense. Anyone that watches children over a few years can see that the "coverage" method produces unimpressive results. The comment I hear most often is "I don't have enough time. There is so much to teach."  Of course, we don't have enough time to do the textbooks, workbooks, busy-work AND the meaningful, high-quality, genuine work that teaches real academic and life skills. 
  Can you please write a next post about the wrongness of pull-out programs and labeling students as opposed to transforming education and providing excellent learning opportunities and environments for all students? I need data on that as well :-) Just kidding, of course, but I so appreciate how you are able to articulate and provide research for what I so want and need to say (but never learned how. I was too busy completing worksheets.)

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  Andrea commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Reading Despite Teaching (Or, "How the Hulk Led Me to Hamlet")

  I don't remember my path to becoming a reader. I think it happened so early that I wasn't even conscious of where it started. My biggest treat as a child, bookwormy geek that I was, was going to the library. I still remember everything about that place, where I could spend hours and would come home with stacks of books. Oh joy!
  The whole idea of "teaching reading" through book reports (and even more meaningless activities) boggles my mind, and not in a good way. Time to read, share books and talk about books during SCHOOL...what a radical idea!