Obama Administration’s Educational Reform
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_06/b4214027714785.htm?chan=magazine+channel_news+-+politics+%2B+policy
Ahh educational reform. A friend and I were talking about how education just continues to get worse; and teachers are probably the most unappreciated workers out there. Yet, education is still a hot button issue for politicians. President Obama is calling for more money to be given to public schools; as well as reformation with NCLB. Let’s hope so.
Detroit to lose half its schools
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703610604576158783513445212.html
I seriously don’t know how things like this get approved… But Detroit is planning on closing half of it’s schools, because of budget cuts. Because really, any teacher can help a class of 60 students learn!
Parenting Magazine – School Years
http://www.parenting.com/child
- Why Kids Really Need Recess
- Closing the Literacy Gap
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as though I can provide you with direct links to the two articles I got out of this issue (November 2010)Again, I know that this article is from a few months ago, but the library just sent it to me. {Yes, I go to the library quite frequently, you should too. Tons of resources and reading materials — all for free!}.
There were two articles that I really enjoyed; one was ‘Why Kids Really Need Recess’, and believe me they do. The opening paragraph said, “Why, why do teachers need to drill information into children’s heads? Is it because they never get a break from the learning?” I agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment. This article discussed how children have a lot of energy and needs breaks; in the same way that adults like breaks too. It goes on to further state that these breaks allow students to actually learn better in class. That should be enough motivation to make the politicians give us recess back. At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, it has research to back up that for some children, recess is the ONLY physical activity that they get a day — which is not enough to maintain a physically healthy lifestyle. And I agree with that. It goes on to say that there are actually schools in Massachusetts that don’t have any breaks in the school day other than a thirty minute lunch. (Which, by the way, is ridiculous).
The second article was entitled, ‘Closing the Literacy Gap’; it’s focus was about how fundamental reading is. (In Oregon, the SMART program works to increase the literacy level of elementary school children.) This article provided helpful tips to families about why reading is so important and how families can easily integrate reading into the daily routine. Some example included: reading the grocery list or items in stores, reading the tv guide, my favorite – reading out loud to children the recipe for dinner. Just by talking out loud to children also familiarizes them with more words; going to the local library, or telling stories are key ways to aide children in their reading. what I enjoyed the most about this article was that it didn’t matter what your SES was, these were tips anyone could implement.
Helicopter Parents
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1940395,00.html
This article is definitely older, but there’s no excuse. It’s just a great article that got hidden in the stack of magazines I haven’t gone through in a while. I wanted to talk about this news story for two big reasons. One is the content of the article. Two, with the recent critiquing of ‘Tiger Mom’; which shows a different view of the overparenting parent.
As an educator, helicopter parents scare me; but I can understand them. They want their child to have every opportunity they didn’t; and so they make sure that there is that every opportunity. This article is important for any parent to read, because it lets you know you aren’t alone in your fear and worry; and realize that all the little things are just part of life. And they’re good parts.
Tiger Mom
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2043313,00.html
So really the ‘Tiger Mom’ is the complete opposite of the ‘Helicopter Parent’, which is why I included it. Are you a tiger parent or a helicopter parent? Me, well, I’d like to be cozily in the middle.
Overpaid Teachers
http://www.powerpointmaniac.com/www.powerpointmaniac.com/are-you-sick-of-highly-paid-teachers/
No explanation can do this article justice, just read it. It will take you less than four minutes.
