Monthly Archives: July 2012

Chick-fil-A and Chicago… is this really happening in America?

Politics aside, we have to remember that our country is proud of our heritage of allowing people to have their own beliefs with out being persecuted for them. A person who bashes others publicly, in the media, on TV, or on Facebook because their beliefs differ is acting contrary to the fundamental foundational beliefs of of our country. When will we stop judging and begin really working together as a nation for the good of all?

Yes, I am a Christian, and I have personal beliefs, but I am not narrow minded. I am caring, understanding, and do not judge others. I am so tired of the political manipulation from both parties and pray, that our nation can come together and work for the good of everyone our country not matter what their beliefs are.

As educators and parents is it our responsibility to raise this next generation so that they are not closed-minded but caring, compassionate, and servant minded, no matter our personal beliefs.

Empirical evidence suggests that the K-8 school option is the smarter choice for children

This is a summary of the Center for Education Reform: The K-8 Solution: The Retreat from Middle Schools.
 
Excerpts:
 
Middle schools, for one, have been called the “weak link” of public education. According to researchers, the transition to middle school is often a difficult one for students, and during these years, there is often a problem with discipline, absenteeism and low test scores. Education researchers began looking at the middle school model and comparing it with the K-8 schools. They found that there are benefits to the latter model. Some of these benefits are:
o Safety – Parents and children feel safer in a K-8 school as they become older because they are secure in their location and enjoy continuity.
o Engagement – Studies have shown students do not suffer the same motivational
declines in schoolwork and extra-curricular activities when they stay in a K-8 school. Discipline problems and absences also are reduced.
o Achievement – Research has shown that students do not experience the same academic declines when the middle school transition is eliminated.
Read More…

The Trouble with Me!

I am anything but a grammar expert, I’d give my self a grade of “C” at best… but it drives me crazy when people say things like “John and I at the lake”, or “come to lunch with Beth and I”. Come on folks, what’s wrong with using the word “me”. I love Facebook, I love knowing what is going on with my family and friends, but it drives me crazy to see a photo that says, “Gracie and I”.  I want to yell, “I know the English language is so complicated but really guys, it’s “Gracie and me.”

The trouble with “me” usually begins when speakers are stringing together two or more objects in a sentence. “I” is not an objective case word, but people try to plug it in as an object because it just sounds smarter.

Trust me, I used to make the same mistake, so I use this simple trick. All you have to do is leave out the second object. Look over these examples, and you’ll see it’s really simple.

You might be tempted to say:
WRONG: “Would you explain that to John and I?”

But then, when you omit the other object, you’ll have:
WRONG: “Would you explain that to I?”

Now that just sounds silly. Try this:

RIGHT: “Would you explain that to John and me?”
RIGHT: “Would you explain that to me?”

Now practice with these:

Read More…

Comparing Achievement between K-8 & Middle Schools

Some people feel that the elementary school years are the most important, I suggest that all the middle grades are pivotal in the development of our children.  Their middle school experience will chart the waters for all future academic successes or failures.  I suggest the the best placement for your child in in a K-8 environment.  In this article i share some sound educational research that support my premise.

This is a summary report from the Center for Education Reform: The K-8 Solution: The Retreat from Middle Schools.
Excerpts:
Middle schools, for one, have been called the “weak link” of public education. According to researchers, the transition to middle school is often a difficult one for students, and during these years, there is often a problem with discipline, absenteeism and low test scores. This seems to be a well-designed study, looking at student achievement over ten years for students in K-8 vs. elementary /middle schools (k-5 and 6-8 or k-6 and 7-8) in New York City. Education researchers began looking at the middle school model and comparing it with the K-8 schools. They found that there are benefits to the latter model. Some of these benefits are:
o Safety – Parents and children feel safer in a K-8 school as they become older because they are secure in their location and enjoy continuity.
o Engagement – Studies have shown students do not suffer the same motivational
declines in schoolwork and extra-curricular activities when they stay in a K-8 school. Discipline problems and absences also are reduced.

o Achievement – Research has shown that students do not experience the same academic declines when the middle school transition is eliminated.

Read More…

Lutheran Schools Tops in the Nation on “The Nation’s Report Card”

 
Accountability! Results- what difference  does it make? We are becoming a data-driven  nation in regard to our schools.  Whether you agree with that direction or not, it is where we are at this moment in our nation’s history. Parents want to know  if their child is receiving  a quality education.
 
The National Assessment  of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as “The Nation’ s Report Card,” is the only nationally representative and continuing  assessment  of what America’s  students know and can do in various  subject areas.
 
The report is in and the news is GREAT for Lutheran  schools. In five of the eight categories Lutheran Schools finished in first place among nine other categorizations. In the other three we finished second. The groups included  the following:  public, other religious, nonsectarian, Catholic, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Dept. of Defense, State Department  of Education, Lutheran, and Conservative Christian.
 
Read More…

The Importance of Art in Education

The arts are essential to every child’s education.  Similar to English, math, science and the other core subjects, the d visual and performing arts) are challenging subjects with rigorous content and achievement standards at the state and national levels. They require highly qualified teachers who challenge all students, not just those who are considered artistically talented, to perform works of art, create their own works, and respond to works of art and the ideas they impart.

In addition to studying the arts for their own sake, experiencing and making works of art benefits students in their intellectual, personal, and social development, and can be particularly beneficial for students who are at risk of not succeeding in school. Research studies point to strong relationships between learning in the arts and fundamental cognitive skills and capacities used to master other core subjects, including reading, writing, and mathematics.

Involvement in the arts is associated with gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skill. Arts learning can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork. A 2005 report by the Rand Corporation about the visual arts argues that the intrinsic pleasures and stimulation of the art experience do more than sweeten an individual’s life. According to the report, they “can connect people more deeply to the world and open them to new ways of seeing,” creating the foundation to forge social bonds and community cohesion.

Read More…

 Scroll to top