January 2012
New Mexico Governor Looks to Improve Reading Skills Jan 31, 2012
Is local government intervention necessary to improve proficiency in reading? It could be when your state is nearly dead last in education. Such could be the motivation behind a new bill proposed by the governor of New Mexico, a bill that calls...
The New Classics: 2012's Award-Winning Children's Books Jan 31, 2012
The American Library Association (ALA) announced the winners of a multitude of awards for children's literature at its meeting last week in addition to the well-known Newbery and Caldecott Medals. Learn a little more about some of these awards...
Daisy Gets a Medal: The 2012 Caldecott Medal Winners Jan 30, 2012
During its midwinter meeting last week, the American Library Association announced this year's winner of the Caldecott Medal, 'A Ball for Daisy' by Chris Raschka. This award recognizes excellence in the artwork of children's literature. Also...
Dead Ends and Stalin's Nose: The 2012 Newbery Medal Winners Jan 30, 2012
The 2012 Newbery Medal winner and other honored books were announced last week. The American Library Association awards the Newbery Medal in recognition of what it deems the most distinguished contribution to children's literature each year....
Doing More with Less: Rural Schools and Student Health Jan 27, 2012
Students in rural, sparsely populated areas struggle with the same health problems that their urban and suburban peers face, such as obesity and substance abuse. Yet without the same access to resources, rural schools are forced to get creative.
Despite Protests, New York Increases Student Testing Jan 27, 2012
Don't put down those pencils yet; standardized tests for students in New York are about to get longer. The changes are arriving steeped in controversy and criticism, which is nothing new for the state.
Pushing For a STEM Education Jan 26, 2012
The Senate says we need it. President Obama pushes for it. And even Sesame Street has begun to teach it. The 'it' is STEM, short for 'science, technology, engineering and mathematics.' These subjects, it is believed, are the wave of the future...
Writing in Gym? Connecticut High School Makes Writing Mandatory in All Classes Jan 26, 2012
Should physical education be about more than jumping jacks and volleyball? And what about other subjects? Should they, too, go beyond the standard curriculum? When it comes to writing, some schools believe so. Recently, a Connecticut high school...
Should We Have Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance Policies? Jan 25, 2012
Zero tolerance policies seem to be double-edged swords: on one hand, they are meant to rid schools of disruptive behavior, threats and potentially dangerous situations; on the other, they are heavy-handed laws that can go too far when meting out...
Reading and Math Targeted by Miami's 'Teach for America' Jan 25, 2012
Can inexperienced yet enthusiastic teachers find success where their seasoned counterparts have struggled? In Miami, Florida, the lowest-performing schools are seeing an influx of instructors from Teach for America, a nonprofit organization...
Old-Fashioned Building Blocks Can Help With Math and Other Academic Basics Jan 24, 2012
Who knew that when we played with wooden building blocks as kids we were actually learning? Apparently we were; studies show that building blocks can aid in the development of various academic skills. But high-tech toys could one day make blocks...
My Teacher's at the Door: Home Visits on the Rise Jan 24, 2012
For some children, the last thing they may want to see is a teacher on their doorstep. But the benefits of teacher home visits are significant, which is prompting many schools to create or expand home visit programs. This can be a challenge when...
Breakfast in the Classroom: Good for Nutrition, Good for Schools Jan 23, 2012
It's well known that eating breakfast is key to being productive and attentive throughout the day, and that's certainly true for children and teens. Yet getting students to eat breakfast can be a challenge. As some schools are finding, the path...
Student Entrepreneurs Tackling Suicide Prevention Jan 23, 2012
Teen suicide is serious problem. For a group of young, entrepreneurial students, it's a problem with a market-driven business solution. The students are tackling teen suicide with focus groups, marketing campaigns and other tactics from the...
Pay-To-Play Becomes Pay-To-Try-Out Jan 20, 2012
If you're the parent of a high school athlete, you're probably accustomed to the variety of costs associated with high school sports, from equipment costs to participation fees. But at a school in Minnesota, students are now facing fees just to...
Student Fitness Takes a Step Backward Jan 20, 2012
Regular exercise for children and teens is essential for physical and mental health. However, a recent study in California suggests that student fitness levels have suffered a setback. Fortunately, the poor results have motivated Californians to...
The Cutthroat Admissions World of? Preschool? Jan 19, 2012
Detailed resumes, biographical DVDs, polished essays and nervous waiting. Fortunately, there's 'Sesame Street' to pass the nervous hours while waiting expectantly for an acceptance letter. This isn't college admissions, or even elite high school...
Why Charter Schools Close and Why That's a Good Thing Jan 19, 2012
One common criticism of charter schools is that they lack accountability and that poorly performing schools continue to operate, letting down students and parents. A new report suggests that this criticism is unfounded. Instead, charter schools...
Learning Online: Complement or Replacement? Jan 18, 2012
Websites offering serious academic content, from arithmetic to organic chemistry, are proliferating and growing in popularity. Yet it remains to be seen if these sites will someday replace the traditional teacher-student relationship or simply...
Quinoa or Corn Dog: A Student's Dilemma Jan 18, 2012
In Los Angeles, as well as other cities throughout the nation, schools are filling their cafeterias with healthy foods. Yet more than ever, students are turning to junk food at lunchtime. What's going wrong?
Is Online Tutoring Right for Your Child? Jan 17, 2012
Online tutoring is becoming increasingly common. Yet how do you know if online tutoring, as opposed to in-home or center-based tutoring, is right for your child? There are a variety of pros and cons to consider.
Understanding the Explosive Growth of Charter Schools Jan 17, 2012
More than two million students now attend charter schools, and they continue to enroll at a brisk pace. While charter schools haven't been the panacea some hoped for, they have offered many exciting and enticing changes in public education. Here...
Warming Up with Reading: Short Stories for Winter Jan 17, 2012
Reading short stories is a great way to keep your child engaged with literature during the cold winter months. Unlike a novel, a short story might last only as long as a cup of hot chocolate, making it ideal for this time of year. Here are ten...
Winter Classics: Novels for Teens Jan 17, 2012
During the long, cold winter nights of this time of year, encourage your teen to escape into the world of winter-themed literature. Whether it means discovering a time-tested classic or enjoying a modern novel, your teen may relate to the...
Too Many Suspensions an Overreaction? Jan 13, 2012
Is out-of-school suspension always the answer for misbehaving students? Some studies suggest that such punishment can not only be detrimental to a student's learning progress but actually does little or nothing to curb inappropriate behavior....
Oprah Graduates First Class from African School Jan 13, 2012
What do you get when you cross one of the richest and most influential women in the world with a largely impoverished nation? You get the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls located in South Africa. Despite doubts and criticisms, the...
Online Not Necessarily On-Target for K-12 Students Jan 12, 2012
Online learning has long been used quite effectively by colleges and universities around the world. But does the same technology work as well for K-12 students? As the United States sees an increase in virtual schools for elementary and secondary...
Snowy Days and Snoring Bears: Children's Books About Winter Jan 12, 2012
When the snow is falling and the days are short, your child may find comfort in cuddling up with a great book. Especially with young children, books can be a helpful way to learn about winter and the unique things that occur during this season....
5 Alternative Activities to TV Hour Jan 11, 2012
Are your kids stuck in a rut of watching TV every afternoon? Would you like to break them out of the habit? Here are five possible activities that may lure your kids away from the TV and towards more interactive, intellectually challenging and...
Why Do Parents Prefer Paper Books Over E-Books? Jan 11, 2012
In most cases, sales of e-books for the iPad, Kindle, Nook and other digital platforms are skyrocketing. In some categories for adult books, e-books comprise a full 25% of sales. Yet this isn't the case with children's books. E-books aimed at...
Immunize or Ostracize: Parents Who Turn Down Vaccines Jan 10, 2012
More parents are choosing to skip vaccinations for their children. You may have considered this yourself, based on a variety of stories both truthful and misleading. But those parents who choose this path may ultimately be risking far more than...
Art For Recess: A Fair Trade? Jan 10, 2012
With budget cuts and an often daunting emphasis on standardized tests, there is little time in the school day for art and other enrichment classes. This has led many New York City schools to sacrifice recess for art in an attempt to pack...
Discovering the Dream: Teaching Kids About Martin Luther King, Jr. Jan 09, 2012
Next week is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. His inspiring leadership during the Civil Rights Movement may come from an era that seems far away to your child, but the holiday provides an excellent opportunity to help him or her discover more about...
'Pizza Not a Vegetable', Some Schools Say Jan 09, 2012
They say you can't fight City Hall...but in a way, that's pretty close to what some California school districts are doing when it comes to serving healthy foods. Recently, Congress rejected proposed changes to school menus that would have led to...
Native American Students Struggling, Lagging in Math and Reading Jan 06, 2012
State reports from around the country tend to show minority students lagging behind their peers when it comes to proficiency in some subjects. For Native Americans this disparity is exacerbated by those being taught in tribal schools; the...
This Report Card is Brought to You by McDonald's Jan 06, 2012
Can Ronald McDonald raise money for cash-strapped schools? With budgets across the nation suffering deeper and deeper cuts, some school districts are selling ad space on report cards and even buses. Is this shameless corporate opportunism or just...
Are Lockers a Thing of the Past? Jan 05, 2012
It's likely that memories of high school for most people include the clanging and banging of hall lockers. They were places to not only store books and jackets but to hang out. Now, however, it seems that lockers just might be going the way of...
A Mountain of Information: The Future is Here for Student Data Jan 05, 2012
Public schools face difficult decisions each day about how to allocate scarce resources. By revolutionizing statewide collection of data on students, making wise decisions on where dollars should go has never been easier. Getting to the point of...
The Big Money Sports World of... High School? Jan 04, 2012
The New York Yankees, the Miami Heat and... the Valor Christian Eagles? Big money sports teams have long dominated professional sports, and they've become the norm in college, too. As Coloradoans are finding out, now high school teams are being...
Celebrate National Hobby Month with Your Kids Jan 04, 2012
What do juggling, mountain climbing and origami have in common? They're all hobbies! January is National Hobby Month. It's an opportunity to celebrate hobbies, new and old, with your whole family. Here are five ways to celebrate National Hobby...
The Longest Year: One Idea for Failing Schools Jan 03, 2012
What if July 4th wasn't the middle of summer vacation but it's sudden end? Starting this summer, it will be for students at one Denver school. The essential elimination of a long summer vacation is seen as a solution to an underperforming school.
What's Lurking in School Water Fountains? Jan 03, 2012
Schools are banning soda, sports drinks and chocolate milk for health reasons. Bottled water is getting the ax for environmental reasons. What's a thirsty student to do? Not drink from the water fountain, many students say, for fear of germs,...
Let It Snow: Lessons for Snow Days Jan 03, 2012
Snow can close the schools but it can't put an end to learning. In between building snowmen, throwing snowballs and sipping hot chocolate, encourage your child to discover how snow forms and explore its unique properties. It's also a chance to...
New Year, New Study Habits Jan 03, 2012
If you're looking for a New Year resolution that will help get 2012 off to a great start, then it's a great time to consider new study habits. It's easy to lapse into bad habits that hurt grades, but with half of the school year remaining, it's...