Comments on: Things That Make Me Go Hmmm

By: Nell

Nell — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:59:23 +0000

Shocking that not helping kids get to great books shows itself in kids who can’t read as well! Who’da thunk it?!?!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:23:52 +0000

MCAS. More boxes for a bureaucrat to check to point that everything is fine when it is not.

I so wish there was something to push kids to read, and away from IM and the Internets.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:12:28 +0000

Thanks for the links!

By: Sara

Sara — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:00:10 +0000

I hate to see that kids aren’t reading – and that the reading scores are low. I wish there was a realization around our country – that libraries and librarians are important. And, that parents would realize that those “sit-in-front-of-the-tv” times (whether watching cartoons or playing video games) would be much better spent with a book in hand.

I have a great love for books, libraries and librarians. Librarians were my best friends when I was growing up. We didn’t have a lot of money – but, we had a library that was close enough to walk to – and my mother took us there every week.

The first thing I did when I moved to Tennessee and then again to New Hampshire was go get my library card (even before I got my drivers license!)

By: Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:40:02 +0000

Love your blog, thank you for all the time and effort you put into it, I do enjoy reading.

I truly think I am the only on in Massachusetts that does not think MCAS in evil. IT IS NOT PERFECT. But at least we know the kids have some knowledge. Stress, I am so sick about hearing how the test is so stressful for kids. Guess What? Life is stressful and our children better learn how to cope with it now. I believe the lack of parental discipline and the breakdown of morals and families is the problem with schools not MCAS.

By: Barbara-Kay

Barbara-Kay — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:35:06 +0000

I’ve nominated your blog for an award. See my Friday blog post!

By: Teyani

Teyani — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:52:02 +0000

geez – I wonder if they’ll EVER learn…
I have so many teachers as clients – and the understaffing/overpopulated classes issue is off the charts.

Perhaps the entire system needs a revamp. I wonder if we can accomplish it within our lifetime.

By: jill

jill — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:29:33 +0000

I won’t stand on my soap box long, BUT… it’s that darn NCLB that has everyone and their dead grandma nervous about testing. When study after study demonstrates that standardized test scores are NOT the best assessment tool, we continue to cling to it.

I’m a teacher at a junior high school, and I work exclusively with the students identified as “highly gifted.” If it weren’t for my school librarian, I would be in a world of hurt as I have very little curriculum material that is issued by the district. He helps me flush out my lessons each week. God Bless him and all those under appreciated librarians!

By: Linda M.

Linda M. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:26:31 +0000

The FCAT in Florida has been very controversial. As a post-Bush state we lost so much funding for education… it has been hard to come back, even under the self-named “people’s governor” and one time v.p. prospect, Charlie Christ… we need a real change of air in this state and it isn’t going to happen any time soon. I’d move back to Mass but the weather is too nice down here!

By: Kat

Kat — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:03:06 +0000

Thanks for the links!

I’m against those tests, especially at the younger grade levels. Some folks are good test takers (I’m one) and others aren’t. Children learn at different rates and in different ways, just give them the chance to learn and develop before you start testing, and ranking and pigeon-holing them