Happy Father’s Day! Here’s wishing all dads have a great day after weathering the pandemic. If you’re a new dad or grandpa (or mom or grandma), getting in the habit of reading and conversing with your child from the start, you are helping them develop critical language skills. Here’s to you! Babies When babies are […]
The Heartbreak Surrounding Student Behavior and Teacher Attrition in America’s Schools
Children with difficulty controlling their behavior and emotions, large classes, unsupportive administrators, outside interference, and overwhelmed teachers who aren’t behavior specialists can be a recipe for disaster for students and a reason why teachers leave. I wrote much of this post in February 2020, before schools closed due to Covid-19. As schools get back to […]
A Chat About Public Schools with Eli Broad’s Ghost
When someone gets to the other side, if they look back, do they question how they could have led their life differently, in this case, in particular, the late Eli Broad and his influence on public education? First, it’s troubling the United States doesn’t tax the wealthy the way they should and that Americans don’t […]
The Science of Reading Ignores The Importance of Picture Books to Early Learning
Increasingly, parents and teachers are embracing the controversial Science of Reading (SoR), pushing for State policies that reinforce more phonics instruction. It’s troubling to see they only discuss commercial decoding programs, of which there are many. They rarely mention the importance of picture books and giving children the chance to read freely. Is phonics important? […]
Know Your State Astroturf Parent/Education Groups
By Jeanne Melvin When an alleged ‘grassroots, family-led group of ‘ordinary moms’ begins their existence with a budget of more than $1 million, you can be certain there were no bake sales. ~Diane Ravitch comment in Maurice Cunningham: The Rise of an Astroturf Rightwing “Parents” Group. The seeds of change are cultivated from the ground up […]
The Racism Behind Firing Librarians and Closing School Libraries
Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. ~Frederick Douglass If a school has no school library or a flimsy excuse for a library, students are denied access to books and reading material. They miss opportunities to learn information and become proud of who they are. Look for racism behind the decision. When […]
Play-Based Learning Isn’t Free Play and May Be Connected to Online Learning
The term play-based learning is increasingly used to reference play in school, especially during the past year. Sometimes it’s called purposeful play. Play-based learning is not the same as free play, even though sometimes it is described as such. It also might be used to transform classroom learning to screens. It’s critical to understand the […]
Where’s the Biden Administration on School Problems Facing Students, Teachers, and Parents?
The pandemic showed us that public schools are critical. Understandably, Covid-19 has been front and center. But the Biden administration glosses over or is silent on critical school issues. Sometimes these topics are front and center not in a good way in State legislatures or ignored altogether. Frustrated parents will seek alternatives, and there’s a […]
The Loss That Matters This Mother’s Day
The loss important to understand this year, the most critical loss, is not learning loss. It involves the loss many children are facing after losing a mom or dad to Covid-19. Or it could be a grandma or grandpa, a beloved aunt or uncle, or sister or brother, even a friend. On this Mother’s Day, […]
The Covid-19 Tech v. Teacher Tug of War and Teacher Appreciation
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, time to thank a teacher before there are no teachers to thank. Not only did teachers have Covid-19 fears to contend with this past year, keeping their students and themselves safe, but they’ve also gone through a tug of war since the start of the pandemic. A year ago, teachers were […]