In Carole’s latest article, she discusses the “elephant in the room” — how many students are graduating from high school with limited basic skills in English and math. When is Your Child Work-Ready or College Ready? A Missing Link in Education Planning by Carole Richards It is laudable that our city, county, state and nation all have a goal …
Tutor Spotlight — Ellen
One of my favorite pieces of literature is the “Anne of Green Gables” series, written beautifully by L.M. Montgomery. The series introduced us to one of the most beloved characters in all of literature – Anne Shirley, a red-headed orphan with deep thoughts, dreams, and aspirations. When she moves to Prince Edward Island, she confides that she is looking to …
FFD — Kiwanis Read Around the World
On March 2nd, our nation will celebrate Read Across America Day, a holiday created to celebrate the joy of reading. Adults and families are encouraged to spend the day reading to children and instilling the love of reading in their hearts. Even with the advances in technology, I still find so much comfort in picking up a book to read…as …
Read Across America Day 2015 — Tips for Your Classroom
In 1997, the National Education Association proposed a new idea – a national day to celebrate reading. On March 2, 1998, the nation celebrated its first “Read Across America Day,” appropriately celebrated on the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel (more commonly known as Dr. Seuss). Schools, communities, libraries and local businesses are all invited to have parties and events to …
Understanding the Common Core, the 3rd Grade Reading Guarantee, and PARCC
It’s hard to believe that we’re already in February and that the testing season is upon us. In recent months, you may have started hearing words and phrases like “PARCC,” “Common Core,” and “The Third Grade Reading Guarantee.” Yes, you know that these words all pertain to your student’s education, but what do they mean? How are they different and …
A Summer He Will Never Forget
The Creative Education Institute is hard at work preparing for their annual Academic Fun & Fitness Camp. Since 2001, this camp has been specifically designed for children ages 6 to 19 with learning differences, including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), dyslexia, Asperger’s syndrome, and other learning disabilities. For six weeks, Lakeland Community College* becomes their home away from home as these …
Critical thinking – Can children learn to THINK?
Note: This post was written by a guest author. When my children were much younger, there were times when the answer would be unequivocally, “NO.” But as they sloooowly matured and grew older, I changed my answer to a definite, “MAYBE.” In today’s world, it is often very difficult for parents and teachers to teach children how to think …
Common Core Curriculum – Continued
Note: This post was written by a guest author. Last month, I wrote about the Common Core Curriculum and its failings. It is not addressing the “core” problem of our students. The real common core problem is that many students can’t read well, or not at all. And, the “can read” group doesn’t get it … what it really …
Common Core Curriculum: Utopia or Just Another Elephant?
Note: This post was written by a guest author. The United States has been struggling with poor literacy, poor mathematics and poor science skills for decades. While we continue to pour billions of dollars into these education problems every year, the needle has not moved appreciably since World War II. Once we were a leader in education, now we …
The Importance of Reading to Your Child
Note: This post was written by Carole Richards. Most people would agree that being literate is essential to a successful life. How can you help your child become literate? Read to your child often and from a very early age. Reading to a child is a special magical time. It brings closeness, warmth, love and happiness to both the …