Search Results for: blog does more pressure need to be put on students

Tips for Parenting Introverted Kids

Do you feel that your child is exceptionally quiet? This can be somewhat confusing for parents who are naturally extroverted. How do you raise a child who is very different from yourself? Here are some tips to help extroverted parents raise introverted kids. What is an introvert? People who are introverted prefer to be by themselves (or, sometimes, with one or two very close friends.) Being in a crowd of people, or forced to attend a party, can be overwhelming to introverted people. To “recharge”, an introvert will need to spend some time alone. Extroverted parents might feel the need … Continue reading →

Personal Day from School?

Do kids need to take personal days from school? I was watching “The View” the other day and they were talking about an episode on the sitcom, “The Middle.” The young boy asked his parents if he could take a personal day. Well that sparked a conversation between “The View” ladies about children being overscheduled. Actually, I tend to believe that there are times kids do need to take a personal day. I don’t have any hard-and-fast rules when it comes to this. But if one of my children has been working hard and doing well in school and hasn’t … Continue reading →

Reward for Good Grades?

Ahhh…it’s that time of the year. Homework. Class work. Grades. What is your family’s philosophy on making good grades? Should a child be rewarded for this? I can’t help but feel a little sorry for my daughter who is in 10th grade this year. She is following in the footsteps of her older brother who had a well-known reputation for his schoolwork…he never turned it in. Or if he did, it was very last minute. Smart as a whip, he never once studied for a test or exam but always got A’s and B’s. However his grades would reflect his … Continue reading →

Reflections on the Past School Year

Now that school year is over with, you may have seen Facebook posts from friends about how fast the year has gone by. Many parents will proudly declare that their child is now in such-and-such a grade. My own children were excited on that last day of school to announce they were now officially in the next grade…10th and 8th grade. And of course, there is the joy of my oldest son finishing high school. Every year it feels the exact same way…as a parent, you can’t help but ask, “Where did the time go?” I can still remember that … Continue reading →

Homework and Sleep: Do Students Receive Enough?

I mentioned in a previous blog receiving an email that directed me to an article, “Pressure from parents: Do students need more of it?” I addressed the question of whether or not more pressure needs to be put on students. But in this blog I am going to look at some other interesting findings from the article, regarding homework and sleep. The article cites that students average 3.07 hours of homework every night, which totals to 552.6 hours a year. That is a lot of homework, especially when you combine it with the class work they do in school. Now … Continue reading →

Does More Pressure Need to Be Put on Students?

I got an email from a website, “Online Degrees,” in which you can find a really interesting article, “Pressure from parents: Do students need more of it?” It was interesting to read this after coming off parent/teacher conferences. I have one child that truly cares about their schoolwork and is doing well. I have another child who could take it or leave it. Then I have a child that really doesn’t seem to care. Three very diverse students. The article cites a study done by the “Pew Research Center,” in which 6 in 10 Americans believe that parents aren’t putting … Continue reading →

More About New Country School

Earlier I discussed the New Country School that is an experimental high school in Henderson, Minneapolis. As you know, I discussed the different structure of the school. While the students are working freely on computers, they are completing projects. Each project must meet the state standards and requirements. If it does not, the students must complete another project to get the standards met. The students must take the same state standardized tests that all other students in the state are required to take. The only subject that is not taught in conjunction with all other subjects is math. Math is … Continue reading →

My Struggle with Kindergarten Playtime

I have read all of the research and I will agree that kindergarten children need playtime. Many articles will suggest never sacrificing playtime for more instructional time. However with today’s pressures and rising standards, it is sometimes difficult to find time to allow children the opportunity for free play. There are three obstacles that I am in need of conquering in order to provide my students with the creative playtime that they deserve. The challenge becomes even harder during the winter months when weather does not permit going outside. My kindergarten classroom is equipped with creative play materials. I have … Continue reading →

My Inner City Story: Practices That Work

We have talked about how teaching in the inner city has to be a passion, how teachers are better served by mentors rather than more in-service and staff development, and we’ve talked about the conditions that plague the inner city. Urban education is a unique set of circumstances and forces set in motion and without support teachers frankly can’t do the job that needs to be done. I am personally convinced after my experiences here that the inner city requires innovative solutions. I would even be so bold as to say that we need to throw out much of what … Continue reading →