Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Incentives for increased test scores...
Joanne Jacobs cites an article by Patti Hartigan that shows a song written for kindergarten students to make sure they learn the rules of test taking. It's sung to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
From an article on SignOnSanDiego.com:
From an article on SignOnSanDiego.com:
While academic preparation is the key to test performance, some educators say a
little incentive can yield results.Students meeting test goals at Gompers Secondary School in southeastern San Diego will be rewarded when Principal Don Mitchell spends the night on the school's roof wearing a skirt.
"Although, to be politically correct, I may wear a kilt," he said.
On at least 110 out of 180 school days, some students are taking tests required by the district, state or federal government, Mitchell said.
Schools must administer the standardized tests – the CAT-6, the ACT, the new SAT, Advanced Placement and high school exit exams – that are in addition to the multitude of classroom calculus quizzes and economics assessments.
South Woods Elementary School in Florida has their own song for taking these tests.
YouTube has videos on how to test well - in fact, here's a link to the first in a series of twelve!
Photo Credit: The above image is by Cheryl Piperberg, and is available at Art.com.
(I still can't get over the testing 110 out of 180 days.)
100 Animal Coloring Pages
AnimalJr.com has a collection of 100 animal coloring pages for you to choose from! There are several different types of animals for each letter of the alphabet. Don't miss their other coloring pages on rainforest animals, cute animals and zoo animals.
Click here.
The Carnival of Homeschooling - Baby Bop Edition!
No! Not that Baby Bop!
The Cates have finalized their adoption of the newest addition to their family, who they call Baby Bop! Congratulations Cates! They have posted the whole story on the Carnival this week!
There are also book reviews, videos, super summer ideas, and much more! Not to mention the latest scrap going on concerning the article "The Case Against Homeschooling" at Teacher, Revised. (I laughed out loud at Spunky's response!) There are articles on looking at your child's education future, and some great homeschooling advice!
Check it out!
American Indian Public Charter School a success...
I have come across several articles on American Indian Charter School in Oakland, CA. It seems they're causing quite a stir. Not only are they getting results with their studends, they are doing things much, much differently than any American public school.
An excerpt:
Reporting from Oakland -- Not many schools in California recruit teachers with language like this: "We are looking for hard working people who believe in free market capitalism. . . . Multicultural specialists, ultra liberal zealots and college-tainted oppression liberators need not apply."For the full story, go here.
See more articles about this at: Right on the Left Coast and Joanne Jacobs.
Ten reasons to get involved in Origami...
The web site Oriland gives ten reasons why you (your children, and the rest of your family) should be involved in origami:
1. Development of fine ‘motor skills’ of both hands.
2. Development of intellectual abilities.
3. Development of creative abilities.
4. Activation of the Right and Left hemispheres of the brain.
5. Development of imagination.
6. Development of attention.
7. Development of memory.
8. Development of patience.
9. Emotional and aesthetic experiences.
10. Joy, satisfaction and pride in your own work!
There is even an Oriland University where you can learn all about origami for free, as well as get directions for oodles of origami projects! I love to just go to the site and look at the pictures. However, we did do an all-origami Christmas tree one year, and I gave out origami wreaths to some friends. (Sorry, I don't have any pictures!)
This would be a really cool thing to do with your kids this summer!
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