Posted in General, tagged 2009, christmas, holiday on December 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Jeff Pett, Fleetwood Group, Inc.
As I write this (in Michigan) the forecast is for yet another winter storm to come through tonight with up to 12” of new snow. I ran into a local school superintendent at the coffee shop on my way in to work, and he is gearing up for a likely snow-day [...]
Posted in General, tagged budget cuts, financial, Schools on December 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Schools districts continue to feel the pinch and are slicing budgets by unprecedented amounts, while budgets tighten and credit for essential educational items, like books or computers, is harder to come by. Alabama’s public education reserve took a 12.5 percent cut. Typically, the state has not undergone budget cuts of more than 6.5 percent.
Alabama’s [...]
Posted in Technology, tagged classroom learning, YouTube on December 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Video-sharing site YouTube has gained notoriety as a forum where average people can become stars—or at least secure a few minutes of fame through homemade, attention-grabbing videos. But the site is beginning to be valued for more than entertainment; YouTube has also enlisted a following of students eager to get some out-of-class tutoring.
YouTube has thousands [...]
Posted in Holiday Sales, tagged Christmas shoppers, holidays on December 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Rebecca Haden, A Plus Educational
Some school supply stores get quiet about now. The one I work for is different. We have toys and games, so we get to participate in the Christmas shopping rush.
For all my fellow retail mavens, I offer this handy guide to Christmas shoppers:
The Delighted Chirper
This shopper is usually seen in October, [...]
Posted in 2008 Election, tagged Inauguration Day, Obama, public schools on December 10, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The Montgomery County school system, in its decision to recognize Inauguration Day as a holiday, will close January 20, giving students the opportunity to celebrate President-Elect Obama’s inauguration. Montgomery County is not the only district to do this; Charles, Loudon, Prince George’s, Prince William, Fairfax, and St. Mary’s counties are among others that will close [...]
Posted in Teaching Standards, tagged England, Europe, school age on December 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
How young is too young to start school? Five? Four? Maybe six?
And is there a substantial long-term educational benefit to entering kindergarten at an earlier age? Well, some studies say “no.” Research from the University of Cambridge in England, conducted by the Primary Review, found no clear evidence that children are benefited by starting [...]
Posted in Teachers, Teaching Methods, Teaching Standards, Technology, tagged homeschool, Internet, Teachers, virtual teaching on December 5, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Emily Raij
Maupin House
A new law in Florida requires every district in the state to set up an online school for K-8 students. As explained in this Orlando Sentinel article, the law “is designed to give parents more choice in how their elementary- and middle-school children are educated full time.” An adult is required to be [...]
Posted in General, tagged community service hours, high school on December 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Community service requirements are widely enforced in American high schools to give students a well-rounded perspective and perhaps a more thoughtful approach to life. But some schools, dubious, or at least skeptical, of the positive nature of the requirements are rethinking their policies.
Lauren Swierczek, a community service director at Riverdale Country School, a private school [...]
