mommytotwo's commentsComments On: EverythingArticles Blogs Journals Photos created by: Everyonemommytotwo What Happened to the Good Old Days in School? - Blog Entry18 Oct 2006 07:31 PM Thanks, Valorie! This is a topic that really gets me fired up. I am so tired of hearing parents complain that child received a consequence for breaking a rule in school. It drives me nuts. I can't begin to share with you how many times parents came rushing up to the school in which I used to teach to defend their child for whatever the school called them for. It was always someone elses fault, never their child. This will not be how it is in my house, with my children. I am hoping others will go back to the way it used it to be also, when students were taught to respect teachers and schools were supported by parents for consequences. It really does drive me crazy! School- Imposed Nap Tme For Kindergarteners - Blog Entry16 Oct 2006 11:08 AM I guess I don't see it as a weird request. I know it was YEARS ago, but when I was in kindergarten (half days back then) we had to take a nap or have quiet time. I think it was for 30 minutes, but it was a rule that all kindergarteners have quiet/nap time at school. My four year old isn't napping regularly, but he does have to have quiet time every afternoon for a certain amount of time. I close the door and tell him he can't come out until the clock says 3:00. He knows he doesn't have to sleep if he isn't tired, but that he must stay in his room and find something quiet to do on his bed until 3:00 comes. Some days, usually after preschool, he sleeps for two hours, some days, he plays his Leapster in his room. It doesn't matter to me what he does, as long as he gets that he needs to be quiet and rest. I think quiet time for every child is something that is important and needed, but that is just me. Why Schools are Teaching Social Skills - Blog Entry16 Oct 2006 08:52 AM Thanks for your comments! Valorie, I get what you are saying about the need to teach social skills shouldn't outweigh the need to teach the basics. However, it is sometimes darn near impossible to even teach the basics to a bunch of kids who have no social skills. Kids without social skills disrupt class and interfere with learning, therefore a teacher is constantly stopping class to focus on the students with the social skills issues. Because of this occurring so often, schools are now seeing the need to teach social skills so that the basic skills are then able to be taught. It really stinks, because you are right, what good is a polite illiterate, but unfortunately it is hard to teach the basics to kids with no social skills. The NEA Addresses the School Dropout Crisis - Blog Entry04 Oct 2006 12:35 PM Thanks for your responses! Heather, I am always so impressed when I hear of someone who drops out of high school but still manages to get a degree and go on to college. I am not sure why I was surprised that the dropout rate is so high, I taught at-risk kids and many didn't go on to graduate, many were in out and out of jail and placement and just gave up in high school. I just never realized how bad it was throughout the country. The school district I taught in has a very high graduation rate, so I didn't see beyond my students and our district in general. That makes me feel that as a teacher, perhaps I was not educated enough on this topic. I am glad that the NEA has a plan, and I am hopeful that it will work. Thanks for your responses. Amish School Shooting: Yet Another Wave of Violence in our Schools - Blog Entry03 Oct 2006 11:44 AM Hi! Thanks for your responses! I don't mind you starting a thread in the forums! That is great! The more exposure this subject of school violence gets, the better! Thanks so much! Kaye Would Schools be Safer With Stricter Gun Control Laws? - Blog Entry29 Sep 2006 04:00 PM Just an update for anyone reading this blog. The principal shot by this student has died of his injuries. So sad. Celebrity News Week in Review for September 29, 2006 - Blog Entry29 Sep 2006 02:46 PM Yes, I just read that it was a committment ceremony for Anna and her lawyer, but not a real marriage. I guess they committed to be there for each other always, in trying times and not so trying times. DEAR It's Time to Drop Everything and Read - Blog Entry29 Sep 2006 10:12 AM I love that you and your husband read and your kids do too! I love to read. My kids see me reading all the time. My husband on the other hand, hates to read (unless it is to the kids), so I am glad that my kids can and do see me reading on a regular basis! Will Our Schools Ever be Safe? - Blog Entry29 Sep 2006 05:59 AM I agree, Jaime, I wish we didn't have to be scared either. I am just so hopeful that we can figure out how to keep our kids safe at school. I never felt scared going to school (in the 80's), I so wish we could bring that feeling back. It makes me sad that a place that is supposed to be safe for kids isn't anymore. Will Our Schools Ever be Safe? - Blog Entry28 Sep 2006 12:41 PM A lot of schools, high schools included lock all doors during the day except for one main door near the office. Yep, it is a pain, but this way anyone coming or going is seen by office staff. Many schools starting doing this after Columbine, to help prevent another attack and to ensure people just weren't sneaking in and out of doors that were open throughout the day. It is incredibly unfortunate that schools even have to consider doing this in order to keep kids safe, but many are. I am assuming in separate buildings that are on high school campuses, students should be using just one door to get in and out, but I don't think that is always the case. I know my friend who is a 7th grade teacher got an email today stating all of the doors in their middle schools will be locked down from now on, except the front entrance. They had gotten a little lax and started leaving other doors open just because it was easier for students and staff, however this violence yesterday reminded them they need to continue to be proactive for safety and lock all doors. Every little bit helps. |
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