Wow what a week! I celebrated the 100th day of school this week and then was out for two snow days!! The days off left a little extra time for writing blogs. Shannon Stepp and I are both new members to the families.com team of bloggers. I hope that you have been enjoying our views on education! Shannon and I have been busy trying to give you the most updated information from two very different ends of the education spectrum. I think we are making a great team with our opposite teaching experiences!
Saturday, January 27th, 2007
Four Blocks: Writing
I finished my series of Four Blocks articles with the Writing block. I discussed how there are differences in teaching handwriting and writing. I also described the steps of the writing block and how children can become frustrated with spelling.
Sunday, January 28th, 2007
Your Local Junior College- A Hidden Treasure
While it seems most high school students are ready to be finished with school and never look back, Shannon discusses that as adults we may begin to desire more education. Shannon describes how your local junior college is an excellent source to look for interesting and creative ways to satisfy the erg for learning.
Monday, January 29th
High School- A Time of Self Discovery
In this article, Shannon addresses the stress placed on high school students to begin planning their future. She notes that while it is important for students to think about their future, it is also important for high school to be a self-learning experience. Students should experiment with various fields of study and explore several career options before making their decisions.
100th Day of School Celebration
My class began to prepare for the 100th day of school, January 30th. We made crowns, brought in 100 items of choice, and participated in 100th day art activities. My class was especially excited about having 100 snacks and walking in the parade!
Tuesday, January 30th, 2007
High School Students Taking College Classes
With the rising standards of education, high school students are now being allowed to take college courses. Shannon discusses how this can be a very rewarding experience for those students who are excelling in high school courses. Students can take basic college course and be ready to start their major courses upon graduation. However if students are struggling in high school work, it is not a good idea for them to take on more academics.
Who Is Responsible for Your Child’s Education?
In this article I discussed the issues faced by teachers when parents do not want to take on an active role in their child’s education. Skills taught at school often need to be reinforced at home through homework and studying.
Zoning
My region is now undergoing major controversy over rezoning local high schools. In this article, I discuss how zoning has both pros and cons. Some areas enforce zoning while others leave school choice to the parents.
Wednesday, January 31st, 2007
Saxon Phonics
School is being taught differently now than it was when I was in the primary grades. Spelling is no exception. In this article, I give a brief overview of Saxon Phonics. I hope that parents of children who are in classrooms that use the Saxon Phonics method found this article helpful.
Thursday, February 1st, 2007
Are Single Sex Classes the Solution?
Some schools, both public and private, have opted to create classes of either all boys or all girls. Girls seem to find the classes beneficial due to not worrying about boys. It is predicted that many more schools will begin offering at least some same sex courses.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Teaching in Special Education
Shannon is a high school special education teacher. As a college student, this was not her goal. However, her heart leads her to teaching this special group of children. In this article, she discusses her trial and triumphant.