Before I move to the heavy stuff, I wanted to let you know what I thought about the movie, P.S. I Love You. It was the quintessential chick flick (but my husband and son liked it, too). It had all the elements that make you laugh, cry, and feel good. It was packed with relationships (friends, husband, mother, sister), travel (Ireland was BEAUTIFUL and I didn't see one terrorist!), city life, and music. It was well worth the time and money to attend. I haven't read the book, but went with two friends who had. They said that the movie was very different from the book and that the book was better. If that is the case, then I highly recommend that you read the book! I plan to get a copy myself!
Here are some sites to where you can get fabulous movie downloads as well as access to televsion shows, music videos, and more:
http://scberry.udc01.hop.clickbank.net/
http://scberry.movies01.hop.clickbank.net/
http://scberry.pspblend.hop.clickbank.net/
Now onto No Child Left Behind. I am an educator and when I first heard the proposal for No Child Left Behind I admit to being astonished. However, it seemed so ludicrous that neither myself or my fellow educators were really worried. We would say things like, "It will never last," and refuse to worry. Well, it has lasted and it has made huge negative impacts on many school districts.
Now all of the impacts haven't been bad. I admit that it has forced the educational community to take a harder look at certain populations such as special education students, our English as a Second Language students, and even our gifted students.
The premise behind No Child Left Behind is that ALL students can be proficient or advanced. That sounds great, but let's face reality. A student struggling to understand English is not going to score proficient or advanced (especially when data shows that it takes at LEAST 5 years to show language proficiency). A student with a low IQ is not going to score proficient or advanced. It is just not going to happen!
No Child Left Behind is punative. There are lots of unfunded mandates. Supposedly the state and federal government are giving money to struggling schools, but it is so burdened with red tape that you feel like you're swimming upstream if you accept those funds. I know because I work in just such a school district. We are virtually set up to fail. The great state of South Carolina has the hardest assessment which makes showing progress even more difficult. People that come to work here from neighboring states like North Carolina or Georgia are appalled at the test and the consequences. Is it any wonder that South Carolina is experiencing a severe teacher and administrator shortage while many other states have more teachers/administrators than there are jobs?
I am hoping that it is on the way out. I was heartened to hear a presidential candidate say that it needed to go! I am in full agreement. Until there is a national test that is adopted by each state and there are adjustments made for our special ed and ESL students, it needs to go.
Let's not forget, either, that education is supposed to be under the control of STATE government. In my opinion, the Federal government should have NEVER became involved. In fact, the only way that they can become involved is by offering funding that poor states and/or districts need. And of course, these are the districts that don't perform well. If it sounds like a vicious cycle, I can assure you it is!
This legislation is BIG BUSINESS. There are many industries and companies that have made a fortune claiming that they can help improve student achievement, close the gap, etc. As an administrator in a school district, I received an inhuman amount of flyers, emails, and phone cards about this very thing. I will say this: If there was a "quick fix" for these districts, it would have been discovered by now. Being labeled as Unsatisfactory or Failing because you work in high poverty district with a high number of ESL students doesn't help the school ANY. In South Carolina, the state actually took over one of these districts so that they could fix it. ALL of the personnel and resources that were
If you feel like I do, check out the website below and sign their petition to repeal No Child Left Behind! The time has come to act on this issue!
http://nochildleft.com/
Showing posts with label PS I Love You. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PS I Love You. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
This is my eighteen year old son. He is a senior in highschool right now. He is basically a good kid who does well in school. He has a stable girl friend, college goals, and loves nothing more than to cruise around in his mustang.
If he's had any problems, it is with acne. I can't tell you the number of times that we have visited the doctor. I will tell you that there are lots of good products out there that help substantially. There is also a great deal of products and information on the Internet that are available on the subject. Some that might be of help:
After writing yesterday's blog about reading tips for parents, I wrote an article that was posted on line. Please feel free to look for the article at http://Goarticles.com. You can find it by clicking on the eduction topic. I'd love to hear back from any parents (or teachers) who try some of the tips! These are tried and true strategies that I have used in the classrooms, in afterschool programs, and with tutoring. I try to be supportive with parents and let them know what works in the classroom so that they can continue working with the student at home.
The holidays are almost over. School starts back Monday for my kids. I still have the tree and decorations to take down, but it almost seems like I can hold back time if I don't take them down! Every year, my husband and I get what I call the After Christmas Blues. Does anyone else feel like that? Tonight we are going out to eat and to a movie to try to combat the blues. What do you do to feel better? I'll let you know about the movie tomorrow. We are going to see PS I Love You. Hope its good!
Until tomorrow, stay safe and stay healthy!
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