Ross Gellar (Friends) What can you say about a professor who readily admits that most of his papers have been discredited? Unless Paleontologists are in short supply in New York City, I don’t see why any university would hire an educator who can be manipulated into giving students a better grade with a contrived tale…. read more

March 24, 2011 by Paul Goebel in Education

I was recently at an inservice for a school district that was held by the Risk Management department. Among the items covered was the topic of hugging students. The district’s recommendation was that if you must give a student a hug, it should be the sideways, one-arm hug where the only contact is a pat…. read more

March 22, 2011 by Cindy Sobania in Education

Tami Taylor (Friday Night Lights) Putting aside the fact that Connie Britton is one of the most beautiful women on television, her portrayal of a guidance counselor and principal on FNL is the most honest and sensitive portrayal I have ever seen. Whether she is protecting her students from locals who only care about football…. read more

March 17, 2011 by Paul Goebel in Education

It is well into the 2nd semester of my son’s 4th grade year, but I was not surprised when he came home with paperwork for yet another fundraiser. “Be sure to sponsor your son/daughter [insert name of child here] in the annual Jog-A-Thon. Top prizes include a free year book and lunch with the principal!” This…. read more

March 15, 2011 by Susan Lane in Education, Parenting

We conducted an informal survey of 3 children in Grades 1 and 2 from two different school districts. All three of them reported watching a movie in school the last time they had a substitute teacher in class. Further investigation revealed some distressing data, even when taken with a grain of salt in that these…. read more

March 14, 2011 by Staff in Education

Parent /Teacher conferences are always tough for me.  I don’t particularly care for them, and generally feel that a note to and from the teacher would suffice in most cases. However, I was concerned over a steady decline in grades and general interest in school since switching my 9 year old from private to public…. read more

March 11, 2011 by Susan Lane in Education, Parenting

This artwork was designed by “art101″ and sold on a t-shirt at http://shirt.woot.com back in 2010.  Unfortunately, the shirt is no longer available to purchase; however, the image remains an interesting way to introduce, explore, or revisit the concept of order of operations with your child(ren). Novelty t-shirt sites are often home to imaginative ways of re-expressing…. read more

March 9, 2011 by Staff in Education, Parenting, Things to Check Out

Many people are surprised to discover what happens in today’s kindergarten classrooms. With today’s higher standards, the expectations for student learning in kindergarten have greatly increased. In California, the Education Code states that “Districts must admit children at the beginning of the school year … if they will be five years of age on or…. read more

March 8, 2011 by Cindy Sobania in Education

Today, the 4th of March, is National Grammar Day! What better way to celebrate than with some Schoolhouse Rock? Watch the videos after the jump and then please comment and tell us your favorite. (We are partial to Mr. Morton, but they’re all great.) National Grammar Day was established in 2008 by Martha Brockenbrough, founder…. read more

March 4, 2011 by Staff in Education, Things to Check Out

When I was a kid, I would watch shows like Welcome Back Kotter and Head of the Class and imagine how great it would be to attend a school where the teacher told hilarious jokes and let you do the same. I figured that in twelve years of public study, I would eventually get a…. read more

March 3, 2011 by Paul Goebel in Education, Parenting