What the heck? Levels?

I was talking with some great teachers today about their kids and reading.  Several grade levels were represented.  On my way home I thought about all the jargon we use as teachers.  We understand what we are talking about but when we convey that information to parents, many times as parents we have no idea.   We shake our heads in agreement, leave and think what the heck was she talking about?

Example of a Level A text

Today we were specifically talking about reading levels. Beginning as early as PreKindergarten, your child's teacher may tell you your child is on a level A or 1, or D etc.  Each grade level has a range of 'reading levels'.  Some schools use a letter system, A-T or so and some use a number system.  To determine the level teachers administer a running record.  All that is is marking the errors a child makes while reading.  It gives a little window into the thinking or processing your child does when reading.   These levels do not correspond to the level books you see in the stores, you know, I Can Read books or Step Up to Reading.

Example of a Level F text

Bottom line, at your parent conference ask to see the text of whatever level your child is on.  Ask to see an example of the text they should be reading at the end of the year.  If your child is having trouble reading, ask what is he/she doing while reading? What reading behaviors does he/she use?  What reading strategies are they working on?

You will get a better picture of  your child and you will look so smart to the teacher!

Painting Rocks

I  had the opportunity to go see my other grand nuggets this weekend.  We had an awards ceremony, a Fall Festival, dancing class and soccer all in a 24 hour period.  Parker is starting his 2 week intercession at school.   Yes, they are year round.  In this testing, have to get everything taught frenzy we now call school, he had a project to do over the 2 weeks.  At first I thought, geesh, can't they  just enjoy playing for 2 weeks?  After looking at the 'project' I realized that Parker would be able to complete it quickly and while I wasn't crazy about what they were to do, it was relatively harmless.  Being Parker, he wanted to get started on it the minute he got home from school.  We convinced him he could wait until at least Saturday.

At one point this weekend we went to a park and just played.  The kids had so much fun just playing, running, chasing, climbing - just playing.  They decided on the way out to gather a few rocks and a pine cone they found.  Mom thought it a grand idea and so home we headed.

Once home they decided to get out their 'art box' and paint the pine cone and the rocks.  No rules, no design, no 'project expectation' just painting rocks.  To adults it seemed silly and somewhat pointless.  But to these two little ones it was an hour of unstructured fun full of creativity.

I wonder in our crazy lives, how often do we allow our children just time to be creative?  It doesn't have to be painting rocks but a box of art supplies that they may use however they want.  Using scissors is a wonderful activity to develop the fine motor muscles needed for holding a pencil and writing.  Being creative is a foundation for, well, just about everything!

So go to the dollar store, buy a tub, some scissors, glue, pasta, paper, paint, whatever and give your kids time to be creative.   Trust me, they need the balance.

Our kids deserve better!

If I were boss of the world I would only allow one ad spot per candidate on television.  I would only allow positive ads.  Each person running would only be allowed to say what he or she would do, not bash the other side.  Now a days it doesn't matter which affiliation you lean towards everyone behaves badly.  But sigh, I am not the boss of anything let alone the world!

The most overlooked office in each election is the State Board of Education.  This is the group who decides  the standards your child learns.  This group decides on the amount of testing that is done.  This group decides on which textbooks will be used and what goes in those textbooks.  In addition to the State Board, the governor and lieutenant governor play a major part in public education.

Now you may be thinking my child isn't in school yet, it doesn't apply to me.  But it does.  Some decisions that are decided last for 7-10 years, like textbooks.  Public education is the backbone of this country.  Even if you homeschool or choose private school the quality or lack of quality in public school will effect you.

Please, before you vote do your own homework.  Don't just listen to soundbites.  The League of Women Voters, as well as other organizations, has non-biased information on how candidates vote and stand on the different education issues.

Education funding has been significantly cut.  Ask around, ask actual teachers how it's going.  Get their views, they are in the trenches.
I really don't care how you vote as long as you have done your research, done your homework.  To vote blindly hurts our kids.  They rely on adults to make good decisions on their behalf.  They deserve better.

Whatcha learnin'?

I was reading, well rereading, a book about comprehension strategies and stumbled across a quote I really liked.  I read it with new eyes this time.  The quote, "Today's learning is tomorrow's background knowledge." got me thinking about questions we ask our kiddos.  I think many times we don't bring to a conscious level what our kids are learning in preschool or school or that they have even learned something.

For example, we ask how their day was, how was lunch, how was P.E. how was....but do we ever ask, what did you learn today that you didn't know yesterday?  That simple question makes kids think about their learning and new learning.  From the answer you get, you can then make connections to other things your child knows.  You can add, something like, wow, that learning goes into your background knowledge now.  It also gives you a glimpse into what your child perceives as learning.

The new learning that took place may be in math, social studies, science, reading, circle time, calendar time, centers whenever.  I think it would be fun to follow up the new learning question with a second question- what did you talk about today that you already knew?

Both of these questions make kids think about their learning and after all, that is why we send them to school...to learn.

Just get dressed! They will survive!

When I was raising my children I remember reading an article on how to do it all - have a family, have a career - entertain -have free time - all of it and be stress free.  I still laugh when I think about the article.  you see it was written by a very successful woman who suggested you delegate...you know have the nanny pick up the groceries before picking up your kids.  Hire a catering service for that next party you want to have.   Your personal shopper won't mind doing some Christmas shopping for you.  I clearly remember thinking, someone please write the article who doesn't make a ton of money and doesn't have all those 'support' people.

My daughter called the other night trying to figure out how to get two children to two different places at  the same time but in different directions.  Her husband is out of town.  When I suggested she call a friend to maybe help out, especially one going in the same direction, she replied with, Mom if I can figure out how to get it done myself I would rather.  And she did.

We all want to be the best parent even though we  joke about not being perfect.  You can't open social media, pick up a magazine, or turn on the television without hearing or reading what you should/need/could be doing for your child.   I know, this blog included!!  The truth is, there are days we wake up and just don't want to be creative and do crafts.  There are days we don't want to think of synonyms for truck!  There are days not only do we not want to go on a nature walk, we don't even want to go outside.  There are some days we just want to say, get dressed without discussing the colors, textures, types of clothing being put on.

Give yourself permission to have those days!  Your kids will survive. Your kids aren't shaped by one day alone but by all the days together.  Just make sure you have more quality days than off days.  So put your feet up, grab a book and let your kids play in their room.  Your kids will survive.

Parades and oral language??

This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a local parade.  It was great and didn't disappoint.  It had all the required things to make a parade great...floats, walkers, people tossing candy, spectators, you name it and it was there.

So what does that have to do with oral language?   Everything!  First of all, parades are free not to mention fun.  You can take your kids to a parade and have a free, natural, learning environment. There are so many words to which you can expose your children.   Talk about whether or not you are a spectator or a participant.  Use different words to describe all the people besides 'a lot' of people.  It may be a hoard of people or a throng.   Maybe it was a mass or a 'sea' of people.  Perhaps it was a huge crowd.

How 'bout those people giving out candy?   Were they tossing it, throwing it, handing it out? And the floats!  Were they beautiful, colorful, large or small?  Some might have been towed while others were motorized.

The new buzz phrase around the education world is 'word gap'.  Basically it's the number of words children come to school knowing and the gap that exists between kids.  Kids who struggle in school come to school having fewer words in their vocabulary.  It seems overwhelming but it really isn't if we will just look at the opportunities we have and think, what are some words I can expose my children to while we are here?

It's important for children to have a bank of words or synonyms for words.  There are other ways to describe the length of a parade.   Maybe it wasn't long, maybe it was endless.

Ahhh it's Autumn

I love this time of year.  I love the crisp mornings (well eventually), the leaves turning colors, hearing the high school bands, all of it.   I love the anticipation of the holidays around the corner.  Seasons and the how they change is typically something we don't talk about with our young kids.  This weekend is a perfect time to start.

Talk about the four seasons.  Explain how we are in fall and another name is autumn.  Discuss with your child that fall is a time that many animals prepare for winter.  Talk about what happens.  Go for a little 'nature' walk.   Look at the trees and other plants that should be beginning to change colors.   Explain that some trees will lose their leaves and some won't.  Tell your child to start paying attention to the smells in the air.  They might be able to smell a fire in some one's fireplace.   Talk about the flowers people are planting now.  Call attention to the shadows they see. Talk about how in the summer they could stay outside along time and it was still light.   Now,  it gets dark sooner in the afternoon.

This is a wonderful time of year for oral language.  It's allowing your child to be aware of the world and the changes that occur.   Believe or not, this lays the foundation for them to be aware as they learn new concepts in school.