I have great news for all of you who follow events with Schools Count!! We have been collecting mountains and mountains of supplies from many, many area schools. To those staff, students and groups who have donated to us...thank you so very much.
And now...I need your help!! These supplies need to be sorted as we will be delivering to some forty schools later in the summer. We will be sorting supplies this coming Saturday, June 21st from 9:00 am to noon at our home located at 20048 S. Kohlwood Dr. in Mokena, IL. You are bound to have fun, meet some great people and help a most worthwhile cause.
Please let me know if you can make it by emailing me at rich219@comcast.net.
Thanks so much!!
Dick
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Common Core Shortcomings
Take it from Adam Heenan a Social Studies teacher at Curie High School in Chicago who weighed in regarding the harm that Common Core standards will impose on his students. Adam teaches a course at Curie entitled Financial Literacy. Does anyone, of any age, think that having financial literacy skills is a critical one? The obvious answer is a resounding YES!
Adam has found that the units offered in the course make students aware of the decisions and factors that go into decision-making regarding all sorts of money issues and uses. As Adam says about his course, "Most of my lessons priortize what is relevant to the content and valuable to my students."
The sad truth of the matter is this, according to Mr. Heenan, with regard to the coming high stakes Common Core testing that is on the horizon for the coming school year. "I risk compromising my students' voices in the learning process, which sets students on a path toward disengagement in activities, then classes, and finally school in general."
That, in a nutshell, is exactly the point...we risk losing kids.
Dick
Adam has found that the units offered in the course make students aware of the decisions and factors that go into decision-making regarding all sorts of money issues and uses. As Adam says about his course, "Most of my lessons priortize what is relevant to the content and valuable to my students."
The sad truth of the matter is this, according to Mr. Heenan, with regard to the coming high stakes Common Core testing that is on the horizon for the coming school year. "I risk compromising my students' voices in the learning process, which sets students on a path toward disengagement in activities, then classes, and finally school in general."
That, in a nutshell, is exactly the point...we risk losing kids.
Dick
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
YOU Are Always the Solution
Whether it's helping children-in-need, supporting a cause to end a disease, participating in 5K, or assisting a charitable institution, citizens in this country always seem to be the guiding light.
I've heard many people say something like this regarding children and schools who are short on resources. "It's a shame." Still others lament the deplorable situation by saying "Something ought to be done about it."
This charity (ours, yours)is based on your energy, donations, time spent volunteering, and dedication to keep the flames of optimism burning. I appreciate the fact that many of you are joining us this Saturday to sort supplies for the students in the CPS system and southern suburbs. Because you are willing to take the time to sort, the kids will have many more of the materials they need to be successful.
Schools Count has always relied on you and I want each of you to know that I respect and honor your willingness to give of yourself to our various causes. As stated, YOU are the solution to many of the problems plaguing the tough conditions faced by children who had nothing to do with the dilemmas they face each day.
Thank you,
Dick
I've heard many people say something like this regarding children and schools who are short on resources. "It's a shame." Still others lament the deplorable situation by saying "Something ought to be done about it."
This charity (ours, yours)is based on your energy, donations, time spent volunteering, and dedication to keep the flames of optimism burning. I appreciate the fact that many of you are joining us this Saturday to sort supplies for the students in the CPS system and southern suburbs. Because you are willing to take the time to sort, the kids will have many more of the materials they need to be successful.
Schools Count has always relied on you and I want each of you to know that I respect and honor your willingness to give of yourself to our various causes. As stated, YOU are the solution to many of the problems plaguing the tough conditions faced by children who had nothing to do with the dilemmas they face each day.
Thank you,
Dick
Monday, June 2, 2014
New Orleans Schools Now Charterized
The final public neighborhood schools, as we once knew them, in New Orleans will disappear when school starts in the fall. The RSD will now operate charter public schools going forward. This movement has been taking place since Hurricane Katrina came ashore in August 2005.
Like any other 'reform' movement, this one has plenty of critics and advocates. The full impact of this change will not be known for some time in terms of its wide array of effects.
To be clear some of the changes are already viewed as harmful. Yes, a good number of children will have to be bused and a good number of kids won't be walking to and attending school in their neighborhood. Given this dislocation, don't kids yourselves, it will make it that much harder on many parents.
This isn't about NOLA neighborhood schools failing. Our charity worked with many of the RSD public schools and many of them made terrific progress - by any number of measures - over a sustained period of time. So before anyone goes with the argument that "charters yield better results," it ought to be clear that the vast majority of neighborhood schools got the job done.
A sad day :(
Dick
Like any other 'reform' movement, this one has plenty of critics and advocates. The full impact of this change will not be known for some time in terms of its wide array of effects.
To be clear some of the changes are already viewed as harmful. Yes, a good number of children will have to be bused and a good number of kids won't be walking to and attending school in their neighborhood. Given this dislocation, don't kids yourselves, it will make it that much harder on many parents.
This isn't about NOLA neighborhood schools failing. Our charity worked with many of the RSD public schools and many of them made terrific progress - by any number of measures - over a sustained period of time. So before anyone goes with the argument that "charters yield better results," it ought to be clear that the vast majority of neighborhood schools got the job done.
A sad day :(
Dick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
