The Best Resources For Learning About The “Word Gap”
There has recently been a flurry of media attention to what is called the so-called “word gap.” It’s the term used to describe the difference in vocabulary development of low-income children and middle-and-high-income children during their pre-school years. In addition to the media attention, there have been some high-profile efforts at trying to respond to the issue, and that’s where it gets particularly controversial. I thought a “Best” list here on the topic might be useful to readers: I’d say the best piece that talks about the issue has been written by Esther Quintero at The Albert Shanke
“What to do if your child is accused of being a bully”
What to do if your child is accused of being a bully is from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and offers pretty decent advice. It’s a delicate issue, but I think it’s a useful article for parents to read….
British Experiment Begins To Pay Parents To Attend Trainings — I Don’t Have A Good Feeling About This….
A fairly substantial experiment has been launched in Great Britain — 14 schools will start paying parents of their students to attend eighteen parent training sessions. You can read more about it at The Telegraph and at The BBC (and at The Guardian). You can read more about why I don’t have a good feeling about it at my Washington Post column, Why paying parents to attend school events is wrong.
TODAY
View A Taped Webinar On “Using Leadership to Promote Strengths-Based Family Engagement”
Harvard’s Family Involvement Network Of Educators did a Webinar today on Using Leadership to Promote Strengths-Based Family Engagement, and they have made it available for free on-demand viewing. Just go here to watch the recording….
“Sandy Hook Promise Launches ‘Parent Together’ As Tragedy’s One Year Mark Approaches”
Sandy Hook Promise Launches ‘Parent Together’ As Tragedy’s One Year Mark Approaches is the headline of an announcement from the Sandy Hook Promise organization about a new initiative. Here’s an excerpt: Sandy Hook Promise today announced the launch of Parent Together, a national grassroots campaign to educate and empower parents to prevent gun violence in their communities. Emphasizing mental well
“When Parents Yank Their Kids Out of Standardized Tests”
When Parents Yank Their Kids Out of Standardized Tests is an article in the Atlantic, by Alexander Russo, that gives a good overview of the “opt-out” movement. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Parents “Opting-Out” Of Standardized Tests For Their Children.
New Sacramento Area Superintendent Appears To Understand Parent Engagement
The Twin Rivers School District in north Sacramento has undergone many challenges recently, and has just hired a new superintendent. According to an article about him in today’s Sacramento Bee, he seems to have a good grasp on the importance of family engagement: Among his many ideas: Partnering with Pacific Gas and Electric’s Power Pathway program, which provides job training for adults and high
“Rethinking Parent-Teacher Conferences”
Rethinking Parent-Teacher Conferences is the subject of The New York Times feature “Room For Debate.” It includes responses from eight educators — my favorite being Jose Luis Vilson. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Parent/Teacher Conferences.
“If a Child Is Bullied, Parents Offer Advice on When and How to Intervene”
If a Child Is Bullied, Parents Offer Advice on When and How to Intervene is a useful piece in The New York Times, and don’t neglect reading the comments. You might also be interested in A Very, Very Beginning List Of The Best Resources On Bullying.
“Good Teachers Embrace Their Students’ Cultural Background”
Good Teachers Embrace Their Students’ Cultural Background is a new article from The Atlantic. Here’s an excerpt: Culturally responsive teaching doesn’t mean lowering standards, Irvine says. Take dialect, for example. Teachers need to help students speak and write in Standard English, but they’ll be more successful in that effort if they begin by respecting the way a student and his family speak at
Video: Chicago Teachers Union & Parents Urge Opposition To Tests
Chicago Teachers Union urges parents to oppose standardized tests for young kids is an article in the Chicago Sun-Times about a teacher/parent campaign against the pressure of standardized tests: I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Parents “Opting-Out” Of Standardized Tests For Their Children.
“Turn On, Tune In, Opt Out”
Turn On, Tune In, Opt Out is an article in The Nation about the growing popularity of efforts by parents to have their children “opt-out” of taking standardized tests. I’m adding it to The Best Posts On Parents “Opting-Out” Of Standardized Tests For Their Children.
“Parents Push for More Nurses in N.C. Schools”
Parents Push for More Nurses in N.C. Schools is an article in North Carolina Health News. Here’s how it begins: “I know there’s a lot of important issues, but to us, this is one that’s top,” said Teri Saurer, founder of N. C. Parents Advocating for School Health. The issue she’s referring to is more nurses in schools. Saurer, whose 6-year-old daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy at 9 months old an
“How to Get the Most Out of a Parent-Teacher Conference”
How to Get the Most Out of a Parent-Teacher Conference is a useful post over at Mind Shift. I’m adding it to The Best Resources On Parent/Teacher Conferences.
“Hidden Causes of Low Parental Engagement in Urban Schools and What to Do About It”
Hidden Causes of Low Parental Engagement in Urban Schools and What to Do About It is the topic of a new short episode at BAM Radio. There’s a good discussion on the program, though I suspect that readers of this blog aren’t going to learn anything new. A couple of the positive comments about using charter schools as a model seem a bit simplistic and don’t recognize the “creaming” aspects of those
“The Role of the K-12 Parent” Is An Important Education Week Special Report
The Role of the K-12 Parent is a special multimedia Education Week report. It includes a number of important articles, videos and infographics. Here’s a small sample of what it offers: And I’m adding their infographic to The Best Infographics About Parent Involvement In Schools:
“National Center for Family Literacy Changes Name, Affirms Mission”
National Center for Family Literacy Changes Name, Affirms Mission is the title of a blog post over at Education Week describing changes at the Center. I’ve previously posted a number of times about the work of the Center…..
Video: “Educate Our State”
I’ve previously posted about Educate Our State, a parent organization here in California. Though I’ve sometimes disagreed with them, I think it’s a good group with potential. Here’s their latest video:
My Most Popular Parent Engagement Posts In 2013
This blog is now a little over four years old and, as usual, it’s time for a slightly early list of my most popular posts of the year. You can see previous annual lists here, along with a list of the most popular posts from over the last four years. Here are My Most Popular Parent Engagement Posts In 2013 (some were published prior to this year, but still remained popular): 1. Writing Letters To P
“Houston Dad Learns Valuable Lessons Volunteering at School”
Houston Dad Learns Valuable Lessons Volunteering at School is a good post over at Education Week about a group emphasizing getting fathers involved in schools. Here’s an excerpt: Watch D.O.G.S. is a K-12 father-engagement initiative run by the National Center for Fathering in Kansas City, Mo. Two fathers in Springdale, Ark., founded the program following the tragic school shootings at a Jonesboro,
