By Lori Skurka on 11/25/2009 4:52 PM

As I typed the title of this post I stopped to wonder how many of today's adolescents would have resisted the urge to put the preposition at the end of the phrase -- i.e. 'A Lot To Be Thankful For'.   I continue to worry about the texting and video-gaming culture America's future leaders are growing up in.  No, actually, the culture in which they are growing up!

Anyway, we've made it through mid-term conferences and at this point most parents have a pretty good feeling for where their kids are stacking up in the classroom.  Even if you've learned that your child has a bit of an uphill climb in order to achieve classroom standards, he or she still has something for which to be thankful.  That of course is you--a parent who is spending time on this site in a search to find what is best for the child's progress.  You taking the time to read this means that you care more about what's best for your kids than the average Joe.

Two of my three children are school age, and their conferences generally went...

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By Lori Skurka on 9/9/2009 10:01 PM

Article Citation: "To Address Behavior Issues, Preschools Turn to Therapy", Wall Street Journal, 9/9/09, written by Sue Shellenbarger.

Link to original article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970204348804574400612690410766.html#mod=todays_us_nonsub_pj

Interesting overview of the controversial new push, now offered in 29 different states, to embed mental health workers directly into preschool classrooms.  These professionals work directly with students needing extra therapy or counseling to address behavioral issues at an early age in order to help them integrate better and improve their emotional well being.

Without addressing the funding issue, which we understand to be a fluid and changing situation under new governmental directives, this seems like a wise approach from an educator's standpoint.  Providing hands-on mental health counseling directly in the preschool...

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By Lori Skurka on 7/2/2009 1:59 PM

Attention parents, tutors, students, teachers, administrators, and anyone else passionate about educating the youth of our nation!

We've got one simple question to ask you:  What's Buggin' Ya?

If there's one constant in today's crazy world, it's change.  What is the educational controversy du jour in your household, your school district, your state, and in the national headlines?  What's got steam shooting out of your ears?

Let's hear from you.  Topics that get a lot of spirited debate may be used as fodder for future EleMental Learning editorials.  Or we may just sit back and watch sparks fly.  We'll see what happens! 

By Lori Skurka on 3/15/2009 10:22 AM

Although the Obama administration has allocated billions of dollars to the broad category of "Education" in its first (and only?) bailout program, and in its subsequent fiscal budget proposal, it is short-sighted to think that a precision effort at remedying the educational ills in America is underway.  We think that is simply not the case.  Open issues that scream for attention:

Teacher pay:  Merit pay versus the tenure system.  Merit pay seems to be gaining some traction, but two issues cloud the picture:  (1) what is the criteria for judging "merit"?  (2) How can the Obama administration advance a concrete plan for merit pay when doing so will run directly afoul of the NEA and his other supporters in the educational establishment?  These are clearly treacherous waters.  The Administration will find it very hard to build consensus here. Reform of No Child Left Behind: The NCLB plan is oft-derided as being flawed in methodology, unfair in the inclusion of certain student categories in the test...

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By Lori Skurka on 1/1/2009 1:01 AM

What Are The "Best" Schools In Your Area?

By Lori Skurka on 1/1/2009 12:22 PM

Just for kicks we took a look at the list of "best" schools in the areas served by EleMental Learning.  Many of the names which showed up on the lists are the usual suspects.  However many of the schools which showed up on the lists were unexpected, and many schools we assumed would show up on the lists actually did not.

This led us to look a little bit more at the methodology and biases inherent in the way these schools attract pupils.  Clearly,...

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By Lori Skurka on 12/1/2008 9:09 AM

Perspectives From An Educator: All Day Kindergarten

By Lori Skurka, M. Ed.

 

In November 2007, our local board of education outlined its intention to standardize all-day kindergarten instruction across the district beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. According to the board, their enthusiasm is buoyed by a successful pilot program which has been running within the district, as well as research which supports the notion that all-day kindergarten enhances a student’s self-confidence and independence, leading to higher progress in social and learning skills.

 

The move represents a significant departure from the traditional half day kindergarten routine (which, in actuality, is not even a half day), which was intended to provide youngsters with an introduction to their elementary years and where they could engage in a few hours of age-appropriate social interaction. That being said, a significant percentage of districts both state-wide and nationally have embraced all-day kindergarten. And...

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By Lori Skurka on 11/2/2008 11:14 AM

Perspectives From An Educator: Building Literacy Skills in Children

By Lori Skurka, M. Ed.

 

As an educator I have always recognized the importance and benefit of building a solid literacy foundation for our young children. In my years as a classroom teacher I was responsible for many 4th,5th, and 6th graders who came into my class woefully lacking a proper foundation in literacy skills. In order to set the right path for our kids, I encourage all parents to recognize the primacy of developing reading, speaking, and listening literacy skills in our kids from the earliest ages possible.

 

Although I no longer teach in the classroom, I have been vigilant in transferring my literacy development techniques to my own children. There is not a day that goes by that my husband and I do not read at least one book—and usually quite a few more than just one—to our children. Their rooms are filled with scores of books, as is the rest of our home. The books are kept in cubbies and on shelves...

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