Encourage Education - Recent Comments

Pros and Cons

amandawatson — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:25:41 GMT

This was a very interesting article. I believe that America has the ability to better educate students, but not all the responsibility comes from schools. What about parent involvement?

Parent Involvement

amandawatson — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:13:31 GMT

I really like this idea. Parent involvement is so important, not just in our program, but in the lives of children. Thanks for making it available!

Thought provoking

cmays — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:48:47 GMT

I read the article in the K-12 education news about the long-term effects of delaying the starting age for kindergardeners. What was interesting to me was that classroom teachers may perceive their younger students as hyperactive or delayed when they are compared to the older children. The "delays" are simply developmental differences which disappear after the children have been in school for a while and shouldn't be the basis for labeling a child or changing a curriculum.
Thanks, Betsy.
Cheryl Mays

A feel good story

melissa — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:19:39 GMT

Dear Bob,
That's a great story. It's so nice that Debbie remembered you! She didn't even need to approach you, but you are wonderful enough to do so. That's the kind of story that gives one the warm fuzzies.

Keep touching people's lives - you're good at it!

Emotional End of the Year

schiefpj — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:05:19 GMT

Hi Melissa,

These poems are great! I decided to write each of my students a personal card at the end of the year.

This was one of the most difficult endings of the year with my students because so many shared that they would miss coming to Catapult classes. I was quite humbled when one 6th grade student wrote on the end of the year survey that I was his favorite teacher. This was a surprise because he did not always want to come to Catapult. It shows that we never know how we are affecting the children that are placed into our hands. More often than not the effect teachers have on students goes beyond academics.

This was probably one of the most challenging years yet one of the most rewarding.

I wish all of my colleagues a wonderful Summer and thanks for a job well done!

Patrick

Principal and Parent Involvement

bob — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:38:42 GMT

Kerri

I like your looking for ways to improve and experimenting to find a better way.

The Readers Theater idea accomplishes a key goal of Title One month: Inclusion of parents. Perhaps we could do this earlier in the year around Title One night or as a draw for parent conferences.

I also commend the innovation of offering a gift to the Principal to visit the classroom. Knowing how busy our principals are, a little something extra to motivate them to drop in is a good strategy.

Learn Grow Glow
Bob

Great books

melissa — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:45:23 GMT

This is such a good idea! The children really do enjoy the books, and this display is really attractive!

Dear Cheryl,

melissa — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:43:52 GMT

It's always nice to talk to the parents. It's often hard to reach them, but your method seems pretty good!!

Old Favorites

kgeorge — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:05:08 GMT

For Title I month my teachers seem to enjoy the Book Swap idea. One teacher even passed the torch to her older students and had them make flyers and do all the work so that the whole school could participate. The principal took photos at the book swap and showed them in a power point presentation at the end of the school year. The principal then explained to the parents about Catapult and the Title I program.
Our students seem to be responding well to the "Readers' Theater" idea and we get even more parents coming in to hear their children read than we did with the "Parent Readers".
I have also motivated my teachers to get their principal to visit our classroom during Title I month by promising them a surprise "gift" if they can get her to make an appearance. I then reward them with a candle or some chocolates. The principals need to know what is going on in our program and with our some classrooms in portables they would seldom visit without a direct invitation.

They are fun

bob — Fri, 30 May 2008 04:43:58 GMT

Melissa I am reminded of the FISH axiom:

Play, bring a sense of enjoyment to what you do.

It truly works wonders!

Bob