Category Archives: General

California Parent Seeks Help in Rescinding Recess Punishment

A father posted the following comment, in which he states that his daughter is getting a month-long punishment of no recess. If you live in the same district (San Juan Unified Elementary in California), or nearby, and can help in any way, please drop me a line and I’ll put you in contact with thisContinue reading “California Parent Seeks Help in Rescinding Recess Punishment”

Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Letter to the Editor

Morgaine Pauker, a mother of a soon-to-be ninth grader in Westport, CT, wrote the following letter to the Westport News, after learning, at a meeting about high school, that the children could expect to be “inundated with homework.” Letter to the Editor–Homework Policy Needed by Morgaine Pauker Wednesday night I attended the Staples High SchoolContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Letter to the Editor”

Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Teen Stress

Last year, Kerry Dickinson wrote often for this blog about the ways in which she was trying to change homework policy in her Danville, California, community. At the end of the school year, the school instituted a new homework policy. That doesn’t mean that Kerry has stopped. (Type her name into the search box toContinue reading “Moms (and Dads) on a Mission–Teen Stress”

From my Mailbox–Letter from “Frazzled Parent”

Hello Sara, My husband and I share custody of his 2 sons, now 3rd and 4th grade. We have them 2-3 days each week, along with rotating weekends. Our time with them is limited and constantly invaded by homework demands and frustrations. We are a very pro education family, with both of us having degreesContinue reading “From my Mailbox–Letter from “Frazzled Parent””

Recess Should Not be Optional

Here’s a great piece from the Commercial Appeal about the importance of recess. Recess should not be optional program Unstructured outdoor physical activity renews children’s minds and enhances their social skills By By Ben Dyson and Lisa Dyson Special to The Commercial Appeal Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Childhood obesity rates in the United States haveContinue reading “Recess Should Not be Optional”

What to do When the Teacher Tells You Your Child has ADHD

Here’s a very good answer by Dr. Yvonne Fournier, to the question of what to do when the teacher tells you your child has ADHD and should be medicated: DEAR DR. FOURNIER: We were summoned to our daughter’s school, told she is ADHD and instructed to get her on the meds. My neighbor says ADHDContinue reading “What to do When the Teacher Tells You Your Child has ADHD”

Reading First–Does Intensive Decoding Instruction Contribute to Reading Comprehension?

I’ve written about the trouble with packaged reading programs before. Today, I’m linking to a piece by Stephen Krashen, professor emeritus at the University of Southern California. In this piece, Krashen writes that children do not improve their reading comprehension skills through those packaged reading programs. Does Intensive Decoding Instruction Contribute to Reading Comprehension? byContinue reading “Reading First–Does Intensive Decoding Instruction Contribute to Reading Comprehension?”

“I Hate Reading Logs,” says FedUp Mom

This is the sixth post by FedUp Mom, the mother of a fifth grader. FedUp Mom’s daughter used to attend a public school in suburban Philadelphia, but this year FedUp Mom moved her to a private Quaker school, hoping for a more relaxed environment. You can read her other posts here, here, here, here andContinue reading ““I Hate Reading Logs,” says FedUp Mom”