Back to School Shopping 2010

I ran across this Wal-Mart vs. Target Shopping Blog entry and wanted to share it with others who may find it interesting.

The author breaks down her school supply shopping list and summarizes that Wal-Mart is only a slight winner in the contest. As someone who no longer has to buy classroom supplies, I still feel for my former colleagues and those parents who are buying. I also know there are cost conscious homeschoolers in the market. I always buy art supplies for Christmas presents at this time of year. You cannot beat the prices on markers, crayons, and colored pencils that you find now. The prices in December are far more expensive.

For those of you interested in reading her review you can find it at Have Fun Teaching.

As I find more helpful back to school information I will post it.

Picture Credit: http://morguefile.com/archive/display/189442

Massachusetts Abandons State Control of Education Standards

Wednesday, the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously approved adopting the Common Core standards abandoning state control of education standards and testing.

While the press has generally ignored the consequences of this action focusing on the dollars that Massachusetts will get for submitting to the bribe, others are concerned with the effect of lowering the standards in Massachusetts. While celebrating gaining the bribes, little has been said about the costs involved with leaving the Massachusetts state standards behind. Every time Massachusetts changes its own standards, schools complain about the costs involved with updating curriculum. Often books and other materials cannot be changed across levels when topics move across grade levels. A book used to teach sixth graders is not going to be age or reading level appropriate for fourth graders and a first grade book, lacks depth for third graders. This requires districts to buy new curriculum. However, states knowing about budget issues can control when curriculum changes. When planning curriculum changes, the DOE can choose to delay implementing changes when the economy does not make changes realistic.

Now in the middle of a very bad economy, the state trades control of its standards for bribes that will not cover these curriculum changes. The bribes are a short-term cover for budget shortfalls. The next time the federal government decides to play with the core curriculum, there is no guarantee that the state will receive any money for curriculum updates.

Massachusetts has a harder curriculum than the core curriculum standards the federal government wants us to adopt. Our testing standards are also higher than those the federal government would like us to adopt. The current attitude developed from Race to the Top is why work harder if we can get more federal money doing less? Well if it were just about money, that might be a sad, but understandable attitude. However, we should be working to improve our curriculum, not making it worse. We want our children getting a better education, not decreasing their opportunities so that we are equal with what children across the country are getting. Why not reach to bring individual state standards up, not force states who have improved their education standards to decrease them to make all educational programs equally bad.

The way to improve education is not to decrease standards and to surrender state control of education to the federal government. When the federal government’s solution to improving education is to lower education standards, it is obvious something is wrong. We need to retain control of our state’s educational system.

Current MA Math Standards

Current MA English Language Arts Standards

MA History and Social Studies Standards Current

MA Science and Technology Standards Current

Federal Common Core Standards







Picture Credits: http://morguefile.com/archive/display/553967

Moonbase Alpha

NASA has released a free video game for download. The premise of the game has astronauts landing on the moon and encountering problems that need repairs. Players than have the challenge of balancing available resources, using problem solving skills to make the repairs, and limited time to make the repairs to ensure survival of the astronauts.

There are single and multiple player options and the site lists computer requirements to play. This is the closest to the moon many students may get with the severe limitations of our space program.


NASA Moonbase Alpha Game


Picture Credit: http://morguefile.com/archive/display/21379

Summer Reading Programs

Summer can be a great time to encourage children to read for fun and to improve reading skills. Many local libraries offer free programs in conjunction with other programs to bring kids into the library during the summer. Book stores often offer programs for children. The Internet has also opened new doors to summer reading programs. A visit to your local library can generally provide you with all the schedules of programs. Many libraries have started posting information on their websites so you can start the search their to see if they have posted any information. If there is a great program going on in another town, find out if they accept outside students. Not all libraries do, but it is worth checking.

I have been trying to find resources for parents who wish to locate summer reading programs for their children. I will list the ones I find. If anyone has any additional programs to suggest or can give me feedback about the ones I have listed I will add that information here.




Reading Programs:

Barnes and Noble Passport to Summer Reading requires students to read eight books, fill out the Passport form, return it to the store and choose one book from their free book selection.

Book Adventureis a Free Program offered through Sylvan Learning. It provides leveled book lists and computer tests that are not unlike programs many kids already use in school to track independent reading comprehension. Parents and students must register in order to access the full benefits of the program using the same e-mail address.

Bookworm Wednesdays Children who write a book report can attend a 10 AM Children's movie at select Showcase Cinemas, Multiplex Cinemas or Cinema de Lux box office for six weeks starting July 7th. Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six receive free admission and do not need to submit a book report.

Borders Double Dog Dare is a challenge program. Children 12 or under can participate. A form needs to be downloaded and filled out. Children read 10 books, list them on the form and return it to the store for a free book. The offer is good until August 26 and children can only pick from selected free books.

Pizza Hut Book It Summer Program

Reading Warriors

Scholastic Summer Challenge offered through Scholastic Books.

Super Why PBS Read-A-Thon July and August program sponsored by PBS.

TD Savings Summer Reading Program Students can earn $10 for new or existing young savers account by reading 10 books, filling out the form and returning it to the bank.



Reading Lists:

Top Ten Summer Reading Lists


Picture Credit: http://morguefile.com/archive/display/186838