Below are just a few books I have found that get children interested in hearing a book read aloud. There are so many. Tap into their interests by selecting books that are age-appropriate. Inspiring children when they are very young to listen to stories and talk about them. It sets the stage for their success in school as well as discovering that books help us learn about people, places and ideas.
Little Critter books all have relatable stories with adorable illustrations to capture a child’s imagination. There are many in this fun series.
Ages 5-8
This book reminds us that we all have days when things don’t go they way we would like. This book comes with cards so your child can practice skills that lead to empowerment. Ages 7-10
Kids of all ages will be enchanted by Stroganoff, the mini-moxie who models good manners.
For ages 9-12 this true tale of orphaned otter pups comes from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Captivating true stories that include science and history.
So many tourists visit our little town, and not just during the summer. The roughed coast of California offers sights that visitors from other areas seldom, if ever, see. I live in a place that is an escape for many. Being a desirable vacation destination means it gets unusually crowded with tourists on holidays. The rest of the time it is peaceful and quiet.
Up the coast we have a viewing site for elephant seals, and if you look up into the nearby hills, you will see Hearst Castle, where zebras, cows and llamas roam the area.
Having lived in the high desert for too long, the 27 years I have been on the Central Coast have given me a firm belief that being near the ocean restores body and mind. I am grateful to be lulled to sleep by the waves. Some nights I can hear the seals on the rocks. It’s a beautiful place to live. I never take it for granted.
Children will own the names you call them. Choose your words carefully. This is good advice for teachers, but especially important that parents know this too. They are a child’s first teacher. Call them scholars, call them friends, call them writers, call them mathematicians, call them scientists, call them teachers, call them helpers, call them readers, call them thinkers, call them loved.
Call them scientistscall them readerscall them writersCall them helpersCALL THEM MATHEMATICIANSCALL THEM FRIENDSCALL THEM SCHOLARS
A book I highly recommend to build a child’s confidence.
Standardized testing requirements are designed to hold teachers, students, and schools accountable for academic achievement and to incentivize improvement. They provide a benchmark for assessing problems and measuring progress, highlighting areas for improvement.
Despite these key benefits, standardized academic achievement tests in US public schools have been controversial since their inception. Major points of contention have centered on who should design and administer tests (federal, state, or district level), how often they should be given, and whether they place some school districts at an advantage or disadvantage. More critically, parents and educators have questioned whether standardized tests are fair to teachers and students.
Standardized testing requirements are designed to hold teachers, students, and schools accountable for academic achievement and to incentivize improvement. They provide a benchmark for assessing problems and measuring progress, highlighting areas for improvement.
Despite these key benefits, standardized academic achievement tests in US public schools have been controversial since their inception. Major points of contention have centered on who should design and administer tests (federal, state, or district level), how often they should be given, and whether they place some school districts at an advantage or disadvantage. More critically, parents and educators have questioned whether standardized tests are fair to teachers and students.
Standardized tests are thought to be fair because every student takes the same test and evaluations are largely objective, but a one-size-fits-all approach to testing is arguably biased because it fails to account for variables such as language deficiencies, learning disabilities, difficult home lives, or varying knowledge of US cultural conventions. (https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/effects-of-standardized-testing)
With a few of these disadvantages in mind, there are alternatives for standardized testing that have been pulled together by experts:
Sampling: administering standardized tests to a random sample of students, instead of all students every year
Stealth Assessments: another way to collect reading and math scores; digital programs that students complete throughout the year in order to show progress over time
Multiple Measures: collecting other data in order to track student progress, rather than relying on one standardized test
The overemphasis on testing has led many teachers to eliminate projects and activities that provide students with an opportunity to be creative and imaginative, and scripted curriculum has become the norm in many classrooms. There is nothing creative or imaginative about filling in a bubble sheet for a multiple choice test. Students are so tired of prepping for and taking standardized test that some have protested by dressing up like zombies to protest — and thousands of families are opting their children out of taking high-stakes exams.
Every student is a unique individual with their own talents and abilities. The standardized testing regime fails to recognize the importance of individual achievement in education and instead uses a “cookie cutter” approach to learning that ignores students’ individual interests and abilities.
When I was a little girl I wanted to be an airline stewardess (that’s what they were called back then). I had dreams of seeing the world, living in fancy hotels, and wearing a cute uniform. Sometimes things are not as glamourous as the seem. As an adult I learned that getting an education would be a better choice and lead to a career, not just a job. I started my educational journey slowly by taking a few classes at the community college. I was intimidated and fearful that I would not be able to overcome my long held hatred of math. A wonderful teacher with patience and a gentle way of infusing laughter into his lessons helped me pass many tests (Thank you, Mr. Longshore). He undid the damage done by my 7th grade teacher who told me, ” You know Blondie, don’t ever go into anything that has to do with math or thinking.” A speech teacher helped me overcome anxiety about speaking up. She encouraged me to get up in front of the class and do a role reversal with my son (Thank you, Margie Milroy). From that community college experience I went on to CSUSB and took classes in Liberal Studies in preparation for a teaching credential. I learned how quickly a quarter can fly by. I worked hard to get through classes, and received my Bachelor’s degree. Thank goodness for Chapman University opening a satellite campus close to my home so I didn’t have to drive Cajon Pass anymore. I remember carpooling with a friend when her brakes went out and we had to take the runaway truck ramp. With pain, sweat, tears, and a fear of downhill driving, I earned a teaching credential. The greatest achievement in this whole journey was earning a Masters degree from Cal Poly and another credential in Special Education. I would have pursued a doctorate but after paying off student loans, I decided that I would rather spend money on my beautiful grandchildren and traveling. It is never too late to change course and go after a dream.
