Learning and Life Skills

New NAEP Math scores for 4th graders show little change since 2007

 
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a program of the Federal Department of Education, released the results of its 2009 national mathematics assessment this week.  Results, when compared to the last test in 2007, show that gains have flattened out for 4th graders, with advances for 8th graders.

This particular assessment focused on mathematics skills, which included an assessment of: number properties and operations; measurement; geometry; data analysis, statistics, and probability; and algebra, according to the DOE's website. 

Parents should visit the website to view the NAEP report results for themselves.  The site provides an interactive graphical presentation of the results, sorted by a variety of criterion.  Interesting to parents may be the analysis by state, ethnic groups, school type, and social economic status.  

Speyer Legacy School Opens in New York for Gifted Pupils - NYTimes.com

 
A new private school, devoted to the needs of gifted students in grades K-2 has opened in New York City.  Reflecting the growing demand for programs specifically for gifted children, and a limited number of seats in gifted public school classes or magnet schools, this private school start-up will cost parents $28,700 per year, the New York Times reports.  Unique to this private school, is its exclusivity - offering openings only to children it deems gifted. 

Admissions will be based on more than an assessment score, and will utilize the ERB, rather than the City's OLSAT - Otis Lennon School Ability Test. This year, 22 students were admitted.  The school is looking for additional space and expects to increase enrollment to 32 for the 2010-11 school year.

Private students going public: Public school districts seeing more transfers -- dailypress.com

Just finished reading this article noting the increase in public school enrollment which they attribute to the down economy. It is reported that both private and home-schooled students are opting into the public school systems at increasing rates over prior years. While I could not extract numbers for homeschooling students separate from private schooled students, one district reported an additional 120 students due to a combination of private and homeschool transfer students.  

It is not surprising given the cost of both a private school tuition and the challenge of living on one income while homeschooling.  Some of the questions I'd like to see answered is how well do these students transition? How long do they stay in the public system?  What will homeschool parents learn that could benefit other homeschoolers in terms of paperwork, documentation, and testing in order to facilitate an easy transition? What are important supports that parents can offer for students who are in the process of transition, or who may need to make the transition in the future?

How are things going in your school district or homeschool community?  Are you noticing the same trends?

Wanting to hear - Can We Do More, Mom? then try Mind Benders

Picture this....a young boy doing his daily school work at his desk.  You're working with him on science. The 'deer in the headlights syndrome' is taking over. (In case you aren't familiar with this syndrome, the symptoms include but are not limited to:  slouched shoulders; head propped up with hand; eyes open but staring off into space, then rolling into the back of the eyelids; excessive, almost debilitating yawns; followed by loud snoring. (only slightly kidding here).   Bottom line - you are losing your student. 

You look at the clock, see that lunchtime is approaching, realize that the brain sitting before you needs to WAKE UP!, and you say something like, "Let's do some of these activities just before we break for lunch."  Miraculously, the half-dead, zombie-like student that slouched before you moments before is now wide-eyed, smiling, and awake.  His pencil is gripped firmly in his hand anticipating the unfolding of the book, and the sound of an enthusiastic, "Whoopee!" fills the air. (still only slightly kidding)

What, you ask, could elicit such a reaction?