main content starts here

Archive for January, 2014

Get ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count

Get ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count

January 31, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

My kids still talk about the yellow-bellied sapsuckers that nested in our trees in the summer of 2011, and the Eastern Screech Owl that perched still as stone on the peak of the shed roof for almost 30 minutes one day before flying off. We love to watch the birds in our backyard. They are […]

The deal with data

January 31, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

It’s one of the acronyms tossed about in education: DDI, or data-driven instruction. At the heart of DDI is, obviously, data. In the eyes of some, data – or its collection – is seen as invasive. But the word data means, simply, information. And for school districts, data can provide a wealth of information to […]

Navigating college financial aid forms

January 31, 2014 | Posted in: High School

It was just before Christmas when I got the call at work. “Mom, I got in.” It was my senior daughter, and her voice filled with emotion as she relayed how she had learned online that she had “early action” acceptance – a non-binding decision – to her top college choice. She was excited and […]

Super fun during the big game

January 31, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners, Elementary, High School, Middle Years

Whether you love football or are more entertained by the commercials, chances are you’re planning to spend some time in front of the television during Sunday night’s Super Bowl game. Add some fun – and learning – to the experience to keep younger audience members (and even those adults who aren’t really into the game) […]

Graduation: Focusing on the endgame

Graduation: Focusing on the endgame

January 14, 2014 | Posted in: High School, Middle Years

It’s a serious problem. Every year, nearly one-third of high school students across the nation will not graduate – that’s more than 1.2 million students a year. In New York State, the numbers are better, with 74 percent of students graduating. But those numbers aren’t nearly good enough, not for the children whose opportunities are […]

A good start at learning pays dividends toward graduation

A good start at learning pays dividends toward graduation

January 14, 2014 | Posted in: Early Learners

It’s a serious problem. Every year, nearly one-third of high school students across the nation will not graduate – that’s more than 1.2 million students a year. In New York State, the numbers are better, with 74 percent of students graduating. But those numbers aren’t nearly good enough, not for the children whose opportunities are […]

A dropout risk in first grade?

A dropout risk in first grade?

January 14, 2014 | Posted in: Elementary

It’s a serious problem. Every year, nearly one-third of high school students across the nation will not graduate – that’s more than 1.2 million students a year. In New York State, the numbers are better, with 74 percent of students graduating. But those numbers aren’t nearly good enough, not for the children whose opportunities are […]

Rescuing the at-risk middle school student

Rescuing the at-risk middle school student

January 14, 2014 | Posted in: Middle Years

It’s a serious problem. Every year, nearly one-third of high school students across the nation will not graduate – that’s more than 1.2 million students a year. In New York State, the numbers are better, with 74 percent of students graduating. But those numbers aren’t nearly good enough, not for the children whose opportunities are […]