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Capital Region BOCES
Archive for 2015
A growing number of parents and caregivers – including some teachers, school administrators and state legislators – will instruct their children to refuse to participate in the battery of standardized tests administered in schools across the country this spring. Depending who you talk to, standardized testing is either a useful measure of student growth or […]
In January, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his executive budget proposal for 2015, including more than $1 billion in additional state aid for schools. A billion dollars could really help schools and students around the state. But wait. That promised pile of money comes with serious strings attached. The governor also requested more control over failing […]
“Let them eat cake!” my 10-year-old son proclaimed recently at dinner. “Marie Antoinette never said that,” his sister, 16, replied. The boy, who had heard the quote in the movie “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” asked her to explain. “It’s a myth,” she said. “Everyone attributes the quote to Marie Antoinette, but she never said it.” […]
My son was mad. Steaming mad. Screaming mad. “I hate everything,” he roared. “It’s not fair!” I could feel my own frustration rising. He had a point, but in my opinion he was overreacting. How could this child who was so capable of having rational conversation be suddenly so irrational? We may find it unsettling […]
Some of the most important lessons students learn aren’t found in textbooks. They come from life experiences – in the classroom, with family and out in the real world. As parents, we want our children to succeed. Equipping them with life skills now will better prepare them to navigate their school years and beyond. Which […]
The recipe card is spotted with dried flour, its edges curled and some ink slightly blurred from water spilled or splashed. It has traveled, stuffed with others in a wooden box, through three moves over the last 20 years, and it carries with it a treasure-trove of memories. It’s a simple recipe: soft pretzels. The […]
An increasing number of measles cases reported in the United States has health officials urging parents to vaccinate their children and be aware of the disease’s symptoms. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a public health alert in late January after a spike in U.S. cases. The CDC attributed the increase to […]
Thousands will gather in Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 2, Groundhog Day, to watch as the world’s most famous weather wizard makes his annual prediction. As he emerges from his burrow, television stations around the world will broadcast his movements. According to tradition, after Phil emerges from his burrow on Feb. 2, he speaks […]
Reading and writing are necessary for learning, but children sometimes struggle as they attempt to conquer literacy skills. It’s a battle that can take a toll in the long-term: Research shows that students who read significantly below grade level in third grade typically struggle throughout their school years and have a greater likelihood of dropping […]