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Thursday, January 25, 2007
The Carnival of Education, week 103, is up
This week's Carnival of Education is back at The Education Wonks. There is a large variety of interesting posts.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
From The Liberty Papers - Another reason to homeschool
A google alert this morning led to Another Reason To Homeschool at The Liberty Papers.
The opening line is:
"Why? Because if you miss a parent-teacher conference, you’re guilty of a misdemeanor"
Go here for the full details.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, reason, reason to homeschool, public school
The opening line is:
"Why? Because if you miss a parent-teacher conference, you’re guilty of a misdemeanor"
Go here for the full details.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, reason, reason to homeschool, public school
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth or what is 26 x 31?
A google alert came up saying that Charity, The Crafty Mama, had linked to us today. Curious I jumped over and read her post on Parents Fighting Fuzzy Math. She has a great post on the problems with teaching math in public schools.
Charity linked to a video on fuzzy math. You know it is bad with a TV weather woman takes time out from her job to produce a video on Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth. I watched the fifteen minute video. A large part of the video shows different ways students are taught to multiple 26 times 31. I was amazed, and had a better understanding why so many students entering college can not do basic multiplication and division.
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Technorati tags: math, fuzzy math, public schools, education
Charity linked to a video on fuzzy math. You know it is bad with a TV weather woman takes time out from her job to produce a video on Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth. I watched the fifteen minute video. A large part of the video shows different ways students are taught to multiple 26 times 31. I was amazed, and had a better understanding why so many students entering college can not do basic multiplication and division.
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Technorati tags: math, fuzzy math, public schools, education
Good thought about credit
Bob Thaves, the creator of Frank & Ernest, once said:
"Money talks - but credit has an echo."
As parents teaching our children the basic principles of finance and money management will save them headaches and stress. If they can learn that buying on credit and going into debt only postpones the day of reckoning, then they will be much wiser consumers.
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Technorati tags: money, credit, debt, finance
"Money talks - but credit has an echo."
As parents teaching our children the basic principles of finance and money management will save them headaches and stress. If they can learn that buying on credit and going into debt only postpones the day of reckoning, then they will be much wiser consumers.
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Technorati tags: money, credit, debt, finance
Carnival of Homeschooling, week 56: Fighting the January doldrums
Christine, The Thinking Mother, is hosting the Carnival of Homeschooing this week. She explores this time of year's affect on homeschoolers. There is a large variety of interesting posts. Drop in and enjoy.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Monday, January 22, 2007
What will the future hold for homeschoolers?
I've been mulling over some ideas about what will the future bring for children who have been homeschooled. I don't have any conclusions, but thought others might find these ideas interesting.
Sir Francis Bacon once said "Scientia potentia est" or in English: "knowledge is power." Like many short maxims, this is a generalization, and not true in all situations or settings. For example there is a lot of trivia that may never provide any true benefit.
The point Sir Francis Bacon was making is that knowledge can make a person more effective and more influential. By knowing history a person can see patterns in a current situation. Other people without the knowledge of similar situations may be blind to what is really happening. Someone who has studied chemistry can avoid mixing dangerous chemicals. With any problem, legal, social, business, and so on, knowing about similar problems and having some guidelines gives a person a greater chance of solving the problem.
One of the main points of education is to help children to become capable adults. With knowledge, and hopefully wisdom, our children will be able to handle hard problems and not be overwhelmed when hit with a major crisis. They won't throw up their hands and give up, but buckle down and work on solving the problem.
As a group homeschoolers tend to be dramatically more educated. This is not a couple percentage points more, but closer to an order of magnitude more educated. Some of the studies I've read show that as a group homeschoolers are a full standard deviation better educated.
One does this mean for society? In the past homeschoolers were a very small fraction of the total population. Up until now the percentage of adults who had been homeschooled was much smaller than 1%, in the 1980s it was less than 0.1%. There was very little influence. But currently about 3% of children in American are homeschooled. That means in a couple decades many of the well educated adults will have been homeschooled.
And since knowledge provides power, I believe that as a group homeschoolers will be more influential than the average person.
Another maxim is "There are three types of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wondered what happened."
I believe that a lot of what happens in twenty years will be prompted by homeschoolers.
I think the future will be very interesting.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Sir Francis Bacon once said "Scientia potentia est" or in English: "knowledge is power." Like many short maxims, this is a generalization, and not true in all situations or settings. For example there is a lot of trivia that may never provide any true benefit.
The point Sir Francis Bacon was making is that knowledge can make a person more effective and more influential. By knowing history a person can see patterns in a current situation. Other people without the knowledge of similar situations may be blind to what is really happening. Someone who has studied chemistry can avoid mixing dangerous chemicals. With any problem, legal, social, business, and so on, knowing about similar problems and having some guidelines gives a person a greater chance of solving the problem.
One of the main points of education is to help children to become capable adults. With knowledge, and hopefully wisdom, our children will be able to handle hard problems and not be overwhelmed when hit with a major crisis. They won't throw up their hands and give up, but buckle down and work on solving the problem.
As a group homeschoolers tend to be dramatically more educated. This is not a couple percentage points more, but closer to an order of magnitude more educated. Some of the studies I've read show that as a group homeschoolers are a full standard deviation better educated.
One does this mean for society? In the past homeschoolers were a very small fraction of the total population. Up until now the percentage of adults who had been homeschooled was much smaller than 1%, in the 1980s it was less than 0.1%. There was very little influence. But currently about 3% of children in American are homeschooled. That means in a couple decades many of the well educated adults will have been homeschooled.
And since knowledge provides power, I believe that as a group homeschoolers will be more influential than the average person.
Another maxim is "There are three types of people in the world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wondered what happened."
I believe that a lot of what happens in twenty years will be prompted by homeschoolers.
I think the future will be very interesting.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education
Have you been reading Weapons of Math Destruction?
edspresso has an article on Oak Norton and how he came to create a comic strip called Weapons of Math Destruction. It is a very funny comic strip, in a sad, painful sort of way.
Does anyone know of other comic strips focused on education, or homeschooling?
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Technorati tags: education, Math, Oak Norton, comic
Does anyone know of other comic strips focused on education, or homeschooling?
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Technorati tags: education, Math, Oak Norton, comic
Smog Referee - Part 2
This is a follow up to The Smog Referee.
Well, the visit to the Smog Referee went well. Going to the Smog Referee is much like seeing a doctor at a university teaching hospital. The Smog Referee was the teacher and my van was the patient. A student mechanic spent most of the time just looking at various aspects of the vehicle and looking up information in reference books. Normally, a smog check takes about 20 minutes. The Smog Referee took about an hour and a half. On the bright side, it cost 1/3 of what I was quoted at my local smog check shop before they discovered that they didn't have software recent enough to do the test.
I asked the Smog Referee why he could do the test when the local smog check shop couldn't. His reply, "We can just override the error message given by the software." I took this to mean that because they worked for the government, they had some by-pass code. I wonder if they purposely don't give the local smog shops the code to drum up "patients" for their students.
On the down side, I still had problems getting a licenses for the van. My local DMV couldn't find the fax that the out of state DMV supposedly sent verifying that the van had never been licensed in that state. I called the Hertz dealership where I bought the van. They told me that the local DMV office refused to give them the letter and would only send it directly to my DMV office. I learned that their local DMV said that their state DMV office would mail it to my local DMV office.
So, I returned to my DMV office and told them that they were looking for a letter, not a fax. They still couldn't find it. There is nothing scarier than two government agencies trying to exchange information. However, the local DMV manager took pity and issued me a provisional license anyway. I was told that if a letter didn't arrive in a few days, they would send me a notice rescinding my license plates.
Considering how bad they are at following up, I'm not to worried about that. Later that day, I got a call from Hertz. They had gone back to their DMV office. In the two weeks since I originally requested the verification letter, a new manager took over at their local DMV. This new manager agreed to give the notification letter directly to the dealership. The dealership will overnight the letter to me. So, hopefully, I will be able to finalize the registration sometime in the next few days.
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Related Tags: DMV, Smog Check, Smog Referee, Registering an out of state vehicle
Well, the visit to the Smog Referee went well. Going to the Smog Referee is much like seeing a doctor at a university teaching hospital. The Smog Referee was the teacher and my van was the patient. A student mechanic spent most of the time just looking at various aspects of the vehicle and looking up information in reference books. Normally, a smog check takes about 20 minutes. The Smog Referee took about an hour and a half. On the bright side, it cost 1/3 of what I was quoted at my local smog check shop before they discovered that they didn't have software recent enough to do the test.
I asked the Smog Referee why he could do the test when the local smog check shop couldn't. His reply, "We can just override the error message given by the software." I took this to mean that because they worked for the government, they had some by-pass code. I wonder if they purposely don't give the local smog shops the code to drum up "patients" for their students.
On the down side, I still had problems getting a licenses for the van. My local DMV couldn't find the fax that the out of state DMV supposedly sent verifying that the van had never been licensed in that state. I called the Hertz dealership where I bought the van. They told me that the local DMV office refused to give them the letter and would only send it directly to my DMV office. I learned that their local DMV said that their state DMV office would mail it to my local DMV office.
So, I returned to my DMV office and told them that they were looking for a letter, not a fax. They still couldn't find it. There is nothing scarier than two government agencies trying to exchange information. However, the local DMV manager took pity and issued me a provisional license anyway. I was told that if a letter didn't arrive in a few days, they would send me a notice rescinding my license plates.
Considering how bad they are at following up, I'm not to worried about that. Later that day, I got a call from Hertz. They had gone back to their DMV office. In the two weeks since I originally requested the verification letter, a new manager took over at their local DMV. This new manager agreed to give the notification letter directly to the dealership. The dealership will overnight the letter to me. So, hopefully, I will be able to finalize the registration sometime in the next few days.
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Related Tags: DMV, Smog Check, Smog Referee, Registering an out of state vehicle
We've participated in another carnival
Carnivals are a good way to get some exposure for your blog.
We submitted Janine's post about The Smog Referee to the Carnival of Wheels, a blog carnival about cars. The Carnival of Wheels this week is hosted by The Garage. The Garage also has a post that Original Sixties Batmobile to hit the Auction Block. Back in the 70s we use to watch the reruns of Batman after school.
Also over the weekend the Carnival of Family Life #38 was posted at An Island Life. And this month's Carnival of Children's Literature was posted at Big A little a.
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Technorati tags: car, Carnival of Wheels, Batman, Family, Children, Literature
We submitted Janine's post about The Smog Referee to the Carnival of Wheels, a blog carnival about cars. The Carnival of Wheels this week is hosted by The Garage. The Garage also has a post that Original Sixties Batmobile to hit the Auction Block. Back in the 70s we use to watch the reruns of Batman after school.
Also over the weekend the Carnival of Family Life #38 was posted at An Island Life. And this month's Carnival of Children's Literature was posted at Big A little a.
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Technorati tags: car, Carnival of Wheels, Batman, Family, Children, Literature
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Reminder - submissions due in two days
Don't forget to submit a post for the 56th Carnival of Homeschooling. Submissions are due in two days, at 6:00 PM on the 22nd of January.
Christine of The Thinking Mother will be hosting.
Click here for information on how to submit a post.
And start thinking about a submission to Unschooling Voices, a monthly carnival on unschooling.
Here is Joanne's request for submissions. Entries are due before the 1st of February.
And here is more information about Unschooling Voices.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Christine of The Thinking Mother will be hosting.
Click here for information on how to submit a post.
And start thinking about a submission to Unschooling Voices, a monthly carnival on unschooling.
Here is Joanne's request for submissions. Entries are due before the 1st of February.
And here is more information about Unschooling Voices.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Friday, January 19, 2007
A dog definition of a blog
I laughed when I read this:
"For those of you who don't have a blog yet, think of one as a large yellow Labrador: friendly, fun, not all that bright, but constantly demanding your attention."
- David Carr, The New York Times, Jan 15, 2007
(Hat tip: Quotation of the day.)
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Technorati tags: blog, definition
"For those of you who don't have a blog yet, think of one as a large yellow Labrador: friendly, fun, not all that bright, but constantly demanding your attention."
- David Carr, The New York Times, Jan 15, 2007
(Hat tip: Quotation of the day.)
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Technorati tags: blog, definition
A few more from reddit.com - 11 Jan 07
The following were found via reddit.com:
From the Ririan Project are 10 Reasons to Keep A Journal. We have our daughters keep a journal as part of their writing practice.
Donald Latumahina has 5 Reasons Why Doing What You Love can Optimize Your Life.
Would you like to have a Personal Blimp? I hope it works out that they become price affordable and safe.
Trent has 31 ways for Building a Better Blog for 2007.
Want to Improve Memory? Strengthen Your Synapses. Here's How is a technical review of how continuing to challenge your mind and educating yourself will keep your mind sharp. You really are improving your mind when you play Sudoku.
How being organized saves you money points out several different ways that taking the time to plan ahead and be organized can save you time and money.
For teenagers:
Liz Pulliam West, author of Deal with Your Debt, has an article on The best financial advice ever. This would be a good article to review with teenagers.
And Chris Buzzard has a good review on the importance of Saving Early. Compound Interest was once said to be the eighth wonder of the world. If people can learn to use it, rather than be a salve to debt, they'll have much better lives.
13 Things I Wish I Learned in College would also be good to review with teenagers.
One last thing for teenagers, Industry output and employment projections to 2012 is a twenty two page report which may help a teenager find something they love and would also be a good job to try.
Finally, something funny:
If you've never seen the towboat going under a bridge before, check it out.
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Technorati tags: journal, personal blimp, memory, money, college
From the Ririan Project are 10 Reasons to Keep A Journal. We have our daughters keep a journal as part of their writing practice.
Donald Latumahina has 5 Reasons Why Doing What You Love can Optimize Your Life.
Would you like to have a Personal Blimp? I hope it works out that they become price affordable and safe.
Trent has 31 ways for Building a Better Blog for 2007.
Want to Improve Memory? Strengthen Your Synapses. Here's How is a technical review of how continuing to challenge your mind and educating yourself will keep your mind sharp. You really are improving your mind when you play Sudoku.
How being organized saves you money points out several different ways that taking the time to plan ahead and be organized can save you time and money.
For teenagers:
Liz Pulliam West, author of Deal with Your Debt, has an article on The best financial advice ever. This would be a good article to review with teenagers.
And Chris Buzzard has a good review on the importance of Saving Early. Compound Interest was once said to be the eighth wonder of the world. If people can learn to use it, rather than be a salve to debt, they'll have much better lives.
13 Things I Wish I Learned in College would also be good to review with teenagers.
One last thing for teenagers, Industry output and employment projections to 2012 is a twenty two page report which may help a teenager find something they love and would also be a good job to try.
Finally, something funny:
If you've never seen the towboat going under a bridge before, check it out.
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Technorati tags: journal, personal blimp, memory, money, college
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Is High School Football a Public Good? by Jim Fedako
A couple weeks ago Jim Fedako posted on the Ludwig von Mises Institute an article Is High School Football a Public Good? He argues that public schools should not be involved with sports.
One of the big problems with public schools is there is such a conflicting set of ideas on what should happen at school. Many parents want their children to have a traditional academic education; they want their children to learn to read, write, and master arithmetic. Other parents are more concerned with socialization, or sports, or getting their children fed. A few parents are mostly interesting is having a place for their children to go during the day - free babsitting. Some parents want their children to be taught ethics, or a trade, or how to be a good citizen. With so many orthagonal views, it is no wonder that public schools struggle.
Jim Fedako opens his column with:
"Most of us would never think of asking our neighbors to foot a personal bill. We accept responsibility for car and roof repairs as ours alone. In addition, we don't bang on the door across the street in order to demand a contribution towards our children's figure skating lessons, taekwondo classes, etc. That which is consumed or used by our families is to be paid from our pockets — the definition of personal responsibility.
"Now let's change the situation slightly. Instead of a figure skating lesson — the realm of the private good, consider the local public high school football team — the realm of the supposed public good."
He provides a very thought provoking explanation of how public schools should not have sports programs.
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Technorati tags: public school, high school, education, sports, football
One of the big problems with public schools is there is such a conflicting set of ideas on what should happen at school. Many parents want their children to have a traditional academic education; they want their children to learn to read, write, and master arithmetic. Other parents are more concerned with socialization, or sports, or getting their children fed. A few parents are mostly interesting is having a place for their children to go during the day - free babsitting. Some parents want their children to be taught ethics, or a trade, or how to be a good citizen. With so many orthagonal views, it is no wonder that public schools struggle.
Jim Fedako opens his column with:
"Most of us would never think of asking our neighbors to foot a personal bill. We accept responsibility for car and roof repairs as ours alone. In addition, we don't bang on the door across the street in order to demand a contribution towards our children's figure skating lessons, taekwondo classes, etc. That which is consumed or used by our families is to be paid from our pockets — the definition of personal responsibility.
"Now let's change the situation slightly. Instead of a figure skating lesson — the realm of the private good, consider the local public high school football team — the realm of the supposed public good."
He provides a very thought provoking explanation of how public schools should not have sports programs.
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Technorati tags: public school, high school, education, sports, football
Education carnivals
Dr. Homeslice is hosting this week's Carnival of Education.
WhoLearns.com is hosting the Education Carnival this week.
Online University Lowdown is hosting this month's Carnival of Online Education.
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Technorati tags: carnival, education
WhoLearns.com is hosting the Education Carnival this week.
Online University Lowdown is hosting this month's Carnival of Online Education.
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Technorati tags: carnival, education
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Just how squirrelly are homeschoolers? This week's Carnival of Homeschooling
Mam Squirrel at Dewey's Treehouse is hosting this week's Carnival of Homeschooling. She hosts a parent's meeting in weaving all the links together.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Monday, January 15, 2007
Dr. Laura has a blog
So, if you hate Dr. Laura just skip this post.
I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a huge fan but I find that I agree with what she says about 85% of the time and she has been pretty supportive of homeschooling on her radio show.
So here's Dr. Laura's blog.
I liked this post.
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Related Tags: Dr. Laura, Blogging, Breast Cancer
I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a huge fan but I find that I agree with what she says about 85% of the time and she has been pretty supportive of homeschooling on her radio show.
So here's Dr. Laura's blog.
I liked this post.
Women’s Work” SAVES Women’s Lives
Feminism Kills Women: Betty Friedan’s negative view of so-called “women’s work” created a movement that turned family life upside down and wrenched women from their homes. Turns out, women’s work, is the very thing that saves women’s lives!
Research following 200,000 women from nine European countries for an average of over 6 years and 3,423 cases of breast cancer determined that women who exercise by doing the housework can reduce their risk of breast cancer by 30% among the pre-menopausal women and 20% among the post-menopausal women.
“The International authors said their results suggested that moderate forms of physical activity, such as housework, may be more important than less frequent but more intense recreational physical activity in reducing breast cancer risk.” The research is published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.
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Related Tags: Dr. Laura, Blogging, Breast Cancer
A carnival for creative, crafty people
While looking through the list of recent carnivals I saw The Festival of Family Flair and wondered what in the world was this carnival. At first I thought maybe it was just a variation of the Carnival of Family Life. But the description says:
"Flair can be artistry and it can be genius. Crafts, recipes, hacks - share with us all the ways you and your family members have been creative!"
So the focus is different. GNMParents hosted the first Festival of Family Flair a couple days ago. It looks fun.
The Carnival of Family Life is hosted this week by Family Portal.
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Technorati tags: family, life, crafts
"Flair can be artistry and it can be genius. Crafts, recipes, hacks - share with us all the ways you and your family members have been creative!"
So the focus is different. GNMParents hosted the first Festival of Family Flair a couple days ago. It looks fun.
The Carnival of Family Life is hosted this week by Family Portal.
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Technorati tags: family, life, crafts
Homeschool homies
Jess at Captured Thoughts found a funny music video: Homeschool homies.
My wife and I have watched it a couple times.
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Technorati tags: homeschool, homies
My wife and I have watched it a couple times.
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Technorati tags: homeschool, homies
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Reminder for the next Carnival of Homeschooling
The next Carnival of Homeschooling will be hosted at Dewey's Treehouse.
As always submissions are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM PST. Here are the instructions.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
As always submissions are due Monday evening at 6:00 PM PST. Here are the instructions.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Carnival of Homeschooling
Friday, January 12, 2007
Speaking of carnivals - Catholic Homeschool Blog Carnival
This month's Catholic Homeschool Blog Carnival is hosted by Mary Ann Bernard. There is a nice collection of posts.
I only know of three active carnivals on homeschooling:
Carnival of Homeschooling
Unschooling Voices
Catholic Homeschooling
If you know of any other active carnivals on homeschooling, please let me know.
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Technorati tags: carnival, homeschooling, unschooling
I only know of three active carnivals on homeschooling:
Carnival of Homeschooling
Unschooling Voices
Catholic Homeschooling
If you know of any other active carnivals on homeschooling, please let me know.
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Technorati tags: carnival, homeschooling, unschooling
Two carnival on education
I check out the Blog Carnival list of Carnivals fairly often. I surprised to find that in edition to the Carnival of Education, there is now an Education Carnival.
The 101st Carnival of Education is hosted this week by I Thought a Think.
And the very first Education Carnival is hosted by WhoLearns.com. The description for the Education Carnival is: "All about education, online education and distance learning."
EdWonk does a great job of running the Carnival of Education. In large part the Carnival of Homeschooling is modeled after what he has done. I hope the Education Carnival is able to raise to the standard set by The Education Wonks.
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Technorati tags: carnival, education
The 101st Carnival of Education is hosted this week by I Thought a Think.
And the very first Education Carnival is hosted by WhoLearns.com. The description for the Education Carnival is: "All about education, online education and distance learning."
EdWonk does a great job of running the Carnival of Education. In large part the Carnival of Homeschooling is modeled after what he has done. I hope the Education Carnival is able to raise to the standard set by The Education Wonks.
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Technorati tags: carnival, education
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Teaching to the test
This news article from Virginia is a prime example of teaching to the test.
Schools show why Johnny couldn't add
I can understand there being some confusion when students see unfamiliar terms. But, the test scores were dramatically different from the previous year.
If the students understood the math concepts and not just how to get the right answer on a particular test, changes in the test format would not dramatically lower the test result. Answering only 8 problems out of 50 correctly demonstrates that students don’t understand how to use basic math concepts.
This correlates with the findings of a resent literacy study.
NEW STUDY OF THE LITERACY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS:
So, students are being taught how to fill in the right bubble on the right test, but they can’t use math concepts on a different test or in their every day life.
What is the purpose of an education? If we only measure the success or failure of a public, private or homeschool education by test results, we won't really know if the process has been successful.
I'm not against testing entirely. It is one of many ways of evaluating student progress. It is also a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. Even if students score high on a specific standardized test, it doesn't mean they will being able to balance their check book.
Analysis of the Virginia test results revealed some interesting things.
With the previous cumulative style test, students could have a limited grasp on the math skills taught that year and still test well. In other words, on the previous test, very few questions were on grade level. Most of the questions checked more basic math skills taught in the previous years. On the current test, all questions are on grade level. Thus, it is a much harder test and more accurately measure the mastery of that academic year’s material.
I love this last quote from the article.
Translation: Give us time to figure out how to teach to this test.
Here's an idea: Why don't they focus on teaching students math concepts instead of how to fill in the right bubble on a new test. I realize this is easier said than done. However, as long as the focus is scoring well on a particular test, than the focus is NOT on learning to master specific concepts and skills. If students master the concepts, they will score well regardless of the test format and they will be able to use math concepts in every day life.
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Related Tags: standardized testing, teaching to the test, Virginia math scores, public education, private education, homeschooling, testing, Department of Education
Schools show why Johnny couldn't add
BY CATHY GRIMES
January 10, 2007
VIRGINIA MATH SCORES -- Hampton Roads school district officials and teachers think they now have the answer to a question that they've grappled with since August: Why did so many sixth- and seventh-graders fail the state's math tests in 2006, when they had done well on fifth-grade tests only a year or two before?
The answer? Teachers prepared students for one test, but students ended up taking something very different - a test with unfamiliar vocabulary, different concepts and more multistep problems than anything they had seen to date.
"All year, we taught the kids, thinking the sixth- and seventh-grade tests would look like the eighth-grade test, but they didn't," York County school Superintendent Steven Staples said.
I can understand there being some confusion when students see unfamiliar terms. But, the test scores were dramatically different from the previous year.
The results shocked educators and state officials. According to a state analysis released this month, seven of 10 sixth-graders correctly answered 20 items on the 50-question test that they took.Results were worse on the seventh-grade test. Seven of 10 students correctly answered only eight of 50 problems.
If the students understood the math concepts and not just how to get the right answer on a particular test, changes in the test format would not dramatically lower the test result. Answering only 8 problems out of 50 correctly demonstrates that students don’t understand how to use basic math concepts.
This correlates with the findings of a resent literacy study.
NEW STUDY OF THE LITERACY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS:
Twenty percent of U.S. college students completing 4-year degrees – and 30 percent of students earning 2-year degrees – have only basic quantitative literacy skills, meaning they are unable to estimate if their car has enough gasoline to get to the next gas station or calculate the total cost of ordering office supplies, according to a new national survey by the American Institutes for Research (AIR). The study was funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
So, students are being taught how to fill in the right bubble on the right test, but they can’t use math concepts on a different test or in their every day life.
What is the purpose of an education? If we only measure the success or failure of a public, private or homeschool education by test results, we won't really know if the process has been successful.
I'm not against testing entirely. It is one of many ways of evaluating student progress. It is also a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. Even if students score high on a specific standardized test, it doesn't mean they will being able to balance their check book.
Analysis of the Virginia test results revealed some interesting things.
Pyle said part of the problem was a change in the way that students were tested. Previously, students took a cumulative test, measuring what they had learned since sixth grade. Now students take 50-question tests at each grade.
"We're testing more deeply into the content" of each grade, he said.
With the previous cumulative style test, students could have a limited grasp on the math skills taught that year and still test well. In other words, on the previous test, very few questions were on grade level. Most of the questions checked more basic math skills taught in the previous years. On the current test, all questions are on grade level. Thus, it is a much harder test and more accurately measure the mastery of that academic year’s material.
I love this last quote from the article.
Pyle said the 2006 scores were part of "a period of adjustment" as teachers and students got used to the new tests.
Translation: Give us time to figure out how to teach to this test.
Here's an idea: Why don't they focus on teaching students math concepts instead of how to fill in the right bubble on a new test. I realize this is easier said than done. However, as long as the focus is scoring well on a particular test, than the focus is NOT on learning to master specific concepts and skills. If students master the concepts, they will score well regardless of the test format and they will be able to use math concepts in every day life.
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Related Tags: standardized testing, teaching to the test, Virginia math scores, public education, private education, homeschooling, testing, Department of Education
Can you belive this? Children told they can not ride the school bus because they speak English
Three children in Minnesota were riding the bus to school. The bus driver told them that since they spoke English they could not ride the bus home, or ride it ever again. The mother had to come pick them up after school.
In reading the full account, Kids barred from school bus because they spoke English, it makes a little more sense, but only a little. The school district had designated some bus routes for non-English speaking children. The children had been riding a non-English school bus since school started. The school district decided to enforce the separate bus routes on Monday, but didn’t tell parents.
I read things like this and wonder how parents even put up with the public school. The parents are trying to work with the school bureaucracy. It is enough to drive people bonkers.
(Hat tip: reddit.com)
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Technorati tags: school, bus
In reading the full account, Kids barred from school bus because they spoke English, it makes a little more sense, but only a little. The school district had designated some bus routes for non-English speaking children. The children had been riding a non-English school bus since school started. The school district decided to enforce the separate bus routes on Monday, but didn’t tell parents.
I read things like this and wonder how parents even put up with the public school. The parents are trying to work with the school bureaucracy. It is enough to drive people bonkers.
(Hat tip: reddit.com)
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Technorati tags: school, bus
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The Smog Referee
We have an appointment with the Smog Referee. What is a Smog Referee and why would you want to see him? That is a good question.
This is our sad story. A few months ago, our 1985 Club Wagon failed to pass California's new smog requirements. We took advantage of the state's retirement program. They paid us $1000 to junk our van. I got a little choked up when we drove the van to the junk yard to be crushed.
After doing some looking around, we decided to replace our 1985 Club Wagon with another Club Wagon. Because of California's tough emissions requirements, we were worried about buying a used van. Once an older vehicle fails to pass the smog check, often the only thing you can do is retire the vehicle or replace the engine.
Frugal souls that we are, we decided to buy a gently used rental van. My brother who lives in another state works for Hertz car sales, so we were able to get a good deal on a van. For a few hundred dollars more we paid someone to drive it out to us.
Licensing a vehicle from out of state is a bit messy. The California DMV requires a smog check for every such vehicle regardless of how new.
So, I took it down to my local Smog Check place. After trying for fifteen minutes, the mechanic informed me that they didn't have the software compatible with such a new vehicle. I would need to have it smogged at the dealership. So, I called my local Ford dealership. They informed me that they didn't do smog checks and referred me to another Ford dealership about 20 minutes away. After a few more phone calls, I discovered that this dealership couldn't do the smog test either because they also lacked the software.
My next step was to call the DMV. I was hoping they would wave the smog requirement since it is a 2006 vehicle. No such luck. They referred my to the Smog Authority. This was an interesting phone call. The automated answering system listed options like, "For private investigation licensing hit 2, For security licensing hit 3, for....." Option 6 was the Smog Authority.
What kind of state bureaucracy handles both private investigator licensing and smog licensing?
So, once I got to talk to a real person and explained my dilemma, I was informed that I needed to see the Smog Referee. I am not making this up. They gave me another number to call.
After wadding through another answering system, I got to talk to "The Smog Referee." He informed me that they were very busy and it would take over a week to get an appointment. He gave me directions to a parking lot at a local community college with a warning not to be late.
All this to check the emission levels of a vehicle that is almost brand new.
I can't wait to see what a Smog Referee looks like. I'm expecting someone in a blank and white striped shirt with a whistle.
UPDATE: See Smog Referee - Part 2
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Related Tags: Smog Referee
Stuff found via Google Alert
It has been awhile since I posted on some of the treasures I have found via Google Alerts.
Lisa Hendey posted an interview with Sandra Gillmore, author of Mommy Come Home. Sandra has a very strong message, from a religious point of view, that mothers should stay home with their children. She has advice for how to live on one income. And she is very positive about homeschooling. It looks like the interview was originally done back in 2004.
Matthew Dallman writes that Socialization is one of the reasons he is considering homeschooling.
Jay Mathews is a education columnist for the Washington Post. I have a Google Alert set up to notify me whenever his name appears, which normally means he has written a new column. I liked his column Bad Guess on U.S. Future. He opens with:
The two words most likely to make education reporters sigh wearily are "national" and "commission." Those of us who have been doing this for awhile know that many government, business and non-profit groups cannot resist the urge to gather great men and women together frequently to plan our schools' future. The result is almost always a great waste of time and paper.
He goes on to explain that the current well intended efforts by the government are not going to fix the problems with public education. He makes a number of good points.
In his column Innocents in Blogland Jay reports on some suggestions his readers have for education blogs to follow. Most of them were blogs I had not heard of before.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Sandra Gillmore, Mommy Come Home, Socialization, Jay Mathews
Lisa Hendey posted an interview with Sandra Gillmore, author of Mommy Come Home. Sandra has a very strong message, from a religious point of view, that mothers should stay home with their children. She has advice for how to live on one income. And she is very positive about homeschooling. It looks like the interview was originally done back in 2004.
Matthew Dallman writes that Socialization is one of the reasons he is considering homeschooling.
Jay Mathews is a education columnist for the Washington Post. I have a Google Alert set up to notify me whenever his name appears, which normally means he has written a new column. I liked his column Bad Guess on U.S. Future. He opens with:
The two words most likely to make education reporters sigh wearily are "national" and "commission." Those of us who have been doing this for awhile know that many government, business and non-profit groups cannot resist the urge to gather great men and women together frequently to plan our schools' future. The result is almost always a great waste of time and paper.
He goes on to explain that the current well intended efforts by the government are not going to fix the problems with public education. He makes a number of good points.
In his column Innocents in Blogland Jay reports on some suggestions his readers have for education blogs to follow. Most of them were blogs I had not heard of before.
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Technorati tags: homeschooling, homeschool, home school, home education, parenting, children, education, Sandra Gillmore, Mommy Come Home, Socialization, Jay Mathews
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