Dear Parents:
Calling All Neurons!

The Prelude The results of NAEP 2024 (National Assessment of Educational Progress-otherwise known as the ‘Nation’s Report Card) for grades 4, 8 and 12 are now available. The 2024 scores provide nationwide information in the areas of reading, mathematics, and grade 8 science. For the purposes of this article, I focus only on the reading portion of the assessment. A Flurry of Responses Of course, a bunch of articles appeared just following the release of the latest reading scores. Author Natalie Wexler stated the scores “triggered a tsunami of dismay”. Dana Goldberg of the NY Times wrote, “the poor…

Most recently, the release of the new NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress–often thought of as the Nation’s Report Card) scores reveals that our nation’s 4th and 8th graders’ reading and math scores remain dismal and have not risen since the past administration in 2022. The aftermath of the pandemic is real and our nation’s children have not recovered. 69-71% of our nation’s 4th and 8th graders achieved reading scores below what would be considered ‘proficient’. Math scores are hardly better, particularly for the nation’s 8th graders. This pains me greatly. I had planned on writing about the NAEP,…

Recently, I came upon a “not infrequently” posed question from a teacher on behalf of a ‘distraught parent’: “I work with a student whose parent was distraught after seeing the results of routine mid-year screening. As one can imagine, this student did poorly on the screening and reportedly has been diagnosed with dyslexia. The parent wanted to know “what could be done at home in the form of an app or workbook” to improve this student’s reading. Can you provide suggestions?” 100% of the time I see a question like this (as I fulfill my volunteer role as a…

Each year on December 21, 22, or 23, darkness envelops Earth’s Northern Hemisphere for a bit longer than normal. While what we now know to be the winter solstice has a straightforward astronomical explanation, early myths of why the solstice takes place also share insights into early civilizations’ steps into science.Science ATL Image by Tom Fisk from Pexels Why YOU Want to Know About Winter Solstice? I’m choosing to write about Winter Solstice this month because it’s important for all of us, adults and kids alike, to S…L…O…W down and pay some attention to the environment around us this…

What is GRATITUDE? Gratitude is far more than being simply ‘thankful’. According to Brian Tracy, a Canadian-American motivational speaker, these are the “4 A’s of Gratitude”: Appreciation: Expressing gratitude for people and things in your life Approval: Praising and giving approval for ideas, suggestions, and reasonable effort  Admiration: Complimenting people on their accomplishments and traits Attention: Listening to others with patience, thoughtfulness, and without interrupting Professor Andrea Hussong of The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, believes in the NOTICE-THINK-FEEL-DO method of practicing gratitude: Notice what you have in your life or has come into your life, no matter how small. Think about why you…

The new school year is now pretty well underway, so many students have been screened, tested, assessed–whatever your child(ren)’s school(s) wish to call it. Getting the results, as well as the ‘plans’ for literacy instruction can be confusing–if not a bit overwhelming. You will likely receive, or have received, paperwork with these terms, as well as numbers. And it is the time of year when many schools are holding Parent-Teacher Conferences. So, let me pave the road to make these terms easier for you to understand and help your child(ren)’s teacher(s) to navigate. Read on. Image by Adii from…