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Understanding & Enhancing Comprehension – (Part II)
Last week's post introduced concepts related to reading comprehension. (Enhancing Reading Comprehension: Part I) As previously noted, comprehension is an interactive process. The interaction involves ideas, concepts, images, background experience, fund of knowledge,...
14,600 Screen Hours Logged In
When you work with kids, you can't help but reflect on the state of childhood, parenting, society and their intersection. This week's musing started with an article that I read talking about parents concerned about their children (i.e., boys) addiction to a video game...
The Pacing of Things
Sometimes it’s not easy being a kid. This is especially true if your brain works at a pace that is qualitatively different (i.e., slower) than the other kids around you or than the expectations that are being put upon you. Take Jordan, a 10 year old fourth grader. ...
Challenging & “Opposite Children”: Part II – “Off With Their Heads”
Last week we talked about a young girl, Olivia, an 8 year old who was extraordinarily demanding in her style, with the image of her mom as a nervous servant desperately trying to please her. (see, "Off With Their Heads"). We talked about two groups of kids. The...
“Off With Their Heads,” Screamed the Queen
“I guess I really messed this up,” said Jennifer, the mom of an 8 year old child who was extremely difficult and challenging. The kid, Olivia, was one of those kids who melted down when she didn’t get what she wanted. With the slightest bit of frustration or...
Assessment Basics – Part III
In the last two blog posts we discussed some of the basics considerations with regards to assessment (Assessment Basics Part I Assessment Basics Part II). Among the points included: Longer, more complicated reports are not necessarily better. Assessment reports...
Assessment Basics – Part II
Last week we talked about assessment and my view that there is often endless and unnecessary complication when it comes to assessing kids and their issues (Assessment Basics). To help assess kids' weaknesses in the classroom, there is now a easy grader system which...
Assessment: The Basics
It's that time of year. That time when we sense the summer fading and the press of the fall (the school year). Since so many of you have questions about what is involved with assessment, I am to lay it out for you with basic food for thought regarding the essential...
Homework (and School) Hidden Agenda
Nine year old Lucas hates his homework. On a fairly regular basis he meltdowns over any assignment that might take more than about 10 minutes to complete. Whining constantly, rolling around on the floor, crying and sobbing are part of the nightly rituals...
Mickey Mouse & His Too Soon Powers
Perhaps you’ve seen the Disney movie Fantasia, a cartoon movie from the 1940’s comprised of different shorts. One of them was the famous story of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” Mickey Mouse, as the apprentice, discovers the sorcerer’s magic powers and is delighted to...
My Worksheet Obsession
I try and find my weekly inspiration from my interactions as they happen from parents and kids. This week’s comes from a seven year old second grader, Jonah, who told me he was not a big fan of school. In fact, he was clear in stating that he “hated it.” I pressed...