Reading Roundup 2013.04.26

Another big reading week. Enjoy!



Watching Movies with the kids is a mixed bag, New York Times, (Apr. 19, 2013)
Still another reason why Starboy doesn't watch TV or movies.


Do e-readers inhibit reading comprehension? Salon (Apr. 14, 2013)


Standardized test questions kids have to answer that don't even count, Washington Post (Apr. 23, 2013)


How my job went from great to infuriating, Washington Post (Apr. 21, 2013)

New Standardized tests feature plugs for commercial products, Washington Post (Apr. 20, 2013)
It was only a matter of time. Bastards.

NCTE Position on machine scoring of standardized tests, National Council of Teachers of English (Apr. 2013)
Hint: They don't like the idea.

5 Benefits of Sportscasting your Child's Struggles, Janet Lansbury (Apr. 25, 2013)
Lovely article. H/T to The Thumbstumbler

10 Things that are More Important than Discipline, Positive Parents (Jul. 19, 2011)
In case you need one more "do this" article on parenting.

What pro-spanking research misses, The Attached Family, (Oct. 2, 2012)
""Spanking kids does not deter behavior. Like beating a dog, it just makes them mean. "



The Curse of Fertilizer, National Geographic (May 2013)

Commuting Wild Dogs on the Subway, The Sun, (Jan 12, 2011)
Totally random.

Vivian Maier documentary in the works, Messy Nessy Chic (Feb. 18, 2013)

Reading Roundup

I've been catching up on my reading. Here are a few things I found interesting.


Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Show
by Sabrina Tavernise, New York Times, Feb. 9, 2012


Tutoring Surges With Fight for Middle School Spots
by Anna M. Phillips, New York Times, Apr. 15, 2012
The gifted kids start doing so well on the tests that they have to re-tool the tests. What a great way for a kid to spend a Saturday: Bubbling in!


Treadmills in the Classroom improve concentration
The Launch Education Blog, Apr. 29, 2011
A special education school installs treadmills and exercise bikes in the math classroom. Stunning results. But what's really stunning, in my opinion, is public education's eagerness to do away with recess.


From Creeping to Leaping the Kindergarten Year—A Montessori Parent's Perspective
by Sarah Richards, MariaMontessori.com, Apr. 26, 2012
A mom explains why she chose Montessori school for her daughter, over public school methods.

Future Schools
educationnext.org
Oh geez, a first grader spending 90 minutes in a computer lab! It's like a factory! In the propaganda, it needs to be photographed black-and-white and jerky, like the movie Metropolis.

And...."customized education" looks like....a call center? If this is what Starboy was facing then I actually would have to seriously consider homeschooling, or a private school. It's bad enough that adults have entire days like this, but students?!


Quality Homework—A Smart Idea
by Annie Murphy Paul, New York Times, Sept. 10, 2011

Thinking about learning

I was just reading a post from SweetGingerMama, a friend of ours from birthing class a few years ago, about her education philosophy. She was homeschooled through 10th grade. She lists benefits to experiencing homeschooling, and they are some we all should envy. They gave me some things to think about.

"I am convinced the sense of safety and security that home school provides in those very early years of development plays a major positive role in building a child's sense of worth and self-confidence."

Technology double-standard

Teacher Tom takes the "limited technology" argument to another level, saying that even though Silicon Valley executives protect their children from technology in the earlier years, they have no problem schilling it to others. Read the full essay here.