CCSS - Friend or Foe?

I have been asked about the Common Core State Standards by two different people in two days so I am guessing others (once again) are thinking about them. Good! They should definitely have you thinking (and running!). 

For those of you looking into what is aligned and what is not aligned I HIGHLY recommend you look at the amazing research done by Tina Hollenbeck over at the Homeschool Resource Road Map site:  http://www.hsroadmap.org/

More specifically the page you want is:  http://www.hsroadmap.org/common-core-project/

Remember that older materials can be a real friend here. While a publisher may have recently aligned their materials the materials that are 5+ years old will not be. Buying or renting used can not only save you money but help you stay away from CCSS aligned materials. Using these used materials will also no longer financially support the publisher if that is an issue for you. 

In all honesty my bigger concern is not the CCSS materials themselves - it is the testing that is being implemented along with the CCSS. 

The CCSS materials are being widely panned because they truly are horrible. Yet, the invasive, horrible testing will probably never go away once it is established. 

If you are of a mind to fight CCSS - please do so! But please, please, fight the testing far harder than the admittedly bad materials. Fads in education have a 10-12 year life cycle but invasions of our privacy last forever. The testing will, I fear, last forever if we allow it to become established. 

To read more about it please read: 

https://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/tag/data-mining/

http://www.occupy.com/article/exposed-how-murdoch-bill-gates-and-big-corporations-are-data-mining-our-schools

Educational Alternatives in Your Backyard

Educational Alternatives in Your Backyard

WHEN Monday, January 26, 2015, 7 – 9pm WHERE Barrington Area Library EVENT DETAILS “Educational Alternatives in Your Backyard,” Monday, January 26 at the Barrington Area Library. Presenters include: • Marla Thoma from Creative Learning Montessori School (Montessori education) • Kathy Matlin from Da Vinci Waldorf School (Waldorf education) • Dawn Kapka from St. Anne’s School (Parochial education) • Kathy Wentz (Homeschooling). Public education has changed drastically since today’s parents were in school--even in the “best” school districts. Class sizes used to be smaller, suicide and mental health diagnoses were much less common, and teachers were able to teach from their own passions, not bound by a test-driven curriculum. There was more time in the school day for recess, and more room in the curriculum for the arts, thereby addressing both the needs (play, movement, and being outdoors) and the interests (music, art, drama) of more children. Children were able to come home and play and still get a healthy amount of sleep, because homework expectations were reasonable. These changes, as well as their children’s lack of enthusiasm, or downright aversion, to school have prompted more and more parents to wonder about alternatives to traditional public school. As part of School Choice Week (January 25-31, 2015), a number of schools in the Barrington area have put together a presentation and panel discussion called “Educational Alternatives in Your Backyard,” Monday, January 26 at 7:00 pm at the Barrington Area Library. Presenters include: • Marla Thoma from Creative Learning Montessori School (Montessori education) • Kathy Matlin from Da Vinci Waldorf School (Waldorf education) • Dawn Kapka from St. Anne’s School (Parochial education) • Kathy Wentz (Homeschooling). This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is appreciated. Please contact Susan Love:slove@davinciwaldorf.org or (847)526-1372.

Chicago Free Museum Days for 2015

The schedule is up! Please visit Christine Trevino's blog to see it.


Image taken from Christine Trevino's web page and
provided to her by mharrison via freeimages.com. 

http://www.christinetrevino.com/2015/01/02/free-chicago-museum-days-2015/

Looking for an Advent Calendar?

Look no further!

Tons of Curriculum So Come on Over!

FRAPER

Looking for "a little something" for a "little someone"?  Well, if you love math games here is one of my favorites. Great simply as practice putting fractions in order from smallest to largest it is also terrific for a quick game of Rummy, Old Maid or Go Fish.  Enjoy!

Last Call for Crystal Lake Park District Classes!

Class ID

Class Description

Open

Enroll

Wait

Dates

Days/Times

Location

Age

Resident

Non-Res

4243-1

Home School Karate

9

6

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

4-7 years

$ 29.00

$ 32.00

12/18/14

11:30am to 12:00pm

No class on 11/27

4243-2

Home School Arts and Crafts Programs

11

4

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

4-7 years

$ 35.00

$ 38.00

12/18/14

9:30am to 10:30am

No class on 11/27

4243-3

Home School Math and Science Club

14

1

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

8-16 years

$ 46.00

$ 49.00

12/18/14

2:00pm to 3:00pm

No class on 11/27

4243-4

Home School Pen and Mouse

8

7

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

6-18 years

Multiple

Multiple

12/18/14

10:30am to 12:00pm

No class on 11/27

4243-5

Home School Karate

13

2

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

8-18 Years

$ 58.00

$ 61.00

12/18/14

12:00pm to 1:00pm

No class on 11/27

4245-2

Home School Math and Science Club

12

3

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

7-10 years

$ 46.00

$ 49.00

12/18/14

3:00pm to 4:00pm

No class on 11/27

4245-3

Home School Computer Illustration

15

0

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

8-16 years

$ 60.00

$ 63.00

12/18/14

12:00pm to 1:00pm

No class on 11/27

4245-4

Home School Dance

14

1

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

4-9 years

$ 45.00

$ 48.00

12/18/14

2:00pm to 2:45pm

No class on 11/27

4245-5

Home School Dance

15

0

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

10-18 Years

$ 45.00

$ 48.00

12/18/14

2:45pm to 3:15pm

No class on 11/27

4245-6

Home School Karate

14

1

0

11/06/14

TH

Rotary Building

8-18 Years

$ 58.00

$ 61.00

12/18/14

1:00pm to 2:00pm

No class on 11/27

I hope you join me!

The Cure for the Math Curse

Math, the subject most of us freak out about the fastest. How can we ensure our children LOVE math and are good at it when we don't like it ourselves? Learn how to break the mold of math anxiety by breaking the bad teaching habits that create it, and learn new ways of approaching math to replace the old fear-inducing habits.

Where: The Huntley Area Public Library

When: Tuesday October 21st from 6 - 8 pm

Who: adults and older teens

How: Please call to register at the Children's Desk: 847-669-5386 extension 26

Cost: Free! 

The Story of One

I have long loved this documentary. Now it can be live streamed along with hundreds of other documentaries. I even found a few others I haven't watched and that look interesting!

Where do you spend your time?