While this book doesn't have lots of examples for each type of problem, it is perfect for a tutor (or a mom/dad) to use with an academically gifted stWhile this book doesn't have lots of examples for each type of problem, it is perfect for a tutor (or a mom/dad) to use with an academically gifted student or a student that is up for a challenge. Pick a problem and use it for a little warm up to start your session. You may have to give hints or walk him/her through it, but it is great for stretching and honing problem solving skills! I like to put 1 problem on an index card instead of cracking open a book because most kids don't like the feeling that they may be doing problems from a book for an hour. I usually have a couple problems on several index cards if the student reacts well to the problem. It is good to mix up activities while tutoring for middle school and lower grades. Moms and Dads, you can memorize a question or 2 and throw it out to your kids when running errands or otherwise trapped in the car. Get your kids thinking!! Problem solving skills are critical! Even better if they can solve it in their head!...more
3.5 I listened to this audiobook a couple of months ago, but was busy and forgot to write a review. Author Joshua Foer decides to train for memory compe3.5 I listened to this audiobook a couple of months ago, but was busy and forgot to write a review. Author Joshua Foer decides to train for memory competitions and write a book about his experiences and how memory works. He details how competitors remember vast amounts of information. It was interesting, but I find I cannot remember the techniques. Maybe I should consider a memory improvement book.
Disclaimer: Just because I gave this book 4 stars does not mean I agree with the author's conclusions. It does mean that I find the topic fascinating Disclaimer: Just because I gave this book 4 stars does not mean I agree with the author's conclusions. It does mean that I find the topic fascinating the author's stories about students easy to read and interesting.
The author, Amanda Ripley, compares/contrasts teaching models in various countries and the success of those models as indicated by the complex PISA Exam.
Just a couple of weeks ago the latest results of the PISA Exam were released and the American kids were found wanting. I did a search to find just who in America takes the exam and could not find much info. I do know that my son never took the exam, nor any of his friends at the high performing school he attended.
In the United States we have many schools where almost all the students do very well, and then we have those schools marked by high absenteeism where students perform poorly on all standardized tests. We have schools that are in between those extremes. Frankly I see that in the county I live in. I have my own theories on the discrepancies between schools and between individual students.
While Ripley does gather data from various places, what makes her book interesting is the anecdotal portions. She interviews and presents several exchange students and gets their take on their experiences. So let me tell you one of my experiences and see if you can conclude something about our educations system.
When my son was in the 3rd grade (1st year for county assessments/SOL style testing) I volunteered to help with some testing prep. The teacher gave me 5 students, each with booklets opened to the page with the answers to my questions about native American dwellings. Four of the children were fully engaged and knew to look on the page for help answering my questions. I asked the one quiet student a question and he said he did not know the answer. After I prompted him to look at the page, he said, "I do not know and I do not care."
My question to the education eggheads is why did Hamza (yes that is his real name) not care and what kind of impact will that have on his education and life?
It seemed to me that the exchange student in Ripley's book from Oklahoma had attended school with mostly unmotivated students like Hamza.
Students can me unmotivated for various reasons, but I think that for a very long time most Americans have felt they could skate through school, get a high school diploma and that they would be able to get a job that would allow them to live in a comfortable enough manner.
Many students have seen that girls can have babies and live off of government money. I don't think they realize it is not all that comfortable.
Today we have a high number of children born into fatherless homes. While that group is not responsible for all problems in schools, the situation is a huge obstacle. Even if it is not a case of children raising children, it is a case of the unprepared attempting to juggle too many responsibilities. Those children grow up and often repeat the mistakes of their mothers and fathers.
The author is a supporter of Common Core (I am not). She asserts that states and localities will set substandard goals if permitted. She seemed to think that if the feds set the standards, the students will rise to the challenge. While that may be true for some, it is not likely for large numbers of unmotivated students.
A couple of years ago there was an article in the paper about truancy of early elementary students in Richmond City Schools. So the schools sent people out to find why these 5, 6, and 7 year olds were missing so much school. For the most part the kids were home watching TV while Mom was in bed.
Yesterday in the paper there was an article about a very smart well spoken UVA graduate (the top school in Virginia)that had taken a job in an economically depressed area that she was from. Her job was to work with the high school students and help them to prepare for and take the SAT/ACT. It didn't take her long to conclude that she would have to talk them into taking the test, pay the fee for them when she signed them up, wake them up on time and arrange transportation to the testing site, as well as provide materials needed while testing.
So when the feds are busy setting goals for the above children, I hope they are also arranging for a responsible adult that is going to personally see to it on an individual basis.
I do agree with the author that most children are coddled, handed undeserved trophies, and passed along through the education system. For many students there are no immediate consequences for not learning and mastering material. Even when some of these students earn D's and F's, there is no push from home.
I do agree with the author's assertion that students need to do well in math and that student's ability with math is a good indicator of their future educational success. All parents should know that! I do think that the ability to read well is just as important.
Another reviewer of this book posted some interesting links to The Daily Howler refuting Ripley's work that are well worth reading:
I do think this book will make for an interesting discussion in book club next month and I hope everyone reads it and the thoughts from The Daily Howler....more
If you are interested in what influences the behavior of children, you may find this book very interesting.
This is another book that referenced the stIf you are interested in what influences the behavior of children, you may find this book very interesting.
This is another book that referenced the study by Dr. Carol Dweck that praised one group of children for being smart and another for their effort. Those praised for their effort were willing to take a risk and rose to meet challenges.
Praise must be specific and sincere. Students who are not doing well are often praised, but this praise must be directed on what they are doing right. Criticism can be beneficial if given in a kind and loving way--lift the bar higher.
All around the world children are not getting enough sleep and it does effect their ability to learn, their sense of well being, and the obesity rate. Parent up and make your kid go to bed early on school nights!
Working parents won't like this, but high schools should start later than elementary and middle schools. Teenagers' biological clock keeps them up later at night and in need of sleep later in the morning.
I found the chapter on honesty fascinating. Most parents I know put a high value on honesty, but the author shows it doesn't take much temptation to break the will of young children. Also most strategies to promote truthfulness encourages kids to be better liars. Read the sad statistics in this book.
One study did find a successful strategy for encouraging truthfulness. One group of children heard the story of the boy who cried wolf (increased lying) and the other about George Washington chopping down the cherry tree and owning up to it. After George told the truth, his father praised him and this had a positive effect on that group.
If you are proud of your child because she/he is popular, you might need to know that mean kids are the ones that are popular and well-liked. Also there is a correlation between popularity and alcohol use.
Find out why your teenagers argue with you--and that it may not be such a bad thing after all.
Learn why you may not want your children watching those family shows that teach good family values.
Learn about language development in babies/toddlers and what parent behaviors increase that development.
Some take aways from this book:
Parents who are the most consistent in enforcing rules are also are the most warm and have more conversations with their children.
Instead of pestering your children with general messages like, "Don't drink or do drugs," teach them how to have good clean fun in their free time. Teach them how to entertain themselves.
Also, if you are going to start an argument with your spouse in front of your children, you better let them see the resolution.
Several months ago someone at book club said that her daughter(Marie) recommended this book so her mother would understand her better.
I was surprisedSeveral months ago someone at book club said that her daughter(Marie) recommended this book so her mother would understand her better.
I was surprised to learn Marie is introverted because I wrongly assumed that anyone that looks like a model would find it easy and enjoyable to mix with everyone.
I was thinking that introverted meant "shy". Introversion/extroversion has more to do more with where you get your energy from.
When you are out with groups, does that drain or energize you? Do you get your energy from being alone and considering ideas or things; if so you may be more of an introvert.
Keep in mind that introversion/extroversion is not an absolute, but is more like a continuum.
I have found after listening to the audiobook, I do understand my son much better. He doesn't like idle chit chat, even when we are trapped in the car together. He does enjoy thoughtful conversation that has a connection to his life. I am learning to respect our differences.
I also learned about myself. Even though I am mostly extroverted, I count on those times with my books, audiobooks, and other quiet activities.
Before I travel, I am obsessed with figuring out how I am going to find that alone time for myself--but this is the first time I have ever admitted that. I can't go anywhere without knowing that I will be able to entertain my mind with good books, my computer, etc.
Susan Cain covers many topics that concern introversion. Watch this clip to get a feel for her book:
James E. Ryan crunches statistics from studies and compares the educational opportunities at two vastly different schools only 5 miles apart in centraJames E. Ryan crunches statistics from studies and compares the educational opportunities at two vastly different schools only 5 miles apart in central Virginia. Freeman High School (I have been there a multitude of times as a basketball ref and as a Homebound Teacher)is in western Henrico County and Thomas Jefferson High School (not only have I never been there, I don't even know its location) is in Richmond City.
Ryan uses the test scores and other factors to show a huge difference in the success of students in suburban school districts and city school districts.
Few would contradict the author's findings that schools are largely still segregated even though 50 years ago the Supreme Court ruled in Brown V Board of Education that separate is not equal. Not only do schools tend to segregate along racial lines, but they also separate socioeconomically.
Ryan does a good job of chronicling how school systems were and are able to skirt the requirement to integrate. The white flight from the city has left most city school systems with a very large percentage of minority students. Suburban schools have been able to bar nonresidents from attending their schools; Henrico County Schools are financed by the residents of that county and serve those people.
Generally speaking, most families (suburban and city) do not wish to put their children on a 45 minute bus trip twice each day. So few parents are lobbying for that option as a solution.
Ryan did cite the Chapter 220 plan in Milwaukee where magnet schools or schools with specialty centers where able to attract students to the city from different school systems, and some city kids went to surrounding systems--but the actual exchange of students was very limited. I do think this plan is a good idea that few could disagree with because students and their parents had to "volunteer" to participate and sit on the bus for an extended time.
Interestingly enough, Ryan found that city schools are funded more per pupil than suburban schools.
Ryan also found that when city students attended suburban schools they learned more and that the suburban students did not suffer any consequences. I would agree with that to some degree, but there must be a tipping point with the number of students in poverty where teachers are unable to teach as much because students (regardless of race) with lower abilities can not learn as quickly.
Ryan tried to find why city students do not learn as much as their suburban counterparts. But he did not dig too deep. It is obvious to me that (regardless of race) students with successful parents will generally be able to better motivate their kids than very young single moms that are drifting through life. While we can't legislate who and when people can have children, more can be done to encourage responsible behavior. People are too afraid to appear to be blaming the victim by speaking up and encouraging young people to get their education and a job before marriage and a family. It is especially important for celebrities and community leaders to speak up. And of course parents must raise their children responsibly instead of counting on the schools to raise them; parents need to get a backbone and resolve to do the right thing. Unfortunately teen parents rarely have the self discipline or understanding to raise responsible children. I believe young teen mothers should be encouraged to give their babies up for adoption.
As I read this book and thought through all of Ryan's ideas, and the difficulties of busing children to achieve socioeconomic integration, I kept coming back to the fact that even if they bused for kindergarten and up, it is still too late. Already at kindergarten the kids in poverty are behind the others. At a young age the disadvantaged would begin to feel frustration and resentment towards their suburban counterparts.
Overall I do not think busing will solve the problem. We have dug ourselves into a hole with so many parents unprepared to be parents; they can't even take care of themselves! Parents must sacrifice their time and effort (with the help of the community!) to raise responsible children.
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