Everlasting, but Over Too Quick
This weekend there will be lots of kids staying up all night — but not to make trouble. They’ll be tearing through the new Harry Potter novel.
What was the last book you read that you couldn’t put down? Or the first book you read that you couldn’t put down?
If you’re like me, you may even dread getting to the end of some books — because that means the experience is over — so you ration the last few chapters. Or you find a new author you love and immediately go out and read everything that person ever wrote — the ultimate literary binge.
I remember my fourth-grade teacher reading us “Tuck Everlasting” over the course of several days. I couldn’t wait to get to school and hear the latest adventure of this immortal family. I recently reread that book, which was made into a movie a few years ago.
Tell me your faves at ssimpson@oklahoman.com. What should I buy this weekend, while I’m waiting for Potter?
Susan Simpson, Higher Education Writer
Online algebra help offered
I know firsthand how tough math can be to learn. I took a summer session of algebra in high school and struggled to complete calculus during the summer, just weeks before graduating.
The hardest part of calculus, for me, was doing the algebra correctly that underpins most everything else you do. And calculus is the dreaded gateway to most bachelor of science degrees.
As is the case with all math, the building-block approach is particularly crucial with algebra; miss something early on and you’ve got a hard-to-fill gap later.
So, as anyone who has read my stories or this blog in the last few months can tell, math instruction is a reporting interest of mine. More accurately, how to improve math instruction is a reporting interest of mine.
When I read about a new online algebra module from the Atlanta-based Southern Regional Education Board, I was intrigued.
The SREB Digital Algebra Content Module was developed by the state education departments of Maryland, Georgia and Louisiana. The module is available to all state “virtual” schools in the SREB’s 16-state area. Unlike full online algebra courses, according to SREB, the module gives students a strong foundation in linear functions — one of the hardest concepts to teach in an already tough subject.
For more information, contact SREB at (404) 875-9211.
If you have any suggestions as to how to improve math — and particularly algebra — instruction, please share them with me. I’d like to get a conversation going.
College or Retire?
Americans are split when it comes to choosing between saving for their children’s college education and their own retirement. According to a new survey by Country Insurance & Financial Services, 43 percent believe saving for college is more important, while another 43 percent say retirement takes precedence.
The survey of 3,000 adults responsible for a child’s education also finds young parents and lower income groups (with a household income of less than $40,000) are more likely to favor college education savings over retirement.
“Saving for college education and for retirement are each important, but retirement comes first,” says Keith Brannan, director of the Financial Security Office at Country. “You can’t borrow money for retirement like you can for college. If people plan well, it’s possible to afford both.”
Americans Lack Knowledge:
– Four-in-ten (40 percent) are unsure or do not think they have enough knowledge to make the right financial decisions about saving for college.
– Many underestimate the expense. One-quarter (25 percent) think it will cost less than $50,000 to send children in their care to college. In reality, many studies show the average cost of attending four-year universities already surpasses $50,000.
Despite the rising cost of college education:
– A vast majority (78 percent) of Americans still view college as a good investment.
– A majority of parents (62 percent) still plan to take responsibility for funding the bulk of college costs.
What do you think? Let me know at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
College-sponsored merit scholars announced
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. has announced more college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners.
The group joins more than 2,200 others nationwide who were announced in May.
Officials from each sponsor college select winners from among finalists who will attend their institution.
College-sponsored awards provide $500 to $2,000 a year for up to four years of undergraduate study.
This year 194 colleges and universities are sponsoring some 4,600 Merit Scholarship awards. Sponsor colleges are located in 44 states and Washington, D.C., and include 115 private schools and 79 public schools.
This group of winners brings the total number of recipients of Merit Scholarships to approximately 8,200. The college-sponsored awards they receive are worth $34 million.
Over the past 52 years, more than 250,000 students have won awards worth more than $865 million.
To see the latest list of Oklahoma recipients, click here.
A Credit or a Liability?
A paper released today by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni is critical of the federally-mandated accreditation system.
ACTA says the current system doesn’t ensure quality and gives parents a false sense of confidence.
ACTA calls on policymakers to:
Make accreditors prove their worth.
Break the link between federal student aid and accreditation.
Break the accreditor monopoly.
Ensure student achievement.
Tell the public what it deserves to know.
Stop the homogenization of higher education.
Create a consumer-friendly alternative.
Don’t replicate a failed model.
Reduce the cost of higher education.
What do you think? I’m certainly no expert in this area, and I’m sure there are good arguments on both sides of the issue.
Let me know at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Teachers learn about law
Eight Oklahoma County teachers recently attended the 18th annual PACE (Programs Advancing Citizenship Education) Institute put on by the Oklahoma Bar Association at the Reed Conference Center in Midwest City.
Participating teachers were Julia Cook, Central Middle School of Edmond; Beth Evans, Edmond Memorial High School; Michael Harris, Southeast High School; Kyla Kaufman, Telstar Elementary; Cindy Persons, Oklahoma City Adult Learning Center; Amber O’Brien, Westmoore High School; Briget Powell, Ruth Dropkins Headstart; and Candace West, Oklahoma City Public Schools.
The teachers received full scholarships to attend the institute.
“The goal of the PACE Institute is to help Oklahoma students become better informed and more active citizens,” OBA Law-related Education Coordinator Jane McConnell said in a press release. “We expose teachers to various topics in citizenship education and help them develop more creative methods for presenting the material to their students. We also encourage them to develop and share their own strategies in teaching law-related education.”
During the week, participants examined the various aspects of the Oklahoma judicial system, tribal courts, citizenship education and public policy. Court visits, workshops and speakers also were part of the week.
The teachers were teamed with mentors experienced in civic education.
Oklahoma students make National Honor Roll
More than 1,000 Central Oklahoma students — 1,570, to be exact — have made the 2006-07 National Honor Roll, the Lynbrook, N.Y-based group announced this week.
The honor roll recognizes high-achieving middle school and high school students.
Honor roll induction can include benefits beyond recognition: Twenty-five inductees will share $25,000, to be awarded in December. Also, the honor roll notifies colleges of students’ induction to the honor roll. A copy of each student’s biography also is sent.
The honor roll contacts potentially qualifying students to submit information about their GPAs, interests, activities and goals. Only students with a “B” average or better are eligible for inclusion on the list. Two-thirds of 2006-07 inductees had an “A-” average or better. Almost one-quarter were seniors.
Obviously there are too many names for us to publish, even on a blog. To see the list, click here.
Hot Times, Cool Learning?
With all the rain we’ve had this season, I’d forgotten just how HOT summer can be.
Temperatures yesterday soared into the 90s, which can be quite manageable with air conditioning. However, my a/c decided to take a vacation, sending my family out of the steamy house and into the cool waters of our wading pool.
I sure have gotten spoiled. But people manage when they must.
I went to a rural school district as a child and we didn’t have air-conditioning in most of the buildings. (They do now, thank goodness.)
It’s hard to imagine how we learned anything during those hot days in the classroom. We’d open the windows, turn on the fans and dream of cooler times. And the district let us go half-days during the warmest weeks.
Did your school have air-conditioning, and if not how did you manage? What are your tips for keeping the kids cool enough to actually pay attention to class?
Let me know at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
A+ Alliance comments on new superintendent
Members of the A+ Alliance say they are pleased to hear last night’s remarks from Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent John Q. Porter and his plans for the new John Marshall High School. The group formed in response to the need for a public school that served their neighborhoods on the far northwest side of town, and the problems that kept the school in the public eye.
Porter spoke at Thursday’s John Marshall: Steps for Success committee meeting before the committee voted to disband after Aug. 30.
“Dr. Porter is a breath of fresh air for this district and the New John Marshall. He recognizes and acknowledges that problems do exist and he is determined to remedy them, to do what is best for the children and to the satisfaction of the Oklahoma City taxpayers. We will strongly support and hold him accountable as he proceeds and makes what are sure to be difficult, yet necessary decisions,” A+ Alliance spokeswoman Lesli Massad said in a press release.
A large number of parents and community members have attended and been actively involved with the efforts of the Steps for Success committee from its inception. However, many have been reluctant to get involved out of fear that this would simply be an effort in futility and that nothing would change — that the status quo would remain, according to the release.
“We are so pleased that finally our voices have been heard. Dr. Porter knows that changes are necessary if this school and this district are going to be competitive. He also knows that there are a lot of disenfranchised customers out here and he needs to develop a quality product to increase demand. I look forward to what Dr. Porter will do and will assist him in any way I can,” Lyn Watson another A+ Alliance spokeswoman, said in the release.
“As a result of last night’s meeting, the A+ Alliance is already working to encourage all of its members to offer their support to Dr. Porter, as well as to the school’s new principal and its entire administration. It indeed takes a village, but it also takes a leader and in Dr. Porter we finally have a strong leader,” according to the release.
A night with the young wizard
I can’t claim to be a huge Harry Potter fan — I don’t have anything against the franchise but have only seen one movie and haven’t read any of the books — but this looks really fun.
Omniplex Science Museum will celebrate the release of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” with an all-night event this evening.
Activities focused on revealing the science behind Harry Potter will be offered throughout the evening, with participants traveling to Cinemark Tinseltown for a showing of the movie.
After the film, participants return to Omniplex to spend the night in the museum. Previous Harry Potter films will be shown all night.
The event is designed for students in kindergarten through middle school and their parents or sponsors. Adults must accompany all children and groups.
Staff and some participants will be dressed in Harry Potter costumes.
Participants may play giant games of chess or Quidditch -– the popular Harry Potter game.
