Demystifying IEPs

When "scholarship" is mentioned, many people immediately think of college tuition. However, many need to realize that scholarships for K -12 students are a growing trend, providing financial assistance for everything from tuition to extracurricular activities and educational travel. This guide highlights these opportunities that can significantly benefit parents and students alike.

Many accomplished individuals, including celebrities and leaders in various fields, have benefited from scholarships during their educational journeys. For instance, former First Lady Michelle Obama received a scholarship that helped her attend Princeton University, paving the way for her remarkable career in law and advocacy. Another notable example is Nobel laureate and renowned physicist Albert Einstein, who received a scholarship to attend the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School, setting the stage for his groundbreaking scientific contributions. These stories demonstrate how scholarships can empower students to reach their full potential and make a lasting impact on the world.

When seeking scholarships, being organized and persistent is key to success. It's not a one-and-done situation; it requires a strategic and sustained effort. Imagine it as a marathon rather than a sprint. To maximize your chances of securing financial aid, you should set aside time each week to research and apply for scholarships. Aim to submit 2 or 3 scholarship applications consistently over 6 to 8 weeks. This approach allows you to cast a wide net and increase your chances of receiving funding. Stay organized by creating a calendar or spreadsheet to track application deadlines, requirements, and submission status. Persistence

The start of a new school year can bring a mix of emotions for parents and children - from excitement and anticipation to anxiety and fear of the unknown. It's also a time when parents have to buy school supplies, clothes, uniforms, smart devices, and more. This article, however, will focus on the transition from being away from school to resuming the structured routine that is the essence of a public school education.

With some preparation, navigating this transition smoothly and setting your child up for success in their new grade is possible. Here's how to tackle the 'back to school' season, regardless of your child's grade level or family's circumstances.

With fears and potential adaptations still ahead for parents and children, return to school is always a time when parents and teachers revisit what is important for children and how to best support their positive development. Marilyn Price-Mitchell

PK-Kindergarten

Building a Routine

For many children, starting pre-K or kindergarten is their first taste of a structured daily routine. Establishing and practicing routines - like a consistent bedtime and a morning routine that includes getting dressed, brushing teeth, and eating breakfast - can help your child adjust more easily to the school day. Creating a visual schedule or using alarms and reminders can be valuable in maintaining consistency for families with single parents or busy schedules.

Reading Readiness

Strengthening pre-literacy skills can set the foundation for academic success. Simple activities like reading to your child daily, practicing

Let's talk about school tests. Remember those pop quizzes, final exams, and everything in between? Today, I'd like to introduce you to a type of assessment you may need to learn about - interim assessments. In an ever-evolving education landscape, these play a crucial role.

Understanding Interim Assessments

Interim assessments are like temperature checks for learning. They happen a few times throughout the school year, helping teachers gauge where students are in their learning process. Unlike the pop quizzes (formative assessments) that check daily learning or the end-of-year exams (summative assessments) that measure what a student has learned, interim assessments sit snugly in between. These can be benchmarks to compare student learning against standards, diagnostics to pinpoint specific gaps, or progress monitoring tests to see how well a student is advancing in their learning journey.

The Importance of Interim Assessments

Think of your child's learning journey as a road trip. You wouldn't want to drive across the country without a GPS or roadmap, right? Interim assessments are like GPS, providing regular updates on where the students are and helping teachers navigate the teaching process more effectively. They allow teachers to adapt their instruction to meet your child's needs. As a parent, they give you a more nuanced understanding of your child's progress beyond the report cards and parent-teacher meetings.

This video shows the approach to planning interim assessment tests that the Connecticut Department of Education takes.

Our children were born in the early 70s. There was no Internet. Indeed, there were no smartphones, computers, or tablets. Instead, our kids had a mother who read to them when they were a few weeks old. She also taught them how to read. We had books everywhere. As a result, our children became voracious readers. They read fiction and non-fiction. It's no wonder both daughters earned degrees in American Language and Literature. That's why we must take the current controversy over book banning seriously.

The freedom to read is a fundamental right that forms the cornerstone of a robust democratic society. However, banning books in public K-12 schools has periodically surfaced throughout history, bringing this freedom under scrutiny. The American Library Association (ALA) records numerous instances of censorship challenges, highlighting the pervasive nature of this issue.

This video from PBS News reports on the top 10 books people have tried to ban.

Historical Examples

The negative impact of banning books in education becomes apparent when examining historical cases. A notable example includes Ray Bradbury's dystopian novel "Fahrenhei 451," ironically a commentary on the dangers of censorship itself, which frequently landed on the ALA's list of challenged books due to its "offensive language" and "unsuited to age group" complaints.

Similarly, Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," lauded for its penetrating exploration of racial inequality, has been frequently challenged or removed due to its