tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post5326199411700974928..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Summer school or an increased investment in public libraries?Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-8427616802126767292010-06-30T23:14:05.127-04:002010-06-30T23:14:05.127-04:00I would love to see more input and support of publ...I would love to see more input and support of public libraries. Summer school is allowed for children who failed one or two parts of the CRCT. <br />As far as AR books, I believe that they arewonderful for ES. In my child's MS AR wasa grade in class, and we could read ONLY books listed on AR. So if a new book came out and he read it, if there was no test for it, he received a zero for the week. It seems like we would want to encourage children to read regardless if a test was involved. We attempted to come to some agreement with the teacher to allow a book report, a prject on the book,etc- no dice- only books to be read were AR that had a test. Do we ever get away from testing our children??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-62140489787226207982010-06-30T13:20:20.201-04:002010-06-30T13:20:20.201-04:00Walker is an at large board member, his district o...Walker is an at large board member, his district overlaps others. He is unopposed. ZR has two opponents.<br /><br />However, as others have said, in DeKalb things can quickly go from bad to worse. (Actually this is true everywhere.) Simple googles are not turning much up about most of these folks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-44837241367709596582010-06-30T12:50:17.381-04:002010-06-30T12:50:17.381-04:00FYI, here is a similar blog to ours in NYC....It s...FYI, here is a similar blog to ours in NYC....It seems the same education issues are the same everywhere.<br /><br />http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-1926554560240484452010-06-30T11:28:27.726-04:002010-06-30T11:28:27.726-04:00I've worked with AR for about 15 years. I lik...I've worked with AR for about 15 years. I like AR because it gets children to read who might not ordinarily be reading. I tell teachers that AR is really an evaluation tool. They can use it to monitor student reading activity. What does a child read, how much, and at what reading level? What do the scores say about how well a child comprehends what he is reading? Does a child need to read something more challenging or is she at the point of frustration? <br /><br />AR gives us an opportunity to set realistic reading goals for children and to recognize students for reading. AR reading requirements can be balanced with non AR reading. I am not a big fan of prize stores and contests, but handing out certificates on awards day is really wonderful. Children who are reading well below grade level will benefit the most from this program.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-27598712171047849752010-06-30T11:11:12.126-04:002010-06-30T11:11:12.126-04:00I don't think our students we'll be that l...I don't think our students we'll be that lucky Cere. But, we can always hope. <br /><br />But, I would also caution that all of the new candidates need to be properly vetted - we certainly do not need BOE reps that are not an improvement over what we have - there is too much at stake here.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39556263950032278832010-06-30T11:05:54.889-04:002010-06-30T11:05:54.889-04:00So far, it looks like Jay and Sarah have not yet q...So far, it looks like Jay and Sarah have not yet qualified either. Dare we hope?Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28650798716949175192010-06-30T11:01:42.701-04:002010-06-30T11:01:42.701-04:00I got the list above directly from the DeKalb Vote...I got the list above directly from the DeKalb Voter website - <br /><br />Here's the link:<br />http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/nonpartisan.pdf<br /><br />They have updated the list again and have added Nancy and Jim - so far - no one in District 3 at all!<br /><br />Nancy Jester<br />2718 Eaton Place<br />Atlanta, GA 30341<br />Phone: 770-455-1546<br /><br />James M.Redovian - INCUMBENT<br />1789 Corners Court<br />Dunwoody, GA. 30338<br />Phone: (B) 770-248-9790 (H) 770-394-2125<br /><br />Reminder - I will try to keep the candidate page updated with this info - access it by clicking the Vote Box on the right side panel of the home page.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28671534471377273242010-06-30T11:01:13.066-04:002010-06-30T11:01:13.066-04:00I used Mr. Grogan's address to determine his s...I used Mr. Grogan's address to determine his school district and he ended up with Mr. Walker's, but according to the DeKalb County Website, it is Zephora's district:<br /><br />http://web.co.dekalb.ga.us/Voter/pdf/nonpartisan.pdfPaula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34482679954165467382010-06-30T10:48:15.030-04:002010-06-30T10:48:15.030-04:00Corey Wilson (District 3) has a FC page and has al...Corey Wilson (District 3) has a FC page and has also filed a declaration of intent yet he has also not qualified. Does anyone know why?<br /><br />Mr. Wilson, ARE YOU RUNNING? WE NEED YOU!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-48057649988058344682010-06-30T10:45:22.084-04:002010-06-30T10:45:22.084-04:00Dunwoody Mom said...
I believe Mr. Gathany is in Z...Dunwoody Mom said...<br />I believe Mr. Gathany is in Zephora's district and Mr. Grogan in Eugene Walker's district.<br />June 29, 2010 1:56 PM<br /><br />IF THIS IS TRUE, THEN ALL INCUMBENTS HAVE COMPETITION! YES!!<br /><br />Cerebration, IF IT'S TRUE, MR. GROGAN NEEDS TO BE LISTED IN THE RIGHT DISTRICT ON THE BLOG'S CANDIDATE PAGE.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-13287789778703483772010-06-30T08:18:36.610-04:002010-06-30T08:18:36.610-04:00My kids loved the AR program when they were in ES....My kids loved the AR program when they were in ES. I applaud any program that gets children to read. The children were also recognized for their participation in AR at the Awards ceremony at the end of the school year. In some cases, this was the only recognition some children received. I have no problem spending money on this program.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16083501422406604972010-06-30T08:14:53.709-04:002010-06-30T08:14:53.709-04:00Anon 9:24 p.m. I completely disagree. Accelerat...Anon 9:24 p.m. I completely disagree. Accelerated Reader is worth every penny we spend on it. Trying to get elementary school boys to read is very difficult. My son hated reading (in part because there are not enough books that interest him- he hates fantasy and science fiction). But make it a competition where you score points (like a sport) and he read every day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-54642956182856466822010-06-30T07:05:22.327-04:002010-06-30T07:05:22.327-04:00Across the country, there are school systems cutti...Across the country, there are school systems cutting media specialists totally and shuttering school libraries. <br /><br />http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/24/school-libraries-axed-lib_n_623754.html<br /><br /><br />http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2009/march2009/califpinkslips.cfm<br /><br />At the end of the day, I am unclear if the state money for media center supplies was cut. I believe it was.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7103437705763584352010-06-30T01:53:50.021-04:002010-06-30T01:53:50.021-04:00Francis Edwards will qualify at the 11th hour of F...Francis Edwards will qualify at the 11th hour of Friday to regain the 5th District and she # will Win# because of the damage done to Cunningham. Women will vote for her because " mothers are supposed to support their children in the Black Culture". She is smooth, articulate and connected.Also expect some Edukalb "MEMBERS" to post....and the "FIGHT BEGINS".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-37473014037609876902010-06-30T00:14:23.712-04:002010-06-30T00:14:23.712-04:00Nancy Jester (District 1) has a website (very good...Nancy Jester (District 1) has a website (very good one) and a FC page and has filed a declaration of intent yet she has not qualified. Does anyone know why?<br /><br />Corey Wilson (District 3) has a FC page and has also filed a declaration of intent yet he has also not qualified. Does anyone know why?<br /><br />Reading their bios and declarations they sound like great candidates.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6004297777419161482010-06-29T21:55:59.157-04:002010-06-29T21:55:59.157-04:00The Ed Media Department at DCSS has ben very stron...The Ed Media Department at DCSS has ben very strong but is taking some hits from the current budgetary problems and I am not sure what the future holds. In 2001 it was named best library media program in the nation by the American Library Association. <br /> At the end of the school year I brought in the children's librarian from our neighborhood branch and he spoke to all the students in several grade levels about the summer reading programs. Sadly the public libraries are cutting back as well and they can't do everything they've done in the past.<br />The Ed Media department has always been more active than many other departments at DCSS. But when things are on the chopping block anything not seen as a 'classroom' setting is the first to go. The future for school libraries is very dim in some other states.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-81150243272271137142010-06-29T21:24:28.713-04:002010-06-29T21:24:28.713-04:00Accelerated Reader is a money pit, and hardly wort...Accelerated Reader is a money pit, and hardly worth the anguish it seems to cause parents (they come running into the public library demanding to know where the AR books are kept--folks, any book can be an AR book if AR sells a test for it!). Ignore the AR lists and tests and prizes and just let them read what they like. It is the amount of reading and exposure to vocabulary that counts, not points earned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-36780365597788631432010-06-29T19:45:38.172-04:002010-06-29T19:45:38.172-04:00I don't think that Krashen's philosophy co...I don't think that Krashen's philosophy conflicts with Accelerated Reader or Reading Counts. His point is that more reading means better reading skill. His interpretation of the research indicates that it doesn't matter what children read, only that they read. I think that the problems we have with programs like Accelerated Reader have more to do with how we use or misuse them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-64696512130732467112010-06-29T15:22:03.958-04:002010-06-29T15:22:03.958-04:00Click on the graphic of the voting box on the righ...Click on the graphic of the voting box on the right side panel of the home page. We will try to keep it updated as to the candidates - Here's the latest --<br /><br />List of Officially Registered Candidates to Date<br /><br />BOARD OF EDUCATION- DISTRICT 1<br /><br /><br />BOARD OF EDUCATION – DISTRICT 3<br /><br /><br />BOARD OF EDUCATION- DISTRICT 5<br /><br />Jacques Hall, Jr.<br />3762 Tree Bark Trail<br />Decatur, GA 30034<br />Phone: 678-988-7786<br /><br />BOARD OF EDUCATION- DISTRICT 7<br /><br />Richard Gathany<br />4773 Banner Elk Drive<br />Stone Mountain, GA 30083<br />Phone: 404-273-6880<br /><br />Donny “Muhammad” Grogan<br />4317 Buckingham Circle<br />Decatur, GA 30035<br />Phone: 770-895-9389<br /><br />Zepora W. Roberts - INCUMBENT<br />1616 Cobbs Creek Lane<br />Decatur, GA. 30032<br />Phone: 404- 284-7314<br /><br />BOARD OF EDUCATION- DISTRICT 9<br /><br />Dr. Eugene P. “Gene” Walker - INCUMBENT<br />P. O. Box 674<br />Lithonia, GA 30038<br />Phone: 770-593-2409Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-74560713472585379882010-06-29T15:13:38.345-04:002010-06-29T15:13:38.345-04:00@anon 11:52
Teacher Librarians (school librarians)...@anon 11:52<br />Teacher Librarians (school librarians) are paid the same as teachers. Counselors get paid to work more hours. When there were two people working in the media centers, one person could open the media center early and the second person could close the media center later. I do not know if you are aware of this, but many of the media clerks were cut. Most of the second TLs were cut from high schools and all for middle schools. This leaves one person in the media center. Sadly, it will impact the students the most. <br /><br />I love Stephen Krashen's philosophy. Unfortunately, there is such a push for Accelerated Reader and Reading Counts that limit what students read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-71514018202803841562010-06-29T13:56:27.522-04:002010-06-29T13:56:27.522-04:00I believe Mr. Gathany is in Zephora's district...I believe Mr. Gathany is in Zephora's district and Mr. Grogan in Eugene Walker's district.Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-59481909897384921632010-06-29T13:43:14.608-04:002010-06-29T13:43:14.608-04:00Are these people running against Zepora?
Richard ...Are these people running against Zepora?<br /><br />Richard Gathany<br />4773 Banner Elk Drive<br />Stone Mountain, GA 30083<br />Phone: 404-273-6880<br /><br />Donny “Muhammad” Grogan<br />4317 Buckingham Circle<br />Decatur, GA 30035<br />Phone: 770-895-9389Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-72641870398670234702010-06-29T13:38:24.703-04:002010-06-29T13:38:24.703-04:00Is anyone running against Zepora?Is anyone running against Zepora?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-76590139021692566312010-06-29T13:34:27.150-04:002010-06-29T13:34:27.150-04:00But yet, you would not believe the number of paren...But yet, you would not believe the number of parents who complain about the Summer reading requirements!!Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-15670072155966843392010-06-29T13:34:25.229-04:002010-06-29T13:34:25.229-04:00I think it is important for everyone to realize th...I think it is important for everyone to realize that our Public Libraries are making an effort to work with our schools. Public librarians will visit a school to help parents register for library cards. They will also come to a school to teach students how to use the public library web site. They are very willing to collaborate with school librarians on a wide variety of projects. That includes helping students with class projects. School librarians are encouraged to provide information on class research assignments that may bring a student to the public library. It is also important to keep in mind that the recent cuts in school library staffing put this type of collaboration in jeopardy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com