tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075354260507238406.post3084864808016708522..comments2023-05-03T02:43:31.079-06:00Comments on cluttered musings of a mom: A Well-Rounded EducationJennaKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10724959154514125980noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075354260507238406.post-48946736764978627282012-09-03T09:16:21.502-06:002012-09-03T09:16:21.502-06:00I definitely think the idea of balanced literacy i...I definitely think the idea of balanced literacy is good, I just don't think a lot of schools put it into practice very well. It's not really all that balanced. Part of balanced literacy is supposed to be writing, and many schools glaze over that. Then when kids get in the upper grades or middle school, they don't know much about the writing process at all. I remember a program used by my school when I was a kid called "The Writing Road to Reading" and it was a very good way of incorporating writing into reading. I do think that reading is important, I just feel you can incorporate reading into every subject so it doesn't necessarily have to be a subject that takes up so much time by itself--do reading and writing activities with the science curriculum and the social studies curriculum. California has some of the worst schools in this regard. Arizona's aren't too great either. I think Utah does all right incorporating everything, but this varies a LOT from school to school. Our principal is big on the arts so she really tries to incorporate art and music into it all. I will have to check out that website. I don't feel that my oldest knows as much about the writing process as he should by now, so I'd like to try and help him some more, especially since he has a love for writing.JennaKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10724959154514125980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075354260507238406.post-16020801155846874332012-09-02T21:44:06.336-06:002012-09-02T21:44:06.336-06:00I think education varies greatly state by state, e...I think education varies greatly state by state, even by district. My hometown, Cody, Wyoming has an OUTSTANDING education system with lots of recess and really well-balanced academic program. Kids in Cody still get 3 recesses per day. <br /><br />I think New York has a pretty balanced program. They have all the extras, like music, art, P.E., library (P.E. is more than once a week), BUT they only have 1 recesses a day. I think we need more recess.<br /><br />All-day kindergarten has been around for awhile in NY. All of my children have had it and have done just fine. <br /><br />My kids have a great program in Saudi Arabia, but I'm not sure how many recesses they get. I think they get at least 2. I'll have to ask them.<br /><br />In my opinion, I think literacy and time spent learning how to read IS needed. My kids really struggle with reading, and, for every single one of them, they have needed a lot of additional help (beyond what I was given as a kid) to be able to manage it. In NY, a much greater emphasis was placed on reading and it benefited my sons. Here in KSA, my younger son is really struggling because the school simply won't provide the additional help he needs in the classroom with reading. I'm doing all I can after-school with him, but he does need some downtime, and time to be a kid. <br /><br />I agree with you about writing. I don't think writing is taught well at schools. <br /><br />My friend is homeschooling her kids and uses a program called "Excellence in Writing" that is amazing. It breaks down the mechanics of writing into really clear steps so the kids actually learn. The website is www.excellenceinwriting.com<br /><br />Tiffany Wacaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08224661646987749451noreply@blogger.com