Nancy E. Bailey's Blog, page 91

Bill Gates and Kindy Coding

The Memphis Commercial Appeal recently had an article about a private school incorporating iPad computing coding for kindergarteners. At first I was appalled. Kindergarteners? Coding? Why, they should be learning to tie their shoes! Then, after sputtering a few cuss … Continue reading →

Before Common Core—IDEA and Aligning IEPs to Regular Standards

While Common Core’s focus on math and English language arts does nothing to address the needs of students with disabilities, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) re-authorizations weren’t great either. Much of IDEA (the changing of PL-94-142) was to … Continue reading →

Huge Class Sizes and the Increase in Student Mental Health Problems—Connect the Dots!

The New York Times has an article having to do with large class sizes. It’s all about the push to put more kids in classrooms and schools with fewer teachers and specialists. This is happening around the country in every … Continue reading →

If You Feel Like Grandma Who Got Run Over By a Reindeer—Don’t Despair!

If your child is doing well and you are happy about public school you probably don’t need to read any further. If your house is decorated well enough to win a Martha Stewart contest, and your Christmas dinner was cooked … Continue reading →

It’s Not A Wonderful Life for Millions of School Children

“…I know right now, and the answer’s no. No Doggone it! You sit around here and you spin your little webs and you think the whole world revolves around you and your money! Well, it doesn’t, Mr. Potter! In the, … Continue reading →

The Destruction of Special Education

The firing of a special education supervisor and the subsequent elimination of the position, in Wilson County, Tennessee prompted me to address concerns about a concerted effort underway to dismantle special education. There are signs all over. Most likely you … Continue reading →

KIPP and the Padded Room

Why does KIPP do padded rooms for kindergarteners and regular ed. students who have run-of-the-mill behavior problems? Calming rooms, in unique and very structured situations, might be justifiable for special education, but not regular ed. The justification for a padded … Continue reading →

Suggestions for Parents Concerned About their Student’s Reading Difficulties

My post about reading picture books generated some comments on Facebook about difficulties students have tracking and mixing-up words. Having a child who struggles with reading is never easy. Sometimes you feel like they are on the verge of making … Continue reading →

Students with Disabilities and/or Gifted Students—Is Private School Better?

If you have a child with disabilities and/or a gifted and talented student, where should you send them to school? Should you homeschool? This is the dilemma facing many families. Parents wonder, is it worth it to pay to send … Continue reading →

Drat Common Core and Potty iPads! Use This Instead to Teach a Child to Read

Don’t bank on narrow Common Core English language arts skills to teach your child to read. From what I see and hear, over and over, CC increases stress and reduces a lot of students to tears. It pushes very young … Continue reading →