Challenged Kids Camp

ABC News finds an extreme sports camp helps autistic children reach beyond their limits.

Click Here to watch this video:

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8457734&clipId=8457734&playlistId=8457734&cid=siteplayer

Adopted does not mean adapted.....

I admire individuals who take it upon themselves to raise children who cannot be cared for by their birth parents. The saying that it takes a village to raise a child really holds true in Western society as more and more Americans and Europeans are adopting children from overseas.

One of the problems that have been found to occur in adoptees is the fact that they are having a difficult time assimilating to their new surroundings. According to a study done by Time Magazine, the adopted may find it rather cubmersome to make sense of their new life when their old life still haunts them.

Here is a link to the article describing why the adopted have a hard time adapting:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1997439,00.html



If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

What is an IEP?

An IEP - also known as an Individualized Education Plan, mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, claims to meet the unique needs of an individual child who has been diagnosed with a disability. The IEP helps the children reach their goals that they would not be able to obtain otherwise in the general education environment.

Some information that an IEP contains is how the student best learns, what methods are used to show that a student is learning, as well as the service providers that can assist the student in achieving these goals.

During an IEP Initial Meeting, the results from various assessments that were conducted by the School Psychologist will be discussed by the IEP committe of general education teachers, special education teachers, administrators, and the parent. It is during the IEP meeting that the various accommodations, modifications, present levels of performance as well as goals and objectives for the student will be discussed.

The best way to prepare for these meetings is to review the Draft IEP that your student's case manager sends you as well as your Parental Rights. Additionally, take notes to make sure that you remember what was discussed during the meeting.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Multicultural Book of the Week

Each week I will spotlight one multi-cultural book for you to read with your children. These books come highly recommended by leading educators, writers and illustrators describing how to appreciate literature that transcends commonly shared stereotypes.

For more information on this list, please click:

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3757



The Journey: Japanese Americans, Racism, and Renewal by Sheila Hamanaka (Orchard Books, 1990).

The main character, Hamanaka, is deeply affected as she shares a piece of art she had created which reveals a story of her past. She shares a mural that shows the racism her family and other Japanese-Americans had experienced while being imprisoned in interment campes during World War II.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

1st Man Diagnosed With Autism - Donald Gray Triplett

It was 67 years ago that a young boy by the name of Donald Gray Triplett was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. At times Donald was part of an entertainment act - other times Donald had to forsake his dreams of show business for college.

Donald became the first documented individual to have Autism and is known in medical history books as "Donald T. Case 1".



If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Georgia Race for Autism Being Held Next Saturday!

The Georgia Race for Autism is being held next Saturday, October 2, 2010. The distances are 10K, 5K, and a 1 mile fun run. The race will begin at 10:00am.

For more information on this event, log onto:

http://www.georgiaraceforautism.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58&Itemid=166

Hope to see you there!

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Teacher Bonus Does Not Improve Test Scores...

After reading this article and being a teacher myself - I have always wondered - if we were paid bonuses or commissions based on our students doing well, would that make me a more effective teacher?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130029725&sc=emaf




I cannot answer that question with a "yes" or a "no" as of today. What I can say is that a study has been done affirming the negative. Teachers who are given bonuses are given bonuses. They are not better teachers if they make more money, they are just teachers with bigger pockets.

In my years of teaching I can honestly tell you that the single most effective way that can show how well or poorly the students will do in the classroom is the amount of effort that is placed on managing the "learning time" of a student. A teacher can prepare the most elaborate powerpoint, colorful flyer, and most detailed lesson plan. However, if at the end of the day the students cannot remember what they needed to know before walking out of the classroom, then all of that effort is futile.

I have used an approach with my students differently from my peers and find that sometimes, being consistent and having the students work just as hard as you and sometimes even harder, really shows when they take these tests. So the next time your child comes home from school simply say to them:

"Show me what you learned - and don't say NOTHING.".



If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

YES Prep School Sends 100% of Students to College

http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/09/20/yes-prep-school-send-100-of-students-to-college

It is amazing how a school with so many statistics against them, is able to send their students to college. Even the best high schools in the United States cannot compete with those numbers.

I hope that the information leading to all these variables will prompt some type of social change in our education system. We cannot wait for the generation after this one to advance our society. We should work now towards building a better future!



If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Be Careful...Your Kids Are Being Tracked....

According to an article published by the Wall Street Journal, online websites geared towards kids track their activity each and every time that they log on. Some of the websites have better technologies in tracking the students than those that are designed for their students.

On the high end: snazzyspace.com installed over 248 tracking tools with starfall.com installing the fewest.




If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Recipe for Student Success....Real Simple

As an educator, I have always pondered what the difference between a good school - and a not so good school is. Having worked in the best of both worlds, I can honestly tell you that the differences between the good school and the "ungood" school is not about the age of the text books, or the number of credentials that a teacher has. The measure of success in a school is the way that it brings about a partnership between the child - the parent - and the learning community.

I am impressed by the level of involvement that some of the parents and teachers engage in during the school year in my Cobb County neighborhood. One of the neighboring schools created a "spreadsheet" of different learning objectives and learning strands that one of the students needed to work on to show proficiency in 5th grade math. Not only did the student bring this document home - but he also shared this information with his mother convinced that his teacher had all the necessary tools and supplemental materials to help him. And sure enough, she did.

As we move forward in educating Georgia's youth, I want to implore you to take an active role in the education of the young minds in our community. It is important that we help these children understand not only what they are learning, but why learning is so important.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

What and When Should Kids Know About Money?

Financial guidance doesn't start when a kid has his first credit card - it starts when the kid is learning about the values of hard work and a token economy. The earlier you expose your child to learning about money - the better.

In middle class and wealthy households, the topic of money is discussed as frequently as the quintessential question of "what is for dinner". It shouldn't surprise some kids that in addition to their fair share of toys, they will be receiving 100 or maybe 1000 shares of Disney stock or Coca-Cola stock, whatever dad or grandpa fancies. In my household I remember sitting back and listening to my parents talk about CD's maturing. I thought that they were going through something that sounded like menopause.......needless to say.

In this article published in Time Magazine, the writer describes a few important topics that parents should be discussing with their child during some benchmark ages.

My question to you is: What lesson will your child be learning for this year?

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2018865_2018867_2018868,00.html

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com//. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Race to the Top......comments by Cobb County Superintendent

The following was a statement made by Cobb County Department of Education
Fred Sanderson in regards to the Race to the Top Program:

There has been a lot of information in the news recently about two sources of Federal funding that have been made available to school systems – one that we have opted not to apply for, and another that we intend to use to the fullest.

The first source is the four-year, $400 million Federal Race To The Top grant that Georgia received this week. Half of the $400 million will be distributed to school districts over a four-year period, and the state keeps the other half. We opted to not participate in the application for these funds because they come with serious strings attached. In fact, only 26 of Georgia’s 180 school systems chose to participate, even in these tough economic times. Throughout its history, the Cobb County School District has prided itself on an academic and operational program that is based on local control – and is not steered by Federal mandate. Accepting Race To The Top funds would compromise that philosophy by shifting some control away from Cobb County and toward Washington. Some of our concerns included:

* A lack of information up front, including clarity and specificity regarding the non-negotiable application criteria.
* Replacing Cobb’s teacher evaluation instrument with a common evaluation system that includes merit pay.
* Mandating that districts use one of four federal models to turn around the lowest achieving schools.
And . . .
* The cost of implementing the required programs – including training, materials and reassigning teachers – was potentially higher than the funds that would be provided by the grant.

I should also point out that currently our school district has three Teacher Quality Partnerships already in place, and all are funded by grants. One is with Kennesaw State University, one with Georgia State University, and another with Michigan State University.

In these difficult economic times, it is not easy to turn down potential funding such as Race To The Top. I am certain that for some school districts this grant makes a lot of sense. That is why I have tried to explain these concerns as clearly as I can so that our teachers and our community understand that participating in this grant would not be in the best interest of the Cobb County School District.

To date, our schools and operations have been running very smoothly, but are nevertheless under a great deal of strain due to the major budgetary cuts we have had to make over the last two years. We did, however, get some very good news this week that will provide some much-needed financial assistance. Our school district will be receiving a little more than $20 million as part of recently approved Federal emergency Education Jobs Bill. The money will arrive in equal installments this month and in October. Unlike Race To The Top, we have a great deal of flexibility in how these funds can be used.

I plan to bring a recommendation to the September work session on how we can use this much-needed funding as effectively as possible. The money comes with the clear warning that next year’s budget picture will not be pretty, and as a one-time windfall we should not use the funds for recurring expenses such as hiring additional personnel because the money will not be available in next year’s budget.

With that in mind, one of the biggest concerns I have about our financial picture heading into next year is that before we can start the budget process we will need to restore the step increases that were cut from this year’s staff salaries. The salary schedule has to be brought back to the baseline at the beginning of the budget process. These funds will make it a lot easier to make that adjustment. Therefore, the recommendations I bring to you at the September work session are likely to include using the Education Jobs bill funds to help restore the step increases that were cut and to restore two furlough days. Those two steps would be excellent ways to put the stimulus funds to effective use, and, I think they would be well received by our employees.

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com/. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.

Cobb County Balanced Calendar Kicks Off With Week Off September 20-24!

Hello Fellow Cobb County Residents:)

I hope that you and your children will enjoy the week off from all Cobb County Schools beginning next week. Some of you have vacation planned and some of you are still in the planning process.

If you are looking for a place to hang out with your kids, try out Midtown Athletic Club. Next week - they have a great kids' fitness camp for almost less than it would cost you to pay your nanny. If you need more information, check out this link:

http://www.facebook.com/MidtownWindyHill

Have a great break everyone!

If you are in the Atlanta/Marietta/Kennesaw/Vinings/Sandy Springs/Buckhead area (Cobb County, Fulton County, Dekalb County, Cherokee County) and have any questions about the CRCT, SSAT, SAT, GED, Summer Tutoring, Orton-Gillingham, Handwriting Without Tears, Writing Strategies, or any methodologies or instructional methods that may help your child succeed, please contact me at christine@learningridge.com or visit my website at http://www.learningridge.com//. If you need immediate assistance, you can call me at 404-964-8533.