Friday, October 24, 2008

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?

My daughter and her friend were watching this show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy call "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader." I was curious about it and sat with these two seventh graders to see what this show was about. It appeared to be a show about trivia that requires information to be memorized in some schools - some core knowledge perhaps? I wondered why it was important for a fifth grader to know how many stomachs a cow has. I knew the answer but I grew up on a farm. But I can't see why this information would be necessary on a test for a fifth grader. I can only imagine a college interview that my daughter or her friend will attend and the admission director asks, "Now one more question, do you know how many stomachs a cow has?"

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Standardized Testing and Merit Pay

I have been in many discussions regarding merit pay for teachers and that they should be based on the scores of standardized questions of their students. Many of us feel we can be responsible for any learning received prior to arriving in a classroom. But I wonder, could a standardized test be issued at the beginning of school year and another at the end of the school year to determine the learning of that particular year. Would that be a compromise for those who want the merit raise based on performance?

So great!

Well, well, well...let's see how long it will take for me to want to pull my hair out? Wallis is not the only one who needs help!!! Our blog is fun!!!

Hmmmmm

Well, let's see...here is my very first blog EVER!!!!

Yay, yay, yay!!!

Life & Learning in our Dyads

I thought this would be a good open ground for us to post anything and everything on our minds about our dyad experiences this quarter. Type away bloggers!

Monday, October 20, 2008


A beautiful college campus!!
Hello, This is my first blog and my first post as required by my curriculum. I think I will find this fun. I have set this up for two other fellow students to join my in designing this blog. This shall be exciting.