school

ProudParenting blogger - HalWLanse - shows opposition to a popular technique for teaching reading in classrooms. You'll remember the technique from your childhood.

"The class will open a book and Miss Chilblain will ask a student to read aloud. Johnny will read a page, stumbling over many words as Miss Chilblain supplies the correct pronunciation of each. Meanwhile, the other students are doing one of the following:

• Daydreaming

About every 2 weeks, we have a morning where everything comes together (or falls apart) to reveal the hilarious nature of our kids. Today is one of those blessed days.
Storm, age 8, sleepily walked down the hallway in mismatched jams. “Why did you change pajama bottoms?” I asked. He stared at me.
“Did you pee in your bed?” Blank stare. “Storm. Hi. I’m talking to you. Did you pee in your bed?” He shook his head a couple of times and then pulled the diagonal nod and gradually worked it into a full nod. “Does that mean yes, Baby?”
Blank stare then, “No.”

On Friday we had a snow day. Little Man was home for the entire day. He was excited about getting to sleep in . . . for about 5 minutes. Then he was all reared up and ready for the day. And oh what a day.

Would you say that being able to send your child to school without fear of his persecution an inalienable right?

Every year, the multicultural committees of countless schools around our nation toil September through April to plan, promote, and execute a successful celebration of ethnic pride and diversity. Indian parents bake puri. Hispanic parents make rice and beans. Japanese parents prepare California rolls. Italian parents serve pasta. African American parents fry chicken. And the Anglo parents eat well for once.

Sadly, the formula is getting a little tired. So here’s a modest gay parent’s proposal to spice up the celebration. This year, convince your school to hold a “No Culture Left Behind” multi-culti extravaganza presided over by families of African, Indian, Hispanic, Asian, Euro trash and–new this year—gay parents.

Good reading skills help children become good writers. The reverse is also true. When children learn to write well they internalize the conventions of the English language. Their understanding of English can then be applied to their reading experiences.

So how does writing begin? It begins with the alphabet. Teach your child the traditional alphabet song or just have her recite the alphabet. Always treat this as a game. Reciting the alphabet should be as fun as singing a song or reciting a favorite nursery rhyme.

Receiving a one-on-one invitation from a set of straight parents is an indication you have really worked hard to gain acceptance in your school community. You are going on a double date. Congratulations! Now comes the real test of your assimilation. Can you successfully observe straight couples’ socializing conventions?