B-day party - chocolate making and private tour

Birthday parties are so different now than when I was a child.  When I was little we used to have a family birthday party and my mom would make the most delicious homemade chocolate cake.  Sometimes we'd make Appian Way pizza, too, and that was fun!  Now, in the San Francisco Bay area at least, parties consist of rock climbing, bowling, and I just found a new idea - chocolate making!

At Rachel Dunn chocolate factory in Concord, CA, children can get a private tour of a chocolate factory plus make their own chocolates.  Who wouldn't want to go to that birthday party?

Resources:

Rachel Dunn Chocolates
1021 Detroit Avenue
Concord, CA  94518
(925) 798-4321
www.racheldunnchocolates.com

Contra Costa Jewish Day School, Lafayette, CA

The  Contra Costa Jewish Day School in Lafayette, CA is currently still taking applications.  The school was founded in 2001, and private tours are available by calling Amy Wittenberg at (925) 284-8288.

In October of this past year, the school hosted an afternoon of milk, cookies, and reading.  A friend of mine attended and she said it was a really fun event for her son!  They read together the Sifriyat Pijama B' America Book of the month along with other books, sang Israeli songs, and did other fun activities.  The children who attended even got a new Blue Book bag to carry the PJ library books they receive.

Resources:

The Contra Costa Jewish Day School
Lafayette, CA
www.ccjds.org
(925) 284-8288

PJ Library

Tyke Explorers new sessions for preschoolers!

I've been really enjoying Tyke explorers with my son this year.  The new session dates have arrived, and they are the following:  March 5, 12, and 26th.  The time choices are 10AM, 12:30, or 3:00PM.

Resources:

Tyke Explorers
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd.
Oakland, CA
94619
(510) 336-7373
www.chabotspace.org

Brain Awareness Day, March 2nd, at Chabot

Friday, March 2nd is Brain Awareness Day at Chabot Space and science center in Oakland, CA.

Resources:

Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd.
Oakland, CA  94619
(510) 336-7373
www.chabotspace.org

Pre- Capiero classes for children 4 and 5 years

My son started doing pre- Capiero when he was almost 4 years old.  We took a break for about 6 months and we are starting up again in the spring.  We took classes through UCA, United Capiero Association, in Berkeley.  The classes really helped with flexibility and movement.  I used to love watching him!

Opposition from university professors toward tests

This morning I looked at the statement  posted by several professors at universities regarding the overuse and misuse of standardized testing across the United States.  Through talking to parents that are trying to decide what schools their children will attend, I found out that many families are looking at private, parochial and charter schools partly because they don't believe in the standardized testing that is being used in public schools.  Parents, teachers, and administrators that I know seem to have various opinions about the value, use, and future of testing in the United States.  It is a hotbed since people are so divided!  I prefer to stay publicly neutral on the topic until I gain more information and read more research.

Resources:

matestingstatement.wordpress.com/statement/

Teachers refuse to give standardized tests

There has been a buzz in both parenting and educational communities about how teachers at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington were refusing to give students the standardized tests, and how this spread to other schools in the area.  There has also been news about how officials have demanded administrators to administer the tests.  At this point, I am curious to see whether  the tests have been given.

It seems that everyone has an opinion about the worth and value of the standardized test.  Most teachers are not willing to give public opinion about the tests as they want to stay loyal to what their school district believes.  Some teachers worry about sharing their opinion for risking job security.  From what I have observed even teachers do not agree about the role standardized testing should have.  Most teachers are quiet about the controversial subject when they are at work for they want to argue about something for which they have no control.


I do have questions about the standardized tests we give to elementary, junior high, and high school students and would like to see research done on the current effects of standardized testing.  I am hoping some doctorate students are doing research in the area!   Do students learn from taking the tests?  Do teachers learn from giving the students the tests?  Do parents appreciate the tests?  How has No Child Left Behind testing affected drop out rates.   Are students and/or parents understanding the test results, are they helpful?  Do test results effect school performance, enjoyment of school, mental health of children?

Resources:

Teachers and administrators  at Garfield High and other Schools refuse to give standardized tests-
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/01/11/teachers-refuse-to-give-standardized-test-at-seattle-high-school/

Officials demanded administrators to administer tests-
www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/02/06/seattle-teachers-face-sanctions-standardized-test/

Teacher Tom's blog - what a great blog!

I ran into a friend at Tyke Explorers class at the Chabot Space and Science Center last week, and she told me about Teacher Tom's blog.  Teacher Tom is the teacher of The Woodland Park Cooperative Preschool in Seattle, Washington.  He is also the author of the book,
  A Parents Guide to Seattle.  As he states in his blog, "His students come at 2 years olds in diapers and leave as sophisticated 5 year olds ready for K."  I took a look at his blog this morning and I was impressed, the blog is full of pictures, anecdotes, stories about his preschool class, it is so much fun!

Resources:

Teacher Tom's Blog
http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/

Job sharing

I have job shared a few times in my career.  It is a great thing to do if you want to keep your foot in the door, not lose tenure, and want to not work every day.  Some people have trouble giving up control when they job share.  Similar to a marriage, there are different ways to do things, and you need to respect that your partner's ways of teaching or reacting to students is as good or sometimes even better than your way, even if it doesn't seem so in the moment.  Once again, that is extremely hard for some teachers!!!!  Many teachers are used to being in charge, when you job share you are not in charge anymore.  Plus, when you job share 50% of the work, you are not just working 50% of the time, you are actually working about 75% of the time (or MORE depending on your job share partner AND your personality!)  If your job share partner is a workaholic then you will feel extremely guilty if you are also not acting like a workaholic, even if you do have a young child to tend to.)  

The solutions are to discuss work habits before you agree to job share.  Record in writing what you are willing to do, and not willing to do, and each sign.  Also, meet with the principal with this agreement and have them also discuss what they want, need, and expect.   Are you willing to come in on your day off to meet with parents who request a meeting?  Are you willing to come in on your day off to go to SST meetings, IEP meetings, or 504 meetings?  Are you willing to come in on your day off to go to weekly staff meetings?  Are you willing to come in on your day off to go to parent conferences for report cards?  Who will go to events in the evenings such as the science fair? 

If you have trouble leaving work at school, and enjoying your weekend, then job sharing may be extremely difficult for you.  When you job share you have to let go sometimes.  I have had a hard time doing that sometimes, and tend to worry about work even thought I'm not there!  I think all teachers do that, but when you job share it is hard to not be able to go in the next day and finish up what you started the day before.

In general, the key is knowing yourself, and knowing what you need and want from your job share partner.  Who will do what?  The key to a successful partnership, I think, is dividing and conquering!  What are each of your strengths?  If one teacher is extremely great at math, have them be in charge of math (even if both of you teach the subject.)   Happy job sharing!

Boswell's Discount Party supplies, Lafayette, CA

What would I do without Boswell's discount party supplies.  It is such a great place for holiday items, party supplies, and small tokens and rewards for students!  My son loves going there and looking at the costumes, and sometimes we buy seasonal decorations for our home.  I love this place and they also give a teacher discount!

Resources:

Boswells discount party supplies
www.boswells-party.com
3483 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Lafayette, CA  
(925) 284-9150

Pancake tuesday to celebrate Mardi Gras, Lent

The College Avenue Presbyterian Church, built by Julia Morgan ,  is having a pancake Tuesday tonight from 6 to 7 PM to celebrate Mardi Gras, the beginning of Lent.  They'll be serving a free pancake dinner in their gym, as well as leading some traditional Pancake Tuesday games and family fun.  Bring your skillet for a pancake relay race, a Shrove Tuesday custom dating back to the Middle Ages in England.

Resources:

College Avenue Presbyterian Church
5951 College Avenue
Oakland, CA  94618
(510) 658-3665
www.capcchurch.org

TeachingCurve Store

We've updated our TeachingCurve Store with some particularly great toy and book selections.  We'll be continuing to add to it in the coming weeks.  Please take a look.

Picking out toys and books will depend a lot on age and interest.  We hope you find our picks interesting and useful.

North Oakland Community Charter School

I visited an open house at the North Oakland Community Charter School this past Thursday morning.  I've never visited a charter school before so I did not know what to expect.  I was especially curious to see what is different between a charter school and public school.  After my visit to NOCCS, I see a charter school as somewhere between a public school and private school.  Each charter school has a personality, depending on the vision of the school.  I found out about NOCCS from a family I met at Little Skate in Alameda, the two little boys my son was skating with seemed so genuinely sweet and inclusive as far as welcoming my son to play, and the mom told me they had a social emotional curriculum at their school.  When I visited the school, I saw this social-emotional curriculum in action as well as evidenced all over the school.  They don't just talk the talk, they walk the walk!  I found the teachers and administrator truly inspiring, and most have their own children attending the school.

The NOCCS opened doors in September 2000 as a K-1 school.  The classes are all combination classes.  The kinders go home at 1:30, which I think is smart!  Then, the 1st graders stay and do reading/ language arts.

The school welcomes and depends upon parent volunteering, and that is a requirement for attending the school.  The school wouldn't survive without many hours of volunteering on the part of parents, extensive fundraising activities, and fun events!

I have to say I love this school, it really has a heart.

Best things about NOCCS in my opinion:

Teachers seem happy, enthused, caring, warm
Administrator seems honestly dedicated to social and emotional health of children
Children seem engaged and happy
Parent volunteers are welcome in school, valued, and appreciated
conflict resolution skills are taught starting in kindergarten.
school goes through 8th grade
naturally socioeconomically and culturally diverse

Isa Byrnes, The Power of Two, on Katie show

I have to be honest, I've never watched the Katie Couric show before, but I will be watching today at 3:00.  My friend Isa Stenzel Byrnes is going to be on the Katie show today with her twin sister Ana Stenzel.  In the Bay Area, Katie Couric is on KGO (ABC), channel 7, at 3pm today.  The focus for today is "Twin Madness," and Katie will feature stories about sibling multiples.

Isa and her twin overcame life-threatening illness with the "Power of Two."  They both were born with Cystic Fibrosis.  Together they graduated from Stanford University, went to U.C. Berkeley for Masters degrees, and got double lung transplants (Ana has had two).

You can watch their story in their movie, The Power of Two.  It is an award-winning documentary that tells the story of the twins' fight against CF, their transplants, and their advocacy on the life-saving importance of transplants in the U.S. and in Japan.

I've decided I'm going to have to start taping some of Katie Couric's shows for my late night TV watching.  When I looked at Katie's website, the topics she focuses on look fascinating!

Nova Natural Toys and Crafts - my favorite!

Nova Naturals is my favorite place to buy online toys!  My son's birthday is today and I even told my friend in Michigan about how my son wanted pieces for his castle.  She got him King Henry, item 4146, and this piece will last for years!  It is so much fun even adults want to play with it!

Resources:

Nova Natural toys & Crafts
44 Miller Lane, #10
Williston, VT  05495
www.novanatural.com
US & Canada phone for questions and ordering, 877-668-2111
International, other than Canada, 802-860-1300
e-mail, support@novanatural.com

Archie's Playground, at McConaghy House

The historic McConaghy House offers Archie's Playroom on select Saturdays.  I'm looking forward to attending one of the themed Saturdays coming up.

Resources:

Saturday, February 9, 2013
Fun & Games - Are You Game?
When it's cold outside, join us for a fun day of parlor games inside Archie's Playroom.  There will be board games, mystery games, old-fashioned games and card games.  We will enjoy stories and make a unique craft to take home.

Saturday, March 9, 2013
Everybody Is An Artist
Mary McConaghy was a talented artist.  She lived in the house from 1886 until 1939.  Explore her art in the house, and then make your own.  They will use different media for the creations and find inspiration in the McConaghy House Garden - just as Mary McConaghy did.

McConaghy House
18701 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA
www.haywardareahistory.org

Sienna Ranch - classes for homeschool families

Sienna Ranch, in Lafayette, CA, started in 2008 as a place for homeschoolers.  They started a popular class called the Homeschoolers Explorer Program.  In fact, there is a whole page dedicated to homeschooler families on their website.

My son, who is 4, loves Sienna Ranch and it is fun to see him outdoors collecting eggs, brushing the goats, and doing other chores around the ranch.  Last week the children made angels out of wool from the sheep on Sienna Ranch.

Session 3 classes started on January 21st, see website for more information.

Everyone I've encountered who works on the ranch  is super nice and relaxed, which is refreshing in the fast paced Bay Area!

Resources:

Sienna Ranch
3232 Deer Hill Rd.
Lafayette, CA
(925)  283-6311
siennaranch.net

Sienna Ranch - classes for children

My son is enrolled in a class at Sienna Ranch, in Lafayette, CA.  They offer classes for preschool, elementary school, and even homeschool classes.

They also offer summer camp, and registration is now open.

There is a spring break camp from April 1-5.

Session 3 classes started on January 21st.

Sienna Ranch is a magical place where children can collect eggs, brush goats, and learn to be a rancher!  My son loves it!

Resources:

Sienna Ranch
3232 Deer Hill Rd.
Lafayette, CA
(925) 283-6311
siennaranch.net