NFB: Goodbye to First Grade

My daughter is enjoying her last day of first grade right now and I'm asking, where did the time go? Granted, I am not as emotional over it as I was last year (thanks to Kindergarten graduation), but this year flew by.

We switched schools in the same school district because we moved in June of last year to the place we are in now. I was not very happy with the school she attended in Kindergarten. I mean, they had wonderful resources and everything, but there were a few things I was unhappy with. This past school year though, I became more involved in getting to know people, attended some PTO meetings and offered some help as I began to realize how much the PTO does for the school. I am truly impressed and whereever I can help, I will. I really love this school and we are going to do whatever it takes to remain in this area so my daughter can finish her schooling out here. I will definitely miss her first grade teacher, who really had a wonderful impact on my daughter's education and life. My daughter has grown so much and did so well with reading and writing that I was impressed. We now visit our local library regularly and she signs up for events that happen through the library as well. The fact that I can see change is wonderful. It never ceases to amaze me how much these kids learn and how they just soak everything up.

Come Fall she will be in the second grade, and I will be hoping to have a full-time job, so there will be a transition for both of us, but it'll be a positive transition. Right now I am trying to find part-time temporary work during the summer to make a couple of extra bucks for my teeth problems and for summer spending.

I just hope she'll continue to have a love for learning and go onto college someday. I will do whatever it takes to help pay for her to further her education, even if that means working two jobs.

NFB: Blog challenge

Think about the many issues you frequently see in the news.

Which of these issues or platforms would you put a gag order on, not only for the next debates and elections, but the entire 4 years of the next sitting president (or prime minister, etc), at both the federal and state levels.

That would mean that the issue chosen would remain completely static.

Gahh, I think if I had to choose which issue or platform I would put a gag order on, it would be the No Child Left Behind act. I have to admit that what I know about NCLB is limited, but what I know about it is no good. I would also stop standardized testing at the elementary school age. As much as we want to know what our children are being taught, putting pressure on them to "do good" on standardized testing does not help the situation either. I believe there is far too much pressure on kids these days.

My alternative would be to do a mandatory test at the end of the year for the mere purpose to see what kids have learned in school that year- however, not in the old-fashioned testing type of way. Make it fun, make it a game, and whatever you do, don't put pressure on the kids. I've heard horror stories of kids saying they needed to make sure they ate a good meal before the test, or getting themselves into crazed studying modes for the standardized tests (at the elementary school level, mind you!).

I hate politics.