FS 2.3 Spring Is In the Air

Punxsutawney Phil may have seen his shadow but the groundhogs around here are out and about. Now that it is starting to warm up you can see them sunning themselves in the afternoon. So, spring is in the air and with it a get busy, get moving feeling. I was re-energised recently with a visit to a very curious little shop. From the moment I walked in and started speaking to the proprietor I found a little bit of everything that I seek. The shop was filled to brim with odds and ends that I found unique and inviting but the people and their stories, information and willingness to help really stuck with me.

After my outing I went home and dove straight into one of the books I bought that day. This is when things started coming around full circle. My creative muse jumped right out of the closet and bashed me on the head. I allowed her to scream at me just this once,"to stop making excuses, you know you can do this, and the ever so obvious Listen to your inner voice!" Because she is right.

It is a time to plant new seeds on more ways than one. As many of you know the gardening bug hits me pretty hard this time of year and this year will be no exception. I am already starting some plants inside. It is a time to push past the obstacles and negative influences in our lives. Do not give into doubt, rejection, or hurtful remarks. Hold close those near you who support and applaud your time, effort, and ideas. It is time to breathe new life into our everyday by trying fresh new things. So, I say ... go out on that limb and jump right off. Talk to those people who you think are unapproachable, they may surprise you.

So, here it goes my dear friends and readers. I am in the works of starting something wonderful. At this moment I am still getting it off the ground but I will keep you posted and hopefully soon will have a link to send you. All the best!---CK

FS 2.2 Why I Loath and Despise Lexile

For several years now I have had to deal with the Lexile framework for reading program in our local schools. The service this website lexile.com offers is a catalog of books that are placed into reading levels. Kids take tests to show their level of reading and are given a range that they are to read books out of. School libraries shelve the books by the lexile level. So this all sounds well and good to get kids to challenge and improve their reading skills. There is a catch though. If a child finds a book they really want to read it must be within their lexile range and most teachers will take no exceptions. Children who have advanced reading levels for their age and grade are left with books that are too mature in subject matter or not interesting at all. I happen to be a parent to one of these children.

Ever since the Lexile program was integrated in our schools my child has less and less of a desire to read at all. The level my child sits at right now and range assigned to her has also taken away any chance for her to read fundamental classic literature. Basically my kid can read the latest crap novel about teen age romance but she cannot get any credit at school for reading Hemingway, Jack London, Dickens, Poe, H.G.Wells, Ray Bradbury or C.S.Lewis

It is both a blessing and a curse to raise a gifted child. We trust or educational system to ensure that they have the tools and knowledge to equip them for life and further education. I am not saying that it is entirely their responsibility. I take part in my child's education by staying on top of their grades, homework, projects and interests. The Lexile program and the teachers who do not demand that all children have a basic knowledge and exposure to the books, art and ideas expected to be taught in grade school I hold accountable.

I spoke with an educator in the gifted program at our school that dislikes the Lexile program as much as I do. I was informed that many of their "levels" posted for classic literature are based off of adapted versions of these books. This knowledge appalled me. So, when a kid looks up Great Expectations by Charles Dickens the level posted is much lower because it is based off an adapted by Joe Smith version of the book. Way to go Lexile! Thank you for dumbing down the children of our future. ------CK