Social Impact Bonds: Chicago Plays Pay for Success with Young Kids
Published in ChicagoNow, October 20, 2015 I’ll confess that in my capacity as an early childhood director for over twenty years, I often...
Oct 19, 2015
PARCC Test Fails Kids Again
From Raise Your Hand Illinois Published in ChicagoNow, September 17, 2015 Parents, brace yourselves. The results are in and only 30-40...
Sep 16, 2015
A Commencement Message for Incoming Kindergarten Parents: Advocate
Published in ChicagoNow, May 20, 2015 Recently, I gave a talk to a group of parents whose children are going to kindergarten this fall....
May 19, 2015
Kindergarten Discipline: Carrots & Sticks
Will this boy survive kindergarten? Published in ChicagoNow, May 4, 2015 Back in August, my grandson started kindergarten filled with...
May 3, 2015
PARCC Bullies
From Raise Your Hand Illinois Published in ChicagoNow, March 30, 2015 The headline of an Evanston Now (no connection to ChicagoNow) post...
Mar 30, 2015
Magic Johnson, Mayor Emanuel, and School Custodians
Not easy to get playdough out of rugs Published in ChicagoNow, March 23, 2015 Gus Lira has been Cherry Preschool’s custodian for most of...
Mar 23, 2015
Last Weekend’s Inappropriate Kindergarten Homework
Homework or draw Hot Lava Man? Hot Lava Man wins! Published in ChicagoNow, March 17, 2015 I really do not want to keep writing about...
Mar 17, 2015
Excessive Testing Removes Bulletin Boards and Children’s Imaginations
From Meriwether Lewis Elementary Published in ChicagoNow, March 12, 2015 A Chicago Public School teacher, who served as a proctor for the...
Mar 12, 2015
What Schools Could Learn about the Importance of Recess from a Third Grade Science Fair Project
Cartoon by Marcia Liss` Published in ChicagoNow, March 9, 2015 On Tuesdays, I watch my third-grade granddaughter after school. My...
Mar 9, 2015
Still Rethinking the School Calendar
Published in ChicagoNow, March 6, 2015 While watching Morning Joe yesterday, I almost fell off of my exercise bike when they happily...
Mar 6, 2015