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Capital Region BOCES
Middle Years
It used to be all we ever really needed to know we learned in kindergarten, at least according to author Robert Fulghum. His famous essay (entitled, “All I Ever Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”) outlines some of those lessons, such as “Live a balanced life; learn some and think some; and draw […]
As the weather improves and children spend more time outdoors, it’s important to take precautions against the threat of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is an infection transmitted by deer ticks and the western black legged tick. Although other types of ticks carry Lyme bacteria, there is no evidence that their bites transmit the disease. According […]
Since the 1970s, the United States has recognized April as a special opportunity to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. According to the Centers for […]
You look at the district calendar and see a staff development day on the schedule – again. Why is there another day off? you wonder. Before you get frustrated about how it will wreak havoc on your own schedule, it helps to understand why these days are part of every district’s yearly calendar. School districts […]
New York state’s standardized English Language Arts (ELA) tests begin April 1, and I am grateful that my fourth grader is not anxious about the three days of test-taking. He is inclined to be anxious about many things, like thunder, high winds, and my absence at 8:45 p.m. when I had told him I expected […]
Parent Today shared the following information in advance of 2013 state standardized test for students in grades 3-8. We republish it here so you can help prepare your child for another test season. Some students thrive on test stress; others experience intense anxiety that leaves them feeling physically ill – stomachaches, headaches, etc. – and […]
There’s a part of me that wants to opt my kids out of standardized testing. But I’m not going to. I hear about the controversy over testing (see sidebar), and I side with parents who believe they are ultimately responsible and accountable for their child’s education. We – as parents – do have primary responsibility […]
Some parents don’t want their children to take annual standardized tests, and they cite a number of reasons why. Although there is no statutory provision in New York state for “opting out” of the tests, many parents are still choosing that route. Is opting out the right thing for your child? As parents, you should […]