It's too hard for me to choose one Christmas that stands out. Christmas is a time to make fond memories with your loved ones. It brings memories of passing down traditions to our children. The tradition of teaching them the family recipes passed down from generations and then sitting down to eat a feast that is enough to feed an army. The tradition of watching children open their presents and the excitement of getting something that they really wanted. The tradition of visiting with everyone after we have eaten so much that you can hardly move and the tradition of sharing memories of christmas past and present including the loved ones that are no longer with us. Family is Christmas!
I hope that this doesn't sound too mushy but that is how I remeber Christmas!
Karla K.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
World Issue-Hunger and Famine
This is an issue that seems to get alot of attention around the holidays but as you all know it is happening year round in our country and in other countries as well.
It is frustrating to me that so many have to go hungry. The lack of nutrition has such a huge impact on children and their ability to develop their mind and body.
How does hunger affect children and families? Without adequate calories and a diverse diet consisting of grains, fruits, vegetables and proteins that provide the appropriate vitamins and nutrients, families become malnourished, with children and women being the most vulnerable. Children especially need an adequate diet for growth and development. Acute malnutrition results in significant weight loss or even death.
Chronic, or long-term, malnutrition, even at mild levels, can increase susceptibility to diseases like diarrhea, malaria, and measles. Chronic malnutrition contributes to the deaths of 6.5 million children per year around the world. Chronic malnutrition of children under two often results in stunting -- reduced height and permanently diminished physical and mental capacity. Stunting negatively impacts the health and productivity of current and future generations.
Feel free to visit this website to find out more info. or to sponsor a child in support of good health and happiness.
http://www.savethechildren.org/programs/hunger-malnutrition/hunger-and-famine.html
It is frustrating to me that so many have to go hungry. The lack of nutrition has such a huge impact on children and their ability to develop their mind and body.
How does hunger affect children and families? Without adequate calories and a diverse diet consisting of grains, fruits, vegetables and proteins that provide the appropriate vitamins and nutrients, families become malnourished, with children and women being the most vulnerable. Children especially need an adequate diet for growth and development. Acute malnutrition results in significant weight loss or even death.
Chronic, or long-term, malnutrition, even at mild levels, can increase susceptibility to diseases like diarrhea, malaria, and measles. Chronic malnutrition contributes to the deaths of 6.5 million children per year around the world. Chronic malnutrition of children under two often results in stunting -- reduced height and permanently diminished physical and mental capacity. Stunting negatively impacts the health and productivity of current and future generations.
Feel free to visit this website to find out more info. or to sponsor a child in support of good health and happiness.
http://www.savethechildren.org/programs/hunger-malnutrition/hunger-and-famine.html
Monday, December 10, 2007
Issue In Education
WASL Graduation Requirements
The issue is all Washington students must take and pass a statewide assessment to meet graduation requirements. This also applies to Special Education students which is why I have strong opinions. Special Education students have to take their grade level test at least once to determine if they can meet standard or not. Some students qualify for the WAAS Portfolio but the majority of mine don't. If the student did not meet grade level standards than the next year the IEP team can determine which level test they need to take according to their ability level and they'll need to pass this to graduate. I have had to administer the tenth grade test to some of my students who are between a 3rd and 5th grade level. This is a humiliating process when you don't understand what is being asked in the test, much less being asked to write an answer. They try to pretend that they are working on it but they really aren't. My opinion is that we are wasting a year having them do the test that is not at their level. Just let them take their ability level so they can start working towards passing it for graduation so they can begin to feel a sense of accomplshment. There, I'm done standing on my soap box!
Let me know what your opinion is.
Karla
Here's the website with more info.
http://www.k12.wa.us/
The issue is all Washington students must take and pass a statewide assessment to meet graduation requirements. This also applies to Special Education students which is why I have strong opinions. Special Education students have to take their grade level test at least once to determine if they can meet standard or not. Some students qualify for the WAAS Portfolio but the majority of mine don't. If the student did not meet grade level standards than the next year the IEP team can determine which level test they need to take according to their ability level and they'll need to pass this to graduate. I have had to administer the tenth grade test to some of my students who are between a 3rd and 5th grade level. This is a humiliating process when you don't understand what is being asked in the test, much less being asked to write an answer. They try to pretend that they are working on it but they really aren't. My opinion is that we are wasting a year having them do the test that is not at their level. Just let them take their ability level so they can start working towards passing it for graduation so they can begin to feel a sense of accomplshment. There, I'm done standing on my soap box!
Let me know what your opinion is.
Karla
Here's the website with more info.
http://www.k12.wa.us/
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