This book is a wonderful read for children. Yes, it's a teaching moment. Henrietta isn't sure about herself. She's learning though. There were several of her new friends telling her they'd help her hide her quills.
I didn't find any issues.
I gave this one 4 cheers out of 5 because it's a fantastic book.
LANSING — The Michigan Senate voted Wednesday to dismantle a controversial law requiring students to repeat the third grade if they’re behind in reading skills.
In a 22-16 vote, senators moved to repeal requirement that third graders who’ve fallen a year or more behind on state standards for reading comprehension be held back instead of advancing to fourth grade.
The “read or flunk” provision approved as part of a 2016 law signed by former Gov. Rick Snyder aimed at assisting struggling readers and improving accountability in schools.
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Democrats and education advocates have long argued the retention requirement should get tossed, pointing to studies claiming doing so hurt students psychologically, disproportionately impacted low-income and minority students and simply doesn’t work.
Repealing the provision was named a top priority by legislative Democrats after they won majorities in both legislative chambers last fall.
Senate Bill 12, does away with the retention policy, but keeps provisions outlining how schools assess students for reading skills and what interventions to provide. The bill requires the state to notify parents if their students have a reading deficiency that qualifies for state intervention in the fourth grade.
“It’s ineffective and out of touch education policy like this that led me to run for office,” said Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, a former teacher. “This bill will ensure our kids have the reading supports they need—and eliminate the punitive and problematic mandatory retention piece they don’t.”
Most Republicans voted against the measure, except Sens. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, and Joe Bellino, R-Monroe.
Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, argued that nixing the retention portion of the law is unwise, especially as students struggle to recover from learning loss after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now is not the time to weaken standards and accountability or to take tools out of our toolbox,” Damoose said.
The third-grade reading law was passed in 2016, but the retention component did not go into effect until students took standardized assessments in the 2020-2021 school year. That means the first group of students that were retained were in fall 2021.
The law allowed several exceptions, including whether they’d previously been held back or if the parent and superintendent agreed retention wasn’t in the child’s best interest.
Michigan State University researchers found that of the nearly 5,700 students eligible for retention this fall, only 545 students were held back. Researchers also found that Black students and those from low-income families are more than twice as likely to be held back compared to their white and higher-income peers.
The report found 13.6 percent of the Black students who were flagged were held back, while 5.7 percent of white students flagged repeated third grade. Similarly, 10.5 percent of eligible students from low-income families were held back, compared with 4.3 percent of students who are not from low-income families.
Both Democrats and Republicans have endorsed investing more heavily in reading tutors to help struggling students catch up by third grade.
Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, said Tuesday he believed the passage of the initial third-grade reading law “was a real miscarriage of the legislative process” and usurped the work being done at the local level to intervene when kids were struggling with reading.
He urged lawmakers to “just scrap the whole thing” with a full repeal instead of prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution to school districts with varying needs.
I saw something today that upset me. One of my very favorite people is a dumpster diver named Cathie. Despite her health and her Mother's, whom she cares for, she saves items to donate. Fifteen hours ago she was doing just that when she decided to check out a CVS. After a bit of digging, she found several boxes of paperbacks. Brad Taylor, Jude Deveraux, Jennifer Ryan, Danielle Steel, Laura Griffin, Lee Tobin McClain, Stephen King, Clive Cussler, Brenda Novak, J.A. Jance, Allison Brennan, Stacey Abrams, Candace Camp, Lorraine Heath, Mary Kubica, Megan Hampton, Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Lori Foster, etc. These books look like brand new. Covers were in place and they were in clean boxes.
I was very sick to my stomach when I saw this. How can CVS just box up these books? Why didn't THEY donate them? I presume they are paid for. Still aren't they supposed to remove the cover if they throw them away?
Amendment II
This book is very well written, but then the author had great sources. The story will cause you to be lost in thought. It simply gives the reader the information and allows them to decide. The story can be read in a coffee break. It might cause the reader to become emotional though. This is a book to be read year round but especially at Easter. I read it over and over. I share is with my children as well.
I found one issue with this one. I would have preferred the book to be original.
I gave this one 4 cheers out of five for the reason above.
I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I read the title. I figured it was going to be a run-of-the-mill Christmas book. I am thrilled to tell you I was wrong. This book needs to be included in your- TBR pile and your favorites pile. The story unfolds in a beautiful three dimensional way. Ms. Tideswell crafted a Christmas story you will read again and again. You'll share this one with friends and family as well. This is one to treat yourself with.
I didn't find any issues. The magic of this book will last weeks beyond the holidays.
I gave this one five cheers out of five because it makes you believe in Santa and magic again.
