Death by Pins and Needles by Susie Black

•      Swimsuit companies gather to show the newest colors and designs. The last thing anyone expects is to find a dead body. What ensues is a race to find the killer and gain the release of innocent people.  The designers begin talking about the situation and trying to put some of the clues out there. Will they find the killer before they strike again?

  I enjoyed this book. It's funny. The killer definitely slipped by me. I had no idea who it was.  Well written with wonderful characters, you'll read this one and share it. Ms Black gives the reader plenty of suspects to choose from.  Get this book and see what you think.

  I found some issues with this book. First, it's cliché. It's almost expected to follow the track it does. It's filled with what we called back, "old sayings". Things you'd hear from the old folks.

 I gave this one 3 cheers out of 5 because of the issues above.

 

Michigan Senate dumps ‘read or flunk’ portion of third-grade law

 

• The ‘read or flunk’ provision approved in 2016 sought to improve reading and accountability
• But there were so many exceptions, few students were held back and Democrats say mandate didn’t work
• Bill now heads to state House

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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.

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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.

Related:

• Michigan Senate panel removes flunking from third grade reading law
• Michigan Democrats’ big education priority: Reform or kill read-or-flunk law
• Black, poor students held back at higher rates under Michigan reading law

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.

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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. 

Disappointment

 

              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? 

Will We Ever Learn??

 Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of

a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,

shall not be infringed.

Read this carefully. It is speaking of keeping a Militia ready to fight any enemy. It does not say every American should have 1-12 guns in their possession. It does not say any American may open fire whenever they choose. Many read this to suit their own need. The forefathers just wanted America safe from anyone trying to take it over. It was written in a time when there wasn't an organized military. The fighting group was made up of farmers etc.

America has a common enemy, gun owners. Take a look at the mass shootings in America. These people have been proven incapable of having a gun. Had someone let the police know these people owned a gun but didn't need to, we may have prevented the shootings. These people didn't own a gun for hunting. They didn't own the gun for protecting their home. The laws we want to impose will go a long way to protect Americans. Don't you want a safe America? Don't you want your kids and grandkids safe in school? It's time to stop manipulating the Bill of Rights to suit yourself. I'm sure if our forefathers were here today, they'd confiscate every gun but the military and police guns.

The Cloak by Wanda Luthman

     A soldier is having nightmares. He isn't sure why but he knows they began after a cloak became his.  He was part of the group who guarded a man headed for crucifixion.  The soldiers gambled to see who would get the fine cloak.

   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.

Santa's Christmas Wish by Maggie Tideswell

   Audra was headed to the mall when she saw Santa's sleigh land on the room. She felt the need to talk to him and made her way to where children were waiting to sit on Santa's lap. When it was Audra's turn, she sat on his lap and told him she wanted a man for Christmas. Santa whispers he wants a baby for Christmas. From there, Audra's life becomes a whirlwind.

   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.

 

A Surprising Day

 

I'm not really sure how to start. I went to my eye specialist today. Was supposed to be just a regular visit

I wasn't expecting anything that happened.  Then didn't tell me until halfway through my visit this was 

to be what they call a long visit. It really caught me off guard, but okay. Finally it was time to meet 

with Dr. Gordon. She looked over all the photos they took of my eyes and talked to her assistant. The 

tech left and Dr. Gordon turned around to me.  "Your right eye is doing terrifically. The left eye isn't. I 

will be giving you a shot in your left eye." I steeled myself for the shot. Dr. Gordon said," Your left eye

will lose complete sight in 6 months. You'll be blind in that eye."  She began to explain to me and my 

son just what she wanted to do. She explained to us, if we got started aggressively treating it, I may be 

able to retain sight.  My son was asking questions and Dr.  Gordon told her she almost never sees

a diabetic go blind these days. My mind shut down. I just heard blind. My worse fear. She and my son 

set up things. In January I have three appointments scheduled. Shots in my eyes for all three. I am 

trying not to look at this news as I normally would. I'm trying to be positive about a this. I haven't been 

able to catch my breath  since she used that word. 

 I'm not going to let it shut me down. I'm trying to figure out what to do next.  

  Thank you for reading this and hanging on while I go through this. I appreciate you all.