tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14126102500836237972024-02-19T05:27:37.346-05:00A Second LookThis is a blog by a veteran education journalist on schools, gender and whatever else I feel like writing about!Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-67224154438042069212012-07-02T11:07:00.000-04:002012-07-02T11:07:05.342-04:00An Exciting Development!A mom in New Jersey sends this letter. <b>LOVE IT</b>
My boys (I have five) had some strong opinions related to the quality of “boy books”. I ordered The Trouble with Boys and loved it. The boys decided to approach their school librarian who was very open to their opinions and supportive of their ideas. The boys spent 2 days pulling every “boy friendly” book from the (NAME OF SCHOOL) library shelves. Labels were then ordered that would help male students and teachers easily identify good “guy” books. A day was spent labeling the books and developing a master list that teachers, parents and boys can easily access to find engaging books. We hope to develop a book club for boys at (name of school) that would pair a strong 8th grade male reader with a boy or group of boys who are struggling to discover the joy found in a good read.
The book also made me stop turning my nose up at the “Captain Underpants” books my younger boys were always dying to read!Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-16056367404334749552012-01-12T11:29:00.001-05:002012-01-12T11:31:36.100-05:00Boys and GunsHere's a columnist writing about the mostly widely misunderstood part of boys play -- guns. She writes. <blockquote></blockquote>When I was a younger, first-time new mom, I had planned on being rabid about the way we treated the subject in our home. I vowed to raise our son to think that even saying the word ‘gun’ was bad, and swore we’d never have guns as toys. Heaven-forbid he ever formed a gun with his finger and his thumb, it wasn’t something we’d ever allow him to do twice!<br /><br />And then I wised up. Correction, I read the book The Trouble with Boys after attending an amazing lecture by the book’s author, reporter Peg Tyre, and then I wised up. Among so many worthy topics on the subject of gender and school, Tyre writes about the kind of play kids (especially boys) use to work out their ideas about social justice, good vs. evil, and right from wrong. And she examines how educators can overreact to kids who talk about it while at school without first determining whether there are more serious issues at hand.<br /><br />Her writing helped me work out some more nuanced ways about talking about guns with my children, about understanding what pretend gun play was, and about how I could talk to them at different developmental ages about what real guns do when in the hands of the wrong people.<blockquote></blockquote><br /><br />Nice! Right?Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-61432388114983593402011-11-28T15:38:00.003-05:002011-11-28T15:45:48.039-05:00College financial aid: "a war between the haves and the have-a-lots."So, more middle class families get financial aid for college. All good, right? Except, this means that fewer and fewer poor kids get to go to college. And that's not good. <br /><br /><a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~baileymj/Bailey_Dynarski.pdf"></a>Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-44406449561440913012011-11-28T12:00:00.001-05:002011-11-28T12:04:01.795-05:00a great letter from a reader of TGS<blockquote>I just finished reading The Good School in one sitting and I have to say that you wrote the book I wanted to write. I am a high school English teacher (15 years)...I've recently become very alarmed at where our schools are headed. The thing is this: most "middle class" parents aren't even aware of how bad the situation is and could be. I, myself, was astounded .. that so little of what we do as teachers has real scientific basis. Why? We have the science as you've shown, but districts are far more interested in bringing in educational speakers for pep talks than giving real science. In my school, too, there are so many teachers who are content to teach the same year every year with worksheets galore. And while I teach HS English, I knew instinctively that my second grader was missing something (real phonics instruction) in his "balanced literacy" curriculum. Yet, when I once sent the Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum information on Open Court because they were giving free materials, she responded curtly, "We don't do Open Court" as if I'd suggested she eat a frog or something. <br /><br />There is a definite connection from mediocre schools to America's decline and high unemployment. I recently traveled to India on a two week teaching exchange and we should be very afraid. Indian students were so well prepared and eager to learn. Yet, I feel we could really take advantage of America's strengths in our diversity and creativity. If only parents knew how mediocre their schools really are. We hear a ton about the lowest performing schools and we all know that rich districts have their first graders learning Mandarin. It is the middle class schools that need attention, yet parents need a wake-up call to realize this and do something about it.</blockquote>Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-45873228107077623792011-09-06T13:01:00.001-04:002011-09-06T13:02:25.092-04:00Freakonomics Loves The Good School!Here we are, talking about The Good School on the popular blog <a href="http://bit.ly/n3owTX">Freakonomics</a>Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-60543137835977730452011-09-02T09:59:00.003-04:002011-09-02T10:04:07.694-04:00Talking about The Good School on "All Things Considered!"Here is the story that ran on their <a href="http://http://www.npr.org/2011/08/28/139946179/what-makes-a-school-good-not-the-finger-painting">website and the podcast of the interview! </a>Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-10921109136993634392011-09-01T07:40:00.002-04:002011-09-01T07:45:47.101-04:00People magazineMy new book, The Good School, is reviewed in PEOPLE magazine! Yeah! Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-26377190594777706622011-08-24T10:19:00.003-04:002011-08-24T10:23:21.821-04:00Time.com interviews me about The Good School!Time.com, which gets 10 million unique viewers a month, writes about my book. So exciting!!!
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<br />The second most important decision you will make as a parent — apart from deciding to have the kid in the first place — is deciding which school for them to enroll in. Make the right decision and you could put them on a path toward lifelong learning, a prestigious college education and a successful career. Choose wrong, and well, you know. Talk about pressure. Luckily for parents, Peg Tyre, author of The Trouble with Boys and a former Newsweek education reporter, has a new book to help parents evaluate both schools and teachers so they can find the right place for their child. Fittingly, it's called The Good School: How Smart Parents Get Their Kids the Education They Deserve. Tyre spoke to TIME about which questions you should ask when you're evaluating a school — whether your child is starting pre-K or switching schools in the middle of fourth grade — and why math is key in every grade.
<br />1. In Preschool, the Relationship Between Teacher and Student Is Key
<br />The connection between child and teacher is more important than any curriculum, Tyre said. Think of it this way: your 3- or 4-year-old is accustomed to being surrounded by loving people, their parents and siblings 24/7, and school is their first time spending a large portion of their day away from those people. You want to look for a preschool teacher who is very engaged, Tyre said. Have a conversation with a prospective teacher about their current classroom. They should be able to speak about individual students' strengths and weaknesses and be well informed of their background, interests, emotional and academic achievements. You want a teacher who takes great pride in his or her students' progress and is consistently open to their improvement. "When I meet great teachers, they are those for whom every day is a new day," Tyre told TIME. "They are constantly ready for their kids to step up and learn more." Above all, Tyre said, avoid crabby preschool teachers and those who are too authoritarian. "I see it all the time — pre-K teachers who are barking orders and being very harsh with kids," she said. "I don't think that's appropriate."
<br />(See the 20 best- and worst-paid college majors.)
<br />2. The Early Years: Words, Words, Words
<br />Your child should be surrounded with words, especially in the early years, Tyre said. You want to look for books in the classroom and be sure the class makes regular visits to the library. You also want to ensure the teacher sets aside lots of time for reading, reading instruction and storytelling. In the preschool and kindergarten years, be sure the teacher is providing the building blocks for learning to read. They should focus on syllabication, e.g., "B makes the 'bah' sound" and "the boy had a big blue ball."
<br />3. Math Cannot Be an Afterthought
<br />From the first days of school, your kids should be exposed to math concepts. "When your child is preschool age, what you need to know is this: there is no need to wait until children are older and are able to think and speak in more abstract ways to introduce math concepts," Tyre writes in The Good School. "A certain kind of math ability seems to be innate in all of us and has been measured days after birth." Which means, in your child's preschool class you should hear teachers discussing basic math concepts with students. Things like greater than, less than, bigger, smaller and reinforcing the number concept ("How much is three?"). As a parent you can follow up on these things at home by doing something as simple as counting the number of Cheerios in the morning. Don't like math or convinced you are bad at it? Don't tell your kids. Tyre said parents who pass an antimath sentiment on to their kids hurt their chances of success. In the U.S., parents, kids and even teachers may describe a person as "bad at math," but in other countries where kids perform better in math, if a student is not performing well in math, parents, kids and teachers say he or she needs to work harder. "Math is not a talent; like having a good singing voice, it's a muscle you develop," Tyre said. Be on the lookout for a teacher who expresses a great deal of enthusiasm about math, she said. "You do not want a teacher who is scared of math," she said.
<br />(See why only one-quarter of U.S. students are proficient in geography.)
<br />4. Don't Focus Too Much on Standardized-Test Scores
<br />Sometimes, good test scores can be an indication that a school is doing a very good job of educating its students, but other times it can be an indication that the school is teaching to the test. Standardized tests only measure about a third of the curriculum that should be being taught in the school, which means if the school is only teaching the test material, your child is missing out on a lot. Ideally, a school will teach a rich and complicated curriculum, Tyre said, wherein students get a tremendous amount of information, with the test answers embedded throughout. And, she noted, "Test scores going up for one year means nothing, so drop the contest mentality." Instead, ask to see the desegregated test results that break out various student populations. Focus on the English-language-learning students — even if your child is not one of them — those students are the hardest to teach and are often the lowest quartile, so if their scores are going up, that really says something about the school. But don't stop there, ask why the scores have gone up. You want a thoughtful answer, Tyre said, not simply, Oh, we have this new program that helps us teach the test.
<br />5. There Is No Excuse for a School Day with No Recess
<br />What a mistake that is, Tyre said. "No one thinks this is a good idea," she said. Apart from the obvious physical benefits of aerobic exercise, studies have shown recess also increases cognitive functioning, she said. Tyre has seen elementary schools built without playgrounds, schools functioning like boot camps or reading-and-math factories, based on the idea that more instructional time means more learning. "Avoid those schools," Tyre said. "Kids need downtime — a break from the rigor. Twenty minutes a day, at least." The same is true for middle-school and high school students — they need breaks too.
<br />(See TIME's special on what makes a school great.)
<br />6. Teachers Matter — Even More than You Think
<br />While not even a superteacher can entirely alleviate the effects of poverty on students, excellent teachers not only teach more, but they can even accelerate the rate of learning among their students. And good schools champion great teachers, Tyre said. They grow them. Look for schools that provide teachers with mentors, instruction and discussion of best practices. Find a school where the teachers are not being treated as interchangeable cogs. "If you show up and the fourth-grade teacher is now teaching kindergarten, that's not a good sign," Tyre told TIME. "Ask, How has that teacher been prepared for this year? What kind of additional training did they receive over the summer?" Additionally, Tyre recommends that during school tours, parents ask questions such as, "How do administrators evaluate the teachers?" and "How often are classroom lessons observed?" Don't be afraid to ask teachers where they completed their undergraduate studies and what they studied. "It's not snobbery," Tyre said. "Teachers who graduate from more selective colleges — public and private — get better results out of kids."
<br />7. It's Not All in the Name
<br />There is no colloquial designation that guarantees quality. Just the word charter or private does not mean the school is a success. In fact, Tyre said, only 1 in 5 charter schools performs better than the schools they replace. "There is no uniformly great private school, no uniformly great charter school and no uniformly great public school," Tyre said. "There is no easy name that you can gravitate toward that will allow you to suspend judgment." So do your homework. The public school down the road could be just as good as the private school that costs $30,000 a year.<blockquote></blockquote>
<br />Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-41711944533740812182011-08-24T09:43:00.002-04:002011-08-24T10:16:07.396-04:00another great review for The Good School!This one on About.com. The reviewer writes: <blockquote></blockquote>"choosing a school is one of a father's biggest decisions and has life-long implications for his children. (No pressure, right?) But The Good School makes a tough and high-stakes process a lot more manageable and understandable. When you read The Good School, you will get a lot of research done for you in terms of how to evaluate school options, and a series of insights and key questions and concerns to raise when you are checking out these school choices. How do the objective measures like test score and teacher turnover factor in? What about P.E. and recess? School hours and days? How can you tell from an interview and classroom visit whether a teacher will work well with your child?
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<br />Hard questions, but certainly the ones you need to consider. And if you read The Good School, you will get ahead of the game and be prepared to make an informed and thoughtful decision about your child's education. Check out my review and then order your own copy. Read it and refer to it often for continuing insight into your child's formal education." <blockquote></blockquote>
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<br />I swear, I am not related to this man! But I love him like a brother! Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-71587930698097200502011-08-15T17:43:00.002-04:002011-08-15T17:44:09.798-04:00An excellent review in the influential BooklistThey call The GOOD SCHOOL "an engaging and valuable resource." And they say a lot of other nice things, too!
<br />Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-50710708649873692882011-08-12T10:48:00.002-04:002011-08-12T17:39:10.174-04:00the myth of rational school choice.<a href="http://www.reuters.com/video/2011/08/05/how-to-improve-your-childs-education?videoId=218021169&videoChannel=1004">Here's an op ed about the book that ran on Reuters</a>. The lede sounds very serious but the piece... most parents will relate to it. Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-44684906707650902582011-08-06T18:16:00.005-04:002011-08-06T18:19:20.545-04:00This Week In Education -- I'm the Guest BloggerSo, I get a chance to respond to a Time magazine piece....<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">So I get a chance to rA new article on <a href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2086809,00.html" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 153, 204); ">Time.com</a> purports to be an insider's guide on how to pick schools for your kids-- arguably one of the most important decision parents will make for their children. It's written by Time.com's education columnist, Andrew Rotherham, the ultimate <a href="http://bellwethereducation.org/people/team/#rotherham" target="_self" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 153, 204); ">ed policy insider</a>. His advice is 1) look at test scores 2) go for a tour and 3) talk to your friends. Oh, and by the way, we need more charter schools. Really? That's it? C'mon, Mr. Rotherham! Show some respect for the school choice process! I just wrote a book called <span style="text-decoration: underline; ">The Good School: How Smart Parents Get their Kids the Education They Deserve.</span> (You can pre-order it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+good+school&x=0&y=0" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 153, 204); ">here</a> on Amazon or find out more about it <a href="http://www.pegtyre.com/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(51, 153, 204); ">here</a>). The purpose of <span style="text-decoration: underline; ">The Good School </span>is to help parents understand important elements of excellent schools-- so they know it when they see it and can agitate for it if they don't. It covers topics like: how to pick a pre-school, what test scores really mean, how much recess should a kid have, what does a good reading program look like, what about class size, how to prime your kids to be successful in math, the importance of good teachers and how to spot them. Parents of school-aged are hungry for real information about schooling. Looks to me like Time.com punted on a great opportunity to provide their readers with what they so vitally need. <blockquote></blockquote></span>What do you think? Do I have a future in blogging? <blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote></div>Peg Tyrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07746186795510271611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-71409347334820917912011-05-18T17:04:00.005-04:002011-05-23T10:31:43.157-04:00Teach yr baby to read!Want to teach really teach your baby to read? <div>http://bit.ly/kExUBj. Prompted by my book, this schools used Hanen technique to get kids talking more, reading better. Good for boys! </div><div><div><br /></div></div>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-14478913425429849882011-05-18T15:57:00.000-04:002011-05-18T15:57:02.699-04:00A Second Look: New Dangers Parents Face<a href="http://pegtyre.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-dangers-parents-face.html#links">A Second Look: New Dangers Parents Face</a>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-60940211211846869102011-05-18T10:00:00.008-04:002011-05-18T11:06:29.974-04:00New Dangers Parents Face<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ21TxnbSn6fp4yAoFd2GYiqsosS3Xdj3uh791_MP7yDL9sFAVtf2tYnZVO0XpUaW1ytdCb7a0VU0lOTviTBOnOzD_nYvT5tEc9Bf3XK8uZJK2vHS27Rj7kw4qvvVoCXrBRcYgWXn8ecY/s1600/tgscover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ21TxnbSn6fp4yAoFd2GYiqsosS3Xdj3uh791_MP7yDL9sFAVtf2tYnZVO0XpUaW1ytdCb7a0VU0lOTviTBOnOzD_nYvT5tEc9Bf3XK8uZJK2vHS27Rj7kw4qvvVoCXrBRcYgWXn8ecY/s200/tgscover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608056443560859378" /></a>I've got nothing against charter schools in concept. And several that I've been in, notably <a href="http://http://www.kipp.org/school-content/kipp-infinity-elementary-school">Kipp Infinity</a> have impressed me as OUTSTANDING -- really second to none. <div><br /></div><div>But today, we get word of another kind of charter school: The Kingsbridge Innovative Design Charter School -- which had the catchy acronym KIDCS.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsbridge,_Bronx">Kingsbridge</a> is in the northwest Bronx. It is the poor and working class neighborhood right outside of the Bronx Zoo. The operator of KIDCS asked the state to let them open a k-5 school there because well, you know, poor kids are super vulnerable and lag behind middle class kids in learning. Besides, the local public school there was pretty bad: in third grade, only 35% of the kids were at grade level in English. KIDCS was going to do better. </div><div><br /></div><div>So last year, 147 eager moms and dads enrolled their k-and first grade kids at KIDCS.-- and why not? The <a href="http://http://www.kidcs.org/home-page/about">school marketing material</a> promises the school will educate the "whole child" with hand on learning. And here's the new school's promise that just kills me: a pet in every classroom that the children can nurture. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sweet, right? Imagine how excited a five year old who lives in a cramped apartment in the Bronx would have been when she was told she'd get to take care of a bunny in first grade. Imagine the look on that child's face. Now hold it in your mind as your read on: </div><div><br /></div><div>The school opened in Sept-- ominously, ten days late. Then, the wheels fell off. Two principals quit, consultants were called in. To pay those fees, five of the eleven teachers got let go for budgetary reasons. The operators, let's think of them as befuddled and not malicious, couldn't make payroll. It turns out, they didn't even file the right forms to collect the federal money they were due. You can read all the sad details in <a href="http://http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2011Meetings/May2011/511bra6.pdf">this memo from the State Ed. Department.</a> </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, big surprise, the school will be closed. These kids have lost a critical year of instruction. They are further behind. Statistically, it is unlikely they will EVER catch up. </div><div><br /></div><div>What happens to those kids? Does the city try to make it up to them? Are those families given a pass to send their kids to some high performing public school like the one my son attended? A voucher for some high end tutoring to help them catch up? A kind of "thanks for taking a chance on school choice, sorry we screwed your kid over" present? Nope. The idea is that the free market forces are unleashed on our schools -- good ones thrive, bad ones fail. In reality, those hard working parents who got their kids into KIDCS are now frantically trying to find public schools that will take their now lagging behind kids. Probably, they will got back to the crappy neighborhood public school. These are the families that "won the lottery." Now their hopes and dreams are dashed. </div><div><br /></div><div>People: does this seem right to you? If you sign up to be the subject of a medical experiment, an ethics panel forces the researchers to restore you to health if the experimental drugs they are giving you makes you sick. No such protections exist in school choice. Those kids who went to KIDCS get nada.</div><div><br /></div><div> <b>Parents, be careful about selecting schools for your kids. It is a decision that has high stakes.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b></b> This is not a condemnation of charter schools. Or school choice. But this particular experiment in "school choice" leaves 147 kids condemned to school failure. No word on what will become of the classroom pets. </div>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-68287966474169202252011-03-25T16:59:00.003-04:002011-03-25T17:11:06.078-04:00TTWB-- inspires an IPAD AppAs we know, little boys tend to have more fine motor difficulties that girls. And man, they can catch a lot of crap for it at school. <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://http://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Boys-Surprising-Problems-Educators/dp/0307381285">TTWB</a>-- and an <a href="http://http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/fashion/25Therapy.html">article I wrote for the New York Times</a> explores this issue pretty thorough. </div><div><br /></div><div>Note to second grade teachers: those boys aren't writing in a messy way just to annoy you. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyhoo... a genius at Binary Labs has come up with an IPAD app that will help your child develop fine motor skills. And he sent me a letter today to SAY I INSPIRED IT! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, here's what I think about it. I'm flattered. I know that playing in the sand, play-doh and with pipe cleaners helps little boys strengthen their hands and get better at writing. But when they are playing with the IPAD they can play with this app. Strengthens their little hands. Makes them better at holding a crayon. <a href="http://http://www.dexteria.net/contact.html">Check it out</a></div>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-37835100556168709392011-03-24T08:55:00.003-04:002011-03-24T09:00:19.419-04:00A Program that WORKS!This is a wonderful article about the <a href="http://rivertowns.patch.com/articles/club-gets-concord-road-boys-excited-about-reading-and-writing">program</a> in Ardsley, NY, inspired by TTWB, which is successfully getting boys to read and write more. It is run by fantastic teacher named Lisa McKeon! <div><br /></div><div>Mothers of school aged boys -- you <b>want</b> this program in your child's elementary school. Contact me here if you want to know how to set one up. (Low cost, sustainable, progressive!) </div>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-50130430620429805772011-03-22T17:49:00.003-04:002011-03-22T17:54:30.164-04:00Whew! Just Finished My New Book!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_vB39R9iYeA_MBpiU7AZrfopsV5VlbeaXoLAjM8aySWYD0c8ibnLqKIMGElSxxQRwa_fzq2PZWKhaEycXoBEFgPPehBDkwusTZ7P3JZrzoqIsXPwq2ytvyMF_3aqMKKeH5sqfK2lwMs/s1600/tgscover.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_vB39R9iYeA_MBpiU7AZrfopsV5VlbeaXoLAjM8aySWYD0c8ibnLqKIMGElSxxQRwa_fzq2PZWKhaEycXoBEFgPPehBDkwusTZ7P3JZrzoqIsXPwq2ytvyMF_3aqMKKeH5sqfK2lwMs/s200/tgscover.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587024910706317250" /></a>Ok. Here it is. The project I have been working on like a madwoman lo these last 12 months. My new book.....(sounds of trumpets)...The Good School! <div><br /></div><div>What is it about you say? Well, it is a guerrilla guide for parents on what the education research says makes a good school. Basically, a quick and dirty guide to all the studies that you will never get around to reading boiled down into a readable, understandable format. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right now, the fine editors at Henry Holt are knitting together those pages and gluing on the covers for the late August unveiling. But if you leave me your address in the comments box I will email you when it goes on sale. </div>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-84618907085970661152011-03-17T13:09:00.002-04:002011-03-17T13:15:19.407-04:00A Radio Interview About TTWBHere's <a href="http://http://webtalkradio.net/shows/30-minute-mom/">a link to a podcast of an interview</a> I did with a nice lady who hosts a show called Thirty Minute Mom.<div><br /></div><div> Great concept. Wish I'd thought of it. Enjoy! <div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-34000972658111506732011-02-09T13:36:00.002-05:002011-02-09T13:39:37.366-05:00Texas Teachers Read TTWB!Well, this is pretty exciting. It looks like <a href="http://http://atpe.websitetoolbox.com/?forum=180775">several thousand teachers in Texas </a>are doing a study group on The Trouble With Boys. Anyone can register and check out the discussion of "the boy issue" from the teacher's perspective.<br /><br />Gosh, I wish I knew all these teachers were so concerned about boys back when I was writing the book. Would have made my life soooo much easier. :)Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-3018842151845090922010-11-28T14:08:00.002-05:002010-11-28T14:12:03.506-05:00New Way of Looking at GradesHere's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/28/weekinreview/28tyre.html">an article I wrote</a> that ran in the Week In Review section of the NYTimes today.<br /><br />I learned about this big shift in the way schools grade kids from some superintendents who are concerned about low performing boys. They are looking to see how much they grade for knowledge and how much they grade for compliance. They say it will help minority kids, English language learners and kids who are disengaged but smart.<br /><br />What do you think?Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-75744563126352968222010-11-04T08:09:00.003-04:002010-11-04T08:12:30.354-04:00A Wonderful Day Talking to TeachersI spent a wonderful day working with teachers who instruct children under difficult circumstances -- in NYC hospitals and psych ward. This is a dedicated, caring group -- and very interested in how to reach all kids including the boys.<br /><br />One of the organizers sent me this letter -- a follow up to our day together. <blockquote><div>My members have been raving about you and your book!! They all say they could listen to you for more hours!!! </div><div>Reading your book and listening to you speak gave everyone insights to our approaches in teaching our boys and our own children in fact.<br /><div>I want to thank you again for affording us your time and expertise.<blockquote></blockquote>The pleasure was all mine!<br /></div></div></blockquote>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-37436769495806980652010-10-27T08:40:00.004-04:002010-10-27T08:54:06.123-04:00Five Tips for Running A Mentoring ProgramI'd like to give a shout out to my new friend Bud Tamarkin. He's 84 years old, lives in Florida and has decided, in his spare time, to start working with the under-served African-American boys in his school district.<br /><br />He's met with the principal of his local school and is setting up a mentoring program. I met him in Florida. He's an energetic guy for 50 much less for 84. As promised, he called me for advice on how to get his plan off the ground.<br /><br />My friends, Bud is 84 and bursting with ideas and good intentions. On top of that, he has the stick-to-it-ness to follow through and make this a reality.<br /><br />He's establishing relationships with kids who most people are prepared to consign to prison -- black 9th grade boys who have gotten in a little trouble along the way.<br /><br />He asked me what I thought was the most important skills his group could bring to those young men and I said<br />1) help them improve their reading skills. For many, it will be back to phonics.<br />2) remind them early and often the salary differential between a h.s. drop out and a h.s. graduate.<br />3) take them to visit plumbers and electricians on the job. Let them see men who make a living by their own labor.<br />4) buy a book every month -- have everyone --kids and adults -- read it and discuss. Model what it is to be a literate man in society.<br />5) Promise them, and then find them, opportunities to work at a part time job. Nothing improves the self-esteem of a teen more than earning pocket money.<br /><br />Bud Tamarkin, you are Peg Tyre's Hero of The Month. Good luck to you!Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-77868911861978015372010-10-25T09:27:00.003-04:002010-10-25T09:35:32.410-04:00Welcome Praise from My Friends in Palm Beach!<div style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><br />I had a great time last Friday speaking to about 300 people --young and old--who working improving literacy among children and adults in Florida. The event was organized by the <a href="http://www.literacypbc.org">Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County</a>.<br /><br />I talked about my book and then we had a lively Q and A.<br /><br />The director sent this lovely note: <blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>We were truly delighted to have you with us. Thanks for the energy, expertise and time you put into your presentation and time with us.<br />I thought of your talk as I taught Sunday School yesterday with 3-5 grade boys and girls. It is a true challenge to keep the girls who are so verbal and enjoy writing and discussing engaged while having activities that allow the boys to act out the lesson, run off their energy and keep engaged. Your thoughts were very helpful and thought-provoking.</blockquote><br /></div> <div> People who care about reading are my kinda people.</div>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1412610250083623797.post-56270692686645941802010-09-29T20:25:00.002-04:002010-09-29T20:31:59.826-04:00Smart But Barely Made It Through School. Why?Here's an email from a reader I got last week. He struggled in high school...then, at 27, went to college. Here's what he says about high school now.<br /><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse;">I very much enjoyed your book. I struggled unbelievably in my high school career for a number of reasons and have worked hard to help other young men who are in the same situation.<div><br /></div><div>Some of the thoughts I came up with:</div><div><br /></div><div>The wide disparaging of quality in our national school system and their standards. For myself, I moved from a very poor high school district in IL where I did fairly well academically to a very wealthy suburban school in MN. Upon arriving I realized how academically ahead all of these students were of me and I could not find a path to catch up. They had been taking AP courses since their sophomore year and I had no idea what AP even was.</div> <div><br /></div><div>I could not find any way to compete with these kids and viewed college as something I could never achieve. Deep down I was every bit as smart and creative as those students, but I didn't have a way of expressing that.</div> <div><br /></div><div>As a student, I never learned well in large groups being lectured. I needed to touch, feel, get my hands dirty to learn. I needed movement.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I did graduate HS, but barely, I had to take summer courses to get enough credits. <br /></div> <div><br /></div><div>Since that time I feel I was fairly successful in the business world and eventually chose to go back to school at age 27. I am currently going full time to (name of college) where I hope to graduate next year. Its been a learning experience. There is nothing like being in a classroom with a female teacher, and a nearly all female class telling you how bad men are because they make $1.00 for every $.72 a women earns.</div> <div><br /></div><div>Thanks for the writing this book.<br /><br /></div></span></blockquote>Peghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04396177914463260082noreply@blogger.com0