Category Archives: Education

Resources for Struggling Readers . . . and a Tip

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Hi All,

It’s Spring Break and there’s . . . snow on the ground. But hey, who’s complaining right? After all, it gives some of us an excuse to stay in and do some writing while looking out the window at the fresh-fallen snow. And although I love to write, I didn’t always love to read. Doesn’t make sense does it? Perhaps it was because of my ultra-low attention span. I’ve always gotten bored very easily. It took picking up a comic book (which was frowned upon when I was a kid) or reading Science Fiction to keep my attention.

Or perhaps it was because of my reading level at the time.

9780615633336Defining reading levels have come a long way as detailed in the Reading Report developed by Harcourt’s Achieve Educational Support Department. I find the specificity of the report interesting because it gives authors like me the chance to zero in on readers of specific grade levels and speak to them directly. The downside is that zeroing in on these readers is that it (possibly) flies in the face of mass media and goes against the grain of what we’re used to. I’ve not read one negative review of The Jupiter Chronicles as of yet but what I do find is that there are times that the reviewer finds it surprising that it’s for a younger audience.

Have we allowed ourselves to become so indoctrinated by The Hunger Games and Harry Potter that we assume that all Science Fiction for children must be targeted to 5th grade and up?

Or is that there is not a whole lot of Science Fiction for this age group to choose from?

Science Fiction has always been known for its underlying messages hidden behind the words and symbolism. It needs to be exciting, fun and most importantly, keep the young reader engaged. As I mentioned before, I have a really short attention span. I wrote this book for my young friends who might share the same attribute at a reading level that is appropriate for kids who struggle with reading.

There are tons of tools out there that are designed to help parents discover the reading level of their child and encourage them to find age-appropriate material for their little ones.

Reading Rockets – helps parents and teachers discover books for struggling readers. It’s a great resource for teachers, parents and librarians.

Reading Recovery  and a criteria for age-appropriate literature, lessons for teaching struggling readers and more.

The Florida Center for Reading Research provides webcasts on reading intervention.

Help for Struggling Readers is a great blog by a mom and educator. This blog also helps parents of children with disabilities. Joan Brennan is also the developer of the reading card which you can read about on her site.

All of the above are great resources. As for a tip? If you have or know a child that is struggling with reading and need something to keep their interest, look no further.

Try The Jupiter Chronicles.

Chat soon!

signatureLeonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Visit leonardoverse.com for info!

Jupiter Chronicles is available now for 5.99. Click here to buy.

Wanted: Book and Movie Reviews by Kids!

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Teachers / Librarians:

If you have students (any age) who are into writing book, movie or even game reviews and would love to see their work posted on a family-safe website here’s your chance.

What we’re looking for is any review relating to the genres of Science Fiction, Steampunk, Picture Books and Children’s Literature. If they’re into superheroes there is plenty of material out there to cover that as well.

As mentioned, we’re a family-friendly website that will remain that way so there will not be anything along the lines of inappropriate language or images posted on this site.

Once we receive enough of a response, we’ll start posting them on a page specifically for that.

If you’re interested, please e-mail me at Lenny@Leonardoverse.com.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Visit leonardoverse.com for info! Jupiter Chronicles is available now.

Click here to buy and thank you for your support!

A Call for Kid’s Science Fiction / Steampunk Art!

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The Leonardoverse: Kid’s Original Art Contest Starts Now!

Along with the release of The Jupiter Chronicles: The Secret of the Great Red Spot, available now at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, we’re proud to announce that we will be hosting our first annual Kid’s Original Art Contest, Exhibit, and Benefit Auction, from now through Monday, April 15, 2013.

The Leonardoverse: Kid’s Original Art Contest, Exhibit, and Benefit Auction has been created to recognize students, who show an interest in the Science Fiction and Steampunk genres, as well as to help raise funds for hosting organizations.

This special event will not only give elementary school students the opportunity to have their artwork featured in the pages of Leonardo Ramirez’ nationally distributed Jupiter Chronicles Sci-fi/Steampunk children’s book series, but also to have their entry submissions displayed before a public audience. In addition, a portion of all proceeds raised from the students’ benefit auction will go directly towards the hosting organization.

If you are interested in partnering with Leonardoverse as an auction location, please contact us at Stacey@Leonardoverse.com for more information!

The contest is open to all U.S. elementary school students from Grades 1-5, and will be judged using separate categories for the top early elementary school submissions (Grades 1 – 3), and top upper elementary school submissions (Grades 4 & 5). For a list of the nitty-gritty details please click on rules and regulations.

This year’s original art contest themes are ‘SciFi/Steampunk Siblings’ and
‘Sci-Fi/Steampunk Families’ on Earth or in Space, and acceptable dried art mediums allowed include:

-Drawings
-Paintings
-Paper Mache
-Sculptures
-Mosaics
-Photograph/s of You or Your Family in Steampunk/Victorian-Era Garb
-Photograph/s by You of Other Kids or Your Family in Steampunk/Victorian-Era Garb

Teachers, Librarians, and Youth Organizers

We strongly encourage activities and contests to be run in line with the scope and sequence and common core standards at your discretion. Deadlines and allowable mediums are at the final discretion of the teacher, librarian, and/or organizer hosting the event. Please see the art contest letter that is going out to teachers and librarians everywhere!

Hope to hear from you!

And kids – Stay tuned for more contests coming your way!

Chat soon,

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy.     Visit leonardoverse.com for more information.

Click here to order Jupiter Chronicles available now!

Follow up: Schools Tracking Your Child’s BMI without Consent

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Hi All,

I wanted to follow up on my previous post with respect to tracking our kids BMI without our consent or knowledge. I spoke with a district official who explained that due to the public outcry on the issue of obesity, the state has been placing requirements on districts as a response from education in the form of programs that have been added into the curriculum as that response.

He also explained that because the program is in its infancy so it is going to have growing pains but also indicated that communicating with parents should have been placed on a higher priority. He also assured me that no name will be attached to the data sent to the state.

That said, if you are concerned about this, call your principal if you’d like more details or information.

Does that mean that all of a sudden I agree with using the BMI method to track our children’s overall health?

Let me offer up a scorching hot cup full of no!

So where’s the public outcry against using this method?

Perhaps my beef is not with the crossing of boundaries. Well…it is. I’m big on boundaries. But in addition to that I’m somewhat miffed that in our society there is not enough emphasis on personal responsibility.  Should we help those who would otherwise never know? Yes, of course. At the same time it should not be at the risk of a child’s self-esteem and not because it’s fashionable at the time.

Please stay involved in the life of your child. Know what is happening in their lives.

Chat soon,

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy books for all ages. For more info, please visit http://leonardoverse.com and sign up for the blog.

Should Your Child’s BMI be Tracked Without Your Consent?

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This week we received a letter along with our daughter’s report card that disturbed us both as parents. In short, it states that our daughter’s BMI had been (for some time now) tracked and recorded without our consent. We were also told that we do not “automatically” have the choice to opt out of this tracking. What is meant by that is uncertain at this point. According to the letter, this was achieved by adopting it as part of the physical education curriculum.

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. As admitted in the letter, it is an inaccurate measuring tool that is used to paint a picture of a person’s body fat by weight and height. The problem with this tool is that it does not take into account the person’s bone and muscle density which leads to skewed results. Baylor College of Medicine warned against using this measure with children in this report because it incorrectly labels children as obese and others in need of more fat. It also implies that health professionals are best for assessing the overall body fat of a child.

The International Journal of Obesity calls into question the use of BMI as an accurate way to measure body fat in this article and Medical News Today published two studies by two universities that found inaccuracies in how the BMI was measured in athletes. That report can be found here.

Finally, a report of 11,000 subjects in 2010 stated that it is not a good measure for heart-related issues. As mentioned before, the letter we received acknowledges that BMI is not a reliable measure.

So if I was stranded on a desert island and my choices for food were rats or nothing you’re saying I should eat rats?

How about thinking outside of the box and going fishing?

Even if BMI was an accurate tool, should schools be the ones to measure and track this? What about the emotional effect on your child when they receive a letter stating that they are obese or underweight when they are clearly not? What about peer pressure when they start discussing it among themselves? Ever heard of bullies? This is simply fodder for them and studies show that weight bullying leads to eating disorders later in life.

Whatever method is used to determine your child’s health should be used by your child’s doctor! Tracking BMI has little to do with physical education and more to do with health which in the public school system gives parents the choice of opting out when it comes to screenings. I’ve already spoken to several healthcare professionals (including a surgeon) who stated that these are efforts best left to professional healthcare providers.

Why not offer the option for BMI tracking?

Better yet, why not inform the parents?

The important fact in the matter is that a faulty system is being used to track our daughter’s BMI without our consent and that we (as we are told) have no choice in the matter. Whether or not the method is faulty is secondary to having the freedom to choose.

We have an amazing pediatrician who does an excellent job of informing us of any concerns during her physical or appointments. Just to illustrate how well a school system can track students BMI vs a pediatrician, my daughter’s chart lists her as weighing 20 lbs. and 1’11”. We also found that many of the other parents did not receive a similar letter. How’s that for making us feel special.

That’s right, she’s listed as 20 lb child the size of a vase.

I think our doctor can do a better job. We will be calling her in the morning.

If you’re a parent and concerned about this by all means, share your thoughts on this website. We will also conduct a poll which we hope that you’ll participate in.

For now, I’m going to go put some flowers in my little “vase” and tell her that she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

I’ve added a poll below. Let us know what you think!

Chat soon,

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy books for all ages. For more info, please visit http://leonardoverse.com and sign up for the blog.

 

[polldaddy poll=6056649]

A Thought on Read Across America

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Hi All!

Just wanted to share a quick thought about my participation in Read Across America. As always, I love going into schools and hanging out with the kiddos. Mrs. Fox also wrote me a very kind note….

Hi, Lenny!

Thanks again for reading to my cuties- they so enjoyed listening to Leonardo the Terrible Monster and are STILL talking about it!

Have a wonderful week!

M. Fox

I have to say that when I walk into a classroom to read to kids and the vibe in the room is warm, welcoming and cheerful this makes for a great reading experience and says a lot about the teacher. The kids were as engaged as the adults in the room and this makes it even more special.

The best part? They had fun. Fun is good.

I asked Mrs. Fox to sign me up again next year!

Chat soon,

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy books for all ages. For more info, please visit http://leonardoverse.com and sign up for the blog.

Support Your School’s Book Fair! Here’s Why…

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Yesterday I got to visit my wife’s school library while they were in the midst of their quarterly book fair which runs for a week.

These are a not only a blast for the kids it’s also an invite for parents to come in and see the latest book trends.

As parents, we don’t always see the full scope of events such as this (and the work that goes into putting one together) so I thought I’d share some of the small print details.

When you support a book fair you’re supporting your child’s teacher.

I don’t know if every book fair does this but in Kristen’s there is a teacher’s wall where a “wish list” is placed. If there is a need within the classroom this is an opportunity for your child’s teacher to express that need and for your child to provide it. You can’t go wrong with a good lesson in giving. Aside from that you’re supporting your school with the funds raised through a great book fair.

A good book fair brings the community together.

There is a lot of work that goes into putting together and breaking down a book fair and that’s where parents (and yes I mean dads too!) can come in and help in setting up before and tearing down after. Parents can also get to know each other and their librarian during this time and that’s also a good thing.

There’s a lesson in it for the child.

At times, our daughter has set money aside that she had saved up for the book fair. While she shops she is mindful of how much she has to spend and how much she can buy.

They get the creative juices flowing.

As a writer I love to visit these to get an idea of what kids are reading as of late. Authors can mix and match ideas and come up with something original for their ventures.

The most important reason….they’re fun and they get your child reading! It’s also good bonding time with your child as you shop for what they are interested in. All that to say, when your school’s book fair comes around make every effort you can to visit. Volunteer to help if your job allows it.

It’s worth the time.

Chat soon,

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy books for all ages. For more info, please visit http://leonardoverse.com and sign up for the blog.

Public Teachers Records: Good or Bad?

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Hi All!

Recently, the Tennessee State Department of Education made the decision to make teachers ratings public beginning this summer. The ratings will be based on a score of 1 to 5 and will not include notes from principals. No pressure there (sarcasm).

Before I point out some things here’s a disclaimer: I’m married to a teacher. I think teachers have one of the most amazing callings on the planet and that they are not appreciated enough or get paid nearly enough of what they truly deserve.

Let me also add that I believe that teachers are public servants and that teachers who are not called to teach (and by that I mean have a passion for teaching and authentically love their students) should not be in the classroom.

But is the public vetting of teachers the way to separate the wheat from the chaff?

Before you decide (and before you gather the troops and pitchforks) please take a hold of the big picture and what is being left out of the equation. Just to clarify, I am not advocating against or for but there are other items to consider.

Parental Responsibility

Although teaching martial arts is a very different setting and I’m not implying they’re the same but I do deal with parents every once in a while. I’ve been teaching martial arts for some time now and quite a while back I had a parent approach me and ask me if they could come and tell me about how their child behaved during the day and if there was something I could do about it. Since the child did not come from a single-parent family I suggested they talk to his dad and deal with it at home. I’m not saying I don’t care but what I am saying is that there is a ridiculous trend that is sprouting up across the nation of teachers being “co-parents” with the child’s parents. They are not. The only person that my daughter will call Dad is me and woe to anyone who sees themselves as her dad or mom other than my wife.

Teachers are wonderful but they are still teachers….not co-parents. So for parents that would use this as a rallying cry to rail against a teacher please be sure that you’re fulfilling your role in your child’s education and doing all that you possibly can to further it. As a society we seem to have forgotten that it is the parents’ primary responsibility to educate their child! It is the parents’ primary role to “raise them up in the way that they should go” and instill in them the values that will affect their education. Teachers can help but they can’t be blamed if a child is taught at home that he is entitled to be socially disruptive.

Since what we teach our daughter is our business alone I would never suggest this but I wonder if there was a similar grading scale made public for parental involvement how many of us would pass.

Inclusion

Since I am not a teacher I can’t speak from experience but I am able to surmise that having a more than usual number (whatever that is) of special needs kids in one classroom would not be easy. Just to be clear, I’m not arguing against inclusion. I’m simply offering that this setting may affect a teacher’s score and I don’t know that this will be taken into account in the final score.

Standardized Testing

Standardized testing is still being argued as being a reliable source of a student’s assessment and with 35% of that rating being based on a standardized test that is a huge portion based on an unreliable source. Students and teachers are now being nudged into national common core standards. I served as a substitute teacher in a New Mexico public school once where they taught a tribal language/customs. How does that match up with life in the big city?

My two cents: the key is parental responsibility. Stop blaming teachers for the lack of parental involvement. Stop expecting teachers to undo what is programmed into a child at home. Co-parenting is a sham. Assume (as a parent) that the only person who can truly love, encourage, steer, admonish your child is you.

The rest is icing on a cake.

What do you think?

Chat soon,
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of Science Fiction and Fantasy books for all ages. For more info, please visit http://leonardoverse.com and sign up for the blog.