WSJ Wednesday - A Library with No Books

Sometimes an article catches your eye solely because of the title. Such was the case when I was skimming the February 7, 2013 edition of The Wall Street Journal and found Miguel Bustillo's article, "Library That Holds No Books."

Bexar County in Texas is set to open one of the nation's first entirely digital public libraries. According to Bustillo, skeptical librarians are keeping an eye on this one. They warn digital versions of many popular titles aren't available to libraries and they can often be more expensive than printed versions.

The move is an effort to help residents where libraries are scarce. The office will have about 10,000 titles and 150 e-readers for patrons to borrow, 50 of which are designed for children. Though there will be staff to help with technical questions, this office will have no research assistants. County officials believe this type of library will be more cost effective than traditional libraries.

The article goes on to discuss how publishers interact with libraries and the reason a move to totally digital has been slow to catch on.

As a book lover, I just about cried when I read this. It was bad enough when I walked into the library at our town's middle school and found it over half empty. The thought of these 100% digital libraries replacing traditional libraries is enough to make me sick. While my husband believes the day of the traditional public library is long gone, I can't tell you how much I depend upon our local children's librarian and the reference librarian for my writing. The Internet doesn't replace everything. And while I'm all for having libraries offering e-books, the thought of walking into a library and not being able to browse the bookshelves isn't appealing.

What do you think of this idea? Is it the wave of the future?

WSJ Wednesday - Better Ways to Discipline Your Kids

Toward the end of the year, I caught this interesting article in the December 26, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal. "Smarter Ways to Discipline Kids" by Andrea Petersen states that research suggests which strategies work best. These are techniques used by psychologists to manage/cope/encourage (whatever verb you wish to use) their most difficult children, including those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.

According to the article, parents should not focus on what happens when the child acts out, but instead decide what behaviors they want to see in their kids and praise them when they see them. I find this tough, and I doubt I'm alone. Not that the child shouldn't be reprimanded when he does wrong, but that a "mild negative consequence" without shouting (very hard for me) plus praise for positive behavior goes a long way.

What doesn't work? Trying to reason with your child and overly harsh punishments (guilty as charged). Here's something I wouldn't have thought of. Psychologists at the Yale Parenting Center have found that getting kids to "practice" temper tantrums can lessen their frequency and intensity. Hmm. Who would have thought that?

What techniques have been most successful for you?

WSJ Wednesdays - Middle-Aged Job Seekers Finding It Tough Out There

When I decided that I would begin looking for work, I had no idea how hard it would be. That's why this front page article from the Saturday/Sunday June 23 - 24, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal caught my eye.

"For Middle-Aged Job Seekers, A Long Road Back," by Ben Casselman, discusses the obstacles middle-aged Americans are facing in this tight job market. As Casselman points out, much of the focus has been on the jobless rate among young people. For those of us attempting to support our families or those stay-at-home parents looking to re-enter the workforce, the picture isn't very bright. According to the article, 3.5 million Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 were unemployed as of May, and 39% of those have been unemployed for a year or more. This rate is higher than among young workers.

Instead of building wealth, middle-aged workers are struggling to find full-time employment. Some have stopped looking. I know that I need to find an alternative to what I was doing. I know I have valuable skills to offer, but even when I secure an interview, I don't get the call backs. That seems to fall in line with what is happening around the country. Cassleman's article states a 59-year-old Bridgeport, Connecticut resident spent a year earning his certification as a computer technician, but that hasn't helped him secure employment. His unemployment benefits ran out last year. He has been able to secure some part-time or seasonal work, but nothing more substantial.

The article also touches upon the typical frustrating moments of job searching--unreturned phone calls, lost applications, and interviews that lead to nowhere (tell me about that one). It also talks about reasons middle-aged people struggle to find work: reluctance to change industries and larger financial commitments. They also tend to work in industries in decline and are less able to move to find work.

I'm spending today and tomorrow looking into local opportunities, but not sure of what success I'll have. I'm willing to switch industries, but hope to put the skills I already have to work.

Are you looking for work right now? Is the job market tough where you are? If you're unemployed, how long has it been? Also, what do you think it will take to get this economy going again?

WSJ Wednesdays - Newly Built Homes Climb to Highest Level in Two Years

More good news for the housing market. In Alan Ziebel and Dawn Wotapka's article on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, it is stated that newly built homes climbed to the highest level in two years. The reason: limited supply of previously owned homes and record-low mortgage rates.

I can't say I haven't considered building again. As a first time home buyer, I wasn't quite sure of what I liked or wanted in a home. Now, I can look back and see the mistakes we made. I would do a few things differently, but overall I'm happy with our home. A larger kitchen, an entrance to the deck from the kitchen instead of from the family room, a smaller half bathroom in order to create a larger laundry area, and a slightly larger master bedroom and bath would make a huge difference.

Last week we talked about how bigger homes are making a comeback. This new Wall Street Journal article states the housing sector seems to have hit rock bottom this spring. With a weak monthly growth rate in May and worries over Europe's fiscal health, the authors feel the road to recovery will be bumpy. Still, it looks like things are improving. I sure hope so. While low interest rates allowed us to refinance, selling a home has become tougher. One of our neighbors was hoping to move this year, but the bids aren't coming in. Maybe buyers aren't eager to settle for a home that doesn't have everything they are looking for. That's one of the reasons we ended up building in 1999. Our house only cost us a few thousand more built to our specifications than the houses we were looking at that didn't have what we wanted. We came close a couple of times with previously owned home, but renovations would have costs thousands more. I'm glad we decided to build.

Did you build your home or did you buy a previously owned home? Would you do the same again?

WSJ Wednesdays: Big Home are Back!

According to Dawn Wotapka's Friday, June 8, 2012 article in The Wall Street Journal, larger homes are making a comeback. Steve Ruffner, president of the Southern California division of KB Home, one of the nation's largest builders, says the average square footage of homes being built is 2,079, which is an increase of 13% from last year. He also says that more of his buyers are selecting models that exceed 3,500 square feet.

Along with this trend, some builders are seeing increased sales prices. Are you surprised? I was a bit, but the rational behind buying a larger home now while interest rates are low makes sense. We did it. In 1999, we had a 4-bedroom home built when it was only my husband, our son and me. We knew we were planning to have more kids, and this way, they wouldn't need to share bedrooms like I did when I was younger. The extra space allowed us to have a guest room and for me to have a craft room/office until we turned the smallest bedroom into a nursery. Once my son moved out and got married, I gained my office back. Not much crafting going on these days, but facing the windows is a nice inspiration to write.

Wotapka's article also states some families who were stuck in smaller homes are now trading up because they feel more confident. Ruffner says, though, that buyers are being more practical instead of adding bling to their new homes. He says oversized sunrooms (my dream), vaulted ceilings and soaring entry halls are out right now. Our family room has a 19 foot high ceiling. I don't think I would do that again if we built another home. The entry way is also open to the upstairs, with a balcony that looks over the living room on one side and the entry way on the other. It looks lovely, it makes cleaning a nasty job. It's almost impossible for me to clean the chandelier in the entry way. Equally difficult to clean are the large windows over the fireplace and the ceiling fan on the living room ceiling.

Even with the room we have here, the hubby and I have toyed with buying a larger home so that we can provide ample play space for the girls and their friends without taking away from family living areas. If we didn't buy/build a new home, we would like to add on to the kitchen, perhaps add an outdoor kitchen, and finish off the basement. That final item would allow us to move the play room downstairs and the bonus room would be turned into a media room--which is what he had always intended it for.

Does news of people building bigger homes and trading up give you more confidence that the economy is improving? Are you considering such a move?

Hope you enjoyed this edition of WSJ Wednesdays.

WSJ Wednesdays - Dallas Reboot

The evil oil tycoon is back! J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) and Dallas are getting a reboot on TNT. Back when drilling for oil and making money in America was still politically correct, Dallas and Dynasty went head-to-head in the ratings. Both nighttime soaps were about big oil families (one in Texas, the other in Colorado): the backstabbing, the conniving, the romance, the drama.


Dallas had a longer run (1978-1991). It followed the Ewing family, wealthy oil millionaires who exploited business partners and family members alike. While I was dedicated to both shows when they first aired, I only remember two things about Dallas--The who shot J. R. craze and the silly Bobby Ewing dream scene where the deceased Bobby ends up being very much alive; his death only occurring in his wife's dreams. From Dynasty it's the numerous cat fights.

The Wall Street Journal posted a review of the new Dallas, which begins tonight at 9 P.M, in their Friday, June 8, 2012 edition. This updated version finds the old favorites J.R, Bobby, and Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) joined by the next generation of Ewings: John Ross (Josh Henderson), Christopher, Bobby's adopted son played by Jesse Metcalfe, the cook's daughter Elena Ramos (Jordana Brewster), and Christoper's fiancée, Rebecca Sutter (Julie Gonzalo).

So, it looks like the good versus evil battle is returning to Southfork. According to reviewer Dorothy Rabinowitz, by the end of the Pilot, you'll be in familiar territory. I think I'll DVR the premiere episode tonight to see what I think.

Does this also mean Dynasty could be headed for a reboot? I'm not sure it would be the same without John Forsythe's Blake Carrington.

Will you be watching or taping Dallas tonight?

WSJ Wednesdays - Osteoporosis Drugs Raise Risk of Rare but Serious Fractures

This article in the Tuesday, May 22, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal captured my attention because my mother-in-law recently had some testing done for bone density. She had cancer back in the 1980s, which can effect bone density.

Jonathan D. Rockoff's article titled, "Osteoporosis Drugs Linked to Rare Fractures," discussed the widely used osteoporosis drugs Fosamax and Actonel, and raise the risk of a "rare but serious thigh fracture." The risk increases the longer the patient takes the medication. The article goes on to state that some women over 50 have been taking the drugs for years, but a small number of patients have broken a leg performing everyday actions like stepping off curbs. A new study published the day before Rockoff's article found a link between the drugs and these atypical thigh fractures.

Merck & Co., seller of Fosamax, faces more than 3,100 product-liability lawsuits, according to the article. Of these suits, 1,200 allege the drug caused jaw bones to decay in some patients. You can read the entire article here.

My mother-in-law told me today that her doctor has decided to give her the drug Prolia, which she would receive by injection twice a year. I found this article on MedPage Today from May 11, 2012 that stated serious adverse effects were found to occur with Prolia, and they "were limited to the denosumab formulation for osteoporosis (60 mg every 6 months)." I emailed her the article because I'm concerned about it. You can find all the details in the article if you're interested, but what caught my eye is that after they boiled down they investigated all the reports of adverse effects, they "were left with 41 reports involving 46 serious adverse events, all related to the use of the 60-mg dose of denosumab." Nine patients had to be hospitalized, including six patients with treatment-related vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels).

I'm not sure what other options would be available to her if she decided not to be treated with Prolia. The doctor told her that her hip bone is very thin. She has definitely shrunk the past few years and her spine is now curved.

Have you or anyone you know been diagnosed with osteoporosis? How is it being treated? What natural methods have been tried?

WSJ Wednesdays: Getting Outdoors is Good for You

In the Saturday/Sunday, May 26 -27, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal, I came upon this article by Jonah Lehrer titled, "Mom Was Right: Go Outside." While many discussions about getting outside talk about the physical benefits, Lehrer's article tackles the mental benefits of unplugging from our technology driven world and spending time with nature. It spoke of studies performed by various groups that reflect the difference in performance on creativity tests, moods, short-term memory, and the behavior of children with attention-deficit-disorder.

I know I feel better when I step away from the computer and spend time in the garden. I feel refreshed and able to tackle my indoor tasks with renewed vigor. I'm trying to walk around the neighborhood a few times a week. My schedule has been crazy, so I haven't done it as often as I would like, but the kids will be out of school soon, so I need to get cranking on that.

How much time to you think you spend outdoors each week? What are some of the obstacles that prevent you from spending more time outdoors?

WSJ Wednesdays: Books for Young Entrepreneurs

I try to stay away from book topics for WSJ Wednesdays because I talk about books a lot, but I have to say this article by Emily Glazer caught my eye; especially since I am reading The Barefoot Executive by Carrie Wilkerson.

In the Monday, May 21, 2102 edition of The Wall Street Journal Glazer spoke to experts who recommended books for young entrepreneurs. Today's world is a fascinating place where children come up with amazing ideas. On Fact Monster you can learn about the edible spoon-shaped cracker invented by Suzanna Goodin because she was tired of cleaning the cat food spoon. You'll also read about Jeanie Low, who invented the Kiddie Stool--a folding stool that fits under the sink so kids can easily pull it out, unfold it, and use it to reach the sink on their own.

The Young Entrepreneur Council believes, "entrepreneurship is a solution to youth unemployment and underemployment." If you search for "young entrepreneurs" on Google, you'll find many organizations dedicated to this group of creative young minds.

Yesterday, the Lil Diva (10) brought me a sheet of paper filled with drawings of what she calls FooFoos. These are little creatures with a variety of facial expressions. There are aliens and angels, a one-eyed creature, and something that looks like a Frankenstein kind of guy. I got to thinking, "Why couldn't FooFoos be the next Squinkies™ or Sillybandz® craze with tons of kids clamoring for them in toy stores around the country?"

You can read Glazer's article here. Perhaps you'll find some books for your little entrepreneur.

WSJ Wednesdays - Falling Productivity in the Workforce

This week, we're going to the Friday, May 4, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal for WSJ Wednesday. Conor Dougherty wrote an informative article stating "productivity of U.S. workers fell in the first quarter." He says this data suggests companies are close to reaching the limit of how much they can get from the workforce.

Erik Johnson, an economist with IHS Global Insight concurs. He also believes this means if demand continues to rise while productivity lags, companies will continue to hire and invest in new capital equipment to make workers more efficient.

While Dougherty's article, "Workforce Productivity Falls," takes a strictly financial look at sluggish productivity, it's also important to think about it from a physical and emotional perspective. How long can employers continue to go back to the same till and expect good results? People get burnt out.

How can American employers balance profit with rewards for superior performance?

I've been employed in a variety of industries, and in each place, workers varied in work ethics. Some gave 110% all the time. Others did the bare minimum. The remaining lagged behind everyone else and didn't really care. The challenge remains for employers to find a way to reward those who give it their all consistently, while finding what motivates the other two groups to increase productivity. One of my employers took this seriously, and held classes to teach managers how to be sensitive to the various needs (motivators) of their staff members. Employees were also provided training opportunities throughout the year to better position themselves for advancement.

One thing that must be realized is when people are overwhelmed, productivity is destined to suffer. Investing in capital equipment that improves efficiency can help, but the incentives for good work should not be forgotten, even in the tightest of economies.

What is something an employer has done for you that has made you feel appreciated?

WSJ Wednesdays - The Secret Online Life of Our Tweens

New technology is a wonderful thing, but as Katherine Rosman's article titled, Tweens' Secret Lives Online, from the Wednesday, May 2, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal points out, it's brought with it some parenting challenges.

I don't want to get into to many details of the actual article this time around, but Rosman brings up the influx of new online and mobile products for kids, in addition to the fact that kids who own mobile devices seem to get younger and younger.

It's great that many companies go to great lengths to ensure the safety of the users of its products, but it seems to get harder and harder to monitor what our kids view and sign up for online. Both my girls have multiple accounts on MovieStarPlanet. I actually had to forbid them to create any new accounts, because I just can't keep track of them all.

In addition to allowing my children to be creative by putting together videos, MovieStarPlant gives them a chance to interact with their friends and learn at the same time. The games and quizzes enhance your child's learning while letting them earn StarCoins and Fame. I actually opened my own account, but I don't get a chance to play very often. I did it because my girls wanted me to, and who am I to deny my kids some play time with mom. I prefer we have playtime off the computer--which is what we have more days than not--but it's fun to them to chat with me while I sit in  my office and they are in their bedrooms.

Rosman's article mentioned a few apps and sites I hadn't heard of before: KidzVuz, Playground, Versagram and Everloop. I knew when Santa brought each girl an iPod Touch our lives were bound to change. Some nasty text messages got sent back and forth between friends. The device has had to be taken away a couple of times for viewing videos on YouTube I would rather they not see. Overall, the girls have been responsible with their devices, but it's definitely made me even more concerned about what they have access to.

What sites do your kids frequent? Are there any you would recommend? How about sites to avoid?

WSJ Wednesdays

It has been a while since I featured WSJ Wednesdays. I was glad to participate in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, but I'm also happy to get back to normal--well, as normal as I can be anyway.

While I usually offer a discussion on an article from The Wall Street Journal that captured my attention, this week I simply want to ask you to read this article by Charles Wheelan that was featured in the Saturday/Sunday, April 28 - 29, 2012 edition. It is adapted from Wheelan's book, 10 1/2 Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said, which is due to be published May 7th by W.W. Norton & Co.

I found it very interesting and wondered how you felt about what he said.

WSJ Wednesdays - Moving of Confederate Statue Sparks Home Town Civil War

The city of Reidsville, N.C. is in the midst of a civil war over the downtown Confederate veterans moment. According to an article by Cameron McWhirter that appeared in the Tuesday, March 27, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal, the moment was destroyed last year when a driver struck it with his van. The marble statue of a Confederate soldier toppled over and broke into at least ten pieces, says McWhirter.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy, who owns the statue, plans to repair the base of the monument, replace the statute, and move the entire unit to a cemetery away from downtown. This has sparked controversy between those who want the statue restored to its original location and those in favor of the move. As one would expect, what the statue symbolizes is the core of the issue. Some feel the move is an attempt to "diminish the city's Confederate heritage." The mayor of Reidsville is quoted as saying, "Once it's down, I think it sends the wrong message to put it back up. I don't want industries that might want to move here to think this is a little town still fighting the Civil War." This seems to make sense, as according to the article, many local businesses have closed.

The man responsible for the damage to the statue was asked what should happen to it. He said, "That ought to be up to the people of Reidsville." This appears to be difficult considering the governing body is a mayor and city council. In our town, we have a Board of Selectmen, and everything is voted on at an annual Town Meeting. This gives the citizens greater control of how the town is run.

This article also made me think of something from my childhood that I hadn't considered in quite some time: the moving of MacArthur's Ball in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

Lt. General Arthur MacArthur was a hero of the Civil War. Born in Chicopee, his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin when he was four. You can read about his military contributions here. He is also the father of General Douglas MacArthur.

I can't seem to confirm when the monument erected to Lt. General Arthur MacArthur was moved, but I know it was in my lifetime. The card above shows MacArthur's Ball in its original location. Broadway, the street on which MacArthur lived is to the right, the Methodist church is in the background, and to the left of the church is East Street. I lived on East Main Street, which is a bit further east and runs almost parallel to Broadway and East Street. MacArthur's Ball now resides on Church Street, which is west of Broadway and runs parallel to it. I wonder if there was any controversy regarding its move.

What monuments have been erected in your city or town? Have any been moved from their original location? Was there controversy about the move?

WSJ Wednesdays - Leftovers

All my thoughts about self-sufficiency and reducing waste drew me to this article about leftovers in the Wednesday, March 21, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal. According to journalist, Sarah Nassauer, high food prices cause guilt over throwing food away, but making the leftovers disappear can be a challenge.

Based upon researchers' estimates, the average American family of four spends $500 to $2000 on food they never eat. Wow! That surprised me; though it shouldn't when I consider some of the left over food I've tossed.

Produce was always a big money waster for us. Even though I toss old fruits and vegetables in the compost bin, I still feel it's a waste of money to buy produce and never eat it. I've tried freezing berries, but my husband tends not to like the texture once they are defrosted. Mentioned in the article is Rubbermaid’s® Produce Saver--which we use at home. It's said to keep, "fruits and vegetables fresh and crisp for up to 33% longer." I would definitely recommend it.

Nassauer's article states that Brian Wansink, professor of marketing at Cornell University's Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management claims when you shop without a well-researched grocery list, shoppers overbuy. I can't shop without my list, but I have to admit, I often buy things not on the list. Shoppers buying in bulk can also create waste. According to a 2009 report from the Waste & Resources Action Programme in the U.K., just over half of avoidable food and drink waste happens as a result of products not being used in time. The article states that in America, confusion over "sell-by" dates and concern over food-borne illness also leads to waste.

What I like about this article is that it provides tips on how to deal with leftovers and also explains what food dates mean.

The other thing that brought this topic to mind is the Nickleback song, "When We Stand Together." It truly puts our waste in perspective:

"When we could feed a starving world,
With what we throw away.
But all we serve are empty words,
That always taste the same."

I'm usually the leftover eater at our house; and thankfully, I love cooking, so if we eat out three times a month, that's a lot for us.

How do you handle leftovers? Do you have any tips to share?

WSJ Wednesdays: Thanks to E-Readers, Women Can Hide What They Read

Every once in a while, you read a news story and it makes you chuckle. Such was the case when I read, "Books Women Read When No One Can See the Cover," by Katherine Rosman. This article appeared in the Wednesday, March 14, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal.

According to Rosman, the privacy provided by electronic readers has resulted in a boom in sales of sexy romance novels (romantica). I have to admit, I hadn't heard the term "romantica" until this article. Shows you how much I follow what's going on in the romance genre. Rosman says these novels contain the love story and pop culture references found in "chick lit," but they contain a lot of s-e-x. Unlike erotic novels, however, they always have a happily ever after.

A married mother from Florida, who was interviewed for this article, reads 10 to 15 books a week, with about half of those books being erotic titles. She says she wouldn't read these books if they were in print because some of the covers are explicit.

The ease of downloading is also said to be a factor in the growth of erotic titles. Rosman says romance fans were some of the early adopters of e-reading. Kelly Gallagher, vice president of Bowker Market Research, states nearly 40% of all new romance books purchased are in digital form. I didn't find that to be a huge surprise. At this point, my digital book TBR collection surpasses the number of printed books I have to review.

What the article does not address is the sheer number of free digital titles available. I subscribe to a site that lists free digital titles on a daily basis. It certainly has helped to grow my book collection. As an author, free titles concern me. As a reader, I love them. The romance genre appears quite often in the lists of free titles I receive. How does this skew the numbers? I don't know, but I can say there are more free titles available than I could ever hope to read. I literally never need to buy another book again.

Do you find yourself reading more romance novels thanks to your device? Are you willing to explore genres you haven't in the past thanks to the privacy your e-reader provides?

I realize this isn't exactly a family friendly topic, but the women interviewed for this article are moms. I also happen to be a curious gal who enjoys seeking the opinions of others on a variety of topics. That's how WSJ Journal Wednesdays got started. Hope you enjoyed this post.

WSJ Wednesdays - The Metric System and Grocery Shopping

It's another edition of WSJ Wednesdays. Saturday/Sunday, March 10 - 11, 2012's edition of The Wall Street Journal had an excellent article by Carl Bialik on how limited the metric system is in the grocery aisle.  For decades, the federal government has mandated nutrition labels list nutrient quantities in grams, despite that not being the standard measurement in America. As Bialik states, "many may not really understand how much fat, protein, and--in particular--sugar is in their food."

Back in the 1970s there was a movement to make a national shift to the metric system. I remember learning it in school. My kids have learned or are learning it in school. This shift was foiled. If Americans have no idea what grams means, then how useful are those nutrition labels we're reading? We want a healthier society that lives longer, but do the majority of Americans know that 25 grams of sugar and six teaspoons are equivalent quantities? I didn't. Here I am thinking buying a cereal with only 10 grams of sugar is a good thing, when it still means the kids are getting 2 teaspoons of sugar with every serving. Who eats only the serving size anyway?

According to Bialik's article, a 2010 survey conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington D.C.-based advocacy group, found 72% of Americans wanted to see sugar content measured in teaspoons on food labels, and more than half of the participants wanted grams to be removed completely. While some still believe America should make the move to metric, does anyone ever see it happening?

I feel like I have been a lazy consumer. I could have found out at any time I wanted to that a cereal with 10 grams of sugar means my family is eating a bowl of cereal with a minimum of 2 teaspoons of sugar in it. Was it not important enough to me? Is buying my kids what they want more important than the negative impact to their well-being? Most importantly, now that I know, am I going to change my buying habits? I stopped buying soda. My favorite brand in a 12 oz. bottle has 41 grams of sugar or the equivalent of 8.2 teaspoons. Would I put that much sugar in a bowl and eat it? No. This is going to be a slow transition, but Bialik's article definitely got me to thinking.

Do you know grams/teaspoon equivalents? Do you read nutrition labels when you shop? How much do you think the lack of knowledge over the metric system contributes to obesity in America?

WSJ Wednesdays - Are Bright Young Minds Being Left Behind?

I dug deep into my pile for this week's edition of WSJ Wednesday. In the November 12 - 13, 2011 edition, an article by Stephanie Banchero appeared in the U.S. News section. Banchero says, "A national focus on the lowest-achieving students has helped boost their performance, but has left the country's brightest minds behind..." Data that included results from national math and reading exams, indicated high achievers were are not only stagnating, but falling behind their international counterparts.

The National Association for Gifted Children, a non-profit advocacy group, is calling for policy changes that would hold schools accountable for the scores of top achievers. Director Jane Clarenbach even claims that top achievers in the nation are being ignored.

Banchero's article contained several statistics. There were a couple that caught my eye:

1) Even though the majority of the nation's gifted and talented children are taught in general education classrooms, only six states require those teachers receive training to work with top-performing students;
2) Schools spend more than $12 billion on special-education students and states require schools to provide intensive services for them.

One of the association's recommendations is to make it easier for gifted students to skip grades. According to the article, only eight states have policies that let top achievers skip grades. For the rest of the country this decision is left up to the local school districts.  

I have a diverse household, so this issue affects me either way. One of my daughters had been getting special-education services from our school district for the last three years. I had to fight tooth and nail to get them for her, but her special-ed teams in both schools (the district reorganized and she had to switch schools last year) are superb. My other daughter has been testing above average since pre-school. Every year I hear how bored she is the entire time. She begs me to stay home. Despite having a literacy group made up of other top performers, she still has time left over where she simply draws or reads. I've definitely toyed with the idea of requesting she move up a grade. Kids who are bored can get mischievous. I've also considered the idea of private schooling, but that would cost around $15,000 a year.

I can't imagine how only six states in the nation could require teachers to have training to work with top achievers. I realize teaching is a tough job, and training costs money, but at what point do we say those being left behind aren't the lower performers anymore? How many years must the scores of America's top students remain stagnate before action is taken?

What's your opinion? Should all states require teachers to be trained to work with top achievers? Are America's public schools still the answer for top performers? Is there too much attention placed on helping low performers achieve passing scores on standardized tests?

WSJ Wednesdays - Release of Teacher Ratings

The front page of the Saturday/Sunday, February 25 -26, 2012 edition of The Wall Street Journal had an article about the publishing of teacher evaluations in New York City. Titled, "Teacher Ratings Aired in New York," this article by Stephanie Banchero discussed how if school districts across the United States followed suit, this could add pressure on school administrators to "improve or to remove their weakest teachers."

Initially, one might think, so what. Not only do our tax dollars pay teachers' salaries, but they are responsible--along with parents/guardians--for preparing children for the future.  If your performance is less than adequate in a private sector non-union job, you risk getting fired. Why should a weak teacher be able to hide behind her union and keep her job?

According to the article, Michelle Rhee, Executive Director of StudentsFirst (a nonprofit group whose goal is to overhaul teacher evaluation and pay systems), says parents should have access to teacher ratings, claiming if we want parents involved in their kids' education they need all the information. The article states teachers unions across the nation have been opposed to the release of this data. If what Banchero's article says is true, one can understand the concern. The scores are said to have wide margins of error because "they are based on limited numbers of students and school years." In New York, the data cover grades 4 through 8 in reading and math, leaving 80% of teachers not covered by the analysis. Banchero's article also states that one of the obstacles to evaluating all teachers is only 30% of teachers in America's classrooms work in grades or subjects covered by state standardized tests. These tests are key in generating the data being made public.

This certainly sounds like a sticky wicket.

I have one child who graduated from the public school sytem and two that are currently in it. Overall, I've been impressed with the level of dedication displayed by the teachers and administrators here. It appears this data would isolate the underachievers who deserve to be removed. But do parents truly want this information? Is providing this information really going to make parents get more involved in their child's education? I'm not so sure of the answers on those questions.

What do you think? Should this data be released? Will it encourage more parents to get involved? What other solutions might there be to this issue?

WSJ Wednesdays - Refinancing

This week's edition of WSJ Wednesday is inspired by an article found in the February 4 - 5, 2012 Weekend Investor section. Jessica Silver-Greenberg's article, "Refinancing: Time to Act?" discusses historically low interest rates and how some experts believe its a mistake for homeowners to wait too long to take advantage of them and refinance. Included with the article, is a table of "Average rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage" from 2010 - 2012.

Rates were 3.87% for the week ending February 2, 2012. The current national average according to ERate for a 30-year fixed conforming mortgage is 4.018%. This seems to hold up what some economists say that with a slightly improving economy rates will tick upward.

Refinancing isn't right in every situation. Homeowners have to weigh factors like closing costs and the outstanding balance on their current mortgage. My husband spent months going back and forth with potential lenders looking for the right rate and terms before we refinanced last month. In the end, though we are now back to a 30-year loan, we are saving hundreds of dollars a month and lost no equity.

Have you considered refinancing? Have you opted to rent a single family home instead of buying one? What is it like in your area? Is the economy improving?

WSJ Wednesdays

The topic of textbooks has been on my mind lately, so when I saw this February 8th article in The Wall Street Journal, I knew what I would be blogging about. Katherine Boehret discusses her testing of Apple's iBooks2, a "redesigned iPad app that enhances educational textbooks." Right now they are focused on high school students, and, according to the article, cost no more than $15 each.

These enhancements include interactive materials such as: "multiple-choice questions that can be answered with taps on the screen; embedded videos; dynamic diagrams that change with touch gestures; and flash cards for studying important terms in a book."

While Boehret found a few bugs, overall the article was positive about this product. She also mentions that Apple revamped its free iTunes U app, which is now available for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. According to the article, content is free except for "in-app materials including things like textbooks or apps." Her review ends on a high positive, with her stating, "If anyone can move textbooks into a new realm with interactive, smart gestures, it's Apple." She does, however, realize the bugs need to be worked out before iBooks can fully replace physical textbooks.

Why is this topic on my mind? The Lil Diva's (10) backpack. She is in fifth grade this year and has a ton of material to lug around. On most days her backpack includes: two 5-subject notebooks, an accordion folder filled with various papers, her agenda with attached--and very full--pencil bag, her recorder, her reading glasses (in their case), at least one chapter reader, and a bagged snack. Her lunch bag doesn't even fit. I haven't weighed it yet, but I think it's probably 10 or more pounds. This doesn't even count when she has to bring a textbook home.

Part of the issue is that she doesn't have a desk this year. Her homeroom teacher believes tables make for a neater classroom, so in addition to the fact that her school has no lockers, there is also no space in her classroom to store materials. Even if she had a desk, however, I'm not sure how much it would help because most of what she brings home would need to be transported back and forth anyway. But I guess even one pound will make a difference when you're lugging your backpack to the bus stop every morning and then home again.

What we really need to do is figure out a way kids can carry less around with them. We stress the importance of healthy habits to our kids, but force them to heave a loaded bag over their shoulders at least twice a day. We alter our school lunch menus to address the increasing rate of obesity, but what consideration is given to the long-term effects of improper posture? We talk about Going Green when the majority of assignments come home on worksheets--photocopies or originals.

The cost of an iPad is a true stumbling block for school districts and parents, but can't that be weighed by the savings in textbooks, workbooks, and paper supplies? Should school districts across the country have a representative working with companies such as Apple to create viable digital alternatives to textbooks and workbooks (maybe some do)? I know there has been a push in some of the schools in our district to reduce the number of photocopies produced. What else can be done to move schools in America toward virtually paperless learning environments?