tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87413022019-03-22T09:40:14.555-04:00This blog is dedicated to the ramblings of a homeschooling mother of 6 in desperate need of a vacation. But since that is not currently available this blog will have to do.Spunkynoreply@blogger.comBlogger1444125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-89936130630001788112014-09-11T17:05:00.002-04:002014-09-11T17:05:36.875-04:00

Below is a video from the 2013 Mackinac Policy Conference where Governor Snyder explains his vision of P20 education from "prenatal to life long learning."   "I want to emphasize a vision of P-20.  A PRENATAL to life long learning.  We have to get beyond the old models of saying there are silos for  for K12,  silos for community college, for higher ed,  for preschool.  They shouldn't

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-39893999431104616212014-06-25T10:51:00.005-04:002014-06-25T10:51:44.528-04:00

Governor Snyder signed the School Omnibus Budget Bill on Tuesday.  Included in the budget was a provision that appears to have blocked the implementation of Smarter Balanced for one year by extending the MEAP. This is obviously a good thing in many ways.  Thanks to your calls and the the hard work of lawmakers against the Common Core, we were able to cause enough of a stir and provoke a

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-50046712253146550332014-06-20T18:52:00.001-04:002014-06-20T18:52:14.067-04:00

Governor Snyder said in his 2011 State of the State Addresss, "We’ve been spending money without delivering the results to give our young people a bright future. It is time that we view our educational system which runs from pre-natal to lifelong learning. It’s time to start talking about P-20 instead of just K-12. We need to establish a system that focuses on real achievement for all of

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-30424344238313408342014-06-16T08:05:00.003-04:002014-06-16T08:39:02.539-04:00

Associated Press political journalist, Kimberley Hefling reports on the impact homeschoolers are making against the Common Core.  Home-schooling mom Jenni White gave some of the loudest cheers when Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed legislation to repeal the Common Core education standards.... ...n Oklahoma and elsewhere, home-schooling parents, often with their kids, are a frequent presence

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-74736392913185834242014-06-13T08:07:00.000-04:002014-06-16T08:39:58.444-04:00

In a recent email and webinar, Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) asserted that  "At this time, we have not seen any evidence that the redesigned SAT will harm homeschoolers in any way."    Is that a valid statement?  Simply by looking at the documentation provided on the Common Core website written by HSLDA, the answer is clearly NO. In their FAQ, Question #7 asks, "Will the

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-79884405398294604582014-06-11T14:17:00.000-04:002014-06-13T08:53:30.539-04:00

Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)  hosted a webinar with College Board President, David Coleman, last Friday.  If you were hoping for a take-down of Coleman it didn’t happen.  The email sent out by HSLDA President Mike Smith before the event gave us a hint at the tone, At this time, we have not seen any evidence that the redesigned SAT will harm homeschoolers in any way. David

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-39533406026755469662014-06-05T15:21:00.002-04:002014-06-05T18:34:17.369-04:00

Many have asked where I'll be speaking next.  Here is a tentative schedule for the month of June.  Common Core Community Meeting -  Lyon Twp. LIbrary June 9 at 6:30 PM Common Core event with Pat Colbeck -  Plymouth Cultural Center June 17 at 7 PM Common Community Event - Troy Community Center - June 18 at 7 PM RSVP here All events are open to the public.  Invite your friends! You can also

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-54851305620352324002014-06-02T18:22:00.000-04:002014-06-02T18:22:38.551-04:00

Brian Polet resigned as as board president and from the board of directors of Eagle Crest Charter Academy.  Below is his stinging resignation letter.  Please read and share this letter. Dear Eagle Crest Charter Academy, National Heritage Academies, and Central Michigan University, Effective June 30, 2014, I officially resign as board president and from the board of directors of the Eagle

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-32977801343759822992014-05-22T09:48:00.000-04:002014-05-22T09:48:38.009-04:00

Parents and teachers:  It’s time WE teach Lansing a lesson…we’re in charge of our children’s future.  Please read this post and contact your legislators TODAY! Yesterday, I encouraged state lawmakers to withdraw HB 5581 and SB 0945  until we knew what assessment Governor Snyder supports. We still don’t know.  Instead, lawmakers in both the the House and Senate Education Committees voted

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-79270678207908473602014-05-20T13:50:00.000-04:002014-05-20T13:50:16.640-04:00

There's a brawl brewing in Lansing over which test will replace MEAP. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) wants the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC). Business Leaders and the Chamber of Commerce want SBAC. Lawmakers in the legislature are divided.  Some want SBAC but others are concerned about cost and the loss of control if we go forward with SBAC.   Given that they are in charge

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-51199912053167048892014-05-16T21:26:00.001-04:002014-05-17T19:26:19.079-04:00

I have done many workshops and talks on the Common Core in the last year.  I am routinely asked for my slides for future reference.   I finally have it done.  Thank you for your patience.   These slides are for reference only.  Please do no alter or duplicate.   Thank you! Common Core Presentation Slides (PDF) Please note that the slides may be slightly different than a version.  I am routinely

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-79834364579599041902014-05-08T10:54:00.000-04:002014-05-08T14:08:56.677-04:00

The United States is being transformed from a decentralized educational system to a national system from P-20 right before our eyes.  In 2010, 45 states adopted Common Core, a standard of college readiness for math and English Language Arts. Logically, ONE common standard cannot have FIFTY state tests.  The question became what test would become THE Common Test aligned with the Common Core to

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-85276417845760655452014-05-06T07:17:00.000-04:002014-05-08T15:04:08.080-04:00

Back in 2005 I wrote a post called Conviction or Preference.  At that time, I asked at hypothetical question based on my knowledge of national standards,  If your child or children were prevented from getting into college because they didn't have the right credentials due to the fact that they were homeschooled would you still homeschool them through high school or would change what you are

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-40004059610884707532014-04-15T12:40:00.000-04:002014-04-15T12:40:14.839-04:00

It appears the Fordham Foundation is getting a bit frustrated with the rising opposition to the Common Core. In a recent article Chester Finn, Jr. is going so far as to ask if "opting out" of testing is "acceptable" and "probably illegal." Tough questions urgently arise: Is it legal to opt your child out of state tests? Should it be legal? And if it’s not—and ought not be—legal, is it

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-32143877885329330982014-04-11T12:36:00.000-04:002014-04-11T12:36:07.410-04:00

Fordham produced a series of reports after examining the districts considered to be "early implementers" of the Common Core. Their findings published in "Common Core in the Districts: An Early Look at Early Implementer" are predictable and set the stage for a call for common curricula to go with the Common Core, the desired goal all along. Take particular note of #3 and #4: This up-close

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-38384499210485005372014-04-11T12:23:00.002-04:002014-04-11T12:23:46.489-04:00

Last fall, I had the privilege of being a part of a WOODTV's Live Town Hall with Governor Snyder. (Video at link could not be embedded.) My question centered around the fact that when we adopted the Common Core our PUBLIC school standards became PRIVATELY owned by the NGA and the CCSSO. It appears from Governor Snyder's answer that we have ceded our authority role in education and become a

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-83756165093988317862014-04-10T19:27:00.000-04:002014-04-10T19:27:07.295-04:00

My April 2013 testimony on HB 4276 to repeal Common Core in Michigan.  So much has happened since then. We were railroaded last summer and ended up with a meaningless resolution. Common Core must be the litmus test for the 2014 elections so that we get a legislature that has the courage to say no to the feds.   You can get more frequent updates on Common Core via my Facebook page.  

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-19378210371364556222014-04-03T12:45:00.002-04:002014-04-03T12:45:56.951-04:00

The war against the Common Core has kept me busy.  I have been blogging at Stop Common Core in Michigan.  I kept thinking I'd get back over to cross-post but never did. I started this blog in 2005 to fight national centralized common standards.   It is hard to believe it is 2014 and Common Core has been adopted in 45 states (with various levels of repeals pending.)    People are starting to

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-59709228818109782672013-10-04T14:58:00.004-04:002013-10-04T14:58:54.330-04:00

Action Item For Michigan Readers:  Call the Government Operations Committee members (names and numbers below) and let them know you want them to "do their job" and hold public hearings to discuss the serious issues with Common Core and HCR 11 and that you want an amendment to REMOVE Michigan  from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortia. Legislative Recap of HCR 11 and why we need to

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-39873757365395550872013-09-15T14:34:00.000-04:002013-09-15T14:34:00.542-04:00

Michigan Governor Snyder said in 2011, " It is time that we view our educational system which runs from pre-natal to lifelong learning. It’s time to start talking about P-20 instead of just K-12. We need to establish a system that focuses on real achievement for all of our children." The P-20 education system has been in the making for over a decade.   Common national standards for K-12

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-42825139895586319652013-09-13T13:09:00.000-04:002013-09-13T13:09:44.105-04:00

Eric Owen, Education Editor at the Daily Caller, is asking a question that should make most parents cringe, "Fifty Shades of Gray:  how much porn is too much for high schoolers?"      Owen was prompted to ask because of a book recommended in the Common Core and read aloud in a tenth grade classroom in Arizona.   Owen cites where the book is found in Common Core. “Dreaming in Cuban” can be found

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-31396424989469894272013-08-04T15:58:00.002-04:002013-08-04T15:58:26.608-04:00

The NY Times posted a story about the SAT (owned by The College Board) and ACT and how they are changing in the next few years.  Big changes are coming to the nation’s two competing admissions tests. Mr. Coleman, who became president last October, is intent on rethinking the SAT to make it an instrument that meshes with what students are learning in their classrooms. Meanwhile, the

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-57643260150313955622013-08-04T11:14:00.000-04:002013-08-04T11:14:26.418-04:00

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal gave a speech at a Redstate gathering on Friday where he addressed the Common Core.   He said, "We will resist any attempt ... to impose a national curriculum," But as the news story points out that "the Jindal administration has been supportive of the standards, with state Education Superintendent John White saying they will "put Louisiana's children on an

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-34126439798709125492013-08-02T15:59:00.000-04:002013-08-02T16:46:45.786-04:00

This week, I was forwarded an email sent out by HSLDA President Michael Farris to members regarding a phone conversation he had with David Coleman.  Coleman is President of the College Board and a leader in the Common Core State Standards Initiative.  (Read more about Coleman here.) Farris's recaps his conversation here. I have no interest in questioning the motives of Mr. Farris.   He is free

Spunkynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8741302.post-72242520392941227302013-06-25T16:34:00.003-04:002013-06-25T16:36:39.443-04:00

The Heritage Institute blog, The Foundry, writes, New information on Common Core “alignment” by the ACT, SAT, and even GED exams raises questions about the impact Common Core will have on private and homeschooled students and their ability to “opt out” of the federally incentivized standards if they want to apply for college.     ...Proponents of the standards have tried to argue that

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