“How many stars are on the American flag?”

Simple questions, right? Well, if you’ve seen this now viral video, you know that for some high school students, there are no simple questions. There aren’t even simple answers!

It appears that the majority of students at this high school are ignorant about basic facts that most of us learned in elementary school. But before you shake your head in dismay and lament over the state of education in this country, it’s important to read the statement from the two student journalists who made this video. It begins with this:

“It should be known that we filmed for several hours, during which time many students gave correct responses; the film represents a short segment of the most entertaining answers.”

I don’t know about you, but I did find some comfort in that. It’s true that the more mistaken an answer is (“Bin Laden is the Vice President!”), the greater the shock value. So overall, I think it’s safe to assume that the students shown in this video do not represent the majority at this particular school.

But that doesn’t change the fact that there are students who really have no clue, especially about the history of our country. And whose fault is that? Some say it’s because history, especially American history, gets short shrift in curricula these days. Others blame No Child Left Behind or video games or social media. I don’t think it’s possible to blame any one thing. For many reasons, there has been a cultural shift in this country away from serious studies, especially outside of the classroom. Kids have a lot more choices when it comes to filling up their free time. There was a time when books were practically the only form of entertainment, so books it was. In previous generations, kids read more and watched less. And we all know that reading, whether for pleasure or studies, expands the mind and the knowledge within it.

So what do we do? Do we watch a video like this and shrug it off? Or do we throw out all electronics in our homes and fill up our bookshelves and/or e-readers? Do we quiz our teens when they walk in the door today? (“How was your day, hon? And by the way, who’s the Vice President?”) I for one, won’t be jumping to conclusions and declaring education broken; our futures bleak. But I will make sure to continue to advocate for students, both mine and yours, so that someday we can all watch a video like that and know with confidence, that it’s just a joke.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I am five years old and I’m in the bathroom that is right off my kindergarten classroom. The entire time I am in there I am singing. I am under the misconception that no one can hear me. When I exit the bathroom the entire class, including my teacher, Mrs. Bartlett, is staring at me and smiling. I am told I have a nice singing voice.

No, that wasn’t a weird dream I recently had, that is something that actually happened and has stayed with me all these years. Like most adults I meet, I have some pretty vivid memories of my elementary school days and can easily list all my teachers. It’s such a formative and life-changing time for children, it’s no wonder that the memories, be they good or bad, tend to stick.

First grade, Mrs. O’Neal. When she taught my brother a few years earlier, she was Miss Olsen. My mom told me she had gotten married and changed her name. I remember thinking that was strange.

Those first years of school are about learning basic skills, both academic and social. The student-teacher relationship is crucial to success. If a teacher is unable to reach your child or make her feel comfortable in the school environment, then it could lead to future problems.

Second grade, Miss Berger. She was tall and sassy and wore great ‘70s jumpsuits. I really liked her and I liked school. Richard Nixon was president.

I have tutors that work with elementary school students and I see how it helps build their confidence. So important at that age! I remember there were kids in my elementary school who struggled and they often did not get the extra help they needed. Unfortunately, this can set a child up for a lifetime of bad school experiences.

Third and fourth grade, Mrs. Perlman. She was sweet and funny and old! (Probably almost 40!) I remember studying for my multiplication exam and feeling extremely nervous. There were 100 problems we had to finish in a certain amount of time. I got 99 out of 100 and still remember which one I got wrong. (For the record, 6 x 5 does not = 31.)

As students move up the grades, play time decreases and more time is spent on academics. But they’re still kids and they’re still silly and we need to remember that’s OK too. A nice balance between work and play is important. (And is pretty good advice for all students, no matter the age.)

Fifth grade, Mrs. Koran. She was Anne (“With an e!” she would say.) Koran and she was really old (Maybe 50!!) and mean. Or so we thought. By the end of the year we had come to love her and pooled our money to buy her a pin. (The letter A, for Anne – with an e!)

It’s all still there for me, those first six years that helped to form the student and person I would become. It sticks because it was that important. One of the dictionary definitions of elementary is straightforward and uncomplicated and that’s what school should be in those early years. My memories are a testament to that.

Any school memories you’d like to share?

Of course, when I was growing up there were no cell phones and my parents were fine with that. If I was running late, perhaps they got a bit concerned, but the only option was to wait and see if I showed up, which I always did. And I suppose they could’ve called the school if I was very late, but it never came to that.

We’ve all become extremely reliant on our phones, both kids and adults. I guess once you get used to a convenience, it’s hard for it to be taken away.

I completely agree that students should not be allowed to have cell phones with them as they go from class to class. The temptation to use them is just too great. My son’s school said that phones may be brought to school, but must remain in a student’s locker for the entire day. The problem is, the lockers don’t actually have locks so there’s the risk of the phone being stolen.

What’s the policy at your child’s school and how do you handle it?

This got me thinking about students and how self-confidence is the key to successful learning. If a child doesn’t believe they can learn something, then they either won’t learn it or will struggle greatly. A teacher or tutor can try every trick in the book to make a student understand a concept, but if there’s a lack of confidence, an attitude of “I’ll never be able to do this!” then that concept never really sticks. A student might understand it temporarily, but it doesn’t become a permanent tool in his educational toolbox.

So what do you do if your child lacks confidence in her ability to learn? What if she says something like, “I’m not smart, that’s why I don’t understand this math homework.” Experts agree that replies like, “Of course you’re smart!” aren’t very helpful. If your child is upset, telling them you disagree will only make things worse. Acknowledging what they’re feeling is a better strategy:  “You sound frustrated. What’s going on with your math homework?”  Let them express what they’re feeling and why, but as I’ve written about before, don’t get roped into doing the homework for them. That doesn’t end up helping anyone.

A good tutor can do wonders for self-confidence. By working one-on-one with a student and making a tough concept much clearer, a student will feel better both about the work and himself. Giving a student the skills he needs to understand homework and what’s going on in the classroom is a real boost for self-esteem and confidence.

Let me know if you’ve encountered lack of confidence in your kids and how you handled it. I’d love to hear your ideas.

Ask a student who doesn’t like school what the main reasons are and the B word is often at the top of that list: “I’m bored”; “School is boring”; “When will I ever have to know this boring stuff?” It’s a common refrain, especially among struggling students. So who’s to blame? Is it the students themselves? The teachers? Or maybe it’s the curriculum; is it time for more 21^st century thinking when it comes to designing what our kids learn?

As you know, I’m a huge fan of teachers; I’m even the daughter of a teacher. But when it comes to students being bored, oftentimes – but certainly not always – much of the blame lies with the teachers. The most talented teachers and tutors I know are able to take the driest and yes, most boring, material and spark an interest in a child. (If you ever took a college course solely for the professor who taught it, you’ll know what I mean.) Teachers who have sustained their own lifelong interest in learning are frequently those who have found alternative ways of delivering so-called dry material and connecting with their students in ways that generate excitement about learning, regardless of subject.

Lots of time is spent learning facts and dates about people and events that preceded even the ancient lives of the student’s parents. But learning this information doesn’t have to entail reading phonebook-thick textbooks and regurgitating seemingly irrelevant information. This was brought home to me after seeing Lin-Manuel Miranda perform at the  American Songbook series  at Lincoln Center this week. Lin, a hip hop artist and Tony award winner for his musical In the Heights, took the stage and taught the most creative, entertaining, imaginative history lesson I’ve ever witnessed. What do you think? Would a student rather learn about Alexander Hamilton from a textbook or from something like this:

I am not suggesting that textbooks can or should be replaced, they will always have their place in the classroom.  But why not seek out supplemental, innovative ways to present the material as well?  Why not, for example, have the students read a chapter on Alexander Hamilton and then watch Lin’s interpretation? Maybe an assignment could be writing their own hip hop version of history.

If you’re a teacher or tutor and reading this, you might disagree with me. I know my ideas are sometimes easier blogged than done. And sometimes there are students who won’t catch that spark for learning no matter how entertaining the teacher. And, of course, we also have the dreaded “teaching to the test” curricula that too often displaces opportunities for fresher approaches to learning. There are a lot of factors that might be working against preventing boredom, but even a few tweaks here and there can help. There’s no reason for students to be bored in school.

Over the last few years he has moved on to middle school  and the questions and questioning have begun. He has become aware that certain things are more challenging for him than some of his peers. He has questioned both his intelligence and his ability to learn. He has developed a self-awareness that I am proud of, even if it does cause some distress at times.

Some people, especially those who have never been there, might question why he wasn’t told sooner. I have never lied to him about his learning disabilities, but honestly, until a few years ago, he never really asked. Most teachers and administrators in special education agree that their main goal is making a student feel comfortable and confident. Saddling children with labels at an early age when they can’t really understand what they mean, can be detrimental. When my son asked why he had to switch schools after first grade, I simply explained that he needed a smaller classroom setting so he could learn better. There was no need to affix a label to him at that point. All his labels were firmly in place on his IEP and those were labels I accepted freely since they helped to get him the services and school setting that he needed.

Now in his middle school, the idea of being a different kind of learner is discussed freely and in fact, is part of the curriculum. The wise teachers and staff there know that this is the age when kids start to become aware of their differences and question them. They discuss how everyone learns in their own way, with their own strengths and weaknesses. They talk about labels and rising above them. They assure them there is nothing they can’t do if they really want to. So while it isn’t always the smoothest of roads, it’s a road nonetheless. A road they’re now old enough to navigate, understand and hopefully travel upon to a bright future.

Traveling on this road yourself? I’d love to hear from you.

I am a mix of emotions as the 2011 Mosaic year comes to a close. Looking back, I can honestly say I am grateful, proud, moved, amused, surprised, tired and excited – all at once! It’s been a whirlwind year that I spent getting to know a lot of fantastic New York City parents, students and tutors. I have done my best to help you and am so grateful for all that you’ve taught me. Here are just some of the highlights of an exciting and educational year:

• The 6^th grade student who went up four levels in reading and couldn’t wait to tell me. His tutor had not only helped him academically, she really increased his confidence.

• The generous parent who called me not about a tutor for her own child, but the child of her employee. She not only pays for his tutoring, she also lets the tutoring take place at her home. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!

• The young student who was no longer able to attend his school and needed home schooling and his gifted tutor who has made sure he continues to learn and thrive.

• The email I received from a parent after one of Mosaic’s tutors worked her children for the first time.  “My kids both ADORED him.”

• The email I received from a parent after her son’s tutoring was finished: “He approaches things differently because of the techniques and skills he learned from (the tutor) and mentions her quite often. Please let her know that she did an awesome job tutoring my son.”

• The lovely family that gave one of my tutors a gift at the end of the school year and donated to a charity she was working for.

• Having one of my tutors work with a Summer Search student. I’m so proud to be associated with this special organization that helps keep low income kids on the college track.

Here’s to a wonderful 2012 for all the Mosaic families and tutors. I look forward to helping educate and being educated by all of you.

Universal is full of non-stop excitement, rides, food and fun. We explored Hogsmeade, the town where Harry Potter and his friends hang out, we rode broomsticks, followed Spiderman as he webbed his way from building to building, got close to dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, and this was just on the first day. It was all very fun and exciting for my son, but not scary. He went on willingly and asked to go again and again. The scary part, which was also the part where the learning happened, was The Hulk.

The Hulk is a huge roller coaster that accelerates from 0 to 40MPH in two seconds. And that’s just the start. Riders are shot 150 feet in the air, experience zero gravity and seven inversions. Needless to say, this mom watched from the ground.  But my son, did not. My formerly fearful, trepidatious son rode The Hulk ten times over the three days we were there. He was terrified that first time, but once he did it, I could literally see his confidence increase. It made me think back to all the things he’s been afraid of in his life: starting school, his first swim lesson, a closed bedroom door. He’s overcome so many of his fears, as most kids do, but as he gets older, new ones can and do arise.

I made a point of talking to him about it after a day of multiple Hulk rides. I reminded him that as little as six months ago, he would’ve been too frightened to go on that ride. And I tried to make the parallel between riding a roller coaster and any other fears he may face in his life. We all experience moments when we’re absolutely sure we cannot do something, but then, with some work, maybe some deep breaths, and a renewed sense of confidence, we do it. This is a great lesson to learn and I’m hoping at least some of it managed to sink in.

Are there fears that you or your children have overcome in your life? Did overcoming one fear help you in other aspects of your life as well? I’d love to hear your personal stories.

Sometimes educational opportunities for our kids aren’t obvious.  During the long school year education means books, papers, tests, homework…the usual. Try to take some time this summer to think outside the box and plan activities with your kids that will enrich them not just academically.

Earlier this year I started volunteering for a great organization called New York Cares, the city’s largest volunteer organization that helps out 1,200 nonprofits, city agencies and public schools. They offer what they call “Family Friendly” opportunities which allow you to bring your kids along.  My son and I have spent the third Saturday of every month volunteering for Citymeals-on-Wheels.  We deliver hot meals to homebound seniors in the Times Square area. Although he was apprehensive at first, my son is now a pro at ringing doorbells, unpacking meals, checking names off of our list, and making sure to smile and say hello to people who literally might not have any other human contact that day. Most people we deliver to are friendly and very grateful. Some live in clean, nice apartments, others do not. One day recently we delivered to a woman who was upset that her meals hadn’t arrived earlier. She had some harsh things to say as we handed her the food. As we walked back to the elevator, my son said, “Why was she so angry?” The other adult volunteer that was with us said, “She’s not angry, she’s hungry.”

So what has my son gained from this experience? He’s learned organization, perseverance, socialization, empathy. He’s gotten exercise. He’s come to the realization that not all New Yorkers live like he and his friends do. He’s seen his mom take control of a situation and he’s also seen her yield the control to him. He’s made new friends with other volunteers. He’s made a 95 year old woman say, “How nice to see a young face today!”

As much as I talk about education involving reading, writing and math, there are some lessons that can’t be taught in school. Take some time this summer to pursue those alternatives. The lessons learned are priceless.

* To learn more about New York Cares, visit their website: http://newyorkcares.org/

What do you think about the prevalence today of teaching to the test?

I don’t believe that we should just teach for the tests. That’s one of the reasons I retired. There is more and more pressure on curriculum and results these days. I don’t think teaching to the test is what education should be about. I understand why they do it; it’s all about competition and headlines. Administrators today think the more they can get kids to do, the better. They keep heaping it on and don’t give the kids a chance to do the humanistic things like discussion and relating what they learn to real life.

How are the skills of today’s high school graduates?

There are a lot of students with very weak writing ability. They have trouble with sentence structure, spelling, etc. We’re not putting out a good product and the colleges are complaining. I think if we spent more time teaching reading we’d have a better quality student. It has to start in the younger grades. The kids who have parents at home who show them that reading is important, will do well, the others won’t.

Of the thousands of students you’ve taught, is there one that stands out?

Yes, it was a young girl in 9^th grade. She was the only student I ever gave 100 to. I would give quizzes with a bonus question at the end and she almost always answered correctly. If she got something wrong she’d ask why. She wasn’t complaining, she was just very eager to learn. She was a true scholar.

Why do you still substitute teach after all these years? Why not retire for good?

Because it’s always been a calling for me. I feel so comfortable around students; I like them. I feel like I have something to give them if they’re interested. When I was a student, I needed a kick in the pants to get going, so I can relate to these kids. I tell them when you have the motivation, you can do anything. Teaching helps me keep my head straight, keeps my mind active. I don’t know any colleagues my age who still teach; they’ve retired and moved on to something else. It’s just me; I’m a people person. 

Are there any teachers who influenced you? I’d love to hear about it.