Georgia's New Common Core Performance Standards

I attended a “Lunch and Learn” at my daughter’s middle school some time ago. My expectation was that there would be a brief presentation and then the parents would be allowed to converse and enjoy lunch with our children.  Instead, the principal stood at the podium for 45 minutes discussing Georgia's new Common Core Performance Standards.  

 She rambled on, flipping through slide after slide attempting to explain that the current CRCT (Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests) would no longer be used. She implied that the teaching level of Georgia schools was superior to what the students were being tested on. She went on to explain that the CRCT was not a “good enough” barometer. 

Finally, after yielding to her plea to 'get your student prepared', I said to myself, “Hey Terri.  The principal of the school is spending her time explaining this new teaching and testing style.  You may need to focus in.” So I did.  

 What I realized is that they are changing the direction of how students are taught English language arts, mathematics, and literacy in science, history/social studies, and technical subjects.  Instead of drilling nonstop facts into their brains they are requiring that students elevate themselves to a higher level of thinking.  The new standards deviate greatly from the textbook unit testing. They implore the student to think beyond what is in front of them. There will be more essay writing and more thought processing.  I was not the only parent that felt somewhat caught off guard by this change.  This brings me to my point.

 We have done a disservice to our students by failing to incorporate writing as a bona fide subject. Then suddenly the light switch turned on in the academic world and the great powers that be decided our students should know how to write. Hence, writing was added to the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test). Colleges are weighing entrance essays more heavily and the Common Core Curriculum will require more written essays.

 Our teachers have been caught off guard with this shift as well.  They are busily working this summer to modify their curriculum in order to align with the new standards. However, my question is, who will be equipped to teach the art of writing to our students Many teachers have expressed concern with their abilities to teach writing. Some even lack the desire to tackle the job. 

Parents, please be informed. Your child will be expected to pass the Common Core Curriculum whether their teacher is prepared or not.  What should you do?  I would suggest finding a writing coach to assist your child.  The earlier they start the better. This will give your child a “leg up” with this new curriculum.  In addition, many tutoring businesses have incorporated writing into their programs. Make sure the writing instructor is not only certified in some area of writing but has experience in the field. 

Writing workshops are hard to find but are well worth the money. www.easyessays.eventbrite.com is one workshop that I can vouch for. I am an assistant teacher in this program and can validate its worthiness. The following website will give you detailed information to help you understand the Common Core Curriculum https://www.georgiastandards.org/common-core/Pages/default.aspx.

 Many programs have come and gone in Georgia and there's no way to predict how long the Common Core program will hang around but be prepared and stay informed.  Best wishes to you.

Pass the Stick (Guest blogger Joyice Harris)

Writer's Tablet Workshop 

From time to time I would like to share with you blogs from my many associates who volunteer their time toward The Writers Tablet Foundation. This month Joyice Harris, from www.writingenhancer.com, shares her experience in working with the WTStudents.

Pass the Stick

by Joyice Harris

I was invited to co-host a Youth/Teen Workshop held by the Writers’ Tablet over this past weekend and we implemented a technique called “Pass the Stick."  This method is used to stir the creative juices of the students and expound their thought process. Terri began the prompt and each student was instructed to add one complete sentence to the story. Some of them got a little carried away. We had a blast!

Read below to hear our impromptu story about a little dog named Blackberry. It is sure to give you quite a chuckle, if not a full gut-busting laugh.

PROMPT:  Poor little Blackberry decided that he was going to challenge himself to go across that Mountain of Fear…

STUDENT 1: He went up to the Mountain of Fear and made a left turn…

STUDENT 2:   Poor Blackberry, he got hit by a car; but he did not get killed by the car. No, he almost got ran over by a red Honda but the red Honda stopped and saw him and let him cross the Mountain of Fear onto the River of Joy…

STUDENT 3:   On the River of Joy, Blackberry encountered a fat alligator looking for lollipops and he ate his tail and he ran to his neighbor’s house…

STUDENT 4:   The dog was internally bleeding but luckily the neighbor was a doctor. Sadly, the dog did not have a tail after the accident.

STUDENT 5:   And Blackberry learned to not climb the Mountain of Fear.

For more ideas to build creative writing skills, go to www.TerriWhitmire.com to learn about upcoming classes. Terri can also be reached at writerstablet@gmail.com.

20/20 Activities for the Holiday Season

by Terri Whitmire and Joyice Harris

The Christmas Holiday is finally upon us and you may have visions swirling around in your head of sleeping in, catching your favorite TV shows, or hibernating like a black bear. After all, you deserve it. But if you're a parent then guess what?  Your children will have other plans!

You'll begin to discover that right around the fifth day of being home with the family, everyone will become a little antsy. If your family is anything like mine, then pesky arguments will erupt, a trail of destruction will follow and you'll be pulling your hair out wondering how many days until the kids go back to school. (And the spouse goes back to work.)

In order to save you from a last minute internet search for something to keep all your family members sane, I  have offered a few holiday happenings and suggestions. With the help of Joyice Harris, a Homeschool Mom and owner of the Writing Enhancer, we have compiled a list of twenty inside activities and twenty outside activities to enjoy with your holiday with family. After all, this is what the Christmas holiday is all about. (Keeping everyone alive)  Enjoy and Merry Christmas.     

Here are 20 INSIDE holiday, family activities:

1.    Create a birthday card for Jesus. (Older kids can write a letter to Jesus sharing their gratitude about 2012.)

2.    Make hot chocolate (or your favorite hot beverage) and have sharing time at the family table.

3.    Make Christmas play-dough (see recipe).

4.    Make Christmas cookies together (Be sure to ask for everyone’s favorite)

5.    Create a Christmas ornament (String Fruit Loops, popcorn, or life savers)

6.    Give an early gift to the members of your family.

7.    Research a “Big Question” (e.g. what’s the history of Christmas? why do we decorate Christmas trees? Ect.)

8.    Hide a holiday note under your sweetie’s and/or children’s pillow.

9.    Watch your own home movies and reminisce on the good ole’ days.

10. Watch a classic Christmas movie together. Have everyone write down and recite their favorite line.

11. Learn how to say “Merry Christmas” in different languages.

12. Decorate a gingerbread house together. (Use a pint size milk carton, graham crackers and your favorite candies.)

13.  Recreate the birth of Jesus by dressing your kids up in costumes (Joseph, Mary, 3 wise men, baby Jesus) Don’t forget your camcorder!

14. Create a countdown to Christmas calendar.

15. Find out how many smaller words you can make from “Christmas”.

      (Have a special treat for the winner)

16. Song Challenge: List all the Christmas songs you can think of in 3 minutes? (Cross off shared answers and the player with the most original response is the “Christmas King/Queen/Prince/Princess” for the day!)

17. Create a Christmas craft and set aside a place to display them gallery style.  (Enchanted Learning is one of our favorite sites for seasonal crafts!)

18. Make a homemade Christmas card to send to the troops.

19. Blindfold a member of your family and give him/her seasonal items to smell and record how many he/she get correct. (Seasonal Smells: peppermint, cinnamon, gingerbread, eggnog, pine/evergreen, nutmeg, sugar cookies, hot chocolate, sweet potatoes, etc.)

20.  Make a silly story.  (Each person starts with one sentence and then each person adds their sentence to the silly story. Record your story.)

Here are 20 OUTSIDE holiday, family activities:

1.    Catch a holiday or family movie at your local theater (“Parental  

    Guidance” is a promising film this year!)

2.    Attend a Christmas Light Display. (Our favorites in the city are Life of Lights and Centennial Park.)

3.    Take a drive around a neighborhood you’ve never been to see their light displays.

4.    See live reindeer (Chattahoochee Nature Center.)

5.   Go Christmas Caroling (senior communities, firehouses, children’s hospitals)

6.    Attend a Christmas show (Several listings in town including the Nutcracker at the Fox Theater and A Christmas Carol at the Alliance Theater.)

7.    Go to a basketball game. (Okay, I admit this isn’t a very holiday season event, but it is definitely family time and the Hawks v. Piston game just happens to be the day after Christmas!)

8.    Visit Stone Mountain Park for “Snow Mountain.”

9.    Visit a Christmas tree farm.

10. See the Snow Show @ Atlantic Station.

11. Grab a blanket and some hot chocolate. Sit outside on a clear night and star gaze.

12. Give back! Volunteer with an organization together for the day. (There are many organizations that allow children to volunteer alongside their parents.)

13. Cook a meal together and take it to a less-fortunate family.

14. Go ice-skating (in/outdoor).

15. Ride the Pink Pig @ Lenox Mall (for small children.)

16. Hear the Winter Wonder Jam @ Atlantic Station.

17. Attend a Live Nativity Scene. (There are several in local cities all over, but we found a free one at Rock Spring Presbyterian Church in Atlanta the weekend before Christmas)

18. Design art @ The High Museum. (“Holidays at the High”, free w/ admissions)

19. See “Rudolph” at the Center for Puppetry Arts.

20. Build a Christmas tree together at Lego® Land.

Edited by: The Writing Enhancer

Top 10 ways to stay safe this season

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  It's a special time to remember the birth of our Lord and to honor all that He has done in our lives. Christmas trees, frosty air and twinkling lights all signify the beginning of this glorious season.  For most this is a wonderful time to spread cheer to family, friends and neighbors.  Unfortunately, this is also the time where criminals seek to take advantage of the season.  Here are a few tips that may help in making sure your Yule tide is a happy one. 

10.  Always park in a well lit space.
9. Do not leave your house dark if you are leaving for the day or for the week.  (Purchase timers to turn lights and TV on and off)
8. Do not announce on Facebook or twitter that you are leaving for vacation. (Post pictures and updates after you've returned)
7. When shopping, wear a whistle (on a string) around your neck.  (tuck it inside your shirt to keep it hidden)
6. If you are shopping alone.  Wait to leave the store with a group of people so you do not appear to be alone.
5. Do not sit in your car and talk on your cellphone with the doors unlocked.  
4. Observe your surroundings and do not get distracted with phones, kids, etc.
3. Do not set out empty TV boxes, stereo boxes or anything that looks valuable for trash pickup.
2. Do not return to your car to drop off shopping bags.  If you do drive around to another parking spot.
1. Play close attention to what your spirit tells you.  Many people have been spared because they listened to their spirit that told them something wasn't quite right.

Suspicious, paranoid, overly cautious and neurotic

Welcome to Alaina Parker's world.

Chapter 1

Alaina’s heart pounded through her chest like a jack hammer. Her breathing was short and strained as if filtered through a straw.  She laid there; eyes heavy and unwilling to open. Sweat had accumulated around her neck, on her chest and on the lower half of her plump baby-soft skin.  She was ill-prepared to discover if the torrid events were real or nothing more than a disgusting dream. 

She slowly released her clenched eyelids. A sliver of light made its way into her pitch black bedroom reassuring her that there was no truth to where her subconscious had taken her.  She erected herself quickly in her bed and leaned against the wooden headboard.  Her white down comforter added to the incineration that her body felt. Using the corner of her blanket, she wiped her sweaty face and neck before flinging it to the foot of the bed.  She hesitantly turned to the clock positioned on her nightstand where it revealed the time—four am.  Three consecutive days of waking up early in a pool of sweat was infuriating. 

This is the worst one yet, she thought to herself. The pesky switch to the lamp continued to dodge her reach, further aggravating her. The sound of glass crashing to the floor echoed throughout her nine-hundred square feet condo.

        “Crap! You’re so stupid,” Alaina said aloud.

She finally caught hold of the gold chain and gave it a gentle tug. The flood of light revealed an impeccably decorated bedroom —coral colored walls, black bamboo floors, a weathered book shelf filled with her favorite books, and wall art created by various local artists.

  Her brain rattled and her thoughts took off in a million different directions much like the shattered glass that now lay on her floor. She returned her head to the pillow, feeling disgusted. Her eyes followed the circular motion of the oscillating ceiling fan. Frustrated and weary, Alaina hoisted herself out of bed and carefully circumvented the object of her current distress.

Except for her heavy footsteps the place was completely silent. Still she felt as if she was being studied—a stalker, a spy or perhaps the eyes of a killer following her. The possibility wasn’t at all absurd given the events from her past.  But the probability was highly unlikely. 

Alaina’s inquisitive nature and sharp intuition was what made her successful at her job. She was consistently rewarded for being a top performer. From day one, URS drilled into their employee’s the rules for security protocol.  These regulations fit nicely in Alaina’s world and were a mere extension of her own set of self-imposed parameters. They gave her life stability and reassured her that she was now in control. 

Contributing to her suspicious nature was a healthy dose of self consciousness, directed squarely toward her jiggling butt and thick thighs. She felt their involuntary movement as she teetered down the half lit hallway—her blue nightgown swaying behind her like the American flag. Alaina reached inside her neatly packed closet to retrieve a small lobby broom and dust pan.

She returned to the bedroom and snatched off the rest of her scarf that as a result of her nightmare had gone cock-eyed.  Her black wavy, hair bounced out and rested just past her bra line. Her mother’s Latino descent endowed her with olive undertones and envious hair, making up for the paunchy package that she had also been dealt.

Life in the Parker family was anything but predictable. Being the only child offered no solutions to her lack of friends.  Her mother, Josephina, stepped in and provided the social interaction that Alaina needed. Alaina’s whimsical world of midnight hide-and-seek, whipped crème casserole, and unexcused absences came to a screeching halt the day her father died.

Uncle Martin and his family lived in a typical middle class neighborhood that was forty minutes away but worlds apart. When Alaina was sent to live with them she quickly learned who was in charge.  Uncle Martin was the king of his holy castle, assigning, scheduling and praying his family into submission.  Gone were the days of tent building, star-gazing and Pig Latin classes. Uncle Martin and Aunt Rachel stressed the importance of family, church, school and chores; in that order

        “Eleven year olds do not set their own bedtime,” he would remind her.

Like a well-trained soldier, Alaina eventually fell in line with his odd set of instructions. His rules certainly gave her life order and molded her into a well-disciplined ‘contributing member of society’.  It wasn’t until her untimely discovery of Uncle Martin’s distressing secret that she began to question his teachings.

        Alaina swept up the last few pieces of glass and damp mopped the floor to capture the smaller shards.  She plopped down on the bed, restless and confused. Her reprieve from the cause of her interrupted sleep had left. She was drawn to a place she dreaded, a place where disturbing thoughts invaded her saneness.

Alaina, when you feel like your world no longer makes sense, get it out of your head and give it to the paper gods, her mother would say.

She riffled through her lower drawer and pulled out her blue journal.  The hardback cover was unevenly faded and the corners slightly bent. Still it remained in pretty good condition even after all these years. The date of her last entry was on her twenty-first birthday.  It read October 2005.

Wow!  It’s been seven years, she thought.

She traced her hands alongside the top of the journal and felt the silver stitching that spelled out her name. Paging through each entry, she finally landed on a blank sheet. Her mind struggled with whether to commit the words to paper. Until now she dared not write it down. 

She grabbed the pen, pulled the top off and uneasily wrote:

I have got to stop this.  Right now! These crazy dreams that leap into my subconscious are driving me crazy.  I don’t know where they are coming from and they make no sense.  Maybe I shouldn’t have been so stingy with Kyle, making every excuse in the book to not show him my body.   I’m 28 years old without a prospect in sight.  So where is my soul mate? Maybe his absence is the reason why my mind keeps going there. I don’t like women. I’ve never liked women. This has got to stop!

Shadows due out fall 2012

Please leave your comments here or on the Shadows facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/Shadowsthenovel.  
Thank you.

How to Survive Summer with Your Kids

I have been in a sour mood all week.  Trudging through the day and rolling my eyes haven't helped.  The weather is beautiful, my house is fairly clean and the bills are pretty much getting paid. So I ask myself what's with the funky mood?  Have you ever found yourself feeling like this? How did you snap out of it?  And please don't tell me to pray and read the Bible. I already do that.   

Everyone has their share of ups and downs in life.  It may seem for some like as soon as one storm is over here comes another.  In those instances it's totally warranted to feel drained and weary.  But for this particular case none of that applied.  

My husband and kids are well aware that when mommy is feeling a little antsy, it's best to not ask for anything extra.  I even shared my sour mood with a friend, hoping to receive some wise words to pull me out of my funk. Then I remembered. School was out in three days and I didn't have the first plans as to what my four kids would be doing this summer.

The thought of them home all summer caused a tad bit of anxiety.  Visions of me chasing behind them, chauffeuring them around town and the endless snacking, hit me like a ton of bricks.  Factor in the noise level, the fussing, the in and out, and the trail of destruction, that's enough to give anyone the heebie jeebies.

So what are you doing to make sure you survive summer with your kids?  I really want to know. I checked out our local community magazine and found several churches in my area that have VBS. Many were free or very inexpensive.  Then I found several three day camps available for my future tennis champion, my volleyball expert and my football running back.  The month of June was finally shaping up.  But camps can be expensive so July would have to involve some creativity.

I contacted one of my friends who lives in the area and we agreed to set up times where we swap kids. Yes!  I shared my frustration with my husband and we decided to rent new Wii games, purchase a Foosball table and a volleyball net for lots of outdoor fun. And lastly we instituted "morning learning".  

In order to participate in any fun activities our kids will be required to read for 30 minutes in the morning, complete one hour of online tutoring, (Check out Khan Academy) and read 30 more minutes before bed. This is how they bank their play time. A good friend of mine reminded me that my son who is sixteen going on twenty-five can also help chauffeur and assist them with their studies.

The shadow of darkness is lifted and I can breathe now! (pun intended)  My next novel "Shadows" is fifteen thousand words from being finished and I just might make my deadline.).  

What plans do you have for your kids this summer?

-Terri Whitmire
Author, Writer, Workshop Host

Finally Our Work is Paying Off

In January of 2011 my husband and I decided to take on the responsibility of raising his eight year old nephew.  He is a sweet, bright-eyed, curious boy who can be quite stubborn at times.  At first I didn't understand why.  Then I had to think back to his previous living situation.  As you can imagine this eight-year old was left to make many decisions on his own.  Much like Tara, my character from Breathe for Me, there was very little supervision or positive influence. 


When he first arrived, I was often times met with that deer-in-headlights  stare when I asked him to perform simple tasks such as: brushing his teeth, finishing his food or tying his shoe.  Each request was often followed by a confusing pause as if he were deciding in his mind if he should comply.   


If any of you have a blended family you'll know what I mean when I say that it is truly a test of patience.  Our discipline tactics were often times met with tears and it seemed that things were getting worse.  I'm ashamed to say but I started to question my commitment to this set of circumstances.  We continued to pray with and for him and our whole family.  I had to remember that my kids were adjusting as well and to continue to give to them their own portion of attention and affection. 


Just when we thought we were getting nowhere fast, we both attended a school function called portfolio breakfast at his school.  This is a time when the children can show off their work to their parents.  The program started at 8:15 am and my husband and I went almost begrudgingly.   He read to us all the fun stories he had written and also shared with us the great art work he crafted.   But one piece quickly caught my attention.  The paper was entitled Love is:  


Each page of  the "Love Is" booklet included a short description on what he felt exhibited love.  On page three it read:

Love Is:  When my aunt prays for me and kisses me on the forehead.

I sat there stunned with my heart in my throat. My husband also had his love page that shared with us how his nephew felt about him.  We looked at each other and thought, "Wow all our hard work is finally paying off" .   

So parents whenever you think you're beating your head against the wall,  remember that your words will eventually sink in and this will be revealed when you least expect it.

Take care and continue nurturing your seed.

-Terri Whitmire