Few of us will ever forget where we were and what we were doing when we heard about the Twin Towers collapsing on September 11, 2001. Those of us who were in New York City on that day can surely remember all the events of that day fourteen years ago like it was yesterday. But many of our younger [...]
So our sons are back in school, and settling into the routine of early rising, a full day in the classroom, and homework after school. After a summer of focusing on them, we can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to focusing on our lives, right? Not exactly. Our sons will greatly benefit from our paying careful [...]
Our boys are back in school! Today's Thoughtful Thursday offers quotes to help our sons and ourselves with the transition to a new school year. Here are some quotes to remind us of the value of the educational journey, and some to encourage them as they return to the classroom. Share with your sons, and enjoy. Education is the [...]
This morning's New York Times reported yet another innocent young Black man being gunned down on the street. NeShawn Plummer, 16, was killed in Far Rockaway, Queens, caught in a spray of bullets aimed at a crowd of teens on a street corner. Police suspect it was a gang related attack and are seeking two suspects. Incredibly, his brother [...]
GCP has been checking out back to school articles for parents on line, and we think these are especially worth reading: The 8 EdTech Questions Every Parent Should Ask Schools This Year: An educational technology consultant has compiled a list of questions for parents to ask at their children's schools. Unless you are an edtech expert yourself, or have [...]
Civil rights and social justice activist Julian Bond, who died recently at the age of 75, had a lengthy career championing civil rights which included stints as President of the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee (SNICC), Chairman of the Board of the N.A.A.C.P., 20 years in the Georgia State Legislature, and in later life, professorships at various universities including [...]
Even as we enjoy the last bit of summer vacation, we at GCP are already thinking about school's return. Today's Thoughtful Thursday offers up a student and a teacher's perspective on a day's lesson. Acclaimed Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes provides the student's perspective in "Theme for English B". Elizabeth Alexander, poet and author of the recently published (and [...]
Parents, here is some help with getting your sons ready for success in the coming school year: Summer Learning: www.education.com has tons of customizable and printable worksheets for students from kindergarten through high school. Print out a few from last year's grade and encourage your son to dust off the cobwebs and review the material. Or if he is [...]
Hello GCPers, It has been a while since a new post has appeared, due to a ridiculously persistent bout of bronchitis. As I have been resting and coughing over the past few weeks, I've been thinking a lot about this blog. I believe so strongly in its mission-- to aid, guide and inspire parents of boys of color-- and [...]
As summer vacations begin, so does the "summer slide", where our sons (and daughters) lose academic ground during the months they are not in school. Summer slide can result in our children forgetting what they have learned and slowing the pace of their future learning. As a report from the National Summer Learning Association explains, "It's common for teachers [...]