Waiting for Superman is a new movie that has been released. The primary goal of the movie is to ensure that every child receives a great education.

The campaign seeks to build public awareness, ignite personal involvement and inspire real social change.

The campaign's four core initiatives are:

Setting academic standards that are on par with the world's best
Recruiting and rewarding great teachers
Creating and nurturing excellent schools, and
Increasing literacy rates

All these ideas are what we at Indian Springs strive for everyday. Do we always hit the mark, no! But I would say that all my teachers have this at the forefront of their minds each and every day.

I am working on some ideas to help are school focus on all of these ideas. Email me at lsmith1@baschools.org and let me know of ideas that you have that would help our school become the best.

Here is a link to the trailer for the movie, "Waiting for Superman"

I just received in the mail a great book entitled, Igniting a Passion For Reading, by Steven L Layne. In his book is an awesome, but sad statistic, that in the year 2002 a survey was taken of Americans age 18 to 24. The question was asked, How many of your read for pleasure? 52% of those surveyed say they did not read for pleasure that entire year. How sad!

It is our goal at Indian Springs to teach your kids the skills to read, but also it is our challenge and your challenge as a parent to give your kids the desire to want to read for fun and enjoyment.

Here is a question I have for you if you are reading this blog. How many of you are currently reading a book for pleasure? I hope it is 100%. I wonder what the number would be for all the parents at IS? I may put this question to the test on our next Weekly Update!

Keep Reading!!!!

As a society there are more and more people who struggle with reading. Some struggle with the mechanics of reading and some struggle with the will to read. I happened upon a book on facebook this morning, and the title caught my eye. The title of the book is, "Igniting a Passion for Reading" by Steven Layne.

His premise in what I can gather at the beginning of the book is that we have to do all we can as educators and parents to get our students to learn the mechanics of reading and then work on their will to read.

Here is a quote from the book in the first chapter that kinda paints a very vivid picture of what it is like if a child or a n adult does not have these two ingredients. "In today's society, adults and children whose reading abilities are deficient are treading water in a pool with NO shallow end.

WOW!! A pool with no shallow end. I am a very good swimmer and I can tread water a pretty long time, but I know lots of people who either can't swim or who aren't very good swimmers.

My challenge to you is to work together to make sure that the students I am entrusted with have the mechanics of reading, the love of reading, the will to read, and books to read.

No child should leave school not having these basic skills.