1 Become a Hunger Games Mom or Dad.
Raise the next Katniss Everdeen or Peeta Mellark. (check out this wonderful blog post on how to
do just that) http://nerdywithchildren.com/how-to-raise-the-next-katniss-everdeen
2.Develop the inner strength to resist authority. Resistance is NOT futile. The powers that be just
like you to think it is. Dr. Milgram's experiments with obedience to authority in the 1960's
seemed to indicate that most people lack the inner resources needed to resist authority. In other
words- "Welcome to the Sheepdom." This doesn't mean you have to be that way, though. You
can leave the herd and develop your resistance chops gradually. By saying "No!" to the smaller,
but still irritating edicts of the State, you will gain the confidence you need to tackle more
serious issues.
3. Your Own Private Field Trip
Once a quarter, take your kids out of school and allow them to design their own perfect
learning experience. You might be surprised to learn what really interests and motivates
your child. Find mentors that can show him or her what it is like to do a particular job. You
might go to a local restaurant and have your kid ask questions about what it's like to work as a chef,
take a trip to an art museum, sail toy boats in the pond, build a model of a pyramid, volunteer to
clean up your neighborhood park, do a wacky science experiment in the kitchen, make homemade
donuts. Return some of the wonder, joy, and excitement to the life of your child faster than Common
Core robots siphon it out.
4. Celebrate uniqueness wherever you find it. Your preschooler likes to wear one blue sneaker
one yellow sparkly one? Your middle school kid wants to dress like Gaga on Halloween? First-
grader insisting on coloring the skies in her world green? LET THEM! I know it's a bit much
having to leave the house with a kid dressed in a pink tutu, brown cowboy boots, and Spongebob
t-shirt. But, don't you think your kid is made to conform enough throughout the day? Common
Core is only going to exacerbate the death of individuality.
You've got the right to be who you are- let your children know that they have that same right.
5. Take a higher learning course Demonstrate the joy of lifetime learning to your child
by taking a course in a subject of interest to you. Discuss what you are doing with your kids, show
them your texts and workbooks and explain the subject matter and why it is of interest to you. The
fantastic startup Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/) allows you to take courses from some of
the world's most prestigious universities online- fort FREE.
6. Learn to ask more interesting questions. Nowadays, "what did you learn in school?" is more
likely to be met with shrugs of indifference, rolling of eyes, or "Nothing." Instead of taking the
same old same old approach, think of new, more intriguing questions to ask. "So, what did you
learn today that you remember? "Why did that make such an impression on you?" Get specific.
" I see in your syllabus that you had a lesson on Asia. Was there anything you learned about Asia
that surprised you? Why? "If you had the chance to teach others about Asia, what would you
tell them?" "What is it about this particular math operation that is giving you a hard time?"
Use open-ended questions that force your child to open up a bit more and show that you have been
following their progress with interest.
7. Send questions to your child's teacher about what he or she is learning. Teachers are pretty
overwhelmed these days, but most of them will read your email or text and respond as quickly
as they can. If you determine that the teacher could be personally hostile to CC, lavish him or her
with extra attention and encouragement. Understand that district policies and fear of losing a job
might make it extremely difficult for a teacher to fight Common Core. Let them know they aren't
alone.
8. Learn everything you can about how to be effective in a parent-teacher- school district
meeting.
If this means taking an online course in persuasion and influence or public speaking- do it!
You might only have one chance at the bully pulpit- make it count!
9. Write articles, press releases, send photos, etc. to your area newspapers and radio stations.
If you aren't media-comfortable, find someone in your inner circle of monkeywrenchers who
is and set them up to give interviews to the local press.
10. Get the Big Picture. Believe it or not, Common Core is just one cog in the bigger control freak
machine. It's important to know, understand, and be conversant about the context which has led
to the promulgation of Common Core and other attempts to re-invent society. Start with learning
about the shaky monetary system. Chris Martenson's excellent "Crash Course" is a good place to
start. http://www.peakprosperity.com/crashcourse. I also post a lot of interviews with experts
on privacy, the economy, corporatism, Obamacare, etc. on my Youtube page.
http://www.youtube.com/tammydeleeuw
Good luck and chin up as you throw your monkeywrenches like a BOSS!
Tammy de Leeuw
www.myblendedmarketing.blogspot.com
www.ibankonme.blogspot.com
