Disqus - Latest Comments for timlavallee

Re: State Senate Tangles With School Districts Over K-3 Class Sizes

timlavallee — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 13:56:42 -0000

Small class sizes have been proven to lead to better outcomes, but implementation is key. As California learned by its attempt in the 1990s, a one-year transition doesn't produce positive outcomes because early-career teachers haven't reached their peak effectiveness yet. To meet the requirements of this law, Wake County Public Schools would have to hire more than 400 teachers in K-3 alone at an estimated cost of $27 million. Considering the cost, NC would be better off lowering class sizes by 1-2 students per year until it reached its goal. By phasing it in over time, districts can make sure the teachers are effective

http://www.wakeed.org/in-co...

Re: A big part of parenting is teaching your kids about music

timlavallee — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 08:10:50 -0000

I struggled with this at first. I wanted to teach my son about great music, to have a varied taste, and to be open-minded to new sounds. But I didn't know where to start. Do I got back to the beginning and work forward? Do I start with the greats and branch out from each hub?

Well, I just decided to play what I liked for the mood I was in and fill in the blanks as we went along. That's the way music works anyway.

Re: When it takes 25 years to realize the meaning of parenting

timlavallee — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 08:25:24 -0000

For me, it was the Champion sweatshirt. Why pay $30 for a sweatshirt? But you HAD to have multiple colors and the matching turtleneck with the C logo. Bonus points if you completed the trifecta with the low Champion socks. I bought my first sweatshirt with my own money in Dennisport, MA at Cuffy's. They had like 60 colors. Also, don't forget to peg your Levi's so people didn't think you were wearing bell bottoms.

Re: "Do You Hate Black People?" | The Daddy Complex

timlavallee — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 19:19:15 -0000

Wow. Just wow. Good for that mom, and good for your wife. Society teaches our kids horrible lessons about ethnicity and class every day. Though none of my nonwhite students have ever said so, I can sense that they believe I have no idea what their lives are like outside of school. True, I'll never experience what a black child experiences, but I know what it is like to grow up on public assistance and in a single-parent home. For my students of color who fit those categories - and they are few - I have that in common, and use it to get 2/3 the way across the bridge to meet them there.

Re: When Your Customer Tells You They Want Your Business

timlavallee — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 12:25:19 -0000

This shows that Twitter isn't a sales channel yet. Too bad. Twitter is akin to a phone call or walk-in.

If you stepped onto the sales lot, you'd have a greeting in under 45 seconds.

Re: Time Magazine Names Foursquare and Farmville Among Worst Inventions

timlavallee — Fri, 28 May 2010 21:24:44 -0000

Time, Inc. sucks, and they know it. They're just bitter that someone has figured out how to use the mobile web in a way where people are willing to participate. Foursquare is useful and will provide small businesses with customer metrics like never before. PS Farmville sucks.

Re: The Foursquare squeeze: will it survive to check in on 2011?

timlavallee — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:31:20 -0000

There's a good point here that the first is rarely the last. But in this case, the founders of Foursquare, as you mention, were the founders of Dodgeball. Experience-wise, this is Dodgeball 2.0 for Mr. Crowley. (Disclosure: I knew him personally about 15 years ago and we communicate today occasionally via e-mail and Twitter.) In both cases, Mr. Crowley saw the value in real-time microblogging as a means to keep people connected and moved in to create a market and demand. He understands the value of game mechanics in making this more than just another "What am I doing right this very instant" service. In addition, there is a value-add for the "venues" to obtain and utilize Foursquare's analytics to track actual feet in the store and what social, impression, or CPC channels are working for them. The key to success for Foursquare will be its ability to continue to innovate its UX for users and venue owners.

You've given a lot of positive ink here to Foursquare over the past 10 months, so I know this post isn't a slam, but rather a point that it may not outlast some others. That may be true in the end, but don't be so quick to count Foursquare out!

Re: Show your support for Ignite Raleigh with a good old banner ad

timlavallee — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:45:26 -0000

Thanks for providing these great ads! Look for the 250x250 ad on our front page! http://www.destinationwakef....