One of the most common questions I used to get as an education analyst who focused on school quality was: how much should we invest in small class sizes? Here is how I think about it as a former education analyst, a mom, and someone who spent years in classrooms.

Part I: The Research

TL;DR: For my kids I want a good teacher even if it means a larger class size.

Digging Deeper:

The research on class size's impact on education outcomes isn't super strong and is somewhat mixed, but I know -- anyone who has spent time in a classroom would say they can't give the same attention to 30 students as they can 12 students (or even 25). However since we're talking anecdotal data, I know teachers whose classroom management makes a class of 15 feel like a class of 100, and teachers who make a class of 30 feel like a class of 15.

Now the data that is not mixed at all is the outsized impact of a quality teacher on education outcomes. Based on research and data, I believe a GOOD teacher in a large class is more impactful than a bad teacher in a small class.

To determine this I ask questions like:

  • How are teachers evaluated and how often?
  • What kind of support do struggling teachers receive?
  • What is teacher tenure like at this school?
  • How many "high qualified" (insert the metric your district uses - available on google) are at the school?


Part II: Class Size and Funding

TL;DR: Different parts of the budget determine how many teachers a school has (class size). I want to make sure my kids' teachers are qualified, held to high standards, and receive support and if I see a small class size I have questions about where the funding comes from for that (will I be expected to pay a large PTA membership fee to support smaller classes? do teachers have the same qualifications as the other schools? etc). 

Digging Deeper:

Class size is determined by the school budget which in most cases is determined by the district and/or state. Let's talk funding details for traditional public schools:
  • A large part of local funding comes from property taxes, so schools in wealthier districts sometimes have smaller class sizes (depending on the district's priorities).
  • Schools are given a certain amount of money per student with more federal funding for students with disabilities and at-risk students, which could impact the number of teachers a school can afford.
  • In my district, a very small handful of schools (four to five) use PTA raised funds to pay for additional teachers. This is very rare and not allowed in some places.
Charter schools are a different story and I am only familiar with the practices in my state. Charter schools have more autonomy over their budget and their hiring practices, which means in some cases (not always and perhaps not even often) they can reduce hiring and salary costs by having less requirements for their teachers, supporting less professional development, or hiring less experienced/credentialed teachers.

Because of this, when I see a smaller class size I want to make sure I understand what I might be sacrificing. In some cases it could be certain facilities (i.e. no gym or cafeteria or playground), in some cases they may have supplemental funding, and in some cases it may be lower paid teachers. 

My district's traditional public schools have rigorous standards and evaluations for teachers and I wanted to ensure that if I chose the charter route the teachers would be held to the same standards. 

Given this, I ask questions like:
  • Will I be expected to pay additional fees like PTA fees?
  • (If I see a class size that is smaller than others in the district): where does the funding for smaller classes come from? 
  • What are the qualifications for teachers here?
  • What is the professional development requirement for teachers? 

Part III: Other Ways Students Get Support 

TL;DR: There are ways students can get differentiated and individual education besides small classes. 

Digging Deeper

Class size doesn't tell me about the additional resources and services at the school. There are all kinds of ways students get differentiated instruction like push-in teachers, pull-out groups, small group interventions, 1:1 tutoring, student teachers, specials, etc. I find major value in my kids' exposure to other adults, other instructional styles, and different teacher qualities throughout the day.

Questions I ask about this:
  • What kind of classroom supports are available? 
  • Will there be additional people in the classroom throughout the day?
  • What type of interventions are there for my child's grade level?

Part IV: Asking Questions About Class Size

These questions can be asked on a school tour, by calling the school, by scheduling a meeting with an administrator, or by asking neighborhood parents whose kids attend the school (note: I do not trust what people who do not have kids at the school have heard about the school). Here is what I ask about class size given the information above

School Quality Series: what does class size tell us about quality?

Thursday, April 3, 2025

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My brain has finally regained enough focus to read (er, skim) an entire article so I'm back to reading! Here's what caught my attention this week. Also, sending solidarity 👊 to the toddler parents out there who survived another round of daily savings time aka being held hostage in your own home by tiny tired tyrants.

Maternal mental health drives climbing death rate (CNN): Another ripple affect of the continued regulation and removal of women's healthcare and living in a country run by insurance companies. With clinics and healthcare facilities forced to close down, millions of American women now live in healthcare deserts without access to prenatal and postpartum healthcare. 

Research shows what state standardized tests actually measure (Forbes): This extensive study brings to light something those of us who spent time in public education know - context matters in reading comprehension (fun fact: if you don't know 90% of the words in a sentence, you won't comprehend it). Since standardized tests are designed by and for wealthy white people, the examples used in both reading and math problems involve topics that people from different background will struggle to grasp (think golf, baseball, etc).

Y'all know I despise the weight we put on standardized tests. Hoping studies like this continue to shed light on the topic.

A marketplace of girl influencers managed by mom and stalked by men (NYT - gift link, no subscription required): This was really really hard to read but important to understand as parents who have kids entering the social media age. I also learned a lot reading the comments - I hadn't considered the POV that the parents may be groomed by predators as well.

Is Ozempic the new orthodontia? (WaPo - gift link, no subscription required)

Imagine if — to protect their children from the stigma of being fat — parents begin to fall for the lures not of orthodontics (teeth correcting) but of orthomorphics (shape correcting).

Imagine if the moment a child is deemed “chubby” or “husky,” parents rush to their local orthomorphist for a prescription to “fix” them.


 

2024.3.11 Sunday Reading List

Monday, March 11, 2024


 

We've got a big week coming up and I like to have a plan so I don't miss out on anything or end up overspending. This is how I'm planning to spend money on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Giving Tuesday.

Black Friday

I am keeping my eye on a few products hoping for price drops on Black Friday, some sales have already started (woo hoo!):

NOTE: I have used the Rakuten extension to get cash back on online purchases and to find additional discounts and coupons (at checkout it scans every possible discount code and applies for me) for years. I thought it seemed scammy but it has consistently worked for me. (this is a referral link but I would share with or without the referral because it is very, very legit and stacks on savings for an already good day for us). 

Beyond Yoga 30 - 75% Off [today] (+2% cash back with Rakuten): My favorite maternity jumpsuit is $45 off for Beyond Yoga's Black Friday sale, and the non-maternity version (affectionately known as the hot auntie version) is $42 off in some colors and even more heavily discounted in other colors. The Icon Midi dress that I wore all through pregnancy and will resume this summer is $50 off as well.

Good American 30% Off [today] (+2% cash back with Rakuten): I've been getting targeted with Good American Always Fits jeans that claim to fit four sizes...sounds like what I need as my body changes postpartum. I purchased the Straight Leg and Flare to try (*I won't let myself keep both* *I won't let myself keep both* -- I repeat to myself as I wait for them to arrive).

Tommy John 30% Off [today] (+2.5% cash back with Rakuten): I have the Women's Downtime Joggger set (jogger and henley) and am ordering an additional set because it is all I own that is light but warm enough to sleep in [hi winter night sweats] AND works for night time nursing. Super, super soft. I also really like their undies, and the waistband was soft enough to wear right after my c-section.

Magnetic Me Sale TBD (+ 2% cash back with Rakuten): These are my absolute favorite onesies, we are reusing all with baby #2 so they last. They're pricey but I'm hoping for a good Black Friday discount to stock up for gifts. If there's a decent enough discount I'm also adding the women's nursing PJs to my cart.


Small Business Saturday

The crowd sourced Black Owned Business Guide has been updated with y'alls additions, let's support some Black owned businesses! Please email or message me on social media if you have additional businesses to add!

Giving Tuesday

Similar to Black Friday, Giving Tuesday is the final fundraising push for non-profits to get into the black. I went on a rant on Instagram about the way we think about non-profit funding and the false narrative around "overhead" and you can find a very legit Ted Talk about it here

The TL;DR is that a lot of people divert funds away from nonprofits who use donations for overhead, but overhead is absolutely critical to carrying out missions (staffing, marketing, supplies, etc). Ironically, the only way for us to know how much money goes to overhead is via an accountant which is in fact, overhead. Here is a list of non-profits y'all shared with some of my favorites as well - remember even $5 makes a difference. 

This is also a good day to help clear teacher wishlists which have heartbreaking items like tissues and pencils. 

  • Camp Buggy Creek: a place where children can reach beyond their illnesses and enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood.
  • City Year: An education nonprofit dedicated to students' and schools' success.
  • Comfort Zone Camp: transforms the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, primary caregiver
  • DC Dream Center:  inspires youth and adults to dare to dream, equipping them to reach their God-given potential.
  • Equity Lab:  takes on the nation's biggest challenges of individual, institutional, and systemic inequity.
  • Food Banks: please look up your local food banks, they are really struggling right now due to an influx of need, and the community depends on them for food.
  • Foster the Family: exists to support and encourage foster and adoptive families, mobilize and equip the community and church for foster care and adoption.
  • Martha's Table: Community Kitchen is designed to promote upward economic mobility.DC Diaper Bank 
  • NPR: Nonprofit journalism with a mission. 
  • Ronald McDonald House (google your local chapters): Eases the hardship of children's illness on families.
  • Waste Not Want Not: provides a waste prevention service for the community and provides economically disadvantaged individuals with products and services they need for relief.
*this post contains some referral links meaning I earn a slight commission on some items if you purchase through the links. I do not recommend anything that I either have not tried or do not intend to try, and I am always upfront about what I have not tried but am recommending. No pressure to use my links, just ant to make sure y'all are aware.

a guide to the week: black friday, small business saturday, giving tuesday

Monday, November 20, 2023

What a relief that oversized tops are IN this year - just in time for Thanksgiving. These are the tops I have purchased during late night feedings (anyone else have an issue with late night online shopping with a newborn..?). 

I'm not ready for hard pants yet but when I am ready I'll be wearing these with my favorite jeans + sneaker or boot. I wear a nursing tank (linked is my preferred tank because it has padding) under my sweaters to give me tummy coverage when I lift my sweater to feed. This post is a good resource on how to tuck sweaters.


The Amazons

1. I was shocked by the quality of these Amazon sweaters! Crewneck Batwing sweater (I sized down to a small, color is Red Apricot) + Real Me leggingssocks + shoes

2. Amazon sweater #2 FTW. Stuck with my regular size medium here. Oversize Crew Neck Sweater (wearing my regular size medium, could have sized down to small, if in between sizes go down) + Pocket Leggings (Lulu Align dupes - I'm in my regular size medium, 25" Sage Grey) + shoes

3. Top  (in my regular size medium) + pocket leggings (Lulu Align dupes - I'm in my regular size medium, 25" Sage Grey) + shoes

Other Favs


4. This one is more casual in person than it looks in pictures because it has some distressing. The Chill Crew Sweatshirt (40% off today. Fit is oversized, I sized down to small) + Real Me leggings + shoes.

5. I've seen this Lumber Jane Shirt (fit is oversized - I sized down to small) everywhere and can confirm it's worth the hype - super comfy. + Real Me leggings + shoes

6. This is the softest sweater I own and I have it in two colors. I recommend sizing down. Coaster Luxe Recover Sweatshirt +  Pocket Leggings + shoes + mini diaper bag (actually holds everything you need for leaving the house with one kid, woman-owned business, I love it). 

Thanksgiving outfits - the best oversized sweaters and tops

Thursday, November 16, 2023


The Sephora Sale always brings up conversations around skincare and how our routines evolve - y'all may remember a few years ago when I was hellbent on using all "clean" products, and then a few followers who are literal scientists and chemists (with PhDs, not just people who google a lot like me) gently suggested resources to understand the actual [minimal] dangers in our skincare products, and how big companies have taken these not-data-based-fears to convince us to spend lots and lots of money on "clean" skincare. 

So, while I am not a medical professional or a scientist who understands things, I have entered a new phase of skincare and makeup. Below are some things that have helped me out:

Skincare

After I had Hall my postpartum skin was out of control and my Sephora products weren't cutting it, so I consulted a dermatologist (if you're in the DMV I have had great experiences with Integrated Dermatology - they take insurance and do cosmetic services in office). My appointment was less than 10 minutes long and included a full skin cancer screen followed by an acne/aging skin consult. My dermatologist got me on this routine:

  • Morning: facewash with Cetaphil >> a tiny amount of Vitamin C Serum (she recommends this serum) >> by CeraVe moisturizer >> sunscreen.
  • Evening: facewash with Cetaphil >> prescription Retinol >> CeraVe moisturizer 
    • Once/week: exfoliate
A few notes: 
The Vitamin C serum is pricey but it lasts for awhile. I am waiting to reorder for Derm Store's Black Friday sale starting November 17th in hopes that it goes on sale.

I stock up on Cerave at Costco and share it with my kids (it great for my sensitive skinned babies).

My derm calls the Retinol into a mail in pharmacy that takes my insurance, making the Retinol cost $15.

Yes, I been punching the air about how much money I've sunk into "clean" facewashes and toners and serums. 


Makeup

I haven't updated how I do my makeup since the demo at the mall's Clinique counter (I just wanted my Clinique Happy perfume!!), and I have spent the last few years applying makeup with my fingers because life is busy and my toddler loves makeup brushes and it's just not worth the fight to get them back. 

HOWEVER I found Erica Taylor on Tik Tok (also on Instagram and Youtube) who shows accessible tutorials on how to update our routine for aging skin. Some of my favorites:

Easy Daily Makeup Tutorial (it's actually easy I can do it)

Dated Eyeshadow (I feel old)

Dos and Don'ts (makeup stuff we were taught to do that now makes us look old)

Here is the actual makeup I'm using (most recommended by Erica and/or actual friends):

my adult skincare and makeup routine

Tuesday, November 7, 2023


 If you follow along on IG you know I saw my dermatologist after Hall's birth to deal with my postpartum skin issues and my derm rocked my world when she got me off all my pricey skincare products and on sunscreen, Cetaphil, Cerave, Vitamin C serum, and prescription [$15!!!] Retinol. So while I'm not spending like I used to at the Sephora sale, there's still fun to be had. 

Here's what I ordered for the sale that ends on 11/6 (because I know we're all sitting here with full carts scared to pull the trigger):

My hair stylist turned me on to this shampoo and conditioner to treat my dry, flaky scalp and it has been a god send. 

Erica Taylor is a 90's makeup artist who is doing the Lord's work and teaching those of us who haven't updated their makeup routine since that Clinique showcase in 7th grade how to do makeup for our aging skin.  I ordered the Merit Bronze Balm she uses for her "Grilled Cheese" makeup tutorial. I'm terrified of contouring due to an incident years ago with a makeup artist that left me walking down the aisle for my friend's wedding looking like I'm on my way to my guest spot on a Jersey Shore club night out, but MANY people in my DMs reassured me that this is contour for people scare of contour. 

When I posted the balm on IG, everyone and their mom got in my DMs telling me how much you love it and that I need to try Merit's Concealer and Foundation stick as well so I threw that in my cart. 

Also straight from Erica's tutorial I ordered this minimal blush.

And added my favorite mascara that never runs,  no matter how many times per day pregnancy/post partum hormones have me crying. 

2023 Sephora Sale Items

Friday, November 3, 2023