Investors Paradise

As the economic situation worsens with each passing day so does the education system.  Everyday economists and investing giants wake each morning trying to figure out a way to make more more money. What they have figured out is what early childhood advocates have been saying all along.  The formal education of children does not begin in third grade but much much much earlier! 

Read more:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/24/us/24cncwarren.html?_r=1&ref=education

Gifts of the Mind

As a mother and an educator, I often place high expectations on my nine year old son both academically and socially and for the most part he has met and even exceeded those expectations.

Expectaions, what a powerful word as it relates to raisng children.  As parents we are training our children to become the adults they should be..responsible, clean, honest, knowledgeable, and the list goes on.  What happens when seemingly our expectaions are not being met?  We questions ourselves, we make our children try harder, we fuss, we model and we blame and predict but we never get to the root of the problem.

As I struggle with my son's unmet expectaions and leaarn ways to cope and even live in his world.... I realized this:

Gifted is not just academic,

Its a state of mind. 

All Time Best Toy for Children Is.........

It's the holidays.  Parents and children are making lists and checking them twice.  Who gets what is the question at hand.  Year after year parents of all kinds spend hundreds of hard earned dollars on top toys all in the name of making their child(ren) happy.  While toys put a smile on a child's face, that smile is only short lived as toys become "old" and  "boring".  The question now becomes, what will give them long term happiness?

Studies show that parents who are actively involved in their children lives will raise children who are less likely to use drugs, drop-out, get pregnant,be bullies, and more likely to get better grades, excel socially and developmentally.  In order for young children to grow up and become happy, responsible adults they need to have positive interactions with adults who care about them the most.

Here are a few ideas to promote positive engagement with your child(ren);

1.  Turn Off your cellphone:  Precious engagement is lost when adults spend more time gossiping with friends than having meaningful conversations with their children.  Don't know how to start the conversation, try this: tell me something exciting that happened today.

2.  Introduce family game night once a week:  Let's face it, kids just wanna have fun!  Some of my favorite games to play with my son include Sorry, Uno, Mancala, I declare war and the list goes on.  Board games help children learn critical social skills  and where better to learn than at home.

3.  Initiate a exercise regimen:  Whether it means attending a mommy and me class, joining a family oriented gym like YMCA or simply riding bikes or walking together, exercise will help keep your family healthy physically and emotionally.

4.  Cooking:  We all love to eat!  Try cool cooking activities like making homemade fruit salad, smoothies or baking cookies and cake.  Smiles will mount as you both stir and pour your way to happy memories.

5.  Open the door and Go Outside: Take out the chalk and paint and go outside and create a masterpiece on the sidewalk or driveway.  Wash the car!  Play catch or 2 square.  The fun is endless when your outside but the memories created will last a lifetime.

The bottom line is this: The All Time Best Toy for Children is.................

Stop, Look & Give! Raising Charitable Kids

In 2010, children have become more and more selfish.  Life is only about them and what they can get and who they can get it from.  The task becomes harder for parents and educators to TEACH children the joy of giving.  Gone are the days of "do as I say and not as I do."  As adults we must realize that children ( ages 0-21) will only reinact what they see as "normal" behavior,   How do you raise charitable kids? 

Here are a few tips:

1.  Let your child see you be passionate about helping others.
2.  Talk with your child about peolple that are "less fortunate"
3.  Emphasize that giving/sharing is not always about money but can be done through time and talent.
4.  Let them participate in toy, clothing, food drives.
5.  Visit local shelters so they can see "life" as it could be and ask them what they can do to help.

Learn More

Book Suggestions:

Your Baby Can What?!

Imagine this, you are sitting in a baby room listening to the sweet cooing sounds of the cutest baby on this side of earth.  As most adults would do, you pick up a book and begin to read to this innocent being -you come to a word and what do you hear but a 13 month old reading along with you. WTH!

While I am excited that more attention is being put on early literacy skills, I am frustrated to think that society and so called "education professionals" would consider stealing the developmentally appropriateness and the idea of "in due time" from our youngest learners.

The concept of teaching "reading" not pre-reading or enjoyment to a  infant or toddler just blows my mind.  Just the other day I had a talk with a seasoned 5th grade educator who was seriously considering purchasing one of these miracle reading products for her niece.  I just about blew my top!  I quickly explained to her the soon to be tragedy of her decision.

 While children who are exposed to this  whole word approach to reading may read sooner than kids who learn with phonics,  in the long run they pay a very big price. They loose the ability to decode words or spell - which is also critical for writing.  They can only half read - easily skimming over words they have memorized and never gaining full comprehension of what they are reading.

As a parent, educator and consumer, I urge you to think about the long term consequences of your actions when purchasing products.  Don't leave educating your child to DVDs , TV or electronic games.  Remember that positive and meaningful interactions between parent and child will not only produce tremendous academic success but will also give you something technology can never give-A Strong, Loving Bond! 

A New Way to Teach Math-Uh Duh!

Some call it the "new math," I call it plain old good common sense teaching. Why is it now a "new" idea to teach the process rather than teach rote learning. Teaching the process will always give a foundation that can be applied to any situation within a subject area. If you teach the how & why the what will be easy.... This Singapore Math concept is touching basis on key development in children starting with the concrete and moving to the abstract- uh duh, like I said "common sense." If you are a true educator you teach the way that is best for children, not what the teachers edition and training material says do.

Singapore Math

Electronic Learning....Yeah Right!

Today's electronic toys are making "learning" if you want to call it that, way too easy for children. From toys that talk to you, read to you and clue you in, authentic learning has just about gone out the window!

If I have a toy that will read every word that I point to, why would I want to learn to read!  It's toys like these that are helping change the dynamic of teaching in the classroom.  Teachers are getting away from teaching the process of learning "how to" to teaching memorization skills.

On another note, these toys are also taking away from parental involvement.  While I recognize the new parent ( appointments, activities, networking, single parenting,) giving a child an electronic toy that talks to them cannot replace the learning that will take place from loving conversations between parent and child.

Electronic toys do have a place in our homes and classrooms,  not as a primary method but as reinforcers.