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.

No Phonics Skills, Seriously!

I received a phone call from a fellow teacher the other day. As we greeted each other, I asked the usual "How are you doing?' Her response is the topic of the day...."I'm frustrated!" After hearing her story, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief. I simply just cannot understand, why our education system(s), teacher(s) continue to pass children along knowing they overwhelming are not ready.

My fellow colleague has found herself in a situation that I am sure more educators are finding to common nowadays...not being able to teach students on grade level. As a second grade teacher, she will have to start her class with the fundamental basics of reading- learning letter sounds!

In a educational system where accountability is so rampant, how was it not identified and dealt with (1) in the classroom, (2) at school, (3) at home? Fundamental research identifies understanding the relationship between letter names and the sounds they make as a pre-cursor to reading success.

Well, after venting about the problem, I offered some tried and true strategies to use with her students along with identifying resources that should be available at the school.

For parents and caregivers who want to pave the road to reading success here is a link that offers suggestions and tips on what to look for in a classroom that focues on literacy.

Visit http://www.nifl.gov/publications/pdf/PRFbrochure.pdf

We've all heard that learning starts at birth and in the home first but few ever try to put it on practice. Finally, we have an administration that believes and is putting systems and programs in place to break the acheivment gap by starting with our youngest leaners.

With the Reauthorizing the Elementary and Seconday Education Act, President Obama states "It will be the goal of this administration to ensure that every child has access to a complete and competitive education-from the day are born to the day they begin a career...because we know that the most formative learning come in those first years of life."

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/faq/early-learning.pdf

Need vs. Wants

I have a 9 year old son, whom I believe is going through a tween stage (if there is such a thing). Well as any good parent, I am trying to teach him responsibility. Today he has frustrated me in that a few days ago we had a discussion about his lunch money. He told me that he did not need any lunch money, which I thought was very strange. We even did the calculations based on the amount I had given him and did the deductions and even he agreed that he should be out. He even made the statement "they would tell me if I need lunch money." Fast forward a few days (today) and he tells me that he needs lunch money. No problem, but then the conversation goes in a terrible direction!

I asked if he had money for tomorrow and he says no. That means his lunch account was completely empty. The next question was, did you have lunch money for today? His answer is no and his friend was nice enough to give him some of her chicken. What! I ask why, he tells me that the cafeteria personnel asked him did he want a cheese sandwich and he said no. This means he left the lunch line empty handed because it was not what he "wanted" and further more he forgot to tell me he needed money 2 days prior.

All this as we on a Target run to get some needed supplies with a bonus of those oh so popular silly bandz that he has been asking to buy for the past 2 days (want). I finally give in and let him use his own money to buy them. My frustration is this:

For 2 days you have known that you needed money for a necessity.

You decide to spend money on a toy and not replenish your account (WTH)

You take upon yourself to not eat because you don't want what they are serving because YOU forgot to let your parent know about a need.

My fundamental teaching:

Take the money you were going to use for a "want" and use for a "need."

Surprisingly he was very understanding and agreed. That's my boy!

"Training and Explaining" is the key to raising children.

KIDTASTIK Resource

In tough economic times, funding for education as a whole has depleted to little or nothing. To help with the crisis and promote literacy, Sunny Delight has launched a new program to help classroom teachers get FREE books. Visit their site for details:

http://sunnyd.com/contest-martina-mcbride-book-spree/default.aspx

More Than a Chalkboard

From cell phones, laptops, and digitally enhanced kitchen appliances. Children are starting to be exposed to technology at an earlier age now than ever before.


So the question remains, if children can manipulate "advanced" technology devices at home, why are we as educators still relying on basic learning tools to teach?





If we take a closer look at the operating systems that happen when working with technology, you will be surprised to find that there are a plethora of developmental skills taking place:

• Fine motor skills are enhanced when manipulating a mouse
• Vocabulary enrichment when using terms such as delete, backspace, return.
• Alphabet Knowledge
• Problem Solving and directionality takes place, when trying to get the cursor to point and click.
• Positive social interactions
  

According to Warren Buckleitner, the editor of Children's Technology Review. Children in Kindergarten should have the following experiences:

• Show awareness of the “power keys” on a keyboard (e.g., "enter," "esc," "delete," and the space bar).



• Know the difference between the left and right mouse button (which can be helped by a small label or sticker).



• Be familiar with at least five quality interactive games or activities, in either screen- or toy-based formats.



• Have a basic working vocabulary of common technology terms, such as "digital camera," "computer," "Internet," "mouse," "keyboard," and "printer."



• Have been exposed to common technology terms in the natural context of everyday conversation, such as "on/off," "Internet," "browser," "software," "hardware," "computer," "mouse," "monitor," "keyboard," "digital camera," "printer," "battery," and so on.



• Have taken their first digital photo.



• Find the numerals on a QWERTY keyboard.



• Put a CD or DVD into a hardware device such as a computer.



• Type their first name on a QWERTY keyboard.



• Have been exposed to a variety of portable computing platforms such as V.Smile, Leapster, or the Tag Reading System; and be comfortable with concepts such as inserting new cartridges and turning devices on or off.



• Understand the basic functions of a browser, including how to open or close windows and use the “back” key.

I know this sounds scary, but hopefully you are wondering how to get started. Here are some simple steps to help:

• Don’t try to formally “teach” technology skills and competencies. Instead, set the stage for successful experimentation by providing the materials, introducing them, and offering support.



• Let children practice using technology by pretending with the types of gadgets they see their parents using, such as a non-working mouse or keyboard, cell phone, iPod or MP3 player. Visit kidtastik.com or kidtastik on facebook for material selection.
• Use a wireless laptop so that you can bring a Web-based experience to children, in the context of their play.



• Have a large screen, either a projector or a large screen monitor, that is easily seen by all children for story time, distance learning activities, or a digital photo slide show from a recent field trip to the zoo.



• Keep a camcorder and digital camera on hand to capture and document children’s work.



• Set the stage for social, active learning. Choose activities that involve more than one child.



• Encourage children to represent what they do using digital cameras.



• Introduce new technology during circle time, prior to placing it in a learning center.



• Expand on your children's interests by letting them come up with search words and see the results in ways they can understand (e.g., as a set of images rather than text alone).

Card Games

Using playing cards to create a learning experience is a fun way to help children engage in math. A simple deck of cards can increase number recognition skills, counting, addition and matching. Holding the cards and passing them out will even increase fine motor development as well.

Try these fun games with your little one and share your thoughts.......

21

Goal: add cards to your pile until they total 21

How To: Each player receives 1 card to flip. After identifying the card, they can choose to add another until the sum of all the cards dealt equal 21.

I declare war

solitaire