What Do All Babies Need Yet Aren't Getting Equally? To break the cycle of poverty, young children need something that’s as free and abundant as air. An extraordinary program is giving it to them. Russ and Reyn for Reader’s Digest Babies need a few basic things to get started: mother’s milk, or something like it; love, attention, and playtime; clean clothes; and a safe place to sleep. All over the world, high- or low-income, desert or forest, high-rise or countryside, doting parents give their babies these essentials. Many low-income American children are suffering from a shortage of words—songs, nursery rhymes, storybooks, chitchat, everyday stuff. In many low-income families, warm and loving parents may struggle desperately to provide all the other basics, without a clue that their relative silence—and the lack of bedtime stories, picture books, and lullabies—hurts the babies. The deficit has astounding and bitter consequences. She’s used to being on her own. “Here’s a child on his first day of kindergarten,” Walzer says. “I like Dora!”
First Annual Boys Night Out Even though school hasn't really started, there has been a lot of planning going on. Especially during my non-maternity maternity leave (aka summer time). We have gotten a variety of events on the calendar. After two successful years of Girls Night Out, we will finally be adding a Boys Night Out to our schedule! I guess I was just having a hard time finding a movie or something that addressed bullying in a way that boys could relate. Side Note: I have really appreciated the focus that society has put on taking care of girls - self-esteem, confidence, sucking the marrow out of life and doing whatever they put their mind too. I searched and searched and searched and FINALLY I came across a movie I think will be perfect for our Boys Night Out. An overview from Scholastic states, "The Newbery Honor book Hoot by Carl Hiaasen celebrates young people's ability to make a difference in society. As with the book club, I will let you know how this goes. Do you hold a Boys Night Out?
Howard Gardner, multiple intelligences and education Howard Gardner, multiple intelligences and education. Howard Gardner’s work around multiple intelligences has had a profound impact on thinking and practice in education – especially in the United States. Here we explore the theory of multiple intelligences; why it has found a ready audience amongst educationalists; and some of the issues around its conceptualization and realization. Contents: introduction · howard gardner – a life · howard gardner on multiple intelligences · the appeal of multiple intelligences · are there additional intelligences? I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. Howard Earl Gardner’s (1943- ) work has been marked by a desire not to just describe the world but to help to create the conditions to change it. One of the main impetuses for this movement has been Howard Gardner’s work. Howard Gardner – a life Howard Gardner was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1943. Mindy L. Conclusion
Second Annual Girls Night Out A few weeks ago, I hosted the Second Annual Girls Night Out for grades third through fifth grade. It was such a blast! Check out my first Girls Night Out. For those of who you don't know, Girls Night Out is a fun and engaging way of bringing girls and their parents together to talk about relational aggression or girl bullying. This year, I changed a lot. If you can collaborate with others on this event, I would highly suggest it. One of the first things I did was make sure that I would have funding to order pizza for all of those that came. After that, I advertised with fliers in each of the classrooms and made sure details went out on our weekly emails to parents. To order a Mean Stinks! The kit was filled to the brim with shirts, bracelets, pins, and magnets. Last year, I showed The Clique. You may be wondering, "How did you show the movie then?!" Other details included pizza and soda, a pinkie nail painting table (to support Mean Stinks!) Enjoy!
Top 3 Reasons to Improve Your Vocabulary - Litemind Developing a great vocabulary is one of the most overlooked ways to improve our lives. It is often believed that learning many words is only useful for writers and speakers, but the truth is that everyone benefits from it, both personally and professionally. Vocabulary Sharpens Your Communication Contrary to what some people believe, the point of having a good vocabulary is not to use fancy, arcane or complicated words to impress or confuse other people. In order to be effective, communication has to be simple. What’s the point in learning so many new words? If learning new words and using simple language seem like contradictory goals at first, it makes complete sense when you understand that having a good vocabulary is more than knowing a large amount of words: the point of having a good vocabulary is being able to choose words with greater precision. Think of your vocabulary as your “communication toolbox”: every word is a tool, ready to be used at the right time.
www.bullying.org Where you are NOT alone! Created by Bill Belsey A Parent's Resource Guide to Social and Emotional Learning Encouraging Kindness and Empathy Cultivating Kindness and Compassion in Children (Center for Child and Family Well-Being, University of Washington, 2014) This summary of a public lecture by Kimberly Schonert-Reichl underscores the importance of promoting social and emotional learning, reviews some of the research about cultivating kindness and compassion in children, and discusses five practical strategies that parents can try. For even more parent tips, read Schonert-Reichl's Kindness Booklet. Why It’s Imperative to Teach Empathy to Boys (KQED MindShift, 2014) Gayle Allen and Deborah Farmer Kris discuss the importance of empathy and the gender stereotypes that may put boys at risk for failing to learn this important skill; the authors describe three strategies that parents of boys can implement. Back to Top Cultivating Perseverance and Resilience Fostering Gratitude Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, and Focus Home, School, and Community Partnerships Additional Resources
The Cyberbullying Issue (And What Teachers Can Do To Help) Cyberbullying poses a problem for students that teachers and parents often can’t help with – because they don’t always know. The internet (and mobile technologies) has brought bullying to a place outside the easy access of adults, who can’t intervene if they don’t know there’s a problem. With over 80% of teens using cell phones and social media sites, technology is connecting our students in ways they may be unable to escape. The handy infographic below takes a look at some statistics about cyberbullying, along with some tips for both parents and educators. Cyberbullying Tips For Teachers Teach your students that cyberbullying is wrongListen and respond to all reports of cyberbullyingCreate a system for reports to be documentedHave students work on anti-cyberbullying projectsHost speakers on the topic of bullyingEnsure that your classroom is a safe place
25 Ways to Ask Your Kids 'So How Was School Today?' Without Asking Them 'So How Was School Today?' | liZ Evans This year, Simon is in fourth grade and Grace is in first grade, and I find myself asking them every day after school, "So how was school today?" And every day I get an answer like "fine" or "good," which doesn't tell me a whole lot. Or at least get a full sentence. So the other night, I sat down and made a list of more engaging questions to ask about school. They aren't perfect, but I do at least get complete sentences, and some have led to some interesting conversations... and hilarious answers... and some insights into how my kids think and feel about school. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. So far, my favorite answers have come from questions 12, 15 and 21. And the answers we get are sometimes really surprising. As my kids get older, I know I am going to have to work harder and harder to stay engaged with them -- but I know it's going to be worth the work. This post originally appeared on Simple Simon and Company. Alamy 1.
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