Family & Parenting » Education

Classroom fun for little ones at home

Jennifer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:42:39 +0000

(ARA) – As your older children board the bus to go back to school, it can be difficult for the younger ones. They’re not only losing a play companion, but may feel they’re missing out on an exciting new world. But never fear, there are plenty of ways you can bring the wonderment of the classroom into your house so your younger children won’t feel left behind.

* Create the right atmosphere.
By having a desk, craft items and maybe even a backpack of his own, your child can easily imagine he’s in a classroom setting. Plus, as younger children age, you can reuse the space by transforming the school-play area into a homework and study zone.

* Find toys that offer “teachable moments.”
There are many toys you can purchase that help develop math skills, creativity and body coordination as part of the fun. For example, take the TRIO building set of bricks, sticks and panels from Fisher-Price. Building sets improve hand-eye coordination, help children develop spatial relationships, determine shapes and classifications, and encourage creativity.

“You will often see toddlers enjoying the process of stacking things up; as they get a little older, they move outward, building bridges and walling things in. As children get close to 5 years, they use more complex patterns with greater symmetry, creating more representational structures like a building, tree or animal,” says Cynthia Lynn-Garbe, a senior child researcher at Fisher-Price. “The bricks, sticks and panels of the TRIO building system let children experiment with how things fit together, then advance to creating more complex structures.”

And would you guess that building sets not only encourage creativity and fine motor skill development but also encourage language skills? Lynn-Garbe suggests having your child build something without telling you what it is. You can then ask about the creation, what it’s used for and who lives there, making guesses as you continue to encourage your child to use her imagination as she tells a story about what she built. “Building can offer family fun as well as touch on some really important skill development that may just spark that engineer or architect of the future,” Lynn-Garbe says.

* Turn household chores into a learning opportunity.
Having children help with household chores not only teaches them responsibility, but it also gives you an excellent chance to be a teacher. For example, if you’re doing laundry, have your child help you sort the clothes by color. Sure, it will take longer, but your child will soon be able to recognize different colors and understand the concepts of sorting and organizing. Or if you’re cooking, let your child help measure so they can grasp simple fractions – without even knowing it.

* Play with music.
There are lots of creative ways you can introduce your child to the world of music. For example, play music on the TV or stereo and let children keep the rhythm while dancing around, playing a toy drum or clapping their hands. You can even help your child make colorful streamer ribbons to dance with, adding more fun to the activity. As they get older, introduce your child to reading music and playing a small keyboard or other easy instruments.

By having their own school at home, your younger children will not only have fun, but be better prepared when it’s their turn to get on the bus in the morning.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

School Days are Better when Kids Stay Involved in the Community

Jennifer — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:31:40 +0000

School Days are Better when Kids Stay Involved in the Community

As busy as the school year is, it’s still no time to let kids forget the importance of making a difference. There are plenty of simple ways to involve kids in the community when they’re not in class.

“School months are all about learning, socializing, sports and after-school activities,” says Liz Scott of Wynnewood, Pa. “But kids really benefit from doing something more with their time, like getting involved in the community or raising funds for a cause they believe in. They can gain a real sense of their own strength and worth.”

Scott should know. Her daughter, Alexandra, gained national attention for her efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer research by holding lemonade stands. What started as a simple but passionate idea inspired a worldwide grassroots fundraising effort. Sadly, Alex passed away Aug. 1, 2004. Parents Liz and Jay continue promoting Alex’s cause and raising money for pediatric cancer research through their foundation, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which has raised more than $19 million to date.

“Numerous studies show that volunteering holds many physical and mental health benefits for volunteers, regardless of their age,” says Pam Edwards of Volvo Cars of North America. To commemorate the life of Alex Scott, Volvo created the Alexandra Scott Butterfly Award to recognize exceptional child heroes.

Zach Bonner was named the 2008 Butterfly Award winner. To help victims of Hurricane Katrina Zach, 10, collected 27 truckloads of sundry items, raised $600 in donations for the Red Cross post-Katrina efforts and secured $7,000 worth of new toys and sporting equipment for homeless children living in Red Cross shelters. He also recently founded the Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc., which collects and donates backpacks filled with food, school items and other supplies to disadvantaged children nationwide.

Getting kids involved can be as simple – or grand – as the children and parents wish. The efforts of past Butterfly Award winners can provide a roadmap for getting started:

* Look to the Internet.

“The Web is a great resource for finding a charity or volunteer opportunity that fits your child’s needs and personality,” Edwards says. For example, this year www.lemonadestandforlife.com, hosted by Volvo, gives visitors the chance to support ALSF. By visiting the site, you can make a direct donation by purchasing a cups of virtual lemonade for just $1. You can then share those cups via e-mail with others asking them to also visit and support the site’s mission.

* Look to current events.

News accounts of the need caused by Katrina inspired Zach Bonner to get involved. When Congress designated November National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Zach launched a marathon walk from Tampa, Fla., to the state capital 250 miles away in Tallahassee. He and his team raised money and awareness for the nation’s estimated 1.3 million homeless children.

* Draw inspiration from your own life.

Alex Scott founded her lemonade stand as she was recovering from cancer treatment. Grace Farnan, 14, of South Hamilton, Mass., decided to become involved in hospice care after her grandmother peacefully passed away in hospice care. Her work with the Hospice of the North Shore has included collecting hundreds of new picture frames for patients to keep photos of loved ones close at hand, and the creation of more than 500 guest books in which visitors, family and staff can write encouragement for patients. Grace was recognized as the 2006 Butterfly Award winner.

* Don’t be afraid to reach far.

In addition to efforts to help Florida’s hurricane-affected residents, Samita Mohanasundaram, 16, of Nashua, N.H., also helps disadvantaged children in India. When she was just 7, she visited a small, impoverished village in southern India and was moved by the local school’s need for books, supplies and materials. Upon returning home, she launched a book drive that drew support from all over New England. In 2007, Samita became the third child to win the Butterfly Award.

To learn more about the Butterfly Awards and to help raise funds to fight pediatric cancer, visit www.lemonadestandforlife.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Make Friends from Around the World: Host an Exchange Student

Jennifer — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:10:16 +0000

Make Friends from Around the World: Host an Exchange Student

Enhancing the image of the United States abroad goes a long way toward improving and strengthening our relationships with other countries. People like Laurie and Martin Scott of Nevada are doing their part to create and promote a positive impression of America around the world.

The couple has joined forces with the nonprofit EF Foundation for Foreign Study to host exchange students, something Laurie says has the potential to make a world of difference for foreign affairs. “In the five years we’ve been doing it, each of our students has come to the U.S. with their own unique perspective on our society and culture, and they weren’t always positive views,” Scott says. “By the time they left us at the end of the school year, their views had totally changed. Now for the rest of their lives, they will be walking ambassadors for America.”

As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice states, “We must increase our exchanges with the rest of the world. [W]e must encourage our citizens . . . to understand different cultures and to welcome others into their homes.” Karen Hughes, former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, named international exchanges as one of the four strategic pillars needed to strengthen America’s ties with foreign nations.

While the Scotts have given so much to students from abroad, Laurie says that they have gotten a lot back as well. “EF Foundation is like a big family. We’ve made friends around the world and we have so many places to visit. Plus, we have built relationships with staff members that will last forever.”

Åsa Fanelli, president of EF Foundation for Foreign Study, stresses the true exchange that takes place when families host. “The best way to experience another culture is by opening your heart and home to a young person from another country,” Fanelli says. “Your family and community get the opportunity to learn about another culture while you have a chance to share your American values and traditions.”

Laurie Scott agrees, noting that hosting exchange students builds mutual understanding for everyone involved. “We really need programs like this to understand each other. It has been a fantastic experience for us,” she says.

EF Foundation students are between 15 and 18 years old, and arrive with health insurance and their own spending money. EF Foundation for Foreign Study is a nonprofit organization with thousands of volunteers across the country that brings high school students from all over the world to live and study for a year in the United States. Since 1979, the program has helped 100,000 students from nearly 40 countries take part in international exchange.

To learn more about the EF Foundation and the steps you’ll need to take to become a host family, log on to www.effoundation.org or call (800) 44-SHARE.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Technology Helps Students Tackle Homework Overload

Jennifer — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:59:37 +0000

Technology Helps Students Tackle Homework Overload

Suzanne Petrie of Arlington Heights, Illinois, often feels like she has two jobs.

“I work 40 hours a week, then come home and spend hours each night trying to help my daughter with homework,” she says. “It’s exhausting.”

Petrie is not alone. A recent survey found that while most students spend an average of six to seven hours a week on assignments sent home by teachers, some spend 11 hours or more. Meanwhile, just 27 percent of parents feel they are prepared to provide homework assistance.

Many parents say the biggest homework challenge they face is helping their children with math. “I haven’t done algebra since college. Math was always a difficult subject for me and the same is true for my 17-year-old daughter, Kristina,” says Petrie “It was hard watching her struggle through algebra and geometry assignments knowing that I couldn’t give her the help she needed.”

Petrie considered hiring a private tutor, but that would have cost upwards of $85 per hour. Instead she decided to turn to technology for help. While researching her options, she came across several software products, eventually choosing Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium, which sells for $49.95 and includes features that help students write research papers, solve difficult math and science problems, learn foreign languages and find information.

“I get my homework done so much faster using the computer,” says Kristina. “My teachers definitely have noticed a difference in my work. And, it helped me study for my college entrance exams.” Petrie says that since her daughter started using homework software, she has not only received better grades, but has also started to enjoy math more.

In the past, Petrie and her daughter searched the Internet to learn about history, but found that they wasted a lot of time as they clicked on dozens of random Web links. They also discovered just how much inaccurate information is floating around online. Petrie says that teachers are cracking down on Internet plagiarism and that it is becoming more difficult to find credible resources online. Software like Microsoft Student contains Web links that are tested and proven to contain accurate information, which can cut down on Internet research time.

A 2006 MSI/Microsoft survey found that nearly nine out of 10 teachers say students who use technology for help with their homework assignments do better than those who don’t.

“When we surveyed parents, we found that nearly 75 percent wished there were more technology-based resources available to help students with their homework,” says Dave Brooks of Microsoft’s Education Products Group. “Many parents don’t have the time – and in some cases don’t have the knowledge – to help their kids with homework. Technology can alleviate some of these pressures by offering parents peace of mind that their kids are getting the help they need from credible, trustworthy sources.”

For more information about Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium visit www.microsoft.com/msstudent.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Five fun summer reading tips for children

Jennifer — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:53:21 +0000

Five fun summer reading tips for children

(NC)—Don’t let your child’s reading comprehension fall behind his or her classmates this summer, especially when there’s lots of opportunity for them to not only maintain but improve their reading skills. Here are five simple tips to make reading fun and keep your child engaged through the summer months.

Set aside time to read together as a family and enjoy reading out loud in character voices with your children. Visiting the library or participating in a summer reading program can be a lot of fun for children.

Visit your local library and let children pick out materials they are interested in reading. Comic books, magazines, even baseball or hockey cards will help kids improve their reading skills.

Encourage your children to read anything and everything – street signs, menus, recipes and books are all great tools to strengthen literacy skills.

Let your kids see you read so they know that reading is important and that it can be an enjoyable pastime. A great way to do this is to turn the TV off and enjoy a good book.

Help your children discover their passion for reading by visiting your local library and signing up for a summer of reading fun. The award-winning program offers a wide range of reading choices, as well as lots of fun-filled activities to keep children engaged. Last year, more than 250,000 children participated and read an estimated two million books. This year’s theme is LOL (Laughing out Loud) and promises to be filled with fun books kids will love. You can obtain more information online at www.td-club-td.ca.

-News Canada

Is Your Child’s School District Attracting the Top Substitute Teachers?

Jennifer — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:23:01 +0000

Another school year is about to get underway, and a lot of work is going on behind the scenes. While teachers are getting their classrooms and lesson plans ready, the administrative staff is taking care of all the other details that need to be settled before students arrive. One of the most important details is making sure they have an appropriate sized pool of qualified and prepared substitute teachers in place once classes get underway.

Substitute teachers impact the lives of millions of children every day. They are the individuals who fill in when a full-time teacher is out sick, on vacation or taking part in professional development training. According to a study done by Utah State University, they are in the classroom more often than you may think. The study suggests that one full year of a student’s K-12 education will have been taught by substitute teachers by the time they graduate from high school.

“Substitute teachers are part of a mission critical workforce. Without them, there is a significant disruption to the continuity of the learning process — something our achievement-driven educational system cannot afford. Given the importance of their role, it is essential that we understand the key aspects of recruiting and retaining quality substitute teachers,” says Scott Smith, vice president, Kelly Educational Staffing, employer of more than 18,000 substitute teachers across the country. His company recently polled more than 2,500 substitute teachers and found there are a few simple things school districts can do to attract and retain quality substitute teachers to their classrooms.

When asked, “What is the most important thing a full-time teacher can do to prepare for a substitute teacher to take over their classroom?” Here’s how the substitute teachers responded:

56 percent — Provide complete lesson plans
24 percent — Provide enough planned work to keep students engaged
11 percent — Establish rules for students when the regular teacher is out
5 percent — Have established classroom rules and discipline procedures posted or available
3 percent — Provide a seating chart of the students
1 percent – Provide the names of responsible students in the classroom that can assist a substitute

When asked, “What would help you most to improve your substitute teaching skills?” they responded as follows:

42 percent — Feedback regarding my performance (strengths and weaknesses) in the classroom
14 percent — More time in the classroom
12 percent — Online training courses
11 percent — In-person training courses
9 percent — Mentoring opportunities
7 percent — Additional education (i.e. bachelor’s or master’s degree)
6 percent — Additional reading materials on substitute teaching

“Our substitute teachers have told us how important feedback is to them, but our experience shows there is value in taking it a step further,” says Smith. “Recognition programs for substitute teachers that acknowledge the outstanding contributions they make to the classroom year after year create tremendous goodwill and employee satisfaction.”

How do such programs work? Take a cue from Kelly Educational Staffing, which has both internal and external employee recognition programs in place. During National Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week, the company places banners recognizing their subs in prominent places at partner schools. Twice each school year, Kelly sponsors a Substitute Teacher of the Semester Award Program to recognize substitute teachers across the U.S. for outstanding performance. Additionally, throughout the school year, teachers earn points for such things as receiving positive feedback from school administrators, principals and teachers, for taking last minute assignments, continuing skills enhancement and more. As points are earned, teachers can exchange them for a variety of merchandise or gift certificates.

Smith points out employee recognition is a win-win for both employees and employers alike. “From the employee perspective, being recognized in a meaningful way clearly communicates their contributions are valued and it gives them a sense of self worth. For the employer, providing well-deserved recognition demonstrates appreciation for outstanding performance, which enables them to consistently attract and retain quality employees.”

To learn more about Kelly Educational Staffing and how your school district can strengthen its current substitute teacher program, visit www.kellyeducationalstaffing.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Innovative Ways to Stretch Educational Budgets

Jennifer — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:15:15 +0000

In all aspects of life, it takes a combination of traditional teaching and hands-on experience to learn new things. This is why field trips are so valuable for children. Problems with time and budgets can affect a group’s ability to participate in field trips, but communities are stepping up to help kids continue learning.

“Our research shows that children retain 85 percent more of a lesson when it is reinforced in a real-life scenario,” says Susan Singer, president and founder of Field Trip Factory, an organization dedicated to creating free educational field trips with local retailers. “The learning environment has many different aspects, but when kids see and hear about things that they previously were learning about in books, it really grabs their attention and helps them gain knowledge and understanding.”

Field trips are often viewed as rewards or special occasions by children. Whether at school, at scouts or through a youth group, learning through field trips is generally a much anticipated activity. The fundamentals are important, but when concepts are reinforced in a real-life setting, kids get excited about learning and lessons are remembered.

The Problem
Budget cuts and testing are just some of the issues that put pressure on teachers and youth leaders, affecting their ability to take field trips. Participation often costs money, whether it’s museum admission, lunch costs or bus funding, more and more teachers are having to cut out this fundamental part of the learning experience.

The Solution
The solution lies in the community and organizations that have knowledge to share and an environment that welcomes children. “That’s why we’re here,” adds Singer. “We realize the needs of the students and the limited ability for teachers. We develop curriculum that is hosted by a variety of retail and local organizations. The result is educational lessons that are hands-on experiences for kids and budget friendly for groups.”

Local companies are contributing to children’s education by developing field trip programs with the help of Field Trip Factory. All trips are free for participants and are available in a variety of subject areas including health and wellness, science, animal welfare, automotive safety, financial literacy and more.

Michelle Furlong, a teacher in Wayne, Mich., participated in a nutrition-based field trip. “The trip was very informative and included the children in the discussion. We were also given tons of wonderful, healthy foods and items. I can’t believe it was all free! A wonderful experience, thank you,” she says.

A recent Field Trip Factory survey revealed that bus funding is the biggest reason that groups were limited in the number of field trips they could take. Besides creating interesting and relevant field trip opportunities, the company provides resources for finding additional funding for buses and transportation.

“Social responsibility is being embraced by many organizations throughout the country. Companies are being inspired to give back in ways that benefit communities. Conducting educational field trips helps them reach out to our most valuable asset, the children.”

For more information call (800) 987-6409 or visit www.fieldtripfactory.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Family & Parenting » Education

Classroom fun for little ones at home

Top tips to help your child read at any age

School Days are Better when Kids Stay Involved in the Community

Make Friends from Around the World: Host an Exchange Student

Technology Helps Students Tackle Homework Overload

Five fun summer reading tips for children

Is Your Child’s School District Attracting the Top Substitute Teachers?

Innovative Ways to Stretch Educational Budgets