Tip #78: If Your Child is Having Difficulty Get Help

Everyone wants their child to do well in school. What can you do if your child struggles with school work?

You must realize that children will often develop and learn at different stages. Try not to panic and don't become frustrated. It will only frustrate the child. Many children will hesitate to admit whey they don't understand because they don't want to appear "slow" or "dumb". As long as a child has a strong base and passion and confidence for learning, it will hopefully become easier. That brings us to tip #78.

Tip #78: If your child is having difficulty in school and nothing is working get your child some help.

First, take a breathe and realize that most kids struggle at one time or another. Just because a child is having difficulty doesn't mean there is a learning disability. It may mean the child is not developmentally ready for certain concepts. Patience is the key. Don't do the work for the child, but let the child work through problems as independently as possible. Children need to feel that they are successful, not the parent will do the work. Make sure you meet with the teacher and together create a plan on what you can do at home to help your child. See if the teacher has any concerns and work together to solve the the situation.

Next, find out concrete examples of the problems your child is having, like test scores, classwork, or homework. That way you will better understand how to help. If you cannot help with a certain subject, seek help from older siblings, friends, tutors, or ask the teacher for suggestions. It is important to address any academic problems as soon as possible. The child doesn't need to go on to another concept, chapter, or grade level without mastering all basic lessons.

Lastly, be positive and give your child confidence. Nothing will cause a child to bottom out more then feeling frustrated and that the work is too hard. Have high expectations for the your child, but have realistic goals and expectations. Not every child will be great in every subject. Just let the child know that hard work and putting in the time will make a difference.

Traits of Highly Effective Schools:#6

Elaine K. McEwan writes a book about the qualities and unique characteristics of school that help students get the "Best Education Possible". Each chapter offers research-based trait and examines its impact on student achievement. Trait # 6 is High Expectations.

High Expectations - Teachers can say they have high expectations because they expect their students to do tons of work and pass very difficult test.  However, tons of work and difficult test do not necessarily mean high expectations.  In order to qualify for membership in the high expectations club, teachers have to believe that their students can achieve, explicitly teach them how to get smart, and convey a profound and unwavering commitment to their academic success. 

How can High Expectations be achieved:

1. Eliminate Low Expectations - Once your convey to children, whether consciously or not that they are too "dumb" to learn, they will almost always prove you right.

2. Intervene Before They Fail - Help students achieve academic success by giving intervention to students who show non-mastery in reading and other content areas.

3. Build in Rigor and Relevance - An average student who attended a "high rigor instruction school" would learn about 78% more mathematics between Grades 8-10 than comparable students in a
"low rigor instruction school.

How To Outsmart Breast Cancer: Part 2

According to an article in the October 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, 38 percent of breast cancer cases could be prevented with diet, exercise, and weight control. Yesterday's blog hit on watching weight gain, incorporating certain veggies in your diet, taking vitamin D, and avoid excess hormones. Today we will look at 5 more tips on preventing breast cancer.

5. Back away from the bar: The reality is that the more alcohol you consume, the greater your odds of getting breast cancer possibly because it raises estrogen levels. The consensus among health groups is to limit consumption to one drink or less per day.

6. Race for the prevention: Being physically active, it turns out, could be the single best thing you can do to protect your health. For a start, regular aerobic activity for 30 minutes a day, five days a week. This will help control weight, but it also acts directly on body chemistry to lower levels of circulating insulin and estrogen.

7. And keep on going: Surviving and thriving after diagnose may also depend on stepping up the pace. In a review of six studies involving 12,000 breast cancer patients, researchers found that regular exercise could reduce disease recurrence by 24 percent, breast cancer deaths by 34 percent, and overall deaths by 41 percent.

8. Don't miss mammograms: When government-sponsored task force announced last year that it didn't think there was enough evidence to subject women in their 40s to regular mammograms, and that women in their 50s could be screened every other year. A major 2009 study reported that three-quarters of breast cancer deaths occurred among women who did not undergo regular screening.

9. Assert your individuality: Public health guidelines focus on the population as a whole, but to protect your health, you need to get specific. You may need a stepped-up screening schedule if, for example you've ever had a breast biopsy (even if benign). Likewise, if you are at increase risk due to family history, you may need more frequent exams or screenings with MRI. Make sure your doctor knows your family history (father's as well as mother's).

How To Outsmart Breast Cancer: Part 1

According to an article in the October 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, states that no matter what age you are now, or what generation you belong to, it's not too early, or too late, to take steps to avoid the disease. Below are steps 1-4 that make a difference from eating the right vegetables, to taking the correct supplements.

1. Watch out for weight creep: If you could still fit into your high school prom dress (with Spanx, if necessary), you're in good shape in more ways than one. Woman who have gained between 21 and 30 pounds since age 18 have a 40 percent increase risk of breast cancer compared with those who have put on five or fewer pounds, an American Cancer Society study found.

2. Embrace cauliflower: Recent research seems to show that adopting a pattern of eating that includes lots of fruits and vegetables is beneficial. When Colorado State University scientist took a second look at the famed Singapore study, the research that initially pointed to the Asian-style diet found that even among Chinese women, those who ate more "vegetable-fruit-soy" diet had a lower risk of breast cancer than woman whose plates contained less of these. The veggies that seemed to to the most good: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale.

3. Swallow a super supplement: In a Canadian study involving more than 6,000 women, those who reported taking a daily dose of vitamin D were 24 percent less likely to develop breast cancer. The science is not definitive, but evidence is growing that women with adequate vitamin D blood levels have a lower risk of breast cancer than those whose levels are below normal.

4. Avoid excess hormones: Most women are aware that hormone therapy has been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. But studies have also found that birth control pills raise your chances slightly, at least while you're actually on the Pill (the risk starts to go down when you stop taking it; after 10 year, it's the same as it would be if you'd never been on the Pill).

Stay tuned for tomorrow because there will be 5 more preventive measures you can take to help in the battle against breast cancer. We as women and mothers must take care of our health for the sake of the family. By the way, men are known to get breast cancer too.

Traits of Highly Effective Schools: #5

Elaine K. McEwan writes a book about the qualities and unique characteristics of school that help students get the "Best Education Possible". Each chapter offers research-based trait and examines its impact on student achievement. Trait # 5 is Collaboration.

Collaboration is powerful when accomplish, but is a challenging one, calling for a variety of talents, essential when different points of view and thinking styles are needed to accomplish a task. In a highly effective school, all members in the community are responsible for teaching others and for learning themselves.

Benefits of Collaboration

1. Reduction of isolation of teachers

2. Increased commitment to the mission and goals of the school

3. Shared responsibility for the total development of students

4. Powerful learning that defines good teaching and classroom practices

5. Increase meaning and understanding of the content that teachers teach

6. Higher likelihood that teachers will be well informed

7. More satisfaction, higher morale, and lower rates of absenteeism

8. Significant advances in adapting teaching to the students, accomphished more quickly that in traditional schools

9. Commitment to making significant and lasting changes

10. Higher likelihood of understanding fundamental systemic change

Traits of Highly Effective Schools: #4

Elaine K. McEwan writes a book about the qualities and unique characteristics of school that help students get the "Best Education Possible". Each chapter offers research-based trait and examines its impact on student achievement. Trait # 4 is Relational Trust.

Relational Trust is the basis for positive relationships in the school community.  Some refer to it as the glue that holds a school together.  Bryk and Schneider (2002), described rational trust as a construct compose of four concepts: (1) respect, (2) competence, (3) personal regard, and (4) integrity.

Respect - is the deference someone shows to others without regard for their political position, wealth, job role, or power.

Competence - is the ability to do something in a superior way, for example, the ability to teach previously low-achieving students and bring them to mastery.

Personal Regard - is the presence of positive feelings toward someone.  When individuals like each other, they enjoy being together.

Integrity - refers to an individual's adherence to certain moral principles and standards.  When they promise to do something, it happens.

Traits of Highly Effective Schools:#3

Elaine K. McEwan writes a book about the qualities and unique characteristics of school that help students get the "Best Education Possible". Each chapter offers research-based trait and examines its impact on student achievement. Trait # 3 is  Academic Focus.

Academic focus is the most under appreciated and overlooked trait of highly effective schools.  Focus is difficult to observe behaviorally, but there is a quick litmus test:  Ask the principal, a handful of teachers, and a small group of students to describe their goals for the school year.  If all of these individuals aren't working on the same goals, the school lacks focus. Everyone is doing their own thing. 

Step 1: Begin With a Compelling Academic Vision in Mind - The vision that a strong instructional leader has for a school is often sketched out for stakeholders (teachers, students, and parents) with a broad brush.

Step 2: Articulate a Meaningful Shared Mission Statement - After a compelling vision has been conceived and explained, the next step is usually the development of a mission statement that spells out more specific terms what the vision will actually look like in the school.

Step 3: Set Goals That Are Measurable and Attainable - These goals are logical action steps that flow from the mission statement but are smaller and more manageable in scope. Everyone should be working with a different set of goals related to their specific set of responsibilities.

Step 4: Ensure a Focus on Student Learning - Focus is the combination of discipline, intensity, concentration, and commitment with which groups or individuals tackle goals related to student learning.

Traits of Highly Effective Schools: #2

Elaine K. McEwan writes a book about the qualities and unique characteristics of school that help students get the "Best Education Possible". Each chapter offers research-based trait and examines its impact on student achievement. Trait # 2 is Highly Effective Teachers.

Ten Traits of Highly Effective Teachers:

1. A passion to help students learn and grow

2. Demonstrates qualities of respect, caring, and fairness

3.  Positively impacts the lives of students, parents, and colleagues

4. Strong classroom management, engages students, and manages time

5. Exhibits drama, enthusiasm, liveliness, humor,charisma, creativity, and novelty to teaching

6. Has the ability to make a difference in the lives of students

7. A skilled communicator

8. Has a sound knowledge of content

9. Has a knowledge of the students, the school, and the community in which they teach
10. Has the ability to be read one's own mental state, able to articulate ideas, issues, and values, reflective, and able to adjust to the changing needs and demands of the profession.

Traits of Highly Effective Schools: #1

Elaine K. McEwan writes a book about the qualities and unique characteristics of school that help students get the "Best Education Possible".  Each chapter offers research-based trait and examines its impact on student achievement.  Trait # 1 is strong instructional leadership.

Strong Instructional Leadership

According to McEwan, no matter how effective a principal might be, the challenges of raising the achievement bar are too complex for a solo act to succeed.  On the other hand without an instructional leader to communicate a compelling vision explain a moral imperative for doing the right thing, teachers are not likely to form a committee to improve the school.  The principals charts the course of the school.  They are the key factor to the individual school's success and set the tone.  Principals must convince the students, parents and teachers that all children can learn and improve academically. Below are (3) things strong instructional leaders must accomplish: 

1. They set high expectations for staff and personally

2. They develop teacher leaders

3. They maintain positive attitudes toward students, staff, and parents

When carefully considering the research on effective schools, principal leadership and instructional leadership specifically, is the key factor in students getting the "Best Education Possible".  I certainly hope the school your child attends has a strong instructional leader in charge.  To read more on effective  schools get, 10 Traits of Highly Effective Schools by Elaine K. McEwan. 

The Simple Slim-Down For Kids

According to an article from the August 2012 issue of  Family Circle magazine, helping your child lose weight isn't as tough as you might think.  An adult requires a deficit of 500 calories daily to lose a pound a week.  Kids are luckier.  The average calorie gap for a child to slim down, by eating less or exercising more, is just 64, according recent research published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.  If U.S. youth can achieve that deficit, our childhood obesity rate would decrease from 16.9% to 14.6% by 2020.

Experts stress that your child's gap number is higher or lower; a doctor would calculate it based on your kid's height, weight, and activity level.  Still, changes are small and easy to make.  "I always tell parent, 'Never say never to a specific food,' "explains pediatrician Richard J. Deckelbaum, M.D., head of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University in New York. "It's about being portion smart."

How Safe Are Insect Repellent For Kids?

According to an article from August 2012 Family Circle magazine, DEET-based insect repellent is safe for kids.  As long as you follow some simple guidelines, "Buy a concentration that's less than 30%, says James R. Roberts, M.D., coauthor of the EPA's Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisoning report.  A higher dose increases the chance of side effects.  "For most one-to-two-hour outings, 10% is going to be sufficient."

Avoid over-applying the spray, once daily should be enough, and never spritz on eyes.  hands or skin that will be covered.  Also, imperative: Make sure children shower off repellent before bed.  Parents wanting a more natural approach for kids (safe for those older than 3) should purchase a repellent containing lemon eucalyptus oil.

Tip #77: An Effective School has Every Teacher and Student Having the Latest Technology Available and Accessable.

An effective schools has an integration of technology into teaching and learning. This brings us to tip #77.

Tip #77: An Effective School has Every Teacher and Student Having the Latest Technology Available and Accessable.

The latest in technology will allow all students access and analyze information, communicate ideas, and express themselves creatively. Teachers have adequate equipment and professional training in using the latest technology to implement technology enhanced lessons.

Questions to ask or things to do:

1. How many computers are available at your child's school? Is there a computer lab or are the computers in the classroom?

2. Are there computer objectives for each grade level? Ask the principal or your child's teacher. Find out what the objectives are and can you work with these objectives at home?

3. What other technology is available to teachers and students? The teachers or principal should be able to answer this question.

4. If you have business connections or can write grants, speak to the principal about trying to get more technology in the school. Ask the technology specialist or principal about the technology needs. The world is interconnected through technology and it is extremely important that our children can operate the latest technology to keep up with future employment and global communications.

5. If it is possible, get your child a laptop for home or see if the school allows computers to be checked out overnight or summer break. If you already have a home computer, make sure you are aware of the sites your child visits. Either block unwanted sites or work on the computer together. Make your child aware of the dangers of visiting certain websites or putting personal information on social sites. These things can come back to haunt them in years to come.

Why Boys Don't Read: Part 4

According to an article by Linda Jacobson on greatschools.com, a fact is: boys don't read as much as girls. This reading gender gap is affecting boys' performance in high school and beyond.

Some ways to encourage boys to read:

• Set an example by being a reader. Jeffrey Wilhelm recommends that parents — especially dads — read a variety of different materials to convey the message that reading is a way to learn about all different aspects of the world.

• Don’t reject what boys are reading. If boys get a negative reaction every time they open a graphic novel or a book filled with gore or off-color humor, they'll stop opening books altogether. Expand your definition of reading. Magazines, blogs, websites, comic books, and other materials are often more interesting to boys than classic novels because they feature shorter chunks of text, which are more appealing to many boys.

• Take advantage of technology. Some boys are more interested in reading if they can use a Kindle or an iPad. Books made for these devices sometimes have interactive features and a boy might not be turned off by the length of the book if he can’t actually see the number of pages remaining. Some boys also prefer audiobooks.

• Make connections through reading. If a boy is interested in cars or sports, for example, look for articles and books on these subjects, and discuss them with him after he's read them.

Why Boys Don't Read: Part 3

According to an article by Linda Jacobson on greatschools.com, a fact is: boys don't read as much as girls. This reading gender gap is affecting boys' performance in high school and beyond.

The siren song of the screen

Some parents and teachers blame video games for contributing to boys' lower achievement in reading and writing, and now there is some evidence to support that theory. A 2010 study by Robert Weis, a psychology professor at Denison University in Granville, OH, found a link between the use of video game systems and lower reading and writing scores. The research showed that video games were “displacing” other after-school activities that might have had more educational value.

Of course, video games aren't the only electronic entertainment vying for boys’ attention. Computers, phones, iPads, and other mobile devices all keep boys connected to games, videos, friends, and other distractions — everything but reading.

Many parents wonder if shutting off the screens would motivate boys to pick up a book instead. Weis’ advice to parents is to work toward creating some balance between reading and the activities boys consider more fun.

“I don't think there is much promise in blaming video games,” adds Wilhelm. “We have to find out why they are engaging to kids and then bridge from this to other activities that will also be rewarding for them.”

Teachers, he suggests, need to adopt a similar approach, and, for example, assign activities and projects related to the book the class is reading, instead of expecting them to enjoy sitting and talking about the book.

Wilhelm also points out that boys “experience video games as stories," and suggests that schools figure out ways to use the games as a resource to get them interested in narrative.

Teens like Sanjay Mahboobani not only find gaming more exciting than reading, they say it's more social, too. “Reading is more of an individual hobby,” he says, “and I like to be with a group of people rather than by myself.”

Why Boys Don't Read: Part 2

According to an article by Linda Jacobson on greatschools.com, a fact is: boys don't read as much as girls. This reading gender gap is affecting boys' performance in high school and beyond.

Why Johnny doesn't read

Experts cite a number of different factors to explain the crisis of boys and reading.

Today's accelerated academic demands have been hard on boys, who tend to develop more slowly than girls do, according to journalist Richard Whitmire, author of Why Boys Fail: Saving Our Sons from an Educational System That’s Leaving Them Behind.

“The world has gotten more verbal; boys haven’t,” Whitmire writes. “To prepare students for a more sophisticated economy, educators wisely pushed a tougher curriculum down through the grades. Preschoolers today are confronted with challenges first graders faced twenty years ago. On the surface, that makes sense, but educators overlooked the fact that young boys aren't wired for early verbal challenges." As a result, many boys fall behind in the early grades — and never catch up.

Boys' initial developmental delays are often compounded by the way many schools approach reading. As boys reach fourth and fifth grade, the texts that they are reading become more challenging — and no longer have pictures. But boys often don’t receive the support they need to understand or interpret what they're reading, so they think they aren’t as smart as they used to be and begin to see themselves as non-readers.

At the same time, boys and girls approach reading in fundamentally different ways. Girls are more likely to enjoy relating to characters in books and often equate fiction with reading for pleasure. Boys, on the other hand, “want an immediate function for what they read and learn,” says Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, a professor of English education at Boise State University in Idaho. His books on the topic include Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys and You Gotta BE the Book. Boys need to feel a sense of competence or developing competence, and if reading doesn’t contribute to that then they won’t see much point in it. This is part of “staking their identity," according to Wilhelm.

Tobia, for example, noted that her own nephew was a reluctant reader until he wanted to learn how to do magic tricks. Then he couldn’t put the instruction manual down.

Reading experts also point out that since the majority of teachers are women, they tend to assign books that are more compelling for girls; meanwhile, boys get negatives messages from parents and teachers alike about the reading material they gravitate toward, which can often be magazines, graphic novels, and books that feature gory scenes or gross humor.

There's also the issue of role models: if a boy's father doesn't read and he's encouraged to read by his mother and by his (mostly female) teachers, he'll likely begin to see reading as something girls do. Overall, women read more than men, according to the Pew Research Center. Women are significantly more likely than men to read fiction: a study by the National Endowment of the Arts found that in 2008, for example, 41.9 percent of men reported reading literature, versus 58 percent of women. (Men are slightly more likely than women to be daily readers of current events, according to the Pew findings.)

By the time boys get to high school, large numbers are lagging behind and losing interest in reading; for many, high school reading requirements are the final straw. Says tenth grader Sanjay Mahboobani, “The huge workload that teachers give us for every book is the root of our hatred of reading.”

Wilhelm agrees. "School actually kills engagement in reading for many boys,” he says.

Why Boys Don't Read: Part 1

According to an article by Linda Jacobson on greatschools.com,  a fact is: boys don't read as much as girls. This reading gender gap is affecting boys' performance in high school and beyond.

As a young boy, Sanjay Mahboobani was a passionate reader. He travelled through time with Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House series, and devoured each and every Harry Potter book as soon as it hit the local bookstore.

But as he got older, Sanjay, who lives in Redondo Beach, CA, began to lose interest in reading — he turned away from books along with his trucks, stuffed animals, and other childish things. Now that Sanjay is in high school, he rarely reads for pleasure. "I prefer playing video games or basketball or even hanging out with my friends," he says.

Sanjay is just one example of a trend that education experts are observing with growing alarm: large numbers of boys aren't reading, and this fact is contributing to a daunting achievement gap between boys and girls.

The gender achievement gap

The facts are stark: in every state and in every grade, boys are trailing behind girls in reading, according to a 2010 report by the Center on Education Policy, which called this lag, “the most pressing gender-gap issue facing our schools.”

Experts believe this gap is responsible for another disturbing development: as college completion rates continue to rise in this country, young men are not keeping up. Since the early 1990s, college graduation rates have steadily increased for women but remained stagnant for men. Only about 40 percent of college graduates last year were male — a difference that many education experts believe is linked to poor reading habits and literacy skills that boys developed in the elementary and middle school grades.

The lag in boys’ reading skills is consistent from the early grades through high school. Since the beginning of the National Assessment of Education Progress in the late 1960s, there has been a gender gap in reading, which is measured at ages 9, 13, and 17.

In 2004, the gap at fourth grade had narrowed to only five points, but then grew back to eight points in 2008. The gap is the largest in high school at 11 points.

While boys today have many more beguiling alternatives to books than they did in the past — including video games, television, and social media — experts say boys' lack of enthusiasm for reading is not a new phenomenon. Sarah Flowers, a librarian for more than 20 years in Santa Clara County, CA, says that she's always found boys more challenging than girls when it comes to finding books that interest them. Journalist Peg Tyre says the issue really began hundreds of years ago. In her book, The Trouble with Boys, she points out that three centuries ago John Locke, "lamented that male students were not able to write as well as female students, and he marveled at how much more easily girls picked up foreign languages."

As boys progress toward college, their reading deficits can hamper their success in other subject areas as well, educators say. Susan Tobia, the assistant vice president for academic affairs at the Community College of Philadelphia, sees the fallout of low reading achievement when boys enter their freshman year of college. Students who have spent less time reading are at a disadvantage when reading becomes a significant part of the program, she says: “College-level classes require critical thinking and reflection, and many of our students are struggling with basic comprehension."

It's not only college courses but our contemporary job market that demands high-level reading and writing skills, Tyre points out. Forty years ago there were plenty of employment opportunities for boys who didn't read or write well. But over the last several decades, jobs for unskilled workers have been outsourced overseas. "There are no illiterate scientists, tech geeks, and engineers," writes Tyre. "Kids can't do well in math and science unless they have a strong grounding in reading and writing. But as educators have been making these grand discoveries — and creating literacy-soaked curricula in response — boys have been losing ground in the very skills we now know are paramount."

Earth's Stage

Earth's Stage

With people moving to and foe,

I'm wondering where everyone will go,

When there are no more schedules to keep?

For people so full of anger and hate,

What will happen when it's far too late,

To ask for forgiveness to those done wrong?

With people claiming they love the Lord,

But have no desire to help or afford,

To give a hand to those in great need.

We all better stop wondering and proclaim,

What we do in God's name,

Or His light may be removed from Earth's stage.

By: Debra E. West

Sweet Surprise

Sweet Surprise

According to an article in the July 2012 issue of Family Circle magazine, soda has become the biggest single source of added sugar in kids' diets.  But overall children still get more of the sweet stuff from food, a whopping 59%. 

The biggest culprits:

Treats eaten at home like cookies, doughnuts, candy and gum, followed by jellies, syrups and other toppings. 

 Fastest fix:

Cut back on the amount sugary snacks in your pantry.

A Garden of Good Books

According to Spring 2012 issue of Scholastic Instructor, warmer weather with books should be celebrated with mud puddles, insects, and the mysteries of the natural world.  Below are the garden stories recommended by Hannah Trierweiler Hudson:

1.  Gem by Holly Hobbie $16.99 (Grade K-3)

     The quiet beauty of this nearly wordless adventure about a frog on a springtime journey may inspire your students to write their own tales of growth and hope. 

2. First Peas to the Table by Susan Grigby $16.99 (Grade 1-4)

    In this history-packed ode to gardening, Maya's class re-creates a competition Thomas Jefferson had with his neighbors.

3. Secrets of the Garden by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, $16.99 (Grade K-3)

    While students read about one family's garden, from planting to harvest time, they will discover a trove of science facts.

4.  The Plant Hunter by Anita Silvey $19.99 (Grades 3-7)

    By the end of these true stories that span the globe, students will want to seek out their own wild species.

5.  The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins $16.99 (Grade 1-5)

     Jenkins uses colorful and engaging handling of science topics, and this look at beetles promises to draw even the squeamish into the fascinating world of bugs.

6.  House Held Up by Trees by Ted Kooser $16.99 (Grades 2-5)

    Readers will contend with the power of the natural world in this lyrical picture book, in which trees take over an abandoned house.

7. Nasty Bugs Edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins $17.99 ( Grades K-5)

    This anthology of buggy verse by some of our most beloved children's pots joins Paul Fleischman's Joyful Noise as a must-have for your library.

8.  Split! Split! by Amy Gibson $16.99 ( Grades PreK-3)

     Use this sweet story about a little girl's rainy-day outing to teach children about onomatopoeia and the use of sensory detail.

9.  Marty McGuire Digs Worms! by Kate Messner $17.99 (Grades 2-4)

    If you haven't met the heroine of this charming series, her crusade to turn cafeteria waste into compost offers the perfect introduction. 

10. Outside Your Window by Nicola Davies $19.99 (Grades PreK-3)

     Herald's eye-catching collages give this collection of poems about the seasons a handmade quality that will instantly make it a favorite.

Quick and Healthy Foods for Kids

Kids are always hungry. Melinda Johnson, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and owner of the company Nutrition for Slackers (http://www.slackersnutrition.blogspot/ ), suggest quick, easy, and healthy ideas for meals and snacks for kids.


Morning Starters:

1. Oatmeal made with skim milk and raisins
2. Frozen waffles with frozen berries and walnuts
3. String cheese with a piece of fruit and wheat crackers
4. Scrambled eggs with low-fat cheese wrapped in a tortilla
5. Hummus with celery sticks and wheat pita
6. Toasted English muffin with tomato sauce and cheese
7. Fruit smoothie with frozen fruit and yogurt

Afternoon Snack

1. Fresh whole fruit
2. Low-fat string cheese
3. Prepackaged fruit cup in fruit juice or water
4. Homemade trail mix
5. Carrot/celery sticks with low-fat ranch
6. Oatmeal-raisin cookie

Evening Snack

1. Small bowl of cereal with skim milk
2. Plain yogurt with honey and sunflowers
3. Cottage cheese with pineapples
4. Hot chocolate made with skim milk
5. Slice of wheat toast with nut butter
6. 1 cup of air-popped corn sprinkled with Parmesan cheese

Become a Positive Partner at School

If you feel that the school your child attends does a reasonably good job you should become involved as a positive partner to make it the best that it can be. It is so important to work as a partner with the school your child attends. Below are some positive traits that a parent should try to incorporate to work as a partner with the school:

1. Public relations parents: These are the parent that is active in the community and goes out a speaks positively about the school and what is going on in the school.

2. Behind the scenes: This parent is rarely visible around the school, but will help in anyway possible.

3. Working parents: These parent works full time and cannot always be at all school functions. These parents will take off from work for important events and appointments. They will volunteer to do things at home or give cash donations.

4. Worker bee: These parents are stay-at-home and will volunteer to do just about anything needed.

5. The ray of sunshine parents: These parents come into the school and willing to meet with administrators and teachers to support school goals. They are positive about the school and everyone trust their input.

6. The skilled parents: These are parents that have special skills that they share with the school and the students. It can be computer tech, tutors, artist, bulletin boards, gardening, or anything need to make the school a better place for the students and the staff.

Make sure you get involved with a positive group of parents that go about trying to make positive changes in the school. It will make all the difference in the experience you will have with the school and the experience your child will have.

How to Handle a Difficult Parent Teacher Relationship: Part 2

Yesterday I gave you 6 traits that make you a difficult parent at school. Today I will give you 5 more personalities to avoid while dealing with your child's school. According to Stacy DeBroff, author of "The Mom Book Goes To School" below are some common negative stereotypes:

1. Overachiever: This parent lives vicariously through the high standards she sets for her child and the success that child achieves.

2. Overstressed and overworked: This parent constantly feels stressed and over-committed, yet continues to commit to activities. This parent feels guilty about a lack of involvement and wishes she had time to be more invested in the education of their child.

3. Parent Spy: This parent volunteers in the classroom to keep an eye on the teacher and report back to other parents, the PTA, or the principal.

4. Passive-aggressive: This parent hides behind nasty notes but will not tackle an issue with a teacher face-to-face. When a teacher approaches a passive-aggressive parent in person, the parent take on a much friendlier persona.

5. Well-intentioned by completely unreliable: This parent wants to be involve but make promises that are never followed up on.

Make sure you do not display any of these negative stereotypes. It will make your and your child's school experiences much more negative then it has to be. Tomorrow I will give you some positive stereotypes you will want to incorporate.

How to Handle a Difficult Parent Teacher Relationship: Part 1

I think it is extremely important for parents to realize that a teacher has the responsibility for satisfying many other students and parents besides yourself. You should be willing to forgive if your child's teacher makes a mistake or fails to devote full attention to your specific issue. Make sure you are being reasonable in every situation you address.

If you are constantly are confronting your child's teacher with questions about minor issues and request conferences, the teacher will quickly feel annoyed, and become increasingly evasive. Never storm into a meeting angry and ready for an argument. Calm yourself down and make sure you are ready to listen and evaluation the entire situation. According to Stacy DeBroff, author of " The Mom Book Goes To School", here are the things that make a parent difficult for a school setting.

1. Complainer: This is parents frequently calling the teacher or drops in on the classroom to gripe about minor details.

2. Confrontational: This parent constantly pesters the teacher and is unwilling to list to feed back and suggestions.

3. Meddler: This parent typically micromanages every detail of their child's education and personal life.

4. Needy: This parent is on whose hand the teacher has to hold thought every step of the child's education

5. Nowhere-to-be-found: This parent is almost impossible to track down and is never available when teachers need to meet.

6. Overreacting: This parent's first instinct is to barge into the school highly agitated, emotional and irrational.

7. Overachiever: This parent lives vicariously through the high standards they set for the child and the success that child achieves.

Tomorrow I will list 5 more difficult parent personalities and list some positive traits all parents should have.

Cures for Cabin Fever

How do you keep your children entertained on bad-weather days? According to Family Fun Magazine, March 2009 issue, when your family gets tired of hot summer, winter or rainy weather try some of the ideas listed below:

1. Have a picnic in the living room. The kids can change into shorts and T-shirts, and you can prepare summer foods. (Examples: watermelon, potato salad, sub sandwiches). Then spread a tablecloth on the floor and pretend you are eating at a park. The meal will be a lovely diversion, as well as a reminder of summer's return.

2. Stage a mobile scavenger hunt. You can pile into the care for a mobile scavenger hunt. Before you leave, draw a simple picture of the things they can find (Example: cows, an airplane, two blue cars, red lights) on one piece of paper. As you drive, the children check off the items they spot. The change of scenery is good for the kids and you too!

3. Put activity books to new use. You can play "Musical coloring book." Just arrange the kid's coloring and activity books in a circle in the family or living room, then start a CD. The kids and you walk quickly around the books until Dad or someone not playing cuts the music. When the happens, everyone does an activity from the book they are closest to. The kids will like this game.

Protect Your Family's Food

According to an April 2010 article in "Better Homes and Gardens", food borne diseases from bacteria such as E.coli, and salmonella now cause 76 million people to fall ill each year. While several government agencies play a role in monitoring our food, most ow what we eat hasn't been tested before it reaches our plate. The good news is you can avoid most food-borne illness by taking easy, everyday precautions when you cook. Below are some suggest on how you can protect your family from food-borne bacteria:

1. Check expiration dates. Also, buy perishable that have been kept cold and have no obvious bruising or cracks.

2. Opt for local food. By local produce when you can. That is still no guarantee safe. No matter where you shop, pay attention when recalls are announced.

3. Wash you hands. About 20% of us don't remember to wash our hands or kitchen surfaces before preparing food.

4. Don't cross-contaminate. An example would be when bacteria from raw chicken travels to salad greens. Prep produce and ready-to-eat foods first, then handle raw meat or fish. Use separate utensils and cutting boards for each.

5. Clean those utensils. If you need to reuse a plate or knife after it touches raw meat, first clean it with hot soapy water.

6. Wash produce. Use running water and a vegetable brush to scrub firm types, like potatoes.

7. Defrost in fridge. Defrosting it in the fridge keeps the outside cold enough to inhibit the the growth of bacteria.

8. Test for doneness. You can't rely on 20/20 vision when it comes to killing bacteria. For example steaks and roast need to reach 145 degrees F; poultry should hit 165 degree F.

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: Part 5

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: #9 and #10

June 25th, 2012 by Staff Writers for onlinecollegcourses.com

While there are many things banned in schools worldwide that should rightly be restricted, many feel that schools are taking regulations too far these days and banning things that can help kids build relationships, have fun, learn, and understand how to function in the real world. They may just have a point. As you read through this list, you'll see more than a few knee-jerk reactions by schools to problems that could have been solved in much more logical and meaningful ways, as well as a few things most of us can't imagine our school days without. More than being surprising, many of these bans are downright ridiculous and draw attention away from far more pressing educational issues.

9. Outside food:

Concerns about allergies and safety are solid reasons for limiting what foods can be brought into schools, but like many other things on this list, schools have taken things far beyond what many parents and students consider reasonable. One Chicago-area school has gone so far as to ban lunches brought from home altogether, forcing students to eat cafeteria food, a policy which has forced many kids to go hungry as they do not wish to eat what the cafeteria is serving or don't have the money to pay for school-bought lunches every day. And kids can forget about treats for birthdays brought from home, as nearly all schools now ban home-cooked goods due to worries about allergies. (It's worth noting that food allergy groups don't support allergy-based bans, as they believe kids need to learn to manage their allergies in the real world.)

10. Bookbags:

At some U.S. schools, students have to limit what they bring to class, as they aren't allowed bookbags during the school day. School officials who enacted the bans say that not allowing bookbags inside of the school helps to reduce congestion, improve safety, and make it easier to stem thefts. While there are undoubtedly some good reasons for not lugging a backpack from class to class, students aren't happy about the ban, saying they still have to carry the same stuff to class, but now have no way to easily do so. Additionally, the students say it is almost impossible to make it to class on time when they have to stop at their lockers, which are often not close to their classes, between each hour.

To view the entire article to to http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/06/25/10-surprising-things-banned-in-schools-today/

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: Part 4

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: #7 and #8

June 25th, 2012 by Staff Writers for onlinecollegcourses.com

While there are many things banned in schools worldwide that should rightly be restricted, many feel that schools are taking regulations too far these days and banning things that can help kids build relationships, have fun, learn, and understand how to function in the real world. They may just have a point. As you read through this list, you'll see more than a few knee-jerk reactions by schools to problems that could have been solved in much more logical and meaningful ways, as well as a few things most of us can't imagine our school days without. More than being surprising, many of these bans are downright ridiculous and draw attention away from far more pressing educational issues.

7. Social networks:

Based on the restrictions many schools have on social networks, you'd think they were virtual hotbeds of sin and misanthropy. While there are certainly good arguments to be made for preventing students from accessing these kinds of online sites while at school, there are also good reasons why they shouldn't be, something many critics of the bans are quick to point out. School administrators often ban access to social networks because they believe they open kids up to cyber predators and bullying and because they believe students will use the networks inappropriately. Yet social networks have a lot to offer students and teachers, especially sites like YouTube that are loaded with educational content. Additionally, many educators believe that it's critical to teach students how to use social networks responsibly, as misuse can have serious long-term effects when it comes time to apply for jobs or college.

8. Non-motorized forms of transportation:

You'd think schools would be all for kids getting exercise by rollerblading, skateboarding, or biking to school, right? Well, not so much. Some schools have actually banned all forms of non-motorized transportation because they believe they are too dangerous for kids. While these forms of transportation can obviously result in injury if students aren't careful, many believe that schools shouldn't have the right to dictate what students do off campus and that bike safety programs are a much more effective way to reduce accidents than an outright ban. In some cases, even students who travel with parents to school on bikes have been told they can no longer do so, greatly angering parents and cycling groups.

To read the entire article go to http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/06/25/10-surprising-things-banned-in-schools-today/

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today:Part 3

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: #5 and #6

June 25th, 2012 by Staff Writers for onlinecollegcourses.com

While there are many things banned in schools worldwide that should rightly be restricted, many feel that schools are taking regulations too far these days and banning things that can help kids build relationships, have fun, learn, and understand how to function in the real world. They may just have a point. As you read through this list, you'll see more than a few knee-jerk reactions by schools to problems that could have been solved in much more logical and meaningful ways, as well as a few things most of us can't imagine our school days without. More than being surprising, many of these bans are downright ridiculous and draw attention away from far more pressing educational issues. 

5. Holiday parties:

Remember how much fun you had as a kid celebrating Valentine's Day and Halloween with parties? Those parties may be a thing of the past for many school kids today. The reason? Many believe they distract kids from learning and promote unhealthy eating habits. While parties might limit learning on a given day and offer kids more candy and salty snacks than they might normally consume, many opponents of bans say that the parties also help to reward kids for hard work and give them a chance to simply have fun and enjoy themselves with peers (important, given that many schools no longer have recess). The reality is that there are ways to make parties fun and educational and to limit the unhealthy treats that come with them, a more measured approach that some schools are embracing.

6. Competitive games:

While generations of schoolchildren may have made it out of their K-12 educations with self-esteem intact after playing competitive games on the playground and in gym class, these days kids don't get much of a choice in how they get their exercise. Elementary schools in Wyoming, California, Oregon, and Washington are part of the growing trend of schools who are putting the kibosh on traditional games at school because they say they're too dangerous. On the chopping block are soccer, touch football, and tag. These games join dodgeball, which has been banned from many schools for years because it has been deemed unsafe. While dodgeball is an understandable activity to ban, tag and other team sports are far more questionable, and many critics believe that kids shouldn't be discouraged from engaging in any physical activity. Schools point to injuries suffered by students as the reason for the ban, but few statistics exist that point to increased levels of accidents justifying these bans.

To view the entire article go to http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/06/25/10-surprising-things-banned-in-schools-today/

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

America is the land of the free.  Men and women have died for the right to live in a free and democratic society.  One of those freedoms include that every child in this country has a right to get the "Best Education Possible".  Make sure every child in your reach receives "The Best Education Possible", so that they can enjoy all this country has to offer.  Happy 4th of July everyone!  Be safe and enjoy.

From: Best Education Possible, LLC

Debra West

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: Part 2

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: #3 and #4

June 25th, 2012 by Staff Writers for onlinecollegcourses.com

While there are many things banned in schools worldwide that should rightly be restricted, many feel that schools are taking regulations too far these days and banning things that can help kids build relationships, have fun, learn, and understand how to function in the real world. They may just have a point. As you read through this list, you'll see more than a few knee-jerk reactions by schools to problems that could have been solved in much more logical and meaningful ways, as well as a few things most of us can't imagine our school days without. More than being surprising, many of these bans are downright ridiculous and draw attention away from far more pressing educational issues.

3. Red ink:

Apparently, today's kids can't take criticism very well, even when merited. While our schools are already trying to keep up with others in the world, many schools have made that even harder by enacting ridiculous bans on things like red ink. Hundreds of schools in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia have outlawed the use of red ink when grading papers, stating that the color is too "confrontational" and "threatening." School officials state that students feel demoralized when they see a sea of red on their papers (somehow other colors are less off-putting?). But many aren't buying the reasoning, stating that children need to learn from their mistakes and be able to maintain self-esteem in the midst of criticism if they're to make it in the real world.

4. Any kind of junk food:

It's true that there is a serious obesity epidemic in America and that the food students eat at school needs to be markedly more healthy, but some schools have taken that issue a bit too far when making regulations. Many schools have banned junk food outright, both that being sold on campus and brought from home (spicy Cheetos have been targeted especially hard, even jokingly being called the "red menace"). While the bans may help some kids eat healthier, many feel it doesn't actually help kids develop good food habits (some studies have found that junk food bans have little impact and may actually encourage kids to binge at home). Many are instead arguing for limitations on junk food, not outright bans, so that students can learn moderation, a skill that will help them navigate real-life food choices. Of course, in typical knee-jerk style, schools are taking bans far beyond the cafeteria and not allowing school groups to run bake sales, often where a majority of their funding comes from.

To read the entire article go to http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/06/25/10-surprising-things-banned-in-schools-today/

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: Part 1

10 Surprising Things Banned in Schools Today: #1 and #2

June 25th, 2012 by Staff Writers for onlinecollegcourses.com

While there are many things banned in schools worldwide that should rightly be restricted, many feel that schools are taking regulations too far these days and banning things that can help kids build relationships, have fun, learn, and understand how to function in the real world. They may just have a point. As you read through this list, you'll see more than a few knee-jerk reactions by schools to problems that could have been solved in much more logical and meaningful ways, as well as a few things most of us can't imagine our school days without. More than being surprising, many of these bans are downright ridiculous and draw attention away from far more pressing educational issues.

1.Touching:

It completely makes sense to ban all types of inappropriate touching at school, but many schools have gone far beyond that. They've not only banned sexual touching, horseplay, and fighting, but other, far more innocuous types of touching as well. One school in Fairfax, Virginia decided to ban all types of touching, including high fives. Another school in Fort Worth banned hugs and hand-holding. They're not alone. Schools around the nation and the world are following suit. Schools defend their decisions by stating that the bans help ensure nothing inappropriate goes on (whether between students or between teachers and students) and reduces their chances of being caught up in a lawsuit. Kids and their parents aren't entirely convinced, and many have circulated petitions, staged protests, and quite vocally made their opposition to the bans clear to school administrators.

2. Dancing:

Kids today may be getting the chance to live out real-life versions of the '80s classic (and now remade) Footloose. We have no qualms with bans that don't allow students to engage in sexually suggestive dancing, but schools aren't just outlawing those kinds of moves. While silly, it actually isn't that surprising. Ridiculous dance bans are nothing new, with "The Twist" being banned by Buffalo in 1962 and all fad dances being off-limits at BYU around the same time. It seems not much has changed. In 1996, many schools banned "the Macarena" for being "too provocative." While the lyrics do reference sex, it's unlikely that many elementary school kids even noticed. Remember the Hokey Pokey? Kids may not be able to do this dance anymore either, as religious officials have said it promotes anti-Catholic feelings (again, unlikely that anyone, let alone kids, would relate the two). Dancing is apparently so objectionable that in New York, the word itself is banned from standardized tests.

To view the entire article go to http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2012/06/25/10-surprising-things-banned-in-schools-today/

Eating As A Family

When I was growing up we had dinner every evening at five o'clock and you better not be late! Now a days families are lucky if they eat as a family even once a week. With so many cooking shows on TV and 30 minute meals in cookbooks, there are no excuses for not eating and sitting down together as much as possible.

It might be a struggle to get everyone to the dinner table for a family meal.  Keep at it, your hard work is paying off, according to an article from "Better Homes and Gardens", March 2010 article. Adolescents who participated in regular family meals five or more times a week reported healthier diets than kids from families who rarely eat together. Their meal patterns were better too, setting them up for a healthier adult future. Below are ways to get the family to sit together for meals:

Involve everyone in the process:

1. Let everyone suggest their favorite meals.

2. Make a weekly menu together.

3. Cook together or pair up with different family members.

4. Have weekly or monthly cook-off competitions.

5. Older children can try and cook their own meals.

6. With everyone participating cooking will hopefully be more exciting and inviting

7. Try Annabel Karmel's new, "Top 100 Finger Foods", for easy kid-teen-tween friendly recipes.

8. Determine that dinnertime will be a relaxing time to talk and enjoy each others' company.