Tuesday Tips & Tricks

To increase concentration, have your child sit on a stability ball while doing homework. (This works for big people, too.)

New Morning School

Are Children Safe In Preschool? The Harsh Reality Requires New Skills

School Supply List

Dear Mrs. X:

In just over a week, you will be my son’s Grade 1 teacher.  He is ever so excited to be under your tutelage.  Why, since the last day of kindergarten, entering your class was all he could talk about.  He gleefully thrust a piece of paper into my hand on that June afternoon, and said, “Here’s  a list of the stuff I need for school next September!”

And I have to admit, I, too, was excited.  I’m a school supplies geek from way back.  And so, in early August, I set out to buy the items you’d listed.

It was on my fourth store that the realization began to sink in.

You’re a crafty bitch, aren’t you?

This list was a thinly disguised test.  Could I find the items, exactly as you’d prescribed?  Because if not, my son would be That Kid, the one with the Problem Mother, Who Can’t Follow Directions.

For example, the glue sticks you requested.  In the 40 gram size.  Three of the little buggers.  (What kind of massive, sticky project you’ve got planned for the first day of school that would require the students to bring all this glue, I cannot imagine.)  But the 40 gram size doesn’t come in a convenient 3-pack.  The 30 gram size does.  But clearly, those would be wildly inappropriate.  So I got the individually priced 40′s, as per your instructions.

Another bit of fun was your request for 2 packs of 8 Crayola crayons (basic colors).  The 24 packs, with their 24 different colors, sat there, on sale.  I could have purchased three of the 24 packs for the price I had to pay for the 8 packs.  (Clearly, you’ll not be teaching the youngsters any sort of economics lessons this year.)  Even the cashier looked at me, as if to say, “Pardon me, ma’am, but are you slow?” as I purchased these non-bargain crayons.  But that’s what the list said.  And I was committed to following the list.

But the last item, well, now, you saved your malice up for that one, didn’t you?  “8 mm ruled notebooks”, you asked for.  Simple enough.  Except the standard size is seven millimetres.  One.  Millimetre.  Difference.  Do you realize, Mrs. X., exactly how infinitesimal the difference between 7 mm ruling and 8 mm ruling is?  Pretty small, I assure you.  The thickness of a fingernail, approximately.  But that millimetre, that small bit of nothingness, made me drive to four different stores, over the course of three sweaty August hours.  And when I finally, finally found the last remaining 8 mm notebooks, I took no pleasure in my victory.  I merely shifted my focus.  To you, Mrs. X.

You wanna dance, lady?  Let’s dance.

 Because I am just batshit crazy enough to play your games.  And, in turn, come up with some of my own.

On show and share day, my son will be bringing the video of his birth.  It will be labelled, “Ben’s First Puppy.”  Enjoy.

He will be given a list of words, and daily, he will ask you what they mean.  Words such as, “pedophile”, “anti-semite”, and “skank”.  Good luck with those.

At some point, you will attempt to teach him mathematics.  And I’m quite sure that, like most of your ilk, you will require my son to “show his work”.  And he will.

Through interpretive dance.

Because that is who you’ve chosen to tangle with, toots.  A stay at home mom who is not entirely balanced, and has altogether too much time on her hands.  But is, most certainly, A Mother Who Can Follow Directions.

Sincerely,

Ginny

Oh Shift...

3 Shifts to Make when Creating Bully Proof Schools

Shift 1: Control to Connection
Go from "making children behave" to "helping children be successful."

Shift 2: Factory to Family
Go from treating children as standardized widgets in a factory that are under the constant scrutiny of quality control and are tossed if "too damaged" to a concept of "we are all in this together," each member of our School Family has value and each members' optimal development is encouraged.

Shift 3: Negative to Positive
We get to make up the motives of others! Go from seeing a child having hurtful behaviors with negative intent - "He is so mean. Well, have you seen his mother?" to seeing a child having hurtful behaviors with positive intent. - "He wanted ___ and did not have the skills to ask for it. I will teach him a better way."

These are big shifts, but you can do it!

Via Conscious Discipline

Blessed

Mike Larson: This is my son Jon with his prom date Maddie. He is a junior and he has autism. About a month ago, Maddie, a senior, came to my office (I’m a teacher at their school) and asked if Jon’s mom and I would allow her to take him to prom. Maddie had gotten to know Jon through a school club that promotes friendships between special needs kids and regular kids. “He’s a junior,” she explained “so it’s his prom too. I just think he should have the chance to go.” I told her we would be honored to have him go with her.
 
During the next couple weeks, she asked what his favorite color was (orange) so she could get a dress in that color. She also made reservations for their group (they doubled with another couple)at a restaurant that served his favorite food – chicken fingers and French fries.

Blessed is the person who sees the need, 

recognizes the responsibility,

and actively becomes the answer...

Back to the Grindstone

Today is the first day of my 33rd year in education...

Last Day of School

32nd year - and counting...

No Teacher Left Standing

I got surprise flowers, at school, last week from my hubby - 

just for making it through the day...

Wasatch Fall Festival Today

Come and join the fun!!

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

1080 N. 900 E.

Click on picture for more info...

Last Day of School

Today was the 60th last day of school in my lifetime...

Happy New School Year

Today marks my
31st
"First Day of School"
as an educator...

Here are some numbers on reading:

1.1
Registered library users worldwide
(1 out of every 6 people)

7
Times the average American uses the library each year

82
Percentage of world population that is literate
(87% of men – 77% of women)

25
Percentage of Americans who did not read a single book last year

What Teachers Wish You Knew

School doesn’t end with the bell. You, as a parent, want to be able to give your child the best education possible and as much help as he or she needs—but where do you start? And where do you draw the line?

Even though your child may complain when sent off to school, don't underestimate the importance that he or she places on his school success. Achievement in school can have an amazing impact on your child's self-esteem.

Because teachers are professionally trained to help children learn, we've polled a few educators to get their opinion on how you can best help your child's education.

Communicate
Teachers want to resolve concerns as soon as possible, and are willing to talk to parents about the specific needs of their children. Marcie Gallacher, a former second grade teacher from Wilton, California, says that it is important to "keep lines of communication open. Talk to teachers about questions first, rather than other parents."

Start your relationship with your child's teacher right away. Attend back-to-school nights and open houses so that the teacher knows you are excited about your child's education, and tell the teacher specifically that you want to work together to make this year one of your child's best. Your children will have a much better school experience if you are working with their teachers, not against them.

Read to Your Children
Because of the effect reading has on all subjects (yes, reading helps with math, too!), teaching your child to read and continuing to read with him or her is an influential part in preparing your child for school. Hearing books read aloud affects students' independent reading and oral reading, says Gallacher.

Mike Cline, a teacher in Murray, Utah, agrees. "The reason many children act out is because either they can't read or they are not confident at reading, so they don't want to be called on."

Aside from reading to them, encourage your children to read on their own. Encourage your children to choose reading activities (rather than resort to them) by taking a trip to the library once a week. Let them leave their books out in the family room; they might see them and choose to read instead of watch television.

Talk to Your Kids About School
Mike Cline's wife, Laurie, teaches junior high in Taylorsville, Utah. She says, "One of the biggest things parents can do for us as teachers is to talk to their kids about school." Asking how their classes are going, what they are learning about, and if they need help studying for tests is extremely important, Laurie says. If children sense that education is important to you, it will be important to them, too.

Make an effort to spend more time with your children and talk to them about important things in their lives. If they express a concern to you about a school assignment, do your best to help them with it. Show them where to research the topic, but do not do your child's work for them. Teachers are well aware when parents have been doing their kids' homework, and they don't like it.

Be Accepting
"I wish that parents would celebrate their children for their accomplishments as well as work with them on their deficiencies," says Annalisa Arizpe, a high school teacher from Clermont, Florida. "Be happy and show joy when your child improves. Accept their personal best.

"Accepting their personal best, however, doesn't mean that you can't help your child improve," Arizpe continues. "I wish that [parents] would look at the papers that their children bring home and really question their answers." Questions like, "Why did you believe that was the correct answer?" and "What could you have done differently?" are the types of questions that encourage, not discourage.

Get Involved
"I am blessed to have several parents who volunteer on a regular basis," says Gretchen Kemp, another high school teacher in Clermont, Florida. "It just so happens that more times than not, these are the students who are straight-A students, those who put in the most effort, and go on to be great community volunteers, as well."

Being involved doesn't need to take lots of time from your already-packed schedule. It is understandable that a parent would be too busy to be the head of the PTA, but even bringing a snack in for a special day or chaperoning a short field trip is a big help to teachers.

But remember not to get too involved. Sometimes parents end up holding back their children when they are trying desperately to help. "I had one parent that every couple of weeks would pick up her eighteen-year-old daughter's missing assignments," says Arizpe. "She would return her child's work a couple of days later. This parent would also call me with questions that the girl had. It was too much, and in my opinion, this girl will never learn the importance of responsibility."

Take Advantage of Technology
We live in a time when almost anything can be found online, including your child's grades. "Most schools have grades available online; if that is the case, parents should check them often to see for themselves how their child is doing," says Laurie Cline. If you don't keep up with your child's schoolwork, you might be surprised and overreact when a child brings home a not-so-desirable grade. "Be aware of your child's grades. Do not wait until progress reports and report cards to show concern," says Arizpe.

With some help and prompting on your part, your child can learn to make the most of his or her education - and eventually become a steward over it. And if you remember to always support your children, take advantage of resources, and remind them to step up to responsibility, then you're sure to produce lifelong learners.

by Jamie Cline
Photo by Heriberto Herrera

Just in Time for School

NOTEBOOK AND PENCIL SOCKS

(click on the picture for more info)

School Days

School days, school days,
Dear old golden rule days.
'Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of a hick'ry stick...


TODAY IS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

BackPack

This is the BackPack I want for school this year...

The Signs of the Times

Yesterday, I saw this...

When the crews are out re-painting the crosswalks and SCHOOL signs in the road, it can only mean one thing – the bells will be ringing soon.

2 weeks to be exact!!

Can't they paint at night so I don't have to be reminded...

Trading Spaces

I used to have an office in the main building that was small, hot, and had no windows. A couple of months ago, I moved into a much bigger office in the other building and this is what I get to see everyday out the window...

I'm happy!!

Connected

Forever Young will be out on DVD May 26...

The movie is about the Highland High Rugby Team.


I went to Highland High School.


These guys played rugby for Highland...


Do you recognize them...


Jon Schmidt
Musician and Composer


Bob Nilsen
CEO of Cafe Rio


Matthew Cole
President of Bluestreak Sports Training

School Daze

Today is the First Day of School


and that is where I'll be...