Research on Praising a Child

Often as parents and educators saying someone did a great job when the job was just ok in order to make a child feel better has been the norm for a long time. Here is a summary of the research behind those such things.
http://www.highlandschools-virtualib.org.uk/ltt/inclusive_enjoyable/praise.htm

If You Haven't Seen This Before You Need To Now!

Year Round School

I found an article on year round school. Traditionally 13 weeks on and 3 weeks off.

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Articles/Year-Round-K12-Grades-Schools-1495.aspx

Interesting Study on Computer Use and Student Performance

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050128213740.htm

Bill's Opinion on Education

Interesting Article on Learning Styles or Preferences

http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2009/01/31/learning-styles-or-learning-preferences-in-the-classroom/styles or preferences

Education is Moving Quickly

Project Based Learning

See what project based learning can do for your child.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/index.cfm?i=56961

Great Strides Made with Autistic Students

Here is a link to an article in which one school is making a huge difference with autistic students.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29030230/

Schools Doing Away With Books

Schools doing away with books. The cost of using books when materials are out on the Internet. Check out this article on it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2006/jul/21/tefl

More Questions that a Parent Should Ask When Visiting a School

Behavior Policy
What does the school do to help develop character and citizenship?
What is the discipline policy? How does the school handle students who misbehave?
Are teachers fair in their responses to students? Does the school have a program and supports to prevent and address behavior problems?
Are students allowed to leave school by themselves?
What measures has the school taken to ensure safety? What security measures are in place?
What is the policy on school absences? How does the school encourage daily attendance?
Do school personnel call parents when students are absent?
Does the school have a drug and alcohol abuse prevention program?
Does the school have a dress code? Do students wear uniforms?

Is Your School District Prepared for the 21st Century?

With President Obama' s quest for reinventing schools this article might be of some value to everyone. Why am I posting so much information regarding technology and schools? It is vital that schools have the "it" factor if we want to compete and once again become the force to be reckoned with as the leader in innovation.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=56922

Full Day Kindergarten Gains End by 3rd Grade

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715071444.htm

Here is an Interesting Article on Class Sizes

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080228112004.htm

19 Words That Describe Your Teacher and School

http://bwatwood.edublogs.org/2009/01/20/excellence-in-e-learning/

Have You Ever Thought About an International School?

With the American economy tanking you might have to move to school away from the United States. Check out this article! http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/01/25/the-world-of-international-schools/

Article on Influence of Technology

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/news-by-subject/curriculum/index.cfm?i=56833

25 Tools to Help Educators

25 Tools

View more presentations or upload your own. (tags: learning tools)

Some More Good Questions to Ask a School When Visiting

Academic Performance

How do the school's test scores compare to those of other schools? (Check the school's report card if it is a public school or ask for information from the school if it is a private school. See "Parent Tip" on school report cards.)
In the past few years, have test scores risen or declined? How does the school explain the rise or decline?
How well have children similar to yours performed on these tests?
How do students moving on to the next level of schooling perform in their new schools?
How many students leave the school before completing the last grade?
What special achievements or recognition has the school received?

Helpful Planning for the ACT Test

Here is a link to some ACT practice sites.

http://actests.info/fullact.html

How Technology Can be Implemented in Schools

Here is an article on how technology can be implemented in schools.

http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech149.shtml

Technology and Schools Divide

Interesting perspective on schools and the digital divide. Maybe as simple as a generation gap.
http://blogs.synapse3di.com/

Great Article on Schools Failing Behind Digitally

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/may/08/elearning.schools

SAT Information

I recently ran across an SAT review site that had every standardize test available. The site includes practice questions, answers, vocabulary help etc...

http://www.testprepreview.com/sat_practice.htm

The Digital Divide

An area of focus for parents should be when evaluating a school is to ask what kind of technology they offer their students and teachers. There are some tendencies for school districts. I have posted below an excerpt from an article that I thought was very revealing.


"Schools serving students living in poverty tend to use technology for more traditional memory-based and remedial activities, while schools serving wealthier communities are more likely to focus on communication and expression.A nationwide study examining the relationship between socioeconomic status and teaching practices around technology found that teaching in low-SES schools correlated most strongly with using technology for "reinforcement of skills" and "remediation of skills," while teaching in higher-SES schools correlated most with "analyzing information" and "presenting information to an audience" (Becker, 2000b).

What does your school district look like? Do they have websites, emails, online newsletters etc.? If the world is going digital than how is your child suppose to integrate it into their own life without having well trained staff in that area? What in-services are provided by the districts?

ACT and SAT Vocabulary Help

Studying to go to college and for ACT and SAT? Here is a free website that contains over 5000 words to improve your vocabulary.

http://www.freevocabulary.com/

Working on Vocabulary for SAT?

Here is a site that enables students to become familiar with vocabulary from SAT Test.

http://www.english-test.net/sat/

SAT Help

The Learning Hub has a question bank, lessons etc.. http://sat.learnhub.com/

If You Need a Tutor for SAT/ACT?

If you are looking for help on ACT or SAT this site is fantastic. http://www.number2.com/. At Number 2 you get a free ACT / SAT tutor companion, word of the day and monitoring.

If Know Someone Who is Taking SAT

For the next 5 days we are going to be posting SAT tools for students working towards college.
The link I am going to provide is to Spark Notes. Spark Notes has a SAT center. It can be very helpful, including a mini SAT, vocabulary novels, power tactics and much, much more.

http://testprep.sparknotes.com/testcenter/newsat/index.epl

Teaching Students with Autism

Here is a link to an interesting article on teaching students with autism.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98959992&ft=1&f=1013

Looking at Online High School

Here is an article regarding an On-line High School.

http://www.alliedhighschool.com/reblog/2007/10/not-all-online-high-schools-are-created.shtml

I Great Article About Selecting a Public School

This article was an excellent article about choosing the best public school. A must read for any parent who is sending their child to school.

http://www.publicschoolreview.com/articles/1

Good Book for Educators

http://www.hepg.org/hep/book/78/TransformingSchoolsWithTechnology

Great Video About How Important School Is

Thinking About Home Schooling? A Point of View to Consider

If you are considering home schooling your child then you want to read this article. As parents, you want to consider all sides when it involves your child's education.

http://principalspage.com/theblog/index.php?/archives/61-HOMESCHOOLING-IS-GREAT,-BUT-IT-SURE-MAKES-IT-HARD-TO-PICK-TEAMS..html

Schools Going You Tube

Schools are using You Tube. Good article on schools using You Tube.


http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/news-by-subject/multimedia/?i=56590

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Assessing your Child's Readiness for Preschool -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

If You Have a Young Child

Here is a site I found in which you can listen to different children books http://www.storynory.com. Enjoy them with your child.

Here is a Good Source of Information for those Book Orders

Hi Everyone,

I found a good source for evaluating childrens' books when the book order forms come home to you. The site is http://childrensbooksforparents.com. It gives a series of recommendations and a brief overview. I thought it might be helpful so that you don't have waste much time and cash on books that are above or below your child's reading level.

Part 4: Creating a Newspaper Article

News Article Writing Process: Part 4 -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Part 3: Newspaper Article Formation

News Article Writing Process: Part 3 -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Here is Part 2 of Writing a Newspaper Article

News Article Writing Process: Part 2 -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

How to Write a Newspaper Article

News Article Writing Process: Part 1 -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Kids Have to Do a Newspaper Article?

Here is part one of a four part series of videos about doing an interview and creating a newpaper article for a class assignment. The writing styles for these assignments are different from regular writing assignments usually assigned in class. Here are some helpful videos to help inspire them.

News Article Interview Tips -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Moms Going 3.0

Schools need to think about how they communicate to parents and especially moms.

Make way for “Mom 3.0″: Blogging, vlogging, twittering parents tune into tech
Filed as News on January 3, 2009 7:00 am
by Andy Merrett
Two-thirds of moms use five or more forms of technology every day to stay in touch with their families, consume and compose content, and manage their lives.
That’s according to recent research from BSM Media, published in “Mom 3.0: Marketing with Today’s Mothers by Leveraging New Media & Technology”.
The report predicts that video blogs (vlogs), podcasts, social networking and microblogging will increase in popularity over the coming year.
Four out of five moms have watched two or more videos in the last week compared to just one-third who have read blogs, while the availability of cheap and compact camcorders allows them to record their own video journals for sharing online.
Two out of three moms said that video is an appealing format because it is more easily adaptable to their lifestyles.
Though podcasts may be losing some appeal in the tech sector, the increasingly ubiquity of MP3 players among parents (over 80% of moms, own one compared to just 20% in 1999) means that they could be a more important form of media.
Adding weight to the argument that Twitter will go mainstream in 2009, the report suggests that moms will increasingly use such services this year, along with instant messaging and mobile phone SMS, to stay in touch with their families.
I’m not sure about the “Mom 3.0” tag, but it’s certainly true that parents are using a lot more technology and online services these days to stay in touch with both family and peers.

Innovative Look at Teaching Algebra

With the failure rate increasing among students taking Algebra, look what one school district has done.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/nyregion/08video.html?_r=3&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Video on ADHD

Great Article on ADHD and Mothers

Hey everyone I am getting back to you regarding ADHD.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/134161.php

Is This is a Little Much?

Donations for schools from families has been a long time traditional commitment that most communities can accept. The pizza kits, flowers, candles, and the 50/50 tickets have been familiar to all of us for a while. However look what one school is asking parents to bring.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/18430596/detail.html

Even more reasons to ask questions about the school district you are going to invest in.

Greg Green

Teenagers Decisions Driving You Crazy?

Helping accept your teenagers decisions is difficult but here is some good advice.


http://parentingteens.about.com/od/behavioranddiscipline/a/decisionmaking.htm

Does Your School Address Violence within Teenage Dating

Schools are beginning to help address teenage dating violence. Ask your potential school about their plan to help teenagers create healthy dating relationships.

http://takingcareofourselves.blogspot.com/2008/10/get-facts-teaching-teenagers-about.html

Thinking That Your Student May Go to College Oversees?

A good article regarding kids thinking about going oversees to school.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-cash-101/2008/10/17/6-ways-to-get-funding-to-study-overseas-and-one-way-not-to.html

Paying for College in a Recession

A good article for families looking to provide their student financial support for college.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-cash-101/2008/12/15/the-4-rules-of-paying-for-college-in-a-recession.html

Paying for College Must Read!

Parents please check this out if you are planning to send your child to college.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/your-money/paying-for-college/03money.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Here is a Short Article About Parents Planing Before They Select a School

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/37070429.html

Greg Green

Here is a Helpful Video on Seniors Going to College

Research Regarding Studying and Spaces

Interesting article regarding retention rates and spacing between study sessions.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081118141708.htm

Here is Some Interesting Research on Kindergarten Students

Students who enter kindergarten without adequate preparation are more likely to drop out, plus they're more likely to need special education or have to repeat a grade at a cost of some $24.4 million, additional English instruction for $11 million and more resources to deal with delinquent behavior, at a cost of $6 million, according to a Wilder Research report. Teachers are also more likely to quit or miss work due to the resulting behavior and academic problems, costing some $28.9 million, researchers said. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) (12/29)

Have You Ever Considered These Things When Looking At a School?

For the past week, I have listed questions that I would consider important when choosing school. Culture is something that you can pick up on as soon as you arrive. Here are some starter questions that you should consider when selecting a school for your son or daughter.

Is the school secretary helpful and friendly?
Is the school orderly and neat?
What do the bulletin boards look like?
How is student work displayed?
How does the school communicate with students and parents (weekly/monthly newsletter, e-mail?

A Great Read for Those Who Need to Get Organized

For those parents looking to get organized for 2009 here is a great blog post regarding organizational tools that are web based.

http://edtechpower.blogspot.com/2008/12/ten-tools-to-manage-your-life.html

Curriculum Questions a Parent Should Ask a School When Investigating

Does the school have a strong program of core academic subjects such as English, history, mathematics, science, arts, and foreign languages?
What courses does the school offer in addition to the core subjects?
What evidence is there that the school is effectively teaching students to read?
Does the school have a special focus or theme for the curriculum?
Does the school offer challenging courses such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and high school honors courses?
Does the school provide enrichment opportunities for all students? For gifted students?
Does the school have extracurricular activities that support what is taught?
Is there an effective English language acquisition program for children who need it?
If your child has special learning needs, does the school have a curriculum and the necessary supports to appropriately accommodate those need?

Parents Does Your District Have These Types of Things

When you start looking at school districts for your son or daughter a good question to ask is if they have any classes that help parents such as ... teaching parents how to work with their student, filling out college applications, parenting classes, study skills etc... Here is an article that is helpful.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2008/dec/31/1m31parents001725-parents-head-back-school/?zIndex=30078