tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288122004318913142024-03-13T11:29:19.340-06:00The Railroad ClassroomsTChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-9120554827685440832013-05-03T11:21:00.000-06:002013-05-03T11:21:41.071-06:00Creating Innovators in your Kids!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005GG0NFU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B005GG0NFU&linkCode=as2&tag=rrclassrooms-20" style="font-size: small;">Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=rrclassrooms-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005GG0NFU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!! In Creating Innovators, education expert Tony Wagner, explores what parents, mentors, and teachers must do to create innovators. It has open my eyes to new paradigms in parenting and certainly have reminded me of why I began on my EdTech startups' journeys!
Wagner interview Rick Miller from Olin who identified 3 stages in the evolution of learning:<br />
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1. Memorization-based, multiple choice approach<br />
2. Project-based learning<br />
3. Design-based learning where students define the problem.<br />
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In order for students to be successful in a collaborative and creative setting, they first need to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals. I believe that we cannot forgo the importance of traditional academics and simply venture out into the creative, playful side of things. There needs to be moderation and a balance of academic rigor and creative learning. The Asian countries are extremely successful at academic rigors but may lack in the creative side of things and here in the U.S., we are at the opposite side of the education spectrum. I was lucky enough to be a product of both worlds, thereby absorbing the best of both sides of the spectrum. Because of my experiences, I understand what it takes to reach that middle of moderation and the importance of it. If we, in the U.S. want to stay competitive globally and be #1 again, we need to raise our academic standards. Because of our sheer population, it is true that we still produce one of the highest numbers of innovative companies and high-performing individual students in the world. That being said, with most of Asia refocusing their efforts to boost their level of creativity and innovation, we will most definitely fall behind if we do not boost our academics now!<br />
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So how do we accomplish this part? I believe that the Common Core Standards is a start (not perfect but a good start). The Common Core Standards will be my next posting as I have a ton to say about it! :) We also need to increase our resources for excellent early childhood learning. (Personal Vent: I see a lot of start-ups hoping to venture into the EdTech space with very cool looking apps for "learning" for young children. I have downloaded pretty much 90% of what is out there and personally tried them myself. There is a lack of good content. Simply having a great team of coders and beautiful graphics is not enough. As I research the teams behind these apps, I see many young, bright, and enthusiastic edupreneurs in those teams. Many have never taught young children before. An even bigger percentage do not even have kids on their own. We need more parents and actual teachers in this space. I notice that as I develop and redevelop my curriculum and games, the needs of my children and students are always in my design process. As a parent, I want what's the best of my kids. I know other parents think the same way. My design thoughts always include ho I can translate what the best teaching techniques are into fun for these young kids. It is a tough process in it itself and I cannot imagine how others with no teaching experience or kids of their own can translate that. My attitude and knowledge of teaching certainly more than quadrupled after my kids came along! Ok...enough venting!) We also need to stop being afraid of giving our kids more in depth knowledge of the subjects they are learning - they have the ability to absorb hard things.<br />
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Once our kids are getting the correct fundamentals at a higher standard, how do they apply that knowledge to the real world. This is where the disconnect happens. I've heard arguments across the board for and against Common Core. I have heard complaints of "dumbing down our kids" and those who say that the new curriculum is too difficult for their children. Obviously, as Americans, we have greatly different views of the level of difficulty. If we can introduce more project-based learning into the classroom, I believe we can solve much of that argument. Children who easily coast through the new standards will be able to be matched with new challenges through projects. They will now be able to apply what they learn in theory into actual practice. Those who are struggling will be able to understand the concepts better as they see those concepts come to life in projects. Through collaboration, not only are the students getting mentored by their teachers and parents, but they are teaching each other as well. Everyone knows that the best way to learn is to teach. We NEED more project-based learning in the classroom and at home!<br />
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When we have more projects aka problems introduce to the students, this is where true innovation happens. Please remember that a high level of innovation cannot happen if criteria #1 and #2 are not met first. Given problems, the students must now create solutions. If the students can create good to excellent solutions, this is where they would shown that they have truly mastered that part of academics.<br />
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With these three guidelines, we can now innovate how testing should evolve. We still need the stringent, academic testing that is standardized across the board so as to understand which states are pulling ahead and which states we need to concentrate our efforts in. However, that sort of testing should not be the end grade of our students. To be able to change this system, we need to first have colleges change their criteria for college admissions. I believe every student Grades 5-12 need a digital portfolio. The portfolio should include projects done in their classrooms and should have scores and reviews from their teachers and mentors. (With mentors, we need corporate America to start sending volunteers to work directly in the classrooms!) In addition to ACT, SAT, GPA or whatever scores are required, this digital portfolio should make up a percentage as well. When our students truly understand the concepts both in theory and in practice, testing will be easy.<br />
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America, let's pull together and fight TOGETHER to create an education utopia for our kids! We can only do it by not arguing against the cons. Let's see what the pros are in every situation and build on those instead!
TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-63642301380718313352013-03-11T15:57:00.000-06:002013-03-11T15:57:10.135-06:00Heigh-ho! Heigh-ho!Working on our<a href="http://www.abacusprodigy.com/" target="_blank"> Abacus Prodigy</a> app! Lots of designing for me to work on and lots of fun coding for our awesome CTO!!! But hey...it's all for the kids right?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggj-qXccatest5yE-3Ho2bEtsQKDiyP1AlRCraUxRmVaidfmkmhg_Uhknuph63aYomLX_x3twZeXIlbrdUjEx4dUkwz3vUPQAs_yAnDe8VkbxH8Pmc8BLh6yVEDR4HlujjPtNvcx7qEjpL/s1600/Loading+Page+Sample.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggj-qXccatest5yE-3Ho2bEtsQKDiyP1AlRCraUxRmVaidfmkmhg_Uhknuph63aYomLX_x3twZeXIlbrdUjEx4dUkwz3vUPQAs_yAnDe8VkbxH8Pmc8BLh6yVEDR4HlujjPtNvcx7qEjpL/s640/Loading+Page+Sample.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eod_t2T_Qnzes0uhMtta_GpZS2UJBMuDuJDJJ_1iDt7z-5dye3R-J4GnnSpZRZD0viW0QwAT7z0TbhpRS3kUETmTCQwLqdM4v1ju9OE28AMSN_cLOQtB3pwQK992Be8r9sL5cR_NCHZf/s1600/photo+(1)-2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eod_t2T_Qnzes0uhMtta_GpZS2UJBMuDuJDJJ_1iDt7z-5dye3R-J4GnnSpZRZD0viW0QwAT7z0TbhpRS3kUETmTCQwLqdM4v1ju9OE28AMSN_cLOQtB3pwQK992Be8r9sL5cR_NCHZf/s640/photo+(1)-2.jpg" width="640" /></a>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-82324967103437226472013-02-21T01:06:00.000-07:002013-02-21T01:07:52.422-07:00Happy Belated Presidents' Day!<iframe frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10200694681876588" width="700"></iframe>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-89838652719007747662013-01-21T21:05:00.001-07:002013-01-21T21:05:04.988-07:00Back and ready to roll!It's been a crazy last half of 2012. Juggling two kids, making a last minute move to North Cal., and lastly pivoting our business Abacus Prodigy into an interactive app was no easy feat. I was definitely overwhelmed and keeping up with my dear Railroad Classrooms was the last thing on my mind. Moms who have more than two kids are my new heroines. How do they do it? With our move to North Cal., I had been researching preschools for my soon to be three-year-old. It is EXPENSIVE!!! Not wanting to plp down a four-digit amount each month for playtime and news of school shootings have given me new anxiety pangs! With that, I decided I will do my very own one-to-one preschool with him. I'm in the process of making a reward board and of course I have to think of a fun preschool name to make it more real to me. Every Thursday, I will post what I did and how my toddler liked/disliked it. If you guys have a cool name in mind, do leave it in the comments! I would also love to hear what you have done or are doing with your LO.<br />
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On a side note, this cute face just turned ONE!! How did that happened?<br />
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<br />TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-3269999345708832472012-05-18T13:25:00.000-06:002012-05-18T13:25:31.967-06:00Florida's FCAT results. Lowering standards instead of raising them?The state of Florida just released the results of the FCAT writing scores. Only 27% of fourth graders earned a passing score. The state commissioner is proposing to reduce the passing score from 4 (out of 6) to a 3.5 (out of 6). Lowering the standards to make it appear the students are doing better than they actually are. Is this the solution? I say no. Share your thoughts in the comments section.<br />
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<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/14/2799146/fcat-writing-scores-plummet.html">http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/14/2799146/fcat-writing-scores-plummet.html</a><br />
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Here's a YouTube video talking about this issue as well:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jwVEwLQxhAk?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-30306193862947198662012-04-26T10:02:00.000-06:002012-04-26T10:02:01.161-06:00Kid-friendly Way to Teach About LogicTeaching what logic is to an adult is complicated enough...much less to teach it to a child. Here are a few videos that cater to teaching about logic to children ages 8 and up. Have fun with it!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iSZ3BUru59A" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VRZk62QNOsM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K8SkCh-n4rw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vjaqM4yd_RA" width="560"></iframe>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-35408235739084372022012-04-24T10:00:00.000-06:002012-04-24T10:00:11.434-06:00Activity Book of the Day<img alt="Simple Steps" src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/simple-steps.jpg" /> <br />
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What can I say? Love the design...Love the teaching element...Love that it entertains a bored child...Love that it has stickers! You can't ever go wrong with stickers!TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-55226382325634615252012-04-20T10:47:00.000-06:002012-04-20T10:47:00.167-06:00Babba BoxI am a sucker for these cute monthly box of goodies subscriptions! <a href="http://www.babbaco.com/" target="_blank">Babba Box</a> is a:<br />
<ul><li><strong style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Monthly delivery of a theme-based box</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">with activities, knowledge, and experiences.</span></li>
<li><strong style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">All physical materials + know-how</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">content to engage your kid are included.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">Designed by our panel of experts to</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;"> </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #595a5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">encompass all the ways kids ages 3-6 love to learn.</strong></li>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N6a9xcYR_vU" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I'm definitely loving the idea. It can be quite a challenge to constantly think of new stuff to engage your little child in - in my case my ultra-active toddler! Some days I get so lazy that I just bundle the kids up in the car and head to the mall for a stroller walk! I know...bad mom!!! This would be so great to not have to think of new ideas and have everything ready. I especially love how it comes with a theme too. What a great learning tool!<br />
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Once again...not a sponsored post but Babba Co...I'm open to getting a free box anytime! lol...TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-71050554695558586702012-04-19T10:47:00.000-06:002012-04-19T10:47:02.386-06:00Fun Writing Tool<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </div><br />
<img alt="stationery studio writing collection heading image" src="http://www.fablevision.com/stationerystudio/images/ss_writing_collection_image.jpg" /> <br />
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<a href="http://shop.fablevisionlearning.com/stationery-studio-writing-collection-deluxe/learnmore/overview/fa/shop.detail/productid/2563/" target="_blank">Fablevision's Stationary Studio Writing</a> software is a pretty fun and unique way to encourage writing in your child. Not only does it include tools to teach them penmanship, it is filled with chockful of ideas to get the kids' creative juices going. It instigates their thinking abilities while letting them jot down their ideas and stories on fun stationary themed pages featuring the artwork of <a href="http://www.peterhreynolds.com/" target="_blank">Peter Reynolds</a>, one of the most beloved children's illustrator. What I like about the software program is that it doesn't just focus on story-type writing, but it allows the child to diversify by practicing writing reports and articles as well.<br />
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<img alt="Make Your Mark Peter H. Reynolds Award-winning author and illustrator of The North Star, The Dot, and Ish" src="http://www.peterhreynolds.com/phr_splashpage2/phr_splashpage2_01b.gif" /><br />
ps: This is NOT a sponsored post!TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-11023390476579930422012-04-02T10:18:00.000-06:002012-04-02T10:18:00.751-06:00Books! Books! Books!I've always loved books! I started reading at a very young age and haven't stopped since. I still prefer actual books to e-books. The smell of fresh crisp pages just gets to me every time. Plus I love feeling like a "yuppie" as I sip the cool, expensive hot cocoa as I read a book or magazine at the bookstore. Books keep me alive! As such, I love to BUY books! Yes...this habit has costs me a fortune. I especially love collecting children's books so thank goodness for TJ Maxx!!! I will have a real library in my house one day!! Check this room out...aren't you just drooling at the expansive collection of books? LOVE!<br />
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<img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/HUE_Library_RT1.jpg" />TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-18231848678196607612012-03-29T10:13:00.000-06:002012-03-29T10:13:01.096-06:00Action Pack<img src="http://whipup.net/wp-content/images/2012/02/MadScience.Issue_.COVER600px.jpg" /><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://whipup.net/shop/" target="_blank">Action Pack</a> is definitely a great magazine with chockful of fun science project ideas you can do together with your kids. Now that the warm weather is slowly creeping up, it's time to stock on ideas for the kids who want to spend all day outside! The best part? It's only $5.00!!! Here are some inside looks to this incredible magazine:</div><div><br />
</div><div><img src="http://whipup.net/wp-content/images/2012/02/Actionpack.MadScienceFIREWORKS600px.jpg" /> </div><div><img src="http://whipup.net/wp-content/images/2012/02/Actionpack.MadScienceINTRO600px.jpg" /> </div>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-51141583418000115932012-03-27T10:05:00.000-06:002012-03-27T10:05:00.331-06:00Your child can be a Philanthropist NOW! :)<img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Milk_Bookies.jpg" /> <br />
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This is WAY cool! It would be great to start preparing now so as to host a great summer activity for your kid(s): <a href="http://www.milkandbookies.org/" target="_blank">Milk + Bookies</a> -<br />
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<div class="first-child " style="background-color: #e2dfce; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 29px; padding-bottom: 16px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="cap" style="color: #ef4634; float: left; font-family: nevisBold, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 66px; line-height: 50px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;">M</span>ilk + Bookies<sup style="bottom: 2ex; font-family: nevisBold, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; height: 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">TM</sup> is a nationwide charitable organization that inspires children to give back, using books as its currency.</div><div class="mb_joblist" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #e2dfce; background-image: url(http://www.milkandbookies.org/wp-content/themes/MilkBookies/images/mb_checklist.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 20px; clear: both; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 20px;"><ul class="mb_joblist_ol" style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 30px; margin-right: 30px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">At Milk + Bookies<sup style="bottom: 2ex; font-family: nevisBold, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 6px; height: 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">TM</sup> events, boys and girls are provided the opportunity to select, purchase and inscribe books that are then donated to their peers who do not have access to books of their own. The fun-filled events feature music, story time and, of course, milk and cookies.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We facilitate these events creating more and more experiences for children to be exposed to giving. Please visit our host-your-own page to read about the <a href="http://www.milkandbookies.org/mb-class-project/" style="color: #ef4634; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0e7e99; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">M+B class project</span></a>, <a href="http://www.milkandbookies.org/mb-birthday-party/" style="color: #ef4634; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #0e7e99; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">M+B birthday party</span></a> and contact us for information on a <span style="color: #0e7e99; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">book fair</span> at your school.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Milk + Bookies<sup style="bottom: 2ex; font-family: nevisBold, Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 6px; height: 0px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">TM</sup> combines two essential and worthwhile efforts: <span style="color: #0e7e99; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">literacy promotion and service learning</span>. While the book donations are imperative to our mission, just as important is instilling the seed of giving into each host and their young guests, sparking feelings of importance, self-confidence and the desire to give and give again.</li>
</ul></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/f50XWgo8fTw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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This is such a great way to teach your kids about giving back. It seems especially important in today's society where kids seemed way more entitled. As much as secular education is important, I feel that this spirit of giving far surpasses any knowledge you can gift or teach your child. What other kinds of service activities do your children engage in?TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-55207907147040436282012-03-15T09:10:00.000-06:002012-03-15T09:10:00.104-06:00...and yet MORE educational toys!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mozartkugel Music Box - Birch" src="http://kidostore.com/images/uploads/Mozart_buche_frei_6x8.jpg" /> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Hidden inside this perfectly made, <a href="http://kidostore.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1295">solid wooden ball</a> is a mechanism that produces one of Mozart’s sweet melodies. Insert the elegantly shaped key, turn it and the chime will magically play whether the ball is rolling across the floor or standing on a table as an ornament.</span> </div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PlayShapes.jpg" /> <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">Let your imagination run wild and see what <a href="http://www.shhhop.com/">crazy characters</a> come to life when you play with the smooth, colourful shapes crafted from all natural, rubberwood. You can even use the pieces as drawing templates too.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><img src="http://www.nienhuis.com/images/detailed_images/3.015.01.jpg" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;">The <a href="http://www.nienhuis.com/individual-reading-material-1-2.html">Montessori Reading Boards</a> are an excellent way to explore the connection between spoken and written language. Children can start their reading practice with a parent or on their own by naming the pictures on these charming wooden cards.</span><br />
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<img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/14_Picture-Boards_2.jpg" /> <br />
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<img src="http://d1jqecz1iy566e.cloudfront.net/large/mag005.jpg" /> <br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For young minds, taking flat pieces and constructing 3-D objects with them is a new and exciting discovery. <a href="http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/magna_tiles/magna_tiles_dx_48_pc_set.cfm">Magna-Tiles</a> attract on all sides, even when flipped around. Children explore geometric shapes, symmetry, and other basic math concepts with these colorful pieces.</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykUYlSP5h6tGjqLEmUPa5RedDCAQzvehj8Ju0ULyp5ZJsDyLbRUuHTVIAGQtkVS38pvz2Qk-8w8pH0nbeW3_VEWu9DCDQj3oBuT7YSsDz7HZ_pDSt2qRoFrLXEi4M8eQ_l1jn7pWPBeDj/s1600/KIDF-900x610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykUYlSP5h6tGjqLEmUPa5RedDCAQzvehj8Ju0ULyp5ZJsDyLbRUuHTVIAGQtkVS38pvz2Qk-8w8pH0nbeW3_VEWu9DCDQj3oBuT7YSsDz7HZ_pDSt2qRoFrLXEi4M8eQ_l1jn7pWPBeDj/s640/KIDF-900x610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Part theatre, part brainteaser, this <a href="http://www.urbanbaby.com.au/epages/ecomm5000.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/UrbanBaby/Products/KIDF">intriguing game</a> will test your pre-schooler’s depth perception.</span> </div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-24292046042380131212012-03-13T08:45:00.001-06:002012-03-13T08:45:00.539-06:00Parenting Quiz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </div><br />
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This is pretty fun! Is your Parenting GPS working? <span style="background-color: white;"><span class="findout" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #df6626; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1305941229">Take the quiz and find out!</a></span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><a href="http://www.greatschools.org/quiz/" target="_blank"> </a>Research has shown that parents make a huge difference in their children's education. But what are the most important things to know and do? Take this quiz to test your knowledge and learn the latest in parenting science.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">On a side note, someone posted this picture on the website with a link called "Ductivities". I did not know this was possible! :)</span></span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhkBgPiTEb_vuBIqyYW5dqcLOo8ONs26IrMmZRjSzqHhSwyOImk94ihTBb1d4qg0TyZ8bPz4OCQC_UXwRZIVEkvlkRzj8HBXNvWQYI5m2TFKw2y9OCMmHfg-xUzhmhoi3sjhufg9LOU4/s1600/duct-tape-baby.jpg" /> <br />
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</span></span>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-36985058794617778402012-03-09T08:30:00.001-07:002012-03-09T08:30:02.836-07:00The Power of Video Games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://www.knowabouthealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Kids-Playing-Video-Games.jpg" /> </div><br />
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</div>I was reading an article the other day about video games and how educators can learn a thing or two from video games when it comes to teaching. Here's an excerpt from the article<a href="http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=B5A4243B-62ED-11E1-8D32000C296BA163" target="_blank"> "Games Help Kids Turn Failure into Learning"</a>:<div><blockquote class="tr_bq">One of the reasons video games are so compelling is that you fail a bunch of times before you "win." Without the struggle there's little satisfaction. You try, find out right away that you failed, adjust and repeat the process likely several more times. And when you finally figure it out, it feels pretty good. That’s because the <a href="http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=A9E9DABE-F419-11E0-B00E000C296BA163&aka=0" style="color: #0084b8; text-decoration: none;">brain’s</a> reward center provides a satisfying dopamine hit to help validate the effort. We could call this <a href="http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=CA44DA1E-FC09-11E0-B00E000C296BA163&aka=0" style="color: #0084b8; text-decoration: none;">failure-adjustment loop</a> “learning,” and fundamentally it's nothing new. Thoughtful (and not so thoughtful) trial-and-error is a tried and true mechanism for learning across the animal kingdom and always has been. Well-designed video games, though, provide a vehicle for really focusing and scaling <a href="http://www.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=A8DF23BA-37C0-11E1-B607000C296BA163&aka=0" style="color: #0084b8; text-decoration: none;">learning</a> through failure in lots of disciplines.</blockquote><div style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">As we are in development of creating games, albeit Math-related games, for Abacus Prodigy, we have to tread very carefully between having the child learn through wanting to challenge the game's difficulty level and wanting to get better scores to simply having fun. We all know how addictive gaming can be but I feel that gaming in the right environment can help trigger children to push themselves harder to do better without even realizing it. What are your thoughts on allowing children to play video games in the name of education?</div></div>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-7290678186583864512012-03-07T08:59:00.000-07:002012-03-07T08:59:00.570-07:00Spur Designs Latest Teaching App<img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/PrestoBingoSHAPES03.jpg" /> <br />
Spur Designs latest app - <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prestobingo-shapes/id494347130?mt=8">PrestoBingo Shapes</a> is quite the find at just $1.99 for the whole app. It should keep the LO busy. I love how technologically advanced kids are nowadays! It certainly is a much different world from the one I grew up in - namely DOS computers and pixelated graphics! Ahh....the good old days.<br />
<img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/PrestoBingoSHAPES02.jpg" /> <br />
<img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/PrestoBingoSHAPES04.jpg" />TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-44179901861085844472012-03-05T08:55:00.000-07:002012-03-05T08:55:00.243-07:00Development Toys<img alt="Dwell Studio Zoo Shape Sorter" src="http://www.kidostore.com/images/uploads/Dwell-Zoo-Shape-Sorter-1-310W.jpg" /><img alt="Dwell Studio Zoo Shape Sorter" src="http://www.kidostore.com/images/uploads/Dwell-Zoo-Shape-Sorter-3-310W.jpg" /> <br />
<a href="http://www.kidostore.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=4121">These</a> are so unique! I have to get them! What a great way to teach colors and animals with the little one. I love how simplistic and beautiful it is. I think we have too many plastic toys cluttered in our family room! :)TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-46419881156280608732012-03-01T20:51:00.000-07:002012-03-01T20:51:28.359-07:00Teaching Numbers with a Splash of Design!<img alt="Paul’s Numbers" src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Paul-Thurby_Numbers_1.jpg" /> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I absolutely LOVE <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.paulthurlby.com/shop/prints/">Paul Thurlby’s</a> </span>numbers set!!! Want it...nay...Need it!</div><img src="http://www.lmnop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Paul-Thurby_Numbers_2.jpg" />TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-81711202630121166752012-02-20T10:00:00.001-07:002012-02-20T10:00:01.890-07:002012 is going to be a GREAT year!<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </div><br />
We've been gone and we know it and we hate it!!! Truth is I had a very crazy past 2-3 months. Lots have happened for our business and on top of that I had a baby girl - Capri! We'll be back posting twice a week and slowly build up from there!! Capri and Inception Learning have been keeping us busy and exhausted with sudden rushes of adrenaline all at the same time. I'm not sure how that works exactly! :) Our two-year-old also seems to have a sudden spurt in energy now that his sister is here!!! I wonder why that is so???!!! Here's a short update:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTypbPfC8hrWklt1O2NcYZ69FWwJrxiqKaWbpDens1VtA6oB8osKfpkr5VyAxoot4PA8Um2RUJtXRAkJlFFZGMmrncy27ECxEn79RRP9Ud_uUyt9rbbLv_6Ij8EENwg4pPDrf1Q3r3iML/s1600/IMG_1233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTypbPfC8hrWklt1O2NcYZ69FWwJrxiqKaWbpDens1VtA6oB8osKfpkr5VyAxoot4PA8Um2RUJtXRAkJlFFZGMmrncy27ECxEn79RRP9Ud_uUyt9rbbLv_6Ij8EENwg4pPDrf1Q3r3iML/s640/IMG_1233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talon and Baby Girl Capri!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://groventia.com/wp-content/themes/groventia/images/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://groventia.com/wp-content/themes/groventia/images/logo.jpg" /></a>Inception Learning hit a few delays due to technical difficulties in engineering our Soropad prototype. It should be ready in a week and I will post about it. It looks so chic and modern by the way. The last few months have been about getting funding and am I so excited to announce that we got our first round of funding. We partnered with Groventia and I am so glad they are the ones we are partnering with. We felt so comfortable speaking with the board and we LOVE LOVE LOVE their founder - Kim! I feel like we will hit big strides with them as we are on the same page and passion on revolutionizing the education system! We will also be launching a Kickstarter campaign end of March so do watch out for that! Lots and lots are happening this 2012 so I will promise to update all of you on the growth and launch of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inception-Learning/128128180594552">Inception Learning</a> and our product <a href="http://www.abacusprodigy.com/">Abacus Prodigy</a>! I must say it hasn't been the easiest road starting a new business and I get why not everyone is made out to be an entrepreneur. It takes a lot of passion, time and energy to make it happen. That being said, we feel SO good about 2012 and are just enjoying every moment! Thanks for keeping up with us and being patient amidst our absence!!!TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-62750395713667285682011-12-02T07:49:00.001-07:002011-12-02T07:49:47.208-07:00Creative Play SpacesI am such a sucker for pretend play or any play that uses the imagination of kids. As much as we need to start teaching and building the basics in our kids from an early age, it is just as important for them to still be a child and allow their imagination to roam free. Plus, "owning" a cafe might be a great and sneaky way to teach your kids about "money" and "business".<br />
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Check out these cardboard "playhouses". I love the idea and I love that you can put it away when you need to!! Although it looks so chic and cute, you might not want to put it away. It's from <a href="http://www.littleplayspaces.com/home.html">Little Play Spaces</a>, costs $79 each and shipping is only $10. This would be a fun Christmas gift!<br />
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<img alt="photo of girls in cafe" height="438" src="http://www.littleplayspaces.com/Photos%20and%20Images/Full-1-Small.jpg" width="640" />TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-25970844333120571802011-11-17T07:58:00.001-07:002011-11-17T07:59:11.188-07:00Article: Forget Wall Street. Go Occupy Your Local School District!<div class="entry-top" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(224, 224, 224); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="entry-top-inside" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="avatar-frame time-100-frame-lg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://timeopinions.wordpress.com/contributors/andrew-j-rotherham/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
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<h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: none; font-size: 35px; font-weight: normal; font: normal normal normal 22px/normal Georgia; line-height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://ideas.time.com/2011/11/17/forget-wall-street-go-occupy-your-local-school-district/">Forget Wall Street. Go Occupy Your Local School District</a></h1><div class="entry-deck" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font: italic normal normal 16px/140% Georgia; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our nation's schools are a larger cause of economic inequality than investment banks and CEOs</div><div class="entry-meta entry-author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 13px; font: normal normal bold 11px/normal Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By </span><span class="author vcard" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://timeopinions.wordpress.com/contributors/andrew-j-rotherham/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts by Andrew J. Rotherham">ANDREW J. ROTHERHAM</a></span><span class="meta-sep meta-sep-twitter" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #e0e0e0; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span><a class="author-twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/arotherham" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; 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background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><abbr class="published" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; cursor: text; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2011-11-17T05:00:23-0500">November 17, 2011</abbr></span><span class="meta-sep" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #e0e0e0; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> | </span></div><div class="entry-meta entry-author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; 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</span></div><div class="entry-meta entry-author" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal bold 11px/normal Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
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<div class="entry-thumb entry-thumb-article-medium" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 360px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="entry-thumb-meta" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="entry-thumb-credit" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #4c4c4c; font-size: 9px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">OLIVER BEVAN / GETTY IMAGES</div></div></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s easy to get angry at banks and CEOs, especially as more Americans slip below the poverty line while the rich keep getting richer. But if the goal of Occupy Wall Street is improving social mobility in this country, then the movement really needs to focus as much on educational inequality as it does on income inequality. There is perhaps no better example of how the system is rigged against millions of Americans than the education our children receive.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MORE:</strong> <a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2019663_2020590_2020592,00.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What Makes a School Great</a>)</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Public schools are obviously not to blame for the mortgage crisis, over-leveraged investment banks or the other triggers of our current economic woes. But when it comes to giving Americans equal opportunity, our schools are demonstrably failing at their task. Today zip codes remain a better predictor of school quality and subsequent opportunities than smarts or hard work. When you think about it, that’s a lot more offensive to our values than a lightly regulated banking system.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What do I mean by educational inequality? We’re all familiar with achievement gaps between white kids and minorities. But here’s the income-based gap: just 8% of low-income students get a college-degree by the time they are 24 while three-quarters of affluent students do. This has little to do with corporations, hedge funds or any of the other villains du jour. But make no mistake, outcomes like this kill economic mobility in this country.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So why are our schools, which should be an engine of opportunity, barely sputtering along?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Depending whom you ask, you’ll hear that the problem is too little money. Or it’s too much money and too little performance. Or poverty. Or lack of standards. Or lousy curriculum. Or teacher effectiveness. Or archaic rules and regulations. Or lack of innovation. Or lack of choice. Or too much power in the hands of the teachers unions. Or too little power in the hands of teachers.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In fact, in different places around the country, it’s all those things and others. But our <a href="http://ideas.time.com/2011/11/07/our-paleolithic-elections/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">tribal politics</a> leave no room for that sort of nuance. Meanwhile, our politicians are too skittish to take on special interests or too wrapped up in ideology to acknowledge that no single solution — for instance, school choice, ending the federal role in education or just addressing poverty — will fix our education system.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MORE</strong>: <a href="http://ideas.time.com/2011/10/27/whos-minding-the-gap/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Who's Minding the Gap?">Who’s Minding the Gap?</a>)</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So rather than taking aggressive steps to create fairer funding systems for schools to give poor kids a shot, to weed out bad teachers, or jettison policies that have clearly outlived their usefulness, we have phony wars about teacher pay or No Child Left Behind that dance around the real issues. Just this week a new report about New York highlighted how the state’s budget cuts will hit low-income schools almost three times as hard (losing $843 per pupil) as the wealthiest districts (which will lose just $269 per pupil). And earlier this month the Chicago<em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Tribune</em> highlighted how the poorest school districts in Illinois spend just 30% of what the most affluent ones do. Many localities, including really poor ones, are still left to come up with much of the funding for their schools; in other places the unfairness is due in part to state funding formulas that actually favor affluent communities over low-income ones. Occupy that.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As people across the country struggle to find jobs in this economy, consider how public schools factor into unemployment rates in two states. In September, unemployment in Michigan was 11.1%, the third highest in the nation. In Massachusetts it was 7.3%, below the national average of 9.1%. Those two states have both experienced substantial disruption to their economies. Massachusetts watched textiles and industry move south, and in Michigan the automobile industry has contracted. But the superior public schools in Massachusetts, which outpaces Michigan on a variety of measures, have no doubt been a key factor in that state’s ability to attract technology companies and other new industries. Good public schools not only create a competitive workforce, they create the kinds of communities where people will relocate to work and where entrepreneurs can launch businesses.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A sad irony of Occupy Wall Street is that the movement is being embraced by the teachers’ union. The unions are hardly the only cause of our educational problems, but they’re not doing enough to fix them. In ways large and small, they defend practices and policies — things like how teacher pay is factored into the amount of money that is allotted to individual schools — that disadvantage low-income students. Can the Occupy movement square this circle? We’ll see.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(<strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MORE</strong>: <a href="http://ideas.time.com/2011/11/10/how-should-we-pay-teachers/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="How Should We Pay Teachers?">How Should We Pay Teachers?</a>)</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In any event, here’s my humble suggestion to all the protesters who are getting kicked out of Zuccotti Park and other places across the country: take your posters and your outrage and go occupy the central office of your local school districts and its teachers’ union headquarters. Then demand the kind of radical change we need to create a school system that lives up to our values rather than mocking them. Our schools are a more sympathetic target than corporate CEOs, but for many Americans they are a larger cause of economic injustice.</div><div class="sharedaddy" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px 0px !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px 0px !important; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-left-radius: 0px 0px !important; border-top-right-radius: 0px 0px !important; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"></div><div class="guest-bio" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; font: italic normal normal 14px/19px georgia; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rotherham, a co-founder and partner at the nonprofit Bellwether Education, writes the blog <a href="http://www.eduwonk.com/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #cc0000; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eduwonk</a>. The views expressed are his own.</div></div><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Read more: <a href="http://ideas.time.com/2011/11/17/forget-wall-street-go-occupy-your-local-school-district/#ixzz1dyV0kJxG" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003399; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://ideas.time.com/2011/11/17/forget-wall-street-go-occupy-your-local-school-district/#ixzz1dyV0kJxG</a></span>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-15450949664496130532011-11-11T08:14:00.001-07:002011-11-11T08:15:35.864-07:00Early Childhood Education - How much time to spend on it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://stoptoddlertantrums.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/happy-learning-toddlers.jpg" /></div></div>I think the questions most parents struggle with are "When do I start sending my kid to school?" and "When do I start teaching my child?" Personally, I wouldn't be sending my child to preschool until he is 4. To be honest, sending him at 4 is really more for the social aspect than it is for the learning. I feel most of the learning can easily be taught at home. The important thing to remember is to keep learning FUN for kids at such young ages. My little boy is definitely not one who will sit still and listen to mom or dad lecture on about learning which makes me mentally start preparing to be extra creative when he's truly ready to learn more. You can always teach your child/baby at any age; however, true collective learning will probably start once your child can communicate well with you. When that happens, start with learning and recognizing numbers, counting numbers, phonics (individual letter sounds - not words), colors, shapes, and more of the basics. Most preschools charge a fee to have your child there and most schools require your child to be potty-trained. If a social aspect is what you're seeking for, join a local play group or start your own. Some churches have a childrens' class on Sundays. My 21-month-old goes to "nursery" class at church for 2 hours each Sunday and he loves playing with the toys and kids there. You can even start your very own mini-preschool with friends at your homes. Take turns being the "teacher". At such young ages, it is great to not only learn the fundamentals needed for kindergarten and elementary school, but it is a great time to learn music and the arts. Allow your little one to immerse in creativity. For ages baby-4, I would rather spend my extra cash on sending them to music, tumbling, or art classes!<br />
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So how long should you spend teaching your child everyday? Honestly, every child is different. Some kids can sit for hours at 2 years old while others can only do 5-10 mins sessions at a time. Go with your child's personality! When your kid starts fussing, whining, acting out, or even crying, that's when you definitely know enough is enough. That being said, it is always good to have time structure at home. Dedicate a specific time each day to teaching and learning with your child. He/she loves structure and will soon get used to the routine. Please please do not push your child so hard, they end up crying. They are young enough that if they are a little slower at learning, it does not matter as much. You just need to keep teaching the same thing in different and creative ways until your child gets the concept. Encourage them with reward charts, stickers, or treats. Kids respond well to positive reinforcements!!! Remember, learning needs to be FUN! This way, your child will gain an appreciation and hunger for learning. That being said, you don't have to dress as Barney every time to teach (but hey...if it works...let me know). "FUN" means the child is having a positive and good time learning and looks forward to your one-to-one learning sessions each day!<br />
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Please do share what you do with your children and how you get them to be interested in learning. Will love to hear all your stories...good and bad! :)TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-64944879658266418412011-11-05T11:00:00.001-06:002011-11-05T11:00:04.246-06:00Early Childhood Education<div class="title" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 90px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="title_and_image" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 480px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 40px;">The link: </span></span><a href="http://www.good.is/post/kindergarten-teachers-say-students-are-behind-on-day-one/">http://www.good.is/post/kindergarten-teachers-say-students-are-behind-on-day-one/</a></div><div class="title_and_image" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 480px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 40px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="title_and_image" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 480px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 40px;">The Article:</span></span><br />
<h1 style="display: inline; float: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 40px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 7px; width: 474px;">Kindergarten Teachers Say Students Are Behind on Day One<br />
.</h1></div></div><div class="post" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="info" id="post_61415_info" style="display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 14px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 150px;"><ul class="authors" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; font-size: 10px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 14px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 14px;"><li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.good.is/community/LizDwyer" rel="author" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;"><img alt="Liz Dwyer" src="http://pre.cloudfront.goodinc.com/users/small-1265739779-profile.pic.jpg" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a><a href="http://www.good.is/community/LizDwyer" rel="author" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;">LIZ DWYER</a><br />
<span class="occupation" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: italic;">Education Editor</span></li>
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<li class="date-time" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.496094); color: #999999; display: inline; float: left; font-size: 10px; height: 20px; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 2px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="date" style="color: black; padding-right: 4.667px;">November 4, 2011</span> • <span class="time" style="color: black; padding-left: 4.667px;">5:30 am PDT</span></li>
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According to a new survey presented at the annual conference for the<a href="http://www.naeyc.org/" style="color: black; cursor: pointer;">National Association for the Education of Young Children</a> yesterday, two-thirds of kindergarten teachers say the majority of their students start school without knowing basic preschool concepts like the alphabet. At a time when closing the achievement gap is a national imperative for our nation, veteran kindergarten teachers say students are less prepared for school than ever before.</div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just 6 percent of kindergarten teachers say that students are very well prepared academically when they enter the classroom. Students come in lacking the ability to hold a pencil or write their name. Fewer than 9 percent of teachers rated incoming student's oral language skills as very good. Given that the size of a student's vocabulary is an indication of how well they'll do academically for the rest of their lives, that doesn't bode well for ensuring students are on the track toward college or careers.</div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The problem, of course, is that despite universal acknowledgement of the <a href="http://www.good.is/post/why-early-childhood-education-matters/" style="color: black; cursor: pointer;">importance of early childhood education</a>—and President Obama's support of such initiatives—too few students attend high-quality preschool programs that teach them the basics. Funding for preschool programs has been cut in state after state, and more cuts are on the way. Sure, every parent should spend time reading with her child, practicing the alphabet, and counting to 10, but that doesn't always happen. Even parents who have gone to college are busy working long hours and don't always take the time to read with their kids. Wealthier families have a huge advantage because they can compensate by paying for private preschools.</div><div style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">That's a real shame. If every student had access to early childhood education, they'd all start kindergarten at the same place, essentially cutting off the creation of the achievement gap. Until that happens, we shouldn't be surprised when kindergarten teachers say students aren't ready to learn.</div></div></div></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">The sad part is reading the comments readers were making on Facebook. The majority of the comments were parents saying that the teachers should be the ones teaching the kids, NOT the parents. It's no wonder our country is falling behind other countries. Parents need to take more responsibility and teach their own children!!! This makes me sad and mad at the same time!!! Thoughts?</span>TChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06362275912140554389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-828812200431891314.post-33719983684987573202011-11-04T08:24:00.000-06:002011-11-04T08:24:12.002-06:00An interesting look at Shanghai's school system!<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=10,0,0,0" height="245" id="msnbc19673b" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" /><param name="FlashVars" value="launch=45141356&width=420&height=245" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed name="msnbc19673b" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640" width="420" height="245" FlashVars="launch=45141356&width=420&height=245" allowscriptaccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br />
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