Spring Break Alternatives

I just returned from a brief trip to famed South Beach in Miami Beach. The traffic was impossible. The neighborhood was jammed with men and bikini clad college women who had just recently invaded the town for the annual rite known as “Spring Break.” Frankly with the enomoiny in its current state, I did not expect such a large turnout this year. While I know that many of the participants w will have an enjoyable week in the sun before they have to return to their studies, I thought that there might be a more productive way to spend the week. It just so happens that there is. It is known as “alternative Spring Break”. Students get an opportunity to go to another country for a week and volunteer their assistance to the community.

The University of New Mexico’s Continuing Education division has activity programs for children ages 6-12. There is a Lego camp, as well as other opportunities for arts and crafts activities. There is also a teen job boot camp to help students gain an advantage in applying for summer employment. There are also opportunities for aspiring writers and astronomers.

There are several other organizations that are worthwhile to investigate. Projects Abroad, United Planet and ELAP provide opportunities for students to aid in under developed nations. Students can choose to work in Costa Rica or Guatemala for example.

Projects Abroad (http://www.projects-abroad.org/) offers opportunities for internships as well as volunteer projects. The organization has placed students in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The organization has an average placement of 8000 participants a year and been actively engaged in these projects since 1992.  For more information you may access their web site or contact them at 347 West 36th Street, Suite 903, New York NY 10018. To phone-    US Toll-free: 1 888 839 3535.   

Another such organizations is United Planet whose mission statement include the following “As an international non-profit organization, United Planet strives to create a world in which all people understand, respect, and support one another. United Planet's global network of leaders and volunteers fosters cross-cultural understanding and addresses shared challenges to unite the world in a community beyond borders.” For more information about United Planet please go to http://www.unitedplanet.org/. Participation can be from as little as one week to an entire year.  Program costs start at $995.

ELAP – Experimental Learning Abroad Programs (http://www.myelap.com/). This organization offers individual as well as group placements in a number of countries but primarily focuses on central and South America. Opportunities are available for people with interest in business, health, education, and conservation.

The point is that spring break need not be your parents’ notion of what spring break was. (If you are a nostalgia buff, rent the movie “Where the Boys Are” with George Hamilton) You have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people all around the world. You can work on your tan this summer.

Become a part of the solution.

Grading Student Work- Does Spelling (still) Count?

 Having come most recently from the academic realm of the college classroom, the fundamentals of grading are relatively simple. On the first day of class, the professor provides the students with a syllabus, indicating what the course expectations are as well as what the assessment will be. With the exception perhaps of English literature where there is a great deal of essay writing, the grading parameters are well identified in advance.

This is definitely not the case in the public school classroom – especially in the elementary and middle school grades. Teacher assessment of student progress can be more subjective. Does neatness count? What about spelling? Should a student’s work habits be a part of the grade? Then there is the issue of homework. What percentage of a student’s grade should completion of homework be? Should a student be allowed to retake a test if he or she performs poorly the first time around? These are all questions that classroom teachers have to deal with on a regular basis. Parents are challenging grading procedures especially if it can impact placement in advanced classes or at the the high school level, have an impact on athletic eligibility,  class ranking, or college acceptance.

Across the country there is a movement, albeit a slow one, toward mastery grading. That is, a student’s grade is solely based upon his or her academic performance.

A number of school districts around the country are moving toward a system known as mastery grading. This standards based system identifies specifically what is to be taught and how the teacher will determine subject mastery. Since students learn at different rates and by a variety of teaching methods, it is acceptable to hake a student take a test more than once if more time is needed to attain the designated mastery level.

Rick Wormeli author of, "Fair Isn't Always Equal,” is a proponent of this grading policy. This system of grading uses M for mastery, demonstrating that a student has mastered the standard by showing accuracy 80 percent of the time. If a student is not quite showing mastery, he is progressing and is given a score of P. If a student exceeds mastery of the standard she can receive an E. If a student is failing to progress toward mastery, he receives an LP grade. The goal is a report card or progress report containing all M grades, meaning the student has mastered all the standards for his level.

For more information:http://www.ehow.com/about_5372186_types-grading-systems.html#ixzz1oMwt6jCI

 Check list for grading policy:

ü  Determine the objectives to be taught.

ü  Choose a means of assessing student achievement.

ü  Develop lessons that will help students achieve the goal of mastery.

ü  Devise alternate means of assessment for student who have different learning styles.

ü  Self evaluation/ Did students master subject based on how you taught?

March is Women's History Month

Women’s History Month

In case you may have forgotten, March is National Women’s history month. For the classroom teacher there are ample opportunities at most grade levels to engage in a discussion of the role of women in the history of the United States. To that end there are also numerous web sites that will provide materials and suggestions for providing teachable moments for our children.

A wonderful site for elementary children is sponsored by Crayola. http://www.crayola.com/calendar/detail.cfm?event_id=215&year=2012#coloring. Here you will find coloring pages, craft ideas and lesson plans. For example there is a page of Queen Elizabeth II for students to color. You can tie that in with her Jubilee this year.

The National Women’s History Project has given a theme for this year’s activities.  It is “Women’s Education- Women’s Empowerment”. You can obtain a great deal about the work of this organization who material is more suitable for high school students, from http://www.nwhp.org/whm/index.php.

 One of this year’s honorees is Annie Sullivan, the brace and dedicated woman who taught Helen Keller. There are lots of opportunities for discussion about her and other prominent women on our history, many who do not get much attention in a classroom setting.

Even the United States Census Bureau has a site with facts and figures about women in this country. Topics such as earnings education and motherhood are discussed. According to the latest census fugues there are 157 million women in the United States, larger than the male population. There re over 200,000 women currently serving in the military. You can access this site by going to: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff05.html.

There is a National Women’s Hall of Fame located in Seneca Fall, New York. On their web site http://www.greatwomen.org/. This is a great site to navigate to see who has been elected to the Hall and what their accomplishments were. You will find Abigail Adams, Hillary Clinton, Lucille Ball, as well as Harriet Tubman and Ida Tarbell. This is an excellent resource.

Lesson Idea!

For many years the United States Postal Services has honored great American women by issuing commemorative postage stamps honoring their accomplishments. The efforts of American women in medicine, art, literature, music, and public service have all been acknowledged. You can ask your students to bring in stamps honoring women and share with the class what their achievements were. You can have your students create Women in American History stamp album.  Have the students make a poster with information about American women’s contribution to society.

Chinese Come to the US for Better Education

A news article appeared in the Wall Street Journal recently about the growing number of Chinese millionaires who are moving out of China and into Europe and to the United States. When citing reasons for leaving, one businessman said that in addition to protecting his hard earned assets, he wanted a better education for his children. Another individual when interviewed noted that he wanted  his son to “learn to speak English and to think more freely.”(Wall Street Journal February 22, 2012, page 1).

What is noteworthy about all of this is that their desire to immigrate to the US and have their children educated here come at a time when our education system is in turmoil. Consider these points.

·         Because of the economy, many states have had to cut back on education spending, laying off hundreds of teachers, ordering fewer new and up to date textbooks and computers and taking fewer or no field trips.

·         The Obama administration is now allowing states to opt out of No Child Left Behind Law, basically admitting that the law has been a failure and that students will not be able to meet the proficiency levels that were mandated to be accomplished by 2014. To date 10 states have already opted out of the law’s provisions with other states lining up to follow suit.

·         A number of states, Wisconsin in particular, have sought to wage war against teachers and other public employees by gutting collective bargaining and tenure laws. It should be noted that there is an upcoming recall election for the governor Wisconsin largely because of this issue.

The number of Chinese students who have come to the US to attend American colleges and universities has been growing consistently over the years and now even our beleaguered public education system appears to be looking good to them.

A number of years ago, award winning author and historian David McCullough observed that if all of the borders between all nations were open and people were free to go wherever they pleased, most would choose to come to the United States even with all of its shortcomings.

Lest we let all of this go to our heads, American public education is far from perfect and is in dire need of renovation on multiple levels, from curriculum to technology to teacher preparation. Of great importance is that fact that we cannot afford to politicize public education in this country. The education of our children and grandchildren is the bedrock upon which the future of America as a nation will be based.  Fail them and we fail ourselves as well as future generations of Americans.

Get Ready for Read Across America

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child."

Recently, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow got together with a group of children from the Boys and Girls Club in Los Angeles. He was participating in “America’s Greatest Storytime” where he read the Dr. Seuss classic, “Green Eggs and Ham” to the youngsters. The reading was broadcast over the Internet as part of the BOOK IT ! reading program sponsored by Pizza Hut.

In Naples, Florida, former governor Jeb Bush and his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush hosted a literacy/ fundraising conference focusing on the importance of reading. These events and numerous others, lead up to March 2, 2012 which will mark the 16^th annual Read Across America Day. The program is sponsored and supported by the National Education Association (NEA) and commemorates the birthday of Dr. Seuss . Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers will participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books.

This is an ideal teachable moment for classroom teachers as well as parents. There are numerous web sites  just brimming with ideas and links for student activities. One such site that I highly recommend is First Book. If you teach in a community where at least 70 percent of the children in your program come from low-income families, they can help. Access this site at http://www.firstbook.org/

First Book’s available resources can

• Elevate the quality of literacy programs.
• Register Now Enrich the learning experience for children in need.
• Enable teachers to create new curricula.
• Impart a love of reading to children.

If your School is eligible for participation they will receive:

• First Book Marketplace offering new books at 50 to 90 percent off retail prices
• First Book National Book Bank offering free books (pay only for shipping typically at 35 cents a book)
• Book grants through First Book’s local Advisory Boards

Another wonderful source is Read, Write, Think sponsored by the International Reading Association. Here you will find lesson plans, student activities as well as printable worksheets. Go to  http://www.readwritethink.org/

As always your input and comments are welcome. Please  let us know if you  have had success with some  you own projects.

Hunting for Book Treasures

The other day I was in a consignment shop strolling down the aisles, browsing at knick knacks that other folks have cast away.  However I am always drawn to the book section.  I enjoy looking at what authors are prevalent and what types of books people are willing to part with.  Sometimes you can find a bargain, but most often I find out of date atlases and travel books as well as well read paperbacks by John Grisham and the like. Over the years I have come across items that are valuable to me but not necessarily valuable. One of my favorite finds was a copy of my second grade reading book, a part of the Scott Foresman” Dick and Jane” series. I have shared it with the reading certification program class at a state university as an example of how students used to be taught how to read. Other finds include part of a series of the works of Mark Twain (incidentally, my favorite American author), and a two volume set about the history of the White House.

I encourage teachers to visit used books stores, yard sales, flea markets, and library sales to search for low cost treasures that can be useful in the classroom. You may find workbooks, reference books, picture books and even old magazines that can be cut up and used for scrapbooks, posters and such.

A number of years ago, I rescued a set of middle school mathematics books from a school dumpster and found a school in another state who desperately needed them. I paid for the shipping and was pleased to know that the books had a second life.

Take the opportunity to be creative and resourceful. You never know what positive and long reaching impact you will have on your students. And it just might from something that you picked up at a yard sale that ignites the spark of curiosity in your students. Happy hunting!

Combating Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC)  childhood obesity in the United States has tripled during the past m30 years.  The percentage of children aged 6-11 in the US who are obese increased from 7% in 1980 to almost 20% in 2008 (statistics from CDC). Obesity is defined as having excess body fat and is usually caused by a caloric imbalance.

The resulting effects of juvenile obesity are staggering. Children who are overweight have an increased risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and bone and joint problems. Obesity can also lead to social and psychological problems as well.

What is it that teachers can do to encourage student to eat well and exercise and choose a healthy lifestyle ? There are numerous opportunities for lessons to help students get the message. The program Let’s Move is supported by First Lady Michelle Obama and is designed to promote physical activity for children. The web site provides tips on nutrition as well as physical activity and exercise.  You can find the site at http://www.letsmove.gov/. Currently there is White House Task Force investigating childhood obesity in this country.

The National Football League launched a program in 2007 called “Play 60.” It encourages students to engage in 60 minutes of play (physical activity) every day. More information about Play 60 can be obtained from their web site http://www.nfl.com/play60. There are separate links for adults and children. Activities include games contest and videos.  The NFL has invested over $200 million into the program to date.

As a result of a Jim Lehrer special PBS, there is a web site with 15 weeks of specific lesson plans to assist teachers in providing students with information  for making healthy lifestyle choices. Funding for this project  came in part from the Met Life Foundation.  Access this site at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/lessonplans/health/fitness/fitforlife.html

Many colleges and universities that have health and exercise science programs or family and consumer science programs can provide teachers with a wealth of information about healthy diet and physical exercise. As an example  here is a site from Purdue University. http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/CFS/CFS-736-W.pdf  

Let’s strive to make 2012 a healthy year for all of us- students and teachers.

As always your comments and suggestions are welcome.