CREATIVE PLAY

I attended a conference on Autism a short time ago; everything I read about Autism and how to work with child, goes true for any child. Along with the inability to recognize letters, numbers; many times, spell their name; colors; shapes; the biggest thing kids do not have when entering school (pre-K pr Kindergarten) is the lack of creativity. They don't know how to just PLAY!

Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control

by Alix Spiegel

Morning Edition, February 28, 2008 · It's playtime at the Geraldyn O. Foster Early Childhood Center in Bridgeton, N.J., and in one corner of a busy classroom, 4-year-olds Zee Logan and Emmy Hernandez want to play bookstore.

In a normal preschool, playing bookstore would be a pretty casual affair. They would just pick up some books, set the shiny toy cash register on the table by the blackboard, and get down to business.

But this isn't a normal school. It's based on the Tools of the Mind program. In other words, it's a school where almost every moment of the day is devoted in some way to teaching the kids — mostly low-income children who live in the poor surrounding community — how to regulate their behavior and emotions.

So before Emmy and Zee even think about picking up a toy, they sit down with their teacher at a small classroom table and fill out some paperwork.

That's right. Paperwork.

Transformation in Play

Now, the reason that the Tools of the Mind curriculum asks kids like Zee and Emmy to fill out paperwork before they pick up the Play-Doh lies in the fact that today's play is very different from the play of past eras.

Losing Skills

Unfortunately, play has changed dramatically during the past half-century, and according to many psychological researchers, the play that kids engage in today does not help them build executive function skills. Kids spend more time in front of televisions and video games. When they aren't in front of a screen, they often spend their time in leagues and lessons — activities parents invest in because they believe that they will help their children to excel and achieve.

The Freeze Connection

Children walk in the door and are asked the question of the week: a practice intended to work on deliberate memory. This work is followed by a highly modified version of a musical game that might otherwise be familiar to parents of preschool children: Freeze.

In a normal game of Freeze, music plays and children dance and jiggle until the music abruptly cuts off and the children freeze in place. But in the Tools version, as the music plays, the teacher holds a picture of a stick figure in a certain pose above her head. The children are supposed to observe the position of the figure without doing it, and when the music ceases, they assume that position and that position only.

Thinking Ahead

According to executive function researcher Adele Diamond, all of these little exercises genuinely do improve the ability of children to control themselves. Diamond, professor of developmental cognitive neuroscience at the University of British Columbia, recalls the very first time she ever set foot in a Tools of the Mind classroom.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76838288

Little Man A's mom is good at creative play...I hope Pop-Pop and I can keep up with her creativity with him while she and hubby enjoy there away time!

Quotes about the Profession of Teaching

As the education system in the Untied States lurks in the hands of our government, we (teachers) are all wondering if we will have a classroom to teach in next fall (2008). It is sad to think that the government could not find other places to cut cost...like from the top! Now I know for a fact that there is a lot of miss spending in district across the country; however, when the budget is looked at to slim the spending, it is always the teachers! Why doesn't Exxon donate to the education system, they already have 250 billion dollars of ours from inflated gas priced!

Here is what some great people think of teachers!

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. ~Lily Tomlin as "Edith Ann"
The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth." ~Dan Rather

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years. ~Jacques Barzun

Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions. ~Author Unknown

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job. ~Donald D. Quinn

Modern cynics and skeptics... see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing. ~John F. Kennedy

Teacher praised for classroom activities.

The Opening Bell	Prepared exclusively for members of	In affiliation with
Today's News for the National Education Association from Newspapers, TV, Radio and the Journals

Teacher praised for classroom activities.

USA Today (2/25, 11D, Elias) reports on Gregory Fisher, an economics and American government teacher at the California Academy of Math and Science, a magnet school where many students "are the children of Asian or Hispanic immigrants. The mission of the academy, nestled on the campus at California State University, is to draw more minorities and women into math and science careers." While "Fisher's students read the usual textbooks and take frequent tests," they are also given, for example, "a simple bracelet-making experiment [which] revealed how tying pay to productivity can boost performance, but a pay structure keyed to quotas can lead workers to produce less." He is also praised for his use of humor and because he "taps into students' creativity as a way to keep them engaged."

I know I comment on articles from the Opening Bell - but I have met some of the students from this school! they are amazing! This group of students formed, "Midnight Mechanics" a Robotics club. They have come to some of our meeting to mentor our students (we are a Rookie team this year).

These students started Team 812 about 6 years ago, with very little adult guidance. Students hold meetings, raise funds, write grants, and build the robot.

Check them out!

http://www.midnightmechanics.org/

The first FIRST Robotics team in San Diego, CA, Team 812 began in the fall of 2001 at The Preuss School UCSD. With the support of UCSD, The Preuss Foundation, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Team 812 embarked upon its first year of competition. Without the aid of a machine shop, the team struggled to build a robot strong enough to withstand the rigors of the 2002 FIRST Competition. Team 812 persisted and in the end were able to produce a great rookie robot, "WAH-HEE-SAH". Though final standings were low at the competition in Los Angeles, Team 812 won the All-Star Rookie Award for its outstanding achievements as a first year team. Team 812 members also chose the name, "The Midnight Mechanics", this first year. The team name came from Team 812's inclination for staying at school till wee hours of the night, working on the robot.

I am very proud to promote this team of aspiring students!

California dropout report targets non-traditional schools.

The Opening Bell	Prepared exclusively for members of	In affiliation with
Today's News for the National Education Association from Newspapers, TV, Radio and the Journals

The Sacramento Bee (2/24, A4, Minugh) reports that the California Dropout Research Project (CDRP) "found that a disproportionate number of California's dropouts are coming from non-traditional schools that include charters, continuation schools and alternative programs. Such schools produced more than 40 percent of the state's dropouts in 2005-06, despite enrolling only 12 percent of the high school population." According to researcher Russell Rumberger, "The findings suggest a need for greater accountability of non-traditional schools -- and perhaps even reconsideration of the current alternative education system." While not surprised to find that "non-traditional schools that serve an already struggling population" had the highest dropout rate, Rumberger said that he was surprised by "the extent of the contrast." The Bee notes that the CDRP's methodology "is being called into question" by some experts, and that California "is in the process of planning for a data system that would more accurately quantify the dropout problem, though implementation is not expected to start for another year and a half."

This article really bother me.....I work in an alternative program; while I might have some reservation about the program I actually teach in (Teen Pregnancy Program), I truly believe these girls should continue attending their home school so that they maintain some normalcy of being a teenager. We get our student from the districts high school, when a student is ill and can not attend school; if a student is credit deficient; bounce back - a program to bring kids back to complete their high school diploma; or just learn differently than traditional classrooms. They are really isolated in this program; however, this is how they are able to handle attending school - graduating high school. When the high schools send their students to a Alternative Education program, their enrollment does not reflect a student as a drop out, it shows that they went to a different school. This is about 12% of our district's population. Out of that 12% we have about a 60 - 70% graduation rate.

These people that write these articles and the ones that do the figuring, need to paint the picture with true colors! Stop making it look so RED!

Tagging

...and I'll respond to wenderina's tag...tag 5 more:

Ms. Teacher
Theopenclassroom
wordgirl.typepad
quotegarden
whatitslikeontheinside

Here are the directions:
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people & post a comment here once you post it to your blog, so I can come see.

Here's my entry:

Lovely Bones

By: Alice Sebold
pg 123:
His brother was like a darker print of Samuel. He was tanned, and his face was weathered from riding his motorcycle full tilt down country roads. My family approached, Hal turned quickly and walked away.

This can be a difficult book to read; about a fourteen year old girl who is raped and murdered. This is her story of looking down on her family and friend's life after she is gone. A very touching and beautiful novel.

FRIDAY FEELINGS

Today is Friday, which is always a good feeling! but as I started last Friday, I will continue with a little input:

Personal Life:

Used
lucky - I have this wonderful grandson - yes, and kids, sis W and brother, T and their families.
worried
loved by hubby - R is the best thing that ever happened to me
alone
blessed - for my grandson, A
ignored

Professionally:

IGNORED
worried - will I have a job next school year?
excited- about my involvement in FIRST Robotics
ignored - all of the application I submit of position get filed in the trash
uncommunicative - the MALE teacher I work with male teacher that make all of the
decisions, without any input from the other 2 teacher (me being one of them)

I guess I don't really have many feeling today. It is Friday and it has been a good day. I think I am getting through the thick-headed male that I have to work with - or he is making me think I am!

Women need to know the myths which....

have determined both how we see ourselves and how society regards us....

There are so many myths about women.....the media is having a hay-day with H. Clinton; having a female in the White House; mood swings; emotions; hormones. Where I work, teaching in a young girls school where all of the students are moms or about to be moms at too young of an age. However, some of these girls are incredible.

I have two women in my life that I love very much; they are on totally different ends of the spectrum but they are so much alike, I think they are mother/daughter instead of Aunt/Niece.

My sis, W is all business; she amazes me when she talks about the environment or meetings that she facilitates. She is so smart and business "organized".

MYTH: Any woman can make it to the top is she's competent and works hard. That's how men make it and, after all, the corporation is looking for the best person for the job.

FACT: Don't we wish. That's not how men make it to the top. From all the evidence we've seen, it is clear that the corporation is not the meritocracy that we've all been led to believe. At least up until now, "who makes it to the top" appears to be as determined as much by "who you are" and "who you know" - as by "what you know." (https://feminist.org/research/business/ewb_myths.html)

This myth describes my sis...she has work extremely hard to get to where she is, but I think sometimes she feels she still has to prove it...but then that is how women are. I am truly fortunate to call my sister!

(I need more pictures of her!)

Then there is my beloved daughter, J, who gave me this amazing grandson! She is mother earth, Betty Crocker and mother of the year! She is always thinking of new things for A to explore, learn about life, and be adventurous. And J was far from "mother Instinct" when pregnant. She is staying home for as long as she (they) can to give her son a good, solid start to life. She has given up her love of animals and her longing to be with other adults...I personally am very proud to call her my daughter.

(She is so patient with him!)

Myth -- There is no such thing as "maternal instinct" at all.

Fact: While there indeed may be no universal longing of all women for motherhood (which sometimes has been mis-called "maternal instinct"), or instinctual knowledge of women about how to care for infants, as applied to women's actual pregnancy and post-childbirth experiences, "scientists have yet to find a definitive explanation for the heightened sensitivity so often associated with mothering...

It is said that, traditional stories and myths shape a culture's gender roles and behaviors. Myths and proverbs concerning women thus guide the ways girls enter womanhood, and myths validate men's oppression of women.
So find out which Greek Myth you are...take the test.

http://www.paleothea.com/quizzes.html

Intrnal Alarm Clock

Is it a stirring sound of stress?? The internal alarm clock. Why we sometimes wake up a minute before the alarm rings or the baby cries, awakening.

Psychologist say:
Ever wake up five minutes before your alarm rings? This mysterious phenomenon isn't just bizarre coincidence. We are all equipped with our own internal alarm clocks and, best of all, they even have snooze buttons.

I just came off a four-day weekend...I had a lot planned and nothing planned. Of course, Robotics was a top priority, but so was catching up with my DVR!

Every morning I woke up at 6:30 am...just BECAUSE?? This really kills me on my day off, especially when I don't have any time plans!

I hung out in bed starting Sunday night into yesterday (Monday), laughing hysterically at Friends episodes.

I just love that show! At one time, 2 in the morning, I was laughing so hard I had tears running down my face..I couldn't stop.

Although, I woke up early...it was a very successful, productive, and relaxing weekend. The only complaint I have...these weekends go so dam fast and I didn't travel to see any of my family; mostly my baby, Little Man A. But I will be there soon!

ROBOTICS in ACTION!

This weekend was the San Diego Schools Expo, where area high teams bring their robot to get pre-judged inspected; share with other teams; help out other teams; and tweak our robots for the competition on March 6 -8, 2008. The media is all over the place on Sunday and on Monday we crate up the robot to be shipped out on Tuesday.
Here are a couple of clips from our practice!



It can really be a challenge to get the ball off!



And SUCCESS!

This was very exciting to me...a first timer with FIRST Robotics as a mentor/teacher. I have learn so much from these students and other teacher/mentors. We just have to hope and pray (or what ever it takes) to have a good competition!
Keep your fingers crossed on March 6 - 8, 2008!

REDUNDANCY

I hope life isn't redundant! After listening to my hubby...who is all alone this week, which can be good, but for him extra hard.....he tries so hard to keep up the conversation, while I sometimes just want to listen to him talk......and lately, I want CHOCOLATE!! this weather has to break (sorry east coasters), so I can start walking to work!!
OK..so this post definitely isn't redundant!

Happy Valentine's Day

What does it mean to you??
Roses


Candy


Jewelry


Me......I would just like to have a nice, cozy dinner with my husband in the same town!




This goes to my other love....Little Man A


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Just a Note :)

This is a note to an earlier blog dated 2/1/08:
President Bush's administration has stated:

To pay for the rebates — which are estimated to cost about $117 billion over the next
two years — the government will have to borrow more money, enlarging the budget deficit.

Although I will appreciate more money from the IRS/Govn't.....this is income that has to be claimed on next year taxes (2008 income/for 09 tax return)....teachers are loosing jobs; classrooms are going back to 30-35 students after all the work everyone did to get them down in numbers; the unemployment rate is climbing; foreclosures are growing in numbers.........but they are giving us an extra tax bonus at the expense of enlarging the budget deficit????

GO FIGURE - That's our Government!!

VS

Think of Your Inner Bitch

"Think of your inner Bitch as an early warning system in the battle for self-esteem and self-fulfillment. Listen when she sounds the alarm!"

I think that under the circumstances lately, I have controlled my anger with Mr. Duce-Bag very well. He is another teacher I work with in the teen mother program, who things that men are "God Almighty" and beyond. Personally, I don't think he should be working in a program that is for only girls (unless a male becomes pregnant). The program should run his way or no way. He belittles the students (girls) into thinking they can't make a decision about their future without him; and the story goes on and on...........
Anyways, I have confronted him lately about what he is saying and how he is treating the girls. I believe I have kept my temper well under check, considering I wanted to punch his (which there isn't many of)....



Although I was proud of my self control...I could feel my blood pressure increasing. When I found this little test. Take it the next time you want to someones

Do you have difficulty controlling your temper? Does your anger come out in unhealthy ways that could hurt others as well as yourself? Anger is a powerful emotion that can lead to serious problems in your relationships and career if left unbridled. Learn more about your ability to manage it by taking the Anger Profile Test. It's designed to evaluate the manner in which you approach and handle anger-inducing situations.

Anger Test - Abridged
10 questions, 5 min

http://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/take_test.php?idRegTest=1298

He better watch out next time!

Riding The Emotional Roller Coaster

There has been a lot of blogging about women’s emotions and the need for Zoloft. So I did a little research at "Google U".

Have you ever wondered why men are portrayed as rational and women as emotional creatures during the Eighteenth-Century? Emotions of women in this period can be traced back to the social changes occurring during the time, the increase in female consumerism and the rise of the novel. The Eighteenth-Century was a time marked with many societal changes. One of these transformations was to an age of sentimentalism, a period of time in which there arose a particular kind of consciousness, “one that could be further sensitized in order to be more acutely responsive to signals from the outside environment and from inside the body”. Most significant, perhaps, to this revolution is that of its connection to women of the time.

http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/emotions/theories.html

Our emotions can feel like roller coaster rides. We experience a swing of feelings daily, some of which are developed from within us and others that appear to be placed upon us externally. One of the most breathtaking emotional roller coaster rides is when people try to make us feel bad about ourselves. Some people seem to know which buttons to push and how high to take us before leaving us on the edge.

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." ~ Mark Twain

The roller coaster is a metaphor for the emotional journey of humanity. It loops like time, has a slow start, highs and lows that go round and round in cycles, then builds to a final primal scream.

So ladies, whether your emotional are reduce to rubble at work or in your personal life or your just plain not happy about the way your life is going...........

http://www.crystalinks.com/emotioncoaster.html

So ladies, whether you are an emotion........take the test!

http://www.ym.com/jsp/quiz/jun0404.jsp

Get a bottle of wine or your favorite drink and watch a chick flick and

have a F_ _ K'in GOOD CRY or LAUGH!

FRIDAY FEELINGS

OK..I am taking my sis, W lead in how I feel Friday...besides the fact that it is FRIDAY!

Personally

I feel frustrated

I feel fat

I feel loved

I feel ignored

I feel needed

I feel left out

I feel scared

I feel sickened / disgusted

Professionally (as an educator)

I feel frustrated…very frustrated

I feel inadequate

I feel needed by my students

I feel useless

I feel helpless

I feel liked by my students

I feel not up to my potential

I feel trusted by my students

I feel devoted to my students

I am not sure how we can feel so many feelings in day…hour….minute; however, when women formed (were made, developed, grown, completed, fulfilled….whatever it is you believe) in this world the mold was definitely thrown away because “God” did not want to make the same mistake twice! But I think, man or woman, our feelings are our fears….whether it be for perfection or the inevitable.

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” ~Pope John XXIII

DVR...how could you live without it!

A DVR or digital video recorder functions a lot like a VCR, except it uses a hard drive to record, as opposed to videotapes. Digital video recorders can record television shows by entering information such as channel, time, and date into a recording menu.
AND NO COMMERCIALS EVER!
In this household, the man (brother-n-law, S) finally made the decision! and our DVRs were delivered. Of course, we had them mailed, to save money (I have no problem with that); they were ordered and delivered on a day when he was away at work. So I sent up the new modem for the computers and phone; then set up my own TV/DVR and proceeded to set up their's.
And today, when he arrived back home, he plopped himself on the couch and began setting up his shows to record................
The best part of this whole thing....I have a DVR! I get to record Oprah.....

and Friends........................

and Reba.............................

and movies...............................Brad Pitt is to drool for!!


But mostly I like my DVR because I can be in my space watching what I want too!