Best Education Possible: June 2012

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Tips On Managing Stress

According to the May 2010 Good Housekeeping issue, for those crazed, heart-racing moments, breathing deeply for a minute or so can lower your stress level. But to decrease overall anxiety and boost confidence, practice daily for 15 to 20 minutes (start with 10 and work your way up). Health experts at Harvard suggest three different methods; use whichever feels most comfortable to you.

1. Simple Break - Take a normal breath followed by a slow, deep breath, letting the air come in through your nose to fill your lower belly. Now breathe out through your mouth or nose. Alternate normal and deep breaths.

2. Hand on Belly - Put one hand just below your belly button and breathe deeply. Feel your hand rise about an inch each time you inhale and fall about an inch when you exhale.

3. Multisystem- Close your eyes. Imagine that each inhale washes relaxation into your body and each exhale carries tension away. To reinforce the effect, as you inhale say (to yourself), "Breathing in peace and calm" and as you exhale say, "Breathing out tension and anxiety."

Teach your children less stress techniques. It might help them in stressful situations to have breathing techniques to incorporate so they can learn to bring down their stress levels.

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Read A-Loud to Your Child: Part 2

Yesterday, I gave you ten examples of what a parent or teacher should do when reading aloud to children. Today, I will give examples of what not to do according to The Read-Aloud Handbook, by J. Trealease.

Don't

1. Don't read aloud too fast.
2. Don't read aloud books children can read independently. Instead talk about the book.
3. Don't read aloud books or stories you don't enjoy. You child will know.
4. Don't read aloud books or stories that exceed the child's emotional development.
5. Don't continue reading a book you don't like or the child doesn't like. Admit it, and choose another.
6. Don't impose your interpretation and preferences on your child.
7. Don't confuse quantity with quality.
8. Don't use reading aloud as a reward or punishment. Make it a tradition or habit.

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Read A-Loud to Your Child: Part 1

When teachers read aloud to their children, they often begin with a brief introduction and discussion of the book or text to be read aloud. You can do the same thing at home. Reading-aloud helps your child focus and know what to expect and look for during the story or poem. Below are some suggestions while reading aloud to your child based on The New Read-Aloud Handbook, by J. Trealease:

Do's

1. Do begin reading to children as early in their lives as they can support to sit and listen.

2. Do use rhymes, raps, songs chants, poetry, and pictures to stimulate their oral language.

3. Do read aloud to children at least 10-15 minutes daily, more often if possible.

4. Do set aside a time for daily reading aloud at home.

5. Do read picture books to children of all ages, but also gradually move to reading longer books without pictures was well.

6. Do vary the topics and types of books you read-aloud.

7. Do read aloud books to your child that stretch their intellectual and oral development.

8. Do read aloud with expression and enthusiasm.

9. Do add another dimension to reading something, such as using hand movements, puppets, or dressing up in costume.

10. Do carry a book with you at all times t o model your love for books and reading.

What To Do If Your Child Has Trouble With A Teacher

Before you rush into a battle with a teacher or administrator, it is important to get the facts. Yes, some teachers are harsh, but it is also true that sometimes kids don't always tell the whole truth or sometimes stretch the truth. Here are a few tips to help with dealing with this problem:

1. Cool off and investigate the facts. Remember you were not there to witness the incident and there are two sides to every story.

2. Tell your child how you expect them to react to any problem with an adult. They must be respectful. If there is a punishment, let the child deal with the consequences of their behavior.

3. If there are still problems and it does not seem to be getting better, make an appointment to meet and talk with the teacher.

4. Go in with the attitude of wanting to understand what is going on and wanting to help with a solution. Kids can and often do exaggerate and manipulate their parents.

5. You should leave the meeting feeling like you understand what is going on and there should be a resolution or plan in place so the problem doesn't continue.

6. If you are not satisfied with the meeting results with the teacher, make an appointment with the principal. Make sure you bring all the facts and have handled it calmly and correctly.

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Tip #76: Get community and business leaders to become partners with your child's school

If you or someone you know has connections in the community business, ask them to support or adopt your child's school. That brings us to tip #76.

Tip #76: Get community and business leaders to become partners with your child's school.

Businesses can send mentors, supplies, technical support, and monetary support. It is tax deductible to contribute to most educational institutions. Make sure you school stays in contact with your local congressmen and government representatives and let them know the needs of the school. Your school board representative should also be familar with the needs and accomplishment of the school. All of this is important because the community needs to know the wonderful things going on at your school.

Questions to ask and things to do:

1. If you are having a special event, invite the superientendent, school board members, and any other local businesses to participate and enjoy the event.

2. If there are needs at the school, go to local businesses, civic groups, places of worship, and let them know your needs.

3. Get a group of parents and students that are interested in approaching community partners and let them work toward getting them involved with the schools yearly goals.

4. Let the children lead out in approaching local businesses and community leaders because it is very hard for most people to say "no" to children. Make sure they are well prepared for the meeting and can speak intelligenily about the school's request for partnership or assistance.

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Tip #75: Get to Know the School Principal

According to New Visions for Public Schools an effective school has a principal who leads the instructional program and expects excellence from the staff, parents, and students. It has a school wide focus on student achievement; support for improving the school environment, teaching and learning; and effective cooperation among school leaders, teachers, parents, students, and partners in the community. This brings us to tip #75.

Tip #75: The principal and other school leaders inspire commitment from everyone to fulfill the vision of the school among all members of the school community so every child receives the "Best Education Possible".

Parents make sure you teach your child to be respectful of persons in authority. First make sure they respect and listen to you. Then they need to understand how to approach, respond, and listen to other adults. It will make life easier for you and your child throughout life if this lesson is mastered before entering school. There is no way a child will be respectful if the parent does not model respect. Speak positively in front of your children about the school, principal, and teachers. Then the child will model that positive behavior.

Questions or Things to Do:

1. Is there an "Open Door" policy at your child's school? An example would be that parents are welcome to come to the school and volunteer, make appointments to meet with the principal or teachers, and feel comfortable to make suggestions. It is important for parents to understand that they are at the school to be a positive partner. Make sure you make appointments and never get in a group of parents that are not trying to make positive change.

2. Do you feel a sense of control and calm when you first enter the building. The building should be clean and pleasant. Quality student work should be displayed and the atmosphere should be pleasant with a sense of control.

3. Is the principal visible and involved with the students. It is nice to see students speak, shake the hand, or converse with the principal. Make sure your child is respectful and knows how to talk to adults. It will make all the difference in the school experience if the child is controlled and respectful.

4. Can the principal discuss the curriculum and is well aware of student achievement and assessment data? This is important because the principal should drive the curriculum and be knowledgeable of what is going on in each classroom. The principal will know what should be the next objectives for improvement of the overall school goals.

5. Does the principal communicate well with parents, teachers, staff, and students. An effective principal can communicate and inspire everyone to reach school-wide goals.

6. Does the principal participate in after-school functions and support all school programs? The principal should be visible at as many sports, academic competitions, plays, PTA meetings, board meetings, and fundraisers.

7. The principal must have a vision for where the school is heading, and is able to get teachers, staff, parents, students, and community partners to buy into the vision and is the driving force in making that vision a reality. They must be able to lead, listen, influence, and implement an aggressive curriculum, and has high expectations for everyone. They must be able to take assessment data and lead their staff in the direction of improvement and make sure every child's needs are being met. The principal is the leader of the school and should be respected.

For more information on effective school go to http://www.newvisions.org/

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Walk This Way

According to an article in the December issue of Parents magazine, each year 51,000 child pedestrians are injured. Kids are especially vulnerable because they move quickly and impulsively and they aren't good at judging an oncoming car's speed or distance, interpreting road signs, or spotting vehicles in their peripheral vision, says a new report from American Academy of Pediatrics. One study found that a third of parents allow their kindergartners to cross the street alone. Below are traffic-safety tips to keep in mind:

1. Cross the streets with kids under 10. (except in limited situations such as watching him cross a residential street). Use your judgment with older kids.

2. Be a stickler for traffic rules.

3. Work with your child's school to start a program that escorts kids.

4. Prevent back-overs by walking all the way around your car to check for children before getting in.

5. Don't let kids play in an alley, a driveway, or an unfenced front yard.

6. Talk to your city council about speed bumps or speed-limit signs.

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Sweat More, Binge Less

Sweat More, Binge Less

According to an article in the June 2012 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, shedding pounds often boils down to a simple equation: Eat fewer calories and burn more energy through exercise. As it turns out, doing tone may help you do the other. In a recent review, Harvard researchers proposed that exercise induces changes in the brain that could help you make better choices. Your power over your drive to eat is controlled by an area of the brain that is under constant strain (think fast-food commercials or strolls by a bakery). Exercise, however, may give those parts of the brain a boost, making it easier to turn down office birthday cake, explains study author Miguel Alonso-Alonso, M.D.

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Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 5

Raising middle schoolers’ EQ and IQ

This type of leadership didn’t just happen. Schumacker might have burned out of teaching if it hadn’t been for character education. When a local elementary school invited Hal Urban, the granddaddy of moral character education, to speak, Schumacker was inspired to start immediately. The district reacted similarly, and now moral character education is taught at all of the elementary schools and both middle schools, says Nick Verhoff, Superintendent of Beavercreek City Schools (GreatSchools Rating 9).

Schumacker takes it a step further with performance character education. In 2008 he met Lickona and his colleague Matt Davidson, who taught him about class meetings, setting goals, and letting kids redo missed problems. “[It] was my ‘Aha’ moment,” Schumacker says. “Everything I do comes from them.”

It starts with kindness

Recently, a student gave Schumacker the ultimate compliment: “You definitely taught me how to be a better person.” The accolade echoes the “Caught Being Good” messages that Schumacker uses to model kindness while inspiring kids to do their best. And it’s a sign that his character lessons, which always start with kindness, are working. “It’s almost a self-fulfilling prophesy,” he says. “If you tell them they’re an amazing student, they live up to it.”

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Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 4

Raising middle schoolers’ EQ and IQ

According to an article from greatschools.com, if you think tweens and teens don't listen and don't care? Think again. If this seventh grade math teacher can get kids to be kind and work hard, you can, too.

By Jessica Kelmon

Methods to avoid the madness

Schumacker uses an almost scientific trial-and-error approach to improving his craft — each time with the goal of better reaching and teaching his students — though parents aren’t always immediately on board. Tom Lickona, one of Schumacker's mentors and director of SUNY Cortland’s Center for the 4th and 5th Rs (Respect and Responsibility), recalls: “He got notes from parents saying, ‘My daughter never liked math and I disagreed with your high expectations in math, but now she feels differently and knows what A work looks like.’”

Over time, Schumacker’s overcome the urge to force kids into submission. For a while he required struggling students come to class at lunchtime. “It became clear I could force them to come at lunch every day, but I can’t force them to work hard,” he says. To avoid the inevitable (and unproductive) stand-offs, he created his revisions policy to encourage students to improve their work of their own volition. Perhaps thanks to his counseling degree, he’s cultivated a safe, open environment for class meetings, where kids can give him feedback. “If something’s not working, [they] can tell me,” he says. “I won’t be mad.”

For Schumacker, success is about more than scores; it’s about instilling a passion for excellence in learning. Sally Coberly-Hough says her son Mark learned the nuts and bolts of hard work — and the value of it — in Schumacker’s class. It was laborious for both mother and son, she wrote in an email, but “it paid off!” Julie DiNapoli says her three daughters learned lasting lessons in Schumacker’s class, too. Now in high school, “they still look back at their notes from his class,” she says.

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 3

Raising middle schoolers’ EQ and IQ

At first blush, pre-algebra and character lessons are odd bedfellows. Traditionally, the gateways for integrating character lessons are courses like humanities and social studies, where IQ and EQ lessons are more closely linked. But Schumacker's academic alchemy is working for many reasons.

For one, he’s discovered effective ways to reach the kids. His classroom walls are lined with handmade posters. Words like “honesty,” “perseverance,” and “opportunity” are written next to words like “gossip,” “put downs,” and “swearing” — with slashes through them. These posters surround the clock where, says Schumacker, “kids’ eyes tend to go first.” Instead of the daily roll call, he starts class with a question of the day: ‘What’s one song on your iPod?’ or ‘Did anyone give you a compliment today?

The daily question helps his students feel heard, he says, and it’s an unqualified hit: “In every single class it's one of their favorite things.” Also popular are weekly writing prompts, which are typically responses to a moral character challenge — focusing on trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, or citizenship — such as not complaining for a day or naming someone they’re grateful for. Recently, he asked the kids to write about what's helped them be successful (or not) in his class. The answers show tremendous insight on the part of the seventh graders — a group seldom credited with deep thinking. Kids who aren’t faring well academically own up to causes like laziness and not trying. Others opened up about problems at home, such as financial stress and divorce. But nearly every student who wrote about academic success credits Schumacker's revisions policy, which allows them to redo missed homework and test questions. His revisions policy is part of a performance character lesson — focusing on effort, goal setting, and perseverance — that helps kids take ownership of their learning.

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 2

Raising middle schoolers’ EQ and IQ

By Jessica Kelmon

Teaching kids to work hard

Schumacker, who teaches at Herman K. Ankeney Middle School in Beavercreek, OH (GreatSchools Rating 9), has success as the result of a unique teaching approach that combines math curricula with what's known as character education, which teaches kids important qualities like honesty, empathy, and determination. The ultimate goal is to inspire them to excel in school and in life.

Character education has been gaining attention and momentum both within the U.S. and abroad as studies find that social-emotional learning (SEL, also often called EQ) goes hand in hand with higher test scores, increased attendance and graduation rates, more engaged students and staff, and better behavior. According to a 2008 Casel (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) report on three scientific reviews,“SEL programs improved students’ social-emotional skills, attitudes about self and others, connection to school, positive social behavior, and academic performance; they also reduced students’ conduct problems and emotional distress.”

Incorporating character education into curriculum isn't easy, but it pays off. Data from the Character Education Partnership’s 2011 National Schools of Character showed all reporting schools have increased their state reading and math scores and/or earned passing rates above 90 percent.

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 1

Raising middle schoolers’ EQ and IQ

By Jessica Kelmon

A few months ago, Trish Tingler and her teenage daughter Kelsey found a note from her middle school days in a box of keepsakes. The note, Trish recalls, meant a lot to her at the time. “As for what it meant to Kelsey," she writes, "all I can tell you is she immediately took the note and placed it front and center on our refrigerator.”

Under the heading “Caught Being Good,” the note lauds Kelsey for her hard work and determination. It came from Mark Schumacker, a teacher who regularly sends notes home when he sees students being kind or working hard in class. With its dorky font and homemade look, it's the last thing you'd expect a middle schooler to respond to — especially since it came from her seventh grade math teacher.

Teaching an oft-reviled subject to the most ugh-inducing of stages, Schumacker has a job with notoriously high turnover. His students are at an age when parents endure a spike in eye-rolling and a reticence to engage in almost everything. Some parents exhaust themselves trying to break through the hormone-induced self-absorption. Others simply give up, concluding that middle schoolers just can’t be reached. Yet this buttoned-up math teacher, who looks more like a tech exec, has discovered how to do the near miraculous — help his middle school students learn and even enjoy math while teaching them how to be kind, hardworking kids.

“Believe it or not,” he says, chuckling, “seventh graders once told me in a class meeting that I didn’t give enough homework.”

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

All men who are "Fathers" that take responsibility and care for their children are truly the biggest gift to our society. These "Fathers" help mold our children into productive citizens and model how a man should treat his family with love, devotion, strength, and conviction. Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful fathers out there, and may all your children be blessed with the "Best Education Possible".

Sincerely,

Best Education Possible, LLC

Debra E. West

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Dropping out: A costly but common decision

Dropping out: A costly but common decision

According to an article from money.msn.com, if you're graduating from college this year, consider yourself lucky.

Just 56% of college students complete a four-year degree within six years, according to a 2011 Harvard Graduate School of Education study.

Among the 18 developed countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the U.S. was dead last for the percentage of students who completed college once they started it -- behind even Slovakia.

College dropouts tend to be male, and they give reasons such as cost, not feeling prepared, and not being able to juggle family, school and jobs, according to the Harvard study. An American Institutes for Research report last year estimated that college dropouts cost the nation $4.5 billion in lost earnings and taxes.

One factor in these disappointing statistics is America's for-profit schools, which have garnered plenty of recent media attention. Such schools are sometimes accused of being "dropout factories" that send students out into the workforce with major debt and few skills. But there are a number of four-year public universities, funded at least in part by taxpayer dollars, that have graduation rates that are just as bad as -- or worse than -- their for-profit counterparts.

Calculating college graduation rates isn't an exact science. The data used for the following list include the number of incoming bachelor's degree-seeking students who graduate within six years, and students who transfer to other schools are counted as dropouts. The list is compiled from calculations by the Chronicle of Higher Education for the 2010 year (the latest data available). We included only four-year accredited universities, and excluded schools with a high percentage of part-time students.

The tip for those wanting to further their education is know the graduation rate of the institution you plan to attend. Before you put in your time and money on a degree, make sure it is a university that truly cares about their students and has a track record for graduating and finding employment for their graduates. There are excellent programs out there for high school graduates and adults that are designed for the success of their students.

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The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 5

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America

Posted on Tuesday May 22, 2012
by Staff Writers from bestcollegesonline.com

While many students set their sights on top colleges by toiling away at public schools, a select few are able to afford the luxury of studying at highly exclusive prep schools. Many of these schools were established as feeders for renowned universities like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, and are designed with the express goal of high-level college in mind. Often, the students at these schools are the sons and daughters of government figures, celebrities, business magnates, and even royalty. Many go on to fill these types of roles themselves. Naturally, there is a major air of prestige, history, and even legendary status when it comes to these schools. We’ve highlighted 10 of the most legendary of college prep schools, full of history, famous alumni, and even a few interesting stories. Below are prep schools nine and ten:

9 Horace Mann School

Horace Mann is continually ranked as one of the best prep schools in the country, with a highly selective admissions process and a high rate of admissions to the most exclusive colleges including Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. The school was founded as an experimental unit of the Teachers College at Columbia University, so naturally, Horace Mann graduates often matriculate to Columbia as well. Located in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City, students are able to study in the school’s 100-acre nature laboratory in Connecticut for a week at a time. Horace Mann has graduated several notable alumni, including former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Jack Kerouac, William Carlos Williams, and Pulitzer Prizewinners Robert Caro and Elliott Carter.

10 Brearley School

Considered the sister school of several prep schools including the Collegiate School, Spence, and Chapin School, Brearley is one of the most prominent all-girls private schools in the U.S. Top college destinations for Brearley graduates include Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Williams College, and Johns Hopkins University. Brearley boasts many famous women as their graduates, including Caroline Kennedy, silver medalist Emily Cross, and Kyra Sedgwick.

To read the entire article go to http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2012/05/22/the-10-most-legendary-prep-schools-in-america/

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The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 4

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America

Posted on Tuesday May 22, 2012
by Staff Writers from bestcollegesonline.com

7 Deerfield Academy

Founded in 1787, Deerfield is among the oldest prep schools in the U.S., and is rumored to attract some of the most prestigious students, including European royalty. Even early on, Deerfield produced influential alumni that became the governors and congressmen of New England. Deerfield graduates include Medal of Honor recipient Rufus Saxton, Thomas Keating, gold medalist Allen Stack, members of the Rockefeller family, and Matthew Fox. Many Deerfield students go on to study at top-tier schools. Impressively, the academy is home to its very own printing press, Deerfield Academy Press, which publishes the work of student and faculty members.

8 Choate Rosemary Hall

Deerfield’s fierce rival, Choate Rosemary Hall, stands up to its reputation with an incredible history of excellence, with many students regularly participating in high-level academic, scientific, and artistic competitions like the American Mathematics Competitions and performances at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The campus is home to many historic sites, including the 1774 homestead with a secret passage that may have been a part of the Underground Railroad. Some of Choate’s most famous alumni include President John F. Kennedy, Edward Albee, Jamie Lee Curtis, Glenn Close, and Nicholas Negroponte.

To read the entire article go to http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2012/05/22/the-10-most-legendary-prep-schools-in-america/

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 3

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America

Posted on Tuesday May 22, 2012
by Staff Writers from bestcollegesonline.com

5 Milton Academy

Milton has long been recognized for its prestigious educational values, producing graduates that go on to do great things. Alumni include several members of Congress, Medal of Honor recipients, and Nobel Laureates. Historically, Milton has been a feeder school for Harvard University. Some of the incredible amenities found on Milton’s campus include the Ruth King Theater (a gift of novelist Stephen King) and the Ayer Observatory which is home to a dome refractor. Both Robert F. and Ted Kennedy were educated here, as well as Nobel Prize-winner T.S. Eliot, current Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick, and former U.S. Attorney General Elliot Richardson.

6 West Nottingham Academy

Founded by Samuel Finley, a former president of Princeton, West Nottingham Academy is the oldest boarding school in the United States. The academy has educated many prominent colonial Americans, including two signers of the Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Rush and Richard Stockton, as well as John Filson, the founder of Cincinnati, Ohio. The campus is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and many of the buildings are considered to be historic pieces of architecture. West Nottingham’s small athletics community has risen to prominence, boasting a successful figure skating program with Olympic athletes.

To read the entire article go to http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2012/05/22/the-10-most-legendary-prep-schools-in-america/

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 2

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America

Posted on Tuesday May 22, 2012
by Staff Writers from bestcollegesonline.com

While many students set their sights on top colleges by toiling away at public schools, a select few are able to afford the luxury of studying at highly exclusive prep schools. Many of these schools were established as feeders for renowned universities like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, and are designed with the express goal of high-level college in mind. Often, the students at these schools are the sons and daughters of government figures, celebrities, business magnates, and even royalty. Many go on to fill these types of roles themselves. Naturally, there is a major air of prestige, history, and even legendary status when it comes to these schools. We’ve highlighted 10 of the most legendary of college prep schools, full of history, famous alumni, and even a few interesting stories. Below are prep schools three and four:

3 Trinity School

Considered to be one of, if not the, best college prep schools in the U.S., Trinity School is renowned for its excellent academic reputation. It is the oldest continually operated school in New York City, and the fifth oldest in the U.S. Trinity has traditionally educated its students for Columbia University, and still does, but students go on to other exclusive colleges, including the Ivy League, MIT, and Stanford, with Trinity boasting an incredible 41% matriculation rate to those schools. Notable Trinity School alumni include Truman Capote, Ivanka Trump, and Oliver Stone.

4 St. Paul’s School

This private boarding school in New Hampshire is among the most selective college preparatory schools in the U.S. Serving just 533 students on its 2,000-acre campus, St. Paul’s attracts pupils from all over the world. Students study six days a week, with half days on Wednesdays and Saturdays to allow for athletics. St. Paul’s has several time-honored traditions and special holidays unique to the campus, including concerts with legendary bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish. The history of St. Paul’s is full of interesting stories, including the claim that the first hockey game in the U.S. was played on St. Paul’s ponds in 1883. Senator John Kerry, FBI Director Robert Mueller, John Jacob Astor IV, Michael Kennedy, and William Randolph Hearst are among St. Paul’s most notable alumni.

To read the entire article go to http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2012/05/22/the-10-most-legendary-prep-schools-in-america/

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 1

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America

Posted on Tuesday May 22, 2012
by Staff Writers from bestcollegesonline.com

1 Phillips Exeter Academy

Founded in 1781 as a feeder school to Harvard University, Phillips Exeter Academy is considered to be one of the most prestigious prep schools in existence. Exeter has, hands down, one of the largest endowments of any U.S. prep school at $1 billion. The school boasts the largest secondary school library in the world with 160,000 volumes on nine levels and is recognized as one of the Masterworks of Modern American Architecture. Alumni of Exeter include U.S. Presidents, Secretaries of State, members of Congress, Attorney Generals, notable writers, business figures, and celebrated artists, including Mark Zuckerberg, John Irving, Gore Vidal, and members of the Rockefeller family.

2 Phillips Academy

Commonly referred to as Andover, Phillips Academy was founded by Samuel Phillips Jr., the nephew of Phillips Exeter founder John Phillips. Andover was established just three years prior to Exeter, and the two schools have enjoyed an intense rivalry from the beginning. The academy established a pedigree of excellence early on: Paul Revere himself designed the school’s seal, and upon visiting the campus, George Washington was so impressed that he encouraged his nephews to attend (and they did). The school’s articles of incorporation boast the signature of John Hancock. The Andover campus is home to not one, but two museums featuring major works; The Addison Gallery of American Art boasts more than 16,000 works in all media, and the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology is one of the foremost Native American archaeological collections. Andover has educated two American Presidents — both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush — as well as inventor Sam Morse and actor Humphrey Bogart (who was expelled). Graduates of Andover typically matriculate to top-tier colleges including Yale, Stanford, Harvard, and Columbia, as the school was originally set up to send its students to Yale. Like Yale, Andover has secret societies, although officially, they were terminated in the 1940s.

To see complete article go to http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2012/05/22/the-10-most-legendary-prep-schools-in-america/

Two new studies show that kids who watch movies depicting alcohol consumption are more likely to begin drinking or binge drink. Here are some tips to keep kids sober:

1. Know the Number. Restrict the number of PG-13 flicks your tween can watch and R-rated movies your teen can see to three a week, even during the summer, advises James Sargent, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and an author of both studies. In my opinion, I would make that once or week or not at all.

2. Create Boundaries. Make it clear that booze at their age is against the rules and will not be tolorated. Know their friends and monitor what your tween and teens are doing. Let them know you are checking up on their activities and expect them to use good judgement.

3. Model Behavior. Enjoy the health benefits of alcohol. You must be the example and don't drink or over indulge in drinking in front of your children. Remember they will do what they see.

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Kids and Sports Injuries

According to an article from the July 2012 issue of Family Circle magazine, practice makes perfect. But kids who spend too much time training can be at risk for overuse injuries such as torn tendons and stress fractures. Common in adults, these are now showing up in children. "Parents and coaches are pushing kids at an earlier age, hoping they'll can become star athletes," says Stephen Rice, M.D., a pediatric sports medicine physician at Jersey Shore University Medical Center who coauthored recent guidelines for young baseball and softball players. "Reduce your athlete's chances of getting hurt by watching out for:

1. Pushy coaches - Kids can have trouble telling authority figures they're being worked too hard. Check that your child isn't exhausted post-practice, losing motivation or experiencing lasting soreness.

2. Too many teams - Let your child's coaches know about any other teams your child is on so they can adjust the workout accordingly, like having the child throw fewer pitches or swim fewer laps.

3. Sports camps - Kids in summer programs my drill five to eight hours a day. This huge increase in activity doesn't allow them to slowly condition their muscles. Ask the camp for a training schedule so your child can gradually ramp up the activity three weeks in advance.

4. Ignored injuries - Once pain gets intense, recovery takes longer. Better for your child to rest before an injury starts to affect their performance instead of paying through it. Explain to your kid the importance of telling the coach about pain and scaling back until they feel better.

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An Autism Advancement

According to an article from the June 2012 issue of Parent magazine, simple imitation exercises can help young children with autism boost their social skills, found a recent Journal of Autism and Development Disorder study. After a series of treatments using the technique, kids made significant improvement in bringing their parent's attention to an object through gestures and eye contact. If your child has autism, try this at least a few times a day.

Step 1

Pull out similar toys for both to play with, such as two stuffed animals or a couple of trains.

Step 2

Watch your child's sounds and movements, and copy them. If she/he makes her stuffed animal jump in the air, let yours do the same. Continue this for one or two minutes.

Step 3

Switch roles and model something new to do with the toy, such as running the train up your leg. Repeat this three times to encourage your child to imitate you. If she/he does follow your movements, praise the child and return to copying their actions. If not, gently guide the child through the imitation.

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Tip #74: The School's Curriculum Should Stretch the Imagination and Creativity of Students.

According to New Visions for Public Schools an effective school has a challenging instructional program that provides equal opportunities to learn and empowers every student to receive the "Best Education Possible". That brings us to tip #74.

Tip #74: The School's Curriculum Should Stretch the Imagination and Creativity of Students.

The entire school community meets individual student needs, and addresses any instructional challenges for advancement or remediation. All students are important and should feel safe in asking questions and in a learning environment. Does your child's school meet these criteria?

Questions to Ask or Things to Do:

1. Does your child have choices when doing a project? This will keep a child excited about completing and doing his/her best work. Choices give a child a sense of empowerment in a school setting.

2. Does your child get a chance to work ahead or go back and review if it is needed. Advanced students must be challenged and struggling students must go back in order to master needed skills.

3. Does your child talk about what they learned in school? If not, ask your child while driving home or at dinner. Try to sit down at the kitchen table and eat dinner together every evening. It is a good way to keep communication open. It is not unusual for children to say they didn't learn anything at school, but when the curriculum is interesting and challenging many students will want to talk about what they learned.

4. Does your child feel comfortable in asking questions or asking for help? This means at school and home. So many times students feel like they are not smart if they ask questions. Make sure you let your child know it is alright to ask questions or don't know all the answers. Encourage them to question within reason.

5. Do the children at your child's school work on group projects and work in cooperative learning groups? This teaches children to work with other peers and how to contribute and communicate in a group setting. Employers are looking for people who are team players. Too many people are unable to share ideas and work for the advancement of the team.

6. Does the school have individual or small group instruction, so every child's needs are met? Gifted children will become bored or restless if they are not challenged and struggling children will become frustrated or a behavior problem if they don't understand instruction.

To read more on effective schools go to http://www.newvisions.org/ .

Tip #73: Administration and Teachers Must be Effective.

The one thing I want every parent to understand is that they are the most important influence in their child's life. Therefore, you must be a positive partner with the schools and work together to see that your child is meeting all academic benchmarks. That brings us to tip #73.

Tip #73: Administration and Teachers Must be Effective.

The school administration and teachers are there to educate and assist in developing your child academically and socially. You are there to make sure your child respects you, adults, peers, and themselves and values an education.

According to New Visions for Public Schools an effective school has a clear focus and high expectations of their staff, parents as well as their students. Effective schools motivate and engage the entire school community and inspire their members to strive constantly to ensure the success of every student. In effective schools there is a clear focus. Further, the school has high expectations coupled with an action plan for achieving excellence for every student and the belief that every student can learn. Does your child's school meet these criteria so that your child is getting the "Best Education Possible"?

Questions to Ask or Things to Do:

1. Are the principal, teachers, parents, and community partners working closely together to make the school successful? An example would be is there an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and the officers should meet with the administration to assist with the overall school program and goals?

2. Encourage your child to go to school with a purpose of learning and try to keep them excited about learning by checking papers, checking homework, and praising accomplishments.

3. Try to make sure your child feels successful in and out of the classroom. Have your child involved in after school activities such as sports, dance programs, art or singing lessons, or academic team competitions.

4. Are there programs and curriculum in place for advanced learners at your school, and is your child being challenged?

5. Are there tutoring and other programs in place for students having difficulties in learning? Check with local churches, Girls and Boys Clubs, civic organizations, and some college students tutor for service learning credits.

6. If your child is having academic difficulty, is there a group of professionals at school diagnosing and working to help that child? (And are you working with your child to help them keep up with the the class at home?)

7. Have you gone to teacher conferences to know your child progress academically? And are you working with the teacher to make sure your child is successful and truly understand what you should be focusing on?

8. Does the teacher make suggestions as to what you could be doing at home, and is the plan being followed?

9. Can your child do most of the homework independently and complete it in a timely manner? If not talk to the teacher to find out exactly why the homework is taking so much time and see what can be worked out. (In my opinion, homework should take 30-60 minutes, increased or decreased based on the student's performance behind or ahead of their class.)

10. Is there good communications between home and school through newsletters, emails, telephone calls, and visits? (there should be weekly communication of expectations of your child and a mid term progress reports /meeting as to the progress and grade the student is getting at midpoint).

11. Do you feel good about your child's academic progress? If not, partner with the teachers to learn what you can do to help and what your child needs to do to be accountable.

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Tip #72: Your Child's School Should Have the Ingredients for an Effective School.

In order for a school to be truly effective, there must be the perfect recipe and perfect ingredients. That brings us to tip #72.

Tip #72: Your Child's School Should Have the Ingredients for an Effective School.

INGREDIENTS

4 cups of a superintendent, principal, and school board with vision and energy

6 Tablespoons of skilled, dedicated, willing to learn, motivated teachers

3 teaspoons of concerned, involved, willing to discipline when necessary, parents

4 1/2 cups of excited, hard working, well behaved students

1. Preheat school building to 72 loving degrees Fahrenheit.

2. First you must pour in 4 cups of leaders that have a vision for success and know how to make that vision come alive for everyone involved. They can verbalize the vision and get everyone to buy in. You must combine the 4 cups of leaders in a large functioning building with all the staff, materials, curriculum, and technology needed to make it smooth and fluffy.

3. Next you mix in 6 heaping Tablespoons of skilled, dedicated teachers. They must be able to do whatever it takes to make this school the perfect consistency. They should be able to apply the latest research strategies and individualize lessons so all students are engaged in learning. They should also be deeply in love with the process of learning, sharing ideas and seeing every student as a perfected work in progress. You blend that with the principal and vision until the consistency is thick and blended well.

4. Blend in 3 leveled teaspoons of concerned and involved parents. The parents are the right spice of partnership that is needed to give every school the sweet aroma of success. They cover their children with encouragement and positive attitudes about learning and consistent appropriate discipline. They turn off the heat of the TV, video games, and cell phones during the process of baking "The Best Education Possible". They attend PTA meetings, conferences, and special programs. Roll out the batter on the cooking board of knowledge and kneed the dough until the vision of the school leaders, teachers, and parents have rise together.

5. Finally, you add 4 heaping cups of excited, hard working, well behaved students. They respect the entire recipe and understand the importance of mixing well with all the other ingredients. They are self-motivated and rise to every occasion and want the baking process to be perfect until all knowledge has been significantly added for easy consumption. They feel a sense of belonging and ownership to the recipe of excellence. Slowly add the future leaders of the world and sprinkle in respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness.

6. Allow the effective school to stand in a warm place until well done. Lastly, spread the icing of "Core" academic standards on top and enjoy "The Best Education Possible For Your Child!"

Have It Your (Healthy) Way

A new line of lighter meals is now on the menu at Burger King, according to an article in the May 2012 issue of Good HouseKeeping. Pick up a Snack Wrap, Ranch Crispy Chicken, or one of three hearty Garden Fresh Salads. But to keep your choice figure-friendly (and the saturated fat down), you still need to order it your way:

1. Eat the wrap as a meal (not a snack)

2. Have the salad with the tender grill chicken

3. Use just half a packet of dressing

Your meal will be 425 calories or less, so have it your (Healthy) way!

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Using Standard Technology to Enhance Learning: Part 5

Using Standard Technology to Enhance Learning: Part 5

By Lisa Wahl, M.A.

You probably know about assistive technology (AT) tools that can help students with learning disabilities (LD) with reading, writing, math, listening and organization. Perhaps you have purchased educational software for your child. However, you may not be aware of the extent to which the computer hardware and software you already own may include several features and functions that can improve your child's academic performance. In this article, we will explore how electronic text can be adapted to assist students with LD. The use of standard technologies to enhance and support reading can benefit students as young as third-graders, throughout their education, and into the working world. You and your child will want to experiment with the techniques described in this article to find those that help him most.

Getting started, and looking to the future

This article describes just some of the strategies for using electronic text to enhance learning. Your child can benefit from knowing how to adapt text to his particular needs, but he may need your support and guidance to explore the various alternatives. Be sure to encourage your child to become proactive in making his own adaptations and telling teachers what works for him. Technology offers so many options that it's the rare person who remembers all the great features of even a single piece of software. Learning to use standard technology effectively will increase your child's independence and his ability to achieve in school and in life.

To read the full article about "Using Standard Technology to Enhance Learningg go momshomeroom.msn.com

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Using Standard Technology to Enhance Learning: Part 4

Using Standard Technology to Enhance Learning: Part 4

By Lisa Wahl, M.A.

Technology Tip 1

Within a standard word-processing program, you can use a free speech utility that will read aloud any highlighted text when you press a key combination.

- For the Macintosh 10.3 and above, the utility is included (System Preferences>Speech>Spoken Interface). Macintosh provides a range of fun voices, but many people find "Victoria" and "Bruce" are the most natural sounding.

- For Microsoft Windows, NaturalReader is one of several free speech utilities available.

Adobe Reader (version 7 and above) has a command to read aloud an entire page that you select within a PDF. If you find the story or article your child needs to read in PDF format, you may find that the text can be highlighted, copied and pasted into a word processor where it can be used more flexibly. In a "protected" PDF, you won't be able to change anything, but some versions of Adobe Reader will read the full page.

Technology Tip 2

In Adobe Reader, the Read Out Loud command is found under the View menu, along with Pause and Stop commands.

If speech seems to help your child, you can also purchase specific assistive technology tools such as text-to-speech software as described in Speech Synthesizers/Screen Readers.

How students can interact with electronic text

Students who are adept at using a computer mouse or touchpad can manipulate electronic text — to their advantage — in a number of ways.

Working with electronic text for studying and writing

- Your child can use a color-coding system to highlight important names, dates and events in a history article, by changing the color of the text. This can substitute for taking notes by hand for children with dysgraphia (difficulty with handwriting).

- Students can easily search electronic text, making it easier to retrieve a particular fact or to find all mentions of a character, event or date.

- In Microsoft Word, students can use the electronic highlighter to mark important passages. Older students might want to know that they can search by highlights, allowing them to compile information after reading a passage.

- Cutting and pasting essential information into a blank document allows students to move things around, organize the information, and begin to incorporate it into their written work.

Technology Tip 3

In Microsoft Word, search by highlights using the Find command under the Edit menu. Expand the Find window so that you can find by Format, which allows you to select Highlight.

Looking up word definitions

If your child is using Microsoft Word, he can highlight unknown words and select Dictionary under the Tools menu. This will bring up the definition, as well as synonyms. The built-in speech on the Macintosh mentioned earlier will read the definition, if you highlight all or part of it.

Technology Tip 4

- For Windows, WordWeb can be installed so that it looks up highlighted words from within other applications, such as Microsoft Word, or a Web browser.

- Windows users might prefer a free talking dictionary available from NaturalReader.

Converting electronic text to portable audio files

There's one more option for electronic text. Listening to text on the iPod or portable MP3 player is the access method of choice for many college students with LD because it's portable and "invisible." A student usually listens to a computerized voice read the text while following along with the hard copy.

Technology Tip 5

Free and low-cost utilities for conversion of digital text to an MP3 format are listed at the Using Technology to Support Diverse Learners.

If you make MP3 files for a child who is too young to do so himself (or who might benefit from your input), you can "super-charge" the text by first typing in short questions after every paragraph or section that prompt your child to consider what he's just heard. Stopping to summarize is a highly effective strategy that will increase comprehension and retention of what he's read.

Best Education Possible

Tips On Managing Stress

Read A-Loud to Your Child: Part 2

Read A-Loud to Your Child: Part 1

What To Do If Your Child Has Trouble With A Teacher

Tip #76: Get community and business leaders to become partners with your child's school

Tip #75: Get to Know the School Principal

Walk This Way

Sweat More, Binge Less

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 5

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 4

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 3

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 2

Raising Middle Schoolers' IQ Through Character Education: Part 1

Happy Father's Day

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The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 5

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 4

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 3

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 2

The 10 Most Legendary Prep Schools in America: Part 1

Kids and Sports Injuries

An Autism Advancement

Tip #74: The School's Curriculum Should Stretch the Imagination and Creativity of Students.

Tip #73: Administration and Teachers Must be Effective.

Tip #72: Your Child's School Should Have the Ingredients for an Effective School.

Have It Your (Healthy) Way

Using Standard Technology to Enhance Learning: Part 5

Using Standard Technology to Enhance Learning: Part 4

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