It’s a busy world and, those everyday contacts you make might be overlooked as a source of interest and information. To know, you need to stop and think as you move through your day. Every one has a story and something of interest to share. We need to ask and listen to learn, assuming there… Read More »
It’s a great feeling to: * win 2 honorable mentions for Educating America: 101 Strategies * be trusted to handle reading training sessions for a local United Way Education agency * be asked for suggestions on expanding a school’s volunteer programs use of assistants * be invited to plan training for a second local volunteer… Read More »
Like the song which echoes the phrase, ‘Finnegan Begin Again’, education begins again every day. I’m constantly in learning mode! As my website morphs into its new, broader existence, I want to reach out to more friends and supporters of education. That’s you. Every Tuesday, my education blog day, I’ll be turning back to update my earlier blogs… Read More »
On Sunday I had the opportunity to do an informal presentation to a group of GED instructors. It was heartening to be able to give them a couple of new tools and to encourage them to use higher level thinking skills even more than they currently do. Since education is a village effort, I appreciated… Read More »
The more I work in classrooms, the more I see how much teachers appreciate my time. The truest test is the moment I see the teacher. Invariably I am met with a smile and “I’m so glad you are here.” Whether the classroom has 20 or 30 students, teachers always find tasks I can assist… Read More »
With all the news of educations trials and tribulations, the ‘thank you’ part is often overlooked: Thank you to teachers who spend their free time working for and thinking about school, students and what more can be done to make education more interesting and relevant. Thank you to classroom assistants and volunteers for their hours spent… Read More »
These past three weeks I’ve had the chance to visit a small corner of our country that I’d never visited before. Where I live in Washington state, our history is relatively new. Our artifacts are from the time of occasional early explorers, covered wagons, lumberjacks and trappers. Our oldest buildings are homesteads. The earlier history… Read More »
There are two styles of learners: analytical and global. Here’s a look at the global learner’s traits. 1. Sees the big picture. Global learners look for the main ideas and relationships. 2. Appreciates quiet time. 3. Wants to know the expectations on tasks and projects. 4. Sensitive to criticism. 5. Performs as a team player… Read More »
That’s what it’s all about, independence. As parents, educators and classroom assistants, our goal is to develop independent students. How do we do that? 1. Provide basic skills in language, math, science and other academic subjects. 2. Model positive learning skills: reading directions, making a plan, rethinking ideas. 3. Compliment student steps toward independence. Increase… Read More »
As adults we work. Some of us work at home, others leave to work elsewhere. Our kids also have work. Their work is school. It is important that we give their ‘work’ proper respect and help them understand that they have a responsibility to do their best while they are at work. That means we… Read More »