In life there are many things that we need to choose. What clothes to wear. What toothpaste to buy. But when it comes to real life issues, such as; should I steal? Should I follow what my peers are doing, when I know that it is wrong? Should I swear in class?
Because we live in a society that deems that we conform, one must make appropriate choices. One must put their own feelings and wants aside and do what society deems appropriate. Such as not stealing. We must always use constraint and common sense.
If we do not, then we must suffer the consequences.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Literacy
1. Read in your home. Let your children see you reading; books, newspapers, magazines, mail, e-mails, etc.
2. Have a wide selection of printed materials easily accessible to everyone in the home. Simple materials could be: catalogs, junk mail, newspaper coupons, free materials given out at community events.
3. Read aloud to your child regularly. Start when they are young and keep reading aloud, even when they are older. Everyone in the family should get involved. Getting your child used to reading out loud in the comfort of your home builds confidence in your child.
4. Create a special place for reading in a commonly shared room of the house. Turn off all distractions, and listen to your child read, this is a fun and exciting thing to do. While listening you can monitor fluency.
5. Get everyone involved and READING!!!!
Some wonderful ways to buy books are at the thrift stores and at the library. You can pick up used books from 25 cents to 1$. It is a fun way to spend the day as a family.
2. Have a wide selection of printed materials easily accessible to everyone in the home. Simple materials could be: catalogs, junk mail, newspaper coupons, free materials given out at community events.
3. Read aloud to your child regularly. Start when they are young and keep reading aloud, even when they are older. Everyone in the family should get involved. Getting your child used to reading out loud in the comfort of your home builds confidence in your child.
4. Create a special place for reading in a commonly shared room of the house. Turn off all distractions, and listen to your child read, this is a fun and exciting thing to do. While listening you can monitor fluency.
5. Get everyone involved and READING!!!!
Some wonderful ways to buy books are at the thrift stores and at the library. You can pick up used books from 25 cents to 1$. It is a fun way to spend the day as a family.
Poems from a Great Teacher (Dr. Buscher)
These poems were given to me from a fantastic teacher; read, enjoy, and give some thought:
Desiderata-
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself,
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful,
Strive to be happy.
Desiderata- Max Ehrmann- 1927
The Bottom Line
Face it.
Nobody owes you a living.
What you achieve or fail to achieve in your lifetime
is directly related to what you do
or fail to do.
No one chooses his parents or childhood
but you can choose your own direction.
Everyone has problems and obstacles to overcome
but that too is relative to each individual.
Nothing is carved in stone.
You can change anything in your life,
if you want to badly enough.
Excuses are for losers.
Those who take responsibility for their actions
are the real winners in life.
Winners meet life's challenges head on
knowing there are no guarantees
and give it all they've got.
It's never too late or too early to begin.
Time plays no favorites
and will pass whether you act or not.
Take control of your life.
Dare to dream and take risks.
If you aren't willing to work for your goals,
don't expect others to.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
I hope you enjoyed reading the poems, they gave me inspiration and food for thought.
I hope that you will read them and take what you need from them.
Desiderata-
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself,
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful,
Strive to be happy.
Desiderata- Max Ehrmann- 1927
The Bottom Line
Face it.
Nobody owes you a living.
What you achieve or fail to achieve in your lifetime
is directly related to what you do
or fail to do.
No one chooses his parents or childhood
but you can choose your own direction.
Everyone has problems and obstacles to overcome
but that too is relative to each individual.
Nothing is carved in stone.
You can change anything in your life,
if you want to badly enough.
Excuses are for losers.
Those who take responsibility for their actions
are the real winners in life.
Winners meet life's challenges head on
knowing there are no guarantees
and give it all they've got.
It's never too late or too early to begin.
Time plays no favorites
and will pass whether you act or not.
Take control of your life.
Dare to dream and take risks.
If you aren't willing to work for your goals,
don't expect others to.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!
I hope you enjoyed reading the poems, they gave me inspiration and food for thought.
I hope that you will read them and take what you need from them.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
What is the importance of being on time for school? Does chronic absenteeism and tardies really upset the flow of the school day? Mr. Paul Sena, a school principal researched and came up with these results.
On national average, children missed five days of school in kindergarten, 4.5 days in first and second grade, and 3.7 days in the third, fourth and fifth grade. Almost 14% of kindergartners, 12% of first and second graders, and 10% of third, fourth and fifth graders were at risk of absentees. They missed an average of 12 to 18 days during the school year. The term used in studies is "chronic absenteeism," but honestly, it should be identified as "habitual offenders." Now, I know that sounds harsh but, as a data-driven society, this too needs to be recognized and improved. We as a team of educators, parents, children and community, need to demonstrate concern and make changes to improve chronic/habitual absenteeism's and tardies in the early grades.
School attendance and punctuality are important factors in school success. Regular attendance and punctuality are expected of all students and necessary for achieving success. Classroom work missed can never be made up in a completely satisfactory manner. The educational value of the class activities is missed forever. Absences for annual reasons such as vacations, hunting and family visiting should be discouraged. Tardies for such reasons as "my alarm clock did not go off," "I couldn't get my children moving this morning," "I'm late most of the time anyway," and any late-night activity during the school week should be discouraged.
Inconsistent attendance and tardies in the early grades usually signal symptoms of possible problems in middle school and high school. Middle school and high school students placed in a chronic category of poor attendance or tardies usually have records indicating problematic behavior in the elementary school years. Parental responsibility is a key element in attempting to prevent student absenteeism and tardies at the primary and secondary level and should be implemented as early prevention and intervention for elementary children. Parents and the community need to not only read about, but speak out about, their concern of absenteeism and tardies. An open dialogue in the work place, home, church, shopping areas and restaurants is essential to reach out to parents who do not have the opportunity to read about prevention and intervention of absenteeism and punctuality in the early grades.
In summary, punctuality and daily attendance are integral parts of the learning experience and are required of all students to receive maximum benefit of the educational program. Absenteeism is a barrier that impedes student learning. Tardiness disrupts classroom routines and begins the day in a negative way for the student. Therefore, we clearly need to be proactive for early prevention or intervention of absenteeism and tardies in students' early school years.
On national average, children missed five days of school in kindergarten, 4.5 days in first and second grade, and 3.7 days in the third, fourth and fifth grade. Almost 14% of kindergartners, 12% of first and second graders, and 10% of third, fourth and fifth graders were at risk of absentees. They missed an average of 12 to 18 days during the school year. The term used in studies is "chronic absenteeism," but honestly, it should be identified as "habitual offenders." Now, I know that sounds harsh but, as a data-driven society, this too needs to be recognized and improved. We as a team of educators, parents, children and community, need to demonstrate concern and make changes to improve chronic/habitual absenteeism's and tardies in the early grades.
School attendance and punctuality are important factors in school success. Regular attendance and punctuality are expected of all students and necessary for achieving success. Classroom work missed can never be made up in a completely satisfactory manner. The educational value of the class activities is missed forever. Absences for annual reasons such as vacations, hunting and family visiting should be discouraged. Tardies for such reasons as "my alarm clock did not go off," "I couldn't get my children moving this morning," "I'm late most of the time anyway," and any late-night activity during the school week should be discouraged.
Inconsistent attendance and tardies in the early grades usually signal symptoms of possible problems in middle school and high school. Middle school and high school students placed in a chronic category of poor attendance or tardies usually have records indicating problematic behavior in the elementary school years. Parental responsibility is a key element in attempting to prevent student absenteeism and tardies at the primary and secondary level and should be implemented as early prevention and intervention for elementary children. Parents and the community need to not only read about, but speak out about, their concern of absenteeism and tardies. An open dialogue in the work place, home, church, shopping areas and restaurants is essential to reach out to parents who do not have the opportunity to read about prevention and intervention of absenteeism and punctuality in the early grades.
In summary, punctuality and daily attendance are integral parts of the learning experience and are required of all students to receive maximum benefit of the educational program. Absenteeism is a barrier that impedes student learning. Tardiness disrupts classroom routines and begins the day in a negative way for the student. Therefore, we clearly need to be proactive for early prevention or intervention of absenteeism and tardies in students' early school years.
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