Happy New Year!

As the new year gets under way, I find that I am making changes to my typical routines.  I am finding more time for myself, I am finally getting around to some of those projects which I have put off for too long, and I am putting things in order.  Taken as whole, it looks productive....I hope I can keep it up, at least for a few months. 

Last year was a time of change and of reinvention for Strategic Studies.  We have weathered the process and look quite different than we did a year ago.  We are streamlined and much smaller.  We are more efficient and more focused on what we do best.....create and produce educational content for the K-12 market.  Most of our work is now being done by subcontractors.   More importantly,  we have continued to grow throughout the year.    

The Winter Games
KnowledgeHQ features resources and information about the 2002 Winter Olympics to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.  This popular website has material for students, parents and teachers.  The themes are changed each quarter.  Popular themes from the past have been Heroes, Harvest, and Windy City - Chicago.       

e-Tutor Lessons For The Olympics

Primary

• BOBSLEDS
• THE OLYMPICS

Intermediate

• PEANUT OLYMPICS
• ICE HOCKEY
• MAKING SENSE OF DATA
• SNOW
• DIVERSITY MAP

Middle/Junior High

• GOLD MEDALIST JESSE OWENS
• SNOWBOARDS
• MUSCLES  
• CULTURE   

High School                                                                                        

• THE OLYMPIC GAMES From Ancient Times to Today
• PROBABILITY
• ENERGY PYRAMIDS"
• FREEFALL
• KINEMATICS 1
• MOMENTUM
• MOTION AND ENERGY
• MOTION
• SPEED AND ACCELERATION
• THREE LAWS OF MOTION, FORCES AND GRAVITY
• THE FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID  

New e-Tutor lessons are added on a regular basis.

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.

Harry S. Truman

Children have a great need for parents who are sure of their own values and who are willing to back them up.  Of course, children also need to know that they are worthwhile and lovable to their parents and to others.  Given sufficient acceptance and appreciation by their parents, they can be amply prepared to face the competition awaiting them in the adult world.

While it is important that children develop a sense of self-worth based on the fact of their unique existence, the task of instilling such a degree of self-acceptance is not easy.  When combined with the need to limit the child's behavior in many areas, the task becomes even more difficult.

We should all remember that although the rewards of successful parenting are great, they are not assured.  parents can dream of a better life for their children, and they may see those dreams fade.  They can strive for perfection in themselves and in their children, and that perfection may not be achieved.  To abandon the dreams, however, is to admit defeat before the task is even undertaken.  To be human is, by definition, to fall somewhat short of perfection...and we should make a point of viewing ourselves on the human scale.

Adapted from National Education Association

Vision without action is a daydream, Action without vision is a nightmare.

Japanese Proverb

What is ADD? - Attention Deficit Disorder

We have had many conversations with parents of ADD children over the last few months.  These parents are looking for help and understanding for their children.

Research suggests that as many as a million and a half elementary school children may suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)....a condition most often characterized by inattention, restlessness, over-arousal and poor task completion. 

No one really knows what causes ADD and no medical, biological or other laboratory test can diagnose it.  The disorder is discovered by paying careful attention to symptoms.  A child with ADD may display an inability to:

• Pay attention as well as others
• Work well independently
• Persist with tasks for a reasonable amount of time.
• Complete tasks with little additional assistance
• Follow simple directions accurately
• Follow a sequence of instructions
• Function well in groups

The child may also display the following problems:

• Extreme over-activity
• Over-reaction (emotional extremes)
• Fidgeting (hands always busy)
• Impulsiveness (acts or talks without thinking
• Restlessness (squirms and can't seem to remain seated)

It is important to get professional help for a child with ADD. A treatment program might include individual psychotherapy, parent training, medication, problem-solving or social skills training in a group setting.

Tips for working with an ADD child:

• Reinforce work habits, so the child develops a pattern of working to earn positive reinforcement.
• Changing the pace or task frequently will eliminate part of the child's inability to remain on task.  A number of shorter work periods will prove much more beneficial than one long work period.
• Provide a great deal of structure and consistency, including seating, daily schedules, rules, expectations and consequences.  Prepare the child for any changes or new situations in advance.
• Be certain that directions are clear, simply stated and given one at a time with a minimum of distraction.  Remember to be positive and to tell the child what is wanted, rather than what is not wanted.
• Create situations where the child can succeed.  It is important to provide frequent, positive reinforcement for the student's successes.  If there must be punishment, make certain the child has the opportunity to try again, succeed and receive praise.

Programs like e-Tutor provide an alternative or supplemental program for ADD children. 

Adapted from Illinois School Boards Association

An inch of time is an inch of gold, but you can't buy that inch of time with an inch of gold.

Chinese Proverb

Success...A Word Away

A recent survey of successful people asked them to cite the primary factors in achieving success.  Here were the choices.  Which do you think was deemed the most important?

• A positive attitude
• Experience
• Integrity
• Intelligence
• Communication skills

Answer:  The choices were in the reverse order of presentation.   more than 70 percent of the respondents said the primary factor in achieving success was the ability to communicate effectively.

Communication Briefings

Words in Action

• Equable vs. Equitable.  Don't confuse these words.  Equable means "steady" or "serene."  Example:  "She had an equable temperament. "  Equitable means "fair" or "just."  Example: "The agreement was equitable."  Equitable also has a legal meaning that has to do with equity as opposed to common or statute law.

• Many people add the word down to another word and create a redundancy.  Some examples:

  • descend down (descend)

  • drop down (drop)

  • condense down (condense)

Come To Attention!

Paying attention is a skill, and it can be learned.   Here are some ways to learn to pay attention:

• Ask Questions.  To focus your attention on what you're studying, try to find the main point in what is being covered.   Some questions you might ask include:  "What's this paragraph about?   What will I need to remember for a discussion?  Do I agree with what is being said?"  In American history, for example, you might ask yourself, "What were things like back then?  How did kids my age act?'

• Set Specific Study Goals.  Know where you are going and what you are trying to learn.  Challenge yourself....say, "I am going to finish these ten math problems correctly in the next 20 minutes."   Then reward yourself: "Once I am sure these problems are correct, I am going to take a break and relax."

• Imagine Yourself as a Successful Student.   Professional athletes use this technique; they imagine themselves being successful...perhaps hitting a home run.  It works!  You can use this method, too.  You might say to yourself, "After I read this page, I am going to be able to look away and remember the meaning of what I just read."  You can also imagine yourself calmly and confidently taking a test on the material you are studying, knowing all the answers because you studied the material thoroughly.  

Page 4

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.

Charles Mingus

Learning to read is much like learning any other skill. It requires a combination of instruction, experimentation, and practice.  But the first step must be motivation.  The child must want to learn to read.  Parents can encourage their children to read by demonstrating that they think reading is important.  Parents can help their children discover the benefits of reading:  new ideas...relaxation...adventure...fun.

• Buy as many children's books as you can afford.
• Give books as gifts.
• Visit the library regularly.
• Allow your children to choose their own books.  Don't rush them.
• Show your children that you enjoy reading.  Make sure they see you reading newspapers, magazines, and books.
• Set up a special place for reading.
• Encourage older children to read to younger children.
• Surround your child with words;  point out street signs; label objects in the house such as table, desk, stove.
• Play word games like Scrabble, Anagrams, and Ad Lib.
• Watch education TV programs together.  Some stress reading development (Sesame Street)
• Read to your child, especially at bedtime.  Reread favorite stories.
• Ask your child to read to you.
• Stress the things your children do well in reading rather than any mistakes they make.  Remember Success breeds success.

Remember Success Breeds Success!

Generation "I"

Today's students are the Internet generation...Generation "I"...and are as comfortable on a computer as on a bicycle.  The combination of the Internet and education is not only a natural progression for Generation "I,"  it is a necessity in today's economy.  In teaching our children, this means not only providing them with an understanding of technology, but also using technology in ways that help them learn new things in new ways. 

To Generation "I," the computer's technology is practically invisible.  Like the telephone, it has become a household appliance.   Connected kids may like cool, fun content, but parents see greater value in the Internet than simple entertainment or communication. 

The Internet acts as a major enabler linking students to anytime-anywhere learning and as a catalyst to help us rethink education. 

Excerpts from 'Generation "I"', Martha Angulo, Homeschooling Parent, January/February 2002, pp. 6-7.

Page 5

The human soul cannot be permanently chained.

W.E.B. DuBois

Wonderful Winter Links:

Planetpals Earthzone:   Planetpals Earthzone is an interactive site featuring characters that help teach kids the importance of caring for our planet and everything in it. Filled with free and fun activities for kids; a valuable source of earth science and ecology information.
http://www.planetpals.com

Scholastic Winter Storms:  Students hear all sorts of stories about winter storms. Tie those stories into the science of storms, and look at severe storms over the past three hundred years.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/wwatch/winter/index.htm

1st Headlines:  This site includes links to individual stories in most major newspapers and network news websites. Users can also browse current stories in the business, health, sports, technology, or travel sections, or even by topics such as the Olympics, animals, education, fires, aviation, etc.
http://www.1stheadlines.com/

So You Want to Know, but You Don't Know How:   Simple yet thorough explanations guide you through a wide range of topics from buying a suit to performing a breast self-examination to avoiding traffic tickets. The site could have been called Wiseparents.com, but who would have visited it?  It probably knows more than our parents anyway.
http://www.soyouwanna.com/

The Science of Fun:  The Funology.com site offers safe and fun information for kids of all ages. The bright design will keep even the most active child's attention. From science experiments to snacks to crafts, the site contains lots of great ideas to occupy wintry days - or any day. It also includes a list of games reviewed by both children and their parents.
http://www.funology.com/

Arc Data Online:  Arc Data Online allows you to browse a world of geographic data to create live maps of specific areas of interest. Maps can include a variety of information, such as floodplains, earthquake zones, and demographics. A great source of graphic representations of detailed data. Perfect for finding different countries and locations represented in the Winter Olympics.
http://www.esri.com/data/online/index.html

The Tide Pool Page: An interactive tour of a tide pool. Included are Tide Pool Tips for safe viewing and minimizing human impact upon this fragile ecosystem, information about some of the organisms found in tide pools, how tides work, and a list of related links. 
http://web.mit.edu/corrina/tpool/intro.html

Wishing you a great New Year!

From the Staff at Strategic Studies Corporation

 
Copyright © 2002 Strategic Studies Corp.
http://www.strategicstudies.com