In The News July 2009 Vol. 12-7
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Hard
to believe that July is almost over. Time, as always, races by
without our noticing it. There are still many days for fun and
recreation with family and friends. This month our family will
be getting together from far and near for a family reunion. We
miss seeing each other face to face an This year, with the help
of loved ones, I saved a small section of my garden Sum The vision we had thirteen
years ago for educating K-12 students over the Internet, is still
current and the concept is being actively pursued by most states in
the country. Our concern remains, however, that any online
instructional program for these younger learners must differ
dramatically from that offered in regular education. You cannot
take a typical instructional program and f At Knowledge HQ, we will continue to look for the latest advances that will enhance and improve the learning quality for our online students. We find the planning exciting, in the sense that there remains so many options to change the way instruction is delivered to students. We will keep you posted as we move ahead. Stay cool and enjoy family times this month!
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d these gatherings give us a
chance to laugh, cry and enjoy the stories and tales of current and
past adventures. In this age of instant communication, the many
tools make
it easier to stay in touch, but there is something special about a
hug, a smile, a hand from a family member. We treasure the times
we have together and take delight in the newer and younger members of
the family. 
for vegetables and
strawberries. And, they are growing tall and strong. There
is one slight problem, no fruit or vegetables. The birds and
squirrels are feasting on my harvest! I know the foods could be
saved with adequate cover, but somehow, I don't mind nature's creatures
enjoying themselves...so far. I probably take as much enjoyment
in the growing, as in the eating. So, I will continue to share,
until my stomach aches for my own homegrown harvest. 
mer gives me a chance
to work on planning for the business. One would think there
probably is not much planning that needs to take place after thirteen
years in the business. But, the instructional needs of students are
changing. And in order to continue to offer the
"best place to learn online," we want to know how the latest
technologies can improve our instructional offerings. Our
research tells us, we are still ahead of the curve. 
it it into the online world
and hope that students will take an interest in a new way of
learning. Because, it won't be new and students, and parents,
are smart enough to know it. 
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 Learning with e-Tutor
e-Tutor instructional content is aligned to standards created by e-Tutor as well as State and National Goals for Learning. Over the last months, we have shared with you the goals for each of the four curricular areas offered in the e-Tutor program. Students benefit from the customized approach to learning that is based on achievement, interest and learning style. Each e-Tutor lesson
module has several important components that the student needs to
finish before fully completing the lesson module. Each component
is a useful tool unto itself, but powerful when combined in the lesson
module. The
interactive program is designed to increase knowledge in a
collaborative, seamless learning environment that promotes
intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning.
e-Tutor requires no plug-ins or complicated downloads for users;
it is designed for the basic computer user.
The benefits of
e-Tutor are significant:
* Registration for summer school is now over. Fall registration is now open. Have you noticed how many lesson modules are added to the e-Tutor system each month. The bank of lesson modules will continue to grow each month.
Join the e-Tutor
world of learning today to view Online Learning We have just a few more weeks before we
submit our report to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on
Education about the Supplemental Education Services section of the No
Child Left Behind Act. Our goal is to show how technology, and explicitly online education, has
not been widely Thank you to those who have provided your ideas for this important work. If you have not provided your input, please do so. Leave your comments on the blog @http://www.e-tutor.com/blog/. |
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used in SES
programs across the country. Yet, at a minimum it is cost effective,
tracks student achievement, and provides for an instructional program
available any time day or night. 
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When playing games with children, let them win more than once in awhile. |
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To
read for meaning, we must simultaneously utilize clues from all cueing
systems. Readers bring knowledge and past experiences to the
reading task to construct interpretations and to determine if the
print makes sense to them. It is easier for readers to
understand print when the content is relevant to their personal
experiences. Familiar content and topics convey meaning or clues
through the semantic cueing system. When we are
comfortable and familiar with the content of a passage, we can predict
upcoming text and take greater risks in reading. Research has
repeatedly shown that fluent readers risk more guesses when
interacting with unfamiliar print than poorer readers. They
derive more meaning from passages than readers who frequently stop to
sound or decode words by individual phonemes or letters. Knowledge of word order and the rules of grammar which structure oral language, guide readers' predictions for printed language. Such language-pattern clues comprise the syntactic cueing system. Readers should constantly question the text to ensure that what they are reading makes sense and sounds like language. Reading
experiences that focus on relevant and familiar content, vocabulary
and language patterns increase one's chances of constructing meaning
and being successful readers. For early readers, successful
reading experiences reaffirm one's confidence as language users and
learners. The holistic approach to the reading process
stresses the importance of The graphophonic cueing system relates sounds to printed symbols. When print is translated into words that are in their listening vocabularies, readers will recognize and comprehend the words. If the sounded words are unfamiliar to readers, they must rely on the other cueing systems to construct meaning. Adapted from Saskatchewan, Canada Education Dept. |
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As
for phone calls, should there be a presumption that an incoming call
is more important than the task you happen to be working on? If
you were to keep a log of all incoming calls for one week, you would
probably be surprised to see how few were really relevant. If
the call is important, the caller will say so. If it isn't, the
caller can return the call at a prescheduled time or you can do the
same. These tips are only as good as the discipline you use in making them effective. You just have to remember that any time you save becomes valuable for you and all the people with whom you come into contact. Adapted from The Public School Administrator
Teaching
values is a very delicate undertaking. What values do you want
to impart to your children? Do you practice what you
preach? Do you value Remember that you are teaching by your example in your daily life. Practice emotional honesty by embodying the values you want to instill in your children. If your home is a peaceful, nurturing, safe place to grow up, you are doing your part. Adapted from Wonderful Ways to Love a Child, Judy Ford |
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Focus
on the Child, Not the Score The best advice for student success in learning is: read, read, read! Read together. Read what you enjoy, including stories, poems, and comic books. Talk about what you read with your children. Reading helps in mathematics with word problems and math journals. Many children's books also focus on math. Are
there tricks for getting high scores on standardized tests? Su Adapted from Classroom Leadership |
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You can help your child succeed in learning by building his or her self-confidence. Use these guidelines:
And, remember, don't feel guilty if you "blow it," but use your energy to try again more effectively. Adapted from National Education Association |
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One afternoon, an elderly gentleman, wearing dark glasses and sporting a white cane, approached Sam in the clubhouse. "My goodness! Is that the great Sam Nelson I hear?"" asked the old man. ""Who wants to know?" snapped Sam. "Just an old man who would give anything to play 18 holes with you." "You've got to be joking." replied Sam. "You're blind." "True, I am blind," said the old man. But I played the pro circuit before I lost my sight. I'm pretty sure I can beat you. And I'd be willing to put down $100 a hole. Sam
chuckled. "Now let me make sure I heard this right.
You're blind and you want to challenge me to $100 a hole?" "Yep," replied the blind man. "You've got yourself a deal, old man. Just pick the time and place...and promise not to whine when I take your money." "Agreed," said the man and they shook hands. "So, when do you want to tee off?" asked Sam. "Any night," said the blind man. "Any night at all." Bits and Pieces |
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Black Hole Gang:
Created by teacher and author Stephen Kramer, this
site introduces four kids and a dog named Newton who are crazy about
science, and points kids and their teachers to some of the best
kid-friendly science on the web. Statistics: With
the winning combination of statistics and politics, this Annenberg/CPB
Website offers an original, educational, and entertaining online
experience. Visitors follow a fictional race between two candidates by
reading news bulletins, then learn basic statistical concepts in a
real-world context. Find out what a random sample really is, what
"margin of error" means, and why polls aren't always right. Skateboard
Science: Momentum, gravity, friction, and
centripetal force have never been so interesting. This online exhibit
from the Exploratorium explains how skateboarders seemingly break the
laws of gravity with tricks shown and explained in physics terms. The
site includes a video webcast, glossary, and information about
equipment. Handspeak: A
practical sign language online dictionary. Contains some signs not
found in other online dictionaries. Approximately 2800 signs and
growing daily. Formerly known as the Sign Language Dictionary Online. Ancient
Stones of Scotland: This fascinating site is part of SCRAN,
a searchable archive of history and culture. Links lead to pictures of
natural and manmade stone outcroppings, with the local lore included.
The glossary can pump up your vocabulary a bit, too.
Try Something Different This Month! From the Knowledge HQ Staff Copyright © 2009 Knowledge Headquarters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.knowledgehq.com |
This
week I have been reading a book written in the early 1800s. It
is written in old English style, mixed with Latin and French. The book is a difficult one to read, but the story has
much to tell about the culture of a much earlier period. In
order to understand what I am reading, I depend on clues that provide
meaning for me. From time to time we all need help with
reading. 
presenting one with whole and meaningful
reading passages. This approach is based on the principle
that the readers' understanding of an entire sentence, passage or
story facilitates the reading and comprehension of individual words
within those passages. 
In
this day of email and instant messaging, isn't it strange how a
telephone call or snail mail seems to have a sense of urgency, yet it
rarely is urgent? Why, then do we take some of our most
productive hour to read the mail, most of which is junk? It it's
unimportant enough to have taken several days to reach you by mail,
why can't it wait a few more hours until you have completed the
important functions on your day's schedule. 
Children
learn their values from watching you. Values are not taught
directly but rather assimilated and absorbed, and by this subtle
process of identification your children will imitate you. For
example, if you value polite manners but speak to your children
rudely, they will never get the hang of it. If you value
gentleness, be gentle with your children. They take note of what
you do more than of what you say. The old cliché, "Do as I
say, not as I do" is not only ineffective, it sends mixed messages
that are both confusing and unfair to a child.
honesty but when they tell the truth, do
you in some way punish them? 
re. But we can kill children's enthusiasm for learning with
pressure to perform well on these tests. Often students who have
not 'shown aptitude' on standardized
tests have become successful
doctors, lawyers, teachers, and scientists. Standardized tests
don't measure commitment, work ethic, motivation, or passion. If
we are doing what we love, we are a success. if we respect
knowledge and learning, we have passed the most important
test. 
Sam
was an excellent golfer whose obnoxious ego and lack of sportsmanship
made him unbearable. Because his game was good, many players
still wanted to compete against him. But he would only agree to
play lesser opponents for cash...$50 a hole. Needless to say,
this practice earned him a nice purse and the disdain of other golfers.
