In The News November 2007 Vol. 10-11
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If no other time during
the year, this month provides a time to give thanks fo |
I'm
surrounded by gold this month. 
In fact, it is raining
gold. The trees have been spreading their fall beauty for the
last few weeks and it is just beautiful! My walks take me
through paths of gold that crunch under foot. The air alternates
between crisp and warm. It is a beautiful time of year, no
doubt. Nature is giving us a last look at color before the
white and grays of winter approach. 
r all that
we have been blessed with throughout the year. It is a time 
for family and friends to gather
and share their bounty, love, and companionship with one another.
As my family migrates to distance places, it is a time to remember the
many times we have been together, cooking, laughing, remembering and sharing with one another, over the
years. As time goes by my family has grown to a vast extended family
giving me the opportunity to
continue the celebrations started so many years ago.
At the same time we remember and
give thanks to the parents and students who have given us such delight
over the past year. We hope this Thanksgiving season finds you
with loved ones and friends.
Happy
Thanksgiving!
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The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself. Michael De Montaigne (1533-1592) Essayist |
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 Learning with e-Tutor New Features at e-Tutor!
You may want to check with your student
to determine an adequate number of lesson modules to be completed in a
normal day for your child. Keep the number four (4) in your mind
as the maximum number to complete in a day.
Twenty-eight
New Lesson Modules
Join the e-Tutor world of learning today to view the Lesson Library.
Last month we were pleased to welcome many new writers to the Writer's Circle. We are continuing our invitation to write lesson modules for the e-Tutor Program during the next few months. You, a friend, or relative may be interested in this opportunity. e-Tutor includes 2200 lesson modules at this writing. If you are interested in writing lesson modules for the e-Tutor program, please send an email to admin@knowledgehq.com. We will send you information on how you can participate in this exciting endeavor and earn money at the same time.
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e-Tutor is constantly under a state of
revision. Everyday there are changes made to the system.
Some you may see and others you may not. One of the revisions we
have recently initiated is a reminder to students of how many lesson
modules we encourage students to do each day. We
recommend no more than four lesson modules each day. As they reach the
limit, students receive a reminder that they have completed the
recommended number of lessons for that day. They are encouraged
to make sure they have completed the off line projects and activities
included with each lesson module. If they wish to proceed they
can complete up to three more lesson modules before they are blocked
from completing more.
There is a very good reason for our
suggesting no more than four lesson modules each day. Remember,
that e-Tutor has been online for over ten years. During that
time we have completed a great deal of research to determine how
students are using the program, how long (on average) it takes each
student to complete a lesson module and what parts of the lesson
module students prefer. We have found that students complete
most lesson modules within an hour to an hour and a half. Some
students have even found this very difficult to achieve. We know
that some lesson modules (especially in High School Literature) take
up to three days to complete. 
Join
the Writer's Circle
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Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart. Washington Irving (1783-1859) Novelist and essayist |
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This is the second part of
a three part series we started last month. It has become
increasingly difficult to get a meal on the table.....and to get the
family to the table. Family meals are important. Once the parent establishes that there will be a meal, the way it actually happens can be negotiable and flexible. Use everybody's ingenuity in adjusting times, locations, and types of food. One family, for example, has Wednesday night supper at a fast food restaurant after the soccer game. Another family eats dinner right after the children get home from school because dad is off work at that time and everybody is hungry. Yet another family has a substantial family breakfast instead of dinner. Both mom and children are active in sports, and morning is the one time they can all be together. Keep
meals enjoyable. The family table has to be a nice place to be
or nobody...not even parents...will want to be there. Keep it
pleasant, keep it light, include everyone in the conversation, and
don't use mealtimes for disciplining or airing grievances. It's
all right to talk about touchy issues, just don't try to come to any
conclusions. Use mealtimes for listening to each other's
views. Expect good behavior at mealtime, and excuse children from the table if they won't behave properly. Being at the family table is a privilege that children have to earn by helping to make it pleasant for everyone. If they don't like something, teach them to say, "no thank you" and pass it on. The meal has to be pleasant for you, too, and if you are listening to complaints or worrying about getting your family to eat, it won't be. But do let your children be children in the way they eat. Young children spill, are awkward about using their utensils, and eat with their fingers. Children can get so preoccupied with neatness they can forget to eat. Adapted from Ellen Satter, How to Get Your Kid to Eat....But Not Too Much |
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The maxim "know thyself" looks good on paper. But, if you have tried it, you know that one of the greatest hurdles is being able to see yourself objectively. We all have built-in biases about who and what we are, and these biases can color our self-images. It is very difficult to see ourselves as others see us. We often cannot be objective about our emotional selves because we have built up defenses that hinder accurate self-evaluations. Our
"insights' about ourselves usually contain a number of convenient
blind spots. The self-actualized individual, who can speak
freely and honestly of her/his faults and abilities is rare. Many writers on success encourage us to exert a "110 percent" effort in everything we do. Of course, this is unrealistic, but it is not unrealistic to set as a goal of exerting ten percent more effort than you thought you could. People tend to be too humble about their talents and activities. We need to realize that diminishing our own talents can be as socially and psychologically damaging as overconfidence. Dizzy Dean once said, "If you've done it, it ain't bragging!" Today we say, "When you're hot, you're hot!" Adapted
from The Public School Administrator
Thomas Edison tried futilely for years to convince the world that his inventions were not the result of any great genius he had. "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration," was the way he explained it. "I never did anything worth doing by accident nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work." He left, at the time of
his death, some 2500 notebooks crammed with notes of his work and
ideas. He would work himself into virtual exhaustion and then
sleep in a cot he had in his laboratory until sufficiently refreshed
to pursue his work again. So, the best kept secret of success seems to be that success, strangely enough, is always preceded by hard work. This fact is so obvious that, either by oversight or inclination, it is entirely overlooked. As someone once said, "The obvious reaches almost total oblivion." People read books, go to meetings, take courses, attend conventions, and probe frantically in all directions for new secrets and methods for achieving success. But, somehow, they almost deliberately avoid admitting the answer was right before them all the time. Work! Human effort! It is s Adapted from University Outreach Service, Inc. |
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If people knew how hard I have had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem wonderful at all. Michelangelo |
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"You're going Christmas shopping today, aren't you?" Peter asked his mother as she dropped him off at junior high. "Maybe," she teased. "And maybe not." "Well, I know you are," Peter said. "You have on your sneakers and you only wear those when you're headed for the mall. So here's my list!" Peter smiled and pressed an envelope into his mother's hand. He kissed her goodbye and bolted from the car before she could respond. "Love you, Mom!" he called out to her. Margaret sat in the car holding the envelope that read "Pete's Holiday Wish List." It felt thick, like there were several sheets of paper folded inside of it. She was disappointed,.
Margaret and her husband Paul had done
their best to teach Peter about sharing with others, understanding the
value of money, and appreciating the things they had. She feared
that peer pressure was having more of an influence over her boy than
the good examples she and her husband tried to give him. Once inside the mall, Margaret bought herself a cup of coffee and sat at a small table. She pulled out the list she'd prepared over the last few months of gifts she wanted to buy for family and friends. In Peter's column she'd written the name of a series of books she knew he wanted. Now she wondered if Peter's "mega list" had any books on it at all. What was he asking for, anyway? Video games? A drum set, maybe? A dirt bike? She pulled his envelope from her purse, thinking about the conversation she would have to have with her son that evening. As she removed the folded papers from the envelope, five $5 bills floated onto the table.
Margaret quickly unfolded the pages.
Peter's wish list included items like plant a tree, cook for Meals
on Wheels, sponsor an exchange student, work at a soup kitchen, and
read to the kids at the children's hospital. There was
also a not Dear Mom and Dad, I know how lucky I am to have you for parents. And how fortunate I am to be related to the grandparents and cousins and other loving relatives that make up our family tree. But I've only just realized how many people don't have compassion in their lives, and how much isn't getting done in our world only because nobody's stepping up to do it. This is my way of stepping up. I'll need your help because it could take a couple of years for me to accomplish everything on my list and keep up with school, too. So you can "nudge" me any time you want!
All My Love, P.S. The money's for you, Mom! After you wear yourself out shopping for everybody else, have a pedicure on me!
Margaret wiped the tears from her
eyes. She was overwhelmed by Peter's thoughtfulness. And
like any parent, Margaret hoped she could make her son's wishes come
true. Stephanie Marston, Psychotherapist |
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There are four main concepts we want to communicate about reading to our children: (1) Written words have value because they are a vital communication tool; (2) Written words can be personally enjoyable; (3) Written words increase understanding and power over the world; and (4) Reading is something most people can easily learn to do. We communicate these concepts through:
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Working Smart |
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An inch of progress is worth more than a yard of complaint. Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) Educator and actiivist |
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Thanksgiving Trivia:
This site offers a hunt activity that can be done entirely
online. Students can learn about navigating the Internet while
also discovering fun Thanksgiving facts. History of the
Mayflower Pilgrims: The Mayflower Society has developed this
site to provide more information about the passengers of the Mayflower
and their descendents. American Indians and the Natural World: Hosted by the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, this site is an exploration of four tribes of Native Americans: The Tlingit of the Northwest Coast, the Hopi of the Southwest, the Iroquois of the Northeast, and the Lakota of the Plains. It includes the "belief systems philosophies, and practical knowledge that guide their interactions with the natural world." http://www.carnegiemnh.org/exhibits/north-south-east-west/index.html Justice Learning: Civic
education in the real world: Justice Learning is an innovative
approach for engaging high school students in informed political
discourse. The web site uses audio from the Justice Talking
radio show and articles from the New York Times to teach students
about reasoned debate and the often-conflicting values inherent in our
democracy. The web site includes articles, editorials and oral
debate from the nation's finest journalists and advocates. All
of the material is supported by age-appropriate summaries and additional
links. In addition, for each covered issue, the site includes
curricular material from the New York Times Learning Network for high
school teachers and detailed information about how each of the
institutions of democracy (the courts, the Congress, the presidency,
the press and the schools) affect the issue. In Search of the Ways of Knowing Trail: Your trip to the village of Epulu takes a detour when your jeep experiences mechanical failure. You are forced to walk through the Ituri Forest in central Africa accompanied by four youths from the different local cultures. Along the way, you'll make choices and learn about plants, animals, and survival. A Forest Factbook serves as a glossary. Totally Flash-driven. Could get noisy! http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/pagegen/wok/index_f4.html The Thrill of Flight: This multimedia resource contains lessons, interactive activities, games, worksheets, simple quizzes, Glossaries, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Divided into five topics: aviators and events, air and lift, airplanes, helicopters and gliders. Requires Flash. http://education.gov.ab.ca/ltb/resource/ Accordion Dreams (PBS): A renewed interest in grassroots regional musical styles, such as Zydeco, Cajun and Tejano, have resulted in the rediscovery and rise in popularity of the accordion. Conjunto is a unique Texas-based Mexican American music tradition born in the 19th Century that continue to evolve and thrive today. The world of accordions and conjunto is attracting a diverse worldwide audience that includes millions of admirers of the accordion-based polka that is popular in Czech, Polish and German communities. Pictures, music, biographical and historical information make this site 'muy bueno.' Requires Real Player and Flash. http://www.pbs.org/accordiondreams/main/index.html Virtual Cave: Caves are cool! Learn about Solution Caves, Lava Tube Caves, Sea Caves and Erosional Caves. Students can also investigate caves near their homes with links in the U.S. Show Cave Directory. http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/
From the Knowledge HQ Staff Copyright © 2007 Knowledge Headquarters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.knowledgehq.com |
Somehow, the world seems
to be unwilling to admit that simple, good, old-fashioned hard work
can be the basis of success. Studies are constantly being made
to determine personalities, hormone ratios, childhood characteristics,
intelligence, education, methods, techniques, and the rationale of
successful people. The fact that they work hard is shoved aside
as some strange coincidence. 
o uncomplicated
that ordinary work is the fountain of achievement that people who have
not reached the levels of their aspirations seem not to want to admit
to themselves that their failure can be attributed to the lack of such
a conspicuous ingredient as work. 
e:
Some people feel that talking to their
children about money matters is like discussing sex....only it's more
difficult. Psychologists agree that parents are often afraid to
discuss family finances with their children because money is closely
tied to identity. Most experts feel that the subject should be
talked about frequently and that parents should start early to educate
their children about financial matters. The following are
suggestions for preparing your child to deal with financial
matters: 
n be bought with that amount. 
saves,
you put away a dollar. Investigate investing money in the
stock market for him or her. You can help your kids in this
age group find a summer or weekend job. Discuss what kinds
of things you expect them to pay for. 
