Education Short List

Groundskeeper Sheep
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110613/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_groundskeeping_sheep

Personally, this is a brilliant idea. I love the inventiveness of it and I hope that it inspires other districts (heck companies to do the same). Plus, I think that instead of slashing funds for yet another aspect of education, this school district is finding a way to keep the monies where they belong. Plus, it’s a great learning opportunity.

Textbooks and Technology
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_25/b4233043963930.htm?chan=magazine+channel_news+-+technology

Here’s another way in which technology is helping out in the classroom and it’s students. Now there are some textbooks that can be downloaded on an iPad. There are lots of aspects to this that I believe are an advancement for education. I like that it costs less, teachers (and college professors) can select the chapters that they want and students can just purchase those. Yet, the part that I liked the most is how interactive it can be. 3-D images, interactive quizzes, rotating images and moving pictures… Textbooks tend to be SO boring, but completely necessary – so then, perhaps virtual textbooks will be the bridge in that educational need.

Parents Educational Needs
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/06/08/gym.schools.parents/index.html

I’m glad that parents, and families, are raising their voices in defense of educators. Education is gaining more and more attention, from ‘Waiting for Superman’ to midterm elections to schools needing a financial bailout and union protesting (and supporters). However, most of the talks have been from corporations and politicians attacking educators; and it wasn’t until I read this opinion piece that I realized families and students have NOT been a part of the conversation. So, if you haven’t read this and are a part of education – read it over and let it be a guiding force to get you involved.

Rethinking Schools – School Leadership for Tough Times
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/ProdDetails.asp?ID=RTSVOL24N1

This article may be from a few years ago, but it’s message – how to be strong when it’s easier to be weak – is just as important this summer and upcoming school year.

Earlier this year I became inspired by the actions of the ‘common person’ in the Middle East and North Africa. I am still inspired by how people are determined to keep their message going, even though, times might be tough. Education is under attack in the United States, and it’s time to read up on what you can do to make a change in our school district – no matter how you are involved in education. This article provides some strength for the moral fiber to our situation.

Art value in education – Creating Artful People. Portland Family 10/09
http://portlandfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/pfm_october_2009.pdf

This may be an older article, but the content of it is relevant today. Summer is the time that families move to different districts, or apply to private schools, in the hopes of giving their children a better education next fall. While most families put their focus on academics, I ask that you take some time to look at how schools are treating the arts, physical education, and recess. The arts, in all their forms – visual, performing, musical, fashion – all play an important role in your child’s learning. This article discusses, in detail, how the arts do just that. So, before you head to that private pre-school that’s number one in college enrollment, check out the school that makes the arts mandatory.

Salman Khan and his Academy
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_22/b4230072816925.htm?chan=magazine+channel_top+stories

If you haven’t heard of Salman Khan, or his YouTube videos, you probably aren’t paying attention. Salman Khan is technology’s new ‘It’ boy for education. He’s giving people tutorials and tools to learn what they wish to learn and at their own pace. Will it revolutionize the classroom? No. But will it allow people to learn? Yes.
http://www.khanacademy.org/

KidZania
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_22/b4230085996598.htm?chan=magazine+channel_etc.

Look, isn’t it cute? Kids dressed up as cops and firefighters? Ooohh, and they get to climb ladders, carry badges, and fight crime. What kid doesn’t/didn’t love to play pretend and dress up? But where KidZania takes it a step further is that there are actually marketing companies who are watching the kids who go to these theme parks and market to them. Although it isn’t really different than say, Disneyland, I feel as though it’s a bit sneakier – preying on children’s pretend. And the creator of this enterprise was so excited to make it, because – no one ‘owns’ role-playing. Hmm, perhaps it could help your kiddo decide if they want to be an MD or not.

2011-12 Education Guide for Portland Metro, Oregon
http://www.metro-parent.com/issues/ed11/index.html

HHeeeyyyy, I was interviewed for a tutoring article in this local family publication.

Teachers Pay Teachers
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Identifying-Main-Idea-Learning-Center-and-Class-Activity

Here’s a good product to help educators get the ‘main point’ across to their students with writing.

Alice Cooper’s School’s Out for Summer
Alice Cooper

Hopefully, by now, everyone is experiencing, relishing, and devouring summer.
Woohoo – it’s here at last for everyone — SUMMER!