Momathon Blog

Invest in YOU

Why not make 2013 the best year ever by investing in YOU. I am intrigued by so many of the classes available online. Joining a class is a great way to explore new skills or build on strengths—and also meet some exceptional people too!

Invest in YOU: Check out these seven amazing online courses for bloggers that pass my test for outstanding instructors, user-friendliness, and top-notch instruction.

WRITING, BLOGGING AND MORE
Alt Design Summit (psst... the classes are free at ALT in January), Holly Becker's classes at Decor8 e-courses (her next blogging e-course will be in March 2013 and they will begin registration on February 1st) and Mediabistro online classess.

DESIGN, PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTOSHOP, and more ADOBE SKILLS
Nicoles Classes, Big Picture Classes, and Pugly Pixel

CRAFTS, SCRAPBOOKING and HANDMADE
Etsy Events and Online Labs and Big Picture Classes

Now is a wonderful time to dream big and invest in yourself. 

 

Image: DREAM illustration by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

 

Homework Helper: How to Write a Strong Paragraph

Composing a strong paragraph is key to writing effective reports and essays. I created the following handy guide to help you write an effective paragraph.

More HOMEWORK HELP featured in my blog here:

• How to Edit an Essay { Checklist }
• How to Write a Theme Statement in Three Easy Steps
• Why Do Leaves Change Colors in Fall?

 

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Image: HOW TO WRITE A STRONG PARAGRAPH guide, an infographic, is by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Back to School: Smart Tech Gear Under $75

The iPad was on my mind when I put together this week's roundup of tech gear under $75.

1) Kids can stow books and tech gear in the Timbuk2 Classic Messenger Bag. Ballistic Nylon bag keeps gear organized with organizer pockets inside.

2) Do your kids use an iPad to write reports? The built-in keyboard on the iPad is ridiculous to use for writing longer documents. I like the options that turn your iPad into a mini laptop with a separate keyboard that also works as a stand. Before you buy, make sure the case fits your model of iPad. Here are three keyboard and cases I like:

• Zagg iPad2 Folio Case with Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad
• ZAGG iPad 3 Keyboard Case/Folio Cover with Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard
• Hipstreet iPad 3rd Generation/iPad 2 Case with Bluetooth Keyboard 

3) Your kids can learn how to play the piano with the ION iCK05 Piano Apprentice 25-Note Lighted Keyboard connected to your iPad. 

4) Etch A Sketch turned 50 this year. Check out the Headcase Etch A Sketch Hard Case is designed to protect your iPad. (iPad not included.)

5) I admit, I like to work with some music in the background. So I don't object when my kids study while listening to tunes too. The Nova Mini Portable Speakers by TegoAudio.com amplify sound to fill a room and yet are small enough to fit in your pocket. 

6) Ensure your tech gear is safeguarded against damaging voltage fluctuations, surges, and spikes with the Belkin 8 Outlet Surge Protector with USB: Electronics

7) This tech item is a memory card your kids can wear and works with laptops and computers. The USB flash drive is almost as important as pencil and paper in schools these days. The problem is kids are always losing them. That's why I like the wearable USB flash drive that doubles as a bracelet/wristband by MemoryOnHand.com.

 

Why Do Leaves Change Colors in Fall?

I love this time of year. The air is crisp. The weather is a bit cooler. If only the days didn't keep getting shorter. But this is exactly why one of my favorite fall things happens...

 

Image: FALL COLORS INFOGRAPHIC by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

Fall Colors

So why do leaves turn from green to yellow, orange and red? I've created a handy infographic that explains why here.

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Image: FALL LEAVES by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

It's Going to Be Okay

It was over twelve years ago. I can still remember when I heard my pediatrician bring up the word disability... I didn't cry in the doctor's office. I didn't cry in the car on the way home. I don't know why, but I finally let myself cry while making dinner as the steam from the pasta noodles coated my face. If I only had known then, that things would be tough, but even during the most frustrating times, the new "normal" is going to be okay.

There were days—even weeks—when I felt so alone. Thank goodness for friends and family. If I could share one thing, don't go it alone. Asking for help is the best thing to do.

Having a little faith in your kids makes all the difference too. They are stronger, braver, and wiser than you ever thought possible. 

There is a community of moms and dads (and grandparents) out there going through many of the same emotions and struggles as you. Seek them out. These exceptional parents can hold your hand when words just don't say enough.

I first saw the video below about parenting a special needs child on Design Mom. The video was created by Elizabeth. I had to share it too. If you have a special needs child, you will want to see this video. 

 

Image: Photos from the video by Elizabeth.

Homework Helper: How to Edit an Essay {Checklist }

Here's a handy checklist to use when editing an essay. The checklist includes tips on checking formatting, grammar, punctuation and style. I hope this short guide I put together is helpful.

 

 

More grammar tips and homework help are available in my posts 

How to Write a Theme Statement 

Writing Tips for  Final Exams

How to Edit an Essay {Checklist }

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Image: HOW TO EDIT AN ESSAY graphic is by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Raising a Dyslexic Teen

Imagine knowing only English and being asked to read a textbook in Italian or write a paragraph in Danish. That's what each day is like for my teenage daughter who has processing disorder and dyslexia, a neurologically based disorder that causes difficulties in language-related tasks.

Although Albert Einstein could not talk until the age of four and did not learn to read until he was nine, researchers are not convinced he had dyslexia. But his inspiring quote above does make me believe he understood the struggle to read that many dsylexics face.

My daughter— and others like her—has difficulty "decoding" words because she does not hear the sounds letters and syllables make—something most of us take for granted. She tends to rely on memorization of whole words because she can't sound out the words. In many ways she thinks visually and analyzes patterns.

New research in language-based learning disabilities identifies how the brain works when reading. English and other languages that use an alphabet based language use a different reading skill in the brain than character-based languages such as Chinese or Japanese. According to Unlocking Dyslexia in Japanese in the WSJ:

Researchers have long observed that some dyslexics have an easier time with languages like Japanese and Chinese, in which characters represent complete words or ideas, than they do with languages like English, which use separate letters and sounds to form words. 

Dyslexia even makes forming alphabet difficult for some people. In this article, a young boy with had difficulty writing in his native English, but in his Japanese studies class he was able to compose characters sharply and distinctly.

Notes to Self: The Hunger Games

My daughter has been reading The Hunger Games for lit class. Reading the book with her has made it all the more memorable. Have you read it? Will you go to the movie?

The trilogy has a definite dark side—loss, death, giving up and giving in. The quote "It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart," is by Finnick Odair in the book Mockingjay, the third installment of The Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins.

Image and photo above by  me, Chris Olson.

Homework Helper: How to Write a Theme Statement in Three Easy Steps

I included the graphic above to show how to compose a theme statement using the three steps given here. I think this handy fill-in-the-blank format to writing a theme is almost fool-proof for kids in middle grades and above. 

3 Steps to Write a Theme Statement:

1) Select an important TOPIC the book includes. Topic ideas include: freedom, love, trust, death, forgiveness, and many others. (This topic is often called an abstract concept.)

2) Begin the theme statement by listing the book genre, the name of the book, and author. (See graphic above to help you begin the sentence.) 

3) Now finish the statement from above by adding what the author REVEALS about the topic. 

 

Are you looking for more homework help?

Here are a few more writing resources I created: 

How to Write a Concluding Sentence: Did you know the last sentence of a paragraph is key to keeping your reader's interested? I've got a foolproof and easy way to write a strong concluding sentence.

How to Write a Strong Paragraph: Composing a strong paragraph is key to writing effective reports and essays. I created the following handy guide to help you writean effective paragraph.

How to Edit an Essay: A helpful checklist to help you polish an essaybefore you turn in an assignment. 

 

 

Images: All infographic images in this post were created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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Do schools take the thinking out of learning?

Imagine getting in your car to go on a trip to a new place and never making a plan such as looking at a map, writing down directions, or using GPS to plot the road trip for you. In very simple terms, that is what some schools encourage kids to do when they remove the activities that involve planning and organizing ideas and instead rely on highly regulated activities such as memorizing facts for a test. 

A little sunshine in winter

My "Picture Winter" photo for today is all about finding a little sunshine even on a chilly January day. My instructor, Tracey Clark at BigPictureClasses.com gave the class a fun assignment: "Today, keep your eyes open for signs of the sun. Polka dots, symbols, colors, shiny things…whatever helps you remember that the sun will come out tomorrow (or sometime soon, no doubt)."

Photo: Chris Olson © 2011 (Camera: iPhone)

When no one understands your kid in school...

Moving beyond the labels and achieving great things is a big dream for children with learning difficulties. 

I remember being told my daughter would never be able read a book. I remember seeing my daughter banished to the hallway outside her third grade classroom because she was so far behind in class. I remember hearing teachers say my child would never go to college. I remember seeing my daughter crumple her homework papers with a big, red "INCOMPELTE" scribbled on them. I remember hearing my daughter would never achieve anything above a D or C in school. 

And I remember hearing my daughter say, "No one understands me."

In those moments I cried inside because I didn't have an answer. I did not understand my daughter's learning problems either. 

And then one day my daughter met a tutor who saw beyond the labels of her learning disability. She opened the door to learning. And that is when I knew someone understood her. 

If your child faces similar challenges, a new HBO documentary I Can't Do This But I CAN Do That offers hope and inspiration for children with learning difficulties and their families.

 

You can watch HBO trailer here.

This motivational film can even inspire adults to achieve more and move beyond the negative ideas holding them back. Photographer Scott Bourne blogged about it: 

Now here’s the important part. Start thinking about, talking about and living in the world of the stuff you CAN do. Concentrate on what you CAN do and not on what you CANNOT do... There’s a way to make this even more successful. Only surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Ask them to stop you dead in your tracks if they start hearing what you can’t do. Ask them to remind you what you CAN do. I bet you have more going for you than you realize.

According to Smart Kids With LD:

The film highlights the resourcefulness, creativity and strengths that schools frequently fail to acknowledge when students with LD are viewed as less capable than others, and are not given the help they need to succeed.  As director and producer Ellen Goosenberg Kent notes, the film “encourages students, families, and teachers to look beyond labels and discover the gifts each child possesses.”

According to the Denver Dyslexia Awareness Blog, the documentary is "hopeful, honest, emotional, empathetic, uplifting, vulnerable, riveting, inspiring, intelligent." 

To find the date and time for this documentary on HBO, check the listings.

(Photo by C. Olson.)

Homework helper: Write a strong paragraph in 3 steps

It happens every day after school across America, kids complain to their parents about another writing homework assignment. I don't remember when I wrote my first paragraph, but kids today are expected to write a paragraph as early as first grade. Even after two decades of working as a writer, I think facing a blank page can be daunting. Fortunately, if you want to write a strong paragraph such as a summary paragraph, just grab your paper and pencil or a laptop and follow this simple recipe. 

Here are some tips to help you write a strong summary paragraph:

1) Begin with a topic sentence using the IVF format:

• Identify: In the topic sentence, start with the subject of the summary. (What are you summarizing? Identify the article title, the author, the source.)
• Verb: After you identify the subject add a strong verb (identifies, illustrates, argues, emphasizes, recommends, supports, contradicts, questions, reinforces, undermines).
• Finish: Conclude the topic sentence with a clear statement of a main idea. (What is the main idea of the piece the student summarizes?)

2) Follow the topic sentence with 3 details that support the topic sentence.

Detail One

• Show how the author supports the main idea with a detail.
• Illustrate detail 1 with one or two examples.

Detail Two

• Show how the author supports the main idea with another detail.
• Illustrate detail 2 with one or two examples.

Detail Three

• Show how the author supports the main idea with a third detail.
• Illustrate detail 3 with one or two examples.

3) Conclusion

Finish your summary with an insightful conclusion. Your concluding sentence should not give new information. The conclusion should reinforce, reiterate, but not repeat the main idea from the topic sentence.

(Photo:  Pink Sherbet Photography)

iPhone app takes on global warming skeptics

I love The Skeptical Science iPhone app. And believe me, I will have plenty of opportunities to use it in my little town. Sure it won't help me win every argument with global warming skeptics. But I'll keep using this app and supporting mother earth because as my daughter tells me: We love polar bears, penguins, lady bugs, blue sky, and the fish in the sea. 

According to a report by Leo Hickman in the www.guardian.co.uk:

"I'm not sure this is going to quell the climate wars raging at present, but it's an interesting development nonetheless. An Australian solar physicist called John Cook, who runs the popular Skeptical Science website, has developed an app which "lets you use an iPhone or iPod to view the entire list of skeptic arguments as well as (more importantly) what the science says on each argument". So the next time you're caught at the fag end of a wedding reception in an interminable one-way conversation with a reactionary uncle who's boring on about how "the climate's always changed", just switch on this app, hand them your iPhone, and proceed to the bar."

So far the app has 90 rebuttals to global warming skeptic arguments.

Thanks to this clever app developed by solar physicist John Cook, I'll know exactly what to say the next time someone tells me to stop worrying about polar bears starving to death on melting ice. 

Give a laptop to children in developing countries and change the world.

The XO laptop: A small computer that serves a big cause. 

Most of the more than one billion children in the emerging world do not have access to education. The rugged and inexpensive XO laptop can help solve that problem. 

The nonprofit organization One Laptop per Child provides poor children in developing countries a sturdy laptop that works even in harshest conditions. The OLPC has big goals that have met some criticism in part because the OLPC has has only distributed laptops in smaller, isolated areas. But after three years the nonprofit has expanded its outreach. According to the NYTimes.com: "Late last month the Uruguayan government completed the process of distributing an XO to each of its 415,000 elementary school children as the first phase of the Plan Ciebal initiative to provide a laptop for every student and teacher in the country."

You can make a difference. Give a laptop. Change the world.

One Laptop per Child : Zimi's Story FULL
Uploaded by olpcfoundation.

Geeky Mom: Will the Nook be a Kindle killer?

A few days ago I wrote a post all about e-books. The e-reader scene is already changing with a new device by Barnes & Noble that offers some unique features including lending technology for sharing books with friends and a color touchscreen.

Yesterday the Nook e-reader with access to over one million e-books, newspapers, and magazines downloaded wirelessly was unveiled by bookseller Barnes & Noble for $259. This e-reader price is so much better than the hefty $489 for the Kindle DX e-reader. Parents might even decide they can afford to give this new gadget to kids. (If a gadget gets kids excited to read again, why not splurge and buy it?) 

The slim Nook is about the size of a paperback and can store as many as 1,500 e-books, newspapers, and magazines. With an added memory card you can keep up to 17,500 books on the Nook. The cost for an e-book is reasonable at about $9.99 and thousands of titles are free at the Barnes & Noble eBookstore. The Nook works on the 3G network and with WiFi.

The Nook features crisp B&W text. I haven't held a Nook in my hands, but after viewing the promotional videos and photos I think the PR buzz is correct. I am disappointed that it does not feature a full page of color image/text. Full color pages would be so useful when viewing textbooks and books featuring rich graphics. (I predict digital textbooks are going to big the next big wave in e-books.) But the Nook does have a colorful touchscreen at the bottom of the screen to help you select the book you want to read.

Features I like include the ability to make text bigger (5 different font sizes) and easily bookmark, highlight passages and make notes as you go. Also the E-Ink by VizPlex offers enough contrast (16-bit gray scale) so there is no glare or backlight making it easy on the eyes. You can adjust the screen lighting to fit the situation.

One of the unusual features of the Nook is you can share books from your Nook with your friends for free for about 14 days at a time with the Nook's LendMe technology. The lending policy reminds me of the public library policy for lending e-books. All you have to do is send the book file to your friend's iPhone, iPod touch, laptop, select BlackBerry and other smart phones. Wonder how the book publishers feel about the free e-book lending? (More about the issue of intellectual property rights of authors in a SF Chronicle article by Michelle Richmond.)

I'm a news junkie so the access to over 20 million newspaper subscriptions sounds great. Note that reading newspapers on the Nook is not free. I do love the NYT, WSJ, and Newsweek. Subscribing to them and a dozen more would be a huge temptation.

What's next on the horizon? 

I'm waiting for the Apple's new e-reader tablet--an overgrown iPod. Unfortunately the Apple option won't be cheap at $700 or more when it is released in a few months. The price really turns me off because I was hoping this tablet would be a good choice for kids/teens, but at $700-$900 I am even nervous to carry it around in my backpack/purse. The Apple eReader-and-more is rumored to run iPhone OS and play MP3 audio files and videos. So cool. Just hoping the price drops soon. 

To make excuses for why your child hasn't done his homework, press 2

At least a few people working in public education have a sense of humor... 

Not sure if the answering machine message below is fake or real, but I do think it is very smart and, perhaps best of all, this message points out not so subtly how parents AND their kids need to 'wake up and smell the coffee.' Automatically blaming the school for all of their problems is just as ridiculous as this phone message sounds.

This answering machine message below was allegedly voted unanimously to record by the staff at Maroochydore High School, Queensland, Australia. 

  

Should Schools Say Goodbye to Summer Vacation?

What would you say if your local school district decided to change your school calendar to a 12-month school year? My first response is YIKES! But after some thought and research I see this not so new idea is catching on for some very good reasons.

Modified school calendars have created a big discussion around the water-cooler. Staying competitive in a global economy puts getting a good education as a priority. Here's what Babble.com writer Jeane Sager says in a recent article:

"Arne Duncan wasn't the new Secretary of the Department of Education long before he started talking big change for America's kids. The former CEO of the third largest school district in the nation, the Chicago Public Schools, wants to say goodbye to the school year as we know it."

If schools modify their  calendar to year around school, they can increase the classroom time and increase learning time. Sounds great for education but what about the benefits of relaxing bodies and rebooting brains over the summer break? Does a modified calendar spell the end of summer as we know it? Here's what Sager says:

"Regarded as a long-standing tradition, even by parents who scramble to find daycare for a lengthy ten-week period, summer break has loyal parent supporters. Threats to the traditional school year have spawned groups like Summer Matters, an information clearinghouse launched in 2001 expressly to give parents ammunition to fight the modified calendar. The site is filled with letters to President Obama that proclaim modifying the school calendar "has been tried and failed for more than 100 years."

How do you feel? I am still siding with the longer summer break as long as parents work with their kids to encourage learning over the summer too. 

Momathon Fave: New Moon Girls Magazine

Finding a magazine for girls that isn't loaded with diet advice, popularity contests and ads might seem impossible. That is, until you discover the wonderful New Moon Girls Magazine.

"New Moon Girls magazine is about helping girls discover and honor their true selves, engage in meaningful pursuits and dialogue, and express their voices in ways that matter."

In every issue readers will find: 

• Articles about girl athletes, adventurers, and activists
• Girls internationally teaching readers about countries and cultures
• Features about women in careers that girls can aspire to 
• Life stories about fascinating historical women 
• Fiction stories about girls 
• Honest, accurate information about our bodies
• Inspirational messages from accomplished girls and women 
• Book reviews, cartoons, Ask a Girl, Dear Luna, and more 

You can read a full issue at this New Moon link.

Clever Children's Book Is Also an iPhone App

Making a smooth transition back to work is not easy for new moms. The book Oscar the Pig by Megan Calhoun, the founder of Twittermoms, aims to help moms and their young kids adjust to the changes including the feelings of separation anxiety. In the book, Oscar the Pig's mom is going back to work. And Oscar is just a little worried. Fortunately, Oscar now has also has a lovable but eccentric nanny hen who takes Oscar on magical adventures to other cultures. Now Oscar has fun adventures and discoveries to share with his mom when she gets home from work.

Oscar the Pig is now available from iKids iPlay in an app format with five interactive activities on iTunes for 2.99. 

Acccording to Jenrab at blog The Next Kid Thing, with the Oscar the Pig app "kids can rub the screen to reveal hidden pages; the book becomes a coloring book with the stroke of a little finger, which can later be sent to grandma via email; storytime can enjoyed with automatic page turns and beginning readers can read, record and replay as they grasp their new reading abilities."

Here are the five app activities listed on the App Shopper:

• RUB - Rub the screen with your finger to reveal the hidden picture book pages.
• COLOR - Classic coloring book using a finger as the crayon. Save and email to mom, dad and grandparents.
• STORY - Enjoy a video story time, narration and page turns included.
• READ - Read, record and playback the picture book
• PAINT - Digital finger painting. Save and email to mom, dad and grandparents.
  

It's Hip Hop, Baby!

Kids love music. They bounce to the beat. They love to sing rhymes. Why not pair hip hop music with learning? That's exactly what Candi Carter, a Chicago mom and Emmy-winning television producer did when she developed the educational (and fun!) "It's Hip Hop, Baby!" DVD series. 

Warm Mommy Hugs go to Candi Carter who realized music was key to helping her son Emerson learn. According to Oprah.com:

"Candi's son was born with a chromosome disorder, which affected his ability to learn. Because he can't speak, Candi says she began making up catchy tunes and beats to help him communicate, have fun and learn."

Musical learning is great for all kids--especially kids with developmental delays. Carter's son Emerson has a severe speech delay and she noticed that making up songs about bath time, bed time, and more was key to helping him communicate. 

The "It's Hip Hop, Baby!" educational DVD series is available for $15.95 at specialty retailers, 

Amazon.com and online at  HipHopBaby.

"It's Hip Hop, Baby" educational benefits according to their website:

• Encourages reading
• Teaches children to follow instructions
• Encourages, dance, movement, and freedom of expression
• Helps children master concepts like repetition and rhyme

  

Finding Instant Karma

A few years ago, a friend gave me a tiny book filled with suggestions for nurturing good karma. Despite it's compact size, this book includes a lifetime's worth of suggestions--8,879 ways to give yourself and others good fortune.

I keep the book by my desk and when life goes a little insane I open it on any page and read a few ideas. Sometimes the suggestions I read make me smile. And they always make me think.

From the book Instant Karma by Barbara Ann Kipfer, here are a few good karma suggestions that I like:

• Love your age.
• Hold hands in the movies
• Abolish yelling
• Share your umbrella
• Give confidence to others
• Complain less and listen more
• Keep a record of good things that happen
• Life is too important to take too seriously  

  

How Much Is Too Much Homework?

Seems like just yesterday my kids were in kindergarten, but they grow up fast. Almost as fast as the hours of school homework per day multiplies. In about third grade my husband and I noticed that their homework load was growing. That's when I began to wonder if my kids would burn out before they even reached middle school. 

Homework overload is not a new concept. Fed up parents have been working to change the way schools operate for years. Why should more parents reconsider the homework load? Homework in vast quantities does not guarantee your child will be more successful. In fact, there is very little research supporting the value of hours and hours of homework.

A recent review of homework by Duke University found "almost no correlation between homework and long-term achievement in elementary school, and only a moderate correlation in middle school," according to Nancy Kalish at Parenting.com. 

Homework guidelines endorsed by the National Education Association suggest that teachers should assign no more than 10 minutes per grade level per night. That means the levels of homework for a fifth grader would be 50 minutes per day, 90 minutes for a ninth grader, and about 2 hours for a high school senior.

It's sad to watch my ninth grader still working on homework after 11 P.M. He is taking a heavy class load with many honors classes and he also participates in extra-curricular activities. When his homework load is four or more hours a night, burn out is inevitable. There are not enough hours in the day to get it all done. And forget about getting enough sleep. (Remember, even though they are older, both middle and high school students still need a lot of sleep.)

I am not asking for no homework, but I wish teachers would look at the research on homework. 

The bottom line: "More is not better," says Harris Cooper, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and neuroscience who conducted the review at Duke University.

What you can do

If your kids are suffering from too much homework, I am guessing other parents in your school are noticing their kids are getting too much homework too. Here are a few of my suggestions on battling homework overload, plus tips from Parenting.com:

• Consider organizing a homework forum with other parents at your school, or if you have kids in several grades, then think big and organize a homework forum for your school district.
• Document how much time your kids spend on homework per night for a week or two. Compare this with the NEA homework guidelines. Use this information when you talk to other parents, teachers and administrators.
• Conduct a sample survey of parents to document how much homework the kids do each day. Here is a great sample homework survey  from Parenting.com. 
• Check out the online resources by less-homework advocate Sara Bennett at Stop Homework.com.

Image: WALKING TO SCHOOL photo used with permission by the talented photographer D Sharon Pruitt.

Holiday Gifts for Middle School Teachers?

As my kids grow up even the traditional holiday gift for the teacher changes. A class gift for elementary school teachers, bookstore gift cards, and Starbucks cards all seem like a fun and festive treats for teachers. What should you do when your kids are in middle school? My daughter has 13 teachers and aides. Many of her classes are co-taught. Trying to find an appropriate way to show how much you appreciate a diverse group of teachers is not always easy. 

Because the list of middle school teachers is so much larger than in elementary school, are holiday teacher gifts appropriate at this age? Will I seem like Scrooge if I tell my daughter we aren't giving gifts to her teachers?

A teacher friend mentioned that some of the best holiday gifts are not gifts at all, but instead a card with a personal thank you note from the student or the parents.

If you have any thoughts on holiday gifts for middle school teachers, please share your ideas in the comments section.

Meanwhile, I am procrastinating just one more day on the teacher shopping list. 

Who Is the Most Inspirational Teacher in Movies?

Hopefully we've all had some wonderful teachers who inspired us. And we probably have even been inspired by teachers in movies.

Who is the most inspirational teacher you've seen on the big screen? According to the British  Times Online, 

1. Charles (Mr Chips) Chipping in Goodbye Mr Chips 
2. Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) in Mr Holland’s Opus. (video clip)
3. Mark Thackeray (Sidney Poitier) in To Sir with Love. (video clip)
4. Remus Lupin (David Thewlis) in Harry Potter. (video  clip).
5. Annie Sullivan (Anne Bancroft) in The Miracle Worker. (video clip)
6. Louanne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) in Dangerous Minds. (video clip)
7. Dewey Finn (Jack Black) in School of Rock. (video clip)
8. John Keating (Robin Williams) in Dead Poet’s Society. (video clip)
   
9. Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) in Stand and Deliver. (video clip)
10. Richard Dadier (Glenn Ford) in the Blackboard Jungle. (video clip) 
11. Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams) in Rushmore . (video clip)
12. Yoda (Frank Oz) in the Star Wars films. (video clip)
13. John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenneger) in Kindergarten Kop. (video clip)
14. Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) in Good Will Hunting. (video clip)
    
15. Paul Verrall (William Holden) in Born Yesterday. (video clip)
    

I'll add two more to the list. 

• Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) in Freedom Writers. (video clip)
• Miyagi (Pat Morita)  in Karate Kid

Kid Tech Charity: Give 1, Get 1

Give a laptop.

Get a laptop.

Change the world.

Imagine a real world laptop--durable enough to function even the toughest conditions--that's brilliantly functional, energy efficient, low cost, and fun. Sound incredible? Now imagine a nonprofit program that wants to place perhaps the greenest laptop ever in the hands of children in the developing world. The XO laptop has the perfect features and software to get kids excited about learning no matter where they live.

One Laptop per Child (OLPC), a nonprofit, sells the sturdy kid-friendly XO machines at a super low cost to governments in developing countries so they can give the computers to schoolchildren. These low-cost green machines use less power that regular PCs and are designed to work in demanding, rural conditions.

Want to help more needy kids get a laptop?

To foster learning in developing countries, The One Laptop per Child project has restarted its "Give One, Get One" program with a new retail partner, Amazon. 

You can buy one open-source, Linux-based XO laptop for your family for $399 at Amazon.com and the OLPC program will donate another one to a needy child in a developing country. If you don't want a laptop for yourself, you can still donate one of the devices to OLPC for $199 per machine.

"The phenomenal success of last year's Give 1, Get 1 program created tremendous demand from both the public, who wanted to give more, and from countries that saw an opportunity to attack poverty through education," said Nicholoas Negroponte, founder and chairman of OLPC, in a statement. Mr. Negroponte is also the founding director of M.I.T. Media Laboratory.

Watch Zimi's story below in the YouTube clip.

Also you can watch David Pogue at the NYT in the video clip below from last year (Oct. 4, 2007) 

Please note that the dates of the Give 1, Get 1 program have been updated since Pogue made this video. See the link at One Laptop per Child (OLPC) for all the current dates and prices.