Like much of the rest of the world, I have become enamored of Pinterest. Whenever I need a little break, it is my guilty pleasure. However, I have realized that I spend so much time looking at all of the great ideas I find there that I don't have time leftover to actually try any of the recipes or craft ideas that I have pinned! I wonder if I'm the only one this happens to!
Still, it is a great source of ideas and information. Whatever your interests may be, you can find something there to appeal to you. One of the best things about Pinterest for me has been the blogs I have discovered.
Here are two that I would like to recommend to you:
http://movingsmartblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/m-is-for-monkeybars-getting-ready-for.html
http://powerofmoms.com/2012/04/your-children-want-you/
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Barbara Long on April 17, 2012 | Printer-Friendly
One of our teachers posted something on Facebook that really resonated with me and I want to share it with you, in hopes that you will share it with all the daddies that you know. It speaks to the special way that fathers impact their daughters' self-image, and influence the relationships they will have with the men in their lives as they grow up. Obviously fathers are important in the lives of their sons too, for any number of reasons, not the least of which is that they can model appropriate ways for men to treat the women in their lives. I am thankful for all those who take that power seriously. They make the world a better place.
Click on the link below to read this touching and thought-provoking article, and please pass it on.
blog.faithpromise.org/2012/01/fathers-be-good-to-your-daughters/
Miss Barbara
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Barbara Long on February 6, 2012 | Printer-Friendly
This past Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were blessed to be able to take many of our staff to the North Carolina Association of Educators of Young Children annual conference which was held in Raleigh. We always gain so much when we are able to attend this event. We have the opportunity to choose from over two hundred different workshops, and to hear nationally recognized speakers. With approximately 1,000 educators attending, we get to meet and talk with many people from all over North Carolina who work with and care about young children, just as we do. As well as hearing new ideas, it is also affirming to speak with people who share our beliefs about the best ways to help children learn. Although the days are long, we come back energized and excited to put what we have learned into practice.
The price tag for this great experience is pretty steep. In order to get the "early bird" registration fee, we had to register in July, and in July some of our classes weren't filled, so we weren't sure how many of our staff we could afford to take. The conference offers a reduction in price for participants who are willing to donate three hours of their time as volunteers. We had three staff members who on their own initiative signed up as volunteers in order to save our program part of the cost for them to attend the conference. What a strong statement that makes about how much these staff members value the opportunity to continue learning, and how much they care about Front Street Playschool! This just reinforces my belief that we have the very best staff to be found anywhere.
You may also be interested to know that Marna Winter and I were presenters at the conference. Our topic was inquiry-based learning. Last school year we gave a workshop to our staff on this topic and later in the school year, worked with Ellen Boyles, a young lady from Elon University, to incorporate this type of learning into the curriculum in some of our classrooms. As part of our conference presentation, we were able to share what we learned from that experience with the participants in our workshop.
Someone once told me that the best way to influence children is to be what you want them to be. One of our goals for children is for them to be lifelong learners, so how appropriate it is that we model that by continuing to be learners ourselves!
Miss Barbara
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Barbara Long on September 25, 2011 | Printer-Friendly
 Race to Nowhere Many of you may have heard of a film that is gaining national recognition called, "Race to Nowhere". We are fortunate that it will be shown locally, at The Elon School, this Tuesday, April 26th at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Visit www.racetonowhere.com to order advance tickets and to learn more.
The film-maker is a mother who has become concerned about in her words, "the high-stakes, high pressure culture that has invaded our schools and our children's lives". The film has encouraged a groundswell of grassroots advocacy across the country.
The promotional flyer I received offers a sad, but I am afraid, fairly accurate portrayal of many current school practices:
- High-stakes testing has replaced meaningful teaching and learning.
- Cheating is commonplace.
- Stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant.
- Many young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.
Our local administrators feel they must respond to the pressure they receive to meet testing standards. To keep their jobs, teachers must teach in the way that they are required to do by the administration. The only way things will change is if pressure is brought to bear on state and national legislators by concerned citizens.
Please see this film so that you will be an informed advocate for our children. I encourage you to make your friends aware as well.
I think it should be well worth the $10!
Miss Barbara
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Fred Black on April 25, 2011 | Printer-Friendly
I recently visited a friend of mine whose son and his family are relocating to this area. The son, his wife and two very young daughters are staying with his parents while they sell their house and get re-established. Another of my friends accompanied me on this visit; and as any good early education folks would do, we took along a few goodies for the children. One of the things I took was a large cardboard box. I admit that I wasn't sure of the reception I would receive from the adults, bringing in a very large, empty cardboard box, but I was sure the children would love it, and they did. The nearly one year old immediately took up residence inside and didn't want to come out. Even more gratifying was the reaction of the mom, who immediately said, "Did you know that Wired Magazine names a box as one of the 5 best toys for children?"
Well, I didn't know that, but I couldn't have agreed more. The mom went on to comment on how interesting it was for that particular magazine, which deals primarily with technology, to favor such a low-tech approach. I was intrigued, and went home and looked it up. (This low-tech grandmother does appreciate that computers have their uses.)
What I found was an article by Geek Dad (who else?), listing the five best toys for children as:
- Stick
- Box
- String
- Cardboard tube
- Dirt
I would also add water to his list of basically free playthings. I am providing a link below so that you can read this delightful, entertaining article for yourself.
The reason these everyday, readily available objects have such value as toys is that they are so versatile and open-ended. A box can be a train engine, a time machine, a television or a treasure chest. A cardboard tube can be a sword, a magic wand, a trumpet or a telescope. The reason that they probably appeal to Geek Dad is that he understands that playing with this kind of toy builds brain connections, because they require that children think, plan, solve problems and use their imaginations. Those processes actually have a profound effect on brain growth! Many of them also encourage physical exercise and going outdoors, activities which are becoming less common in these increasingly screen dominated times.
There are a few "bought" toys that encourage the same kind of imaginative play; blocks and balls being the ones that come immediately to mind, but most commercial toys are designed to only be used in one way. They are limited to being one thing, which cannot easily become other things. Many of them actually operate themselves - walking, talking, etc., demanding little engagement from the child, who therefore soon loses interest.
Of course, we will all still continue to buy some of the popular toys that our children and grandchildren crave, and we will be grateful for them to occasionally plug into media when we need a few minutes of peace and quiet, but when they tire of their toys, or when they have been staring at a screen with that glazed-over- tractor-beam gaze for way too long, why not drag out a big box or a cardboard tube? If they seem uncertain how to begin, you might read them one of the books by Antoinette Portis that I discovered from Geek Dad, Not a Box and Not a Stick, for a little jumpstart; but I'm betting they will know exactly what to do, in which case you can just stand back and prepare to be amazed by the magic and the genius of authentic childhood play.
You can read the article by Geek Dad, Jonathan Liu, for yourself at:
www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/01/the-5-best-toys-of-all-time/all/1.
Miss Barbara
Comments: 1, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Barbara Long on February 26, 2011 | Printer-Friendly
We have a great opportunity in Burlington / Alamance County, North Carolina. Our school system is going to be hiring a new superintendent, and through the Superintendent Search Community Survey you can tell the Search Committee what kind of superintendent you want.
Just go to the school system website: http://abss.k12.nc.us/ and click on "Superintendent Search Community Survey". Then go to the "survey monkey" link.
The deadline for completing the survey is January 13. I encourage everyone in our community to let your voice be heard.
On much of the survey you have to choose your answers from selected responses, but if you go to section # 8 there is a space for comments. That is your opportunity to say whatever is on your mind.
My personal priorities for a superintendent include:
- Someone who will put the best interest of the children in Alamance County above all else, including his/her career advancement.
(In order to know what is truly in children's best interest this individual should have a genuine understanding of, or be willing to learn about all stages of child development, from preschool through adolescence.) - Someone who understands that the individual teacher is the factor with the greatest potential to influence children's educational success; and recognizing that, the superintendent demonstrates respect for teachers by listening to and valuing what they say, and then responds by doing everything possible to give each teacher the support he/she needs.
- Someone who is open to new ideas.
- Someone who takes a long-range view rather than looking for the quick fix, realizing that new initiatives take time to achieve real results.
- Someone who values social and emotional, as well as academic learning and is more committed to raising well-rounded students than to merely raising test scores.
- Someone whose understanding of the differing needs of students at different ages, rather than an inclination to follow what is trendy, guides curriculum decisions. As one example, such a person would be committed to providing up-to-date technology in all high schools while providing more hands-on experiences and relatively less screen time for our youngest students, because that is what is developmentally appropriate for each age.
- Someone who understands how schools can address drop-out prevention beginning in kindergarten, rather than waiting until high school.
Your priorities will no doubt be different from mine. Please take advantage of this opportunity to let them be heard today. Remember, the deadline is January 13!
I am providing email addresses for our school board members below, to make it easy for you to also contact them personally. They are elected to serve the citizens of Alamance County, and as with all public servants, they need to know what our wants and needs are in order to do their jobs. If we don't tell them what we want, we have no right to complain if we don't get it! Be an advocate for our children!
Email addresses for School Board Members:
- Jackie Cole - parker@mebtel.net
- Steve Van Pelt - svanpelt@triad.rr.com
- Mary Erwin - merwin@triad.rr.com
- Patsy Simpson - ptsysm@aol.com
- Brad Evans - evansgra@bellsouth.net
- Tony Rose - TonyRoseNC@gmail.com
- Kris Moffitt - smoff91472@aol.com
While you are at it, drop a line to our legislators in Raleigh, telling them how important it is to minimize cuts to the education budget:
- Rick.Gunn@ncleg.net
- Alice.Bordsen@ncleg.net
- Dan.Ingle@ncleg.net
Miss Barbara.
Comments: 0, TrackBacks: 0. Leave or Read Comments.
Posted by Barbara Long on January 8, 2011 | Printer-Friendly
| 
Share and Enjoy: