Wednesday, February 25, 2015

10 Things To Do On A Snow Day!

Hi Everyone! Here's a Top Ten List of Suggestions for Those of Us Who Have "Days In"! 

  1. Get a head start on homework and assignments (ensures a better weekend)
  2. Prepare lunch together (turn your child into the sous chef of your dreams!)
  3. Clean your room, desk, backpack
  4. Create something with your child using paper, dough, or blocks
  5. Share a story with your child when you were unexpectedly off from school "Back when I was in 2nd grade, we had a teacher named......."
  6. Facetime/Skype with a favorite family member or grandparents
  7. Teach them how to read weather maps, how weather works, and what you can do during those times
  8. Have hot chocolate and bake cookies!
  9. Create a two minute one-act play skit based on their favorite movie and upload it as SnowDay Recreation Time on YouTube!
  10. Take time to think about your long-term educational goals for you child!

Friday, January 9, 2015

SIRI: Do My Homework! The Dilemma/Excuse of Technology and Education

My first word processor was a typewriter and the first search engine that I learned how to use was the Grolier's Encyclopedia that my mother had purchased when I was still in Pre-School.

In my youth, I would look up information from various journals and magazines and would independently process it to learn more about the world and the people living in it. I learned how to appreciate the act of publishing and believed that anyone who was "noble" enough to publish a book earned my respect as an intelligent human being. I read, learned and discussed all that I discovered with not only my family, but my friends at school who perceived that some of the ideas that unraveled from the reading may have been beyond their reach. The only unfortunate part of my childhood was that we spent the majority of the year in the desertified part of the Southwest; an area where the scenery and wildlife was less than desirable. I compensated for this "lack of geographical bliss" by mustering up the courage to read these books "above my level" in the other place that I called home: our public library.

Many children growing up in this day and age find that access to knowledge is, for all intents and purposes, a "nuisance". What we, at one point in time, considered valuable information and important skill sets (factual knowledge, proper application of grammar principles, proficiency in spelling, memorization of math facts) they consider "trivial". If the information being presented to them cannot be decimated to a search on "Google" or the conversion to an "app", it is a true waste of time for them. Until, they will later learn, this knowledge cannot be something that merely stays in your head to occupy the space but rather information that is synthesized for other purposes.

I had a tremendously difficult time having a conversation with a young lady who told me that she could not tell me where the Indian Ocean was or another high school student who could not answer the question, "Name one musician and one artist who you admire.". Accomplishments of individuals are not solely based on science and technology. Accomplishments of individuals are those that are shared by the entire world and are celebrated as a way to help us appreciate the one word that makes us civilized: progress.

Rather than telling your child what the answer is in the most expedient manner possible, teach them a skill set that they will be required to use for the rest of their life: how to think. Later on technology will learn everything for us, but let's hope that they do not learn to "think" for us as well.  

Friday, January 2, 2015

To Write Or Not To Write… Handwriting and Where You Still See The Pen

In the past few weeks, I've noticed a trend in a few industries. When I meet people in person in order to inquire about a service or program, I've noticed the use (or lack of) the mighty pen.

When I first entered college, much of the work that had to be done by a student utilized a writing utensil. I recall buying a set of textbooks and half sized college ruled notebooks to take my lecture notes in. Fortunately for me, my handwriting and note taking ability captured the attention of professors and they recommended that I sell my notes to other students in class. Writing and handwriting (in my family) was a representation of your family, education, and upbringing. Nowadays it is something that people ridicule in the face of technology.

Over the course of 6 weeks, I've conducted a study to see occupations that use writing utensils and those who do not. Here is what I have found:

Many Professional Industries (High level - such as physicians, attorneys, high performing consultants) still use writing utensils. Given the fact that they have a good grasp of their writing abilities and focus on the process of information gathering, they are able to write with a high percentage of fluency.

Mid-level Professionals to Lower Level Professionals (Banking professionals, medical center staff, retail workers) often times do not have writing utensils at their disposal. They are required to use computers to automate their work processes and lack the technical know how to creatively come up with solutions.

What impact does this have on our current education climate? If we continue to not require students to learn the art and importance of handwriting, they may lose the ability to take notes, doodle, and creatively come up with solutions that they may not have been able to do if they are writing. In writing words and expressing their ideas, they can watch their mind unfold (and develop better fine motor skills).