June » 2010 » Carol J. Carter

How Should Schools Handle Cyberbullying?

Carolâ€™s Summary:
An estimated one in five middle school students has been affected by cyberbullying. Bullying has always been an issue that teachers and principals have had to handle. However, in middle and high schools lately, the problem has evolved to involve technology. Schools are now finding ways to cope with issues of cyberbullying, in which children are harassed through text messages and social networking websites.

Much of cyberbullying occurs after school and on weekends, when children are not under the guidance and care of the school system.

Cyberbullying can affect a childâ€™s academic success, self-esteem, social skills and emotional growth. While this is a relatively new problem that students, school officials and parents must deal with, it is spreading fast and has proven to be dangerous.

Many school districts are conflicted with whether or not they have the right to inspect studentsâ€™ cell phones and social networking accounts, unless the issue deals directly with a conflict within the school. There are legal issues involving privacy which makes many school officials either nervous or leery about doing so.

Many administrators are concerned about the possibility of looking through a childâ€™s cell phone and finding compromising photos and text messages that could bring about child pornography cases. There is also the issue of how students should be punished if they are cyberbullying other students.

Cyberbullying is growing into a major conflict in todayâ€™s schools, and not only for the students involved. Teachers and parents are finding themselves concerned for the well-being of children, but are not always able to get involved since technology is the medium for these behaviors.

LifeBoundâ€™s Making the Most of High School, 2nd Edition and the accompanying curriculum shows students how to use technology in a beneficial and safe manner. To find out more about Making the Most of High School and other LifeBound materials, visit www.lifebound.com or e-mail contact@lifebound.com

Article:
Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray
By JAN HOFFMAN
June 27, 2010

The girlâ€™s parents, wild with outrage and fear, showed the principal the text messages: a dozen shocking, sexually explicit threats, sent to their daughter the previous Saturday night from the cellphone of a 12-year-old boy. Both children were sixth graders at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, N.J.
Punish him, insisted the parents.
â€œI said, â€˜This occurred out of school, on a weekend,â€™ â€ recalled the principal, Tony Orsini. â€œWe canâ€™t discipline him.â€
Had they contacted the boyâ€™s family, he asked.

To read the full report: www.nytimes.com

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Dress for Success: Tips for Your Professional Image

You have about three seconds to make a first impression, and much of that image is formed by your personal appearance. If you are dressed too casual, or your hair isnâ€™t neatly combed, it can cost you an interview or an appointment with someone important to your career. So, what are ways that you can be appearance-conscious while still maintaining your distinct style and unfettered approach to life and work?

1) Buy a few basics. Most successful wardrobes center around a few classic pieces. For women, it may translate into brown or black slacks, a navy blazer and a versatile sweater that can be dressed up or down. For men, it may be a pair of khaki pants, a dark blue blazer, two tailored suits (one for warm weather; the other for cold), and a sweater that can be mixed and matched with button down shirts. It is better to invest in a few expensive pieces of clothing than to have many clothes which cost less but show a lack of fashion sense.

2) Accessorize. Well-chosen accessories send a positive message about your attention to detail. Carry a good leather (or leather-look) briefcase or purse, and use a stylish pen. Women can alternate jewelry, scarves and belts to update the look of a basic outfit. Men can wear different ties, belts, and shoes to recast their wardrobe. These items can also help your clothes look season-appropriate without adding a lot of extra expense.

3) Get advice. If you are not sure where to start, go to a department store and ask for one of their personal shoppers to help you. These people are skilled at knowing the styles of clothes that flatter various body types and which colors complement skin tones. Be aware that they will always give you more options than you need or can afford to buy. Select a few of their best core pieces. And as a general rule, stay away from fabrics that easily wrinkle.

4) Dress for the job you want. Dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Unless you work for a place where there is virtually no dress code, you will want to convey a professional image for whatever job you want. The more others see you â€œdress the part,â€â€”and the more your results back that upâ€”the more likely youâ€™ll be considered for a job with increased responsibility.

5) Be competent. Project enthusiasm and do quality work that reinforces your professional image. Image without quality is meaningless, which is where the term â€œstuffed shirtâ€ came from. While itâ€™s more important to be a high-quality employee than a well-dressed employee; itâ€™s ideal to be both.

Good luck!

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Up For Grabs: $10M For Groups Reaching Kids

Carolâ€™s Summary:
Today is the deadline for communities to apply for an education and community grant provided by President Obama and the Department of Education. Obama plans to offer up to $10 million to communities that want to establish early childhood education and equal opportunity programs in their neighborhoods. An estimated 1,000 communities around the country have stated interest in applying for the grant.

Through their â€œPromise Neighborhoodsâ€ communities will implement funding and strategies to improve schools in low-income areas, by following the Harlem Childrenâ€™s Zone program as a model. Harlem Childrenâ€™s Zone is a program in New York City that provides equal learning opportunities for children, such as Head Start learning centers. Programs like Harlem Childrenâ€™s Zone have led to increased test scores and college enrollment rates amongst students in these areas.

One of the programs that applied for Promise Neighborhoods is The Pinon Project in Cortez, Colorado. This program focuses on educating low-income Native American children and their families. They offer parenting courses and an emphasis on improving high school retention and graduation rates. Cortez also offers adult education programs for people who dropped out of high school.

Promise Neighborhoods plans to award an initial $500,000 a year to 20 communities nationwide.
Education is a valuable and important aspect of society, and it is very important that all children receive equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of their socio-economic and ethnic background. LifeBound provides books and curriculum to elementary, middle and high schools in many areas, and makes sure that all schools can access our materials.

Equality is imperative to student success, and there should no longer be any sort of â€œachievement gapâ€ amongst our nationâ€™s students. Visit www.lifebound.com or e-mail contact@lifebound.com to learn more about our material and goals as a company.

Article:
Up For Grabs: $10M For Groups Reaching Kids
Larry Abramson

First in a two-part report
June 24, 2010
Just before he was elected president, Barack Obama made a speech laying out how he would revive the fight against poverty.
He promised to focus on programs like the renowned Harlem Children’s Zone in New York. He called it “an all-encompassing, all-hands-on-deck, anti-poverty effort that is literally saving a generation of children.”

Now, Obama wants to replicate the Harlem Children’s Zone â€” a community organization that gives low-income kids equal access to education â€” and he’s offering a total of $10 million to communities willing to try. The response has been tremendous: Nearly 1,000 organizations say they will compete for the “Promise Neighborhoods” money. The deadline is Monday.

To read more of part 1: www.npr.org part 1
Part 2: www.npr.org part 2

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Educators Using Gulf Oil Spill as a “Teachable Moment”

CAROLâ€™S SUMMARY:

The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is providing a â€œteachable momentâ€ for science teachers nationwide. With environmental issues likely to continue throughout the summer, more lessons are expected when schools starts back up in the fall. The spill provides the opportunity to study the delicate balance of nature through hands-on simulations and to role play as government officials and scientists.

Teachers note that their students are extremely interested in how the situation is being handled and many express the desire to help. Leading some teachers to challenge students to devise solutions on how to plug the leak and brainstorm strategies for cleaning up the oil.

Real life examples of topics learned in school are essential to helping students relate content to their own lives and allow students the opportunity to put their classroom knowledge to work. That is why Critical and Creative Thinking for Teenagers provides cross-disciplinary real-world examples of each step to becoming an effective critical thinker and creative thinker. To request a free review copy or learn more about LifeBoundâ€™s materials, visit www.lifebound.com or email contact@lifebound.com.

ARTICLE:

Educators Using Gulf Oil Spill as a “Teachable Moment”
Role Playing, Cocao Powder and Cooking Grease Used To Study Disaster
By AL PRIETO
June 21, 2010

Science teachers nationwide are using the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as a “teachable moment” as the school years ends, with most saying environmental issues will likely continue throughout the summer and spark even more lessons when school starts up again.

Using everything from role playing of government officials and scientists to hands-on models of cocoa and cooking grease (to simulate crude oil), teachers are tackling the disaster with students who are demanding answers and a chance to help find solutions.

“This is science at its best,” said Dianne Haberstroh, a 7th Grade teacher from Orefield, PA. “When they can actually live it and feel like they’re living it.”

In her classroom, she built a long table with water and sand to recreate the water and beaches in the Gulf. Students pumped cooking oil into the water to see how it would react

To view this entire article visit www.abcnews.com

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Ten Tips for Unemployed College Graduates

College graduates are facing the worst unemployment market in a decade. Todayâ€™s grads find themselves competing for entry-level jobs against laid-off workers with M.B.A.s and years of experience. Plus, war jitters have kept economic recovery from moving into itâ€™s natural next phase. Yet with a little tenacity, college grads can keep their career goals on track and their emotional equilibrium in tact.

1.) Get Help. Whether you pay a personal career coach or you have a role model you admire who is willing to work with you, it is useful to have objective advice as you continue your job search and build your professional skills.

2.) Work as an intern. If there is a company or field in which you ultimately want to work, apply for an internship. Getting your foot in the door and proving what you can do can often land you full time employment after a few months.

3.) Use on-line resources. There are many on-line resources, like Monster.com, which provide job leads and expert advice to help you weigh the pros and cons of job options. If you are interested in working for a specific company, do online research about that company and follow the business decisions being make online and in the newspapers. Continue to look up job opportunities on their web site.

4.) Develop a Supportive Cadre of Friends. Thousands of college graduates are unemployed right now. Take the time to cultivate friendships with people who are positive and up beat despite the challenges in the economy. These people will make the most of this opportunity, and they will give you encouragement when you need it.

5.) Take a Leadership Role in a Volunteer Organization. If you arenâ€™t the leader you have always wanted to be, change that now. Join a volunteer or non-profit organization and volunteer to do something significant to make a difference. You can parlay this experience to your advantage when the economy turns around.

6.) Keep Expenses to a Minimum. While you are working two jobs, one of which may be non-paying, keep your costs down. Be creative with how you can save money. Cook at home and entertain yourself on less.

7.) Network. Meet as many people as you can who may be able to help you in the job searchâ€”friends, neighbors, grandparents and anyone else you may meet. Ask crucial questions and enlist their help and advice on the job search.

8.) Interview. Call the company or business where you would like to work and ask if you can interview someone with your dream job. Ask that person relevant questions about how they got started and what are the pros and cons of their job. These people will often be flattered that YOU want to spend time interviewing THEM out of respect, and can therefore be very helpful and perhaps give you some connections or people to contact. Again, this is NETWORKING!

9.) Continue to Learn. Employers value employees who are self-directed learners. So be aware of current events and know your industry by reading trade publications. Be disciplined about keeping your learning alive, especially after you have graduated.

10.) Keep the Faith. The economy will turn around. Until that happens, keep upgrading your skills even if you are not in your dream job. Have a resilient attitude and ask yourself what the lessons are in this time period. If you can answer that in some future interview, your prospective employer will know that you create opportunities no matter how tough the situation.

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Prince William middle school to try single-sex classes

CAROLâ€™S SUMMARY:

Single-sex classes have become a growing trend in education nationwide. The trend is based on the notion that boys and girls learn differently and could benefit from a classroom designed around their specific learning needs. According to the Washington Post article below, opponents point out that the system does not â€œprepare students for the real, coed world of work and family.â€ While proponents of single-sex classrooms believe it will boost confidence and get students to explore subjects they might otherwise not.

While single-sex classrooms might work at some schools, but itâ€™s not always necessary considering there are more learning styles than just between boys and girls. Some people prefer to research and read a topic thoroughly and others enjoy tinkering with something and taking it apart to find out how it works. When students identify their learning style they can discover how to make the most of class time and determine the best study habits to implement. Study Skills for High School Students helps students identify their own personal learning style and then provides tips on how to use that knowledge to succeed academically. To request a free review copy or learn more about LifeBoundâ€™s materials visit www.lifebound.com or email contact@lifebound.com.

ARTICLE:

Prince William middle school to try single-sex classes
By Jennifer Buske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 17, 2010

A Prince William County school will offer single-sex classes this fall, joining a growing nationwide trend in education.

Fred M. Lynn Middle School will run a pilot program during the coming school year that will have single-sex classrooms for core academic classes for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students. Lunch and elective courses will be coed.

“What we want is the opportunity for parents to look at the options out there,” said Principal J. Harrison Coleman. “Some students can go straight through coed classes with no problems, but sometimes that student in the middle just needs things a little different. We want to open that opportunity up to them.”

To view this entire article visit www.washingtonpost.com

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More Employers to Require Some College, Report Says

Carolâ€™s Summary:
The Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University released a report on Tuesday, which predicts that about 63 percent of jobs will require employees to have at least an associateâ€™s degree by 2018. The report states that millions of job seekers will be under-qualified; leaving many employers understaffed and with a possible need to outsource job positions.
The report states that there will be a need for 22 million workers who have at least an associateâ€™s degree, but 3 million positions will be left unfilled. The most in demand fields will be in health care, technology, and education, all of which require some kind of post-secondary education.

A post-secondary education is not only important for finding a job but is essential to oneâ€™s overall financial well-being. A post-secondary education is one of the most valuable tools that a person can have. Majoring in the Rest of Your Life and Keys to Success are both books that prepare college students for success in college and in the workforce.

Majoring in the Rest of Your Life is good for high school seniors as well since it guides students through the transition from high school to college, from living at home to being independent and from working a job to preparing for a career. Keys to Success offers study tips and provides students the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in real-life situations.

LifeBound materials and academic coaching are geared towards preparing students, parents and teachers to transition smoothly through the process of acquiring and using education in the real world. Visit www.lifebound.com or e-mail contact@lifebound.com to learn more about our books, curriculum and academic coaching.

Article:
More Employers to Require Some College, Report Says
By JACQUES STEINBERG
June 14, 2010
The number of jobs requiring at least a two-year associateâ€™s degree will outpace the number of people qualified to fill those positions by at least three million in 2018, according to a report scheduled to be released Tuesday by the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University.
The report makes clear that some education after high school is an increasing prerequisite for entry into the middle class. In 1970, for example, nearly three-quarters of workers considered to be middle class had not gone beyond high school in their education; in 2007, that figure had dropped below 40 percent, according to the report.

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Developing emotional, social and cognitive intelligence

Developing emotional, social and cognitive intelligence is important to understanding and becoming a great leader according to Dr. Richard E. Boyatzis. Professor of Organizational Behavior and Psychology at Case Western Reserve University and Professor in Human Resources at EASDE in Barcelona, Dr. Boyatzis sees leadership as the ability to connect emotionally with others and inspire them. He states in a recent podcast that â€œAdults can improve their emotional, social and cognitive intelligence competenciesâ€”those that distinguish outstanding performance in management, leadership and other professions, by as much as 70%!â€

Emotional and social intelligence is at the center of LifeBoundâ€™s mission to prepare students for college, career and life success because these skills are not only important in the world of work, but also throughout school. Students need to be able to form strong relationships with others in order to function effectively in teams, participate in study groups and join extracurricular activities. Life success requires not just book smarts, those who struggle academically, do better when challenged emotionally and socially which teaches them how to persist.

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ARTICLE:

The Hay Group posted a 4 part podcast by Dr. Richard E. Boyatzis titled, â€œDeveloping emotional, social and cognitive intelligence in graduate, undergraduate and executive students.â€

To listen to all 4 podcasts visit http://www.haygroup.com/ww/Media/Details.aspx?ID=27430.

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‘Let’s Move’ goal is to keep kids moving and healthy through summer

CAROLâ€™S SUMMARY:

In Belleview, Illinois, St. Elizabethâ€™s Hospital considers its health efforts with Henry Raab Elementary School students part of its responsibility to their community. As the article below details, the new health education program, â€œLetâ€™s Moveâ€, requires students to honor a “Contract for Fitness” by staying active and eating healthy over the summer. Hospital staff provided students with T-shirts, lists of healthy snack options and tools to help them keep track of their physical activity.

Childhood obesity in the US means that todayâ€™s students need to be taught nutrition information and exposed to healthy activities at a young age in order to foster healthy lifestyles and develop healthy habits they can maintain throughout their lives. LifeBoundâ€™s title, Success in Middle School, for fifth graders, introduces students to the concept of nurturing your brain and body to perform your best in school. Then the newly revised Making the Most of High School, for high school freshmen, reinforces developing a healthy lifestyle with a chapter devoted to healthy with everything from exercise to dining in vs. dining out to eating disorders to drugs and tips for healthy habits throughout the text. To learn more about LifeBoundâ€™s stair step student success and transition materials visit www.lifebound.com or call free 1-800-737-8510.

ARTICLE:

News – Metro-east news – Belleville news
Monday, Jun. 14, 2010
‘Let’s Move’ goal is to keep kids moving and healthy through summer
BY RICKEENA J. RICHARDS – News-Democrat

BELLEVILLE — Students at Belleville’s Henry Raab Elementary School will be taking on healthier habits this summer as part of a new health education program presented by St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

To view this entire article visit www.bnd.com

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Studying Engineering Before They Can Spell It

CAROLâ€™S SUMMARY:

Concerned that American students lack the skills to compete in a global economy, school districts nationwide are including engineering lessons in their curriculum for students from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

Those supporting the curriculum change insist that engineering encourages critical and creative thinking and reinforces core math and science skills. Detractors caution that project-based learning doesnâ€™t necessarily teach the knowledge and skills beyond a problem.

While engineering lessons can be pricey, promoting creativity and critical thinking skills is essential to preparing todayâ€™s students for tomorrowâ€™s competitive workplace. Critical and Creative Thinking for Teenagers uses cross-disciplinary examples coupled with analytical, creative and practical hands-on curriculum activities to outline the steps to critical thinking and spark their creative juices. For a free copy of Critical and Creative Thinking or to learn more about LifeBoundâ€™s books and materials, visit www.lifebound.com or email contact@lifebound.com.

ARTICLE:

New York Times
June 13, 2010
Studying Engineering Before They Can Spell It
By WINNIE HU

GLEN ROCK, N.J. â€” In a class full of aspiring engineers, the big bad wolf had to do more than just huff and puff to blow down the three little pigsâ€™ house.

To start, he needed to get past a voice-activated security gate, find a hidden door and negotiate a few other traps in a house that a pair of kindergartners here imagined for the pigs â€” and then pieced together from index cards, paper cups, wood sticks and pipe cleaners.

â€œExcellent engineering,â€ their teacher, Mary Morrow, told them one day early this month.

All 300 students at Clara E. Coleman Elementary School are learning the A B Câ€™s of engineering this year, even those who cannot yet spell e-n-g-i-n-e-e-r-i-n-g. The high-performing Glen Rock school district, about 22 miles northwest of Manhattan, now teaches 10 to 15 hours of engineering each year to every student in kindergarten through fifth grade, as part of a $100,000 redesign of the science curriculum.

To view this entire article visit www.nytimes.com

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