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#beautyis The Power of Parents

January 29, 2014 By Leave a Comment

#beautyis

If you haven’t seen it you should take a few minutes to watch the new mini documentary from Dove called “Selfie”

The campaign builds off of Dove’s ongoing conversation about what #beautyis. What jumped out to me in this movie was when they engaged the parents and had the moms work with their daughters to take selfies together.

The professional photographer, Michael Cook, gives a talk about beauty and says, “oftentimes mothers pass along their insecurities to their children.” She then brings in the parents saying “You’re mom can redefine beauty just like you can”.

At the end one mom says, “Since we’ve had this experience together I have realized that she (her daughter) is fine just the way she is.”

It is amazing the power parents have when it comes to communicating values, such as self image and beauty to their kids. This video is a reminder that involving parents in education can yield great results.


YouTube Link (8min)

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Infographic – The Effect of Parental Engagement in Education

September 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Today I ran across this great infographic over at InformEd. Yet another reminder of the importance of parental engagement in education. Also to note in this is the fact that one involved parent is good but two is best.

The influence of parental involvement on a student’s academic success should not be underestimated. While brain power, work ethic, and even genetics all play important roles in student achievement, the determining factor comes down to what kind of support system she has at home.

Students with two parents operating in supportive roles are 52% more likely to enjoy school and get straight A’s than students whose parents are disengaged with what’s going on at school. This is especially the case during the earliest years of schooling, in Kindergarten through the 5th grade, when students with active parents are almost twice as likely to succeed. Once students enter middle school, the effect diminishes slightly—possibly because they are maturing during this time— but there is still a 22% difference.

Filed Under: #EdReform Tagged With: , , , , ,
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You’re Invited to Change the World #iste13

July 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the International Society for Technology in Education 2013 conference (#ISTE13) in San Antonio, TX. As the sign says at the riverwalk entrance, “the energy is palpable”.

#iste13

It was great to connect with passionate educators, thought leaders and industry experts to swap ideas on how technology can be used to improve education for all students.

One of my favorite presentations was by @ELuberoff, CEO of Desmos who guided us through their free next generation graphing calculator. I got a picture with him and @HumanCalculator, Scott Flansburg and had a great time geeking out and sharing ideas about how to make math fun and engaging.

#iste13

The closing keynote was delivered by @AdamBellow and he gave a great summary of passion and energy at the conference through the lens of #googleglass watch his keynote video below to catch a glimpse of #iste13.

This was my first time at #iste and as cheesy as it sounds the energy was palpable and I am looking forward to attending again.


Link

Author and educational technologist Adam Bellow delivers the closing keynote of ISTE 2013 with a high-energy presentation reveling in the joys of being a connected educator in these amazing times. Showcasing stories of inspiration from classrooms around the world and anecdotes from Bellow’s career, and highlight inspiration from classrooms around the world. Bellow invites you to challenge yourself to make a difference in your school with creativity and kindness.

Filed Under: #EdReform, #EdTech Tagged With: , , , , ,
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Are we still “A Nation at Risk” after 30 years?

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Thirty years ago the Reagan administration released a ground breaking report called “A Nation at Risk”. 30 years later, what has changed and are will still a nation at risk. The Fordham institute took at look and talked with Bill Bennett about what has changed and what still needs to be done.

Watch this video looking back on the release of “the single most influential document in the history of American education.”

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Thirty years ago, A Nation at Risk sounded alarm bells on the state of our nation’s education system. Since this pivotal paper was issued, what has changed in American education and American society—and what still needs to happen?

Watch former U.S. education secretary William J. Bennett, eminent author, social and political commentator, talk about our schools, our culture, our past three decades, and our future.


Link

h/t The Fordham Institute

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Study: Homeschool Students Sleep Better

March 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Interesting article about sleep habits for students in high school, it turns out that getting up later is better for teens and that homeschool students who do get up later learn better. Read the full story at the National Jewish Health website.

Research supports later start times for high school

DENVER, CO – March 6, 2013 — In the first study of its kind, researchers have determined that teens who are homeschooled benefit from healthier sleep habits than those who go to most private and public schools. The findings provide additional evidence of teens’ altered biological clocks and support an argument for starting traditional high school later in the morning.

“We have a school system that is set up so that the youngest children, who are awake very early in the morning, start school latest, and our adolescents, who need sleep the most, are being asked to wake up and go to school at a time when their brains should physiologically be asleep,” said Lisa Meltzer, PhD, a sleep psychologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, and lead author of the study.


Link

Filed Under: #EdReform Tagged With: , , , ,
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