Moving Kids to Learn

Inspiring Girls in Science - FREE webcast this Wednesday

2008-11-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

Check out free webcast from the National Girl's' Collaborative Project this Wednesday. If you miss the webcast, they have a great ezine to keep you up to date on super resource.

NGCP November Webcast
Inspiring Girls in Science and Engineering: Interactive Program Models and Resources
November 12, 2008
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific
Learn about two exciting programs focused on inspiring girls in science and engineering. SciGirls offers fun science experiences for girls across the country, based on DragonFly TV videos that showcase girls and women doing science. Engineer Your Life is a national messaging campaign designed to reposition engineering as a rewarding career choice for girls.
Register: http:// ngcproject.org/events/webcasts.cfm

Walls are for Reading!

2008-09-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

When I was young, I memorized many poems that still come to mind today when I need their messages of hope and perseverance the most. Some of the most dynamic, effective schools I have visited have motivational posters everywhere. (even in the staff bathrooms!) Here are some great thoughts to inspire you and your students!

“He who opens a school door, closes a prison.” ~Victor Hugo

“The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. “ ~Robert Maynard Hutchins

“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think” – Socrates

“The world does not pay for what a person knows. But it pays for what a person does with what he knows.” --Laurence Lee

“When someone does something good, applaud! You will make two people happy.”

--Samuel Goldwyn

Standing Room Only in Orlando

2008-08-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

Orange County Public Schools
Orlando, Florida

Woohoo! I just spoke to standing room only crowds in Orlando! My two sessions on"Moving Kids to Learn" packed the room for programs on math and science applications that "teach with the brain in mind." Whodathunk...SRO for to get back to integrated learning!

Elementary, middle school and even a few dynamic high school educators stood in the back and sat on the floor to laugh and learn to develop kinesthetic activities that reaches all their types of learners.

Teachers are Essential in Todays Economy

2008-08-28T10:02:00.000-07:00

I love Google News. I can set it to fill my startup page with articles on topics I’m interested in, like education! Despite cultural differences, articles from all over the world reinforce daily one consistent truth: no matter what continent, no matter what country, education is considered the catalyst for change.

Today, even I was floored! This time, two articles on the same day from opposite sides of the globe highlighted a basic difference in attitude toward effective education. These submissions are of differing scope and purpose of course, so draw your own conclusions, but I was struck speechless (an unheard of event for me!) by the difference in perspective - long term vs short term- reflected in the pieces.

In one article I hear a long term, national commitment with a specific goal proposed -"a knowledge investment plan... to create over 500 million trained people by 2022" and, in the second, a general “oh no, we’re really in trouble now” "math and science proficiency... remains unacceptably low...these skills are going to continue to be in high demand.”approach. As teachers, we see these articles in U.S. headlines every day. We know we have great kids and dedicated teachers and administrators. We need a specific “’sticky” goal to rally and guide us out of the current problem. I long for a “man on the moon by the end of this decade” kind of goal. ( To be “sticky, “ a goal has to be easy to visualize and easy to communicate - NCLB just doesn’t do it for me.)

I don’t know about you, but I have chills reading such a firm commitment to long term educational growth from a country we have to compete with in the global market. Teachers, know that what you do is essential! Lots of food for thought.

Not sure how long the links will be useful, but check the articles out.

Low Education Scores Could Slow U.S. Growth

Let Education Be Our Revolution