HeightenedLearning

Heightened Learning Blog has a New Home

2006-06-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

Eventually I will be transferring many of these posts over to my new blog.

There's a great new post waiting to be read.

~Danielle

Strengthened Parent & Child Relationships

2006-05-29T22:38:00.000-07:00

Home-schooling has many benefits

Home-schooling allows kids to relate to adults better, especially their parents. Being with my mom all day, and learning through her and my dad shows me more and more that I can trust them and that they want to be my friends.

~~~

I've certainly observed this gratitude that children have for their parents in the teen homeschooling population. The teens that I work with never seem to mind having their moms around. In fact, they seem to enjoy it!

One mother commented to me last week that she thinks that the more time parents spend with their kids, the more their kids are going to spend time with them later in life. I think she's onto something!

Often times I feel that my students appreciate what I'm there for as well. There's a mutual understanding that we're both there to learn together. Rarely do I feel a personal divide between us because I'm an "adult" and they're a "teen." We're all people -- growing and learning together.

~Danielle

Alex and the Sleep Monster

2006-05-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I had the pleasure of meeting Adrian Grey, an artist & wonderful father. While there, he showed me his children's book that was in the process of being published. It is artistically stunning and an experience that both children & adults can enjoy.

Today, I am happy to announce that he has graciously put "Alex and the Sleep Monster" online. I hope the website encourages you to check it out!

~Danielle

p.s. I'll get back to blogging more soon, wonderful changes are happening!

Effortless Mastery

2006-03-21T11:21:00.000-08:00

Spring-cleaning is about renewal. During my cleaning spree last week, I came across Kenny Werner’s “Effortless Mastery” hidden amongst many a book.

Juanito Pascal, my truly inspiring guitar teacher, introduced me to the book years ago. Though Werner’s book is largely touted as a text for musicians looking to play without fear and negativity, his words go much deeper than that.

The back cover explains:

“While Mr. Werner happens to be a musician, the concepts presented here are applicable to every profession, aspiration or life-style where there is a need for free flowing, effortless thinking”

I agree.

Students looking to master any skill would benefit from his thoughts. His main point being that all skill comes from practice in a relaxed state. This relaxation promotes us to be appreciative of what we are doing instead of being harshly judgmental. We perceive excellence through each moment that we fully give to our activity. Through this excellence we love what we engage, building on positive associations.

I would call this profuse moment, mindfulness.

I see my students struggle with this as they criticize themselves for what they have yet to learn -- especially writing. They have so many ideas about what a writer is and should be that it blocks their ability to try. Negative thoughts of “I’m bad at writing” are often heard during the first session.

Often times, students are trying to build a bridge without the supports in place. To break way from these habits of negativity, I bring a student to what they can do. Feeling comfortable here, I can slowly help them to build on their existing skills.

I often recommend for parents to end any signs of frustration before they start, even if it means stopping the activity altogether. It is always better to start from a tabula rasa than a mind imprinted by negative experiences.

Though I struggle with mindfulness daily, I experience it teaching. Part of why I love my work is that it requires a relaxed focus with my student and myself. I have to be very present to optimally teach them in just the right way. Hardly ever do I find my mind racing to other ideas or inquiries that will not benefit our interaction.

And now that I am thinking of positive interactions, play comes to mind. The idea of play is so important to my work. I realize now that during play it is easiest to be mindful. We’re in an activity that we love, so we appreciate and indulge in it. This loving indulgence is the way to mastery.

~Danielle

It's all about Saturday morning radio!

2006-02-23T07:49:00.000-08:00

Kid Rock: WAWL's "Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl" is a healthy part of a balanced musical breakfast.

It’s Saturday morning. An energetic DJ busts out an emphatic, “It’s time to get all that energy out! Get up and dance around.” He then spins some Ramones, some They Might Be Giants and even some beat poetry set to wind instruments. The beats span decades and genres, with well-known tracks that I can’t help but belt out. There’s a heavy rotation of original new artists, most with an ethereal, lo-fi sound.

Oh yeah, and it’s a radio show for second graders.

~~~

Having enjoyed college radio for a long time, I'll have to tune into WAWL this Saturday.

This show is billed as educational by giving interesting insights into music as well as the content of the music. More importantly, I suspect that listening to radio helps to build listening & attention skills over all.

Happy listening,

Danielle

Learning through Good Nutrition

2005-12-05T22:46:00.000-08:00

As a holistic educator, I look at many aspects that make up each of my students. One aspect that I focus on (which parents are often surprised by my questioning of) is nutrition.

The simple question, “How is your family’s nutrition?” holds a goldmine of answers. As a diagnostician, the answers to this provide many insights.

Proper nutrition, meaning nutrients balanced as in the Zone or (the even more disciplined) Paleo diet philosophy, aids in cognitive functioning, emotional wellbeing, and overall stability/energy.

Nutrition is certainly a touchy subject, and I’m careful to approach it with the utmost care. Often times, to get the most out of my educational approach, I ask families to provide their child with healthy snacks and water before and during our session to optimize their energy level.

The difference a healthy food can make is astounding. Watching a student rise from being lethargic to energetic is always interesting. The best part is when my student realizes that food really does matter and they start implementing good nutrion on their own.

A balanced food is one that has good ratios of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, such as fruit with yogurt or almond butter.

Some snack ideas to help boost brainpower are:

*Almond butter (it’s more expensive than peanut butter, but it has more nutrients in it) and celery
*Yogurt with grapefruit or berries
*Cheese with vegetables
*Almonds/Cashews/Walnuts
*Cottage Cheese with cinnamon or other spices
*Hard Boiled Eggs

Snacks to steer away from:

Sugary snacks
Juice boxes (have the whole fruit instead!)
Over processed foods

My favorite brain food is almond butter, as it gives me a quick boost of energy without any “crashing” like a sugary snack would induce. I also think the nut butter gets absorbed more quickly because it does not have to be broken down as much as whole nuts do.

Many of my clients live a very healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, they help others to attain their nutritional goals.

Touted as the next best thing to fruits and vegetables is Juice Plus, a whole foods supplement.

Juice Plus is the most researched nutritional supplement available. It is whole food, containing 17 nutrient dense fruits, vegetables and grains. It comes in capsules, chewables or gummies.

Want to know more about super foods? The Natural Life is here to help!

All play and no work makes for lots of completed projects!

2005-11-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

Often times, clients have mentioned that I have a remarkable way of engaging their children. Just today, I was told that my writing class was the favorite out of an array of homeschool classes held at a local coop. This was surprising to me, as I know that I “compete” with some super fun, hands on classes.

However, on introspecting more, I know that my approach to education works very well with my students. This approach is one of flexibility, understanding, and appreciation for each student individually.

A great example of this approach in action is that all of my students know that homework is optional. This freedom enables them to practice their work without the added stress of *having* to get something done.

Each week, I am pleasantly surprised at the number of students who choose to hand in their writing projects. Furthermore, many of them dive into extra projects without being given any external incentive (I don’t believe in giving out external motivators, such as stars, points, toys, etc.).

I theorize that their work ends up feeling like (or is even perceived as) play. Play being any activity that engages us because we have an interest in it. This self-interest is the greatest motivator to enhance learning.

Education as play is certainly crucial in the academic development of children. The earlier my students are responsible for their own education, the better. Thinking experimentally, I would doubt that I could induce this play feeling in older students because they have engrained the idea that learning is work, it's hard, and it's mandatory. However, I do think that over time, older students would slowly acclimate to this new approach.

Speaking as a student of life, I certainly play a lot (today I learned to do a headstand!). Googling topics, reading, and intellectually engaging in activities are routine parts of everyday. As an adult, I greet this state of wonder for its interesting, fruitful, and growth producing interactions.

~Danielle

Making Peace with Autism

2005-10-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

Walking by the community bulletin board at Simmons College, a flier caught my eye for a family who needed one-on-one instruction for their son with autism. After having years of personal experience with autism, I was ready to deepen my understanding and awareness of this familiar although mysterious developmental disorder.

I was profoundly humbled by all my interactions with the whole family. There were days when Nat, the son, shined so brightly that we were able to accomplish more than his independent education plan could have predicted. Other days, I could not get through and connecting was heart wrenching for me as I craved Nat's attention just as he craved kidney beans with more cumin than one would think humanly possible to digest.

Sadly, our time began to fade. As a growing adolescent, his behaviors became unpredictable during our lessons and I was unable help him while keeping my own insecurities hidden.

Over the years, I have been honored to keep in touch with the Senator family. Nat's latest milestone being his bar mitzvah!

Today, a new window has opened in which I am pleased to view their family life. Susan Senator, super mom & amazing writer, has published her family's memoirs entitled Making Peace with Autism.

~Danielle

Harry Potter on Campus

2005-10-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Freshman Runs Potter Website

"After living 10 years of his life in an average family, Harry Potter had a striking moment of self-discovery: he was actually a wizard, one of the most famous wizards in the magical world. And much like the famous young boy, Notre Dame's own Harry Potter - freshman Emerson Spartz - has been thrown from several years of home schooling into a college campus where, to many Potter fans, he is already famous."

~~~

I absolutely adore reading about what homeschoolers do aside from their academic studies. I can't imagine a better way to learn than to embrace one's passions and then transform them into creative ventures. I have certainly learned a ton from starting my own business in education.

Emerson is surely more ready for college than the majority of his peers. He knows what he wants, and furthermore -- he knows how to get it!

~Danielle

Opting to Homeschool

2005-09-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

Home Schooling Survives Oppostion as Growing Numbers Opt In

"[A]nother major factor contributing to the rise of home education, the HSLDA president contends, is parents' reactions to negativity in many public school settings. 'We're getting a lot more folks that are pulling kids out of public school,' he says. 'Our applications are showing that we're getting tons of folks who are not going to send their children back to public education. Now, they don't indicate necessarily that they're dissatisfied; but we know that if they were satisfied they'd be leaving them there in that public school setting.'

For many parents, Smith says, the reason 'could be academics, it could be the children are being hazed or teased, or it could be problem with a teacher. There's just a myriad of issues.' But in large part, the home-education advocate adds, the phenomenal growth of the movement is due to the fact that more people are now becoming aware of and familiar with home schooling and are realizing that it is a choice available to them."

San Diego Adding 13 Charter Schools this Year

2005-09-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

San Diego Charter Schools

In general, I have found that the students who attend charter schools, as apposed to public or even private schools, are much more enthusiastic about learning & their education. Charters appear to be a great resource for parents who are looking for an alternative education but are unable to homeschool their children.

This year I'll be teaching a class at Dehesa Charter School which specializes in working with homeschooling families.

In the future, I look forward to seeing how these charters thrive in San Diego!

~Danielle

More on Memory and Cognitive Enhancement

2005-08-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

11 Steps to a Better Brain

It doesn't matter how brainy you are or how much education you've had - you can still improve and expand your mind. Boosting your mental faculties doesn't have to mean studying hard or becoming a reclusive bookworm. There are lots of tricks, techniques and habits, as well as changes to your lifestyle, diet and behavior that can help you flex your grey matter and get the best out of your brain cells. And here are 11 of them.

~~~
Here are the top ideas that I use with my students.

Food for thought ~ I certainly am aware of my students' diets. One of my students often complains of feeling lethargic. After looking at her nutrition I concluded that she's drinking too many sugars in the form of juice boxes. During one lesson I asked her to snack on a tablespoon of peanut butter instead of her usual juice and she was surprised to actually feel a difference in her mental state.

Mozart effect "Six-year-old children who were given music lessons, as opposed to drama lessons or no extra instruction, got a 2 to 3-point boost in IQ scores compared with the others." I theorize that the increase in IQ here actually has to do with the cross over exercises that it takes to perform on a musical instrument.

Memory marvels ~ As noted in a previous entry, mnemonics work wonders!

Sleep on it ~ This is another aspect that I frequently interview new clients about. To get the most out of my services I ask parents and students to really notice daily sleeping and nutrition patterns.

Body and mind ~ Exercise is a regular part of my students' lessons. Jumping jacks, running, and juggling are incorporated into most lessons. It works particularly well to bring exercise into the lesson at the start and when the student gets antsy to increase oxygen to the brain.

Attention seeking ~ During sessions my students tend to do really well paying attention. However, I should not neglect teaching them how to notice their own internal awareness levels. I will certainly look into more exercises for this. One that may work well is to have the student note where their attention is (on a rating scale) after they hear a random beep.

~Danielle

Leaders of Tomorrow

2005-07-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Training a New Generation of Leaders

"Most home-school teenagers are, indeed, belying the stereotype of a disengaged younger generation and consequently are gaining the attention of the national media. ABC's 'World News Tonight' recently visited the campus of Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., where the weeklong Generation Joshua Summer Camp was being held.

Launched in spring 2004, Generation Joshua is a program developed by the Home School Legal Defense Association. It provides civics training to a new generation of home-schoolers. The camp focused on the need for civic engagement and taught the principles of the founding of the country."

~~~

I certainly feel that homeschoolers will be the movers and shakers of tomorrow. Their strength will come from knowing how to think, ask questions, and motivate themselves. I forsee a majority of my students pursuing their ideals whether it be in politics, business, or education.

~Danielle

Memory Tips & Tricks

2005-07-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

Study Shows How Sleep Improves Memory

"A good night’s sleep triggers changes in the brain that help to improve memory, according to a new study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).

New memories are formed within the brain when a person engages with information to be learned (for example, memorizing a list of words or mastering a piano concerto). However, these memories are initially quite vulnerable; in order to 'stick' they must be solidified and improved. This process of 'memory consolidation' occurs when connections between brain cells as well as between different brain regions are strengthened, and for many years was believed to develop merely as a passage of time. More recently, however, it has been demonstrated that time spent asleep also plays a key role in preserving memory."

(Furthermore, it's neat that I personally know Dr. Schlaug and Dr. Nadine Gaab from my time working at BIDMC)
~~~

Memorizing information, such as multiplication tables, to utilize processing speed for further study is one of the hardest tasks that my students have. Any tricks, such as improved sleep, for consolidating memory should be used to its fullest potential.

Over the past week, three of my students have begun memorizing their multiplication tables. One of my students, an eight years old girl, was dependent on using her fingers to count up. For example, 8 x 4 becomes, 8 (thumb), 16 (index finger), 24 (middle), and 32 (ring finger). In the past she was taught, or figured out, that this method worked and continued to use it. I explained that this method was much like sounding out caaaaaaaaaaaat, every time she read the word cat. She agreed as well.

We took a new approach. Sitting on her hands, so that she’d stop relying on her fingers, I had her go through six multiplication facts. One by one, she went through a fact, answered it and then I asked her to make up an extremely detailed picture to go with the fact. For example, 9 x 3 = 27 and she pictured all three numbers playing soccer (her favorite sport).

For fun, I wanted to see if I could remember all six cards on my own after a two day hiatus. Below is what I came up with:

3 x 9 = 27 ~ Playing soccer on a field.
8 x 3 = 24 ~ 8 & 3 are being chased by an octopus with 24 tentacles.
7 x 5 = 35 ~ 7 & 5 are playing underneath a tree. The branches and leaves make a 35.
6 x 7 = 42 ~ 6 & 7 are riding a racehorse with the number 42 on its side.
9 x 9 = 81 ~ 81 is a maid at the Super 9 hotel!
8 x 4 = 32 ~ 8 & 4 are being chased by a shark with 32 teeth.

Two days after our session, she was supposed to have practiced her six facts and add three more. At the next session, she performed beautifully having memorized all nine cards. I too had remembered all six cards correctly.

After working this technique with one student, I excitedly tried it again. This time, I was working with an eight years old boy, and he was able to memorize five cards. However, he preferred to make pictures that would rhyme with the answer. For example 8 x 8 = 64 was turned into the eights eating pizza in the kitchen while the 64 sat on the floor. I'll be looking at his retention tomorrow.

I've found that it helps to give the student control in how they decide to memorize their facts. As long as they are having fun & learning, that's what matters.

~Danielle

Criticism of Baby Sign Language

2005-07-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Learning to sign before speaking

“Baby Signs is based on research showing that using signs enhances language, cognitive and social-emotional development of babies. The program originated in 1982 when two researchers at the University of California, Davis launched a study of babies and sign language.

‘We discovered that teaching babies sign language facilitated and sped up talking,’ said Linda Acredolo, a psychologist who later co-authored a best-selling book on the program. ‘And children who used sign language had higher IQs than peers who didn't.’

The researchers also noted social and emotional benefits for the babies and positive effects on the parent-child relationship. Acredolo said signing reduces frustration for the baby and parents and enables the babies to share their world.

The author of several books on child development, Greenspan said teaching babies to use specific signs and gestures introduces an artificial element into the naturally developing communication system.

'Anytime you do something repetitive with a baby you're reducing the flexibility and creativity of the child,' Greenspan said. 'I don't want to say that parents who use sign language are doing something bad or wrong, that only makes the parent feel bad. But why not let your child learn to ask for a drink 30 different ways instead of just using one sign? What if there was only one way to express love? Or one gesture to show love?'"

~~~

Greenspan misses one important aspect of creativity and flexibility; children use sign language outside of original context. This application of information to other areas displays the child’s understanding of a concept.

When I worked as a nanny, transition times were always difficult. After meals the children tended to signal that they were done by squirming, standing up in their highchair, or sometimes yelling. To alleviate the stress (and to provide a better alternative), I taught the children to raise their arms in the air to signal “all done.” It worked brilliantly and mealtime became much easier for the children and myself since we could communicate more effectively.

To my surprise, in a short period of time, I noticed that their new communication skills were being implemented in other areas. When they were done playing or were ready for a new activity the “all done” sign would appear. Sometimes "all done" would be made into a joke where the child would produce the gesture after one bite of food; when asked if they were really done, the child would laugh and continue with their meal. This clearly demonstrated flexible and creative thinking. Furthermore, being able to communicate made for a more stress free environment, which is of the utmost importance to a child’s development.

~Danielle

Busy Work

2005-06-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

Too Much Homework = Lower Test Scores

"'Undue focus on homework as a national quick-fix, rather than a focus on issues of instructional quality and equity of access to opportunity to learn, may lead a country into wasted expenditures of time and energy,' LeTendre says."

~~~

Piles of homework, projects to finish, reading and comprehension to complete in a set time period -- sound like fun? You might think that homework only plagues children in a traditional classroom environment, however some homeschooled children also face this burden of busy work.

In my local community, homeschoolers may enroll their children into local home-based charter schools. These charters help to take off some of the burden of book keeping and lesson planning for parents. They are a great help to those who want it. Charter curriculums tend to be quite rigorous and furthermore overcompensate by giving students a workload heavy enough to break the camel's back.

Overcompensation may be taking place because of the fear that it looks like homeschoolers are not doing enough "time on learning" for their children. Knowing that you may be investigated is surely something that is on parent's minds. Charters certainly help to structure this time. However, busy work is often at the expense of the child's happiness.

As a teacher to homeschoolers, I understand the value of quality time spent on a project versus busy work. One project is loosely assigned, as student participation is always optional, per week. Students are also encouraged to tweak the assignment in anyway that they like. My flexibility as a teacher has encouraged my students to feel confident with their work. No stress, crying, or frantic parent calls -- just flexible fun and growth, that's teaching.

Kenadee, my eight-year old student, says it best, "You're the best tutor because you give us free choice!"

~Danielle

Homeschooling Success

2005-06-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

Katherine Kersten: Home-schooling lets kids realize their potential

Another success for homeschoolers! Enjoy.

~Danielle

Go Out and Play

2005-06-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Author worries that 'nature-deficit disorder' in kids can lead to problems for body and soul

"Mintz acknowledges the environment in which kids are growing up has changed, as has our notion of childhood - a view captured in the title of his book, a lament about the disappearance of the Huck Finn-style childhood.

'The older notion of childhood in America was it should be a moratorium from the responsibilities of adulthood, that childhood is at best, a time of risk, experimentation and freedom,' Mintz says.

Now, childhood is overshadowed by adulthood aspirations - a time to hone skills and talents that carry children into and through their futures. Schools are rigorous, homework is demanding and whatever time is left over is scheduled to the minute."

~~~

Kudos to Mintz for saying it better than I could, "Childhood is at best, a time of risk, experimentation and freedom." I am certainly in agreement with Mintz's view of childhood, however I also agree with Louv that outside play is an important part of development.

~Danielle

Hemispheric Integration and Juggling

2005-06-08T17:39:00.000-07:00

Bright Idea: Can PE help youths with ADHD?

"Using one side of your body to move objects on the other side forces both sides of your brain to interact with each other, and something about [ADHD] appears to interfere with that process, Pedersen said.

'What I've noticed in my observations is that kids with disabilities tend to be all one-sided,' Pedersen said. 'They tend to do everything on the right side of their body with their right hand or foot and the same with the left. Kids that don't have disabilities, kids that are good at sports, they tend to be able to cross over their bodies with no problems.'

'I worked with her on a mini-trampoline,' he said. 'I'd cross her hands and hold them while she jumped up and down. Something as simple as that started building up those skills, and the interesting thing is it carried over into her class work. Her teacher told me her attention span improved and her ability to concentrate.'

We do exercises where the kids juggle beanbags with each other, which really trains the brain to integrate. Through that, we've found the kids read better, focus better and learn better."

~~~

Dr. Daniel Amen, author of "Change Your Brain: Change Your Life," hosts a Saturday morning talk radio program where I was reminded of the benefits of "cross-training" one's brain. I'm glad to see that researchers in education are looking at this correlation, however -- they need a neuroscientist to give them a hand!

The idea (that is unmentioned in the article itself) is that doing cross-lateral exercises increases the connections in the cerebellum. In the past, it was thought that the cerebellum was only responsible for motor coordination and balance. Recently, scientists have found that the cerebellum is also responsible for processing information between the two hemispheres, which aids in cognitive functioning.

When one exercises the cerebellum, with an act like juggling, there is cross over to education because it strengthens connections that enhance cognitive abilities. Having a stronger cerebellum is like having a faster computer processor in the brain. By strengthening this cognitive muscle, our minds can perform at greater heights.

During sessions with my students, exercise is a very important part of the day. Generally, we start with jumping jacks to get the blood flowing in the body and increased oxygen to the brain. The gifts of the cerebellum have reminded me to teach them "cross-training" exercises as well. But first -- I need to learn to juggle!

You know your kid has done a good job when they can solve a Rubik's Cube with one hand while juggling two cubes in the other!

~Danielle

Private tutoring versus commercial learning centers

2005-06-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

Too young for tests - but not for tutors

"But many experts in early-childhood education adamantly oppose [commercial learning center] programs. They say the push for precociousness, even by parents with the best intentions, can put too much pressure on little ones and lead to burnout. Moreover, they argue that these kinds of programs are not suitable for children so young.

'It's that notion of education as a race, and it flies in the face of what we know about early-childhood education,' said David Elkind, author of The Hurried Child and professor of child development at Tufts University. 'All the evidence we have is it doesn't work, and it can do harm.'

'I'd say we are creating robots for the next generation," said Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, a developmental psychologist at Temple University and coauthor of Einstein Never Used Flash Cards. Like many education experts, she said young children learned best through exploration and play.

'If parents are demanding this service, it is because the education system has scared them to death,' said Mariaemma Willis, coauthor of Midlife Crisis Begins in Kindergarten. 'Parents are afraid their children won't be tops academically, they won't go to the best college, they won't get the best jobs. The system has convinced them to push the 'determining' age lower and lower - that is, the age at which their child's success or failure in life is determined.'

~~~

Private tutoring and commercial learning centers are not created equally. I am bothered by the fact that this article makes it seem as though they are one and the same.

Commercial learning centers, like The Score and Sylvan, appear very good on paper. They tout that their programs foster a love of learning and increased "smarts." In reality, these programs foster a love of fast paced computer games and external reward systems. In San Diego, Sylvan offers,"individualized instruction" with a 3:1 student teacher ratio using prefabricated worksheets.

These centers do amazingly well because they appear to make big promises about long-term success and motivation. They even guarantee higher test scores after a month of preparation. What most people don't know is that these centers are banking heavily on "poor retest validity" measures. Meaning, when administered a test more than once, you should expect to perform better on the second assessment. In other words, being familiar with a test is enough to make us test significantly better which makes the second assessment invalid.

Furthermore, for young children, I agree that computer time should be limited. And for any child, burnout should be avoided at all costs. I am lucky enough to work with parents who want to give their child an edge, not an anxiety disorder.

A truly individualized education, anchored in love and respect for a child's wellbeing, is what I offer to my clients. Extreme presence is my best attribute. This presence leads to intense in-the-moment analysis that aids in steering present and future interactions with each student.

As an educational theorist, my goal is to be thinking about my students. Learning centers apply current theories to masses of students. I'd rather be a creator and innovator of education than a bricklayer

Direct from the Source

2005-06-03T20:47:00.000-07:00

The power to choose by Sophie Curzon-Siggers (a 17 year old student at MacRobertson Girls High School)

"Ask any parent why they send their child off to school every day, and most will respond without hesitation - to learn! And to socialise! Indeed, to equip them with the skills to proceed successfully into adulthood.

And yet, more often than not, these are expectations unmet by our schools, hopes for our children never realised in the current education system."

~~~

This is a wonderfully powerful article. Sophie is fully onboard with educational systems such as homeschooling and Sudbury Valley. The beauty of it all is that she's 17 years old and advocating for herself...she's certainly taught herself a valuable lesson!

~Danielle

Laughing and Learning

2005-06-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Humor encourages participation

"Some teachers might laugh at this new study, but it seems classroom levity boosts student interest and participation."

~~~

Part of being a psych major in college involved becoming a guinea pig. One of my professors studied humor and even practiced his improv at a comedy club. His tests were always difficult, however he always made them funny which definitely made them more enjoyable to take. At the end of the year we were told that he had made different tests for each section of his classes, and that he would definitely look to see if the funny tests produced any significant difference in performance (unfortunately, he moved to Chicago before releasing the results).

When working with my students, I have found that the use of humor can readily help to change a frustrated emotional state to a more positive one. Furthermore, humor is a great tool for increasing participation in my classes (I teach classes to homeschooled students) as well as letting the students know that I am a real human and not a factoid robot!

~Danielle

Everything Bad is Good for You

2005-05-30T10:03:00.000-07:00

Pop Culture Is...Nourishing

Everything Bad is one of those books that you feel a bit suspicious of because it tells the lazy man what he is glad to hear. (Here’s the classic in that particular genre.) If you are a parent, you know all too well that preventing kids from spending every minute of their free time in front of a flickering screen (computer or TV) demands constant vigilance and effort. A lot of people will take Steven Johnson’s message as: “Hey, you don’t have to bother!” In fact he is much more thoughtful than that, and wants kids to do some book reading in among their gaming and TV-watching.

~~~

At first, I too was skeptical of this new title. Promoting TV and video games as educational and enhancing cognitive ability seems counter intuitive to other findings.

After reading "Endangered Minds" I was convinced that over exposure to television, computers, and video game systems was harming today's youths. However, I was not convinced that an hour of gaming per day was going to poison any child. It appears that,just like with sun exposure and nutrition, moderation and balance is just as important to cognitive development.

~~Danielle

Importance of Subject Integration

2005-05-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Hickory Creek Middle School changes focus to student-centered instead of subject-centered

"Hickory Creek Middle School student Laurel Dietterle took notes on important battles of the Revolutionary War in social studies class.

In language arts, the seventh-grader read the fictional account of Johnny Tremain, a horseman for a patriotic newspaper who witnessed pivotal events of the American Revolution.

Come technology period, Laurel paired up with friend Kate Walsh to create a PowerPoint slide on events in the colonial period.

'Sometimes it gets old, but it is also really helpful,' said Laurel of the subject overlap.

The overlap is an essential component of the middle school philosophy at Hickory Creek, and it is one of the techniques educators there will model for other schools in coming years."

~~~

As far as schools go, Hickory Creek appears to have a great educational philosophy.

Subject integration gives each topic more meaning and relevance as opposed to a hodgepodge of disjointed information. My favorite classes were always team taught, integrating the knowledge of both teachers/professors to give the subject more depth and real world applicability.

This integration can be used in numerous educational settings whether it's homeschooling or the traditional classroom environment.

Most importantly, integration offers students time for discussion and analysis. The keys for learning are held in this time for critical thinking and exploration.

~Danielle

More work and less play

2005-05-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

Preschool is a problem

"The notion of standards are coming down almost to the embryo," said Adele Brodkin, a psychologist and child development consultant. "We are not allowing normal, creative, interactive play. We are wanting kids to sit down and write their names at 3 and do rote tasks that are extremely boring at a young age."

Protection for Homeschool Families

2005-05-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

Senate Bill 402: An Act Relating to the Protection of Children

"This bill will require all social workers to be trained in their duty to protect your constitutional and statutory rights during an investigation. Furthermore, this bill will require social workers to inform you of the allegations against you during an investigation. Up until this point, social workers in Nevada often will not tell what the individual is accused of and simply demand entry into the home. They also are not currently trained in your Fourth Amendment rights."

~~~

Violating homeschoolers 4th Amendment rights, social workers are currently authorized to intrude upon families while withholding information about allegations.

This intrusion is not limited to a home-inspection of material findings. Without parental consent, social workers are demanding physical inspections of children as well as interviewing children alone.

I'm not sure that this bill will make the trauma of going through an inspection any less traumatic but it's clearly a step in the right direction.

It's a shame that Uncle Sam is overly concerned with private families when there are plenty of abuses witnessed within the system. A social worker would have had quite a case with my enraged high school band teacher for throwing music stands at students.

~Danielle

Socialization

2005-05-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

Socialization of homeschoolers a non-issue

"Homeschoolers are at least as well-socialized as public school students – most of them better-socialized, according to Susan McDowell, author of 'But What About Socialization? Answering the Perpetual Home Schooling Question: A Review of the Literature.'"

Virtual Schools

2005-05-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Virtual schools: the next big thing in public education?

"Now, a new trend is emerging: online education for primary schools. These virtual schools, operated by either state governments or local school districts, promise to give students more flexibility while also lowering education costs for the state.

Even some homeschooling advocates are upset by the virtual schools movement, however. They fear that the schools might dupe parents into accepting less autonomy in the name of accountability and support."

~~~

Autonomy is the cornerstone of homeschooling. Any time parents divorce themselves from a child's education, they are offering outside forces the privilege of influencing said child.

Virtual schools, like any new societal advance, have costs and benefits depending on their use. As a tool to enhance education, Virtual Schools offer students an outlet for learning on their own and a resource to parents looking to outsource certain areas of study.

On the other hand, I do not believe that Virtual Schools should serve as the sole outlet for a child's education. The only person who should serve as the sole outlet is the child.

Filling a child's "basket" with one educational system may be easiest. However, a more enriching environment with varying experience fosters the development of a more balanced and holistic worldview.

~Danielle

More Fun than Monopoly

2005-05-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

Avon's calling...and that's great for home schooling

"As part of their home schooling education, Marie Sanders thought up a creative way to teach her children about business by getting them to participate in every aspect of selling Avon beauty products.

From answering the phone and taking orders to calculating customers' bills, Ms Sanders says she is teaching her children a number of valuable skills they'll need to succeed, both in a classroom setting and in the real world.

She explains that having the children actively involved in selling Avon teaches them math skills, like addition and subtraction, as well as reading and writing."

Cognitive Development in Teens

2005-05-20T22:57:00.000-07:00

Teen's ability to multi-task develops late in adolescence or Why Teens are Lousy at Chores!

"Parents of teenagers frustrated by their children's inability to focus on more than one thing at a time can take hope: a new study from researchers at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis finds behavioral evidence that the part of the brain responsible for the ability to multi-task continues to develop until late adolescence."

~~~

A large percentage of my students are coming into their teen years and it has been fascinating to watch their cognitive and emotional fluctuations.

Through observation, I hope to gain more insight into the adolescent mind.

~Danielle

In Support of Play

2005-05-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

Expert sees value in child's play
School mandates cutting into time for students' fun

"'Play speaks to creativity and playfulness. It comes with an attitude that this is interesting, enjoyable and centered around the children's interests,' said William Strader, professor and director of Mitchell College's Institute for Early Childhood Teaching and Learning in New London.

Play has a role in all areas of a child's development — emotional, social, linguistic, motoristic, cognitive and even values, he said.

Strader said children who choose their play activity, learn easily because they are interested in the subject.

'We have wonderful research in the field of early childhood research that shows that children are active participants in their own development. They want to explore and master their own environment,' Klein said."

~~~

Andrew, my five-year-old student, learns about mathematics strictly through play. Using beans and other manipulatives, he has discovered the basics of arithmetic, fractions, and types of numbers (even versus odd, etc.). Already, I can see that he has a very solid understanding of numbers at such a young age.

This discovery time fosters real understanding of math concepts and promotes healthy feelings about math. He clearly views math as fun, rewarding, and challenging!

~Danielle

First Day of School

2005-05-16T23:54:00.000-07:00

Homeschoolers have an exceptionally strong commitment to education and children

"Those who homeschool have an exceptionally strong commitment to education and children, according to Rudner’s study, and place a greater emphasis on study skills, critical thinking, working independently and love of learning.

'They seem to be better prepared,' King Recruitment Director Darren Parker said of homeschooled students. 'We’ve had nothing but positive things to say about them.'

He attributed some of their academic success to the personal attention they receive. Many have had one-on-one instruction throughout, he said.

'The students we’ve gotten are first-rate,' he said. 'They are very strong students. They’re impressive students in terms of SAT scores.'

The grade-point averages of those students also tend to be higher than the freshman class average, Necessary said.

Nationally, homeschoolers score higher on three standardized tests than the average student.

[Joel Font] has thrown himself into his college experience, never mind that it’s the first school he’s ever attended.

Font, who was homeschooled, has been able to adjust and find success in college.

He said he’s grateful he was homeschooled, and he feels prepared for college. Having to assume responsibility for his studies while growing up has helped him at Emory & Henry, he said.

'I’m interested in learning,' he said. 'I’ve had to teach myself to learn.'

~~~

In the coming years, as more homeschoolers are headed off to college, more reports on the academic success of the homeschooling population will become public. I look forward to these reports statistically validating the practices that homeschoolers follow, as well as encouraging others to join this community in educating their children.

Confirming my thoughts on emotional intelligence, homeschoolers assume responsibility for their studies, can work independently, and most importantly love to learn.

~Danielle

Public School Monopoly

2005-05-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Determining the Legal Requirements for Homeschool in Your Area

"One area in which government could be a great help to homeschoolers is by the creation of vouchers or tax credits for homeschoolers. As a homeschooler, you are responsible for all the costs associated with educating your children. And, assuming you pay the taxes that support public education in your area, you also "pay" for public education services that you don't use.

Vouchers tend to be very controversial because they threaten the public education system's monopoly and all that that monopoly engenders.

Although vouchers aren't currently being contemplated for homeschoolers, they are still an important topic for us as well. That's because any effort to loosen the grip that government has over the mandatory direction of tax dollars to public education services that we don't use will eventually be beneficial to us as well.

It doesn't seem unreasonable to me that those of us who take the responsibility of our children's education should somehow be able to recover some portion of our taxes that we pay to support public education. A tax credit system would enable us to do so."

~~~

The thought that "vouchers aren't currently being contemplated for homeschoolers" is quite disturbing to me. Homeschoolers have chosen to dedicate the majority of their waking lives educating their children. By prioritizing their child's education, they have taken a lifestyle pay-cut.

As it stands, instead of being able to use their own limited resources for books, classes, and field trips, by law, they are forced to pay for someone else's education in a system that they don't believe works.

With the numbers of homeschoolers increasing each year, change is on the cusp. It is time that families put themselves first.

~Danielle

EQ in Education

2005-05-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

Emotional intelligence is largely being implemented in the work place. However, we only tend to hear about EQ being implemented in education in the form of mass assemblies that preach the importance of self-esteem and saying no to drugs.

In the article linked above, using EQ in a one-on-one coaching scenario appears to boost the EQ of said employee. As a teacher and one-on-one educator, I find that the article describes precisely how I approach my students.

The science of the motivational gap is less important than the art of what happens during one-on-one conversations in which the leader gets to know the employee and seeks to understand rather than to be heard.

Leader as Coach outlines the respective roles of the development partnership. The supervisor agrees to act as a coach by working one-on-one, orchestrating resources and learning opportunities, and providing encouragement for learning and focus. The direct report agrees to assume primary responsibility for his or her development by setting priorities, accepting new challenges, testing new behaviors, reflecting and extracting learning, and seeking feedback and support.

Optimally, one-on-one teaching should encourage the same roles. While working with my students, teaching becomes a cooperative event with much back and forth discussion. Lecturing is not an option. Students are asked to set their own goals and I highly encourage them to face their challenges head-on with a positive and open minded attitude.

Furthermore, I have observed that my students tend to vary on how they react to my "leader as coach" role depending on what type of education they are receiving. Homeschoolers largely accept my role as facilitator and show the highest EQ in the form of internal motivation as well as external appreciation for our sessions. Students in non-traditional school settings (charter schools, Montessori, etc.) also show a high degree of EQ. However, students in traditional settings tend to have a more difficult time accepting my role as a coach, and would largely prefer that I act as a lecturer or Pez-dispenser of knowledge (giving out information that can be easily accessed without the need for thought-provoking discussion time).

To some degree, we are all products of our environment. The more independent minded the education, the more independent the student. Traditional schools tend to foster dependency on the teacher and her knowledge. It would be quite atrocious to blame my traditional-students who have a difficult time with the question, "Well, what do you think?" It's surely quite frustrating to a student who goes to school, gets their lecture and answer session, then comes home to me and is asked to think for themselves. It's a mixed message at best...I just hope mine wins out.

~Danielle

In the hands of the students, democracy will thrive.

2005-05-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Alternative school frees the mind

"Fairhaven School was founded in 1998, modeled after the Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. Students are free to pursue their education as they see fit, based on the assumption that when children are left to their own devices, they initiate worthwhile pursuits. On the 12-acre campus off of Queen Anne Bridge Road, barefoot students play fantasy games such as "Munchkin Wars" and build forts next to streams."

Unschoolers Celebrate Themselves

2005-05-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

‘Unschooled’ get diplomas in unique graduation ceremony

"The graduates participated in a unique commencement ceremony designed to showcase their individuality.

Specializing in areas such as sheep raising, combat robotics, cosmetology, floral design and break-dancing, each student took the lead in deciding how his or her education would be administered

Webb said any student with willing parents can be home schooled and many see results that reach far beyond what’s achieved in public school. Founded in 1993, West River Academy accepts students from across Colorado as well as from other states and countries.

Through “unschooling,” students are able to develop their own identities and explore various options for the future, rather than being forced to “march to the beat of someone else’s drum for 12 years of their lives,” Webb said."

Endangered Minds

2005-05-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Don't touch that dial! TV-Turnoff Week is reality, unplugged

"The idea behind the effort, according to the TV-Turnoff Network, is that watching less television will lead to healthier lives and communities.

Besides no televisions, Richmond Waldorf doesn't use standard textbooks and also has no computers -- except in the administrative offices. Classrooms are warm and welcoming but short on bright colors, garish plastics and elaborate toys.

The school's educational approach puts a premium on engaging children's imagination and curiosity through hands-on learning."

~~~

The Richmond Waldorf school may be on to something bigger than "healthier lives and communities" as theorists have proposed that increased stimuli (tv, video games, computers) may be having a negative correlation on cognitive ability.

Jane M. Healy, author of "Endangered Minds," is also an advocate of turning off the tube. Exposure to fast paced and flashy tv shows (such as Sesame Street) has been correlated with decreased attention spans in elementary aged children.

~Danielle

Waldorf, Montessori, and Bank Street Preschools

2005-05-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

Big names still a draw for nursery school

"The selection of a nursery school can be as personal as finding a spouse, requiring of parents and teachers respect, dedication, common goals and an agreement to work together. A little love doesn't hurt, either."

~~~

I have found that Waldorf, Montessori, and Sudbury Valley schools offer a great alternative for parents who decide that homeschooling is not feasable for them. Each philosophy encourages individual child development and independence.

Parents should take the time to learn about each teaching philosophy that they are considering, as some schools advertise as "Montessori, Waldorf, etc." that do not specialize in the method.

~Danielle

Homeschool Freedom Bill

2005-05-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Homeschoolers Protected by New Utah Law

"A bill shielding homeschooling parents from requirements that they meet state credential standards and give public school officials records of what they teach passed unanimously in both houses of the Utah legislature in February.

"Because the [state statute] was vague, it led to inconsistent and varying interpretations between school districts, and even between people within school districts," he continued. "We just wanted to clarify it in favor of the parents, and let the school districts focus on educating the children they have the privilege of educating.""