Be part of the parental paradigm shift. Using
Dawna Markovas 'The Smart Parenting Revolution' you too can be on your
way to unleashing your child and families potential.
Keeping in touch has never been easier! Elluminates FREE V-Room enables us all to dabble in the joys of virtual communications! You are able to show presentations to people across the globe! Check it out! You will be amazed by the possibilities!
Pick of the Month!
A New Literary Hero: Comics Make for Colorful Learning
Teachers have begun to accept comic books as a tool for teaching literacy through group projects.
First graders in the after-school program at the Bronx's PS 90 spent
part of last school year working collaboratively to create a comic book
called The Bionic Butterfly. The title character, infected with
pollutants, turned into a very strong, intelligent superhero butterfly
with a mission to warn insects -- and humans -- about the dangers
facing Earth's environment.
Ed Talks
Aloha [[%1%| from the Editor!]]
This month has proved to be a very busy month! We are getting set to offer our first classroom with the Summer typing Campus! Much time and effort has gone into choosing the perfect program for our students at 2Think2Learn.com. The typing campus will provide a classroom for K-6 graders and another for 7-12th graders. I had so much fun creating the classrooms and am hoping your students will be excited to participate and become typing pros!
Maui 2Think2Learn.com Campus!
I have been working on another project. Plans are in motion to set up a Maui 2Think2Learn.com Campus, where students located on Maui will be able to attend after school programs. Using our online programs in math, language and foreign language we will offer after school programming for those needing support in their current studies. Students attending the center will be able to access their programs from home too!
2Think2Learn.com is joining forces with a new and exciting Day Program for students K-6. More details next month as our exciting center for learning takes shape!
eBOOK - RAISING MONEY FOR AUTISM!
I have also had a busy month writing. I was invited to co-author a book on Autism. I have attached a copy for you all to share with friends family and associates. As an educator and parent I am very interested in the way neurological issues effect a students capacity for learning. I strongly feel students struggling with any type of disruption to the brain need appropriate help and support in order to succeed. More research is needed to help educators understand how to cater for our students whose neurological issues often make learning and life more challenging and unpredictable.
This coming month is going to be very exciting! I look forward to working with some of you and keeping the rest of you up to date on my adventures in learning!
Yes it seems like an old cliche! But learning really does start at home. It is actually incredibly natural for humans to initiate the learning cycle with those who are close to them. With positive response and loving attention we all manage to happily reach milestones and progress as creatures of learning. Even those of us who may experience a more challenging learning reality still gravitate towards learning when offered the appropriate stimulus and experience.
Why then, does it become more challenging to continue this process once our children start school? Surely learning to read and write don't present any more of a challenge than walking and talking? It seems adults become a lot more impatient with the learning process once it involves the evaluation of others outside of the nuclear family. The focus becomes "what the school expects" and "what we expect of schools." The "natural" learning process is somewhat interrupted once it is recognized that the learner must conform to a set of outside parameters.
Three ways to reinforce learning at home!
1: Conversation Continue to genuinely connect with your children as you did when encouraging them to walk and talk! Children are hugely receptive to conversational reinforcement of their daily experiences. Do not judge this conversation content, just listen, share and learn!
2: Personalize Homework Spend a few minutes to discover how to make sense of homework with experiences in and around the home environment. Connecting the "school" requested learning with your own creativity enables students to see how to make an experience meaningful and relevant to them.
3: Create your own informal "Lessons" Once a week choose an activity to share with your kids that has them learning a particular skill. Perhaps you can choose a recipe and have them help you cook. Learning to garden, type or knit with a parent is a very exciting experience for any kid and keeps them knowing you are their first and most important teacher! You will find that your kids look forward each week to your "lesson" and this connection will have them understanding that the home is a very cool place to learn!
"One of the biggest problems in all education is the gulf that separates youth from age."
Neill, A.S (1992) Summerhill School, A New View of Childhood, St Martins Press, NY
Kids love to do what adults can - and some like to do it better! Have your student typing like a pro. Typing can improve all areas of subject matter - especially the matter between ones ears!
Our programs takes the student from where he or she is at to a place of confidence and enjoyment. Giving your student the opportunity to learn to type now will increase fluency in his and her written communication skills in later schooling experiences!
Check out our program and see if it is a fit for your student! We look forward to working with you and your student this coming year. Please forward this information on if you feel it will benefit the recipient.
