EDGYCATE

RYA

2010-08-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

The lack of posts may suggest that I’m MIA this summer, however I’m simply RYA this summer. Yes, I’m Reading Young Adult fiction. Voraciously, I may say. My young adult appetite has grown due to my impending job as an at-risk high school counselor. As I ready myself (if that’s even possible) for the counseling task at hand, I find myself turning to literature and wondering how, and if I can

Get Dirty. Get Smarter.

2010-07-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest study from Children and Nature Network : Can Playing in the Dirt Make You Smarter? I used to laugh in digust and amusement when my husband told me that he ate dirt as a child. Now, I wonder if all that dirt consumption contributed to his brilliance in math and physics. Next time you see a puddle of mud, encourage your children to jump in it, rather than over it!

Developmental Assets

2010-06-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

The underdog story fascinates me. How does the young woman, against all odds, become a doctor or a teacher? How does the abandoned, abused child grow up to love and provide for others? I am not alone in my fascination. There have been studies of more than 2.2 million young people to determine what qualities and experiences help young people become caring and responsible adults. The results

DANGER

2010-06-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

In the world of education, a crisis most often refers to failing a class, failing a test, or receiving less than satisfactory marks on the final report card. As a school counselor, I explained how failing could actually provide an opportunity for growth. Most parents looked at me like I was a ninny because they saw the danger in this type of crisis, but didn't see the

Tell Your Children - WRITE Now and Later

2010-06-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

A new report from Carnegie Corporation of New York finds that writing can be a powerful driver for improving academic skills . Published by the Alliance for Excellent Education, Writing to Read: Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading identifies three core instructional practices that have been shown to be effective in improving student reading and comprehension. Because writing is not

Nurturing the Inner Socrates

2010-06-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

Children of all ages constantly ask questions. Some questions are asinine and repetitive which can drive a parent crazy. However, some questions reach out and show that a child is trying to understand his or her surroundings. How can we bring out the little Socrates or Plato in our children? I came across a great site called Teaching Children Philosophy. There are 85 children’s books to

Plastic Brains

2010-06-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

Is your brain plastic? Definitely not. It might feel like it is made of silly putty after hours at a park, but rest assured your brain is regenerative and amazing. It used to be thought that as we get older, the connections in our brains become fixed. However, newer research tells us that the brain has the ability to reorganize itself and form new neural connections.

Patty Cake Patty Cake

2010-06-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

Current research asserts that hand clapping songs improve motor and cognitive skills. Do you remember those hand clapping games? How can our children not know the joys of : Kerplunk went the little green frogKerplunk went the little green frog…. Or Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack All dressed in black black black… Video games, computer games, handheld devices and the like have replaced good old

Hunters vs. Gatherers; Is the Brain Different?

2010-06-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

“We are out of ketchup,” he asserts with authority.“I used it yesterday. It’s in the fridge,” she calmly replies.“There is no ketchup in here,” he retorts.“Yes there most certainly is,” she barks.“No, there’s not!”“Yes there is!” And so goes the argument until the woman storms over to the fridge and yanks the bottle from the top left shelf and thrusts it at her husband. Believe it or not,

Prevent Summer Learning Loss

2010-06-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

According to the National Summer Learning Association, children need to practice the essential skills during the summer. Research asserts that: All students experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. On average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation during the summer

Doing Too Much

2010-05-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

A chapter in Edward Hallowell’s The Childhood Roots to Adult Happiness is entitled “Doing Too Much, The Great Mistake Good Parents Make.” This chapter title drew me in, not only because as a parent I want to avoid the mistake, but also because it reminds me of a recurring dialog that I have with parents. Parent: “I’m helping my son study for his science test, but sometimes it seems like I’m

To Focus or Not to Focus Part 2

2010-05-25T21:49:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to interview board certified psychiatrist, Dr. Arthur Smukler. He has had a private psychiatric practice for over 30 years and is on the faculty at UCLA. Working with older adolescents and adults, he has a strong interest in helping people understand themselves and uses medication only when necessary. Can you give the readers a brief overview of AD/HD? 1. An inability

Homework Challenge

2010-05-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

There are about 4-5 weeks left of school for most children. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. The smiles are getting wider. Summer is coming and there will be weeks without homework battles. If you’re smiling at the thought, think of how your child feels! So, in light of the fact that the end is near, I’d like to propose a challenge. Here’s how to play: 1.

To Focus or Not to Focus Part 1

2010-05-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

To focus or not to focus, that is the question. Or is it the problem? The answer, maybe? Attention. One word with so many feelings, thoughts, opinions, and fears attached to it. Some say attention is the new fad and children just need more discipline. Other will say how real and debilitating living with a child with attention weaknesses can be. So, before touching this often controversial

Games and Activities for The Beginning and Struggling Reader

2010-05-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

Children love to play games. Making learning fun is vital for children at every age. The following games are for beginning readers and or struggling readers. These games focus on sight words, sound recognition and awareness. You are your child's model. If you are having fun, they will too. SIGHT WORD Games Using the Dolch sight word list, the following website: http://www.theschoolbell.com/

What is Educational Therapy?

2010-05-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

I have been asked numerous times, "What does an educational therapist do?" According to the Association of Educational Therapists, www.aetonline.org Educational Therapy offers children and adults with learning disabilities and other learning challenges a wide range of intensive, individualized interventions designed to remediate learning problems. Educational therapy demystifies learning