How Can A Montessori School Save You Money?

Is it possible to save money by sending your child to a Montessori school? First, its important to understand how a Montessori classroom operates. The classroom is an environment for self-education and self-realization. The room is divided up into different learning stations. There are 5 stations in most classrooms:

Practical Life This area develops task organization and promotes the understanding of cognitive order.

Sensorial This area teaches the students to classify and describe sensory impressions such as length, width, temperature, color, etc. Special Montessori games are used which have metal weights, different length rods, puzzles of the world, United States, etc., and also includes smelling activities.

Math- The Math station uses manipulative materials to enable the comprehension of number, symbol, sequence, operations concepts and the memorization of basic facts.

Language Unique tools are used to communicate the understanding of letters and eventually the recognition of words and finally, the accomplishment of being able to read.

Cultural Activities Teachers spend times teaching about different counties of the world. The topics covered are: geography, history, cultures (food, clothing, traditions), music and art. This part of the program gives children a worldly perspective.

My 4 year old son has been attending Montessori school since he was 2. Its evident that his language and understanding of the world around him are developing at a rapid pace. In his school, it is expected that pre-schoolers (4 year olds) will know how to read and write before kindergarten.

What impressed me most about this particular school is that they use the Open Court Sound Cards. The sound cards are drilled every day throughout the entire school year. The cards have a picture and a letter on them. Each card represents either a vowel or a consonant. The students learn the letters and their corresponding sounds through repetition and pictures. There are 42 cards in the set, each with a different letter, vowel or letter grouping (the letter grouping example is ph, to represent the sound f).

An example is the sound card for the letter W. There is a picture of two whales whispering to each other. During the lesson, the students chant Whispering whale, whispering whale, wuh, wuh, wuh. This repetition enforces the concept of how the letter W looks and also what it sounds like. This exercise is the very beginning of learning to read. In order to learn how to read, a child must first learn all the letters of the alphabet and their sounds.

The Open Court Sound Cards, published by McGraw-Hill SRA, are reviewed each day for the entire year. If a child starts learning this at age 2 or 3, she will be putting the letters together and reading at around age 4 to 5. Some other benefits of Open Court learning are:

Phonological and phonemic awareness

Print and book awareness

Alphabetic knowledge

Oral language skill enhancement

Vocabulary growth

improved comprehension

According to www.montessori-ami.org, A significant finding in Montessori studies is the association between a Montessori education and superior performance on the Math and Science scales of the ACT and WKCE (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exams). In essence, attending a Montessori program from the approximate ages of three to eleven predicts significantly higher mathematics and science standardized test scores in high school."

To answer the question posed in the title of this article, How Can A Montessori School Save You Money?, the answer is in the childs future education. Studies show that a Montessori educated child is more confident and enthusiastic about learning and school. He or she will already know how to read and write by kindergarten. Because of this, the child will be less likely to need tutoring or other prep classes during the elementary school years.

Janet Freitag is the owner and creator of the website http://www.hempwonders.com, a site about the fascinating little known uses and benefits of the hemp plant. Hempwonders is also a reference for hemp diaper information. She is also an affiliate of Site Build It!, the software program she used to create her website. You can visit Site Build It! at http://wahm.sitesell.com/Janet36.htmlSimonne Blog80637
Stella Blog11142

Get Your College Degree Online

Does an online degree meet the requirements of your employer? Are the educational standards needed for acceptance by your state department of education met by any and all of the online learning institutions? Getting your online degree is not by any means to be equated with getting your drivers license from that famous catalog.

The quality of your education depends upon the specific provider and the amount of work you put into the program you choose. It will cost money, time, and effort; in the best-case scenario, it will only cost you time and effort; in the worst, it could be all of the above and perhaps a relationship or two. Some folks lurking in your constellation of friends and acquaintances may not take your online degree seriously; they may even make a disparaging remark out of their own lack of knowledge or understanding. That is when you can feed back some of that research and newly gained insight that you just acquired during your Web browsing.

If you want to go the distance, dont stop with an associate degree or even a bachelors. Really ruffle their feathers and plan for the day you can wave your sheepskin in front of their noses; get a distance learning MBA. Choose a school accredited by your state board of education, take the classes, do your homework, and build a new rung on your ladder to academic and career success one subject at a time for the online degree. Remember, you own the ladder; make it the one that you want it to be with an online degree.

Simon Rand is the pen name for a professional writer on many topics. His work includes book authorship, TV producer and independent writer for many national magazines. http://student-loans.mustsee.infoSherilyn Blog31238
Shanon Blog1533

Does Your Teen Need A Math Tutor?

The students who should consider a math tutor usually fall into two categories. There is the student who is working really hard, doing everything the teacher asks, and still genuinely having trouble mastering concepts and getting good grades. Secondly, there is the student who isnt applying himself, doesnt do homework, and doesnt pay attention in class. Students in both of these groups can benefit from working with a tutor, but in very different ways.

Lets start with taking a look at that first group. The student who is working very hard and not getting desired results quickly becomes frustrated, and understandably so. Using a tutor usually proves to be quite beneficial for this type student. I say usually because the decision to look to a tutor for help is a very individual and personal one. Some students view having a tutor as a status symbol while others shy away from the idea for fear of being labeled slow, stupid, or something similar. So the absolute first step in deciding whether to use a tutor should be a serious conversation with your student. Determine how he or she feels about working with a tutor and go from there. Most students in this category will be receptive to the idea because they are serious about their work, realize they need help, and welcome the relief of easing their frustration. When this is the case, it usually doesnt take much at all for a good tutor to help smooth out the rough spots. The student who is studying and working hard will be able to point out the exact problem areas to the tutor. In turn, the tutor will be able to address those problems with the student thoroughly and effectively.

Now lets take a look at the second group of students possibly in need of a tutor; the student who really isnt applying himself to the course work. This student may be entirely capable of understanding and mastering the concepts and getting good grades without a tutor. The problem lies in the fact that the student hasnt attempted enough work to know whether or not he is capable. Working with a tutor can benefit this type student in a couple of ways. First, having a regularly scheduled session for one-on-one tutoring forces the student to focus on the course work for at least the time of the tutoring session. Secondly, the student who isnt applying himself will quickly fall behind, which is a major concern in high school math courses. Math concepts build on one another. Even if a poor student suddenly decides to apply himself, he will have trouble if past concepts havent been mastered. Starting to work with a tutor early, when poor performance is first detected, can help prevent the student from falling too far behind.

It should be noted that students sometimes feel that having a tutor automatically equates to instant success. I have sometimes had students in my classes who would not stay on task during class time assignments intended for drill, practice, and understanding. When I would attempt to steer them back on task, I would get replies such as Oh, my tutor is coming tonight. Ill get it done them. Parents should keep an eye out for that kind of attitude and try to guard against it. Working with a tutor should be supplemental to, not instead of, regular class work supervised by the teacher.

Linda Hinkle is an educator, having taught high school mathematics for 29 years. She wishes to help empower parents of high school students struggling with mathematics. Find more information about high school topics and sign up for her free newsletter at http://www.highschoolstuff.com.Sidoney Blog28765
Shani Blog69271

Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance

The Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance was created by the 28 districts in Orange County in 2003. The primary goal of the Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance is to meet the need for a countywide system that can focus on special education. This includes offering staff development and training to school employees, creating leadership in advocating for legislative and administrative change, overseeing the decisions and rulings rendered by administrative agencies, offering a way to fund the litigation and appeals of administrative and judicial decisions and rulings especially when the outcome has a countywide significance or precedent setting in its implications for all students.

The Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance was created with the intention of addressing all the concerns of all students regardless of if the student has any manner disability. Any student that is not receiving the full services they need changed because of lack of funding to support mandates created under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The main problem that Orange County Schools faces with meeting this federal mandate is drawing funds from the regular education program. Funds are often taken from the regular education program to support the needs of special education students. Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance aims to provide the services all students need to be successful in meeting academic standards.

Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance plans to accomplish this goal by providing staff development to its practitioners, use the legislative process to seek adequate funding to provide these high quality services, and when necessary, support litigation to achieve these goals. Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance also encourages staff members, parents, advocates and organizations to get involved by using their voices and contact the local officials and hold them accountable for promises and mandates for which regular education and special needs children are entitled.

Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance is lead by an Executive Committee that is composed of Superintendents from different school districts across Orange County. The actual carrying out of the goals is the responsibility of the Review Committee. The Review Committee is comprised of five Superintendents regionally nominated, Orange County Schools legal counsel, two private attorneys representing school districts in special education matters, two SELPA directors, and one business administrator. The Review Committee has been working hard for the past two years in order to try and meet the goals of the Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance. Even though the focus of the Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance is in the areas of legal and funding, it tries hard to work closely with teachers and staff members so that its members are informed about the needs of the schools at root levels.

Since the Orange County Schools Special Education Alliance was created it has accomplish a great deal to meet the needs of the school districts across Orange County.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Orange County schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/california/orange-county/index.html.Sherilyn Blog31238
Shellie Blog50818

Projected Cost of a College Education

When you are considering the cost of a college education, you have to remember that the costs do not just include the cost of tuition at school. You will also have to take into account accommodation, books, travel and of course, cost of living expenses.

Although estimates vary, in the academic year 2006 -2007 the average cost PER YEAR of a four year degree course at a public university is $15, 608, while attending a private university will incur costs of $33, 642. These costs include tuition and room and board. If an inflation rate of 5% per annum is assumed, which is very low, then if your or your child wants to attend a university in the year 2021, then the costs per year rise to $32,447 and $69,940 respectively for a public and private university.

Remember that these projected costs are only for an ordinary degree course. If you intend to do post-graduate studies, then the costs will increase dramatically.

At the moment, Federal financial aid packages are available to students. These include Pell and Stafford loans for students, and PLUS loans that can be made to the parents of students. Although these may be sufficient to pay for the cost of the university education, it makes good sense to seek out additional sources.

There are several federally managed foundations which can provide grants and scholarships to students. Some of them require the students to follow a particular career upon graduating from school, or to take up employment in an area of the country where there is a shortage of suitably qualified job applicants.

Because there is such a wide range of grants and scholarships available, it would be prudent to seek the services of one of the several specialized companies who know where and how to apply for them. It may well be that some grants are only available to a particular group of people and these experts will be able to guide you through the intricacies of them all.

The school itself may well have private funds available to assist students to complete their education. You should contact the schools financial aid office in plenty of time to see what they might have available to assist. You should not forget to apply early for such extra funding to pay for the cost of the university education as these funds will be limited and will probably be paid out on a first come, first served basis.

Kai Yee, is a writer, educator and a businessman living and working in Washington, DC. He has taught and lectured at in George Washington University and George Mason University. You can find his website at http://www.Student-Grant-Loan-Advisor.com.Sharyl Blog63423
Shirline Blog41986

Tips For Sending Graduation Announcements

If you are graduating high school or college, then there is no doubt you are busier than ever before. Your last year at college or high school is filled with hundreds of activities and events which you have never done during your academic career till that point. For instance, you should send applications and resumes and ask for letters of recommendations. Other things you should find the time to do are go on your class trips and find that special someone who you wish to be your date to the prom. Let's not forget the graduation, you need to get your cap and gown for it, take tickets for the ceremony and make graduation announcements and give them out to family members and close friends.

Of course you'll have to pay for all these extras but avoid a budget deficit. There are several ways to cut the costs without having to cut corners. When it comes to ordering graduation announcements you can easily save some money. These announcements are formal cards that you should send to friends and relatives to inform them of your successful graduation. The majority of students prefer to have their name, degree, honors and designations typed on their graduation announcements. The date of the ceremony is often included, as well. While other students save some money by purchasing generic graduation announcements and they add some personal information by hand.

No matter what kind of graduation announcements you choose, there are certain things you can do in order to cut the costs. First of all, order the graduation announcements as early as possible. This will save you the mad scramble before the graduation and it will cost you less as you might find special offers or discounts. Second, ordering online is much better than leaving the school's affiliate do the job. Many high schools and colleges have contracts with certain retailers and they are allowed to set up a booth on campus where you can buy memorabilia such as graduation announcements and class rings. Of course, the prices of these retailers are not the best as they have exclusive rights. Thus, if you wish to save some money it is best if you do some shopping online. If you do so, you will be able to find graduation announcements at huge discounts only for a few minutes of searching.

When graduating it is normal to experience lots of mixed emotions. However, you will also be enthusiastic as you are finally done with these four years of hard work and studying. Despite that, you can also be a bit restless and nervous as you realize the obstacles you will have to overtake once you move on to college or get a job. Even though you might have mixed feelings about all that, it is certain that you won't be mixed up about graduating. You are eagerly anticipating for the big day when you will walk across the stage in your cap and gown, get your well-deserved diploma and enjoy your achievement in front of your family and friends. Don't forget to order a plentiful supply of graduation announcements in advance so all the people in your life you feel close to can take part in the celebrations on your special graduation day.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning education. Learn more at http://www.theeducationannex.com/education/education--learning/tips-for-sending-graduation-announcements.html.Shelagh Blog48291
Sharyl Blog63423

New Learning Standards For Chicago Schools Kindergartners

Chicago schools educators were surprised during their teacher training session in mid-September with new state learning standards for kindergarten students. Previously, Illinois was one of 11 states that did not have learning standards for kindergarten. The state adopted standards for grades one through 12 in 1997 and even have specific early learning standards for preschoolers.

Setting academic goals for kindergarten students was not a priority, since attending kindergarten is not required in Illinois. Yet, all school districts across the state, including the Chicago schools, offer at least a half-day kindergarten program. In the school year 2004-2005, 146,000 children attended either a full or half-day kindergarten program, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

The state began developing the standards a few years ago in response to many requests from kindergarten teachers, including many in the Chicago schools. They take a lot of pressure off the Chicago schools kindergarten teachers, who previously had to develop their own learning standards. The new standards eliminate the academic inconsistency that existed across the state, even between Chicago schools kindergarten classrooms.

The only downside is for Chicago schools teachers with half-day kindergarten programs. Many wonder if they can teach everything within the short time. Shelby King, a consultant who helped to develop the standards, believe they can. They just will not be able to teach at the same leisurely pace as the full-day programs.

The new standards are only guidelines for schools to use and are a mixture of educational and practical life skills, learned in a fun and carefree environment. They go beyond the usual basic reading and math skills, adding such skills as:

Phonics (being able to sound out three-letter words with two consonants and a vowel, such as the word cat), reading one-syllable and high-use words, knowing all capital and lowercase letters of the alphabet under the language arts standards;

Counting from one to 100; understand the concepts of more, less and equal; and solving basic math problems under the math standards;

Being able to describe the effects of forces of nature, such as wind, gravity and magnetism under the science standards;

Finger painting, Play-Doh sculptures, dance and familiarity with musical instruments are under the fine arts standards; and

The Physcial development and health standards include such things as:

o Ways to prevent spreading illness, such as covering your mouth when you cough and washing hands;

o Social and emotional development by learning to explore, share and work with others; and

o Ethical, safety and societal factors in making decisions, such as understanding that hurting others is wrong.

The Chicago schools teachers welcome the new state standards. Chicago schools officials hope they will assist Chicago schools students to perform better on state-mandated tests later during elementary school.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Chicago schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/illinois/chicago/index.html.Sharline Blog99228
Shelagh Blog48291

Choosing A Good Automotive School Is Crucial To Your Career

Automotive school is a necessity for anyone who wants to pursue a career as an auto mechanic. However, the school you go to can affect the path your career takes after graduation. Factors such as quality equipment, knowledgeable instructors, strong degree and ASE certification programs, the schools qualifications and reputation, and student services all lend themselves to the overall quality of your education. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly research the automotive schools you are considering before making a final decision.

Your goal in attending automotive school is to learn as much as possible about auto mechanics; therefore, it is important to ensure that the school will provide the training you need. Part of this training is plenty of hands on experience. A good automotive program should include not only classroom lectures about automotive principles and mechanical theories, but also ample opportunity to work on cars and practice your skills. Be sure to ask how the school gets an ample supply of cars for students to train on; some schools may rely on donations, while others may attract paying customers in the community with discounted rates.

The school you attend should also have an ample supply of up to date equipment. A school with a shortage of the proper tools will make it difficult for you to get sufficient practice, and old or damaged equipment can be a safety hazard. Since your education depends a great deal on the amount of hands on experience you get, the automotive school you attend should be fully equipped to meet the students needs.

Naturally, the curriculum is a major factor in the quality of your education. The school you attend should have several different degree programs to choose from, allowing students flexibility in choosing their career paths. A good automotive school also offers an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification program, where students can become certified in different areas of expertise, adding to their qualifications and increasing their potential salaries. ASE certification requires passing at least one of more than forty available tests, as well as proof of at least two years of relevant work experience; the school you attend should fully support students in acquiring these certifications.

Accreditation is also an important indicator of the quality of education a school can provide. Accreditation verifies that a school meets a predetermined set of standards; however, there are many different accreditation agencies, so it is important to research not only a schools accreditation, but also the accrediting agencys reputation and standards. If being able to transfer courses you have taken is important to you, be sure to find out how many other schools are accredited by the agency, and whether the credits you earn at the school can be transferred.

Additionally, you should consider the schools reputation: an education from a school with a good reputation can make you stand out from the other applicants and help you get a job, but an education from a school with a bad reputation can also hurt your chances of getting a good job. By searching the Internet and talking to other mechanics, you can find out whether a school is known for providing quality education. You may also want to contact several dealerships and garages and ask whether they would hire a graduate of one of your top choices. After all, your education must do two things: not only provide you with quality training, but also indicate to potential employers that you have received quality training.

Similarly, student services are an important part of a good automotive school. Examples of student services are financial aid and loan offices, student housing or assistance in finding housing, and the availability of internships. Job placement services are particularly important; most good schools will offer some type of job placement assistance to students and graduates. A school that guarantees job placement after graduation may indicate a high success rate among its students. Also, many schools have relationships with local dealerships and garages, which is a considerable benefit to students and alumni of the school.

Naturally, there are other, more personal deciding factors when choosing an automotive school, such as the cost of tuition and the schools location. Ultimately, your decision will depend on which features are most important to you. Whether you make your decision based solely on the quality of education the school offers, or on a more tangible benefit such as affordability or location, be certain that you choose a school that will help you achieve the career you seek.

Andy West is a freelance writer for VC Tech, The Automotive School. VC Tech offers world-class training in many exciting automotive programs. Please visit http://www.vctechnical.com to learn more.Shirlee Blog35103
Steffie Blog57487

Uneven Pavement On A Chopper - Scary!

The other day I was riding and found myself in a road paving project area. This was a project on a 4-lane road with 1/2 of the two lanes on my side paved... and the other 1/2 getting prepared for paving to continue. The problem is that the 1/2 that was paved was the left lane and this caused a height difference "ridge" of approximately 1 - 2 inches of asphalt between the two lanes (of course I was in the right "low-side" lane).

This wouldn't have been a problem if I could have stayed in the lane I was in... but once into the paving area all cars had to merge from the right to the left lane. Speeds on this road were about 40 miles per hour and on a normal motorcycle this would have been scary enough! On a chopper (let alone a wide rear tire) it was one of the scariest things I have had to do. In the moment before the transition I tried to slow down as much as I could in the "bumper to bumper" traffic, gripped the handlebars firmly, and then once there was an opening in the traffic to move over I tried to make the "cut" at as sharp of an angle as was possible.

Let me just say that "I made it" but it was really an unstable situation for a few seconds. It made me remember why Driver Education schools teach you that "if your tire goes off the road... stay off the road and slow way down... and then sharply turn back on when there is a safe margin to do so" and that is in a 4-wheel CAR!

I think that was the closest I have come to "going down" on a bike in over 20 years... so, I am writing this down so I don't forget. When you have to cross over and onto a ridge that is running parallel to your path of travel:

Slow down as much as possible (I didn't do this enough).

Get a large safety margin between other traffic (Wait for a large opening).

Get a firm grip on the handlebars.

Try to cross-over the ridge at a strong angle (don't try to ease up on the ridge).

I didn't do any of these things very well and it almost ended in a crash. For me, my biggest mistake was #1... so next time I am faced with this I will be sure to slow down much more and get a better angle on the ridge.

Ride safe! Ron

Ron Gallagher operates his web-based development business http://www.ROAT.com and writes a blog http://www.HowToRideChoppers.com. Writing articles about riding and choppers has allowed my blog to become a FAQ on tips, tricks, and ideas on how to make owning and riding a chopper more fun!Stacy Blog43232
Shirah Blog50128

Learn To Plan And Save For Your Child's Education

Paying for a childs college education is one of the biggest expenses that parents will face in their lifetime, other than perhaps buying a home. Because of this, parents should take action early on and begin planning and saving when their children are newborns in order to make the most of their savings as well as eliminate any excess financial burdens from waiting until the last minute. There is a time scale of planning that parents should follow from 15 years until college until the day of college. This plan is very helpful and should be followed if at all possible.

When there are 15 years or more until college, then parents should open an Education IRA to save for their childrens college. This IRA has special restrictions and rules, so it is best to talk to your banking representative about the implications involved in this type of account. Also, when there are 15 years or more until college you may consider investing in some more aggressive funds. Aggressive investments should be reserved for this time period only because as the time for college nears you will want to ensure that the money is carefully guarded and not at risk.

When there are 10-15 years until college parents should start looking into prepaid college tuition plans. More and more colleges are offering this type of plan because the cost of tuition is rising exorbitantly and colleges want to offer parents an option for paying college expenses over a longer period of time. If you are not interested in this, then you could simply look into different savings plans supported by your state. This is a great help to many parents and should not be overlooked. In addition to this, during this time period you will want to ensure that any risky or aggressive investments are transferred to more conservative and secure investments.

When college is only five years away, you will want to make sure your investments correspond to the cost of college and that everything is stable and on the right track. If this is not the case, then you can either begin saving more aggressively during this time or rely on student loans to get your child through college.

When your child begins college if you realize you can pay for some of his or her education, but not all, then take out parent or student loans to make up the rest. However, take out the least amount of money in loans as possible. Although student loan interest rates are low, you will not want to be in more debt than necessary.

Finally, make sure you begin saving early and more than likely you will be able to meet your childs education needs with little or no extra support like loans.

Robert Michael is a writer for lacon college which is an excellent place to find college links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.laconcollege.comStafani Blog66840
Steffie Blog57487

Emergency Mens Grooming Fixes for Special Occasions

Grad Season.Wedding Season. Springtime. Wintertime. It doesnt really matter what time of the year it is---it seems like theres always a holiday or event just around the corner that youve got to look good for. Dont worry though; theres no need to panic. MenScience has broken down the stages of mens grooming from the hour before you walk out the door to what you should be doing all the time. Whether its a big date, college graduation, or a holiday party, youll look like a polished man no matter what the occasion.

Code Red (An hour before the event):

1. Shower immediately and shampoo. Gently exfoliate face with a face scrub. This will smooth and revitalize skin in under two minutes.

2. Shave: Try skipping shaving the day before a big event to make sure you get a close shave the day of. You can do several shaving passes then for a super-close result.)

3. Target an unexpected acne pimple: Apply an ice cube to a blemish for a few minutes to help reduce inflammation and size temporarily. Then, cover acne breakout with a small amount of acne treatment medicine and let absorb to reduce bacteria on the surface and get immediate results.

4. Go easy on the moisturizer to avoid a shiny, oily look.

Code Orange (The day of the event):

1. Press clean clothes, or get them pressed at the dry cleaners or laundromat a few days before.

2. Trim and clean beneath fingernails.

3. Cut unwanted hairs, such as nose and ear hair. Yeah, its gross, but it makes a huge difference.

4. Relieve puffy or tired eyes by laying a frozen eye mask wrapped in a washcloth over eyes for 5-10 minutes. Diminish dark under-eye circles by placing an eye mask in hot water, wrapping in a washcloth, then placing over closed eyes for 5 10 minutes. Follow by applying a moisturizer for the eye area.

Code Yellow (A few days to a week before the event):

1. Get a haircut. A trim is always a good idea, but if youre going for a new hairstyle, do it a couple of days before the event. A horrible cut can often be managed if you have a few days to work with it. If your eyebrows are especially bushy, ask the barber about trimming to thin them a bit.

2. Book a manicure. Many barbershops and grooming lounges now offer them for men, and its a great preparation for the hand-shaking youll be doing.

3. Exfoliate your skin. Gently removing dead cells from the skins surface can immediately brighten your tone, smooth roughness and improve your overall appearance, but for the most optimal results, begin exfoliating your skin regularly 2 -3 times a week beforehand.

4. Clear your face. Achieving clear skin takes time, but there are some acne ingredients, like Benzoyl Peroxide, which start working immediately to eliminate blemishes.

Code Blue (All the time):

1. Dont use bar soap: It can dry skin out over time, emphasizing fine lines and causing irritation and redness. Use a liquid cleanser instead.

2. Moisturize. Incorporate a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer into your regular skincare routine, and your skin will be ready to party, anytime!

3. Prevent signs of aging by taking care of your skin now with an anti-aging treatment. Regular, early use can provide rewarding results within a few weeks and years down the road.

4. Stay in shape by exercising and following a healthy diet. Take high-quality supplements formulated specifically for men to receive valuable nutrients and promote better health overall.

Deidra Garcia is a freelance writer and communications manager for MenScience Androceuticals, a men's skincare and grooming company. You can find more articles by Deidra, as well as further tips and advice, at http://www.MenScience.com. Shira Blog4139
Sherill Blog33465

Dress Code Is New Hot Button For The Houston Schools

School dress codes have been around for decades, but they gained more prominence in schools and are stricter in recent years in response to the permeation of gangs and violence within the schools at all levels. In addition to maintaining modesty within the schools, dress codes now ban gang paraphernalia, colors and symbols; shirts with writing; head coverings; and other such accessories that have been linked to gangs or school violence.

Though all of the Houston schools have dress codes, each of the Houston schools develops their own policy. One thing all Houston schools dress codes have in common is an allowance for religious accommodation. When Houston schools students religious traditions and dictates conflict with school dress codes, exemptions may be made. With the diversity being felt by the Houston schools in recent years, Houston schools principals are striking a delicate balance between religious freedoms and safety issues on an increasing basis.

One example is the Houston ISD campus, which has students from 72 countries. Principal Steve Amstutz receives many dress code exemption requests each year. His policy is to meet privately with a student requesting a waiver to discuss the matter. If the request is genuine and religious-based, the exemption is granted.

In the precedent-setting 1969 Supreme Court decision of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District, the court ruled, It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate. Since this ruling, disputes over dress code that become lawsuits generally see the courts ruling in favor of the students, especially when they concern religious dress.

Though most dress code disputes remain within the Houston schools, requests for exemptions and complaints are on the increase. Charles C. Haynes, senior scholar with the First Amendment Center, studies the issue of religious exceptions to dress codes and school uniforms. He notes the increase is due to stricter dress code policies to ensure a safer environment, as well as the growth and organization of some minority groups that are becoming more vocal.

Jehovahs Witnesses and Seventh-Day Adventists were the first to dispute the dress code policies of the Houston schools. Currently, the Muslims are at the forefront, though other groups, such as Hindus and Sikhs, are beginning to organization, as well.

Though some Islamic dress and traditions are not mandatory, such as males wearing beards, many Islamic scholars recommend them. Muslimas (Islamic females) experience problems when uniforms are required to be worn or the school does not allow any headwear. For many, they wear the traditional Islamic robes (jilbab or abaya) and hijab (head scarf). Many Islamic students see it as their duty to adhere to their religious traditions, especially around the holiday of Ramadan.

Iliana Gonzalez, a civil rights specialist for the Houstons Council on American-Islamic Rights, fields about 35 complaints annually from Houston schools students regarding dress code. She said a phone call to the Houston schools principal usually resolves the issue. Many Houston schools administrators are not aware of the law regarding such matters, though most parents do not wish any action beyond the phone call.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Houston schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/Houston/index.html.Sharron Blog25562
Sonnnie Blog3893

Long Island Schools Rethink Gym Credit

The Problem

Teachers, students, and parents at Long Island schools have been struggling with how to give credit for physical education classes. On the one hand, many argue that counting gym like an academic class can badly affect the GPA of students who are strong academically but do not do well in gym. On the other hand, others argue that when students know that the gym class does not affect their GPA they do not put the effort and attention into the class in order to improve their physical health.

Long Island Schools have decided to strike a middle ground and allow students to choose whether they want it to count or not. The decision only applies to current sixth through ninth graders so it will not affect current graduating high school students. 24 of the 60 schools in the Suffolk County district have decided to handle gym in this way, hoping to please groups on both sides while addressing the needs of students.

The Process

Many of the changes were suggested by parents who signed petitions to allow physical education to be counted on GPAs instead of as a pass / fail mark as it had been in the past. The superintendent and the school boards of Long Island schools met to consider the proposals from parents to figure out how to make the physical education curriculum the most effective for students as well as the most standardized in grading.

In addition to parental concern, there was also intense scrutiny of the new New York State Standards for Physical Education. The argument here is that the new standards have clear aims and objectives that can be measured and graded like an academic class. Superintendents of Long Island schools determined that in implementing these new standards in the physical education curriculum, the schools would be able to give grades for accomplishing certain tasks rather than the all encompassing pass / fail marks.

What People Think

Reactions to the change have been mixed. Some parents are looking forward to counting the physical education class on the GPA while others are worried about hurting the academic side of their childs report card. One board member stated: "I think that phasing it in provides us the opportunity to see how it goes. Allowing the option would not hurt a student's GPA." The decision also pleased Jonathan Estrada, who will be a senior this fall at Northport High School. Earlier in the school year, he had become concerned when he learned that the new policy would be mandatory. "I was immediately sort of troubled about it," he said. "You shouldn't be hurt from a grade that doesn't reflect the actual ability."

In academic circles, many educators are applauding the change, citing the need for a stronger and more comprehensive program in physical education to tackle the current health problems of Americas youth. University studies and national surveys all point to the increased grading and evaluating of physical education as key to keeping the class relevant and useful for students. Counting the class as a grade will help students take the class more seriously, and hopefully translate into healthier students in and out of Long Island schools.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more information on Long Island schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/New-York/Long-Island/index.htmlStefanie Blog58057
Stella Blog11142

Choosing An Online Degree Program

College degrees have long been available by correspondence but with the growth of the internet, students can now pursue college degrees online. There are hundreds of schools offering online programs for everything from Masters Degrees in Business Administration to advanced degrees in the fine arts. Because of the large number of schools offering online programs, it can be difficult to know what to look for in a quality program.

There are two basic types of institutions offering online degrees: Colleges and universities with physical campuses and online-only institutions. Online-only institutions do offer single courses, but tend to focus on degree programs. Colleges and universities with physical campuses offer both complete degree programs and single courses, which are often taken by on-campus students as well as online-only students.

Many of the same questions students ask when investigating regular colleges also apply to online degree programs. For example, a prospective student might ask how many courses are taught by graduate assistants rather than professors. In assessing an online degree, it is equally as important to determine how many of the courses are taught by full professors and how much experience those professors have with teaching online courses.

However, there are questions that are specific to online degree programs. One of the most important, particularly for graduate-level degrees, is how much contact you will have with other students. There are two basic types of online degree programs, those where you work at your own pace and those where you are admitted with a cohort, or group of peers, and proceed through the degree program with them. One is not necessarily better than the other. The learning style of the individual student will determine which type of program fits their needs best.

Accreditation is also an important thing to look for. All colleges and universities are required to be accredited by a regional governing body in order for the degrees they issue to be considered valid. If an online degree program doesn't give accreditation information, prospective students should move on to the next program.

After determining the credentials and structure of an online degree program, prospective students should research the details. How can books be purchased? What equipment, software and hardware is required to access the courses? How much time should a student expect to spend per course? Is financial aid available? Typically these questions are addressed on the degree program's website.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://4-edu.net/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://worldof-science.com/ and http://yourworkexpert.com/Stafani Blog66840
Stephana Blog15748

Inequitable Funding For Some Within The New York Schools

In an attempt to get more funding into the poorer school districts and reduce funding for the wealthier districts, Governor Eliot Spitzer replaced the very rigid, long-standing formula for funding of the New York schools. The old formula gave the same per student funding to all New York schools districts without regard to needs or demographic/economic differences. Spitzer convinced Senate Republicans in wealthier districts, such as Long Island, to vote for his final budget by including special funding add-ons for only this year. The funding add-ons guaranteed that New York schools in the wealthier districts would receive similar funding as last year, though they are not guaranteed beyond this year.

A multitude of mathematical computations were required for this years funding formula, which gave a distribution of $1.76 million. Overall, it appears to be similar to last years distribution; however, upon a closer look, a disparity occurred between at least two New York schools districts that creates the exact opposite effect desired by the Governor.

Shelter Island school district in Suffolk County serves a resort town between the forks of Long Island. It has only one school with a New York schools student enrollment of 270 and is as close to being a private school as you can get and still be public. The area, itself, has higher local taxes than many New York schools districts, which means more funding for its school. With a higher median household income for its 2,000 plus residents and a low poverty rate, more funding from the New York schools can be used for programs that are a luxury in other New York schools.

With the new funding formula for the New York schools this year, Shelter Island almost doubled its funding over last year with a 90.5 percent increase compared to a statewide average increase of ten percent. By far, it was the biggest winner under this years funding formula. Last year, this New York schools district lost ten students to the CDCH Charter School in East Hampton. The funding add-ons gave Shelter Island additional funding to compensate for this loss of students (and per student funding). They will receive a total of $775,000 in funding, compared to last years $406,000. School board member Barbara Warren said the board is waiting for confirmation of the amount to ensure it is correct.

In contrast to Shelter Island, Germantown is a rural area in Columbia County across the river from Catskill. Like Shelter Island, Germantown has about 2,000 residents and only one school serving the entire district. An enrollment of 700 students, grades kindergarten through 12, are all in one building. The Germantown district is much poorer than Shelter Island with needs for funding to cover programs to aid its low-income students.

Germantown, a New York schools district that must count every penny of state funding it receives, will get an increase of only 0.6 percent this year. This is clearly an inequitable increase, compared to the wealthier Shelter Island funding amount. The only reason Superintendent Patrick Gabriel can find for the little funding increase is in the Public Excess Cost category, which covers the costs of students with disabilities. Though they did receive $700,000 in capital building funds, Germantown is clearly going to have to stretch every penny next school year.

Patrica Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Houston Schools please visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/New-York/index.htmlSukey Blog29371
Shanna Blog82785

Indianapolis Sees Success Involving Fathers

Superintendent Calls for Fathers on the First Day of School

Superintendent Eugene G. Whites call to fathers in the Indianapolis schools has met with strong success. Mr. White asked fathers to bring their children to the first day of classes in order to establish a stronger presence on campus and hopefully continue to stay involved with Indianapolis schools throughout the school year. The event was dubbed, The First Day is Dads Day, and encouraged fathers to have a more active role on campus.

As Mr. White states: "Mothers are the backbone of IPS, but dads need to know they have a role to play in supporting their children's education, too. I look forward to seeing more dads in schools throughout the school year." Mr. White hopes programs like The First Day is Dads Day will help change the way fathers view their role in their childrens education and encourage more fathers to take an active interest in what their children are doing in Indianapolis schools.

Public Reaction to The First Day is Dads Day

News stations across Indianapolis turned out to record The First Day is Dads Day programs. WTLC, WEDJ, WISH-TV, WRTV, WTHR, WXIN, the Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Recorder all participated in getting the word out about the event as well as following up with the story later to see how dads, teachers, and students felt about the shift in the role of the father on campus in Indianapolis schools. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many fathers took their children to school for the first time and saw the process from a parent perspective that they had not had before. The networks of fathers meeting each other and seeing their children at school should have a positive effect throughout the year as fathers feel more comfortable being involved in the Indianapolis schools.

Reverend Emory Davis watched The First Day is Dads Day proceedings and collected many interesting anecdotes:

"Well, it was a wonderful day. I went to School 55. I got there shortly after 8 a.m. and was greeted by one of the staff members. As I told her what I was doing she got excited that someone was there to help.

"Given the title of 'stand-in' parent, I greeted children and parents as they came into the school, helped them with directions to either check the assignment board or that they were welcome to have breakfast. I met the principal, Mrs. Johnson, and she also thanked me for coming.

"I picked School 55 because one of the young men in our men's group at church attended that school when he was younger.

"One thing, I greeted a young man with I think two children, one of whom was there for kindergarten - although he looked as though in stature to only be about three years old. The parent already had a room assignment for his older child but needed information for the little one. I told the parent to see Mrs. Johnson. As they turned to their left toward the office, the little one came back and looked at me with eyes that would melt the hardest rock and said, 'Hello.' I had to bend down and obviously say 'Hello' right back. And with the he caught up with his dad and brother. That just made the whole day.

"Tell Dr. White 'Let's do it again!' "

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Indianapolis schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Indiana/indianapolis/index.htmlSilvia Blog45232
Sharie Blog59718

Texas Schools See Increase In Number Of AP Exams Taken And Improved Results

The Texas schools released figures in September 2006, showing substantial increases in the number of Texas schools students taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as well as their resulting scores.

High schools across the nation are allowed to teach college-level coursework that is first approved by the College Board, the national administrator of the AP exams. Under current rules, a high school need only sign a form promising to teach the specific curriculum for any class to be designated AP.

When Texas schools students take and pass an AP exam with a high enough score, they receive college credit for the course, which they will not have to take when they attend college. Not only does this allow college-bound students to take fewer courses in college to fulfill their degree requirements, but it also means that they and their parents save money on the cost of college tuition.

Many Texas schools districts see this as a win-win situation that encourages students and provides incentives for them to attend college after graduating high school. Here is some of the information released by the Texas schools:

The number of high school students in the Texas schools that took AP exams increased from 80,240 in 2002 to 122,969 in 2006 more than a 50 percent increase;

The number of Texas schools students, who scored high enough to earn college credit in 2006, increased by more than 40 percent from 2002;

There was a total of 224,168 tests taken in 2006 and 49 percent of these scores were three or higher this is a slight drop from the 53 percent of three of higher scores in 2002;

English language, English literature, and U.S. history remain the most popular of the 35 AP exams available; and

Italian, Latin literature, French literature, microeconomics, and physics of electricity and magnetism were the least popular.

To encourage students to participate in AP coursework, as well as to take and pass the exams, many Texas schools districts provide cash incentives to both their students and teachers. They partner with nonprofit donor organizations or use foundation grants to fund their AP incentives. Some students and teachers earn from $100 to $300 for each exam passed. The incentives must work, since all of the schools using them have seen a dramatic increase in the number of students taking and passing the exams. Galvestons Ball High School, for example, expects to receive $15,800 this year in student-earned incentives.

The Texas schools attributed their improved results for 2006 to the cash incentives, incentives to reduce exam costs for students (up to $80 for each exam), increased teacher training, and the overall push by the Texas schools to create a college-bound culture within their high schools.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/index.htmlSilvie Blog46061
Stormi Blog1111

Why Not Obtain Your Business Degree Online?

For any young person wondering what type of training they should venture into or what profession will supply them with a long-term, solid career, obtaining a business degree online may be the perfect solution to avoid many situations others face in their lives.

Finding a job in today's competitive markets isn't easy. First-time job seekers can be overwhelmed by the requirements companies are asking in their employment advertisements and need to know they have the education to back up their value to any business. People working at a good job without having finished college might one day face company reorganization and find themselves lacking employment. Having enough credentials and qualifications to land a new job that pays the same salary is very important. Some individuals choose a career and get the education they need, and then discover they don't enjoy the chosen profession.

Whatever the reason for needing a solid degree or for wanting to increase the education you already have, obtaining a business degree online is a great choice that gives you plenty of opportunity to train in a strong profession at your own pace and to explore building up employment experience at the same time. Online degrees allow you to earn credits and get instruction from the comfort of your own home and at the hours or days you choose to study, leaving you with plenty of spare time to pursue other ventures or personal interests. Many people can't afford to take years off work to earn their college degree and online education allows individuals to study part-time and hold a job that brings income at the same time.

Certainly, our information-packed, technological world has changed the face of training and instruction, with educational facilities responding to people's needs. Whereas in the past, distance education had a negligible reputation that wasn't always recognized, nowadays top schools and universities are offering online courses and degree programs that every employer considers an asset. For example, individuals can pursue a business degree online in the areas of private sector account, human resources management, business administration, health care and criminal justice. Degrees in these fields are very valuable to businesses and corporations, almost guaranteeing secure, high-paying employment.

Individuals interested in pursuing a business degree online definitely save in the expenses area, making this type of obtaining education a cost-effective one. There are no travel expenses or lodging costs related to online learning, and all any individual needs to receive online instruction is a computer. Keeping education costs low means that students incur far less debt, a big advantage versus those individuals who stay on campus or who commute to their educational facilities. Also, the opportunity to continue working without packing a part-time job into weekends means that many students can support themselves while earning their business degree online. The financial considerations of online and distance education make the choice of how and where to study an easy decision.

Of course, pursuing higher education and working towards a business degree online means that individuals need to ensure that other factors don't disrupt obtaining their credits. Having a quiet environment to study is important, and individuals with families need to set aside a place where they won't be disturbed. Also, dedication, motivation and self-control is also a large factor in online education procrastinating personalities and individuals who find it difficult to function outside of a controlled environment, such as scheduled classes and professor-assigned tasks, should not venture into distance education. But for most people, the goals of a solid degree and strong credentials is plenty enough motivation and the long-term results of a good career are well worth the efforts!

Andy West is a freelance writer for Virginia College. Virginia College Online offers many Business Degree Online programs. Please visit Virginia College Online at http://www.vconline.edu/site/department.cfm?Department_ID=1 to select the online program that is right for you.Storey Blog83352
Sue Elle Blog10346

Minneapolis School District Honors Volunteers

The B.J. Reed Award

Created in 1988, the B.J. Reed Award recognizes the work of volunteers in the Minneapolis Schools. The B.J. Reed Award was named in honor of Batty Jane Reed who founded the Community Resource Volunteer Program in 1965. B.J. Reed was a Minneapolis School educator who went on to be an author, poet and mentor. Originally the Community Resource Volunteer Program was intended to give entertainers, craftspeople, professionals, civic leaders and other working adults the opportunity to share their time and skills by becoming a part of the school curriculum giving classroom presentations. The CRV Program later expanded its focus and became the WISE Resource Volunteer Program. This program aims to have volunteers engaged in various functions across the Minneapolis Schools. B.J. Reed retired in 1981 but continued to be an integral part of the WISE Resource Volunteer Program until her death in 1995. The B.J. Reed Award is given annually to someone who has made outstanding contributions to Minneapolis students and the community.

Lawrence Looking Elk the 2006 B.J. Reed Award Recipient

The Sullivan Elementary School, one Minneapolis School, has gained a great deal from the volunteer work of Mr. Lawrence Looking Elk. Lawrence Looking Elk has become an almost permanent member of the Sullivan School community. The work he does at the school includes, but is certainly not limited to, volunteering in the Media Center, out on the playground during recess and in the lunchroom during breakfast and lunch. Lawrence Looking Elk has established a bond with the parents, teachers and students at Sullivan School. The parents of the school have been overwhelmed by their children love and devotion to Lawrence Looking Elk, who has developed the students trust in him based on his kind, gentle and understanding approach toward them. Lawrence Looking Elk has worked closely with the students in Sandy Chapmans classroom at the Sullivan School. Ms. Chapman attributes many of the scholastic gains her students have made to Lawrence Looking Elk and his work in the classroom. Lawrence Looking Elk has volunteered in the Sullivan Elementary School for three years and donated nearly 3100 hours of his time.

Lawrence Looking Elk is active in other ways in the Minneapolis Schools. He volunteers with many organizations including the Parent Committee for Indian Education, is Chairman of the Indian Education Board, and South High School Site Council (PUSH). In addition to volunteer work with these groups, he vigorously works to raise funds for activities for Native American Students. Lawrence Looking Elks experience from being in the schools and classrooms gives him the insight to know what changes are needed and he has the tenacity to work for the changes in the Minneapolis Schools that benefits all students. Lawrence Looking Elk received the B.J. Reed Award at June 13th meeting of the Minneapolis Board of Education. Last month, Looking Elk was also honored by his colleagues and friends at the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held at St. Marys Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis.

Stacy Andell is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Stacy has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Shandee Blog84309
Shirah Blog50128

Help Your Child Get Prepared For A Rewarding Career in the Workplace

Most parents want to see their child fare better or have greater success than they did both personally and professionally. To that end parents often try to teach their children valuable life skills and morals that will help them to get ahead of the competition. Often, though words of wisdom simply aren't enough to help the child succeed. A good plan for the future is critical to giving a child a head start in life.

For most people the plan consists of helping the child prepare to go to college. Great pressure is put on the child to not only take college preparatory examinations, such as the SAT or ACT, but to score very high on the tests so as to gain entrance to the most prestigious universities. Sadly, many students do not perform well when taking examinations under such tremendous strain. As a result, their lackluster performance will exclude them from gaining entrance to the exclusive Ivy League universities. The option of attending a public university is still available but the poor performance on the examination could leave the student with feelings of inadequacy. Entering college with the idea of feeling like he or she is not smart enough will set up the student for failure before the post-secondary education can even begin.

Additionally, whether it is a private or public university the cost of obtaining an advanced education is prohibitive. Housing must be paid for whether on or off campus; there are constant books and tuition fees along with general living expenses. Obtaining a four year degree can leave both the parents and the student deep in debt. Besides the cost of the education there is also the factor that many students do not like attending school. Therefore, the faster an educational program can be administered the greater the student's chance for successfully completing it.

So what's the answer? Online career training is the way to go. This type of education is comprehensive, convenient and quick. Students can choose a subject of interest to them, enroll online and begin learning almost instantly. These are self-paced courses so the material can be covered as quickly or as slowly as the student desires. As long as internet access is available the student can learn at any time of the day at any location preferred. Upon completion of their career training the student is fully prepared to enter the workforce and start using the practical knowledge and experience gained. Since the career training courses can be paid for in advance there will be no heavy debts to pay back. If parents really want to prepare their children for a great career later they should definitely look into online career training.

Sherry Harris is the President of online career training school, Malibu Institute. For more information on master certificate courses and career education offered, go to: http://www.MalibuInstitute.com.Shaylyn Blog69121
Shirleen Blog96247

I Think My Child Is Using Drugs

What is a parent to think? I see behavior changes in my child. They used to be social, outgoing and communicated with the family. Now my child is secretive, isolated & uncommunicative. Is it possible that my worst nightmare has come true? My child is using drugs?

In todays world, pressure to use drugs is quite significant. When we were children, back in the 60s, 70sand 80s; the drugs of choice were marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Todays world is much different. The children of today are exposed to numerous other rave drugs. They include ecstasy, (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), Khat, Ketamine (ketamine hydrochloride), GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) and Rohypnol (flunitrazepam) this is the date rape drug.

Is my child going through normal adolescence, where they begin to separate from their parents, or using drugs? There are very important signs that you will see when your child is using drugs. Some of the most important signs are:

Less attention paid to grooming. My child used to take care of themselves, brush their hair, brush their teeth, now they seem indifferent.

Loss of appetite or an increased appetite, loss of weight or increased weight, without current medical issues. My child has lost/gained 5-20lbs over the last few months and I dont know what is going on. My PCP reports all blood-work and physical examination appeared fine.

Red and glassy eyes and frequent use of eye drops. My child is using Visine on a regular basis. I smell breath mints when they walk in the door. Is it possible that they are drinking/smoking pot?

Decreased attendance and performance at school. I have received phone calls from the school stating my child is tardy/late to some/all classes.

Loss of interest in school, sports, or other activities. My child used to be involved in baseball, basketball etc. Now it seems they just want to sit and watch TV all day.

Newly developed secrecy; deceptive or sneaky behavior. My child locks his bedroom door, appears uneasy when I am within earshot of their phone calls. My child is telling me that they are at the mall with their friends, but I find out that they were at a friends house instead.

Withdrawal from family and friends. My child used to be very athletic, had at least 5 10 good friends. Now I am seeing other friends that I do not know. My child is no longer hanging out with their old friends and my child is reluctant to introduce me to their new friends.

Lying and stealing. I have caught my child stealing and lying from me on several occasions during the past year.

Disrespectful behavior. My child was always brought up to respect other people, but is now very disrespectful to others.

Changes in mood. My childs mood is very liable. One minute they are happy, the next minute they are sad and the next minute they are angry. I feel like Im walking on eggshells every time I speak with my child.

Goals for the future. My child used to have dreams and goals for the future. They used to talk about going to college or a trade school or entering a specific market field. Now they are consumed with nothing.

These are all prominent signs that your child may be using drugs. There are various ways to deal with this problem. The most important is to begin counseling, specifically with a drug and alcohol counselor whom is up to date with the current drugs of abuse and is able to test for drugs of abuse, via urine screens. If you determine via urine screens that your child continues to use drugs, then you may be best served by enrolling your child into an Intensive Outpatient Program, specifically for drug use. If your child has continued drug use, even with the Intensive Outpatient Program, then a residential drug and alcohol treatment program is suggested.

Your childs future is at stake. I have seen some children do extremely well with counseling and others that ended up in the prison system or worse (accidental overdose). The most successful cases however, had very prominent parental involvement in their childs treatment, even though the child did not want treatment or parental involvement.

Wendy McLellan is a licensed mental health and substance abuse counselor, with more than sixteen years of experience. She has recently devoted time to the efforts of http://www.safecomputerkids.com in their goal to provide parental internet safety tools and resources to the public.Stephi Blog17111
Shaine Blog61094

Financial and Political Problems Plague the Troubled St. Louis Schools

The 2006-2007 school year for the St Louis schools brings with it a financial deficit and accreditation problems carried over from the previous board majority. Additionally, superintendent Creg Williams proposed budget was voted down on June 13, so currently there is no budget for the upcoming school year.

Financial Deficit

The current financial deficit was caused by the state, when it refused to honor its contract with the St Louis schools under the desegregation agreement of 1999. Abruptly during the 2002-2003 school year, the state cut off the funding and flatly refused to honor the agreement to pay the required funding and has not paid a cent since.

The St Louis schools sued the state and won the lawsuit in circuit court. The state appealed the decision and has been dragging out the process ever since, delaying any decision on the appeal. The total amount in arrears that the state owes the St Louis schools is more than $120 million. This is the sole cause of the deficit for the upcoming school year.

Politics within the St Louis Schools

Adding to the financial troubles are the political problems that began in 2003, when board control of the St Louis schools was taken over by members loyal to Mayor Francis Slay. Voter support that was previously enjoyed by the St Louis schools was almost immediately lost.

There was nearly three years of disastrous performance in the St Louis schools. This majority essentially gave control of the St Louis schools to the New York management, consulting firm they hired, which resulted in the following:

There were three different superintendents within just one budget year

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Stephanie Blog45438
Stella Blog11142

Three Arizona Schools Candidates Hold Differing Views

Three candidates are running for the post of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Arizona schools in the September 12th election. Current Superintendent Tom Horne is running as the unopposed Republican candidate, seeking his second term in office. Two Democrats are challenging Horne Slade Mead and Jason Williams. Mead is a sports agent, a former state senator, a former Kyrene School District board member, and a former Republican. Williams is a former middle school math and science teacher, and a former executive director of a nonprofit organization that recruits teachers for low-income and rural areas.

Two major issues that will be facing the newly elected superintendent are the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) tests and school vouchers.

AIMS. This year was the first to require all high school seniors in the Arizona schools to pass the AIMS test in order to graduate. The candidates have differing views on AIMS and its use.

Horne is a strong advocate of the graduation requirement, believing that it makes students accountable for what they learn. He commented that it makes Arizona schools students take their education seriously, because they will not be handed a diploma if they fake their way through school.

Williams would like the graduation requirement eliminated and to use AIMS as a benchmark for learning, gauging just how well Arizona schools students are retaining knowledge. He believes this would take the pressure off students, when used as a diagnostic tool. Williams disagrees with Horne concerning students taking learning more seriously because of AIMS. He noted that 15,000 students, who enrolled as Arizona schools freshmen in 2002, had dropped out of school before the Class of 2006 graduated.

Mead agrees with Williams that AIMS would make a better assessment tool for the Arizona schools and that the passing requirement for graduation be eliminated. He has stated that the current administration of AIMS is a sham with only a passing grade requirement of 59 percent. A C average student within the Arizona schools only need answer six mathematics questions correctly out of 56. He also would like to see AIMS administered as the state of Wyoming does its testing students take the test directly on a computer, the results are instantly scored, and then the scores are immediately sent to the teachers for evaluation.

School Vouchers. Another hot button for many educators, parents and the community are school vouchers, whereby some students may attend private schools funded by the taxpayers. Under a newly passed budget, that state has authorized $5 million in private school vouchers for disabled and foster-care students. All three candidates are opposed to vouchers for private schools.

Incumbent Horne stated that Arizona schools already are the leading proponent for parental choice in the nation, with charter schools, open enrollment policies, and tax credits. He noted that the Manhattan Institute ranks the Arizona schools as number one out of 50 in parental choice. He also pointed out that the state constitution prohibits the use of public funds for religious or private schools.

Because the state legislature already passed the use of school vouchers into law, Mead only stated his opposition to them and that, if elected, he would ensure that the Arizona schools accounted for every cent used for school vouchers.

Williams pointed out that private schools do not automatically do a better job than public ones. He sees the voucher system as a way of giving up on public education in the Arizona schools.

Though these are the two hot-button issues in this upcoming election, undoubtedly there are many more for which the parents and communities of the Arizona schools should be concerned. Ensure that you check out the three candidates and what they have to say about all of the issues and make your voice heard in September by voting for the candidate of your choice.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Shirline Blog41986
Sheril Blog15845

Are You Thinking Of Online Education?

Though the benefits of getting education or earning an online degree are many, I will discuss just a few. The major reason many people are going for online education is because of two things. One is the present job or vocation theyre engaged in. The rate of unemployment in our society is high. Therefore, if you have a job you cannot afford to leave and head back to school to get a degree. So, many people like you look for online education while keeping their job. Secondly, many people are raising a family. They cant afford to leave the comfort of their family. Most of the people going for online education are the bread winner of their family.

Now, lets move to some of the benefits of having an online degree.

One, you stand to learn at your own pace. This is good considering your busy job schedule and family commitment. Your present mode of operation cannot allow you to follow stringent class schedules like in the traditional universities or colleges. You attend the class and do the assignment anytime and anywhere via the internet. However, you have to complete the work within duration.

Two, you dont have to abandon your present job or family to head back to school. You get your degree online in the comfort of your living room or office. Its not easy abandoning your job. That is where you get the money to finance your education. And breaking family ties is not advisable. Online education makes it possible to be in the comfort of your family while earning a degree.

Three, your career can either be changed or uplifted with an online education. Its not easy changing career with traditional universities or colleges. It means you have to go back to school and enroll for a new course or programme. But with online education, changing of career is very easy. Your career can also receive a great boost when you have an online degree. Many employers are happy when you progress, when youre not stagnant in your field. Employers are willing and ready to pay people who have solutions to problems and who have current knowledge of events in their field of endeavor. Online education is what you need to get among the top hierarchy in your organization.

Though there are many benefits of online education, I believe these few will be enough to drive home the point that online education is ideal for you and your loved ones.

Ras Reed is a frelance writer. He provides free info on online distance education. You can get more free info on Online Distance Education or http://www.distanceeduguide.com.Sheelagh Blog87195
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There is Nothing like Mace in Your Face

Mace is one of the original self-defense weapons. And its been the best friend of many women, college students, senior citizens, and others who need a portable device to help them fend off would-be attackers. At first thought it is amazing that with all of the new self-defense technologies out there, mace is still around, and as popular as ever. However, it is easy to see why Mace is still such a popular choice for personal safety.

Lets go back a few steps, and look into the very beginnings of Mace as an essential self-defense weapon. Mace is actually a consumer version of tear gas, the old pal of police officers who would use the noxious agent to stop riots and put would-be bad guys (and sometimes rowdy college students) on the ground and out of commission. Considering its industrial-strength chemical agents were designed for use with the police, Mace is a very able self-defense tool in most situations.

But Mace isnt perfect. It works, by irritating the mucous membranes of a persons eyes, nose and throat, causing them to tear, run and otherwise flare up with pain. They may get a headache, feel dizzy and have tightness in their chest. What isnt this perfect you ask? Well, as many cops have found out, if someone is high on drugs, drunk off his rocker or even completely out of his mind, he wont tend to feel pain. No pain means no gain if you are using Mace.

That could put you, an average American citizen, in a very tight bind if you are attacked by someone and the Mace doesnt work. For a cop, this problem isnt such a big deal, because theyre also armed with things like a billy club and gun. But for us, we generally have one self-defense weapon, and if that doesnt work, we could be in for it.

Enter the next generation of Mace products, including products like Mace Pepper Spray and Mace Pepper Foam. These products come with the original Mace tear gas chemicals in them, but they also have hot pepper mixed in, called oleoresin capsicum. It is the same chemical, in effect, that causes hot peppers and fiery salsa to burn your tongue and get your sweating. But in the case of Mace, this capsicum, or OC for short, is super concentrated.

Instead of just causing someone pain and tearing eyes, OC causes a person to stop and drop. It is an inflammatory, instead of just an irritant. OC causes eyes, nose, and throat to burn. An attackers throat swells to the point where he can only cough and can barely breathe. Their eyes swell so shut that they cannot see out of them. In fact, the blood vessels in their actual eye balls swell so much that the person goes temporarily blind. Problems with their eyes may make them loose their balance and the lack of oxygen will hopefully stop them from being able to run after you.

In other words, no one is able to fight through the effects of OC. An attacker has no choice but to feel the heat, and leave you alone. It is this combination of old-fashioned tear gas and OC, in an easy to use and easy to carry form that makes todays Mace the new friend of everyday citizens everywhere.

Victoria Lee is the Director of Marketing for Safety Chest. Safety Chest carries a complete line of Mace for your personal protection. For more information about Safety Chest please visit http://www.safetychest.com. Siana Blog66271
Sheril Blog84638

Five New Area Superintendents Appointed to the San Diego Schools

In June 2006, Superintendent Carl Cohn appointed five new area superintendents for the San Diego Schools.

Each new area superintendent will be an advocate for the schools under them, as well as the communities for these schools. They will be empowered to ensure that the San Diego Schools have a fully enriched and competitive curriculum that recognizes the importance of the educational basics, as well as the nearly forgotten art, music and physical education programs. They will be responsible for expanding in their San Diego Schools partnerships between parents, the community, businesses and higher education. Each student is to be ensured as smooth a transition as possible for students and parents, especially in the early years.

These five appointments complete key staffing of top leadership positions in the San Diego Schools. Each of the five areas within the San Diego Schools will include up to 25 elementary schools and their nearby middle schools.

The new area one superintendent is Carol Barry. She earned an MA inn school administration from Azusa Pacific University and a BA in liberal studies from San Diego State University. Before her appointment, Barry served as acting assistant superintendent for the San Diego Schools. Previously, she was the principal at several San Diego Schools.

The area two superintendent is Dr. Hye Jung (Chelsea) Kang-Smith. Kang-Smith holds an Ed.D. from the University of Southern California, MS in education from California Southern University Fullerton, and her BS in biology from the University of California Irvine. Kang-Smith came to the San Diego Schools in 2005, where she first served as principal in Anaheim Union High School District and most recently as assistant superintendent.

Dr. Richard Cansdale is the area three superintendent. He holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership from the United States International University, an Ed.S. from Point Loma Nazarene University, an MA in education of exceptional children from San Francisco University, and a BA in elementary education from the University of Nevada at Reno. Previously, Cansdale was the principal at Cherokee Point Elementary School in the San Diego Schools.

The area four superintendent is Vincent Matthews, who was a 2006 fellow of the Broad Superintendent's Academy. He earned an MA in educational administration and a BA in elementary education from San Francisco State University. Before his appointment, Matthews was an educator in residence for the NewSchools Venture Fund in San Francisco. Prior to that, he was an advisor to 35 charter schools that serves approximately 9,000 low-income students.

Dr. Delfino Aleman, Jr. is the area five superintendent. He holds a Ph.D. in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin, an MA in education from Texas Women's University, and a BA in theology from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. Aleman, who is proficient in Spanish, was the associate superintendent for teaching and learning at the Isaac School District in Phoenix, Arizona. Previously, he served as director of policies, procedures and public information in the San Antonio Independent School District.

In addition to these five new appointments, the San Diego Schools filled three other positions through recent appointments.

Dorothy Harper is the new associate superintendent for parent, community and student engagement. Harper earned her MA in education from Memphis State University and bachelors degree in biology from Dillard University. Her experience includes vice president of development for the Newton Learning Supplemental Education Services, as well as area superintendent, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent at the Long Beach Unified School District. In her new position, Harper will work to establish a comprehensive, consolidated system of support that will engage parents, the community, and students within the San Diego Schools.

Arun Ramanathan, an advanced doctoral fellow at Harvard, is the new executive director for governmental relations. He earned an MA in special education and elementary education from Boston College, and a BA in government from Dartmouth. Prior to his appointment, Ramanathan was research director for the Los Angeles Unified School District. He will serve as an advocate for the San Diego Schools to state legislators on issues and laws affecting the school district.

Dr. Kyo Yamashiro is the San Diego Schools' new director of school management. She holds a Ph.D. from UCLA, which she received in June of 2006 as a top doctoral candidate. She earned an MA in administration and policy analysis and a BA in English literature from Stanford University. Prior to her appointment, she was a research and evaluation consultant for the Long Beach Unified School District. In her new position, Yamashiro works with the School Choice programs, including charter schools, No Child Left Behind program improvement, and enrollment options program magnet schools and voluntary ethnic enrollment programs (VEEP) are included.

These appointments excite the San Diego Schools. All will serve well the more than 132,000 students in the San Diego Schools, the second largest school district in California. With more than 216 educational facilities, these talented and motivated appointees will be a plus for the San Diego Schools.

Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, Which provides free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues.Sherry Blog23872
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Education In Third World

With the daily challenges posed by economic difficulty and other threats, governments in developing countries are working very hard to ensure that their educational institutions continue to provide a standard of education that can make its citizens at part with the educated people in more economically sound countries. To a certain extent, these Third World countries have succeeded in their crusade for quality education. The problem is that a good education comes with a price and it is often a price that many people in Third World countries are not able to pay. So, although quality education is available, it is still unreachable for a large segment of a developing countrys population.

Certainly, it is impressive to see that developing countries have educational institutions that are world-class and which offer education that can rival that provided by wealthier nations around the world. There is a clear recognition of the role that education plays in overcoming hardship and poverty. However elusive it may be, a good education is still viewed as the best way to a better life.

Among the developing countries that have superb educational systems are such emerging markets as Mexico, India, Brazil, Turkey, the Philippines, Egypt, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand, much of South America and several of the Persian Gulf Arab States.

Obviously, the poorest of the poor in these countries will have a hard time getting into the best schools in their vicinity. Of course, there are always scholarship programs available but these are few. Besides, people at the lowest spectrum of the economic scale are more concerned with more pressing issues related to their mere survival such as where to find food and money for clothing and shelter. After these basic needs are met, that is the only time that parents can really focus on their childrens schooling. In fact, studies indicate that once their basic economic needs are met, the first priority of most poor families is how to send their children to a good school.

India recently launched EDUSAT, an educational program aimed at giving quality education to even its poorest citizens. Among the groups first initiatives is the development of a $100 laptop which the government hopes to distribute by 2007 to public schools all over the country.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://4educationinformation.com/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://4kidsandteens.com/ and http://iweatherworld.com/.Sibilla Blog18303
Suki Blog16423

New Testing Requirements For Children With Disabilities A Plus For Virginia Schools

Previously, the Virginia schools were required to test, under the No Child Left Behind Act, many of its children with disabilities in reading, math and science, regardless of their ability to do so. Unless they were severely disabled, the children had to take state-required tests for their grade level whether or not they had the skills and understanding. Thus, many of these special students failed the tests. Testing grades were third, eighth and 11th on an annual basis.

This caused several problems that were frustrating for both the Virginia schools educators and the children:

Their test scores were pulling down the school state rankings. Virginia schools are required to meet annual student achievement goals based upon these test scores. If they do not meet the goals, Virginia schools experience many possible sanctions, such as losing students to better scoring schools, reorganizing or closing.

It made the students feel like failures, since they do not have the capacity to participate fully in the testing process at their grade level.

Virginia schools educators had no accurate indicator as to how well these students were progressing or failing. Since the testing was created for the non-disabled child at grade level, there was no accurate benchmark or test to show how these disabled children were progressing and what might be needed to do a better job for them.

In April 2007, the U.S. Education Department modified its rules governing the testing of special education children. For those Virginia schools students who are not apt to reach grade level achievement within the same timeframe as their peers without disabilities, they will be able to take a modified test.

Special tests will be written for individual students on their grade level content but at their level of understanding and ability. Otherwise, a Virginia schools fifth grade, disabled child with a third grade understanding will take a test at a third grade level of comprehension on the fifth grade content. To ensure the new regulations are not abused, schools can test up to an additional two percent of students, who meet the eligibility requirements, under the modified testing rules.

The federal government will give states more than $21 million to cover the cost of creating the new tests and guidelines for their use. The new tests are slated to be put into service by the 2008-2009 school year.

With the new changes, state rankings of the Virginia schools will more accurately reflect the true achievements (or lack thereof) of each school. Additionally, Virginia schools teachers will be able to use the test scores to target problem areas for each of these children. The students can more fully participate in the testing process, showing teachers and parents what they have learned and how they are progressing.

The new modifications for Virginia schools testing are a welcomed change by students, educators and parents alike, making the Virginia schools testing a more useful tool not just a hit or miss measurement.

Patrica Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information on Houston Schools please visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Virginia/index.htmlStorm Blog17822
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