MsConcerned's Manifesto

Category: Education

  • The Day The 1st Amendment Was Shot In The Back

    I am so sick and tired of folk screaming, “…we have freedom of speech…” sure you do. Let’s take a look, the 1st Amendment reads:

    Note: Congress shall make no law, not Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr, Truth Social, MySpace, Snapchat, Quora, Ron DeSantis, etc.,

    • If we trusted each other we would not need the First Amendment;
    • It’s all about the government – not social media;
    • It protects the government from overstepping;
    • Government can impair or limit free speech;

    I’m sure James Madison had no information on what we know as Social Media when he wrote this amendment. I’m pretty sure he had no idea that (1) of thee most illiterate women in Georgia would introduce a bill as follows:

    The 21st Century Free Speech Act was introduced by Greene on April 28 of 2022. This bill largely focuses on the riddance of discriminatory actions on social media. Section two of this bill is headlined “Reasonable, Non-Discriminatory Access to Online Communication Platforms; Blocking and Screening of Offensive Material.”

    Does Freedom of Speech allow me to say, “The reason DeSantis is burning, banning, anything to do with Black History it because he doesn’t want folk to find out that his family had to check the Black box before the law was changed? Italy does not collect racial data in its population census, so it is hard to estimate the number of Black Italians. But citizenship rights activists put children born and raised in Italy but lacking citizenship at about 1 million.

    Racist dogma about Southern Italians found fertile soil in the United States. As the historian Jennifer Guglielmo writes, the newcomers encountered waves of books, magazines and newspapers that “bombarded Americans with images of Italians as racially suspect.” They were sometimes shut out of schools, movie houses and labor unions, or consigned to church pews set aside for black people. They were described in the press as “swarthy,” “kinky haired” members of a criminal race and derided in the streets with epithets like “dago,” “guinea” — a term of derision applied to enslaved Africans and their descendants — and more familiarly racist insults like “white nigger” and “nigger wop.”

    Darker-skinned southern Italians endured the penalties of blackness on both sides of the Atlantic. In Italy, Northerners had long held that Southerners — particularly Sicilians — were an “uncivilized” and racially inferior people, too obviously African to be part of Europe.

    There is proof Italians didn’t always see themselves as white. In the 1880s, Italian immigrants occupied the East Harlem section of Manhattan. There still stands Church of Our Lady Mount Carmel on 116th street, one block from the East River, a vestige of that time. A giant festa took place in the neighborhood on the streets surrounding the church, to honor and celebrate the Madonna, an important figure for Italians.

    But what started out as a party that drew “immigrants from all over southern Italy” became an important plot point in how Italians learned to navigate the shifting lines of race in America. Being white had its advantages to be heard and to exercise the fruits of the First Amendment.

    Well, Justice Black- “…not as the Government commands – unless you are in Tennessee.”  Three members made demands for new gun safety laws days after three 9-year-old children and three staff members were killed in a school shooting in Nashville.  [1] Johnson, who currently represents Knoxville, was first elected to the Legislature in 2012. [2] Jones, 27, is one of the youngest members of the state House. The first-term lawmaker won the election in November to represent parts of Nashville. [3] Pearson currently represents parts of Memphis after being elected in a special election in January. At 28, Pearson became the second-youngest lawmaker serving in the Tennessee House. 

    As I entered the enormous meeting room at Foxwoods Casino I could hear the echos of the tribe chant before every meeting – “Fuck ’em”. No that’s not true, that phrase was NOT uttered before every meeting, the boldness of the room seemed to echo the phrase as I entered. When I heard, GOP Rep. Andrew Farmer utter the words, “Just because you don’t get your way, you can’t come to the well, bring your friends and throw a temper tantrum with an adolescent bullhorn.” It sounded more like, “Boy, you will not get your way in here no matter how many of you Niggars show up with your little bullhorn, fuck democracy, fuck you, we’ve been waiting for any reason to get ya’ll out of here, and now we got a reason.”    Sounds like the section of the First Amendment which reads, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, has been violated when two Black members were expelled because they want the children in school to live!

    “The very reason for the First Amendment is to make the people of the country free to think, speak, write, and worship as they wish, not as the Government commands.
    —JUSTICE HUGO BLACK”

     

    Source: The Internet

    #BLM #msconcerned Abortion Abuse Addiction America Black History BlackLivesMatter Connecticut COVID COVID-19 dailyprompt Education Faith Family Freedom George Floyd God Good Night GOP Healing Healthcare Hillary Clinton Homeless Mental Health Murder Police Politics POTUS Prison PTSD Race Racism Reform Religion Republicans Salvation Slaves Spirituality The Bus Trump Truth Twitter Veterans Voting

     

     

    Note:  Being of sound mind, should you read, she committed suicide, she was in a freak accident, she was committed to an insane asylum, she has disappeared, she overdosed, and I have no reason to be on or go near a train station – non of that is or will be true!!Signed” Me.

     

     

  • H.R. 6056 – Parents Bill of Rights

    H.R. 6056 – Parents Bill of Rights

    Parents’ Education What´s Changed

    CRT – K-12

    THEY CAN’T READ COLLEGE MATERIAL – STOP THE FEAR FACTOR{S}

    All ethnicities of kindergartners will or should be expected to recognize all 26 lowercase and uppercase letters — as well as their sounds. They should be able to identify which letters are different in similar words (e.g. map, lap, tap). They should also know that spoken words represent a sequence of letters. They will NOT know RACISM unless it is taught and groomed by their parents, grandparents, care-takers, or watching FOX BS News, or listening to individuals like MTG, Ron DeSantis, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, the tRump Family, or reading books like:

    • If I Ran the Zoo
    • Vharlie and the Chocolate Factory
    • Goggles
    • The adventures of Huckleberry Finn
    • A Fine Dessert

    TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965

    SEC. 101. STATE PLAN ASSURANCE

    (3) by adding at the end the following:

    “(O) the State will ensure that each local educational agency in the State posts the curriculum for each elementary and secondary school grade level on a publicly accessible website of the agency or, if such agency does not operate a website, widely disseminates to the public such curriculum; and

    “(P) in the case of any revisions to the State’s challenging State academic standards (including any revisions to the levels of achievement within the State’s academic achievement standards), the State educational agency will post to the homepage of its website, and widely disseminate to the public, notice of such revisions and a copy of such revisions, except that the State educational agency shall not be required to submit such notice or such revisions to the Secretary.”.

    (2) by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated), the following:

    “(1) NOTICE OF RIGHTS.—A local educational agency receiving funds under this part shall ensure that each elementary school and secondary school served by such agency posts on a publicly accessible website of the school or, if the school does not operate a website, widely disseminates to the public, a summary notice of the right of parents to information about their children’s education as required under this Act, which shall be in an understandable format for parents and include, at minimum—

    “(A) the right to review the curriculum of their child’s school;

    “(B) the right to know if the State alters the State’s challenging State academic standards;

    “(C) the right to meet with each teacher of their child not less than twice during each school year; – This has been known as the PTA for over 125 years.

    “(D) the right to review the budget, including all revenues and expenditures, of their child’s school;

    “(E) the right to a list of the books and other reading materials contained in the library of their child’s school; Parents who object to LBGTQ will ban any book with this content – they have a lot of reading to do.

    “(F) the right to address the school board of the local educational agency;

    “(G) the right to information about violent activity in their child’s school; and – This is called in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension and expulsion this should include teachers who push, pull, drag, or use violent words towards the student.

    “(H) the right to information about any plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs in the child’s school.”;

    This means, Black, Mexican, Poor Black and Poor Mexican Students!

    The only federal program for gifted children is the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, which focuses on identifying and serving students who are traditionally under-represented in gifted and talented programs (minority students, students from low income backgrounds or who are English language learners, and children with disabilities) to help reduce gaps in achievement and to encourage the establishment of equal educational opportunities for all U.S. students

    (C) by adding at the end the following:

    “(ii) SCHOOL LIBRARY. —A local educational agency receiving funds under this part shall ensure that each elementary school and secondary school served by such agency provides, at the beginning of each school year, the parents of a child who is a student in such school a list of books and other reading materials available to the students of such school in the school library.

    “(iii) VIOLENT ACTIVITY.—A local educational agency receiving funds under this part shall ensure that each elementary school and secondary school served by such agency provides the parents of a child who is a student in such school timely notification of any violent activity occurring on school grounds or at school-sponsored activities in which one or more individuals suffer injuries, except that such notification shall not contain names or the grade level of any students involved in the activity.

    “(iv) GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS. —A local educational agency receiving funds under this part shall ensure that each elementary school and secondary school served by such agency provides the parents of a child who is a student in such school timely notification of any plan to eliminate gifted and talented programs in such school.”; and

    (4) by inserting after paragraph (4) (as redesignated by paragraph (1)) the following:

    “(5) TRANSPARENCY.—A local educational agency receiving funds under this part shall provide the parents of a child who is a student in an elementary school or secondary school served by such agency—

    “(A) (i) the opportunity to meet in-person with each teacher of such child not less than twice during each school year; and

    “(ii) a notification, at the beginning of each school year, of the opportunity for such meetings; and

    “(B) the opportunity to address the school board of such local educational agency on issues impacting the education of children in such agency.”

    “SEC. 8549C. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

    “(a) Findings. —The Congress finds as follows:

    “(1) Parents have a First Amendment right to express their opinions of decisions made by State and local education leaders.

    “(2) States and local educational agencies should empower parents to communicate regularly with Federal, State, and local policymakers and educators regarding the education and well-being of their children.

    “(4) Parents’ concerns over content and pedagogy deserve to be heard and fully considered by school professionals.

    Pedagogy – Developing systemic interaction between teachers and students aimed at achieving the set goals and leading to a pre-planned change of state, i.e., the transformation of their qualities and behavior, personal development;  This would require every parent to have knowledge of the learning capabilities of EVERY student in the classroom – will parents have access to IEP or 504*¹Plans of other students? 

    A*¹ 504 plan and an IEP are both plans for students with disabilities, but they have different purposes, legal statuses, and processes1234. A 504 plan is a statement of accommodations that provide equal access to education by removing barriers34. It is covered by a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination by any group that gets federal funds14. A 504 plan may be proposed by the school or the parents, and it may include one or more accommodations5. An IEP is a formal document that outlines specially-designed instruction, special education, and related services for students who need them because of an identified disability34. It is overseen by the state and falls under a special education law24. An IEP includes objectives, goals, accommodations, and a description of the educational setting45. An IEP is typically for students who are falling behind academically, while a 504 plan is for students who need accommodations to access their education12.

    “(5) Parent and other community input about schools that is presented in a lawful and appropriate manner should always be encouraged. Who will determine what is lawful and appropriate?

    “(6) Educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders should never seek to criminalize the lawfully expressed concerns of parents about their children’s education. lawfully expressed

    “(b) Sense Of Congress.—It is the sense of the Congress that the First Amendment guarantees parents and other stakeholders the right to assemble and express their opinions of decisions affecting their children and communities and that educators and policymakers should welcome and encourage that engagement and consider that feedback when making decisions.”.

    H.R.899 – To terminate the Department of Education – The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2023.

  • One Veteran’s Experience – Teaching in Florida Schools

    One Veteran’s Experience – Teaching in Florida Schools

    The Florida Education Association (FEA) says more than 450,000 students may head back to school without a full-time teacher in place. 

    FEA Vice President Carole Gauronskas says COVID is partially to blame for many teachers retiring early and students not pursuing the field.

    “Ask the scientists, ask the doctors, and ask the educators what it is like to be in that classroom with poor ventilation with 26 children or more – many classes will have 30 or more students – and until we’re asked at that table with the legislators, I would say, you do your work, let us do our work. We went to school for four years plus, we know what we’re doing, let us do it.”

    She says the other reason is simple: teachers aren’t paid enough or respected enough considering the time they put in.

    “Overall, there are approximately 450,000 children who will not have a certified full-time teacher in their classrooms on the first day of school. So that roughly translates into almost 5,000 teaching positions that are open and more than 3,700 support staff positions.”

    The State of Florida is now allowing qualified military veterans to obtain 5-year temporary teaching certificates to serve as substitute teachers without having completed a college degree. The move comes as Florida works to find solutions to a statewide teacher shortage.

    A recent FEA survey found some 13.5 percent of English classes and 8.1 percent of math classes statewide are taught by teachers who are not certified in those subjects.

    On August 18, 2022 – The Biden Administration’s U.S. Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, praised Florida’s plan to encourage veterans to work in the classrooms. Cardona stated, “I don’t have the details of the Florida program specifically. I love anything that’s going to provide opportunities for those who are looking into the teaching profession, ensuring that they’re connected to good teacher preparation programs that teach pedagogy and ensuring that the educators have the skills needed to meet the needs of our students.”

    A month later, Cardona expressed this view, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona criticized efforts by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to allow veterans without college degrees to teach in Florida public schools, saying the initiative lowers standards for teachers.

    “The moment we start lowering standards to get [into teaching], we’re doubling down on the disrespect to the profession,” Cardona said. “I’m all for veterans becoming teachers … but let’s let’s remember when the nation’s report card is showing that our students have dropped drastically to provide educators who are not qualified or trained in the pedagogy of teaching is a slap in the face to the profession.” Cardona sounds like the FDA – wear a mask, don’t wear a mask indoors, wear a mask in the restaurant – never mind let’s listen to doctors.

    Discrimination – the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, age, sex, or disability:

    Discrimination in the workplace – The discrimination in favor of or against an employee based on a group, category, or class to which the individual belongs, rather than on individual merit.

    According to federal and state laws, it is illegal for an employer to treat a person unequally based on his or her race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, or disability. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates that no person employed by, or seeking employment with, a company that has 15 or more employees can be discriminated against based on any of these factors. While federal law prohibits discrimination in the workplace, most states have enacted their own laws regarding workplace discrimination.

    Discrimination in the workplace covers any work related issues, and it is important for employers to take care that the company handbook, policies, and practices are uniform, regardless of employee race, gender, ethnicity, age, religion, or disability. Even a policy that applies to all employees, regardless of these factors may be illegal if it creates a negative impact on the employees. For example, if an employer has a hair style policy that applies to all employees, it may be unlawful if the policy is not job related, and impacts a certain race due to a predisposition of natural hair types.

    A veteran posted his story to Facebook:

    Discrimination of a disabled veteran, sexism and nepotism by the Palm Beach School District.

    Brothers and sisters. I wanted to both inform you and reach out for help about a case of discrimination against me that is in many ways likely to impact our veteran community as they utilize Governor Desantises incentives to hire veterans as teachers.

    On Tuesday 09/06 I was told I would be moved to a different school in my district due to low enrollment numbers. I am being replaced by a 24 year old teacher who was hired last year at the same time as me but as a reading teacher.

    I have a masters degree in curriculum and instruction, a bachelor’s degree in political science, an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Two deployments, one to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. I broke my back on July 4th 2010 in country. I hold a 5 year professional renewable certification in the state of Florida.

    The girl whose mother works at the school has two three year temporary non renewable teaching licenses. She does not have a masters degree, she has no military service yet my principal told me her credentials were more valuable than mine and that she would replace me. I was given no choice. No consideration was made for the fact I am a disabled veteran or that I have a service dog.

    I am not looking for anyone’s pity. I don’t want money or financial assistance. I refuse to take this lying down. What was done to me is bound to happen at an accelerated rate as veterans begin to enter the Florida School system. I want you to know what is in store for us.

    I would truly appreciate anyone who could get me an audience with our Governor or other state and federal representatives. If anyone has connections in the media, please send them to me. If you have any experience with discrimination lawsuits yourself, Please let me know how it went for you.

    I am not looking for any cheap or free legal assistance. I want to know who the most ruthless discrimination lawyer is in our area. I am looking for that person specifically. Money is not an issue, they will see the major potential of my case. Thank you so much to all of you for taking the time to listen.

    Dealing with Discrimination in the Workplace

    If an employee is dealing with discrimination in the workplace, he should carefully document all instance of the discrimination or harassment. This may be done by writing down the date, time, and details of each discriminatory act, as well as by keeping copies of voicemails, emails, text messages, as well as any physical evidence, which prove the discrimination. Such documentation, as well as a list of other people who may have witnessed the acts, may be important to an investigation.

    The employee should report workplace discrimination, in writing, to his employer right away, keeping a copy of the notice. This ensures that, even if the problem has to be reported to a higher authority, the employer cannot claim ignorance of the situation.

    While the state in which the victim is employed may have an agency assigned to investigate discrimination in the workplace, the victim can always contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). The EEOC oversees compliance with anti-discrimination laws. Many state employment agencies are able to provide information to both employers and employees, and guide them in reporting workplace discrimination.

    Source:

    Prieur, D. (2021, August 11). Florida has a critical shortage of teachers. Here’s why. Hint: One of the reasons begins with the letters COVID-19. 90.7 WMFE. https://www.wmfe.org/florida-has-a-critical-shortage-of-teachers-heres-why-hint-one-of-the-reasons-begins-with-with-covid-19/187744

    The White House. (2021, July 23). FACT SHEET: How the Biden-Harris administration is advancing educational equity. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/23/fact-sheet-how-the-biden-harris-administration-is-advancing-educational-equity/

    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/cardona-florida-hire-veterans-teachers

  • When Sexual Harassment Goes Awry in the Workplace

    She writes:

    When I was a young professional, I was raped by a co-worker and no one believed me.

    I share that brutal piece of information because, over a decade later, when the #metoo movement happened, I was completely in favor of it. I was horrified at the number of stories that were shared but simultaneously thrilled that those stories were seeing the light of day as victims took their power back. A year after the movement started, I mustered the courage to share my story publicly for the first time since it happened (though I clearly did not understand how a hashtag worked at the time). For me, it transformed my experience with what happened into something that was empowering rather than something debilitating.

    The Black Man

    From stop-and-frisk to driving while black to wrongful murder convictions, African American men have always endured the suspicion that President Trump now fears on behalf of all men. “When you are guilty until proven innocent, it’s just not supposed to be that way,” per Trump. “That’s a very dangerous standard for the country.”

    Along with Bill Cosby and many others, we hear continued reports of women sexually harassed, assaulted, and abused by males in a position of power, authority, and community respect.

    What happens when the man is accused to sexual assault and not only is it not true but he is neither in a position of power or a figure of authority in the workplace?

  • Substitute’s Corner – Math

    Substitute’s Corner – Math

    This is a new segment to my blog. After reading various posts and talking to both substitutes and teachers about concernns in the classroom – I thought I would share my experience. I hold two Master Degrees – after leaving the world of healthcare I embarked on education. It was the best move I have ever made (ok one of the best moves – THEE best was giving birth to my daughter). I have taught in Connectict, North Carolina and South Carolina – and have many experiences to share. One thing I must say, is that this role is clearly not about money as I could easy command 6 figures – Oh but the love of the classroom and my DAILY dose of (that just made my heart smile moments) overrides 6 figures ON ANY GIVEN DAY. With that said I hope you enjoy my content and nuggests of feel good moments… please share and ask all the questions your heart desires.

    As a long term math substitute I have been asked on more than one occasion, “Why do I need to know why 5x + 6 = 30y?” Well the long answer is below – take what you need and leave the rest.

    Do you love math? Or are numbers the bane of your existence? Whether you’re a fan of math or not, it’s an important subject to learn. Just think of all the things you couldn’t do without basic math! Math helps you buy food at the grocery story. It even helps you cook and divide it among your family members. Face it, folks. We need math!

    Most of us start our mathematical journey learning the basics of addition. From there, we move on to subtraction. After we’ve mastered the pluses and the minuses, we advance to multiplication and division. Sooner or later, we all reach the point where we make the leap into more advanced math. What are we talking about? Algebra, of course!

    Some people refer to algebra as the point at which letters get involved in math. Algebra is the study of mathematical symbols and the rules for manipulating those symbols. It forms the basis for advanced studies in many fields, including mathematics, science, engineering, medicine, and economics.

    In its simplest form, algebra involves using equations to find the unknown. Real-life problems probably drove the development of algebra. The subject dates back over 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians.

    Here’s an example. A wagon carries a load of hay bales. Suddenly, it hits a rut in the road. Six bales fall off! Luckily, ten bales are left.  How many bales of hay did the wagon have when before it hit the rut? You can use the algebraic expression “x – 6 = 10” to answer this question. In this equation, x represents the unknown (how many bales of hay were on the wagon at the start). Six is the number of hay bales that fell off, and ten is the numbers still on the wagon. By adding six to each side of the equation, you’ll find that x equals 16. So, the wagon had 16 hay bales before it hit the rut in the road.

    Algebra gets much more complicated than that simple equation. This leaves many students WONDERing when, if ever, they’ll use algebra in real life. Does it have any use? If not, why do you have to learn it?

    For starters, algebra is foundational for other classes. That means you’ll apply what you learn in algebra throughout school. Learning algebra helps to develop your critical thinking skills. That includes problem solving, logic, patterns, and reasoning. You need to know algebra for many professions, especially those in science and math. Not planning to go into those fields? You’ll probably still use algebra without even realizing it!

    Consider these examples: It’s time to fill up your car’s gas tank. The price of gas per gallon is $3 and you only have $25 to spend. How much gas can you purchase? This can be answered by the algebraic equation, “3x = 25.” You must divide each side of the equation by 3 in order to isolate x. In this equation, x is equal to 25 divided by 3, which is 8.33 gallons of gas. If you need 10 gallons of gas, how much money do you need? When you solve that equation, you have algebra to thank!

    Or how about this example? You would like to purchase Internet service for your home. Company A requires a setup fee of $10 and charges a monthly fee of $25. Company B does not charge a setup fee but charges $26 per month. Which company is less expensive for one year of service? We can find out by first calculating the total cost for Company A: x = $10 + $25*12 (months in a year), which comes to $310. The equation for Company B is x = $26*12, which totals $312. At first glance, it might have seemed like Company B would be cheaper, because they do not charge a setup fee, but algebra showed us differently!

    There are many other examples of real-world uses of algebra, from comparing prices on similar products in a grocery store to figuring out what time you need to leave your house in order to meet a friend across town on time.

    Need help with an expression click here.

  • Ohio KKK Police Chief

    Ohio KKK Police Chief

    An Ohio police chief has resigned after he was reportedly caught putting a Ku Klux Klan sign on a black officer’s desk.

    Anthony Campo, the chief of the Sheffield Lake Police Department, was caught on CCTV putting a piece of paper with “Klu Klux Klan” written on it, according to reports. He also laid out a jacket to look like robes worn by KKK members.

    Yet – Ohio is the latest state considering legislation to prohibit public schools from teaching critical race theory, which views racism as systemic in the nation’s institutions and promotes race-based reverse discrimination to achieve equity.

  • Your Children and the News

    Your Children and the News

    With everything going on in the news today, it can be frightening for young people. Here are a few tips to help your child understand/navigate the news.

    Find Out What Your Child Already Knows

        Ask your kids questions to see if they know about a current event. For school-age kids and teens, you can ask what they have heard at school or on social media.

        Consider your child’s age and development. Younger kids may not grasp the difference between fact and fantasy. Most kids realize the news is real by the time they are 7 or 8 years old.

        Follow your child’s lead. If your child doesn’t seem interested in an event or doesn’t want to talk about it at the moment, don’t push.

    Answer Questions Honestly and Briefly

        Tell the truth, but share only as much as your child needs to know. Try to calm any fears and help kids feel safe. Don’t offer more details than your child is interested in.

        Listen carefully. For some kids, hearing about an upsetting event or natural disaster might make them worry, “Could I be next? Could that happen to me?” Older kids may have lots of questions. Focus on what your kids ask so you can help them cope with their fears. An adult’s willingness to listen sends a powerful message.

        It’s OK to say you don’t know the answer. If your child asks a question that stumps you, say you’ll find out. Or use age-appropriate websites to spend time together looking for an answer.

    Help Kids Feel in Control

        Encourage your child to talk. If your child is afraid about what’s going on, ask about it. Even when kids can’t control an event — like a natural disaster — it can help them to share their fears with you.

        Urge teens to look beyond a news story. Ask why they think an outlet featured a frightening or disturbing story. Was it to boost ratings and clicks or because the story was truly newsworthy? In this way, a scary story can be turned into a discussion about the role and mission of the news.

        Teach your children to be prepared, not panicked. For example, if the news is about a natural disaster, make a family plan for what you might do. If an illness is spreading, talk about ways to protect yourself and others.

        Talk about what you can do to help. After a tragic event, finding ways to help can give kids a sense of control. Look for news stories that highlight what other people are doing.

        Put news stories in context. Broaden the discussion from a specific news item about a difficult event to a larger conversation. Use it as a way to talk about helping, cooperation, and the ways that people cope with hardship.

    Limit Exposure to the News

        Decide what and how much news is appropriate for your child. Think about how old your kids are and how mature they are. Encourage them to take breaks from following the news, especially when the topics are difficult.

        Keep tabs on the amount of difficult news your child hears. Notice how often you discuss the news in front of your kids. Turn off the TV so the news is not playing in the background all day.

        Set limits. It’s OK to tell your kids that you don’t want them to have constant exposure and to set ground rules on device and social media use.

        Watch the news with your child and talk about it. Turn off a story if you think it’s not appropriate for your child.

    Keep the Conversation Going

        Talk about current events with your child often. Help kids think through stories they hear – good and bad. Ask questions like: “What do you think about these events?” or “How do you think these things happen?” With these types of questions, you can encourage conversation about non-news topics.

        Watch for stress. If your child shows changes in behavior (such as not sleeping or eating, not wanting to be around people, or worrying all the time), call your child’s doctor or a behavioral health care provider. They can help your child manage anxiety and feel better able to cope

  • Online Learning Cheat Sheet

    Online Learning Cheat Sheet

     The ups and downs of the global economy have sent more learners back to school to retool or add credentials to their résumé. Additionally, we all have experienced the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Online learning allows learners to address their professional development needs at a time and in a manner that may be more flexible with their lifestyles. To succeed online, you need a few basic technology skills and pointers on how to stay safe; you also need to evaluate online programs carefully, communicate clearly, and develop good study habits.

    Prepare to Learn Online

    You should have a few basic technology skills down pat before you enroll in any form of online learning, whether it’s a single online course for fun or a fully online bachelor’s degree program. Make sure you know how to

    • Attach a microphone and headset to your computer (or use what’s built in)
    • Create folders and subfolders on your computer’s hard drive or a flash drive to help facilitate organization of coursework
    • Open your preferred Internet browser and navigate to various websites
    • Open multiple browser windows, either in separate floating windows or in multiple tabs in a single window
    • Send and receive emails with attachments
    • Save and open attachments, including audio and video files
    • Download and install applications and application plugins

    Stay Safe While Learning Online

    Stories abound about the dangers of the Internet, but a few simple measures can go a long way toward ensuring that your online experience is safe and worry-free. Follow these guidelines:

    • Make payments for classes, books, and the like only at a secure site with https:// as the prefix.

        Create a single word processing or spreadsheet file where you keep all your login information. Save that file securely with a password. You then have to remember only one password rather than many.

    • Never tell your password(s) to anyone.
    • Don’t disclose your life story to classmates. Maintain some privacy.

        If you need to provide contact information to your instructor or peers when working on a group project, provide only information necessary to complete the project, such as your school email address and your mobile phone.

    Questions to Ask as You Evaluate Online Programs

    Many schools offer online courses, but not all schools are created the same. To help you decide where to apply, ask yourself these questions as you investigate online programs and their staffs:

        Is this school or program accredited (proven to meet academic standards by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education)?

    • Are the courses self-paced or instructor-led?
    • How many class hours (total time in hours) a week will each course take?
    • What is the student/faculty ratio?
    • What is the student retention rate?
    • Who are the faculty and what kind of training have they received?
    • When do classes begin?
    • What if I need to stop out (temporarily withdraw)?
    • Is financial aid available?

        What are the minimal technology requirements (hardware and software) for taking an online course at your institution?

        What are the minimal technology competencies a learner must have to take an online course at your institution?

        Will I be expected to be online at a specific time to conference with my instructor or classmates?

    Communicate Clearly in Online Courses

    Communication is vital in all forms of education, and online education is no exception. The following tips can help you communicate effectively online:

    • Get to the point. Succinct writing is valued.
    • Always reference other authors — use proper citation methods! Your instructor will tell you which specific method to use.
    • Don’t type in all caps. It’s like shouting.
    • Be aware that anything written can be misconstrued. Try to write as if your grandmother would read it — use polite and professional language without innuendos or sarcasm.
    • If you’re working on a group project, copy the instructor if you’re using email so that they know your group’s progress.
    • Don’t be afraid to use the phone. It’s okay to call the instructor if you have a question.
    • Don’t overpost in discussion forums. If your instructor asks for 2 posts, 4 is fine, but 14 is too many!
    • If possible, communicate special circumstances as soon as possible (family emergencies, vacations, and so forth), not after the fact.

    A Few Habits of Successful Online Learners

    Some of the most successful learners are those who learn self-discipline with respect to their study habits. The lack of pressure that comes with meeting face-to-face is absent in the online environment. Therefore, it’s important to heed the following suggestions for establishing good study habits for online learning:

    • Set a schedule for studying and log in frequently (daily, if possible).
    • Print the syllabus, instructor contact information, and course calendar on day one.
    • Read all rubrics (documents outlining assessment criteria for assignments) and guidelines carefully, and self-check before starting assignments and again before submitting them.
    • Find out how to use the library services for your institution. Seek credible resources for your work, and don’t just rely on Google or Wikipedia.
    • Double-check citations and references for accuracy. Avoid plagiarism!
    • Compose assignments in a word processor and save everything before transferring it to the online environment.
    • Actively participate and interact with your classmates and instructor. Don’t be a wallflower.

    Source: By Susan Manning, Kevin E. Johnson

  • How Much CT School Districts Spent to Reopen Amid COVID-19

    How Much CT School Districts Spent to Reopen Amid COVID-19

    How Much CT School Districts Spent to Reopen Amid COVID-19
  • #DistanceLearning #Teachers #Parents #Students

    #DistanceLearning #Teachers #Parents #Students

    Here we are in the middle of a pandemic and the Federal Government couldn’t put together a detailed plan for re-opening schools nor have they presented any updates since school has re-opened. It appears each state is on their own to devise ways and means to combat education during this time in our lives.

    While perusing through some social media sites I came across some scared and angry parents and educators – all voicing their concern over returning to school. Some areas of concern were:

    Areas of Concern

    1. The pandemic is not over;
    2. We don’t have a vaccine;
    3. Students would have to take a bus;
    4. Lack of information about what and how the districts were going to manage the return to school;
    5. How will the schools be sanitized;
    6. Can children spread the disease;
    7. How will students without wifi or a computer access their classes;
    8. How will students with disabilities be handled;
    9. Betsy DeVos is diverting public school monies to private school;
    10. Social distance how will it be managed in the school;

    Children from low-income families who face hunger, possible abuse, mental health difficulties, and other issues have been hit the hardest during this pandemic. Local communities including religious organizations, social workers, and mental health specialists, along with educators and school officials, are needed to continue to help those struggling.

    The Darker Side

    1. Students are at home babysitting their younger siblings while trying to engage in classwork;
    2. Breakfast and lunch are not provided;
    3. Students don’t have a quiet place to focus on school;
    4. Students are simply not showing up for either hybrid or distance learning classes;
    5. Students are not submitting their work;
    6. Students are confused about assignment thinking they have homework when actually it’s work for class for the days they attend school from home;
    7. Teacher have no way of managing 46 distance learners in one class;

    Your suggestions and comments are welcome.

wpChatIcon
wpChatIcon