Work. Family. Life.

Looking forward to seeing Race to Nowhere

 

Have you seen it?  Attend a screening near you. 

UPEI - Increased Expectations

 

Conrad Wolfram: Teaching kids real math with computers

 

Unschooling really is following the child

The difference between homeschooling and unschooling is pretty significant, Priesnitz said.

Homeschooling involves a prepared curriculum, testing, marking, grading and everything else a structured school curriculum provides, Priesnitz said, adding that this style of learning has often been popular among conservative or Christian families. On the other hand, unschooling is much freer and much more child-centric.

Homeschooling brings the curriculum into the home environment whereas unschooling does away with it all together and places the onus to learn on the individual.

“Although there are no definitions or rules, unschooled children are motivated to learn by interest and need—in the same way they learned to walk and talk,” she said, adding that children are more motivated to learn once an externally imposed environment is taken away.

“Virtually all real learning happens as a result of want, need or interest,” she said.

“That sort of learning is different than memorizing some aspect of a “subject” that is on a course of study, because a teacher requires a report on a topic, or because the information needs to be regurgitated on an exam.”

Unschoolers learn these basics through doing, playing, experimentation, manipulation and questioning the world around them, she said, adding that the Internet, mentors and books play a part in their learning as well.

via www.queensjournal.ca

A Journey to Unschooling

I recently came across some interesting thoughts on unschooling in a post by Mary Hickcox.

I have realized over the past few years that you really can’t stop someone from learning no matter what you do or don’t do.  My middle child has never been to school or even attempted anything remotely resembling school; yet, at 7 he can read because he wanted to and he was developmentally ready to read.  Although if he was not ready, there would have been no pressure put on him to be on to be “on par” with others his age.  Through simply living our lives he has learned numbers, adding, subtracting, percentage, fractions etc.  How?  We play war, poker, exchange money, let him do some shopping; all of which are necessary and fun for him, so he has learned it.  School puts our children in a box and many times real life cannot be discovered within it.  I would prefer my children to spend their time independent and free of that box, in the real world.

Everything my kids do shares an equal value because they are always learning, whether it is a walk in the jungle, building a chicken coup, playing video games, or reading a book. We love that our children have a say in what they want to discover.  We offer them ideas and show them various paths to knowledge, but ultimately it is what interests them.  Don’t we all learn better when it is something pertinent in our lives?  I know I do and I know my kids do as well.

Deschooling is an ongoing process and something I will be actively doing for many years to come.  It has profoundly changed me as a person and there is no going back inside the box.  It reaches beyond schooling and into our lives on every level.  There is a new intensity of respect, equality, independence, and unconditional love for all members of the family.  We now know what authentic learning is:  It’s experiencing life without structured learning, and we are all happier for it.

via dissidentvoice.org

Public education in America - Waiting for Superman

Planting the seeds for world peace right from the start

Did you know that it was the International Day of Peace this week on September 21, 2010? 

From Wikipedia

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on September 21. It is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. The first year this holiday was celebrated was 1981. To inaugurate the day, the "Peace Bell" is rung at UN Headquarters. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the Diet of Japan, and is referred to as "a reminder of the human cost of war." The inscription on its side reads: "Long live absolute world peace.

If you have a  have a child who attends a Montessori school it is very likely that the participated in Peace Day celebrations. Below are some updates on celebrations that were held this week at Montessori schools in New Zealand and the United States. 

Is there anything that could be better than teaching young children from early on about how to problem solve in a peaceful way?  Peace is something that we all strive for around the world.  Maria Montessori believed that world peace began with the children. 

"Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war."

"If help and salvation are to come, they can only come from the children, for the children are the makers of men."

"The first idea the child must acquire is that of the difference between good and evil."

"Within the child lies the fate of the future."

Maria's words remain as true today as when she first wrote them. It is for all of these reasons that teaching, practicing and celebrating peace with young children is so important.

From New Zealand - 

Healing Trees for Peace

Gusty winds didn't deter hardy locals who turned out at Queen's Park yesterday to take part in Peace Day celebrations.

Three ginkgo trees were planted at the park during the festivities organised by Operation Peace Through Unity (OPTU) and United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNANZ) Wanganui. That was followed by a performance by students from Wanganui Montessori Preschool and a minute's of silence for peace at midday.

UNANZ local president Kate Smith said the trees were chosen as a symbol of peace for their healing properties. The trees also mark the beginning of the Trees for Peace movement, which plans to plant 141 more throughout Wanganui by October 2, the birthday of peace advocate Mahatma Ghandi.

Wanganui District Council representative Nicki Higgie, Montessori Preschool teacher Polly Allen and Wanganui High School student Meredith Paterson planted the trees, with a little help from some pre-school students.

Light a Candle for Peace

The first notes rang out at 6 p.m. Monday Central time at Montessori schools in New Zealand.

By 11 a.m. Tuesday, "Light a Candle for Peace" was being sung by children at the Montessori Habitat School in Champaign, more than halfway around the globe.

Montessori schools joined together Tuesday to "Sing peace around the world" as a tribute to the United Nations' International Day of Peace, and to the memory of Maria Montessori and other peace activists.

The singing started in New Zealand, then was picked up by school after school across time zones – 80,000 children in 35 countries – so that it would circle the globe in 24 hours.

via www.news-gazette.com

In the United States

Peace Garden

The Greatest of all Time was a big hit at Louisville's JFK Montessori School Tuesday morning.  Muhammad Ali and the Ali Center announced the global launch of the Muhammad Ali Peace Gardens.

It's an effort to teach children how to build gardens as a way to learn more about respect for diverse cultures and nutrition.  The students enjoyed their time with Ali, as they shared their stories and showed off their own garden.

Greg Roberts of the Muhammad Ali Center explained, "What a wonderful opportunity that we have now that Muhammad Ali Peace Gardens will be all over the world, and that the kids here started it.  So when we talk about Louisville as a Possibility City, it is possible, and that it all started here, and it started with you."

Yum Brands and Whole Foods are partners in making the project a success. Story here.

Pinwheels for Peace

Although the international peace symbol is older than their parents, students at First Montessori School of Atlanta incorporated it into their artwork for Pinwheels for Peace. On Sept. 21, students, ages 6-14, placed approximately 200 pinwheels in front of their campus to mark the International Day of Peace. FMSA is located at 5750 Long Island Drive in Atlanta.

Started in 2005 by two Florida teachers, Pinwheels for Peace has grown substantially over the years. Children and adults planted 3 million pinwheels around the world in 2009.

"This project is an excellent way for students to express their feelings about what is going on around the world and in their lives," says Jerri King, head of schools at First Montessori School of Atlanta. "Global awareness and mutual respect are two of the school's core values. Pinwheels for Peace is not a political statement. Pinwheels remind us of a time as children when things were simple, joyful and peaceful."

Art teacher Theresa Dean coordinated the FMSA project. Students wrote their thoughts about war, peace, tolerance and living in harmony with others on one side of the pinwheel. On the other side, they drew, painted or collaged something that expresses their feelings. Imagination, creativity and a mild breeze are the only requirements.

"The pinwheels spinning in the wind will hopefully spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country and the world," explains Dean. Story here.

What is education today?

Private schools step up in fight to protect government funding

Private schools are fighting back against public school supporters seeking to convince the provincial government to stop funding private schools.

The B.C. School Trustees' Association passed a resolution to ask the Ministry of Education to redirect money spent on independent schools to the public education system at its annual general meeting April 23 to 25. The subject generated an hour-long debate and the vote was close, but the resolution carried.

Most private schools earn between 35 and 50 per cent of per student funding that public school students get. Tuition on top of that can vary from about $2,000 a year to $23,000.

In late March, the Federation of Independent School Associations sent its members an 11-point defence of funding to private schools, which typically call themselves independent schools. The letter says education offered by the independent sector is education for the public good and that governments providing money to the non-government sector is a common way to provide services for the public good.

"Obviously, over the long run, if we say nothing the pressure from one side will prevail...so yeah, we're pushing back," said Fred Herfst, executive director of the Federation of Independent School Associations Monday.

The Federation represents 285 independent schools in B.C., enrolling 64,000 students-92 per cent

via www2.canada.com

Province will help fund daycare transition as full-day learning rolls out - The Globe and Mail

The Ontario government will provide financial assistance to daycares as they lose students to the all-day kindergarten program, and will allow schools to finish out their contracts with independent childcare providers.

The announcement came yesterday as the legislature passed a law that will require school boards to offer full-day learning to 4 and 5-year-olds and Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky promised to give schools a little wiggle room to finish out pre-existing daycare contracts.

“We recognize that there may be boards who perhaps have contractual arrangements, or whatever, and that they require some transition time and we will make accommodation for them for a short period of time,” she said.

Meanwhile, millions of dollars will go toward helping daycares cope with a shrinking base of clientele. A little over $5-million in operating subsidies will be dispersed to daycares next year, as the early learning program is launched in about 600 schools. The annual subsidy will grow to a peak of $51-million over the 5 years that the program is rolled out to more than 4,000 schools across the province.

“These are new dollars to stabilize childcare as a result of the 4 and 5-year-old who will be moving from childcare to the education system,” said Minister of Children and Youth Services Laurel Broten.

An additional $12-million will be doled out to non-profit daycares to help them renovate their facilities and gear them to younger children.

The full-day learning program will be optional to parents and available everywhere by the fall of 2015. It will pair teachers with early-childhood educators in the classroom throughout the school day, and provide extended-hour programs for a small fee.

via www.theglobeandmail.com

Get kids learning early, or pay later, say experts

B.C. should follow Ontario by implementing early learning classes or suffer heavy social and economic damage down the road.

That was the message from experts at an early care conference at SFU's Wosk Centre for Dialogue on Tuesday -- the same day that Ontario passed a bill to implement North America's first full-day early learning classrooms for four-and five-year-olds.

Dr. Charles Pascal, special adviser on early learning to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, told conference delegates "there is a big social and economic payoff" in investing in early learning.

University of B.C. Prof. Paul Kershaw presented his new study on "developmentally vulnerable" children, which shows 29 per cent enter kindergarten in B.C. at a learning disadvantage. The study calls for a $3-billion per year investment in early learning and support of young families in B.C.

Vulnerable children come up short in 104 benchmark tests taken in kindergarten, measuring physical, social, emotional and language skills.

The vulnerable "are much more likely to enter the criminal justice system," suffer poor health, drop out of school and underperform in Canada's economy, Kershaw said.

Kershaw calculates that neglecting to reduce the "child vulnerability debt" will cause B.C. to forgo 20 per cent in GDP growth over the next 60 years, which amounts to trillions of dollars wasted.

The study followed 140,000 children from across B.C. over 10 years.

via www.theprovince.com

'Balanced' calendar would end two-month summer break

A decision this week to give Vancouver students 10 extra vacation days next year as a cost-saving measure is expected to trigger a much bigger discussion about whether it's time for a calendar shakeup that would put an end to the standard two-month summer vacation.

"We need to start looking at the possibility of a balanced calendar," Patti Bacchus, chairwoman of the Vancouver board of education, said Tuesday, adding that trustees recently discussed the issue at a committee meeting and there was strong interest in re-arranging school holidays.

While not necessarily a cost saving, some education experts say a balanced school calendar provides educational benefits.

Researchers such as Carolyn Shields, an education professor at the University of B.C., say a balanced school calendar results in fewer student absences, less staff illness and better opportunities for disadvantaged children, who often fall behind their more privileged peers during long vacation periods.

via www.vancouversun.com

CBC News - Prince Edward Island - Wages top priority for daycares

Wages are the top priority for people working in P.E.I.'s child care centers, but they will have to wait to see how the government intends to spend $2.5 million promised them in the budget.

In a media briefing in advance of his budget speech Friday, Finance Minister Wes Sheridan said the years from birth to age four are the most important in a child's development. The budget contained $2.5 million in new spending for early childhood education, but Sheridan said negotiations over how it would be spent were ongoing.

Jamie McQuaid is keen to hear where the money will go. She has worked as an early childhood educator for five years. She is now working at Parkdale-Sherwood Headstart, and makes the average wage in P.E.I. daycares, about $12 an hour.

"If you're in it for the money you're not in the right career," McQuaid told CBC News Monday.

"It's the love of teaching and learning along with the children every day that keeps me going."

McQuaid would like to be earning as much as her sister, who works in retail. (CBC)

While McQuaid recognizes there is no shortage of places the promised money could be spent, she said wages need to be the top priority.

"It'd be nice to start somewheres around $18 and then kind of work your way up," she said.

"My sister now works in retail and she makes more than I did, starting out, and she has benefits, and I don't have benefits."

Carol Ford, McQuaid's manager, agrees wages should be on the top of the list.

"My wages would be my first choice," said Ford.

"I would like the special needs grant amount to go up, and I would like a sustainable system, in order for wages to go up."

Even parents picking up their children at Headstart Monday agreed wages are too low.

"Nobody wants to go to work for barely minimum wage or just over it," said Kim Doyle.

"They need to have the money to keep them in the field."

While wages of are considered a priority even amongst parents, people with several pre-school-age children are also concerned about the cost, which at Headstart is $28 dollars a day per child.

"We have three small children, it's a lot of money to be out per day," said Lynn Smith

"I think if the money was given to the centre itself, then maybe the fees per day could decrease a little bit."

The provincial government is expected to make an announcement about how the money in the budget will be spent some time in the next week or two.

via www.cbc.ca

Ontario Passes Full-Day Learning Act

Ontario Passes Full-Day Learning Act

 

 

April 27, 2010 12:00 PM

McGuinty Government Also Takes Key Steps To Stabilize Child Care And Improve The Delivery Of Children's Services

Ontario is one step closer to implementing full-day learning for four- and five-year-olds across the province.

Earlier today, the legislature passed the Full-Day Early Learning Statute Law Amendment Act, 2010. The legislation included a number of amendments, such as clarifying the roles of teachers and early childhood educators in full-day early learning classrooms.

In addition, the government will address the need for child care centres to have the flexibility they need as four- and five-year-olds move into the integrated before- and after-school program.

Ontario is also supporting the child care sector and will help improve the delivery of other children's services in a number of ways, including:

• Providing stabilization funding. This will be phased in over the period of implementation, growing to $51 million annually at full implementation to help stabilize child care centres as four- and five-year-olds move into the full-day learning program.

• Providing $12 million over five years to help non-profit child care centres make retrofits and renovations to serve younger children.

• Transferring child care policy and program responsibilities to the Ministry of Education from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to facilitate smoother transitions for children from the child care system to the education system.

• Minister of Children and Youth Services Laurel Broten, assisted by Dr. Charles Pascal, will take the lead to bring about integrated services for parents of infants and young children so they can access them in a more co-ordinated, timely and efficient way.  

Full-day early learning is a key part of the government's Open Ontario plan to strengthen education in Ontario. It will increase student achievement, build a stronger workforce and help break the cycle of poverty.

QUICK FACTS

 

• Full-day learning will be offered in nearly 600 schools in September 2010.
• Teachers and early childhood educators in full-day learning classrooms will be guided by the new Full-Day Early Learning - Kindergarten Program.
• Subsidies will be available, based on need, for some families who need help with the cost of the extended-day program.
• The full-day early learning program will be supported by a team of teachers and early childhood educators with approximately 26 kids per classroom.

via www.news.ontario.ca

I will be attending the Inspiring Innovation Symposium for the next 2 days - watch for live tweets