Productivity @ Home

A Shocking Vision of Students, New Media and Technology

With a teen headed to college next year and a tremendous interest in New Media, this video caught my attention when I saw it recently on a friend's blog.  I've seen my kids "multitask", seen how they interact with their friends online and in person, seen them turn off the TV but live out loud to iTunes, and seen the way they obtain their information.  What are we, the grown ups who love them doing to realize and communicate with them in their changing world?  Fascinating - please take five minutes and watch this video.  I'd love to hear your take.

College Admissions and Facebook: To Friend or Not To Friend?

 Many of you know that my son Eric is in the throes of applying to college. It's likely during the next several months that I'll be writing a great deal on this topic, not only for those of you with high school seniors, but also for those with younger children too. You'd be amazed how quickly this process sneaks up on you, and it seems impossible to be "overprepared" to apply to college.

So many things have changed since I applied to college, including the many technological advances that now exist. So when I ran across this USA Today article this week entitled To friend or not to friend? College admissions in the age of Facebook, it caught my eye immediately. This article deals with the ethical issues that surround college admissions officers' use of social networking sites. Here's an amazing statistic from the article:

While 86% of college students have a Facebook account, according to a 2008 survey by Harvard University's Institute of Politics, only 13% of the 401 admissions officials surveyed this year say their schools have a policy about interacting with students on social networking sites, Olson says. "That's the picture of the changing landscape that we are in right now."

I'm certain that most of you with teens who are online are carefully supervising your kids' use of tools such as Facebook. But it's worth having a discussion today about the types of "friends" your child should be accepting online. We had a personal experience of this during the summer, when Eric received a personal letter from the Dean of Admissions at an Ivy League school. This professional shared all of the usual information about their wonderful college and then invited Eric to be his "friend" on Facebook. Thankfully, I was standing nearby when my son zealously grabbed the letter and headed to the computer. I was able to stop him and have an immediate conversation about the propriety of this use of Facebook. While I'm certain that the college official in question is likely simply using Facebook as another marketing tool, we were able to discuss the importance of Eric's personal profile - both his own postings there and what his friends write on his profile.

It seems that history is now being written about the role of Social Networking profiles in the college admissions process. We've always discussed around our home the need for Eric to have the attitude that his Facebook profile serves in a way as his "online resume". In other words, don't post (or allow the posting of) anything you wouldn't want a potential college or future employer to consider.

For those of you who use Facebook or have teens who are on any social networking site, I'm curious to hear how you handle these issues around your home. How do you regularly monitor your child's online presence? Do you feel it is ethical for colleges and universities to consider information posted online as part of the application process? Please chime in with your thoughts!

Beating the Back to School Budget Slash Blues

On Wednesdays, I share my thoughts on Learning and Professional Development.

My son, a high school senior, has been fighting the budget-cut blues this week. If you live in California, you may be aware of the impact the state's budget crisis has had upon the California State University system. 

Eric happens to attend a very fine charter school at California State University Fresno, where students in their junior and seniors years have access to Fresno State classes.  They are permitted to take two college classes each semester, enabling many of them to accrue quite a few college credits prior to graduation.  This year, however, budget cuts have resulted in drastic slashing of courses offered resulting in quite a lot of schedule wrangling for all of the students impacted.  Today, well into his second week of school, Eric is still working on finalizing his schedule.  College students in the CSU system are facing tuition increases, decreases in services provided (for example, shorter library hours), and amped up student fees.  It's stressful on them, to say the least, and will result in many students missing out on prerequisite courses required for their degrees.

My son is only a high school student, so the impact of this is much less critical than it is on the college students involved.  But I've been trying to work with him this week to see some of the positive skills he's acquired in working through this mess:

• Planning skills - Eric has had to come up with a broad variety of options and plans for the various alternatives that he could face when he walks into a college class and tries to register.
• Research skills - My high school senior is now pretty well versed on the college registration system and its ins and outs.   He has handled the scheduling "mess" independently, with his counselor as an adviser.  This knowledge will serve him well when he heads off to college next year on his own.
• Patience - It's a virtue, right?  In today's "now" society of instant messaging  and real time video alerts, it can be a difficult thing to learn to wait for things to work out properly.
• Diplomacy - Gaining entry into a class when you are wait listed frequently involves speaking with the professor and gaining his approval.  The likelihood of receiving an affirmative response is greatly heightened if you address the professor courteously, yet assertively.  Learning to speak with those in authority is a valuable life skill.
• Gratitude - We don't stop frequently enough in life to count our many blessings.  It can be easy to fall into the trap of complaining about what we don't have rather than embracing and being truly grateful for the things that are going right in our lives.

I'm hoping that Eric comes home today bearing news that his schedule has been worked out.  I'm also hoping that students everywhere who face stress and uncertainty will receive the assistance they need to continue to fruitfully pursue their educations.  Finally, I'm praying for wisdom and guidance for our elected leaders, that they can come to some decisions soon that will minimize the impact of crises such as this one upon families around our state.  In the mean time, Eric and will be dwelling on lessons learned and trying to beat the blues with a positive attitude.

Home-work for Today:

• If  your children have headed back to school, review the syllabuses from their classes and discuss with them their learning goals for this year.

Reading Room Resources:
The Best of the Blogs from this week on the topic of Learning and Professional Development

• 5 Minute Stress Relievers - Taking a Mental Break
• Freshman 15: Coping with the First Year of College
• Back to School: Talk to Your Professor

On the Bookshelf:
The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens

Back to School, Back in Business

You may have noted that things have been quiet here on the blog for the past few months.  Well, I've been playing hookey, enjoying summer vacation with my boys.  As they head back to school today, I'll be back to blogging regularly.  On Wednesdays, I share resources related to Learning and Professional Development.

This morning, for the first time since 1994, I did not drive my kids to the first day of school. These two graciously allowed mom to continue our family tradition of standing in the back yard, holding a sign announcing the date and their grade. Eric decided to “suit up”, announcing his intentions to take this — his senior year — very seriously. Adam, on the other hand, went casual. I think the flip flops and sunglasses were a reaction to not having to wear a school uniform for the first time in nine years.

After the photos and a quick prayer, it was time for me to say goodbye.  I offered, one last time, to drive them – both kindly declined.  Before I knew it, they were off.

This year will hold lots of new and exciting adventures for both of them.  There will be challenging classes, auditions and rehearsals, new friends for Adam and college apps for Eric.  They will face their tests and challenges, and their parents will too.  Today, it’s fun to sit back and ponder all the memories that will be made and the many lessons we will learn along the way.

For those of you sending little ones off to school for the first time or commencing your homeschool career, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

Using Geek Techniques to Prepare for Back to School

Around the country, families are sharpening number two pencils, buying backpacks and getting fresh haircuts for the annual return to school.  With two busy high schoolers in my home, I’ve been examining ways to help get myself and my boys more organized. 

This week, I thought I’d brainstorm a few ideas for using technology and other organizational tools help me get our family’s act together.  Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

• Establish a family calendar at Google Calendar. I have the ability to set up a family calendar and “share” it with my husband Greg and sons Eric and Adam.  Since all of us use Gmail, this calendar will be easily accessible every time we’re online.  Greg and I can also access the family calendar from our iPhones.
• Simplify family finances.  I’m looking for ways to reduce paper in our lives, so I’m paying as many bills as possible with online banking.  Our almost 18 year old Eric now has a student debit card that we can closely monitor during this, his last year at home before heading off to college.  Since our accounts are linked together, I can oversee and help manage Eric’s account from one centralized location.  This will also help him gain budgeting skills prior to departing for college.
• Purchase school supplies online.  I’ve been searching for bargains on some of the many supplies the boys will need this year.  I’ll also be purchasing some used books on Amazon once we receive their syllabi and reading lists from teachers.
• Spice up school lunches.  Teens can be almost as choosy as toddlers, and coming up with creative lunch ideas is tricky for children of any age.  I love the article “Beyond Peanut Butter and Jelly” at Faith & Family Live and the article School Lunches at KidsHealth.org for information on nutrition and safety.
• Get connected.  I’ve added my sons’ school website to my favorites, downloaded the annual calendar, and added the principal, high school counselor and a few selected teachers to my email contacts.  I’m also prepared to closely monitor the boys’ grades and attendance on “Power School” and have set myself a weekly reminder alert to make this a regular routine.  I have configured the system to notify me if the boys are late or tardy, or if their grades drop by a certain percentage. 
• Learn with the Library.  We love our public library system and are frequent users.  With online account access, we can quickly and easily reserve books, renew items we’ve checked out, or research events that are coming up at our local library branches.

My brainstorming list is certainly not complete, but I’m off to a great start towards being more organized this school year.  What tools help you prepare for the school year ahead, whether your children are homeschooled or attend traditional schools?  I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for making the “Back to School” transition a more sane and happier time of the year.

Jet Punk - A Fun Way to Learn Geography

If you're looking for a way to help your child (or yourself) brush up on your geography skills, check out the Jet Punk Geography Quiz site. After spending some time on the site, I see that I have a little studying to do!  What are some of your favorite online sites for helping the kids gain new skills like geography and math during the summer months?

Mythological Matters

Today's guest Learning and Professional Development article is another in our series of excerpts from the great book book i before e (except after c) by author Judy Parkinson.

Mythological Matters

Mnemosyne is the Greek goddess of memory, daughter of Gaia and Uranus. She lay with Zeus for nine nights and gave birth to the nine Muses: Calliope, Euterpe, Clio, Erato, Melpomene, Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania.

Carol Eats Crunchy Eggs, Mashed Potatoes, Then Throws Up.

In classical art, the Muses are represented by emblems, or mnemonic symbols, of which the masks of comedy and tragedy are probably the most familiar.

Name -- Association -- Mnemonic symbol   

Calliope -- Chief of the muses and muse of epic poetry -- writing tablet   
Euterpe -- Muse of music -- flute   
Clio -- Muse of history -- scroll and books   
Erato -- Muse of love poetry -- lyre and crown of roses   
Melpomene -- Muse of tragedy -- tragic mask   
Polyhymnia -- Muse of sacred poetry -- pensive expression   
Terpsichore -- Muse of dance -- dancing with a lyre
Thalia -- Muse of comedy -- comic mask
Urania -- Muse of astronomy --  staff and celestial globe

Memorizing the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Today's guest Learning and Professional Development article is another in our series of excerpts from the great book book i before e (except after c) by author Judy Parkinson.

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The seven wonders of the ancient world were chronicled in the second century B.C., but a list has been discovered in The Histories of Herodotus in the fifth century B.C. The final list of amazing monuments to religion, mythology, and art was compiled in the Middle Ages.

1. Statue of Zeus at Olympia
2. Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria
3. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
4. Pyramids of Egypt
5. Hanging Gardens of Babylon
6. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
7. Colossus of Rhodes

This mnemonic phrase has proved useful in remembering the seven wonders:

Seems Like Mata Hari Picked Her Targets Carefully.

The above is an excerpt from book i before e (except after c) by author Judy Parkinson.  Judy Parkinson is a graduate of Bristol University in England.  She is a producer of documentaries, music videos, and commercials, as well as the recipient of a Clio Award for a Greenpeace Advertisement.  Parkinson has published four books and has contributed to a show of life drawings at the Salon des Arts, Kensington.  She resides in London.

Memorizing the Roman Emperors

Today's guest Learning and Professional Development article is another in our series of excerpts from the great book book i before e (except after c) by author Judy Parkinson.

Memorizing the Roman Emperors

After Julius Caesar, the Roman general and statesman who became dictator of the Roman Empire before his assassination in 44 BC, the first five emperors of Rome were all Caesars. The first emperor was Julius Caesar's adopted son (and great-nephew), Augustus, who handed down the title to his son-in-law Tiberius. From Augustus to Nero, Caesar's descendants, by adoption, marriage, or birth, all inherited the family name:

Augustus (31 BC-AD 14)
Tiberius (AD 14-37)
Caligula (AD 37-41)
Claudius (AD 41-54)
Nero (AD 54-68)

Here's a phrase to help remember the names by which they were most commonly known:

Another Tom Cat Caught Napping.

The next six Roman emperors after Nero are Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian:

At The Cat Club Never Give Out Violent Vermin To Dogs

The above is an excerpt from book i before e (except after c) by author Judy Parkinson.  Judy Parkinson is a graduate of Bristol University in England.  She is a producer of documentaries, music videos, and commercials, as well as the recipient of a Clio Award for a Greenpeace Advertisement.  Parkinson has published four books and has contributed to a show of life drawings at the Salon des Arts, Kensington.  She resides in London.

Parent-Teacher Conferences, A Time to Celebrate Strengths

Today's guest Family Life article was written by Jenifer Fox, author of Your Child's Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them.

It is parent-teacher conference time and you arranged your schedule three months in advance to attend. If you are like most parents, you feel a certain amount of anxiety around this event. You attend hoping there won't be any surprises and that you won't discover that your child is experiencing any difficulties. Unfortunately, most parent-teacher conferences focus on grades rather than children, with the primary goal of addressing a child's area of weakness. Few parents go to conferences with the main goal of discovering where and how their children excel. I know, I was a teacher for ten years and the parents of the students who were getting A's in my class rarely attended conferences, or if they came, they usually breezed by my table, winked and whispered, "Keep up the good work."

Parent-teacher conferences become an occasion to look forward to when they are viewed as prime opportunities to talk with teachers about your child's strengths. What exactly are strengths? Strength are the activities that energize and excite your child when he is doing them. This is as opposed to his weaknesses, the activities that leave him feeling depleted. There are three kinds of strengths: Activity Strengths (the things you do that energize you), Relationship Strength (the things you do with and for others that make you feel energized and proud) and Learning Strengths (the ways that learning makes the most sense to you). All of these strengths are discoverable land your child can develop them to find success.

The conversation about changing our minds, our schools, and our nation to a paradigm that focuses on strengths begins with parents and teachers. Parents, teachers, and students can begin to form a strength alliance between the home and the school. If you are a parent and use this book at home, share it with your school. Likewise, if you are a teacher and practice these exercises and philosophies with your students, waste no time in sharing them with your students' parents. Here are some exercises to help advance the strength alliance.

• Draft a one-page letter to your child's teacher if you are a parent, to a child's parent if you are a teacher, or to both your teacher and your parent if you are a student. In the letter, describe the Learning Strengths of the child in question in as much detail as you can. Include how he -- or you, if you're the student -- likes to learn, what things he enjoys doing most, what type of environment works best for him, and what he finds difficult. Share this letter with the person for whom you wrote it. If you are a parent, bring the letter to parent-teacher conferences.
• Read the following case study and answer the accompanying questions:

Yolanda's Day in School: Yolanda is a focused student. She takes everything she does in class very seriously and listens very well to the teacher. She does not like to participate in group activities, and she does not raise her hand much or contribute to class discussions unless the teacher calls on her. Although she completes all her assignments, sometimes her work is not correct. At recess, Yolanda likes to sit in the shade and read. She has a few friends that sit with her, but she does not like to join in the large group activities on the playground.

Given what you know about Learning Strengths, create a learning profile of Yolanda. Ask a teacher or another parent to do the same, and then compare your decisions and insights.

The above is adapted from the book Your Child's Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them by Jenifer Fox. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.  Copyright © 2009 Jenifer Fox, author of Your Child's Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them.