DRUG PROBLEM

I came across a copy of this article in my files the other day.  After rereading it, I decided to share it with you because it seems to me to have a powerful message.  I would love to credit the author, but it was written anonymously.

“The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, ‘Why didn’t we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?’

I replied I had a drug problem when I was young; I was drug to church on Sunday morning.   I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.  I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.  I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profanity.  I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad’s fields.  I was drug to the homes of family, friends and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood, and, if my mothers had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think.  They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

God bless the parents who drugged us.”

 I could not have said it better myself.  Thanks for all you do to “drug” your children.

Linked to:  Dining With Debbie

BREAKFAST MUFFINS

I came across this really good muffin recipe for oatmeal blueberry muffins that are a great way to start your day.  They are tasty AND nutritious and middle schoolers should be able to make them without any real difficulty.  I want to thank Smells Like Home blog for sharing these.  Click on the picture to follow the link to the recipe.

Parent Conferences are October 26, 1 – 7 p.m.  If you can attend earlier in the day, please do so.  The time between 5 and 7 is usually very busy so I do not have much time to visit at length. 

Thanks!

TIPS FOR PARENTING THE BEST STUDENTS and Ham and Cheese Muffins

I came across a newspaper article the other day written by family psychologist, John Rosemond.  It was actually a reprint of an article that was first written about ten years ago,  Apparently, he had received numerous requests from teachers to publish it again, and so he complied.

His advice, I believe, is right on the money.  This is my 28th year of teaching so I have some insight and “expertise” with this subject.

What he says, and I fully agree, is that the “best students” are not necessarily those who make the best grades.  Rather, the best students are those who come to school prepared to do their best, to accept and fulfill their assignments, and to pay attention to what is being taught.

I would be interested in what you have to say about his tips.  I am reprinting the article almost verbatim in order to make sure that I present it to you as he intended.

1.  Make it clear to your child that disobedience is not an option.  I love this quote:  “Good behavior begins at home, not at school, and not  even the best teacher can discipline a child who is not respectful of adult authority.”   Further, he says to make the rules of proper behavior clear to your child.  When the rules are broken enforce with a firm, even hand.  New research finds that a child’s level of self-control is positively associated with school achievement.

Growing up, I always knew that if I got in trouble at school, I would be in far more trouble at home.  My parents taught me to respect adults, especially my teachers, and I never thought it alright not to do so.  I remember only one time my dad going to a teacher about me.  Then it was not to question the grade I had been given but to see how he could help me at home.  My parents listened to me complain, I am sure.  But never, I repeat never, did they not support the teacher.

2.  Assign your child a fair share of day-to -day housework.    Teachers have told Rosemond that the best students are usually those who have daily chores at home.  He says that it makes sense that a child who comes to school already accustomed to accepting adult assignments will have fewer problems accepting assignments from teachers.  The more responsible a child is at home, the more responsibility he/she will demonstrate in school.  (Notice that he said a “fair share,” not to be confused with slave labor.)

I appreciate that Perfect Daughter and Perfect SIL are already giving my perfect grandchildren a certain number of responsibilities at home.  They pick up their toys.  They often set their table.  They think putting dishes in the dishwasher is fun!  Perfect Boy is four; Perfect Girl is two.

From what I have read about the Northwest Arkansas Duggar Family with their 18, soon to be 19, children, they instill this sense of task commitment early.  It’s obvious that each child has a responsibility within the family and is fully expected to carry that out.  (You can find out more about them at Discovery.com or TLC.)

3.  Limit electronic entertainment to nonschool days and even then allow no more than five total hours per week. Rosemond remarks that research shows that screen time of any sort decreases attention span.  Learning from a real-life, flesh-and-blood teacher requires being ready to answer questions, memorizing, conducting independent inquiry, transferring what you’ve learned to paper, listening to the teacher’s feedback concerning your work and correcting your mistakes.  As for television alone, a researcher once found that truly gifted children tended to watch  no more than 5 hours of television per week.  The national average is 25 hours per week per child.   IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE AVERAGE, LET HIM WATCH A LOT OF TELEVISION.  (Read that again, please.)

Teaching is sometimes viewed as another form of entertainment.  My students probably think I’m mean because I don’t try to entertain them.  Sure, we will play a game on occasion IF it adds to the learning.  But sorry guys, we aren’t High School Musical – The Middle School Version.  We are about real life.  Note to Students: Your schoolwork is your job.  I would like for you to think that if you don’t do it, don’t participate, you won’t get paid. 

4.  Be interested in what and how your child is doing in school, but take care not to do his work for him.  THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT. (Read that again, please.)  The interested parent says to the child, in effect, “I am concerned about your education, but it is ultimately your responsibility.”  The involved parent says, “ Your education is my responsibility.”  Unfortunately, too many well-intentioned parents have unwittingly accepted or appropriated responsibility for their children’s school work.  The result of this parental benevolence is a child who has difficulty taking the proverbial bull by the horns.  New research supports this low-involvement parenting model.

One of the most frustrating things I deal with as a teacher is when a parent takes on too much responsibility for the child’s work.  For the most part, I can tell the difference in papers written by seventh graders and those written by their parents.  Yes, it is okay to assist.  Yes, it is okay to encourage.  Yes, it is okay to offer suggestions.  But no, it is not okay to do it for them.  But you already know that.

Oh, and if your child forgets his project and leaves it at home, it probably is okay to fetch it for him the first time.  After that, I think he should know that it won’t do any good to call.  Do him a favor, allow him to learn the  consequences for his lack of responsibility.

5.  If your child’s teacher reports a problem, give the teacher---not your child---the benefit of the doubt.  As a rule, teachers are more committed to determining the welfare of children than any other class of professional.  When a teacher says your child has a problem --- academic or behavioral --- it is with your child’s best interest in  mind.  Curb the tendency to become defensive and listen with an open mind and an open heart.  You may learn something that will help you become  a better parent.

Several years ago my teaching partner  at the time (Dian) and I began requesting of parents that they write a letter to us about their child.  We asked them to tell us in a “million words or less” what made their child special.  We didn’t want grades or test scores, but rather what would they have us know about their son or daughter that we might not otherwise discover.  I have to tell you that those letters are just wonderful.  Also, I must admit that I often began to view a student in a different light after I read what was written about him.  A big regret is that not every parent takes the time to write that letter.  What a loss.  Those who do, tell me that it is a privilege.  Often they will remark that it is the first time in a long time that they have really given time and thought to  how special their child really is.  (So, if you are one of those parents who hasn’t gotten around to writing that letter, I would still love to read yours.)

Okay.  Here’s your homework.  What tips would you add to Rosemond’s? What do you do as a parent to ensure that your child has the opportunity to be the best student and person he or she can be?

An idea for breakfast:

I think breakfast is probably an overlooked meal in our harried pace.  From a teacher’s standpoint, I know the value of a good breakfast for my students.  All too often I see them with large containers of soda, chips, cookies, and even the very large size of whatever their “flavor” coffee is.  The immediate effect of that is a sugar high that only lasts a short time.

Since Hubby is our breakfast cook, I try to have things either made up or on hand that are simple for him to prepare.   This is one of those great tasting, filling muffins that works great for that.  I freeze them after baking so they are readily available. 

HAM AND CHEESE MUFFINS

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups all-purpose baking mix such as Bisquick
2 cups (8-ounces) shredded Swiss or Cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 large egg
1 cup finely chopped cooked ham
poppy seeds (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and saute until tender, 3-5 minutes.  Combine baking mix and half of cheese in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.  Whisk together milk, Dijon mustard and egg; add to cheese mixture, stirring just until moistened.  Stir in onion and ham.  Spoon into lightly greased muffin pans, filling two-thirds full.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese and poppy seeds, if desired.

Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden.  Let stand 2 to 3 minutes before removing from pans.  (from Southern Living)

 

Here’s your second homework assignment: what quick, healthy and easy ideas can you share for those early school-day breakfasts?

I can’t wait to hear what you have to say.  Share your comments or, even better, link up your post on either of these subjects with Mister Linky below.

Reposted at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com

Linked to:
Foodie Friday hosted by Gollum

Check out her cute idea for Fall cookies:) 

VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR

It's time to vote for the Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year. This award is sponsored by the Arkansas Municipal League, the Governor's Office, adn the SHS Division of Volunteerism. It honors 12 communities that demonstrate Outstanding Volunteerism. I would like to nominate our community. The people of Benton are amazing in what they do for our area. Our youth benefit. Out senior adults benefit. Our schools benefit. Our....you name it. Without our volunteers, many services would go lacking. If you believe as I do that our community deserves this award, go to http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/adov and look for the link to 2009 Volunteer Community of the Year Awards. The deadline is September 30. Go now and nominate our community for this award.

Grammar of Doom!

Grammar of Doom!

This is a fun site to practice grammar usage.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.  If you come across any recommendations for other sites, let me know about them.

There are several links available to you on Edline that will provide extra practice for you.  Sign in to your Edline account and look through the list.

 

 

REACH OUT AND READ ARKANSAS

Reach Out and Read Arkansas (LINK TO PICTURE)

Reach Out and Read Arkansas is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of early literacy intervention and the critical role it plays in a child’s development.

AMERICA AS 100 PEOPLE

America as 100 people: 'Village' concept used to teach

By Greg Toppo, USA TODAY

Nearly 22 years ago, David J. Smith, a middle-school social studies teacher in Cambridge, Mass., had a brief conversation that would change his life.

A student came to him with a simple question: Would it be smarter to take French or Spanish in seventh grade?

Smith said both were important languages, so the student asked, "If our classroom were the world, how many people would speak English, how many would speak French and how many would speak Spanish?"

It was a revelation: What if teachers, Smith thought, could help children understand the world by reducing it to a small group of people? Kids may not be able to wrap their minds around a number like 5 billion, but they can understand 100.

It was an appealing way of helping kids understand not only an abstract idea like a percentage, but, more important, how people live — what they do, what they own, how they worship.

He had long been developing an innovative geography curriculum called Mapping the World By Heart, which teaches students over the course of a school year to create a complete world map from memory. But the conversation took him in a new direction. He spent the next decade trying to craft the "100-people" idea into a book.

Two publishers liked it but neither could find an illustrator to match the material. Finally, in 2002, Kids Can Press, a small Canadian publisher, found the right illustrator, and If the World Were a Village appeared.

It was a huge success, with half a million copies sold. Schools nationwide have built entire geography units around it, and teachers in two schools have written original musicals, with 100 students shuffling across stage to represent villagers.

All of which delights Smith, now 65 and retired: "It's the most rewarding work I've ever done."

Now he has written a follow-up: If America Were a Village ($18.95, Kids Can Press), which reduces the USA to the same-size 100-person village.

In it we learn that 50 of 100 live in just nine states (12 of them in California). The combined populations of five rural states — Alaska, Vermont, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota — amount to just one person. (Each "person" equals more than 3 million people.)

It also tackles economic inequality, noting that:

•Five people share more than half the USA's wealth;

•One person controls more than 30%;

•The 60 poorest share about 4%.

The poverty figures, Smith notes, are actually rising, and like other stats will likely be updated in the next edition. "A lot of people are really shocked by the fact that 'people living in poverty in the U.S.' is increasing."

As for the student, his name is Kelefa Sanneh, and he ended up taking French. He became a journalist and now works as a staff writer for The New Yorker. He has fond memories of Mr. Smith, but absolutely no memory of the seminal conversation.

LUNCHBOX 101: a guest post by Katie

I recently read a piece written by Katie on her blog Kitchen Stewardship that made a lot of sense to me.  She has graciously agreed to guest host this post here.   As a teacher, I see so much waste especially in our school cafeteria.  We make an effort to effectively change that all of the time, but it seems to me that for every step forward we take the proverbial two backwards.  Anyway, I thought you might be interested in Katie’s ideas.  I would love to hear what you have to say as well.  How do you cut down on the waste when you are packing your kids’ lunches?  Do you have ideas for recycling that could be  implemented at our school?  Let’s hear from you!

From Katie:

It’s written into our genes when the Creator makes us “Mommy”, I think, to be wildly passionate about taking care of our kids. Katie’s blog at Kitchen Stewardship seeks to help you do just that, while balancing their nutrition on top of a world that also needs care and a budget that isn’t getting any looser.

Disposable World

School cafeterias are breeding grounds for garbage, from brown bags to yogurt cups, orange peels to sandwiches with only one bite missing. I’ve always had a problem with waste. Way back in sixth grade, a friend and I actually stood by the garbage cans in our elementary cafeteria and directed all the students to sort out their lunchtime waste: milk in a bucket, food in the first can and other garbage in the next. We weighed it all and measured the volume of milk and published our results in the school newspaper. (Yes, thank you, I was nerd. But at least I didn’t have to go outside in the snow for recess for a week! I was weighing garbage…)

Times haven’t changed much, and if anything, we probably create more waste as a society now than when I was a pre-teen. That’s one of the reasons I encouraged you last week to set a policy for your own kids:

If it’s in your lunch, and it doesn’t get eaten, it comes home.

Then you get to decide what is worthy of the trash and what is a leftover instead.

Beyond food waste, a packed lunch demands convenience, single-servings and portable food. This often translates into packaging waste to the nth degree.

Also check Katie’s Healthy School Lunch Packing List (http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/08/18/packing-a-lunch-healthy-food-to-go/)

to learn which of these foods are on the “healthy” list and which are on the “compromise/sometimes foods” list.

Ways to Reduce your Lunchbox Packaging Waste

• Make your own or buy the “big” size and portion into smaller travel sizes (granola bars, pretzels, Goldfish, yogurt, applesauce, etc.)
• When you use plastic baggies for dry snacks like pretzels or granola bars, ask the child to bring them home and simply refill them with the same or similar item for the next day.
  Time Saver: The child doesn’t have to take a trip to the trash can at lunch because everything is probably supposed to come home, anyway! You can avoid getting new bags out every day, too, because they’re already right there.
  Added Bonus: This saves pennies, too.
• For “wet” items like carrots or apple slices, you can just put the empty baggie into the fridge until lunch-packing time and use it again at least once, if not twice. (I do this all the time with plastic bags in my fridge!)
• Use glass storage containers for fruit, yogurt, etc. If your school has a policy against glass containers, use number 5 plastic. It’s still better than throwing away a yogurt or applesauce cup every day. (Click over to see a good mnemonic for remembering which plastics are safe.)
• If your child is responsible enough, use a real utensil instead of a plastic one. Or just ask for the plastics to be brought home and wash those!
• Avoid single serving drinks; use a water bottle like the Klean Kanteen or a BPA-free plastic version.
  • Warning: Watch out for aluminum water bottles! I wish I were kidding, but somehow someone decided to capitalize on the fact that people are out looking for safe, metal alternatives to plastic and market an inexpensive metal water bottle, even though the health risks of aluminum are equal to those of plastic! Sheesh. I saw an aluminum water bottle in our Target ad for $5 this week. Don’t buy them!
• If you must use single serving dealies, check Terracycle to see if you can utilize your trash and “upcycle” it.

The Sandwich Storage Solution

Sandwiches go in one-time-use sandwich baggies, right? Here are a slew of greener options for that indispensable lunchtime staple:

• The easy one: reuse the sandwich bags as many times as they’ll last. I’m not a big fan of actually washing and drying sandwich bags. They’re so thin, and it probably uses more water to wash them than to create a new one. Just reuse for the same kind of sandwich the next day.
  Anecdote: I remember being proud of one family at my school for reusing their sandwich bags before “being green” was even very popular. I had a child with a peanut allergy in class, and PBJ sandwiches were strongly discouraged. One student told me she had to sit at the “peanut table” one day because there was some peanut butter residue from a sibling’s lunch in her sandwich bag (with her lunchmeat sandwich in it). I remain impressed by her close attention and conscientiousness in keeping her classmate safe, and by the family’s obvious choice to avoid waste and be frugal.
• Avoid plastic by purchasing waxed paper sandwich bags. These can be reused a few times as well. You can even use waxed paper to wrap a sandwich up, as long as the child knows not to let it fall out of the wrappings.
• Wrap a sandwich in a cloth napkin or bandana. Both can be used as a napkin or a placemat when the child gets to school.
• Use a plastic box with a lid instead of a bag. (Reuse this without washing if it’s just a PB sandwich, too!)
  Added bonus: No more squashed sandwiches!
• Items you can purchase:
  • Wrap-n-mat http://www.reusablebags.com/store/wrapnmat-p-2.html ($6.95 each) (made by mom of 4, put waxed paper inside if you don’t want plastic touching your food)
  • Lunch skins – reusable cloth bags that can even be thrown in the dishwasher ($8.95 each) http://shop.3greenmoms.com/product.sc?categoryId=1&productId=1

Browse http://www.reusablebags.com/ for so many neat products, from reusable sandwich bags to muslin baggies for snacks to “bento” lunch boxes with all the compartments ready for food, as well as water bottles, sippys and more.

Be aware of one more new marketing hoax: lunchboxes with microban, an antibacterial agent not proven to do anything but play into parents’ germaphobic fears and sell products. See The Smart Mama’s post on the subject for more. http://www.thesmartmama.com/bg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=279&Itemid=23

What have I missed? Do you see waste at your children’s school that you wish could be avoided?

Next week: A super-easy, effective incentive for helping kids be responsible for their own after-school routine

Author bio: Katie is a former teacher and a mommy of two little ones from West Michigan. Her blog, Kitchen Stewardship (www.kitchenstewardship.com), is dedicated to encouraging baby steps toward taking care of our earth, family’s nutrition, budget and time management through the eyes of faith.  The opinions and product recommendations expressed in this article are hers.

• Please activate your Edline account if you have not already done so.
• Tutoring will begin soon.  Let me know if you are interested in your child participating.
• I want to feature your ideas for fun, creative and delicious lunch box ideas.  Please send them to me at my school email address: darnold@bentonschools.org.  Or, post them as a comment to this. 

Thanks.

DID YOU KNOW?

We are now at a point where we must educate our children in what no one knew yesterday and prepare our schools for what no one knows yet.  Margaret Mead

Just some food for thought.  Have a wonderful 7th grade year. 

Welcome!

Welcome to the Seventh Grade and the Discovery Team at Benton Middle School.   Mrs.Pierce and I are so glad that we will be working with you this year.  Sign up to be a follower (you do not have to have a URL)  and post your comments and questions.  If you Twitter, you can follow me there as well. 

Activate your Edline account.  You may need to access this at school. 

Have a great year.  Stay in touch.