Here are some interesting articles and videos
TED: Three things I learned while my plane crashed
Ric Elias had a front-row seat on Flight 1549, the plane that crash-landed in the Hudson River in New York in January 2009. What went through his mind as the doomed plane went down? At TED, he tells his story publicly for the first time.
Parent Toolkit (NBC)
This toolkit was created by NBC News Education Nation. It will help you navigate your child’s journey from pre-kindergarten through high school. It is designed to help you track and support progress at each stage. Click to access the toolkit.
The mysterious workings of the adolescent brain
Why do teenagers seem so much more impulsive, so much less self-aware than grown-ups? Cognitive neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to that of adults, to show us how typically "teenage" behavior is caused by the growing and developing brain.
Common Sense MediaCommon Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology. They provide reviews on: movies, games, apps, websites, TV, books, and music. They also provide Digital Citizenship curriculum for schools.
Dr. Medina on ExerciseJill and Evelyn went to the ISTE conference this summer where they heard Dr. Medina speak. He's an author and developmental molecular biologist who wrote the New York Times bestseller Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School. Here's a video we thought you'd find interesting where he talks about how exercise boosts brain power:
Brain Rule #1 - Exercise from Pear Press on Vimeo. |
How to give your child an academic advantage infographics
Click here to see an infographic on 10 ways to give your child an academic advantage.
The Economist's Guide to Parenting (Freakonomics)
I know what you’re thinking when you read the title of this podcast. You’re thinking what the **** — economists? What can economists possibly have to say about something as emotional, as nuanced, as humane, as parenting? Well, let me say this: because economists aren’t necessarily emotional (or, for that matter, all that nuanced or humane), maybe they’re exactly the people we need to sort this through. Maybe. Click here to hear the podcast.
Beyond Grades and Trophies, Teaching Kids the Definition of SuccessBy Amanda Stupi - In her new book Teach Your Children Well: Parenting for Authentic Success, psychologist and author Madeline Levine exposes the pitfalls of over-parenting, and argues for a new definition of success and achievement.
Levine uses the term “authentic success” to differentiate success as it is traditionally viewed: titles, money, good grades, and prestigious schools. In the forward to her book, Levine writes that parents also need to encourage kids to “know and appreciate themselves deeply; to approach the world with zest; to find work that is exciting and satisfying, friends and spouses who are loving and loyal; and to hold a deep belief that they have something meaningful to contribute to society.” Click here to read the article. How to find the right high school
10 key questions for high schools
Click on the image to read the full story.
1) Do you produce high school and college graduates?2) Will you fully prepare my child for college? 3) Do you offer AP or honors courses? 4) Does the school meet my child's basic needs? 5) What support will you offer my child? 6) Is there help with the college application process? 7) How many hours of daily homework?8) What electives, sports, and service opportunities are available? 9) Will my child be safe here? 10) Who will my child be socializing with, and how? Coaching Kids to Focus on Focus
Here's an excerpt from an Wall Street Journal Article titled "Learning How to Focus on Focus - In an age of information overload, simply paying attention is the hardest thing" by Jonah Lehrer from September 3, 2011:
"...Children who could better regulate their impulses and attention were four times less likely to have a criminal record, three times less likely to be addicted to drugs and half as likely to become single parents. In many instances, the ability to utilize executive control was more predictive of adult outcomes than either IQ scores or socioeconomic status. But here's the good news: Executive function can be significantly improved, especially if interventions begin at an early age. In the current issue of Science, Adele Diamond, a neuroscientist at the University of British Columbia, reviews the activities that can reliably boost these essential mental skills. The list is surprisingly varied, revolving around activities that are both engaging and challenging, such as computer exercises involving short-term memory, tae-kwon-do, yoga and difficult board games. Dr. Diamond also notes that certain school curricula, such as Montessori and Tools for the Mind, have also been shown to consistently increase executive function. Yet, despite this impressive evidence, most schools do virtually nothing to develop executive function. Even worse, education departments are slashing the very activities, such as physical exercise and the arts, that boost executive function among the broadest range of students..." 10 Free Lectures by “The Great Courses”
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