Read 2 Earn

This post is for busy teachers who want to earn extra credits to boost their pay scale.  Corwin Publishers, which has my Feng Shui for the Classroom and Helping Kids Help, has partnered with California Lutheran University, an NCATE-accredited institution, to offer teachers one unit of graduate course credit for reading any Corwin book and completing a series of three course assignments.

What great news!  Just for reading my books and completing associated assignments, you can earn one credit for each book.  It's not as easy as it sounds because each book costs $199 for this arrangement, and you must complete the assignments within three months of enrollment.  Still not a bad deal!

This is what you can expect for assignments when you enroll:
Synopsis (2‐3 pages)
Give a detailed description of the book, including the author’s thesis and intended purpose. Comment upon the structure of the book and if that structure helps or hinders the authors intentions. Share your perception concerning what the book does and does not do and evaluate its effectiveness in meeting its stated goals. How does this book support your professional learning goals and/or professional background?
Reflection (3‐5 pages)
Identify the author’s overarching themes and opine on the extent that the book adds new insights or knowledge to the professional development topic under study. What “take aways” can you glean from this book to impact your own professional practice? Which of the ideas of the author are open to challenge, underdeveloped, or too simplistic in your opinion?
Theory to Practice (3‐5 pages)
In what ways are the ideas of the author already embedded in professional practice? What ideas need systemic support before they can be implemented? Address the ways in which the ideas of the author are in competition with other and different ideas in terms of the impact on professional practice. What obstacles currently exist which could prevent the ideas of the author from taking root? How could such obstacles be addressed? What groups of professional educators would benefit from reading this book and why?

This arrangement gives busy educators who need graduate credit to take the next step in their careers the opportunity to earn credit at their own pace through independent study. Simply select a Corwin book (my books would be a great place to start!), register for credit at www.corwin.com/read2earn, read the book, and complete three writing assignments within three months.

If I were still in teaching and needed to boost my credits to the next payscale, I'd jump at this chance to earn the credits.  Corwin Press has some amazingly interesting books, in addition to my own :-)  Looks like summer reading to me!

Happy Teaching!

What kids want from busy parents

All too often, parents become busy with work, carpools, housework, yard work, and any other activities that separate them from quality time with their children.  So, thanks to my friends at www.nannyjobs.org, they have identified ten things that kids really want from their busy parents. My additional comments are in red.

Juggling a hectic schedule with the demands of parenthood can be challenging in itself; deciphering the unspoken needs and desires of your children can be even more difficult. These ten things are the most commonly sought-after desires among children of busy parents.

1. Affection – Children crave affection from all of the trusted adults in their lives, but they especially want to feel it from their parents. If you spend a significant portion of your child’s day away from home, try to make up for it with plenty of affection during the time you do have together. What kind of affection?  That could be a peck on the cheek, a pat on the head, or an arm around the shoulder.  Touch is a powerful indication of affection.
2. Acknowledgment of Accomplishments – When you acknowledge the accomplishments and milestones in your child’s life, especially if you weren’t present for them, it shows that you’re thinking of them when you’re away and are proud of the things they’ve done. Consider making an album of accomplishments.  When a new milestone comes along, add a photograph, drawn picture, or verbal depiction of the event.  Then every so often, go back and review previous successes.  Many parents only go back to revisit previous failures.
3. To Feel That Their Parents Are Interested in Their Lives – Missing out on the largest part of your child’s day-to-day life can lead them to believe that you aren’t interested in the things that are important to them. Even if you have to quiz the nanny (or babysitter!) about the big parts of the day, your child needs to know that you’re interested in their life. Try to use open-ended questions like, "What did you do when you went out for a walk?"  Those kinds of questions are better than the ones that require one-word answers.
4. One-On-One Time – For working parents with more than one child, making time for some one-on-one time with each child can be an almost insurmountable task, but it’s one of the things that they need most. Finding a time when you can connect with each child individually should be a priority, even though it’s difficult to accomplish. Set a schedule and stick with it, so your child knows when his or her time will come for that special one-on-one activity.
5. Whole-Family Interaction – While kids want to spend time alone with their parents, they also need to interact with their family unit as a whole. Spending time together will not only fulfill their needs and help to smooth the friction of sibling rivalry; it will also provide you all with invaluable memories. When my kids were little, I made sure we had Sunday dinner in the dining room.  To this day, my girls remember those special dinners :-)
6. To Feel That They Are Important – Kids may understand intellectually that their parents work hard in order to provide for them, they can still feel like they’re consistently taking a backseat to the “more important” task of working. Letting your child know that you miss them, and that they’re the most important things in your life can soothe these pangs before they become full-blown resentment. This is easier said than done - literally!  Simply observe what your child is doing without judging, either positively or negatively:  "I see your teacher says you finished all your homework every day this month."  This is different from "I like that you did your homework every day this month."  The latter places the approval extrinsically from the parent; the former places it intrinsitically within the child.
7. Attendance at Events – Over-scheduled kids can have more events than a stay-at-home parent could attend, but there are major events that children are devastated for their parents to miss. An annual recital or championship game might cause a scheduling snarl, but it will make your child’s day to see you there, cheering them on. You may not think this particularly important, but your kids watch to see if you're there with the other parents.  I remember one of  my daughters' friends express regret that his father never made it to any of his ball games or practices, as we sat there watching my girls play softball. :-(
8. For You to Be Less Stressed – When a New York childcare worker polled children for an upcoming book, she asked them what they most wanted from their parents. Instead of the predicted “more time,” the majority of kids simply answered that they wished their parents were less stressed over work and money. Like dogs, children can sense a person's stress.  When parents are stressed, they yell more, rush around more, and generally make the home an uncomfortable place in which to live.  How do you avoid stress?  By rethinking your priorities, taking time for more sleep and relaxation activities, and remembering that your kids are more important than any schedule!
9. To Be Listened To – Knowing your time with a child is limited for the day can create the temptation to force all of your parenting lessons in during the course of a conversation, but what most children truly need is to be listened to, without criticism or correction. Listening is a lost art.  Most parents hear their children, but they sometimes don't truly hear what they are saying or the message behind the words. 
10. Your Presence – Even if they’re sleeping or playing in another room, it’s comforting for your children to know that you’re home and accessible, should they need you. Simply being present satisfies one of your child’s strongest emotional needs. That says it all!

No matter how busy you are, you can always make time for your kids. They don’t always need quantity, but they do need quality. Make sure the time you spend with them is enjoyable and productive for you both.

Happy Parenting!

Don't post your kids' names on a billboard!

While most people won't advertise their children's names with their pictures on a roadside billboard, you might be surprised at some of the places where you shouldn't yell your child's name for their safety.  The information below comes from my friends at www.nannybackgroundcheck.com.  But first, my own comment on writing your child's name on the outside of their clothing, backpack, etc.  Children usually know not to go anywhere with strangers, however, if a stranger calls your child by his or her first name, that stranger immediately becomes a friend.  So, if you're tempted to get the cute backpack with Amy on the front, resist the urge, get the plain vanilla backpack (after all, it's less expensive), and write her name on the inside. 

Statistics show that every 40 seconds a child goes missing. Think about that. In the time that it takes you to read this article several children will have gone missing. Fortunately many of these children are found within hours. However, 260,000 children fall victim to abductions each year. Only 1.4 % of all abductions are stranger abductions and 76% of those occur within a quarter mile from home. Those that do happen tend to occur outside the home are perpetrated by people that know the child’s name; that’s how they get them. Check out ten places we shouldn’t mention our kids’ names.

1. Youth athletic events: Kids are involved in many different kinds of sporting activities now and as a family you probably spend many a weekend at tournaments and games. It’s only natural to yell out your child’s name during a game, but predators can be around and they will take note of your child’s name and jersey number. They will note what team they play for and may show up at practice. You don’t want to give them any information to use.
2. Professional sporting events: Sporting events for professional or semi-professional teams are held at very large arenas or stadiums. There are tens of thousands of people there. If a predator hears you call your child by name or shout out to them if they are walking too far in front of you or behind you. Then they have personal information that they can use when they follow your child into the restroom. Things can happen.
3. The mall: The mall is a kid magnet. They meet their friends there and hang out, but they tend to get into trouble there too. That’s why predators hang out at malls. Hoping to get a kid alone. If you call out to your child in the mall everyone now knows what your child’s name is and can use that information to get cozy with your child.
4. Facebook: While different than a physical place, a lot of people are on Facebook and can put together your information and your child’s information. If you have pictures of where you hang out or events that your child has been in then it’s possible for a predator to put all of that information together and figure out where your child goes to school and how old they are and what their name is. It’s just as important for you to be safe with your child’s information online as it is for them to be.
5. Amusement parks: Where do a lot of kids go? Amusement parks. If you call out for your child or yell your child’s name there may be undesirable people listening. Predators hang out where there are children. They will watch and listen for any advantage. Maybe you let your child ride a ride by themselves because you didn’t want to go. Now that predator can meet them at the end and call them by name. Give them some story about being a friend of their parents.
6. Grocery store: Kids tend to misbehave in grocery stores for some reason. Maybe it’s because they want something that they aren’t going to get or maybe they are just bored. Whatever the reason is this is a really common place to hear a parent yelling at their child. Most times the child’s full name including middle name is often sternly expressed at the child. Now any stranger listening knows your child’s full name and where you grocery shop. Maybe they will go back there every day and watch to see when you shop there. They might be able to lure the kid away from you and then snatch them.
7. Restaurants: Diners are another really common place for families to go. Kids get bored and mom and dad may call out their name. Now anyone within hearing distance knows your child’s name.
8. Big Discount store: There’s something about big discount stores and the toy aisle that attracts kids. Adults may loiter in the toy aisle hoping to strike up a conversation with a child. Maybe they will ask them what toy they would suggest for the stranger’s niece. If the stranger knows their name because mom or dad has mentioned it earlier then they can get that much closer to them.
9. Park: A large percentage of stranger abductions take place in parks or nearby wooded areas. Many parents will call their children by name to warn them about being careful or to stop throwing sand or whatever it is. Predators will hang out at parks in order to learn this information.
10. Sports practice: Many parents will go to their child’s practice and call out to them to pay attention or try harder. If you use their name anyone standing around listening will now know a little information about your child. What team they play for, maybe what school they go to and now they know their name. Maybe a nickname would be better.

No matter what activities your child is involved in or where you go as a family, keep an eye out for predators and don’t let your children go anywhere without adequate supervision. You can even set up a code word so that kids can know if someone is really giving them a message from you. Finally, please do not put up window decals on your vehicle with the names of everyone in the family (even consider whether or not you should put up an elementary school, junior high school, or other school mascot or logo). All these things can help keep your children safe.

Finally, one more comment from me... When your children go on class tips, the natural tendency is to place a name tag on them so they can find their way back to the group if they get lost.  I think that's the WORST thing you can do.  Not only is the child in jeopardy because he became separated from the group, but now he has a neon sign hanging around his neck attracting the nearest predator to call him by name to "bring him back" to his leader.  What to do instead?  Simply give all the kids the same label that is only a color or a symbol.  Then, when he gets lost, have someone look for the little boy with the blue shirt and blond hair wearing a white pawprint sign.  So much safer. And remind your child to not discuss the meaning of the pawprint sign with anyone!

Happy Parenting!