Overscheduled Children: How Big a Problem?

Published: October 11, 2013

“Spend time with no goal in mind,” he said. “That will communicate to your child that you love them. And if a child feels loved, life can present them with hardships, but these setbacks will never defeat them.”

The antidote to that problem, he said, is to make sure children have enough time with no activities, parents have enough time with no work and the two sides come together to create activities of their own.

Suniya Luthar, a psychology professor at Columbia, has done extensive studies on the role of extracurricular activities in children’s lives. She stressed that the number of activities is not the problem.

“It’s good for kids to be scheduled,” she said. “It’s good for them to have musical activities, sports or other things organized and supervised by an adult.”

Her research has shown that advantages include having well-rounded experiences outside of academics, the opportunities to hone skills and working together with other children. And, since most school districts fail to provide adequate after-school programs, she said, “there’s the big deal of giving parents a break.”

Problems arise, Dr. Luthar said, when parents overscrutinize their children’s performance in these activities.

“You don’t just play soccer for fun or play stickball in the cul-de-sac, you’re vying for the travel team by second grade,” she said. “The only place where I say stop is where the child starts to say his or her performance determines his or her self-worth: I am as I can perform.”

Polly Young-Eisendrath, a clinical psychologist and the author of “The Self-Esteem Trap,” was the one person I talked to who argued that too many activities may be a problem. She blamed a generation of parents who are too interested in the lives of their children, hanging on every word, coddling every need, communicating that parents are just audience members for their children’s accomplishments.

Before age 11 or 12, she said, when children begin to develop self-consciousness, activities risk distracting children from their natural development.

“Prior to then,” Dr. Young-Eisendrath said, “all these lessons and classes are about parents competing with other parents. Children really need that time to lie around, play more freely and have periods when they are side-by-side with their parents in the same room, being ‘alone together.’ ”

In the past, this was more possible, she said, “not just because there was a parent staying at home but because parents didn’t have this obsessive interest in children’s lives.”

Considering the differing views of the people I called, I was struck that at least one common theme emerged: I should worry less about the amount of time my children spent on activities and more about the messages I sent about those activities. So how do parents make sure they don’t cross the line?

First, know where the motivation is coming from, you or your child.

“Are you hearing laughter?” Dr. Thompson said. “Is the child giggling when you drop them off or pick them up? Or are they solemn and dragging their feet?”

Second, watch what you say. Dr. Luthar said parents should be in touch with their own feelings to ensure they are not communicating that exemplary performance is the only goal that matters. She warned against statements like, “Oops, you’re not starting again?” or “Oh, dear, you’re not chosen for all-county?”

“And if you’re having trouble identifying this tendency in yourself,” she said, “ask your spouse, your sibling or anybody you trust.”

Regardless of how many activities you schedule for your children, make sure you schedule time for yourself to be with them.

Dr. Rosenfeld said, “Your kids need to feel there is enough time when the computer is off, the cellphone is off and all you want to do is be together.”

It’s not just quality time, he said, it’s quantity, too.

“I always quote the Billy Joel song,” he said:No need for clever conversation, I’ll take you just the way you are. 

By: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/fashion/over-scheduled-children-how-big-a-problem.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&adxnnl=1&ref=education&adxnnlx=1381967018-NhCFk%20Yro8tmyp80UwEaPg

Educating Through Technology

Once upon a time homeschoolers might have been considered old-fashioned. This is probably because of the stereotype that homeschoolers are generally homeschooling for religious reasons, sitting around a dining room table doing copy work from historical icons, and learning to read from old public school readers. Like all stereotypes there is probably some basis in truth but today’s homeschoolers are breaking out of that stereotype.

Today’s homeschoolers are often at least as technologically advanced as their traditionally educated counterparts. Part of the reason this is true is because homeschooled students are not sitting isolated in their homes poring over outdated textbooks but are studying the latest available material by means of technology. Many homeschooled students are taking part in distance learning, self-guided learning, and online curricula.

Distance learning

Distance learning or distance education is a method of presenting educational material through correspondence work, or lectures presented on the internet. It allows students to have access to professors and other specialists that might not be available locally. Students generally use the internet to attend classes and are not required to be present at the school at all.

There are many different variations of using technology for distance learning. Some courses are broadcast at a certain time on the internet and all students are expected to log in, similar to an online meeting site. This type of distance learning is called synchronous or live learning. Other courses are uploaded to the internet for the students to use when they have the time. This type of distance learning is sometimes called asynchronous distance education.

Self-guided Learning

Self-guided learning is similar to distance learning. Some universities offer free courses online. While the courses are usually offered not-for-credit, they still represent a large body of information. Most of these courses are online, free, and often contain both video and searchable lecture notes. An example of this type of educational material is MIT Open Courseware. By searching the internet for open course ware it is seen that a number of prestigious universities offer similar open course ware.

Another option for self-guided learning is Khan Academy. Courses available there are not offered for credit. In fact, it might even be considered free online tutoring as many complex topics in math and science are broken down into easily digestible, short lectures.

While this coursework is offered on the internet for free and is a great way for a student to gain knowledge, it is generally not offered for credit. However, there is no argument that this work is an attractive addition to homeschool transcripts and can be a great preparation for taking college entrance as well as CLEP tests.

Online Curriculum

Online curriculum for homeschool students is offered from Pre-K through 12th grade. Sometimes it is difficult to see the difference between distance learning and online curriculum. Probably the main difference is that with online curriculum most of the instruction is presented online as well as most of the coursework. This online curriculum type of learning generally does not have a “live” instructor that the student answers.

Much of the testing is done by the program in the form of multiple choice or fill in the blank answers though in higher grade there are often writing assignments that parents will have to grade for their for their homeschooled students. Online curricula can be used for core education as well as supplemental coursework. One example of an online curriculum is Time4Learning.

Other Options

There are many other opportunities for homeschooled students to take advantage of technology in their educational endeavors. The internet is, in some cases, taking the place of the library. Since many families no longer buy sets of encyclopedias the internet is a great research vehicle. There are many subject specific sites that provide instructional material as well as educational games. Homeschooled students often do not have access to the same textbooks that traditionally educated students do, so learning to use technology affords homeschooled students with opportunities to learn and expand their horizons that they might not have otherwise.

Taken From: http://www.edarticle.com/article.php?id=42357

Written By: Linda Warren 

Seek After School Care for Your Child Online

In today’s hectic, fast paced life, many parents are working due to which they do not get as much time to spend with their children or pay the required attention towards them. This is why most of the parents enroll their child into a kindergarten. After school care is an institute that provides proper education to your child during his early developmental years. They help your child grow, learn and play. Every parent wants their child to flourish with success and grow up to be a beautiful human being in all aspects of life. It is every child’s right to gain knowledge and to pursue education. Every child is beautiful and different in his own way. One cannot expect their child to be what they want since it is the child who has to do it at the end of the day. Children should be given freedom to make their own decisions under the guidance of their parents.

Toddler education is the best option in order to make your child’s life prosperous. Right education, if given at the right time, may prove to be beneficial in the later stages of life. Kids should be provided with appropriate academic training in order to let them perform to the best of their abilities. A few decades ago, there were no after school care available for kids and this is the main reason why many people have criticized such schools while some also suggest that it is not necessary. These individuals should realize that times have changed and to sustain in this competitive market, it is necessary for one to learn the rights and wrongs from a very young age. After school program helps your kid in learning every aspect of their life and also ensures holistic development to make him an achiever.

Knowledge and intelligence are the two main aspects of life which can never go to waste. It is very important that your kid gets his basics right from a very young age. Early childhood education system or programs help your child to grow up better and able enough to compete in a competitive market. After school care serves your child with the best art of teaching and learning. Learning is a technique and kids are not machines that can be programmed with different tools. Preschool trainers understand this and help your child understand the art of learning instead of programming or scheduling their lives.

In order to find the best after school program for your child you can browse online. Online you will come across many institutes that cater to child care. These institutes deal with kid with a lot of care and affection and they understand that education cannot be completed unless provided with proper attention and pampering. Before enrolling your child in any of the after school care institute, you need to make sure that they are licensed and government recognized institute. For any queries you can call the school on the number mentioned on the website and dispel all your doubts.

Taken From: http://www.edarticle.com/article.php?id=42390
Written By: Lenanne S Reagane 

Ways of choosing true learning Educational Toys for your kids

What will be your criteria to decide whether you are choosing a good educational toy after seeing one? Educational videos, software, Chemistry Kits, Telescope, flash- cards all are known to be the science toys, so which will work more appropriately for your child? According to the theoretical aspects followed by experts, the easiest way to know the solutions is to find out whether the toys are promoting any convergent or divergent thought process of the children? If you are not aware of the two terminologies, then let’s have a discussion for the same.

Convergent Thinking
Ability to tackle things having only one predefined answer by learning the facts and guidelines to move upon for reaching to that answer! This is to develop fundamentals of your child by making them learn the way of reaching to a unified solution, with the help of the given instructions. This will create opportunities related to education in children for giving their best performances in the tests and multiple choice exams.Some Examples can be given here for proving my point: Jigsaw puzzles are designed to have only one correct solution and that can be solved in one way only, mathematical flash- cards are defined to have one correct answer, coloring of the pink pig as seen in the pre schools educational videos is always shown to be pink, and many others.

Divergent Thinking
This defines the way of thinking in the sense of exploring more than one possible answers, creating newer conceptions, and solving conceptualized problems. This is actually the way of thinking of leading personalities in the fields of designing, engineering, and managing the similar operations. They are experts of their work because of the strong thought process habited by their minds, for thinking quietly out-of-the-box.Science toys used for the promotion of this type learning process includes arts-kits and crafts, scientific and musical conceptualized teaching toys, role-playing and different type of costumes, encouraging your child for developing the imagination and socializing skills.

Construction Educational Toys
Best option for the promotion of Both Convergent and Divergent Thinking Process.
For simultaneous setting of the platform for creativity of both convergent and divergent thinking, with the help of the guidelines follow-ups written on the box of the game to reach the making of the modeled sample by the children, constructional toys are the best option. With the follow-ups of the instructions, the required expertise can be acquired with the help of construction-pieces.A pride and enjoyable feeling gets developed in the child with the accomplishment of the challenging-tasks, just like after completing the LEGO-model building or completion of a puzzle. All of the ideas are for harnessing the emotional energies and moving the kids to THINK!

 Written By: Laura
 Taken From: http://www.edarticle.com/article.php?id=42277

How To Stop Toxic Test Anxiety: A 4 Step Approach To Raise Test Scores And Grades In College

One problem that college students frequently face when they are in college is test anxiety. All students experience at least some nervousness as they take tests, but some students become so worried about preparing for tests, reviewing for tests, and taking tests that it greatly affects their performance in studying for an exam and test taking. Test anxiety causes many to ‘blank out,’ become unable to think clearly or remember the correct answers to test questions. That’s even when they’ve properly prepared for their university exam.

Symptoms of anxiety before a university examination can include sleeplessness, irritability, and loss of appetite. While taking a practice exam or during the test itself you might feel confused and panicked with rapid breathing, perspiration, chills, and numbness. After the test you may get feelings of hopelessness, indifference, anger, and guilt. You may look to blame something or someone else for your difficulties (Bourne, 2005).

Anxiety is created in part by genetic predispositions, but it is also brought on by situations that create stress. It is important to realize that anxiety is not only a negative emotion. Anxiety is important for doing well on exams. Too little anxiety results in a lack of motivation. But too high anxiety negatively effects focus, memory, and concentration (Wine, 1971) in review of test preparation materials.

Psychologists and educators have proposed a number of test prep techniques that you can use to cope with your anxiety (Cornell, 2013). In this article we will give you a particular technique for dealing with the test anxiety you are experiencing as a college student.The approach that you will use to cope with your anxiety is called Positive Thoughts and Behaviors (PTB). The technique works by replacing anxious and fearful thoughts about exams with positive thoughts and behaviors. The approach will help you get more correct answers on your exams. And even if you are not currently experiencing test anxiety, these techniques can nevertheless be used to help you maintain your resiliency to stress.

A Simple, But ‘Little Known’ Way To Combat Your Text Anxiety
To successfully work against your test anxiety you must use the PTB technique to practice controlling your thoughts and replacing your negative thoughts with positive ones and by relaxing your body to reduce anxiety. You must carefully monitor your thoughts and feelings as you prepare for and as you take the test. The PTB technique involves using each of four different approaches. Use each of the approaches if you are feeling anxious as you are studying for and when you are taking the exam:

1. Slow your thoughts down. To do this, focus your attention on a specific object such as the top of your desk or the color of the walls in the room. Focusing on one object will help clear your thoughts. Keep focusing on the object until you feel calmer.
   

1. Imagine yourself in a safe and enjoyable place and practice going there. Perhaps you can imagine a mountain scene or a calm and sunny seashore. Imagine how relaxed you feel at that place. Think about the specific positive feelings you have in that place. Create a detailed picture and stay in the place until you feel calmer.
   

1. Increase your oxygen flow by breathing deeply through your nose and filling your lungs with air. Then release the air. Do this for a couple of minutes. The oxygen will help reduce your anxiety.
   

1. Focus your attention on the feelings of your body. Tighten and then release any part of your body that feels tense. For instance, if your shoulders are tense, pull them back and then relax them.You can use the same process with your hands, your face, your legs and your stomach. Try clenching your fists, tightening your jaw, straightening your legs, and tensing your stomach all at once. Then relax your body. Do this a couple of times until you feel more relaxed.
   
   Written By: Nancy Thomason
   Taken From: http://www.edarticle.com/article.php?id=42279
   
   
   
   
   

Classroom assistants used as teachers, claims union

Classroom support staff say they are increasingly being asked to stand in for fully qualified teachers, a union is claiming.

A third (32%) of support staff in UK state schools polled by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said they took classes for absent teachers.

Over a fifth (22%) said they took more classes in 2012-13 than in 2011-12.
A Department for Education (DfE) spokeswoman said: "The rules are clear - they should not be teaching."
The DfE said teaching assistants and other classroom support staff played a vital role in the classroom, short of teaching whole classes of children.

Staff expertise
"The government's recent review of school efficiency showed that, when properly trained and deployed, teaching assistants play an important role in helping to improve learning," the spokeswoman said.
"It is for school leaders to use the expertise of all staff to ensure any disruption to pupils is minimal and that taxpayers get value for money."

The ATL polled more than 1,400 of its members working as support staff in state schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A spokeswoman for the union said the rules allow classroom assistants to teach small groups of children under the supervision of a qualified teacher, but they should not teach whole classes or prepare teaching material.

Higher level teaching assistants may contribute to lesson planning and deliver lessons to whole classes to assist an assigned teacher, while cover supervisors are employed to supervise classes while pupils complete work set by a teacher.

A quarter (25.4%) of the teaching assistants and learning support workers surveyed and almost half (49.1%) of higher level teaching assistants said they were asked to cover lessons.

Of the 400 who said they stood in for the regular class teacher, 60% said they did the same work as fully qualified teachers, claims the union, while a third (31%) of these staff said they had been used to take classes for three or more consecutive days.

The union quotes a higher level teaching assistant at a secondary school in England: "I prepare, teach and mark at least four lessons for two year-7, bottom-set classes, and a year-8 set for at least three hours a week. It is teaching on the cheap."

'Cheap option'
A cover supervisor said: "I have even been asked to give copies of lessons I have prepared to members of teaching staff."

A primary school teaching assistant added: "It is unfair that many teaching assistants are teaching classes in the absence of a teacher, and doing the same job as a teacher for much less money."

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: "Schools are selling children short by using teaching assistants to teach classes when the regular teacher is unavailable.

"We are totally opposed to this exploitation of support staff who are being used as a cheap option to teachers.

"It is grossly unfair on them and on the children and their parents who rightly expect their children to be taught by qualified teachers."

 Written By Judith Burns BBC News education reporter 
 Taken from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24429466