Globe & Mail
September 7, 2012
Literacy: Don’t take it for granted.
Craig Alexander, senior vice-president and chief economist at TD Bank Group.
Literacy, if we need to be reminded, is the great enabler that allows individuals to unlock their potential. It’s the basic skill set on which most other capabilities are built. As we celebrate International Literacy Day (proclaimed by UNESCO in 1965) this Saturday, we should also remember that literacy is a fundamental human right.
Make no mistake, Canada has a literacy challenge. Awareness of this fact is low because most think of literacy as a binary outcome – you’re either literate or not. This is simply not true. Like all skills, there’s a wide range of proficiency, from non-existent to almost complete mastery. Along this spectrum, one can assess the level of capability consistent with succeeding in a modern knowledge-based economy – in other words, the level of proficiency that correlates with markedly better employment and income outcomes.
The sad fact is that almost one in two Canadian adults falls short of the desired proficiency level in English or French, while close to three in five lack the desired level of numeracy skills.
Literacy skills are more critical today than ever before, and they’ll become even more vital in the future. Consider that stronger literacy skills make it more likely that youths will complete secondary school and go on to postsecondary education.
In labour markets, more proficient language and numeracy skills make it more likely that an individual will be employed, have a better paying job, avoid unemployment and experience a shorter duration of unemployment if such an unfortunate event does occur.
There are material gains from investment in literacy, not only to the economy but also to society. I challenge you to come up with a public policy challenge that higher literacy can’t contribute to reducing.
Worried about rising income inequality or poverty? Higher literacy can help raise incomes for low-income Canadians by improving education outcomes and job prospects. Concerned about integration of newcomers? Strong communication skills in the official languages can help immigrants better convey the value of foreign work experience and education. Anxious about future shortages of skilled workers? Improved literacy allows workers to do greater continued education and skills development.
Higher literacy skills also contribute to more civic involvement, volunteering and other social actions. Competence in basic literacy is also a necessary condition to literacy in other areas, such as financial literacy. And stronger literacy skills correlate with better health outcomes.
The bottom line is that there are enormous benefits from improved literacy to individuals, businesses, the economy and society. One of the greatest challenges is that literacy is deeply underappreciated. Those with strong communication and numeracy skills take them for granted and can’t imagine a world without them. Many of those with weak literacy skills don’t recognize how they’re being held back and the opportunities they’re going without.
In today’s ever-changing and skills-based economy, robust literacy is a must. So take a moment this Saturday to reflect on the value of your language and numeracy skills. Be self-reflective and ask whether reading more or taking some classes could be beneficial. For those with well-honed skills, consider how you might support and promote stronger literacy skills in others – either through personal action, volunteering or donating to literacy organizations.


Last year my family and I suffered heavy delays on a our flight coming back from Florida, something which no parent wants to experience. After returning home, I was talking to my kids about claiming for compensation from Flight Delay Claims 4 U, and the concept blew their minds. I decided in that moment that the kids had little idea about the value of money, and so I took action.
All parents have experienced being pestered and cajoled by their ever demanding offspring to buy one item or another. Teaching your children about money, its role and value could lessen this continual assault on your finances and teach your children to be financially astute and eventually independent.
Enlist your child’s help doing the in household bills
Many young children see credit cards as magic and infinite as they witness their parents pushing a few buttons and getting either money, gas, food or other items. Getting children to help pay credit card bills and looking at the charges on the bill will draw their attention to the fact that things have to be paid for. Enlisting their help with paying utility bills, rent and cable will also give your child a perspective on how money flows.
Encourage your child to make their own money
Getting your child to earn their own money has many benefits. It is both empowering for them, and educational. There are many ways this can be done for example the traditional lemonade stand is a tried and tested method. Selling outgrown toys or clothes in a yard sale situation is another as is the earning pocket money for completing household chores. Children are far more likely to value money if they have had to expend time and effort to earn it themselves.
Make it a game
Children are never too young to start learning about money and there are many money learning games to be found online. Traditional games like Monopoly are also beneficial. When on a grocery run, having a guess how much the total will cost game is an effective way to make children learn the cost of items and it also improves their numeracy skills. Older children could learn a lot about financial issues by being encouraged to play investment games.
Arrange a visit to the bank for your child
A visit to the bank where children can watch bank transactions in progress can help them to understand what cash actually is. As does opening an account for them and giving them help to track their savings. Lots of banks offer no-fee accounts for children and some have educational materials and online activities to help children’s financial understanding.
Start a clip coupon campaign
Instead of throwing all those annoying circulars that regularly arrive on your doorstep, use them and have a coupon clipping frenzy with your children. By doing this you will educate your child about savings and discounts. Encourage your child to be in charge of the coupons on a shopping trip, this will empower your child and make him or her feel part of the family’s finances. Talk about how much money he or she has saved by this process and put it in a family savings account and let your child watch it grow.
All of these ways should give your children a better insight into financial matters and help prepare them for future financial independence.


Practice foundational skills and phonics with these cute digraph clip cards. Clip cards are incredibly easy to prepare!
After they are printed, laminated and cut – you’ll have them for years! For simple storage on a binder ring, just punch a hole in one of the corners. A simple organization that will be useful for years. Clip cards are suited for special ed, remedial or intervention, learning pairs or small groups at centers.
The students clip a clothes pin on the correct answer. A learning partner may check their work, and they can discuss their answers together. Another option is to have the students point to the correct answer, or even use a whiteboard marker (this demands cleaning up, so I prefer the clothes pins – the students also tend to think this is more fun!) .
Note! This set of clip cards is a part of the Clip Cards Bundle!
In this unit you will find:
✔ 30 x 2 clip cards
✔ Digraphs: ch, ph, sh, th and wh
✔ Color and black&white versions
Clip cards are perfect for:
→ centers tasks
→ collaborative tasks, learning partners
→ oral activities
→ intervention / remedial situations
→ special ed.
Practice multiple skills:
→ foundational skills and print concepts
→ phonological awareness
→ phonics and word recognition
→ learn about conventions of standard English
Print - cut - laminate - use for years!
O T H E R R E S O U R C E S F O R Y O U !
★ Do you need meaningful tasks for early finishers, printables for subs or easily available
extra work? The Early Finishers-series
is perfect for you!
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studies and more? Look at the Let's Explore-series
★ Do you need practice pages and extra tasks for math, grammar and more?
The Let's Practice-series
has what you need!
Thank you so much for looking! ♥ Maren
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Influences of School, Classroom, and Teacher Characteristics on Children's School Readiness
McCallan, Stacy A.
Jones Harden, Brenda
MetadataShow full item record
A number of factors contribute to the school readiness of children, including child and family characteristics, neighborhood residence, and early care and education experiences. Early skills are the foundation for later school and life success. The current study examines the influence of school composition, classroom quality, and teacher preparation on kindergarten children's school readiness using data originally collected as part of an evaluation of a school readiness intervention. Children's academic school readiness was predicted by teachers' preparation in child development. Children had fewer problem behaviors when their teachers were more highly educated and specialized in child development and, surprisingly, when they attended schools with higher concentrations of low-income students. Child race was the only variable significantly related to children's social skills. These results suggest that teachers play an important role in children's development of foundational skills, and provide support for specific and targeted professional development around early childhood education.


- slide 1 of 5
Flat Versus 3D
The biggest hurdle in figuring out how to teach children about three dimensional shapes is getting them to think beyond the flat surface of a two-dimensional figure. From before children are even in school they are taught the shapes of circles, squares, triangles and rectangles, but much less time is spent on spheres, cones, pyramids and cubes. In fact, some of the tools used to teach the basic 2D shapes are in fact three dimensional objects. Toddler toy shape sorters, for instance, use three dimensional shapes such as cylinders in an effort to teach basic two dimensional shapes like circles. This confusion continues through early elementary education for many students as the terms and definitions of 3D shapes are nearly foreign to them.
- slide 2 of 5
3D Shape Grab Bag
A fun way to introduce the various three dimensional shapes to a class is through the use of mystery bags. In preparation for this lesson, teachers should find examples of different three dimensional shapes and place them inside paper bags. Ideally, one bag per student helps to reinforce this lesson with the entire class, but a sample selection can work well, too. Here are some ordinary household items that can be used to demonstrate three dimensional shapes.
- a wooden letter block for a cube
- an individual cereal box for a rectangle
- a rubber ball for a sphere
- a soup can for a cylinder
As each child opens their bag they should identify the item by its three dimensional shape, ie. a soup can would be identified as a cylinder.
- slide 3 of 5
Most kids love activities which include food, especially if they get to eat it. For this activity, teachers will need to be very open-minded and creative in how to teach children about three dimensional shapes as they will need to shop for foods that match this lesson. Here are some possible suggestions for 3D Food:
- Pretzel Combos, marshmallows, or cheese sticks for cylinders
- Donut holes or ball-shaped yogurt snacks for spheres
- Cheese cubes for cubes
- Toblerone candy bars as a possible three dimensional triangular shape
- slide 4 of 5
Getting Active with 3D Shapes
Another approach to teaching students three-dimensional shapes is to use large items that demonstrate shapes such as spheres and cubes. Large paper building bricks are available at many teacher supply stores and serve as a great demonstration for cubes. Students can stack and build these to construct various spaces throughout the classroom. Giving students time to work with the bricks will allow them to feel and consider the nature of three dimensional shapes. Requiring that they call the bricks "cubes" rather than bricks will help reinforce the new terminology of the three dimensional lesson. As for spheres, balls of different sizes can be used in a variety of outdoor games. Students can be given time to play with a large beach ball or small bouncy balls while requiring that they call the balls "spheres" to help reinforce the idea that these familiar objects are also three-dimensional shapes.
- slide 5 of 5
The Common Point to these Tips
The one common theme among these different suggestions is object lessons. Students should be given an opportunity to literally get their hands around familiar three dimensional forms to best see and understand the difference between 2D and 3D shapes.


It sounds a bit like the song of a blackbird played at about two-thirds of the proper speed. Earlier this week, the breathy, tuneful language of the Canary island of La Gomera was recognised as part of the world's cultural heritage. Silbo – from the word for whistle in Spanish – is thought to have about 4,000 words built from just four vowels and the same number of consonants in which pitch is a key part of meaning. It is now thought to be an adaptation of a much earlier whistling language imported by the island's first settlers, who probably came from north Africa. When Spain colonised the island in the 16th century the original settlers were driven to extinction, but the immigrants, known as Guanches, appreciated the benefits of an oral telegraph as an alternative to running up and down the island's steep valleys and craggy coastline. Silbo nowadays, the phonologists say, is closer to a version of Spanish than to an ancient African language. It has proved difficult to write, although the effort has been made; and as, say, a language of love, it has limitations. For the shepherds who use it, its main purpose is apparently to convey important instructions such as "shut the gate" – a bit like One Man and His Dog – but person-to-person. Greece, Turkey, China and Mexico all have a tradition of whistled languages. But in La Gomera 20 years ago it was down to the last gasp when the government put it on the primary school curriculum. Now 3,000 children know it, and every new generation will learn it.


Imagine That! Grow your child’s imagination with storytime songs, books, and games!
Have you picked out a Halloween costume with your child yet? Picking out a costume gives your child an opportunity to play pretend, also known as dramatic play. Play is enormously important to early childhood learning, and dramatic play helps children develop a deeper understanding of the stories they act out as well as the people or creatures they pretend to be. And these are only a few of the early literacy benefits of playing pretend! Learn more about the benefits here: 5 Reasons Dramatic Play Matters for Child Development
Here are a few books that encourage and celebrate children’s ability to pretend:
Imagination and Dramatic Play Books to Share:
You can find these books and more in our catalog under the tag: #playpretend
Imagination and Pretend Play Songs, Poems, and Fingerplays to Share:
Can you Pretend?
Let’s hear you roar like a lion!
Let’s see you jump like a frog!
Let’s see you snap your jaws like a crocodile!
Let’s hear you howl like a dog!
Pretend you’re an elephant with a big, looooong, trunck.
Pretend you’re a monkey.
Let’s see you jump, jump, jump!
And now you’re a mouse.
Just let me see
How very, very quiet you can be.
Can You Move With Me?
(Tune: “Do Your Ears Hang Low?”)
Can you wiggle like a worm?
Can you squiggle? Can you squirm?
Can you flutter? Can you fly like a gentle butterfly?
Can you crawl upon the ground
Like a beetle that is round?
Can you move with me?
Can you flip? Can you flop?
Can you give a little hop?
Can you slither like a snake?
Can you give a little shake?
Can you dance like bee
Who is buzzing round a tree?
Can you move with me?
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be cows! KAZAM!
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be jello! KAZAM!
When I say KAZAM you’ll all be kitties! KAZAM!
When I say KAPOW you’ll turn back into kids! KAPOW!
I’m a Little Teapot
I’m a little teapot
Short and stout
Here is my handle
(one hand on hip)
Here is my spout
(other arm out straight)
When I get all steamed up
Hear me shout
“Tip me over
and pour me out!”
(lean over toward spout)
We hope you can join us for storytime at one of our Handley Regional Library Branches this week!
Check the calendar for the dates and times of storytimes at your local branch library.


By Eugene G. Rochow
Read or Download An introduction to the chemistry of the silicones PDF
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Additional resources for An introduction to the chemistry of the silicones
In the view presented in this book, communication is therefore a basic human activity that is interactive and constructive. When we communicate, we give meaning to things (objects, phenomena, and people) that we find in the world. Communication is the way in which we interpret the world and negotiate these interpretations with each other in a social setting. Such interpretative work is therefore also performative: it creates that which it names. Communication in all its forms does not just represent phenomena, it also constructs them.
We discuss both our own standpoint—including some of the limitations of our field of vision—and the way in which contemporary science communication has been shaped and imagined. We also further explain the model of communication we are drawing upon as we talk about science communication processes: not only is it cultural, but also material and constitutive. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 then start to unfold the ecosystem of science communication as it is being articulated today. We look at current practice in science communication and explore some of the different cultural spaces and moments in which it is operating.
Studies in Science Education 20: 157–182. Lewenstein B (2016) Can we understand citizen science? Journal of Science Communication 15(1): 1–5. p. 2, Hall S (1997) Representation—Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. London: SAGE Publications. Ibid. Version of this book was published in 1997 along with a whole series of edited collections on the five different elements of the circuit. A second edition which usefully discusses links with other theories, such as actor-network-theory was published in 2013.


The Middle School years are a difficult time for young learners. Not only do students struggle with their changing identities, but they also have to cope with, what can quite often be, the difficult transition from primary schooling to secondary education. It is a critical period where, more often than not, teachers will note a complete change in attitudes towards reading. Students are met with rigorous academic timetables, and assessments start taking a more prominent role in their lives; therefore, the English teacher is often met with a reluctance towards reading which results from the associations made between completing certain books and being successful in English exams. There is an urgent need to bring back and maintain that desire and enthusiasm for reading which most children do develop at a young age. We are eager for reluctant students to change their mindset towards reading, and, rather than thinking of it as an educational ‘chore’, it is our intent that Middle School students will see it as their escapism from studies just as they see other extra-curricular activities. Promoting a healthy interest in reading is of fundamental importance if students are to achieve their full potential in school and in life.
In order to encourage reading we at Inventure Academy have on taking a few initiatives that includes the Reading Project and D.E.A.R week:
Students will have to choose two activities from the prescribed list of activities and will create their own reading projects that will reflect their creativity and their independent critical thinking capability. The project can be typed and will be graded based on the rubric provided. The Reading project for middle school is due on 2nd December. Students will select the books based on the list provided which has been generated based on a reading survey that was conducted earlier
Literacy levels are a continuous point of discussion in schools around the world, but it is often the general consensus that it is “the job of the English teacher to enable each child to become more literate”. Teachers of today must realize that the ability to read is a “prerequisite for academic success”, therefore, a whole-school approach to literacy development needs to be recognized if our students are to be equipped with the skills necessary to survive in the complex and ever-evolving society in which they live.
December 2nd is D.E.A.R Day (Drop Everything And Read). At school we will dedicate a week (28th November – 2nd December) to promote and encouraging students to read. Twenty minutes per day will be devoted to this initiative. It would require all students (as well as teachers) to drop everything and read when it is announced on the intercom. Rather than making it predictable like so much of our daily routine, it will be at different times on different days. This would interfere with 20 minutes of a particular lesson on that day, but it is only for 5 days.


An interdisciplinary resource for information, authorized developments, commentary, and scholarship about Title IX, the federal statute prohibiting discrimination on the idea of sex in federally funded schools. Many mother and father have given up any hope that their child can succeed with regards to public education. Title IX of the 1972 federal Education Amendments prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in educational establishments that obtained federal assist.
For these of us who’ve been around these fights awhile, this quantity of assist for public education has been extremely encouraging. This weblog isn’t partisan; we don’t endorse candidates or let you know the right way to vote. I have given numerous interviews on special ed legislation, and I have been quoted in education publications.
Students can start their careers working as a Licensed Professionals Secretary (CPS), Certified Administrative Professional (CAP), and far more. The position of the Division of Education absolutely needs to be guaranteeing that the US Structure isn’t being breached in schools that receive federal funding.
As a reaction to Secretary Duncan’s overreach with No Little one Left Behind waivers, the Every Scholar Succeeds Act severely restricted the powers of the Secretary. It assists the president in executing his education policies for the nation and in implementing laws enacted by Congress.
Mr Richard Gill AO has been appointed the inaugural occupant of the Chair in Music Education at the Conservatorium Excessive School in Sydney. Being Secretary of Education is an amazing job that requires lots of experience and expertise. American education is a class system, public, non-public and elite boarding colleges.


Frances Isabelle (Lockwood) Brundage (1854–1937) was an American illustrator best known for her depictions of attractive and endearing children on postcards, valentines, calendars, and other ephemera published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, Samuel Gabriel Company, and Saalfield Publishing. She received an education in art at an early age from her father, Rembrandt Lockwood. Her professional career in illustration began at seventeen when her father abandoned his family and she was forced to seek a livelihood.
In addition to ephemera, Brundage illustrated children's classics such as the novels of Louisa May Alcott, Johanna Spyri, and Robert Louis Stevenson, and traditional literary collections such as The Arabian Nights and the stories of King Arthur and Robin Hood. She was a prolific artist, and, in her late 60s, was producing as many as twenty books annually. Her work is highly collectible.
Brundage was born Frances Isabelle Lockwood on June 28, 1854 in Newark, New Jersey, to Rembrandt Lockwood and Sarah Ursula Despeaux. Her father was an architect, a wood engraver, and an artist who painted church murals, portraits, and miniatures. Brundage received her art education from her father, and, at the age of seventeen, was forced to earn a living from her art after Lockwood abandoned his family.
She sold her first professional work – a sketch illustrating a poem by Louisa May Alcott – to the author. She illustrated books and ephemera such as paper dolls, postcards, valentines, prints, trade cards, and calendars. Her book illustrations were sometimes published as postcards.
In 1886, she married the artist, William Tyson Brundage, and gave birth to one child, Mary Frances Brundage, who died in 1891 aged 17 months. The Brundages resided in Washington, D.C., summered at Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and, in later years, moved toBrooklyn, New York. They occasionally worked jointly on projects.
Brundage produced works for Raphael Tuck & Sons with an emphasis on attractive and endearing Victorian children. At the same time she was also published by Wolff Hagelberg, Berlin, in near equal amount, except no book illustration and quite different subject and style. Maud Humphrey was the preferred artist with American publishers in the 1890s, but Brundage was chosen by Tuck, London, and Hagelberg, Berlin, international art publishers, for their American market publication. As a result, Brundage had extensive early Euro and UK international postcard publication, more than any other children artist except Ellen Clapsaddle and Harriett M. Bennett, as well as with Tuck's and Hagelberg's large lines of U.S. postcards. Those postcards and the Tuck and the Hagelberg lines of fancy diecut valentines made Brundage the largest presence in U.S. art paper 1899-1910. By 1910, she was working for New York publisher, Samuel Gabriel Company (S. Gabriel had been manager of Tuck's U.S. publishing operations and was responsible for Tuck's use of Brundage for book illustration and postcards), and later, Akron, Ohio publisher, Saalfield. She also did illustrated books for Stecher Lithographic Company, DeWolfe, Fiske & Company, Fred A. Stokes, Charles E. Graham & Company, and E.P. Dutton & Ernest Nister--and work for Hayes & Koerner. later Hayes Co.. During her late 60s, she produced as many as 20 books per year (exaggeration!). Brundage died on March 28, 1937, aged 82 years.
Brundage was notable for ethnic illustrations as early as 1886 for Louis Prang, 1890 and 1892 for W. Hagelberg, and for Tuck valentines and postcards in the early 1900s. While "stereotypical" in form, they were not negative and might be compared to her "comical" treatment of romance with Tuck diecut valentine and postcard images where the intent is not ridicule but rather positive dramatization. For example, an 1892 Cincinnati merchant's greeting card image shows pugnacious Irish girl in rags, black girl in rags, well-dressed white girl, dignified oriental girl, and sober American Indian girl with bow and arrows--all smiling and holding hands (except the sober American Indian girl), the point being friendship and human worth regardless of ethnicity and social status...not quite the stereotypical attitude of the time and very much an expression of the American social ideal as we think of it today.


How to Use the Second Grade Common Core Workbook
Look at this workbook for 2nd grade. It’s 599 pages! That’s like an epic novel, only… not… epic? Well, actually it is kind of epic. We battle through the ELA standards with activities and worksheets in all the Literature and Informational Text standards. Then, we strike off toward the Reading Foundational Skills. That is a brief pitstop before turning our attentions toward Writing and then Speaking & Listening. Finally, we end our epic quest at Language, where we battle the evils of grammar and other fun stuff of the sort!
Oh, yeah. We’ve got the sequel ready, too. It’s the Math standards. Your quest begins this time in the lonely village of Operations and it’s nearby suburb Algebraic Thinking. From those humble beginnings, you head out into the uncharted lands of Numbers & Operations in Base Ten. What’s next for our young hero/heroine? Why, it’s Measurement & Data, everyone’s favorite math topics. After such a hefty chore, we end on the easier topic of Geometry.
Are you ready for this adventure? Remember, we have created at least 2 worksheets and 1 small group or center activity in each of the standards in these headings. Yes, it’s a great deal of work and effort, but it is for an entire year.
Take a look at our free previews of the Second Grade Common Core Workbook to find things that you can use in your room in your own particular style. Every teacher has their own way of doing things, and we just want to support you! Hopefully it’s an adventure for everyone involved.
Second Grade Common Core, Second Grade Core Standards, Second Grade Common Core Standards, Second Grade Common Core Activities, Second Grade Common Core Workbook, Second Grade Common Core Worksheets


How do very young children best learn English as an additional language while they’re still learning their mother tongue? How and why do children learn best through play? What can parents and practitioners do to enable children to get the most out of a learning experience? This free online course for parents and practitioners will explore how young children learn English and investigate many more aspects of early childhood learning and development. Create the best environment for young children to learn English British Council educators will share their insights and experiences, so that you can learn how to best talk to young children; how to create the best environment for them to learn English as an additional language; and how to monitor their progress most effectively. Through articles, videos and live events you will hear from early childhood experts and parents, and see for yourself how young children learn inside the early years classroom. At every stage, you will be offered tips, advice and downloadable resources. You will join discussions about child development and early childhood English language learning, so that you have the opportunity to interact live with our experienced educators. Here you will also be able to share your opinions, ideas and questions with other participants. Draw on the British Council’s English teaching expertise This free online course draws on the British Council’s expertise in teaching English to learners of all ages including very young children. It also benefits from our experience of creating Learning Time with Shaun & Timmy learning centres, where children aged two to six learn English through play, and a series of educational apps.
FutureLearn est une plate-forme d'apprentissage proposant des formations en ligne ouvertes à tous (MOOC)
Fondée en Décembre 2012, la société est entièrement détenue par l'Open University à Milton Keynes, en Angleterre.
Elle est la 1ère plateforme offrant des MOOC au Royaume-Uni, avec à son actif plus d'une cinquantaine d'universités partenaires provenant du Royaume Uni mais aussi du reste du monde.
FutureLearn se différencie également par des partenariats avec des entités non-universitaires comme le British Museum, le British Council, la British Library et la national Film and Television School.


What is Numeracy?
Numeracy is the ability to use mathematics in everyday life. For example,confidently handling money, understanding interest, using timetables, working out journey times and interpreting graphs and charts - in other words, living in the modern world.
What is Mathematics?
At school Mathematics is the subject area teaches the mathematical foundations, skills and processes. It focuses on patterns, principles and is more abstract.
Below we have a list of a range of resources that can help to improve both your child's numeracy and mathematical knowledge and skills. These resources have been tried and tested by our primary teachers and are often used in our classrooms. They include websites and apps as well as a description.
Digital Resource List
Digital Maths Resource List (pdf 900 KB)
Here are some other resources that you may find useful in helping your child in numeracy.
How do they teach maths these days?
Literacy & Numeracy Tips
Parents count too pamphlets
Five ways to build your child's Numeracy skills K-4
Numeracy Flyer (pdf 707 KB)
Ideas to use at home Helping your child with numeracy
Numeracy at Home Ideas (pdf 380 KB)
A to Z Family Literacy and numeracy ideas
A to Z Family Numeracy (pdf 89 KB)


Chris Grifa, band director at Creekside Middle School (Carmel, IN), shares how he uses technology in rehearsals.
Technology is integrated into the classroom everyday and is an integral part of the students’ daily classroom experience. When planning a rehearsal, I think about what objectives I want to accomplish and how technology can be used to enhance those objectives.
There are available technological options to support all areas of music performance such as intonation, tone quality, rhythm or recording. Once you identify what area you would like to work on with your students, it can be as easy as doing a quick Google search or just using your imagination to figure out a way that technology can help! With the new teacher evaluation rubrics now being implemented in Indiana and across the country, there is a stronger emphasis to include technology in the classroom. Integrating technology into a music rehearsal can become seamless with a little planning and a little creativity.
Below is the podium with our technology set up which contains a computer, Yamaha Harmony Director, sound mixer and document camera.
We use SmartMusic daily in our classes and having a computer allows us to easily use SmartMusic and all of its features. SmartMusic has various practice tools including a digital recorder, as well as quick access to both a tuner and a metronome. Did you know that if you hit Command-M (Mac) or Control-M (PC), that a stand-alone metronome pops up no matter where you are in the program? Being able to project our repertoire and the method books we are using during class onto a screen helps to focus the students’ attention and engage the class. Playing along with and hearing the included accompaniments, especially with our beginners, adds another level of listening for our students as well as a unique way to start to train the students to listen. We also use the Sight Reading library in SmartMusic almost daily with our beginners as a way to reinforce note reading. We also recommend students use SmartMusic at home for their daily practice. Using the SmartMusic Gradebook feature also allows me to document student growth, which is also becoming prevalent in our teacher evaluations.
The computer also gives me access to websites such as YouTube and J.W. Pepper, which have some very good recordings and performances. However, make sure you listen to the examples first to make sure they meet your standards. One activity I do is to play a couple of different recordings of a piece that we are working on and have a student led discussion about what differences are being heard between the two performances. This is great for developing critical thinking skills.
The Harmony Director features a sustain option that allows any note or chord to be held indefinitely. Having the students play along with a drone that is perfectly in tune is a great way to help students work on intonation and the ability to adjust. We use a drone daily during our fundamentals time. The Harmony Director can also sustain chords in either just or equal temperament. TonalEnergy tuner is an iOS app that also has these same features. In addition, the app has a rewarding visual feature that displays a smiley face awhen a student plays in tune!
- Start simple. Ease your way into using technology.
- Do you have technology already available that you could start using with your students?
- Develop a setup that works for you.
- Don’t hesitate to ask other teachers how they are incorporating technology in their programs.
Remember, by starting easy and with a little planning, using technology in your rehearsal can be both a positive and seamless addition to your classroom!
Chris Grifa is currently the Co-Director of Bands at Creekside Middle School in Carmel, IN and is in his 11th year of teaching. The Creekside Wind Symphony was honored to perform at the 2013 Midwest Clinic in December and the 2013 Indiana Music Education Association Conference. His groups have consistently earned Gold and Superior ratings at the state level as well as Best in Class/Overall Grand Champion awards at various music festivals. Chris was a member of the Cadets Drum Corps and was a staff member for the Blue Coats and the Cadets. He is currently on the staff of the Carmel H.S. Marching Band and has served as a clinician/adjudicator for both concert and marching bands around the country.


National Floral Design Day is observed annually on February 28th. For thousands of years, floral design has been an important cultural art form. This is the day we celebrate that art form. It may be in a bouquet, painting, in a textile, a garden or floral arrangement.
Floral design is a multi-billion dollar industry that brightens our lives on a daily basis.
From majestic, historic gardens to a bridal bouquet on that special day, floral designers have an eye for color, style and perspective. Floral design can complete a space, complementing existing structures and bringing brightness and color to them.
As with many arts, floral design has traditional roots hearkening back to Egyptian temple offerings to gods. The design changed from era to era, each having distinct customs and traditions.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Keep an eye out for floral designs and use #FloralDesignDay to post on social media.
Floral Design Day was created as a unique way to celebrate a special birthday of Carl Rittner, the founder of the Rittners School of Floral Design in Boston over 60 years ago. Mr. Rittner is a pioneer in floral art education. The people at Rittners felt that the idea of a holiday that celebrates floral design as an art form is a wonderful one whose time had come. So they, along with Mr. Rittner, wanted to see Floral Design Day continue to be observed as an event in its own right.
In 1995, Governor William F. Weld of Massachusetts, proclaimed this day as Floral Design Day.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
By His Excellency
GOVERNOR WILLIAM F. WELD
WHEREAS Flowers and their design have been appreciated and enjoyed throughout the world since prehistoric times and
WHEREAS Floral design is a unique art form, utilizing natural media and applying such variables as line, balance, color, structure & symbolism, and
WHEREAS Through floral design, individuals are able to express many emotions including love, sympathy, friendship and hope, and
WHEREAS Floral design provides visual pleasure and adds to the observance of personal events, including birth, marriages and deaths and
WHEREAS Floral design fosters creativity, enhances communication and develops perceptual awareness:
Now, therefore I William F. Weld, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby proclaim February 28th, 1995 as
FLORAL DESIGN DAYAnd urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
There are over 1,500 national days. Don’t miss a single one. Celebrate Every Day with National Day Calendar!


is dedicated to the advancement of art education, art appreciation,
art enjoyment and art creation for children.
Anyone is capable
But nurturing the children's innocence of self-expression,
self-esteem plays an important role in their life. By applying
pencil line or paints on paper, A child can extend their
imagination without boundary -- some drawings could be funny,
other could be cute or messy, or even are incomprehensible...
but they all create surprising artistic results. You will
find every drawing means something as your child observes
the world through his/her own innocent eyes.
Drawing and painting
are visual learning process. I believe that drawing a realistic
object is a natural ability that everybody possesses. Drawing
skill can be learned and artistic talent can be developed.
Once taught the general principle needed to master this
skill, one can then blend in his/her own creative way to
interpret what has been perceived.
Having been working
with the many children, artists and educators, I have seen
how much growth an individual can possibly achieve when
our learning continues. We are all capable of so much more
than we are aware of.
We will maximum
our visual realistic training, techniques, imagination and
create out a wonderful rainbow land art with our educated


How to make a tornado in a bottle with water, dish soap, and a bit of spinning, you can make a tornado in a bottle this can be a great way to learn how tornados. Tornadoes are a very destructive weather you can make your own tornado in a bottle if you have specific questions about your science fair project or. Buy vortex bottle connector - tornado in a bottle colors may vary: sports water bottles - amazoncom free delivery possible on eligible purchases. Science projects for kids: air pressure investigate the atmosphere around us and its power conduct an air pressure science project tornado in a bottle with this. Make a tornado in a bottle with 2 bottles, a connector and water this is an easy experiment you can do at home to demonstrate the power of a vortex.
Easy step by step tutorial on how to make a tornado in a bottle you will need: a glass or plastic bottle with smooth sides (no ridges) and has a tight. Tornado in a bottle rotate the top bottle (full) to make the tornado did you make this project share it with us i made it recommendations. Homemade tornado 43 based on 43 the air entering the top bottle caused the vortex to form fun tornado this science fair project idea explores the. The traditional 'tornado in a bottle' project has been helping students understand how tornadoes form for years tornado project ideas. F irst you have to have a one-liter bottle, then you have to fill the bottle 3/4, you must have a water container for tires and so do not waste it.
Diy science experiment #7 - tornado in a bottle don’t worry, this mini tornado is not powerful enough to blow you away the swirling winds of a tornado are called. One of the most interesting science experiments for 5th grade is the tornado in a bottle in this experiment water will create a way to an empty bottle through a.
Learn how to make a tornado in a bottle it's easy and fun. Wikihow has science for kids how make a tornado in a bottle make a tornado using dry ice how to make a volcano with a film canister for a science fair project. Science experiment tornado in a bottle problem/question can i make a tornado form inside of a bottle hypothesis what i think will happen experiment. Great information on how to do a tornado science project along with an easy sample project.
Do you have a science fair project of your own to demonstrate how the vortex of a tornado works in screw one side of the plastic cap onto the soda bottle. Enjoy our range of fun science experiments for kids that feature awesome hands-on projects tornado in a bottle bottle you can make your own mini tornado.
Though there are a few different ways to create a tornado model for a science project, the easiest way is to use water, plastic bottles and a few other common. The premier destination for fun science projects & experiments for tornado in a bottle make a tornado in a bottle texas and kansas make up tornado. What pops up in your mind when you hear the name tornado for most people, it is a picture of a magnanimous funnel shaped dark cloud extending up to the sky its.
Tornado in a bottle materials: 2 2-liter clear plastic pop bottles (empty and clean) water duct tape or you can purchase a tornado tube at the weather wiz kids. An easy, diy tornado bottle is pretty exciting for young kids it's the perfect complement to a weather science unit too hands-on learning about tornados that is safe. Use items you have around the house for this easy tornado in a bottle science experiment. Kindergartners from melanie marquez's class toured the high school science fair held in the mescalero apache school gym they were awed by the tornado in a bottle. A two-bottle tornado is also an interesting science project to try this calls for two1- or 2-liter bottles, duct tape and a washer fill one of the bottles with water.
We're doing a science fair at my son's school the tornado in a bottle project looks fun, but, frankly i can't figure out what hypothesis the. Find and save ideas about tornado craft on pinterest | see more ideas about tornado in a bottle, science projects and science projects for kids. Tornado in a bottle sent in by: to make the water go down into the other bottle a tornado happens in air and a whirlpool happens in water. How to keep an egg soaking in vinegar for a science project on getting an egg in a bottle icon for how to simulate a tornado sciencing. Kaitlyn and dad had lots of fun playing with their tornado once it was done optional: printable: bottled tornado tornado in a bottle activity.


The nation’s 1,000+ shared- and full-time technology centers serve a valuable purpose — to offer accelerated preparation leading to advanced credentials and degrees that are too expensive for most home high schools to offer.
The nation’s technology centers also face unique challenges — to not only prepare students to meet labor market demand for individuals with advanced credentials and degrees, but also ensure those students can adapt and thrive in a workplace marked by rapid technological advances.
SREB is committed to helping states, districts and center leaders meet these challenges by adopting HSTW’s six Design Principles and the new TCTW framework of Key Practices.
- Intellectually demanding career pathways align with great jobs in emerging fields and connect with a college-ready core.
- Challenging instruction and assignments strengthen students’ literacy and math skills.
- Literacy and math readiness courses help struggling students get on track for postsecondary education and training.
- Extended learning time supports students in mastering foundational skills.
- Project-based assignments use real-world problems to deepen understanding.
- Work-based learning introduces students to careers under the guidance of adult mentors.
- Career counseling helps students and parents plan for the future.
- Eligible seniors can earn up to 30 credits toward an advanced industry credential or degree.
- Leaders and teachers commit to continuous improvement.


What You'll Find in This Section
Providing a solid foundation for literacy is critical for young children who are already bilingual or are learning a second language. These resources provide guidance on how to build that foundation as well as guidance on using a child's native language as part of their literacy development.
English language learners (ELLs) in early elementary school are learning to read at the same time as their other classmates. Nevertheless, they still may need some extra help making the connection between their native language and English or focusing on specific sounds and letter combinations. These articles provide explicit guidance, as well as age-appropriate tips for instruction.
For English language learners (ELLs) in upper grades, reading needs may vary greatly. Some students will read fluently in their native language, while others may come in with very limited literacy skills and will require creative approaches for teachers and literacy coaches. These resources include ideas for creating a safe, comfortable setting where adolescent ELLs can begin to catch up and increase confidence over time. For additional ideas, visit our sister site about adolescent literacy, AdLit.org.
Comprehension is the reason for reading, but it can be the most difficult skill to master — especially for English language learners (ELLs). ELLs at all levels of English proficiency and literacy development will benefit from improved comprehension skills. These resources, strategies, and videos offer ideas such as comprehension checks with questions at different proficiency levels and acting out scenes from a story.
Giving English language learners (ELLs) the tools they need to develop close reading skills is an important step in helping them access more challenging grade-level texts (such as those aligned with the Common Core State Standards). These resources focus on using strategies such as questioning and using evidence from the text with ELLs.
Being able to understand non-fiction text (also called informational text) is critical for academic success, especially as students get older. Teachers can help prepare English language learners (ELLs) to successfully work with non-fiction text in many ways — and the earlier the better. This resource section offers ideas and strategies for helping students get started.
How can educators, librarians, and parents help students become life-long readers? These veteran educators use a number of strategies to bring books alive for their students. Most importantly, they provide students with constant exposure to books of all kinds throughout the year. Learn their secrets below!
What does it take to help English language learners (ELLs) become successful writers? This section offers a number of ideas and resources from veteran educators and researchers for students of all ages and proficiency levels. For examples of student writing projects, see our Student Voices section.


10-40 Window Prayer Worships
Grade 1-Grade 12
An online resource for bringing missions into the classroom. It includes activities for 32 needy countries in various curriculum areas. Activities include quizzes on capitals and flags, questions to learn about the culture of the countries, and links to ADRA...
21 Life Skills Posters
Grade 1-Grade 8
Print posters of 21 life skills or positive character traits to focus on helping students develop in Christian elementary education. Each poster includes the life skill title, an illustrating image, and a short definition on one page.
A New SLANT on Learning
Grade 1-Grade 12
This one page NAD Teachers Convention 2006 handout visually illustrates five key postures or behaviors that will always enhance learning. The acronym, SLANT, stand for: Sit up. Lean forward. Ask questions. Nod your head. Talk to your teacher. Ready to display...
ABC Feelings provides award winning fun and interactive communication tools that encourage socially responsible communication by children, pre-teens, teens, parents, teachers, and other professionals. Resources include 22 x 28 multicultural posters, 11 x 17...
Accucut provides the Mark IV Roller die cutter which cuts student attention-grabbing shapes with easy-to-make interactive educational projects that help increase student comprehension and retention.
Adventist Fundamental Beliefs for Children Poster
Grade 5-Grade 12
This 24x36 inch poster "briefly describes the Seventh-day Adventist Church's 28 fundamental beliefs in terms children can understand."
The following are prints depicting Bible characters or themes available from Adventist Book Centers: Boy Jesus; Children of the King; Christ and Child; Christ and Children; The Consultation; David Watches his Sheep; The Desire of Ages; Divine Counselor; Expressions...
Bulletin Board Idea - Art
A great idea to use your door frame as a bulletin board to display students' art following seasonal themes.
Bulletin Board Idea - Christmas
Photo of bulletin board idea that young students can create as an art project.
Bulletin Board Idea - Northern Lights Marker Art
This photo shows an idea for an art project, where students use markers to capture their perceptions of the northern lights.
Bulletin Board Idea - Remembrance Day
A photo of a bulletin board focusing on faith to feature on Canadian Remembrance Day.
Bulletin Board Idea - Wearing God
A bulletin board idea for a classroom theme built around Colossians 3:12-14.
Celebremos Noviembre - Let's Celebrate November
Special holidays celebrated in November are Thanksgiving and Veterans Day. A history of Thanksgiving, as well as Thanksgiving activities, crafts, games, recipes, songs, poems, and bulletin board ideas are included. Veterans Day background information and activities,...
Creative Teaching Press
Provider of quality, content-rich teaching materials, with over 2,000 teacher-tested resource books, student readers, and decoratives to teach, enrich, captivate, and motivate every student in your classroom
Purchase over 1500 biblical graphics, many pre-made sample scenes and more than 30 backgrounds and overlays to illustrate Bible stories.
Donald Zolan - Water Color Paintings of Children
Zolan's inspiring paintings of people, particularly children, would make excellent early childhood education classroom posters. Visit his website for his biography, samples of his work, to send an encouraging postcard to a student, or purchase art.
Holiday Materials - August
Activities for celebrating the following holidays and events in the month of August:
Sand Castle Day - How to Build a Sand Castle
Monarch Butterfly Fall Migration
National Punctuation Day - 10 Ways to Practice Punctuation
Holiday Materials - Christmas - Teacher Bulletin Volume 6
Christmas stories, readings, plays, puzzles, quizzes, activities, and bulletin board:
Twelve Days of Christmas
The Greatest Gift
The Angels' Assignment
Away in the Manger
The Angels Sing
The Words of Christmas
Holiday Materials - March - Teacher Bulletin Volume 6
Grade 1-Grade 5
Special holidays in the month of March include American Red Cross Month, Music in our Schools Month, National Women's History Month, National Nutrition Month, Youth Art Month, Adoption of the U.S. National Anthem, National School Breakfast Week, Newspaper...
Inspiration Art & Scripture
Select inspirational Christian art and nature posters for home, church and school settings.


Identifying Living or Non-living
Most toddlers and preschoolers spend their early childhood learning to sort and categorize different shapes, colors, and objects. Bring a new dimension to your child’s learning by teaching the difference between living and non-living things! Use this living and non-living worksheet to up your child’s science skills, and teaching them to classify in a whole new way!
This worksheet is perfect to help your child:
- Lay a foundation for scientific understanding
- Classify things as either living or non-living based on their prior knowledge
Science discovery is one of the best ways to spark your child’s imagination and interests for learning, so print this worksheet for some serious science fun!
Grades: More Worksheets


Make Today Matter...Facts:
- Over 70% of schools are not able to maintain funding for the arts.
- Schools with music programs compared to schools without have significantly higher education rates, 90.2% compared to 72.9%, and higher attendance rates, 93.3% compared to 84.9%.
- Students with coursework in music appreciation score roughly 60 points higher in verbal and 40 points higher in math on the SAT than their non-arts peers.
- Early musical training increases brain development in language, reasoning, math, science, memory, creativity, expression, and spatial intelligence.
- Choral singers are nearly twice as likely to be involved in charity work--as both volunteers and donors--than the average person.
- Every human culture uses music to preserve and pass on its ideas and ideals.
- Music is not limited by age, gender, ethnicity, or time.
Take action today!
- Listen to your favorite music and sing, dance, clap, jam on your air guitar, and enjoy it like no one is watching.
- Go see or buy tickets for a live music performance.
- Sign up for music lessons for yourself or your family.
- If you already sing or play an instrument, do it today or offer to teach someone who wants to learn.
- Donate unused instruments to a local school, church, or music education center.
- Communicate with your school-district administrators or national legislators. Write a letter of appreciation for the hard work they do and request continued funding for the arts.
Music is fun, expressive, imaginative, beautiful, energizing, relaxing, interesting, and freeing. Through music, we preserve our cultural heritage, celebrate our faith with praise and worship, remember events and experiences from the past, come together with friends and family, and express our emotions.
Music is the soundtrack of life!
(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)


We produced this series by request from many users of our “Art Lessons For Children” series. The series was developed for use by both children and adults to learn to draw simple shapes, nature, people and animals. This series is one of our most popular!
About the Series
With Drawing Lessons for Beginners Donna Hugh has given the aspiring artist an enormously helpful and motivating series, which supplements her lessons in the Art Lessons for Children series. In these four Drawing Lessons for Beginners volumes, she demonstrates a wide range of drawing techniques and uses a variety of drawing instruments. Throughout her long career in elementary education, Donna has emphasized both the importance and the joy of creating art.
The only materials you will need for the entire series of drawing lessons are below. Each individual volume link above lists the readily available and inexpensive materials required for each volume.
Materials Needed for Series:
- white drawing paper
- watercolor paper (optional)
- watercolor paints
- black felt-tipped pen (medium, water-based)
- blue felt-tipped pen (water-based)
- black pencils (medium, lighter “H” pencils and darker “B” pencils)
- colored pencils (water-based)
- paint brush (small to medium)
- blue drawing or construction paper (Vol. 4, Lesson 2 Only)


Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Art Education Tips and other Art Supplies topics.
Art therapy is a field of psychology that uses art materials and processes as a therapeutic intervention to aid in emotional healing. Art therapy can involve a variety of art materials, including 2-D drawing materials, and 3-D sculptural materials such as clay. In general, the art therapist does not interpret the client’s artwork. Instead, the therapist works with the client to help him or her discover which personal meanings can be found in the artwork. This type of psychotherapy is effective within all age groups, including adults, adolescents, and children. The efficacy of art therapy interventions has been demonstrated with many populations, including cancer patients and people with trauma histories. Art therapists in the United States have master’s degrees, and many of them also hold the national ATR (Art Therapist Registered) credential or board certification from the Art Therapy Credentials Board. Some art therapists with a dual education in counseling and art therapy are also licensed in their home state as a professional counselor or social worker.


The MAKE Lab conducts a variety of research projects that explore the impact of making in K-12 learning contexts and teacher education. Please view our projects and research publications below.
iAM: A free, two-week summer camp for middle school girls. This project focused on the impact of arts-integrated instruction on participants’ visual reasoning ability, mathematical understanding, mathematical performance, self-efficacy toward mathematics, and interest in related careers. Read the girls’ iAM blog and see what they were up to.
Maker Camp at Centro: A free DIY makerspace for kids of all ages that met Fridays throughout the summer at the Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos. Through exploring high tech and low tech tools and materials, this project explored the impact of open-ended creative makerspace environments on participants’ self-efficacy as a learner and as a creative individual.
OUR PUBLICATIONS ABOUT MAKING AND K-12 LEARNERS
Smith, S. (2016). (Re)Counting meaningful learning experiences: Using student-created reflective videos to make invisible learning visible during PjBL experiences. Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning, 10(1). URL
Robbins, P. & Smith, S. (2016). Robo/graphy: Practical artistic robot creations to re/envision the art classroom as a makerspace, Art Education Journal. 69(3), 44-51. URL
Smith, S. (2014). 3D printing: Where art & technology collide. Trends in Art Education, 57(1), 17-23. URL
Smith, S. (2014). The layers of me: Using digital fabrication to produce meaningful pop-ups. Arts & Activities, 155(4), 30-32. URL
OUR PUBLICATIONS ABOUT MAKING AND TEACHER EDUCATION
Cohen, J., Huprich, J., Jones, M., & Smith, S. (in press). Educators’ perceptions of a maker-based learning experience. International Journal of Information and Learning Technology.
Smith, S. (2017). Mobile makerspace carts: a practical model to transcend access and space. In M. Mills, & D. Wake (Eds.), Empowering learners with mobile open-access learning initiatives (pp. 58-73). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-2122-8 URL
Jones, M., Smith, S., & Cohen, J. (2017). Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of using maker activities in formal educational settings. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 50(3), 1-15. URL
Cohen, J., Jones, M., Smith, S., & Calandra, B. (2017). Makification: Towards a framework for leveraging the maker movement in formal education. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia. 26(3), 217-229. URL
Smith, S. & Henriksen, D. (2016). Fail again, fail better: Failure as a paradigm for learning and the arts, Art Education Journal. 69(2), 6-11. URL
Smith, S. (2015). Epic fails: Reconceptualizing failure as a catalyst for developing creative persistence within teaching and learning experiences. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 23(3), 329-355. Chesapeake, VA: Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education. URL
Ortiz, A., Bos, B., & Smith, S. (2015). The power of educational robotics as an integrated STEM learning experience in teacher preparation programs. Journal of College Science, 44(5), 42-47. URL
Smith, S. (2013). Through the teacher’s eyes: Unpacking the TPACK of digital fabrication integration in middle school language arts. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 46(2), 207–227. URL


Melbourne Youth Music's Teacher Professional Development Programme is designed to both promote and support growth and improvement in the professional knowledge and practice of instrumental ensemble music education for Victorian Music Educators.
Through our course you can learn to confidently develop and deliver inspirational instrumental music ensemble programmes.
With guidance from esteemed music educator Monte Mumford, explore ways to identify and rectify common ensemble problems associated with each instrument group, select appropriate repertoire, rehearse effectively and conduct with confidence .
This Course of study aims to explore a cross-section of ensemble fundamentals, while learning to learn to build a successful ensemble programme that is focussed on achieving real student-learning outcomes, in a rewarding way that encourages your students’ curiosity, keeping them motivated and engaged with each rehearsal.
August Course Dates: 8 August 2016 – 27 August 2016 (3 Weeks)
Location: Online and School of Music, Victorian College of the Arts, The University of Melbourne
Educator: Monte Mumford
Course Duration: 10 Hours (minimum)
- See more at: http://www.mym.org.au/fundamentals-of-effective-ensembles/


The Benefits Of Education Through Music
The Benefits of Education through Music
Music is the best discovery of man. As one of the highest forms of expression, man was able to turn to music as his form of catharsis. Songs were written out of the deepest feelings and the best thoughts about life and love.
Music is appreciated by people from all walks of life and all ages. By all ages, it means adults and kids alike. The benefits of music for adults are obvious. For kids, there are numerous special benefits of music and learning different instruments. At an early age, there are children who manifest great interest and talent when it comes to music. However, it does not mean that those who only show early interests are the only ones who must learn and enjoy the benefits.
* Music education and learning how to play musical instruments develop the child's left side of the brain which is involved in the processing of language. Also, it nurtures the child's spatial intelligence since there is a link between music and this kind of intelligence. This intelligence is about identifying things that may come together up to solving mathematical problems.
* Music as a form of Art really helps kids grow up with creativity. Through art, they could think in all aspects and not merely search for one concrete answer. This is where critical-thinking starts. There is also one study that shows how much it could help students develop special academic skills. The results state that kids who learn music excel in achievement tests in high school compared to those who do not.
* Through music, a child could get easily exposed to different people, different cultures. This would allow them to know, discover, explore and understand other people and other culture. This is an early training for them to be exposed to what the world is.
* Kids also get educated on how to build the craftsman in them. Moreover, in playing the instrument, mastery is a factor. That makes a mistake- really a mistake. With this, a student learns the value of consistent effort to achieve excellence or satisfaction. Learning how to play instruments in a group makes a kid learn the essence of teamwork.
* Musical instruments will teach kids to actively participate in learning than sit down and observe only. Furthermore, it will enhance his self-expression. The most important thing is that kids learn to conquer their fears, show their talents and share what they have. This is a foundation of a better growth and development in the holistic sense.
Education has the most flexible range. As much as possible it could extend its arms on every aspect that may mold a person into somebody who would be of real life, living not just for his very self. But, for the world.


What are the Essential Components of Effective Programs for Struggling Readers?
To answer this question, we analyzed the components of six programs for underachieving readers. The programs included Success For All, Reading Recovery, The Spalding Method, Early Intervention Reading, The Boulder Project, and The Winston-Salem Project. We also interviewed six teachers and four reading specialists about what they believed to be essential when teaching struggling readers. There were significant areas of agreement. According to the educators and the established programs, the necessary components of effective reading programs include 1) phonics instruction, 2) listening comprehension , 3) reading comprehension, 4) tutoring opportunities, and 5) extending reading from the classroom to the home. Each component is described below.
1) Explicit Phonics Instruction
There were three key reading strategies that all six programs and the ten educators cited as essential. The three skills included phonics, listening, and reading comprehension. All ten educators agreed that phonics was the number one skill that struggling readers lacked. Likewise, it was interesting to observe that the majority of instructional time in the six programs is dedicated to word recognition and fluency through explicit phonics instruction. The programs typically use prescribed texts in which stories contain letters and words that children have been introduced to.
I'm no conservative. So it's annoying that I have to align myself with the social conservative dominated phonics-first forces rather than the lefty "whole word" gang. Sadly, the data says the phonics fascists are right, and the commie whole word folks are wrong.
I'm a very strong reader, as is my wife. I probably could have learned to read using any technique. Most kids will teach themselves phonics given a few hints along the way. Children with reading needs need a directed, structured, focused, monitored phonics-driven approach. They need it even though, for the teacher, this is boring, boring stuff. It's boring stuff for natural readers too (it was hard for me to learn to read aloud -- sounding out words just slowed me down).
Boring. Dull. Painful. Necessary.


This Matisse-inspired art activity teaches technique as well as art appreciation and allows for individual creativity. Students create a stylized human figure, which they add to a colorful watercolor background. The art lesson requres no special materials and produces eye-catching results that make a colorful display.
A modified directed drawing strategy can be used to lead students through a process which is explained in easy-to-follow step-by-step directions.
Extend the lesson with a writing activity or a suggested companion art activity that reverses the design. Connect it to a science unit that deals with the human body or the human skeletal system.
This lesson includes the following:
- national visual arts standards information
- list of art concepts and skills addressed
- a list of materials needed
- targeted art and related vocabulary
- suggestions for looking at art by Henri Matisse
- detailed steps for introducing the lesson
- step-by-step directions for art-making
- ideas for extending or varying the lesson
- ideas for looking at and discussing student art
- suggestions for writing extensions
- photographs of student art work for reference
Included with this lesson is an art reflection worksheet
designed to help students reflect on their creative process and to think about how art communicates feelings or moods.
This art lesson is designed to teach art appreciation, artist behavior, and art analysis, and to foster authentic art-making and art education.
National Core Visual Arts Standards are listed at the beginning of the lesson.
Because I teach in California, this lesson also includes a list of the California Visual Arts Standards addressed for suggested grade levels. Please note that listed grade levels are suggestions only; any of these lessons can be simplified or made more complex to work for any elementary grade.
Related Art lessons:
Harvest Moon Tree Silhouette
More Art lessons and Art-integrated resources:
Integrating Art Across the Curriculum Sampler Bundle
- five integrated Art lessons
Artist Biographies for Kids
- informational text with ‘draw and write’ response prompts
Language Arts Strategies with Art BUNDLE
- learn Language Arts skills through art observation and discussion
Art Task Cards
- self-directed Art activities for early finishers or Art centers
Free Art resources:
Making Time For Art
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I am a retired elementary classroom teacher, a former art teacher, an artist and a writer. I have a Multiple Subjects credential, a Single Subject credential for Art and English, LDS/ESL certification, a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Mathematics focus, and Montessori certification. I have worked with all elementary grades, and with special groups including ELL, GATE, and At-Risk students. Creating Art With Kids
lessons and resources are designed to foster student creativity, choice, and independence, and to encourage authentic art-making. Consideration is given to developmental appropriateness, differentiation possibilities, and teacher individuality. For this reason, directions are general, expectations are open-ended, and clip art on student pages is kept to a minimum.
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School holidays are upon us again and I’m being realistic. I know it’s unlikely most of my students will do any piano practise during the holidays. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be still keeping their other skills up-to-date.
Most of them have iPads and/or iPods and there are a wealth of apps they can use to help reinforce note recognition, rhythms and theory, as well as co-ordination. Best of all, they will think they are just playing but we adults know they are still learning while having fun.
Many of the good quality apps have a small cost attached, but usually have a sample/lite version for free so you can check it out first.
Following is a small selection of apps I use regularly:
Rhythm Cat teaches and reinforces the most commonly-used musical rhythm notation. The free ‘Lite’ version has 15 levels while the ‘Pro’ version works up to following three different colours in each rhythm, encouraging co-ordination of both hands.
The ‘Cat’ family also includes ‘Treble Cat’ and ‘Bass Cat’. I don’t tend to use Bass Cat with my beginners because it starts in a different octave, but Treble Cat is better suited. These games involve recognising the notes from amongst a group of notes, not just on their own. The notes also move slowly, giving you plenty of time to recognise the correct notes.
A basic note recognition app, NoteWorks is customisable for difficulty, including clef/s and range of notes. The interface and sound effects are fun for younger students, but the app still moves quickly enough to be challenging for older students and adults.
Part of the customisation is being able to choose whether you simply name the note, or name it plus locate it on the keyboard.
While this may seem a strange selection because it involves neither note recognition or a keyboard, I love it because it not only encourages eye-hand co-ordination and developing fine motor skills, but also exposes the students to a range of music they might not otherwise hear. Music education apps don’t always need to be obviously teaching 🙂
This addictive app also helps to develop a good sense of rhythm.
This app has a suite of different games within it and caters to a range of abilities. Also, some games use the microphone to hear what you are playing on your own piano (which the kids love), while others use just the device.
Tap that Note uses the device to identify notes, while Play that Note requires you to play to specified note on the piano (or whatever instrument you tell the app you are using). Play-a-day is a great sight reading exercise for intermediate students. As the name suggests, Hear It, Note It – also available as a standalone game – involves listening to what is played and notating it and has three difficulty levels within. Activities include tasks such as adding accidentals to correct a scale or completing rhythms with notes, rests and bar lines.
While it does contain basic note recognition, Tenuto is really suited to more advanced students, as the majority of activities are more complex.
The concept of this is quite simple… if the notes are going up, tap the screen more to the right; if the notes are descending, tap the screen to the left. It is designed to test your aural ability.
However, these are not simple melodies. If it’s not a tune you already know, the songs can be difficult as some can have up to 50 or 60 notes (or more!). Consequently, this is not for beginners. It’s a great aural tester for experienced musicians, though.
Enjoy your holidays!
If you are considering music lessons for your child or for yourself, please contact me to discuss the options. Piano lessons are conducted at my studio in Wallsend, NSW or mobile lessons are available in the eastern suburbs of Lake Macquarie.


Why Kids Struggle with Math and How to Help
Math is one subject area where kids can struggle to master the concepts and be successful. There are several areas of weakness common to many children including number facts, computation, following directions, understanding terminology, and transferring knowledge that can make math challenging for kids. One thing to keep in mind is that you should always present a positive attitude toward math with your child as it will help them to continue to strive hard to master the skills.
Younger children should be encouraged to practice number facts at home. This includes number recognition, counting forward and backward, and skip counting. Building strong foundational skills will help them to combat computational weakness. One way to have them practice computation is through repetition. Any activity that can provide repetition to practice the steps in solving a problem or memorizing fact families will help them later in solving more complex problems.
Many children freeze when reading a word problem because they do not understand math terminology. Practice with your child so they can learn the various terms that identify what type of steps they should take to solve the problem. For example, “find the sum” refers to addition. Following the directions through the steps of the problem with your child and learning the vocabulary will help them to be successful. At home, you can even make your own math “word” problems by asking questions while you are cooking, gardening, or even picking up toys. An example would be, if we have 3 blue circles and 3 yellow stars and we need to put them into the bucket, how many shapes will be in the bucket when we are done picking up?
Real Life Connections to Math
Lastly, home is one of the core areas where children learn to transfer knowledge and build connections between different parts of their lives. This is an important skill to see the larger picture of learning. Making real life connections to math when possible will make math more meaningful and realistic in their lives.
Look for posts that cover these topics more in depth over the next month including at home ideas for practicing the skills that kids struggle with most frequently.
How do you help at home when your child is struggling with math in school?


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Individuals who’re related to everything about music will accept the very fact that it’s a significant area of the society along with the communities. Music is timeless which is not impacted by the alterations in generations. Every human culture expresses itself through music. It carries the minds and beliefs in that point. In the following paragraphs we’ll discuss why it’s so essential for students to possess music education.
The significance of music education continues to be emphasized through several studies and researches. Research from the music art confirms that it’s highly significant since it enables the kids with an internal peek at other cultures. It teaches these to be truly empathetic for the people of other cultures too.
This creates within the youthful mind, a feeling of empathy and empathy. It prevents the introduction of avarice along with a selfish attitude. This provides strong bridges over the different cultures which ultimately result in a reverence from the other races at quite an earlier age.
Aside from comprehending the culture, music also provides great value towards the economy of the nation. It makes lots of jobs within the field, boosts tourism, enhances development in related business and boosts the tax base. You may be a personal music teacher or educate most of the schools. Study regarding music likewise helps to build up skills which are essential at work, for example discipline and working together skills. This originates from the concept of playing together as well as in sync throughout a musical performance.
Music works within the favor of working and doing, instead of observing. Fundamental essentials essential ethics the employers search for. Music also is able to heal, calm and relax. This leads to a far more positive look at existence, decreasing the non productive activities, a wish to boost abilities and cut lower on alcohol or drugs.


Hamilton Education sells hard copy teaching resources that support Hamilton plans at very low cost. Group Readers, phonics books, number lines and 'Five Minute Fillers' can help you teach literacy and numeracy skills in your classroom.
Rhymes for Year 5
These Rhymes are excellent for encouraging speaking and listening. Easily learned by heart, they make a very useful support to the development of memory and of comprehension when reading short texts. Children can perform these Poems or Rhymes, or they can simply read, learn and enjoy them.
Down the mine goes brave young Jack A wooden ball rolls down the track... A rhyme told in five verses each with four lines of rhyming couplets.
Let me tell you how it is ’cos you’re not meant
to be alone in this world...
There are three verses to this song with some suggested instrumentation.
Here are Grandma’s spectacles,
And here is Grandma’s hat...
There are two verses each with four lines. Children could invent some hand movements to accompany this rhyme.
I’ve got a wife and two kids, and I work in the butter factory.
One day, my boss came to me and said “Joe Are you busy?” I said “No”....
This rhyme is known as a boy scout song. Each time the boss asks Joe to work adding another body part, so children will repeat the second verse and take turns suggesting, e.g. left hand, right foot, etc
I asked the little boy who cannot see,
‘And what is colour like?’
‘Why, green,’ said he....
Told in five pairs of rhyming couplets, this is about how a boy perceives colour.
One Happy New Year in the Kingdom of Persia
As the country rejoiced...
This rhyme consists of seven verses each with four lines and tells the story of the prince's pride for his enchanted horse.
Melissa was a greedy child
She was not loud, she was not wild...
This rhyme is written in rhyming couplets and leaves us with a warning about the destructiveness of greed.
A child is born, a mother cares
for all her needs, her love she shares...
This rhyme in eight lines is the sad truth that that we all grow up and move away eventually.
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
This short poem by Wordsworth describes the joy that he feels when he sees a rainbow.
Little red hairy man
no taller than your knee...
Three short verses with four lines each. The phrase 'little red hairy man' occurs each time on lines one and three, enabling quick memorisation.
She lives all alone in Siberia,
It’s not good for your health to get near to her....
This ballad warns you to stay away from the witch, Baba Yaga, a character from Slavic folklore. There are four verses with very catchy rhythmic patterns.
There was an old witch, believe it if you can;
She tapped on the window and she ran, ran, ran...
A traditional Hallowe'en favourite, told in two verses with rhyming couplets.
She goes out alone, a hunter by night
At home by the fire she curls up so tight...
There are five pairs if couplets, each describing an animal, which could be thought of as riddles. Guess the favourite animal! Children could be encouraged to write their own using this model.


Vision & Mission
To Be Analytical Thinkers and Problem Solvers
MissionTo offer a rich mathematical experience where students learn to think critically for problem-solving, actively apply and communicate mathematical understanding.
Key Curriculum Approach
The Department believes that every child’s formative development is important and so adopts the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach, where students will have the opportunity to learn in a concrete manner using manipulatives before moving on to more abstract concepts. The Department aims to strengthen the students’ foundation in numeracy skills through the variety of learner-centred strategies.
Math Problem Solving Approach UC³
A BGPS in-house production, the Math Problem Solving Approach UC3 Booklet contains weekly exercises to provide an opportunity for all students to hone their problem-solving skills. Through these exercises, students practice the UC³, a whole school approach to problem-solving. Students are also exposed to the use of various heuristics such as model drawing through such exercise
Integrated Learning Journeys (P4 – P5)
Integrated Learning Journeys are conducted for P4 and P5 students yearly. Such Learning Journeys integrate subjects such as Mathematics, English, Social Studies and various aesthetics together to give students the opportunity to learn the application of Mathematics in the real world context while taking in the historical and cultural aspects of the places that they are visiting.


Judith Green, interviewed by Kate Rowell, November 14, 2017
Location of interview: Cooperstown, New York
Judith Green grew up in Syracuse, New York and studied music education at Syracuse University. She worked as a music teacher in Watertown and Cooperstown, New York and taught elementary, middle, and high school students. In this story, she talks about why learning to play musical instruments is important.
JG: You know, math is a big part of music education, I think most people don’t think about [that]. It’s a good discipline, but also good for expression. You have to be disciplined in order to be artistic, to some extent, you can’t just run off and throw things together. You have to have some idea of what you’re doing. I think that music education teaches that, it’s part of it. I mean, there have been times where someone would say “Well, you know my father says that this is not important, that I don’t need to do this.” Which really upset me, and I had to be calm about saying, “That’s not true. There are so many things you’re going to do. It doesn’t have to be classical music, but it would be nice to know what you’re doing and to express yourself.” And I think that when you get a chance to let kids express themselves, then they’re proud of themselves. They’re proud of what they can do. And you can see that, whether it’s in teaching third grade recorders, which are… interesting. [laughs] I taught third grade recorders for a long time! But you know, when they can actually see that they can actually read the music and hear themselves, it’s a good beginning, it’s a good outlet.


By Teresa Colomer
Read or Download Andar entre libros (Espacios Para La Lectura) (Spanish Edition) PDF
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Additional resources for Andar entre libros (Espacios Para La Lectura) (Spanish Edition)