On the first day of fifth grade, Mr. Jay Cutler introduced himself as our English teacher for the rest of the school year. He then promised us that he would walk across the classroom on his hands whenever the entire class completed their homework. "You may think I'm lying, but I'm not," he told us. He then added with a wink, "The only question is...
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Earlier today, I read about Egalia, a Swedish preschool that aims to break down gender stereotypes. At this taxpayer-funded preschool located in the liberal Sodermalm district of Stockholm, staff avoid using pronouns such as "him" or "her" and address the 33 children as "friends" rather than boys and girls. Every little detail — from the color and placement of toys to the selection of literature (which mostly consists of books dealing with homosexual couples, single parents or adopted children) — has been carefully planned to ensure that the children do not fall into gender stereotypes from a young age. I couldn't help but be reminded of the Canadian parents who are hiding the gender of their baby. Upon reading that article, I remember asking...
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In an effort to encourage parents to get involved in their children's learning, advertising agency Cramer-Krasselt has teamed up with COA Youth & Family Centers to set up interactive displays — dubbed "Guerilla Classrooms" — around the city of Milwaukee. AdAge explains: To promote parent-child interaction in fun ways, Cramer-Krasselt has set up large puzzles, word searches, mazes, books and rulers, sign-language translators, around-the-world basketball courts and a visual sound wave wall. Each display is designed to teach "real-world" applications of math, science, geography and reading. Take a look at some of the displays below. I love them! The ultimate aim of this campaign is to raise awareness of the positive impact parents' involvement can have on their child's education. I wouldn't be surprised if parents, as well...
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Lately I have been plagued with a nagging uncertainty that makes me wonder if I had peaked too early in life. Allow me to explain. Before the age of 20, I was a Little Miss Overachiever: straight 'A's in school, tons of extracurricular activities, numerous awards, distinctions, and merits. My accomplishments included the following: Not only did I qualify for the regional orchestra made up of 50 high schools in the lower NY area, I wrangled solo performances. I was accepted to the über-prestigious Cooper Union School of Art's Saturday Program (which has since divided into the Saturday Program and the Outreach Program) which allowed me to take art classes — for free — every Saturday for an entire summer from some of the...
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With the increasing number of studies and articles questioning the value of college degrees, in addition to the declining rates of employment and starting salaries among new graduates, it is no wonder that today's young adults are fraught with regrets about their college choices. According to a recent study by Rutgers University’s Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, a full 74% of recent graduates wish that they had done something differently about their college careers. At the top of the list is choosing a different major, with getting more internships/experience a close second: I can't help but be reminded of myself and my husband when reading articles such as these. Shortly after we had first started dating, I had asked him, "If you could...
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