I’ve been a big fan of TED talks. TED conferences happen all over the world and the brief talks/presentations are available for free at ted.com. Listening to them while in my car makes me immune to Chicago traffic. Why mention it here? There are a number of TED speakers with great insight into children and education.
Normally, I’m not a huge fan of Mondays. I look at my “Things to Do List” and feel overwhelmed. Well, not today. Sure, my “To Do List” is long and getting longer, but this morning I was lucky enough to meet five inspiring Whitney Young High School students. With Teacher Brian Sievers, they work in a lab at the University of IL, Chicago, creating biodiesel from donated used oil, e.g. soy, canola. Their fuel powers anything … Read more!
A line I’ve heard from parents more than once the last few months: “How do I have time to worry about the environment? I’m just trying to love my kids.”
And when the dinner needs to be made, Johnny needs help with homework, the car needs an oil change, Katie’s being bullied, and our company is shipping jobs overseas… then worrying about the environment falls pretty low on the list of “things to do … Read more!
Is it time to consider the Whole Child? Not long ago, a friend and I were talking about different approaches to education. We, like nearly everyone, agree the current public educational system can do better. But, is the movement to narrow curriculum, increase class time, heap on homework and focus on rote memorization for standardized tests the right answer (as promoted by programs like “Race to the Top”)?
Can we do better than … Read more!
A recent story in Chicago Artists Resources on Green Sugar Press:
I was good at being a kid, mostly because my parents and grandparents were good at being parents and grandparents. Mom and Dad rarely allowed us kids to watch TV, but they gave us the freedom to wander the neighborhood unchaperoned. Our grandparents provided wild places to roam. I became a world-class frog catcher and a top-notch husker of sweet corn.
After my success … Read more!
Whenever I visit a school I try to learn as much as possible, always making it a point to ask students how they spend their day. I’m interested for a few reasons, including discovering how much physical activity they get. While my “research” is anecdotal, there’s plenty of evidence (besides our waistlines) that shows we get less exercise than we used to.
And while we might “know” exercise is good for our bodies, and we … Read more!
A two part interview with Little Green Pen’s Michelle Schaub with views on environmental education: http://www.littlegreenpen.blogspot.com/
And Sarah Davies of Unplug your Kids, wrote a review of one of the books I had mailed to her a few months ago:
http://unplugyourkids.com/2010/11/16/environmental-guide-from-a-to-z/… Read more!
I crashed the ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) conference the other day. Yes, I’m getting too old to sneak into events. I didn’t do it for the rubber chicken served at lunch, but to listen to Sir Ken Robinson.
A world-renowned expert in creativity, Sir Ken entertains. After the lunch and a follow up session with him, my cheeks hurt.
Google him and watch one of his videos at the TED conference. … Read more!
Here’s the unedited and full-length version of last month’s interview in a Boston College newsletter for graduates.
Boston College Alumni Profile: A Conversation with Environmental Educator and Children’s Author, Tim Magner
By Timothy Sullivan
BCEEAN Newsletter Editor and executive committee member, Tim Sullivan, posed the following questions to environmental educator and children’s author Tim Magner to discuss his views on environmental education today.
What drew you to the field?
First and foremost, it’s about spending … Read more!
So much to cover, so little time…
Being a kid today is different than a generation ago. Between an increase in the amount of enrichment activities, organized sports, “screen” options (TV, video games, computers, phones) and homework, some kids suffer from increased pressure. The only thing there isn’t more of is time.
A lot of teachers I’ve spoken with feel the same way. They’re expected to cover a growing amount of material in a limited … Read more!
