Weather Blog

August 31, 2006

Pronunciation: Get Better In Another Language

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 1:00 pm

Pronunciation can affect how we communicate. Many people, who have had a go at learning a foreign language, have experienced that sinking feeling when they try a well-constructed sentence in another language only to be met with a blank face.

Why is this?

Languages are built on sounds. If I speak English and live in an English-speaking country I expect a speaker to say sounds in a particular way. In French or Spanish I would expect to hear different sounds. When we can’t recognise the sound we try and adjust how we are listening, a bit like tuning a radio, but if we can’t guess the sound, the chances are we won’t understand what is being said.

The Blocks of Pronunciation

Pronunciation has two main aspects to it, physically producing it and the sound that is produced from it, the hearing of the sound. As we get older the ability to do both of these, i.e. physically work out how to make the sound and recognise it, can diminish. This doesn’t mean we can’t continue to learn new languages but we need some extra tricks to help us.

Let’s look at some ideas on what we can do when we learn a new language.

How am I saying it?

Try saying the letters. Notice how your mouth is working. If you don’t know how a sound is physically made you may find it harder to say it.

What sounds are the same?

English has many more sounds than other languages but it also has a lot of sounds in common with other languages. Good dictionaries in a new language will usually offer an English sound or word to compare with. Use it to check what sounds are similar.

Which sounds are hard to say?

Go through the alphabet of the new language and mark out the ones you find hard to say. Give them some attention. Try and physically make the sound and see how your mouth works. Say the alphabet. Look at how children use the alphabet song in English to help them remember the alphabet, doing the same in a new language will also help memorise the letters and sounds.

Read out loud.

Find some reading form your course book or any other book. There are two advantages here. One you get to say the letters and words. Secondly you get to practise sounds that you expect to hear and you become accustomed to the sounds of the language.

How good do I need to be?

There is much discussion on this. For many of us the ability to get by in other languages is good enough. If we can say what we want, simply, slowly and the person we are speaking to, can understand us, then our pronunciation is probably good enough. After that it is a matter of choice. Some people become very good at other languages and get to very good levels of pronunciation. Not many of us are such gifted linguists but there’s no reason why we can’t make the words so that people can understand us.

August 29, 2006

Proposed Budget For The New York City Schools

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — admin @ 9:18 pm

In June 2006, the city announced a proposed operating budget of $14 billion for the New York City schools. Parents and educators are still waiting pessimistically to see the final cut.

Though this year’s unveiling of the New York City schools budget was received more peacefully than in recent years, the city’s past track record makes optimism difficult. Last year’s proposed budget was drastically different after the final cuts were made. Students returning to school last September found many classes eliminated due to budget cuts. Parents and educators alike created enough turmoil in the high schools that many of the programs were restored.

Everyone in the New York City schools system, including parents, have accepted that the New York City schools do not have enough money, and yet they see little being done about it. Teachers continue to buy their own supplies, while parents help to provide for classroom needs. Even students accept the overcrowding and facilities that are in disrepair as the norm.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg states that he has increased the New York City schools budget by $2.5 billion since he took office, but it is not enough. This year’s New York City schools’ budget has only a slight increase from last year, it banks on receiving money from elsewhere that is not guaranteed, and makes assumptions that are not probable, as well as other problems.

First, New York City schools Chancellor Joel Klein has confirmed that the budget increase will go primarily to pay for the increased costs in fuel and fringe benefits, noting that transportation and heating are essential to operating the schools. Though the $1 billion increase raises per student funding to $910, very little will reach the classroom. Most will be used to cover administrative costs. For teachers and parents already stretched thin from funding supplies that should be paid for by the New York City schools, this is not good news.

Second, the proposed budget makes two assumptions: (1) The New York City schools will receive almost $2 billion for capital expenses from Albany in connection with a lawsuit with the state, and (2) teachers will agree to a contract with only a modest salary increase.

The money expected from the state has not been included in the state’s budget, since the governor has appealed the court’s decision. Even if the New York City schools prevail in court, there will be no money for the 2006-2007 school year from the state for this lawsuit.

Teachers are not expected to accept the proposed contract, since they and the Council of Supervisors and Administrators (about 5,500 principals and upper level staff) have been working without a contract for the past two years. The United Federation of Teachers already has criticized the mayor for not using the city’s $3.3 billion surplus to settle the standoff. The mayor argues that the surplus is only temporary, while stating that he wants the contracts to be as other city workers. The teachers, police, and firefighters have been strongly opposing the mayor’s contract proposals for two years. Such a teachers’ contract would take away many of the job protections that are now present, such as eliminating seniority rules and making it easier to fire a teacher.

Another problem is Klein, whom advocates for the New York City schools say has spent too much money on consultants and costly bureaucrats with little educational experience. These costs, as well as others, can easily be hidden in the vague language of the proposed budget.

Lastly, the proposed New York City schools budget must survive the political wrangling of the city council members. The past has shown that members lobby for changes and programs that benefit only their constituents, rather than all New York City schools.

Though last year’s standardized test scores rose sharply, the New York City schools have a lot of challenges to face this school year, and it does not look as though this budget will help to resolve them. There is not a lot of optimism about this proposed budget.

August 27, 2006

Pros And Cons Of Homeschooling

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 3:25 pm

Homeschooling, as an effective educational program, has undergone numerous debates. In fact, opinions are equally divided between the pros and the cons. Homeschooling, indeed, offers benefits for the child but like many things, there are also some downsides to implementing the program. It is therefore best to know the pros and cons before you get your kid into the program. It is up to the parents to sift through the positives and the negatives of homeschooling.

Pros

Flexible structure

One of the things that puts homeschooling in stellar position is the fact that it is highly flexible and dynamic. Unlike traditional curriculum which is fixed, the homeschooling system allows changes, in fact it encourages them.

Tailor-fit to the child

Because of the fluid structure of homeschooling programs, the lessons can be tailor-fitted to the child’s capability, pace and learning style. There is no pressure to keep up with the lesson of the day and students can start or finish their lessons any time of the day.

More practical learning activities

Homescholing is an unstructured educational program, which allows for more freedom in terms of learning activities. Parents can actually decide on what to do to better teach the subject. This means that there can be more unstructured learning exercises such as visits to zoos or museums.

Cons

Lacking in social interaction

One of the downsides of homeschooling program is the fact that it lacks the social component, which teaches the child to interact with other people. This is especially needed during the stage when the social and communication skills of children are just developing. To supplement the absence of this component, some parents organize social activities for their children.

Time constraints

Although time is rarely a factor in homeschooling because of the lack of a structure, it only applies to the children. It will be time consuming for the parents, some of which have to leave their work to go full time in teaching their children. Remember that you have to be with your homeschooling child all through out his or her lesson. In addition, a lot of time need to be given to correcting worksheets and making visuals.

Money problems

Although there is actually no tuition fee for a homeschooling program, the money problems come in when one of the marriage partner has to leave work to teach the child. Remember that homeschooling can take so much time. For parents who both have careers, sacrificing one source of income can be pretty hard for the whole family.

Proposed Policy For Texas Schools May Do More Harm Than Good

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — admin @ 12:36 pm

There is a proposal on the table by Governor Rick Perry and the Texas schools. They share a commitment to provide a high quality education for every child in the state of Texas. A commendable goal to be sure; however, their latest proposal for the Texas schools is drawing some opposition in high places.

The governor and the Texas schools recently proposed a new policy to require all school districts in Texas to spend at least 65 percent of their operating budgets on “direct classroom instruction.” The goal is to limit administrative costs and to spend more of their budgets on actual instruction.

The problem is with the definition of “direct classroom instruction.” The Texas schools define it as “activities associated with interaction of teachers and students.” This includes teaching staff salaries and benefits, as well as classroom supplies, such as textbooks and teaching materials. The broad definition also includes transportation of athletic teams to their events.

What is not covered are teacher professional development and curriculum, student counseling, and some library expenses.

Texas representative Joe Straus (R-San Antonio for District 21), according to the Austin-American Statesman, stated that teacher professional development is essential to delivering a quality education to Texas students. With the proposed policy, he said you can get an athletic team to an event, but the coach will lack the expertise and training to win the game. Straus believes this proposed policy will shortchange the teachers and ultimately shortchange the students, too.

More opposition is coming from former Secretary of Education Rod Paige, who addressed the “65 percent proposal” recently in The New York Times. He believes the policy will limit educators at a time when they need to innovate the most. They need more freedom &ndash not less. He wants the Texas schools to stress teacher professional development, Internet content to supplement lessons, and after-school tutoring opportunities for the students. None of these would be considered related to direct classroom instruction.

Straus further stated that if the teachers are not prepared to do their jobs well, then any other efforts to improve student academic achievement will be a waste of time.

The Austin-American Statesman article of July 21, 2006, noted that one in every two teachers in the United States will quite teaching within five years, and that more than 200,000 teachers will not return to teaching next fall &ndash that is nearly six percent of all teachers across the nation. It was further noted that research has proven that new and effective forms of professional teacher development, along with powerful instructional methods, do improve teacher retention &ndash not just in a particular school, but within the career field as well.

Retention of quality teachers is essential for the Texas schools, as well as for student academic achievement. Retention requires training and development for the Texas schools’ teachers. Without it, the goal of a quality education for every Texas schools student is lost.

August 26, 2006

Pros And Cons Of Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — admin @ 9:48 pm

Throughout life, we are constantly comparing ourselves to others. New moms compare pregnancies, labor, and their babies’ growth and development. Parents of school-age children compare their children’s success in school and their prowess in sports, arts, and intelligence. Teenagers compare wardrobes, grades, boyfriends or girlfriends, and their cars. High school graduates compare colleges or universities based on the party-factor, excellence in their choice of study, athletic programs, or the vision or philosophy of the school. Even brides compare their wedding plans to those of other brides, from celebrity weddings to those couples who get married on TV to their own friends who have already walked down the aisle.

Businesses also rely on comparisons and rankings to determine their success. Their position on the stock exchange, popularity of their brand-name and the amount of consumer use or consumption of their product can all be considered to determine not only how successful the business is, but how it compares or ranks to others. Comparing Public School Rankings for K-12 is no exception. Schools, parents, students, administrators, government officials, the general public as well as the media are all interested in Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. Almost all groups are concerned with how their particular school figures into Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest.

The benefits of looking at Public School Rankings For K-12 are practically endless. Parents, perhaps you, feel the need to look at how their schools fit into Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. Families may be relocating and are wondering what neighborhoods are the best, not only by looking at housing costs, proximity to the office and safety, but also consider Public School Rankings For K-12 for that area. Indeed, many parents relocate their families solely based on the desire to improve the education their children receive. They base their decision to a large part on Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest.

The drawbacks to Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest, while few, are present. In some cases, the comparisons can be demoralizing to all those interested &ndash but especially for students and teachers. Students who attend a school that is low on the scale of Public School Rankings For K-12 may not get the message that their education is important. They may feel discriminated against; too often, schools who have low achievement or other problems receive less funding than their more successful counterparts, the success of which is determined by Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. Teachers who work at a school that figures low into Public School Rankings For K-12 may feel they are doing their best may also feel pressure and stress from the comparisons of themselves to other teachers at more successful schools.

When looking at Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest, keep in mind that this is useful information, but that it’s also important to look at other factors in deciding which school is best for your child.

August 24, 2006

Pros And Cons Of Stem Cell Research - Are Adult Stem Cells Just As Good?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — admin @ 9:16 am

Many of us know that the center of the debate of the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research revolves around embryonic stem cells and whether or not using them is morally appropriate. But, are politics and the media hiding the real potential of it’s brother Adult Stem Cell Research? Ultimately, the real question is whether or not Adult Stem Cells have as many capabilities as Embryonic Stem Cells. For many years the stem cell debate was fueled by the embryonic stem cell advocates saying that Adult Stem Cells weren’t really capable of turning into other types of cells (which is the real benefit of stem cell research) and were therefore limited in what they could become. You might be surprised at the new developments in Adult Stem Cell Research.

It should be noted that more money is given to Adult Stem Cell Research (the NIH gave $190 Million last year compared to the $24.8 million given for Embryonic Stem Cells). We hear all the time, from advocates such as Michael J. Fox, that Embryonic Stem Cells are the real future in stem cell research and that the promising research is done in the field. But, what many of the Adult Stem Cell critics are missing is that Adult Stem Cells have been used in many treatments 72 adult stem cell treatments have been performed at last count, while a whopping 0 have been performed from Embryonic Stem Cells. These same Adult stem cells are used in bone-marrow transplants and even treat certain cases of leukemia and other blood disorders. There are also treatments being made for heart attacks, liver, bone and brain diseases and disorders. Adult Stem Cells can also be derived from many places such as Umbilical Cord Blood, Hair Follicles, Skin Cells, and several others.

“Osiris, which grew out of research by scientists at Case Western University in Cleveland, is using stem cells from bone-marrow donors to target, among other maladies, heart disease, specifically heart attacks. It is in early-stage human testing of a therapy in which heart-attack patients are intravenously injected with stem cells that are said to migrate to the heart and replace damaged cells.” - The Washington Post

John Hopkins University Professor, Saul J. Sharkis, who has mad advances in Adult Stem Cell Research, was very surprised at what has been accomplished in Adult Stem Cell Research. He says, “It is mind-blowing stuff,” and “I never would have thought this would be possible … Preposterous. Not Possible. No Way.”

Obviously many in the scientific community are excited and surprised by these findings. If this really is the answer, it could be the end to the debate over the Pros and Cons of Stem Cell Research as we know it. It is definitely an exciting possibility that has already yielded some great successes.

August 23, 2006

Pro And Cons Of Home Schooling

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , — admin @ 11:22 am

Home schooling is a popular way to educate children all around the globe for a variety of reasons. Main home schooling pros and cons follow.

Cons

Level of Learning - Too many people think that those children who are home schooled will not receive appropriate levels of education compared to students learning in public and private schools. On the contrary, parents of home scholars work with their local boards of education, principals and / or other educational consultants to ensure they are meeting the requirements set forth.

Socialization - Another negative viewpoint is that those students who are studying at home do not get to mingle enough with their peer groups and other instructors, administration and school personnel and teachers. And that’s just hogwash. Students at home meet with others in home school groups to tour all types of local and far away places that coordinate with their study plans. And equally if not more important, home school students are introduced to real life people throughout their days: bankers, grocers, and other professionals introduced through their program studies and real life as they go around on errands with parents.

Lack of Routine / Regimented Days - Some view a lack of disciplined hours Monday through Friday with home schooled students as negative. However, many home school parents establish routines at home, too. Children are not left haphazardly running around the streets unattended.

Lack of Real World Environment & Prep- And still others believe that home schooled children will lack environmental and other preparation for real life that public and private school supposedly teach their students. Again, more hogwash. Home schooled children learn science, technology, music, gym, any and all subjects - only more thoroughly, because they are focusing on what they are learning, not being bored with subjects taught over and over to help slower paced learners so that everyone is up to speed.

Pros

Private for Less Money - A home school education is like enjoying private education without the cost. Students get more one-on-one help, targeted lessons and advanced learning opportunities as their teachers do not have to teach to all levels, often covering lower-learning levels that bore more average and advanced learners.

Improved Targeted Subjects - lessons in the home school environment are also to be customized much more easily than those in public and private school. Results include much higher levels of education with targeted useful knowledge to help students after graduation.

Higher Grades - Home schooled students are known to average much higher grades than their peers in public and private schools. Many get accepted to top colleges and universities on scholarships.

Boredom Busters - Home schooling allows students to move ahead to better topics.

August 22, 2006

Psychology Journal Article Resource Guide

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: — admin @ 2:05 pm

The psychology journal article is the essential document for several study tasks. And the more specific or narrow the topic of study, the more precious the psychology journal article. So where do you begin, for your own paper or research in psychology, sociology, or many other science branches?

Begin with the major indexes, those databases that have directed, dated (or updated) sources and resources and internationally published and professional psychology journal articles. These indexes typically include APA, NIMH, and other renowned journals; and the journal-finding sites are, for example, as follows:

PubMed&ndashpubmed.gov

PSYCLINE–psycline.org/journals/psycline.html

Hanover College Psych Dept Journals —

psych.hanover.edu/Krantz/ journal.html

Oxford Journals–ei.oxfordjournals.org

The Worldwide Web Virtual Library Psychology Journals

–.dialogical.net/psychology/journals.html

You can access most if not all of these and several more indexes through your college or local library, both of which usually also have a number of back issues of the journals with the psychology journal articles you are looking for. In the county where I am from, for example, the community colleges offer ProQuest Psychology Journals, InfoTrak Expanded Academic ASAP, and links to Psychology Journals’ Websites, among other access/search engines.

In several cases, however, you can access the journal article online and off-campus can download and print it, too. Some cost a few dollars, and some are free.

Once you get to an index you like, you will want to look first for the psychology journal. Make sure it will render 1) a literature review; 2) methods; 3) results; 4) discussion; and 5) data [according to Skyline College librarian suggestions]. And once you get to the specific journal, to search for a psychology journal article, look for complete articles by clicking on the “full text” option. When you get a list of psychology journal articles, you can click on the title, then click on the “get article,” “download,” or “print” options.

August 20, 2006

Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — admin @ 10:42 am

There are many factors that go into Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. To compare schools based on only one or two items of data would be inaccurate and foolhardy at best. For example, simply relying on test scores and graduation rates would give the user a skewed if not a faulty view of Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. The really good Public School Rankings.

for K-12 Gen Interest scores look at all kinds of things to decide which ones are the best, the worst, and in between.

There are definitely some interesting, if not the most popular aspects of schools that go into Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. For example, one might compare schools based on their location; and this does not mean by state. It’s intriguing to note the differences of Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest based on students who attend schools in cities, suburbs, towns, and rural areas.

One such aspect that may be considered for Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest is how many students come to school unprepared to learn. Coming to school unprepared to learn includes such things as whether a child has had breakfast, a good night’s sleep or proper clothing. This type of Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest it can also include how much preparation for the next school day, is made or how much mom or dad work with the child at home. Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest can reveal that 26.8% students throughout the nation come to school unprepared to learn; 22.2% suburban students, 25.7 town students, and 22.0% of rural students arrive at school unprepared to learn.

Lack of parental involvement is another aspect that can give data to go into Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. 30.3% of city students, 18.3% of suburban students, 25.7% of town students, and 17.4% of rural students lack parental involvement. This means that students have parents who may not volunteer at their child’s school, do not attend school events, do not read to their children at home, or do not help with homework and school projects as needed. This is most definitely important when compiling data to reflect Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest.

How many students cut class is a valuable bit of information to consider for Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest. The more a student is physically in class, the more he or she will learn and retain, and the better that student will do on assessments. It’s awfully hard to give a child knowledge when they don’t show up! Students who live in cities have 10.3% of their peers cutting class. 4.3% of students in suburban areas are cutting class, 3.9% are doing so in towns, and 2.9% of rural students cut class.

It is interesting to note the many differences in students who live in cities, towns, suburbs, and rural areas, and what that data tells about those students to better understand Public School Rankings For K-12 Gen Interest.

Public School Rankings

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , — admin @ 8:52 am

Remember the Army slogan, “I Want YOU for the U.S. Army!”? The poster showed a very stern Uncle Sam jabbing his finger nearly out of the picture. What about the one by Smokey the Bear? “Even YOU can prevent forest fires!” Well, let’s add another one, shall we? “It’s important for YOU to consider Public School Rankings !” when considering a move to a new city or state.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers &ndash This is not some new teaching technique, but points to something unique. Public School Rankings can show you which schools have something different to offer, and how well they do so compared to other similar programs. While you should never choose a school for your child based solely on the fact that it is unique and out-of-the-box, schools that rank high in Public School Rankings and that have unique, diverse programs in place indicate that they are concentrating on ensuring the best possible education they can give.

Looking at Public School Rankings will also give you valuable information on how well these schools are performing in core academics. Test scores are a big part of Public School Rankings, and high scores will definitely show which schools have students who are earning high marks. A unique program at an excellent school situated near the top of a Public School Rankings may be just what you are looking for, so don’t forget to consider where the school in question falls in Public School Rankings .

Open Doors &ndash Preparing yourself with information gathered by studying Public School Rankings of schools in the area you are considering will help out when you tour schools and visit classrooms. Principals and teaches will appreciate your knowledge about how their school has performed in Public School Rankings , but be sure not to come off as a know-it-all about the school you are visiting. Coming to the school informed with the school’s placement in Public School Rankings will show that you are interested in the school you are considering, and that you will make sure to be a partner with educators in the schooling of your child.

Updated Information &ndash Researching the Public School Rankings in the city or state you are thinking of moving to is simply logical. While it’s good to talk to other parents in the area you are heading for, keep in mind that they can only speak from their own experiences. I once had a teacher tell me not to place my daughter in our school’s gifted program because her brother hated it; and she was a grandmother! Her experience and information was outdated, to say the least. Word of mouth is indeed a valuable tool to determine which schools are good, but don’t discount the information you’ll get from Public School Rankings. These rankings are an unbiased report on how a school is performing.

And don’t forget, only YOU can choose the school (based in part on Public School Rankings ) that is best for your child!

Older Posts »