Dr. Kathy Roemer's Insights on Education

Sir Ken Robinson at his best

twinparksmontessorischools — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:16:52 +0000

Creativity expert, Sir Ken Robinson, outlines 3 principals crucial for the human mind to flourish – and how current education culture works against them.

The Importance of Talking to Our Children

twinparksmontessorischools — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:33:10 +0000

“If everyone talked to their young children the same amount, there would be no racial or socioeconomic gap at all.” This controversial claim was made in a New York Times article, “The Power of Talking to Your Baby,” by Tina Rosenberg. Some excerpts from this article based on the research of Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley at the University of Kansas:

“Children whose families were on welfare heard about 600 words per hour. Working-class children heard 1,200 words per hour, and children from professional families heard 2,100 words. By age 3, a poor child would have heard 30 million fewer words in his home environment than a child from a professional family…. Hart and Risley… found that parents talk much more to girls than to boys (perhaps because girls are more sociable, or because it is Mom who does most of the care, and parents talk more to children of their gender). This might explain why young, poor boys have particular trouble in school.

And the disparity mattered: the greater the number of words children heard from their parents or caregivers before they were 3, the higher their IQ and the better they did in school. TV talk not only didn’t help, it was detrimental.”

Children need to hear an abundance of a varied vocabulary.

An Amazing Project for A Village

twinparksmontessorischools — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:06:36 +0000

One of my colleagues forwarded this video to me. Take a look at what a village is doing to provide music for its students.

Sticks and Stones

twinparksmontessorischools — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:28:58 +0000

Today started with me accomplishing a major goal – by cleaning the 55 gallon fish tank at Park West Montessori School. I inherited the fish tank from my son who was tired of moving it up and down apartment stairs when he moved. We take care of some of his original cichlids, a plecostomus and a speckled cat fish. We also have several generations of cichlids because they have live births fairly often. Cleaning the tank also means catching some mid-sized, “teenager” fish to donate to the fish store. After all, we have to make room for the new babies!

After I finished this arduous task, feeling good, I sat at my computer with the clean tank in the background, reading email. I opened this TED video and wanted to share it with you (note: not for children).

It made me laugh and cry. I also want to apologize to the teenager fish and let them know that even though they were singled out to weed from the tank, it is truly not personal. With their youth and size, they have the best chance to flourish in another tank in another school or home.

Love languages of children

twinparksmontessorischools — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 19:30:14 +0000

A colleague of mine share a book titled, The 5 Love Languages of Children. It is part of a series written by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. The book has family stories about parents and children. It describes the 5 love languages that helps children understand parents’ love. They are: physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts and acts of service.

Touch is one of the 5 Languages of Love

“Love looks out for the interests of another; so does discipline. So discipline is certainly an act of love. And the more a child feels loved, the easier it is to discipline that child.” (page 127)

Working together demonstrates an act of service.

Conversation With Arnie Duncan Regarding School Safety

twinparksmontessorischools — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:28:06 +0000

Today (2/12/13) I had the privilege to participate in a telephone conversation with Secretary of Education Arnie Duncan, David Esquith, Director of the Office of Safe and Healthy Students, and other non-public school leaders across the country. Secretary Duncan reviewed President Obama’ plan to help keep our children safe including: higher regulation on high-capacity guns, have stricter background checks, review of violent video games, and to school measures to keep our children safe and not afraid in school.

There are 4 buckets or key items and activities with the plan:

• Every school will have a comprehensive safety plan. More information for best practices in school safety can be found at www.rems.ed.gov

• Schools will have tools to develop and maintain safe and positive school climate

• Students will receive more proactive and ongoing help with mental health issues

• Students will be safe with additional security measures in all schools, public and private

Only Congress, of course, will have the authority to approve the plan. Do what you can to inform your congressional leaders the need for this plan to pass.

Caldecott and Newberry Winners Announced Today!

twinparksmontessorischools — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:50:24 +0000

The Caldecott and Newberry 2013 winning books were announced today. If you are looking for a book for your children and or a special gift, review these lists first!

Caldecott 2013 Winner, This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

“In this darkly humorous tale, a tiny fish knows it is wrong to steal a hat. It fits him just right. But the big fish wants his hat back. Klassen’s controlled palette, opposing narratives and subtle cues compel readers to follow the fish and imagine the consequences.

The Importance of Movement for Infants and Toddlers

twinparksmontessorischools — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:30:01 +0000

Virginia Varga, one of the instructors Twin Parks Montessori School’s infant and toddler teachers works with, is featured in this video. Ginny is one of the best instructors in Montessori education.

Looking to Montessori to Guide Education Reform

twinparksmontessorischools — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:19:49 +0000

This is an interesting overview of Montessori philosophy and education by Ann Lee, Education Director at Meadows Montessori school in Frederick, Maryland.

Tips for a Healthy Life

twinparksmontessorischools — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:42:24 +0000

Mind Map for a Healthy Life!

40 Tips for Happy Health Life – MUST READ & SHARE
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time for prayer and reflection
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2012.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.Personality:
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day —- and while you walk, smile.
11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t over do; keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.Community:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right things.
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. Forgiveness heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, don’t take it for granted – embrace life.
39. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not least:
40. Enjoy LIFE!

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