Keeping Our Kids in School

Doing all we can as a community to ensure our youth have every opportunity to excell is the business of all of us. I believe there are some good points made in this article and may benefit anyone concerned with the education of our children.

Saving Our Dropouts By Saving Math: Math Grades May Predict Who Survives High School
By: Ann Knapp, 2007-12-29

Research conducted in 2005 by Johns Hopkins University and the Philadelphia Education Fund revealed that as many as half of all Philadelphia high school dropouts showed signs predicting their early departure from school as early as the sixth grade. Four factors were essential in forecasting these AWOL students: low attendance, poor behavior, failing math, and failing English grades. Such research is indispensable in the fight to raise America's educational standards and to help struggling students conquer their academic nemeses.

It's difficult to extrapolate on precisely why so many leave school early, and why these occurrences are linked so strongly with math and English grades, specifically. Perhaps the current school system isn't flexible enough to accommodate different learning styles and conditions like ADHD for such difficult subjects - an argument alternative educational theorists have been raising for decades. Perhaps factors unrelated to the school environment, such as difficulties at home, are to blame. Maybe poor study techniques, and lack of assistance to correct them, are the culprits. Of course, no single explanation will do - but in my quest to find real and practical solutions, I decided to start with a factor everyone can control: study techniques. In particular, one of the hardest of them all - math study techniques.

Hey, who among us is, or was, the picture perfect student? Did we always clear a room to study, take breaks when we should have, or have what we needed on hand? How often did we get up to snack when the math homework became just a little too overwhelming? Did we always ask for the algebra help, the geometry help, or the calculus help we really needed? Math tutors could have saved us a lot of grief, but losing our pride just seemed too valuable to our adolescent hearts. Being guilty myself, I decided it was time to pull in a heavyweight for some advice.

Dr. Christine Benson, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Northwest Missouri State University, is one of the most qualified individuals in the country to recommend effective math study techniques. Having earned an interdisciplinary doctorate in mathematics and education at the University of Missouri, Dr. Benson also received a MSEd, taught math at public schools for eight years, and has been teaching math method courses at NWMSU for the past twelve. Here are a few of her top recommendations for making the grade.

(1) Study in several short sessions of twenty to thirty minutes, and then take a break! There's only so much your poor mind can take at a time, and research proves that putting book to brain for shorter, intermittent periods, versus forcing yourself into longer cram sessions is far more effective. Plus (unlike most things that are good for you) you'll probably find this to be a lot easier.

(2) Study everyday. Math is a bit like learning a language - it takes consistent, sometimes tedious, irritating hours upon hours of work to get the job done. It also tends to pile up with cold indifference; at every lesson, you'll learn new concepts that count on your understanding of the ones from last time. Falling behind will just exponentialize your frustration, because you won't have the proper tools to understand new materials. Discipline pays off! Soon, you'll be able to understand concepts - the language of math, if you will - you never thought possible. You'll feel like the brilliant individual you really are. It just takes practice.

(3) Don't just memorize steps in an equation. "I know, I know," you say. "Try to understand it - that's what everyone tells me." But, like it or not, it's true. You'll remember the formulas much better if you can understand the bigger pictures behind them and are able to integrate new information into what you already know. Reasoning through questions that do not precisely fit the models you studied, but require you to use the broader concepts from them, will also be much easier.

(4) Ask questions! Don't be embarrassed to raise your hand and engage in a true discussion about all the whys of all these whats. You can't fully integrate the concepts you're trying to learn until you understand at least some of why they work and what they are meant to do.

(5) Include brain-empowering protein in your munchies. It's all right to snack while you study, but don't just reach for the carbs.

(6) If your eyes start to droop while pulling an all-nighter (or an all-dayer), wake yourself up with some physical activity. Get that circulation going! Take a walk, do some jumping jacks or push ups, go for a short jog - whatever it takes to change your setting and rouse your body.

(7) Duplicate the test room setting. If you'll be taking your exam in a quiet, controlled environment (which is most likely), then study in that environment. No music, no television, no loud noises or chatty friends coming in and out to distract you. Train your brain to work with the stimuli that will be there when you test.

(8) Get a good night's sleep and eat a protein-rich meal before the dreaded exam. You can't test your best if you don't feel your best.

At least something can be controlled. Failing at anything, or even not doing as well as you know you could, can be absolutely maddening. Dr. Benson has showed us there are things you can do, however. If you're a parent, enforce the rules. Set your child up for success by providing the proper environment. If you're a student, hey, you just got free expert advice - and you didn't even have to let anyone know you needed it.

About the Author:Math Made Easy provides Math help for Algebra help, Geometry help, math homework help using math online tutorial services and math tutorial cd so you can watch your math scores soar.

Article Source: Bluegrass Solutions Article Directory

We Have Had a Slow-down, But We Ain't Dead Yet!

For any of you that have been following our little eZine here, don't quit on us just yet. Several of our other ventures have taken a turn for the busy and HVH will benefit from them as well in the long run. Bear with us and thanks for your patience.

A Little Late But Still Effective

Tips For Cutting Back To School Costs

By: Charlotte Buelow

It's time to gather up the kids and hit the shopping scene once again- back-to-school is here. With back-to-school, kids see time to hang out with friends again and piles of homework to do instead of watching TV or going to the pool. Parents, on the other hand, see something very different: their money flying out of their pockets. Parents will spend nearly $500 sending each of their children back to school this Fall.

In August of last year, families spent $7.1 billion dollars on back-to-school clothing alone. Only during the holiday shopping season was more spent on clothing. However, clothing is just the beginning. Bookstores earned $2.1 billion in revenue in August 2006 as well. It was estimated last year that each family with school- age children would spend approximately $483. $219 went for clothing, $90 for shoes, $73 for supplies and $101 on electronics and computer equipment.

School systems throughout the United States also footed the bill in 2005 with an average of $8,701 spent on each student enrolled in public elementary schools that year. New York spent the most with $14,119 and Utah the least with $5,257, but it still adds up to a lot when calculated that 75.8 million people over the age of three were enrolled in school that year.

With the cost of back-to-school seeming a bit daunting, it may be helpful to try a few tips to keep costs down. Gathering a budget for back-to-school costs can soften the blow. Simply look up figures for the average cost per child, then divide by twelve (months in a year) and multiple by the number of children. Once you have a figure, plan on saving that much each month during the year. This way, once back-to-school shopping comes around, there will be no shock to the wallet.

If taking children along for the shopping trip, make sure the kids are aware of the allotted amount to be spent. In most cases, kids will whine for the latest fashion or the coolest looking school supplies. Although it may be alright to go for a cool, new thing or two, make sure the child knows you are staying within a budget.

Before shopping, be sure to take out of the budget "must haves" that cannot be found at the store. These include such things as enrollment fees and book costs or band instruments and athletic fees. Also, think about food costs and whether or not it would be more economical for your children to buy or bring lunch. Transportation costs may also be a factor, so check out local busing or car-pooling options.

Examine last year's markers and gluesticks before purchasing brand-new sets. Also, make sure to buy only what is required on the school supply list. Buying extra items can add up; especially, with more than one child.

When shopping for clothes, don't go for brand-new items unless necessary. Look for shops offering gently-used items; especially, for children who will be growing rapidly in the coming year. When buying the clothing, try to stick with cash, so as not to overspend on the allotted amount. It can be tempting with kids trying to convince you otherwise, but by having only the set amount in cash there will be no choice but to stick to the budget.

One of the best ways to save money on back-to-school clothing is to shop off-season to save up to seventy-five percent.

If multiple children in a family are going back to school, consider buying school supplies in bulk. Warehouse clubs offer larger amounts of supplies at much lower prices. As much as fifteen percent can be saved by bulk buying; cutting a few back-to-school dollars.

Author Resource:  Charlotte Buelow is a contributing business writer for Goliath. Goliath is one of the Internet's largest collections of business research, news and information. Learn more about

Goliath.

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Save a Forest! Stop Junk Mail

How to Stop Junk Mail: Eight Things You Can Do Today

By: Jamie Jefferson

Junk mail is more than a nuisance. It's harmful to the environment.

Each of us gets 40 pounds of junk mail every year. The number of trees required to produce that much mail for all of us? 100 million.

The Center for a New American Dream says that's like deforesting Rocky Mountain National Park 3 times each year - and that creating and then getting rid of all that junk mail takes more energy than 3 million cars.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that, in 2005, almost 6 million tons of direct mail and catalogs went into the garbage. That's enough to fill nearly 500,000 garbage trucks. Only 22 percent of the stuff is recycled.

These huge environmental costs come with little reward. Americans toss 44 percent of the mail without even opening it, and we respond to just 2 percent it.

You may be surprised to find how easy it is to dramatically reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. Here's what you can do today:

1. Register with the Direct Marketing Association's Opt-Out Program. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has a Mail Preference Service, which is the closest thing to a Do Not Mail list that the country has at the moment. DMA members are required to use this opt-out program. Non-members are granted access to the list and encouraged, but not required, to use it.

Registration works only for home addresses (not business addresses) and will stop only national mailings. Still, the DMA says this will stop as much as 75 percent of the national direct mail pieces you receive.

The fastest way to get on this list is to fill out the online form at DMAConsumers.org. The form asks for your credit card number because you will be charged a $1 processing fee.

You can also request activation of the preference service via mail. Simply send your full name and address, along with a $1 check or money order, payable to DMA (no cash), to: Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 282, Carmel, NY 10512

You will need to allow about 90 days for the unwanted mail to begin to decrease (a little longer if you mail in the form instead of filling it out online.)

This should cover you for 5 years, at which point you will need to register again.

2. Stop the credit card offers. Visit OptOutPrescreen.com or call 1-888-5OptOut (1-888-567-8688). The major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and Transunion) maintain this free service, which allows you to opt out of offers for credit or insurance. The whole process takes less than one minute. You can opt out via the website for a duration of five years. If you wish to opt out permanently, you need to do it by mail. The website has instructions for doing that, as well.

3. Reduce the catalogs. There is an alliance of publishing companies and catalog companies that compile the names and addresses of those of us who like to order from mail order catalogs. Then they share the information with other companies in the alliance. You can opt out of this alliance by sending an email to optout@abacus-us.com or a letter to Abacus, Inc. PO Box 1478, Broomfield, CO 80038

Some catalog companies don't check these opt-out programs. In this case, and for any company that continues to send you direct mail advertising, find the customer service number or address and ask to be removed from the list. You can also request that they not share your information with other advertisers.

4. Contact individual senders. The three steps detailed above should dramatically reduce the amount of junk mail you receive. For the rest of it, your best bet is to contact the senders individually. These companies are required to allow you to opt out of their mailings. It may take some time to contact everyone who is sending you junk mail, but it is worth it for you and the environment. Note that if a piece of unsolicited mail is sent First Class, you can send it back. Mark off your information and write "Refused-Return to Sender."

5. Consider your phone listing. It's helpful to get an unlisted telephone number because some marketers obtain your name and address from phone listings. If you don't want to be unlisted, you can ask the phone company to not list your address with your name. Most will do this at no charge.

6. Protect your personal information. Give your personal information only to trusted companies with the specific request that they not share it or sell it. It may help to request a privacy designation with your mortgage company, cable company, bank, etcetera, as well as any magazines you subscribe to and any clubs or groups you belong to (including the loyalty program at the supermarket.) Let them know in writing that you don't want your personal information shared.

7. Think twice before sending in the product registration cards. Product registration cards and customer survey cards often put you on a mailing list, as well. If you send in the card (which you may want to do so that you will be notified in case of a recall, for example) include only the most essential information (generally, your name and address, date of purchase and the serial number of product.) And include a request that your personal information not be shared.

8. Use caution when entering sweepstakes and contests. Submit your name and address for sweepstakes only if there is an option for opting out of the resulting mailing list.

It probably isn't possible to stop all the junk mail, so for those bits of mail that seep through, make sure to recycle it. And know that you did what you could to give Mother Earth a little break.

Author Resource:  Jamie Jefferson writes for Susies-Coupons.com and Momscape.com, where you can register to win free gift certificates for top online stores. Get the latest Office Depot Coupons too.

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Memories of Gold

This piece was written by a friend of mine in West Virginia. For any of you that would like to know a bit about tobacco farming and the draw to it, Granny Sue lays it out clear day for you.

Granny Sue's News and Reviews: Memories of Gold

Cry Havoc! And Let Go the Dogs of War...

9/11/2005 (Revisited)

I remember that morning like it was yesterday. I will always remember the intimate details of it; the sights, the sounds, the smells. It was the day that the world changed forever.

I was married at the time and had stepped down to our pond to try and catch a mess of fish for supper. I had several nice ones in a bucket when I heard her call to me that breakfast was almost ready. I pulled out for the house with my pole and bucket in hand, stopping to sit in a chair on the porch to remove my wet boots. The windows were open and the radio was on and I half-listened, half-ignored the announcer talking about a plane crash in New York. I remember thinking that it was only a matter of time before something like this was going to happen. Sooner or later some pilot was going to screw up and hit one of the massive buildings jutting up out of the ground across America...the numbers were just with it.

I went inside and turned on the television and they had a live feed of the events going on. It was just about then that the second plane hit. And my heart broke. God help us all. My eyes clouded with rage, pain, fear, sorrow and a thousand other things all at once as a tear ran down my cheek. In that instant, through all my years of training in the military, I instinctively knew that we were at war. My wife asked me what was wrong and I couldn't find my voice, or my stomach, to tell her what I already knew. I just stared at the screen in silence and disbelief.

As I tried unsuccessfully to choke down the meal she had prepared, I watched in horror as first one and then the other tower crashed to the ground. And I prayed out loud where I sat. I prayed for those in and around the towers, but more than that I prayed for my friends that I knew would soon be placed in harms way once again. Their faces and names raced through my mind; I bet he re-enlisted, he's not retired yet, either...

I got up from the table, walked out the door and pulled my wet boots back on. I picked up the bucket of fish by the steps and walked past the flag flying at the front gate towards the pond. I remember thinking as I turned those fish loose that there had been enough killing for one day. I turned the bucket upside-down, took a seat on it and thought about all that had just happened and was going to happen. It was probably one of the saddest, most helpless feeling times in my life.

I often find myself on the US Army website, reading the names of those who have died in southwest Asia. And yes, I recognize some of them by name and all of them by trade. They were my brothers and sisters and always will be. And I love them all. I would urge each and every one of you to go there for a visit and pay your respects. They are the last barrier between you and the next attack. They gave 'that last full measure of devotion' for you and me.

I think I might take my pole and a bucket down to the pond this morning and try to catch a mess for my friends. I know that they would like that, taking comfort in the fact that they are not forgotten. God love 'em.

Boo!!! Almost that time again!

How Jack O' Lanterns Came About

By: Jim Brown

Halloween cannot do without jack o' lanterns. A jack o' lantern is a pumpkin whose interior has been removed and whose walls has been thinned out. It is carved into different designs with a light placed inside it. If brilliantly carved, the jack o' lanterns will evoke lifelike images within the mind of a close observer. That's why a lot of people enjoy them, placing them in the porches at the front of their houses visible for passersby. There are many carving competitions all over America open for jack o' lantern enthusiasts. In fact, these contests are the main event in most districts during Halloween.

How to make a jack o' lantern is just as interesting as its custom that seemed to have sprung out of an Irish folklore. And as the tale goes along, it is about a man named Jack who is not your usual kind main character. He was known to be infamous, let alone a chronic drinker. But he was just as intriguing as any other hero. The lore tells that Jack, one day, deceived the devil and trapped him up a tree. The devil, now his prisoner, appealed to Jack for his release. The wise Jack made a decision but not without a condition. He gave in to the devil's request for freedom with the promise that he will not be permitted to go inside hell when he dies.

Then Jack's time came. Because of his bad deeds, he was declined entry by heaven. Because of the previous agreement he had with the devil, he was not accepted into hell. Jack had no choice but to continue his search for a resting place. Scared of the cold darkness, he cored out a turnip and placed an ember inside it that way the paths he had to take will be well-lighted and the light would burn longer.

In observance to this tale, carving out a turnip and placing a light inside it became a habitual practice of the Irish people. They used turnips for a long time. However, a major change occurred when they migrated to America in the 1840s in their effort to flee from Ireland's potato famine. They switched from turnips to pumpkins because the latter fruit appeared to be more bountiful than the former, not to mention that pumpkins have a more ideal shape to contain light and have insides that's very easy to remove. Since then, jack o' lanterns were made out of pumpkins.

Author Resource:  James Brown writes about Spirit Halloween discount codes, BuyCostumes.com coupon and Costume Craze coupon

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