Post your “EDUCATION AND AWARENESS” topical homework here:
- Note any important points from your book reading that connect with or inform your research topic.
- Post a link or citation for at least one article per week on your topic (you should have actually read it, and it will help your teammates if you add some comment as to what interested you).
Folks on other topic teams are welcome to make comments, suggest links, or anything else that would be helpful to this team.
March 29, 2009 at 3:52 pm
http://www.fosterfollynews.com/news/2009March26FWCAndPartnersSay.php
This is an article that highlights bringing children back to nature and enjoying healthier lifestyles. The part I enjoyed the most was that these kids were learning to enjoy and appreciate the toys and “playgrounds” that are ultimately sustainable: meadows, fields, trees, etc. There are huge benefits for these children to acquire this mindset now because it will allow them to appreciate these sorts of activities over unsustainable ones.
March 29, 2009 at 11:33 am
In the March 9, 2009 edition of the San Jose Mercury News, the headline on the front page read, Teach For America, and told about the Teach for America program that takes college grads into hard to staff classrooms for a two year program. It is gaining in popularity, and focusus on motivating students to learn by meeting their interests and styles of learning. This is a step in a positive direction, and might also be used to bring useful information to the students. I wonder if a sustainability course of study could be included in this program??
Also, for those who are interested, there is a website from Early Childhood Exchange organization at http://www.exchangeeveryday@ccie.com
Each day I receive a summary of an article relating to early childhood education, and links to further info on that topic. For example:
The Importance of Listening
November 21, 2008
The happiest life is that which constantly exercises and educates what is best in us.
Hamerton
In their book, We Are All Explorers: Learning and Teaching with Reggio Principles in Urban Settings (Teachers College Press), authors Daniel Scheinfeld, Karen Haigh, and Sandra Scheinfeld observe…
“When teachers are listening and responding, children become animated and involved, their cognitive and creative processes are energized, and their belief in themselves is deepened. Something similar happens when children listen to one another.
“There is a particular image of a child associated with a teachers listening, observing, and responding: namely, teachers seeing that young children are natural inquirers. They have motivations to explore the world through direct interaction with it and through constructing some kind of understanding of what they are encountering. Further, they have a strong motive to communicate the results of their explorations and to receive reflections from adults and other children for their discoveries. Their communication can take many forms: talking, drawing, gesturing, role-playing, and so on. All of these contribute to their ongoing dialogues with teachers and peers. The more avenues of communication that are offered, the better.
“The most significant kind of interaction with the world for children of preschool age is in exploring their relationships with it. They explore their relationships with family, teachers, and friends. They explore sensory relationships with animate and inanimate objects. They explore the way objects, animals, and all facets of nature respond to their physical actions. They are explorers and researchers.”
You can sign up too!
Sharon
March 27, 2009 at 7:04 pm
The last chapter of The Real Wealth of Nations oulines what steps can be taken to create the world in which we want to live. A huge part of it involves education and awareness. On p.233 Eisler writes that “we must see to it that children, and adults, get a more complete and accurate story of human nature and human possibilities. The reason is simple: unless people think something is possible, they won’t even try to create it”. This quote reminds me of education on two levels, and two specific things related to them – 1. The Lorax, a book by Dr. Suess, in which he shows how just valuing money can end up ruining life on our limited planet. The story ends with the word “unless” carved into a rock, with the implication that unless we care, and think about the effects of how we are making money, we can indeed ruin it for everyone. I think Eisler is talking also about creating a very clear and positive picture of what is possible to create, instead of pollution and the end of natural resources. 2. I have outlined an institute for studying how to create peaceful living situations, on individual, couple, family, community, and global levels. It dovetails with Eisler work. The outline for Heart Of Peace Institute (H.O.P.I.) is on my preschool website, http://www.roseblossomschool.org, under the Parent Classes icon.
March 24, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Sierra Club has a website to educate Americans about how to make homes more energy efficient, environmentally sustainable, and healthy. http:sierraclubgreenhome.com/
this is a very comprehensive website, good for educating adults…sharon
March 24, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Group…Presentation Next Week
As we discussed in class, here is the outline and person assignments for our presentation
1. Group Introduction – Breeze
2. Topic, Problem and Solution – Katie
3. Case Study – Rose Blossom – Sharon
4. Accomplishments – Rachel
5. Benefits – Casey
6. How to Share Modeling w/others – Jenni
7. Conclusion/Final Thought – Tara
Please have your slide information to me by Saturday (rachelam619@yahoo.com) and I will get a draft of the PPT to you all on Sunday. Keep in mind we each only have 2 minutes.
Thanks!
March 24, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Sierra Club has a website to educate Americans about how to make homes more energy efficient, environmentally sustainable, and healthy. http:sierraclubgreenhome.com/
this is a very comprehensive website, good for educating adults…sharon
March 24, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Maybe Breeze can help us keep to our 2 minutes by letting us know when we are there…
March 23, 2009 at 12:21 pm
http://www.semiconductor.net/articleXml/LN944768188.html
This is an article on Butte College in Oroville and their journey to becoming carbon-neutral by 2015. They are nearing their goal of solar-powered energy by maintaining that 1/2 their energy is currently produced by the sun!
March 22, 2009 at 9:15 pm
On another note to education…I recently received the County of SC Curbsider, February 2009 issue (as I’m sure most of you have). I thought it shared some really good information on recycled paper “The Seven Cycles of Recycled Paper” which included the definitions, different grades of paper. It also had a little snipit on why we should bring our own bags to pack our groceries. Some of it was common sense, but then again common sense is viewed differently by many. Anyway I thougt it was a good educational newsletter for us (speaking of myself) common Joe’s and Jane’s.
One thing…although it is printed on 50%reccyled and 30% post-consumer waste paper, they should probably offer a link to an online newsletter and give an opportunity to opt out of a mailer. : )
March 22, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I found a really cool web site sponsored by the Natural Resource Defense Council. It’s a website for school age kids that want to learn about how they can improve their school. They’re called the Green Squad. Here the link http://www.nrdc.org/greensquad/intro/intro_1.asp. It actually helps them get started in making a difference in their school by offering an example of theirs (cyber school of course). I’m sure this can be used at many levels.
On another website I found “Trash to Treasures for the holiday” (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/treasure.htm) that could shared to some extent at a preschool or kinder age.
These are great websites that could be shared with our families and easy ways to make a difference.