The Future of Education in the US

The future forecast of what the coming years have includes a number of new theories about things like "gift" economies, sustainable environments, and new civic processes as well assessing the future trends in education. One dilemma is the tension between the marketplace for increasingly personalized learning and the social mandate of the public schools to provide foundational education to everyone. But this doesn't include varying income levels or what people can afford.

The reality is that our global society is starting to fragment into subcultures each with their own strong belief systems. So what do these trends mean for education? Recently U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the approval of two growth models that follow the bright-line principles of the "No Child Left Behind" program. It seems that now our states have finally developed the framework in which they can measure student skills every year, as the law requires. Spellings has asked the states to participate and to demonstrate progress over time so that we can later adapt a more sophisticated measurement system to be shared by all states. This is known as the growth model or value-added approach.

The reality is that whether we are talking about the U. S. Department of Education's program, or the hundreds of other private or non-profit programs in place across the U.S. - it is really all about accountability and results for individual students.

One example is Jonathan, who before attending his Create Success after school program in Brooklyn New York, can now solve any math problem because of the extra "individualized" help. Plus he discovered that he loved to learn. "It's fun here," said Jonathan. "Discussions help him of his homework completed." Once his homework is finished you can find him searching the bookshelves for his favorite topic - reptiles.

It is all about holding schools accountable for the goal of each student performing at or above grade level by 2014. So, the Department of Education will gather data to measure student improvement while holding the schools accountable for results. Another theory out there is focusing on experiments in sharing or $22gift" economies, sustainable environments, and new civic processes -- basically the fact that local value grows economies of group connectivity, and that this combined with fears of globalism, political gridlock, and some concerns over dominance of big business will create a revival of localism.

Think tanks are also assessing the future of education. One of the dilemmas that they have identified is the tension between the marketplace for increasingly personalized learning and the social mandate of the public schools to provide foundational education to everyone - regardless of the backgrounds of people or their income levels. Other thoughts include economics, urban space expansion and the fact that society is starting to fragment into subcultures with strong belief systems.

If you want our children to do better in school, then it is important to begin to understand the reasons why they are not doing so well. In researching the various trends and strategies in education, everyone, including educators and parents alike, can communicate more effectively about the issues. It was in 1997 when Congress first formed the National Reading Panel to evaluate the research on teaching practices to determine what really works. Thereafter, the Federal government's No Child Left Behind Act required that school districts use scientifically proven instructional methods as they strive to make all children proficient in math and reading by 2014.

Kristin Gabriel is an author and social media marketing professional and works with Rocco Basile ([http://www.roccobasile.org]) of the the Basile Builders Group based in New York. Basile is involved with several charities including Children of the City and the Joe DiMaggio Committee for Xaverian High School.

The Future of Education in the US

The future forecast of what the coming years have includes a number of new theories about things like "gift" economies, sustainable environments, and new civic processes as well assessing the future trends in education. One dilemma is the tension between the marketplace for increasingly personalized learning and the social mandate of the public schools to provide foundational education to everyone. But this doesn't include varying income levels or what people can afford.

The reality is that our global society is starting to fragment into subcultures each with their own strong belief systems. So what do these trends mean for education? Recently U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced the approval of two growth models that follow the bright-line principles of the "No Child Left Behind" program. It seems that now our states have finally developed the framework in which they can measure student skills every year, as the law requires. Spellings has asked the states to participate and to demonstrate progress over time so that we can later adapt a more sophisticated measurement system to be shared by all states. This is known as the growth model or value-added approach.

The reality is that whether we are talking about the U. S. Department of Education's program, or the hundreds of other private or non-profit programs in place across the U.S. - it is really all about accountability and results for individual students.

One example is Jonathan, who before attending his Create Success after school program in Brooklyn New York, can now solve any math problem because of the extra "individualized" help. Plus he discovered that he loved to learn. "It's fun here," said Jonathan. "Discussions help him of his homework completed." Once his homework is finished you can find him searching the bookshelves for his favorite topic - reptiles.

It is all about holding schools accountable for the goal of each student performing at or above grade level by 2014. So, the Department of Education will gather data to measure student improvement while holding the schools accountable for results. Another theory out there is focusing on experiments in sharing or "gift" economies, sustainable environments, and new civic processes -- basically the fact that local value grows economies of group connectivity, and that this combined with fears of globalism, political gridlock, and some concerns over dominance of big business will create a revival of localism.

Think tanks are also assessing the future of education. One of the dilemmas that they have identified is the tension between the marketplace for increasingly personalized learning and the social mandate of the public schools to provide foundational education to everyone - regardless of the backgrounds of people or their income levels. Other thoughts include economics, urban space expansion and the fact that society is starting to fragment into subcultures with strong belief systems.

If you want our children to do better in school, then it is important to begin to understand the reasons why they are not doing so well. In researching the various trends and strategies in education, everyone, including educators and parents alike, can communicate more effectively about the issues. It was in 1997 when Congress first formed the National Reading Panel to evaluate the research on teaching practices to determine what really works. Thereafter, the Federal government's No Child Left Behind Act required that school districts use scientifically proven instructional methods as they strive to make all children proficient in math and reading by 2014.

Kristin Gabriel is an author and social media marketing professional and works with Rocco Basile ([http://www.roccobasile.org]) of the the Basile Builders Group based in New York. Basile is involved with several charities including Children of the City and the Joe DiMaggio Committee for Xaverian High School.

The Case for Teaching Civics in School and at Home

For shame... The 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), administered to some 27,000 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade students, tells it all. Questions ranged from how our government is financed to the rights protected by the Constitution and how our laws are passed.

On a 300-point scale, the results:

· Average 4th grade score: 157

· Average 8th grade score: 151

· Average 12th grade score: 148

That's just about failing all around, and says former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor, these results "confirm that we have a crisis on our hands when it comes to civics education." And for that very reason, she has founded her icivics website, promoting civics through games and activities.

Equally unsettling is a recent Marist Poll wherein just 60% of our 18- to 29-year-olds correctly named Great Britain as the country from which we gained our independence. Really.

Meanwhile, though, most educators agree that a solid grounding in civics and American history is essential to our country's success and standing in the world. Moreover, an unofficial survey of middle and high school teachers finds these topics topping the list:

· The fight for independence and the prominent players in that struggle

· The Bill of Rights--the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution

· Law-making in the U.S.

· The Civil War and slavery, along with the 13th and 15th Amendments

· The impact of Supreme Court rulings on our daily lives

· The workings of the House of Representatives and Senate, along with who are Pennsylvania's members of Congress

· Prohibition, along with the 18th and 21st Amendments

Wondering now how you measure up? To find out, take toast.net.com's Independence Day Quiz-your teenage child, too. Just be advised that, reportedly, 96% of high school seniors failed the quiz, as did more than 50% of those over 50.

Questions range from naming our National Anthem and our current president to how many Constitutional Amendments there are, the number proposed by Congress but never ratified, and who said, 'Give me liberty or give me death." Go ahead and give it a try.

And since Election Day has recently come and gone, I've just got to ask: did you vote? Your children will ask, too. Sadly, turnout was light. Take Philadelphia, for instance, where only 17.6% of eligible voters bothered to turn out.

No wonder then that we now have Democracy Day, first celebrated this past March 23rd and sponsored by Rock the Vote and the National Education Association. The date coincides with the passage of the 26th Amendment giving 18-year-olds the right to vote-something most of our voting-age teens apparently know next to nothing about. How about you?

Says Vote the Rock's president Heather Smith, "Turning 18 and becoming eligible to vote is a tremendous rite of passage. Junior and senior year of high school is the ideal moment to connect with young people and give them the tools to become life-long voters and participants in our country's democracy."

The need, then, for fostering your children's interest in history and civics cannot be overstated, so, along with your vote, consider:

· Civil War Reunion at Pennypacker Mills Park, 5 Haldeman Road in Schwenksville, on Saturday, June 4th, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 5th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You'll enjoy continuous demonstrations, activities, refreshments, and even Civil War music. For more information, call 610-287-9349.

· The Dreyfuss Initiative: An Evening with Richard Dreyfuss at the Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street in Philadelphia, on June 8th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. His mission: to change the way students learn about civics and the rights and duties of citizenship. Seating is limited so don't delay in registering online at http://cbsphilly.ticketleap.com/richarddreyfuss.

· The History Channel: Be a frequent visitor. Head there today, May 17th, and discover that, on this date, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka was decided, ruling that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

· The Gilder-Lehrman Institute of American History: This site promotes the study and love of American history, offering numerous programs and resources to all who visit.

· The Conspirator is a film based on the guilt/innocence of Mary Surratt in the plot to kill Abraham Lincoln-a story most Americans know little, if anything, about.

In other words, be part of the solution, not the problem, helping to ensure that your kids get hooked on history and civics, too.

Carol is a learning specialist who worked with middle school children and their parents at the Methacton School District in Pennsylvania for more than 25 years and now supervises student teachers at Gwynedd-Mercy College. Along with the booklet, 149 Parenting School-Wise Tips: Intermediate Grades & Up, and numerous articles in such publications as Teaching Pre-K-8 and Curious Parents, she has authored three successful learning guidebooks: Getting School-Wise: A Student Guidebook, Other-Wise and School-Wise: A Parent Guidebook, and ESL Activities for Every Month of the School Year. Carol also writer for examiner.com; find her articles at http://www.examiner.com/x-6261-Montgomery-County-Wise-Parenting-Examiner For more information, go to http://www.schoolwisebooks.com or contact Carol at carol@schoolwisebooks.com.

Stop Subvocalization and Start Doing Your Civic Duty

Typically, once you stop subvocalization, it will be much easier to investigate political affairs, and ensure that politicians do their job properly. Once you are able to stop subvocalization, it will also be possible to discover evidence of corruption, and other things that put an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. In a sense, you can think of learning how to stop subvocalization as a key element to restoring the wealth of the nation in a way that is better for the common people.

Even though your teachers may have forced subvocalization when you were little, it is a useless habit that needs to be eliminated. Typically, getting rid of this habit will cause a doubling of reading and comprehenshon speeds. Without a question, every student should stop subvocalization after fifth grade. Unfortunately, there are very few people that currently make a specific demand to ban this practice. That said, once an individual changes, he/she will be in a much better position to demand politicians make some meaningful and necessary changes in the education system.

After successfully stopping subvocalization, any person will be capable of:

o Successfully demanding changes in the way children are taught reading skills
o Ensure that politicians create meaningful and useful change in the education system
o Develop an interest in political affairs and their effect on everyday life.
o Tell others about the discoveries you have made about the implications of various policies and laws.

To develop these skills, practice by reading at a quicker rate than you can read out-loud, and scan more quickly with your eyes. All of this will help you stop subvocalizing.

If you follow these simple steps, it should be no problem for you to learn the more advanced techniques required to stop subvocalization.

Single Parents Pursuing Higher Education Should Seek Out Scholarships And Grants

Some of the people who might benefit the most from a college or university degree are probably also those who believe they are the least likely to have the time, money or energy for it. There are, however, online degree programs - and scholarships that can be applied to them - that might make a college or university degree more of a reality for single parents.

Single parents aren't alone in their struggle to make ends meet. There are many people these days who find it difficult to survive only on one income; however, there are single parents who struggle to find the time to work in the first place and, when they do, they then have to share that income with a child who needs balanced meals, vitamins and doctor and dental care. These individuals might find scholarships based on financial needs especially suited to their situations.

Grants, like scholarships, also are provided based on financial needs - particularly when they're offered by government agencies. The federal Pell Grant, one of the best known government grants, is designed for students with extreme financial needs, and some single parents might be among them. To obtain government grants and scholarships, students typically first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available online.

Large corporations, professional associations, non-profit foundations and civic and community groups also make scholarships available to those with financial needs. Online college and university courses and online degree programs are offered in a variety of subjects for those interested in applying their scholarships to flexible programs of study. With Internet access, students participating in online courses and online degree programs obtain coursework and file assignments remotely.

Coursework and assignments in online college and university classes are provided in audio, video and text format, and students are able to interact via message boards and other technological offerings. Parents in online courses and online degree programs are able to schedule studies for when they're not working and when the children are asleep or participating in extracurricular activities. Paying for these college and university pursuits with scholarships helps to make higher education more affordable for these parents, leaving them with less debt to repay after graduation.

Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that earnings and job security tend to increase with the level of an individual's education. With that in mind, parents without a college or university degree might find themselves better able to support themselves and their children in instances where they obtain a college or university degree - and especially in instances where they obtain those degrees with help from scholarships or grants.

In addition to speaking with financial aid advisers and department heads at colleges and universities that interest them, single parents might turn to online resources in their search for scholarship assistance. There are websites that deal with just scholarships that can be accessed through the many recognized search engines. The US Departments of Labor and Education and the non-profit College Board also offer online opportunities to search for scholarships.

Some scholarships might be specifically intended for single parents. For the most part, they are accepted by many colleges online. Mord often, they're intended for specific needs, certain studies and for women and minorities who tend to be underrepresented in certain fields. It's likely that parents who are in search of scholarships and grants for college will fit into one of these categories. This might help them improve their lives and the lives of their children.