Christmastime

I had the opportunity to attend the Shopping with the Hero Christmas party last week. This is through the Darien-Woodridge, fire, and police. For the past five years, they have been able to take children who would not be able to afford it themselves, shopping at Walmart. Walmart, and others contribute.
Then they return to the station to a wonderful breakfast and party. It is as nice as anything I have ever attended. You can feel the Christmas spirit.
The Lions club has been here every year to help families during the holidays. They were very happy with the generous food donation we collected here at Prairieview. The Lions club has been doing this at least as long as I have been here. This is year twenty for me. Working with these good hearted folks has been a joyful experience!

Conferences

I am so grateful to all the parents who took the time to come see me. It is really nice to put faces with the voices. As long as a day as it is for all concerned it is so worth it. Students shared with me how excited they were to have their parents come in and meet us. It makes them feel special and secure to know the adults in their life are working together for their success.

PBIS Tier 2

Today we introduced a new tool to help students complete homework. It includes a group of students being greeted by a smiling staff member in the morning. The staff member will see that the student has what he/she needs for the day. Students will be reminded in a positive way what their goal for the day is. Before leaving for the day the students will be reporting to the same staff member to quickly show how there homework goals for the day went.
Positive, accurate information has been shown to be a great motivator.

Monday Morning

It is an overcast day. After a three day weekend it is very quiet here at school this November morning. Sometimes it is easier to sit and pay attention on a day like today. Sunshine can certainly lift the spirits but it can also make more of a distraction from learning. So, it is a good day to learn!

Construction

So many of our students are so interested in the cement being poured and all of the steps that go into that. I think it must look to them like Legoland but the real thing! Many adults find it pretty interesting too, but the students have not even complained about adjustments made to recess. The added plus of cement outside of the gym doors to the playground will add convenience in the messy winter months.

Halloween Parties

Today was a really fun day for our students. In the morning we had an assembly with tennis pros coming in to encourage the children to play tennis. One of our fourth grade students, and fourth grade teachers, Mrs. Cavoto, played with them. Mrs. Linde played the part of their mascot. After lunch it was a great day for the Halloween parade, led by Mr. Hodac. Mr. Hodac taught band here at Prairieview, and Ide for many years, and still returns to lead the parade with his accordian. The classroom parties are a nice end to the day.

Halloween

Historian Nicholas Rogers, exploring the origins of Halloween, notes that while "some folklorists have detected its origins in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds, or in the festival of the dead called Parentalia, it is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain, whose original spelling was Samuin (pronounced sow-an or sow-in)".[1] The name of the festival historically kept by the Gaels and celts in the British Isles which is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end".[1][2][3]

However, according to the Oxford Dictionary of English folk lore: "Certainly Samhain was a time for festive gatherings, and medieval Irish texts and later Irish, Welsh, and Scottish folklore use it as a setting for supernatural encounters, but there is no evidence that it was connected with the dead in pre-Christian times, or that pagan religious ceremonies were held." [4]

The Irish myths which mention Samhain were written in the 10th and 11th centuries by Christian monks. This is around 200 years after the Catholic church inaugurated All Saints Day and at least 400 year after Ireland became Christian. [4]

Enjoy the Season

Leaves change when dwindling daylight slows the production of chlorophyll, uncovering yellows that have been hiding behind the greens, according to Ron Wolford, horticulture educator for the University of Illinois Extension.

Sufficient rain during the growing season creates healthy trees that can soak up the sun's energy, Wolford said. Sun-soaked days followed by crisp nights such as the region has experienced this fall allow trees to use that energy to increase the production of sugar, which amplifies the red color of the leaves.

The appearance of hues like red and purple also depends in part on whether a plant's genetics allow it to produce certain chemical compounds, as well as how acidic or alkaline its leaves are, said Ed Hedborn, manager of plant records for the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

In the Chicago area, yellows are common, but maples also ignite the sky with reds and oranges.

When leaves change color and fall, they help trees prepare for winter. Trees, Hedborn said, are "nature's original recyclers," holding back and storing nutrients, dropping their leaves, then absorbing additional nutrients from leaves that decompose on the ground around them.

How Do People Celebrate Columbus Day?

The people of the United States are invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities.
In some towns and cities, special church services, parades and large events are held. Most celebrations are concentrated around the Italian-American community.
The celebrations in New York and San Francisco are particularly noteworthy. In Hawaii Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day or Discoverer's Day.
Not all parts of the United States celebrate Columbus Day. It is not a public holiday in California, Nevada and Hawaii.
Moreover, Native Americans’ Day is celebrated in South Dakota, while Indigenous People’s Day is celebrated in Berkeley, California.
For me, it has come to mean the end of the beginning of the school year. I hope you enjoy this beautiful long weekend.

Homework

www.infoplease.com/homework/

This is a nice website for help with many areas of homework needs. Also, it is fun just to look at.

Learning good response to anger

These are good things to watch for and questions to ask.


If a person was talking, did the student continue listening?
Did the student monitor his physical feelings and breathing?
Did the student tell himself to relax tense body parts?
Did the student try to speak in a neutral tone?
Did the student ask for time by himself if he was really upset?
Did the student brainstorm the reasons why he was upset?


We used to call this counting to 10. WC Fields said it was important to count to 10 so your aim is better. If our aim is for us to feel better these are important questions.

A Different Perspective On Bullying

I thought this was interesting when I came across it. I have seen this occur.

Having poor social skills and -- especially -- lacking agreeableness lead children to a self-deprecating identity, which makes them hesitate to assert their needs. It also broadcasts poor self-regard, which invites abuse and further wrecks self-confidence.

Agreeableness is particularly powerful; through it, children communicate to others that they like them. Other kids are then inclined to reciprocate the liking. Social confidence isn't just kid stuff. Peer relations not only shape development but are also rehearsals for adult relationships.

Anxiety

It's an anxious time of year. Where there is excitement, enthusiasm, and goals, there is often some anxiety. Great actors can get stage fright. Fear can keep us from doing stupid things. Anxiety may feel terrible, but it has a purpose. Most adults have developed coping skills, we use when we want to calm ourselves down. We may not even notice ourselves doing it. Children are still learning. Different things work for differnt people. If your child has severe, reoccuring anxiety talking to a trained professional could help them work it through faster.

Welcome Back

It's September. I have seen some old friends and made some new ones. I look forward to this year with both. My direct line is 630-783-5158. :)

Springfield

At the beginning of the month I had the opportunity to meet with some legislators at our state capitol. I was startled at some of the misinformation that had been relayed to them as fact. They were very polite, and I had the feeling they were really attempting to understand the teachers messages. It was a good reminder to not assume that other people know the same facts we know about an issue. It was also a good reminder to speak with the people who are actually faced with making the decisions.

Chicago Parrots

I was just speaking to a student who loves birds. He had just found out about the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill, San Fransisco. There is a wonderful documentary about them. He was unaware we also have wild parrots here. If he was unaware I suspect many other people are too. A few years ago I saw some of them in the Western Suburbs, so they do get around when it is warm! There is much information on line.

You wouldn't think that wild parrots could survive Chicago's freezing winters but the Quaker parrots (also called monk parakeets) in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood are a thriving community and have lived there since the early 1980s. They are easy to see any time of year.

Read more: How to Find Wild Parrots in Chicago | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2323394_find-wild-parrots-chicago.html#ixzz1KAM6i1Lz

More About Casimir

Casimir Pulaski


A member of the Polish landed nobility, Pulaski was a military commander for the Bar Confederation and fought against Russian domination of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. When this uprising failed, he emigrated to North America as a soldier of fortune. During the American Revolutionary War, he saved the life of George Washington[4] and became a general in the Continental Army. He died of wounds suffered in the Battle of Savannah. Pulaski is one of only seven people to be awarded honorary United States citizenship.

Over break I had the opportunity to see Fort Pulaski. This spot was important in the Revolutionary and the Civil War. It is outside of Savannah. When in this place it is easy to see why it is considered the most haunted city in the country.

Something we can all support!

THE TIME SHOWN IS HALF OVER, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T EACH DO 30 DAYS.


Did you all see that Diane Sawyer had a special report coming up? They removed ALL items from a typical, middleclass family's home that were not made in the USA. There was hardly anything left besides the kitchen sink. Literally.


During the special they are going to show truckloads of items - USA made - being brought in to replace everything. And will be talking about how to find these items and the difference in price etc.

It was interesting that Diane said that if every American spent just $64 (more than normal) on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs.


Made ME think!

*Check the Can **I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT WAL-MART. * ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID 'FROM CHINA '.

*FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN 'FROM CHINA '.

*I WAS SHOCKED!! SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE SINCE IT'S FROM CALIF.

*TAKES FOREVER JUST TO BUY FOOD AND DO LABEL READING**! !

*Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think? While the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets.

*Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.

*Well, duh..Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?


*SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA !!

*Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says 'Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another product, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.

*Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example, the point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own.

*THINK ABOUT THIS: If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!!

*The downside? Some American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.


Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!!! *

*The solution? Let's give them fair warning and send our own message. Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on March. 4th and continue it until April. 4th That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it.

*Remember, March. 4th to April. 4th

*START NOW.

*Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted.

*If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET!

*Pass it on, America
"Thank you" to Mrs. Krasnodebski for passing this on!

If you like weekends thank a union.

I have always felt fortunate and proud to work in a school/community that works. This seems to be an appropriate moment to pause to feel concern for others. Some of my thoughts are;

Diane Ravich has written dozens of books on education. She was Assistant Secretary of Education under George Bush. She is not what you would call a left leaning person. She does not beleive the attack on teachers/education is taking us in the right direction.

When Doctor Martin Luther King was murdered he was actually standing up for fair working conditions.

Unions may be one of the only things between us and the tyranny of the sometimes unscrupulous, ultra rich.

Thank you, Casimir!

Casimir Pulaski Day is a holiday observed in Illinois on the first Monday of every March in memory of Casimir Pulaski (March 6, 1745[1] – October 11, 1779), a Revolutionary War cavalry officer born in Poland as Kazimierz Pułaski. He is known for his contributions to the U.S. military in the American Revolution by training its soldiers and cavalry.

Have a great weekend!

Uniforms in Public Schools.

Education Bug has interesting statistics on uniforms in public schools. One of the things the data demonstrates is that people do act differently depending on how they are dressed. Certainly in less prosperous areas there are factors that would probably not have much relevance here. At the same time it is not a bad idea to keep the impact on behavior in mind when shopping for school clothes.

Talking About School

I just saw a great article on line. It is at PBS Parent. the article is Talking with kids about School. It gives a nice insight into the "How was school today?" Question.
It has a very nice expaination why the answer is almost always"Fine." You are not the only one getting that answer!

Snow Days :)

Every student I have seen today agreed on one thing. Having days off this week to play in the amazing snow is well worth spending a few more days in June! How nice it was to find out so early that we would not be in on those days. How nice to come back to everything organized and cared for.

School Anxiety

School mornings can be terribly long for a parent when a child repeatedly resists going to school. Sometimes there are things at school bothering a child. If that is the case let the teacher know. Sometimes home just looks a whole lot better. When the latter is the case the most important thing is getting them here. Whatever their mood or appearance if the child is in class whenever class is in session everybody wins. Usually within five minutes of arrival they are fitting right into class and doing their work. Children who are more sensitive this way often have a more difficult time after having some time off. Whether it is due to a vacation or illness this can start the tears flowing. Calmly and quietly getting them here is usually the best choice.

Chicago Superbowl

In "86 the Art Institute lions were wearing football helmets. The S on the entrance to then Sears Tower was replaced with a B. The Picasso was wearing a headband. It was great fun. It was a good time to be a sports fan even if you weren't a sports fan. This may not be the week of the national Superbowl but in '86 we weren't playing the Packers. I have seen some brave souls here wearing green and gold. I know other Packer fans who will be watching with Bear fans. It will get us through one more winter weekend.

Bears Weather

Growing up in Chicago will not make you a wimp. The students went out for recess today. It feels like the first time in a quite a while. On the positive side, when left to a winter long choice between cabin fever, and single digit wind chill you have the opportunity to develop a serious sense of humor. January in Illinois will foster a fine appreciation for the absurd. It is no accident so many comedians grew up here. Midwestern values and stamina are nice perks too. Go Bears!

Rewarding Good Behavior

Most adults think they are more often positive than negative with children. Research shows that we are most often neutral. We have added more positive reinforcement here and have seen our already typically good behavior become even better. All you have to do is let children know you notice them doing things correctly. It really does work.