LilSugar

Teachers Teach Mom and Dad a Thing or Two

babysugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:00:36 -0700

The sneakers are glowing and the lunchboxes are fresh. It's time to head back to the little red school house for another year of education. Entering a new classroom promises never before seen math problems, spelling rules and lectures in science for sponge-like brains. While most everyone expects that type of learning, it is sometimes a different lesson that gets moms and dads fired up for a new year. Parents see their children grow every day, but it is a fresh perspective from their child's new teacher than can often offer them a new vantage point into their kiddo's life. An art instructor may spot a budding Van Gogh or the P.E. coach sees the next Mia Hamm. The reading teacher may see a writing future while the math tutor discovers a counting issue that needs special attention. What have you learned from your child's teachers?

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Parents Use Their Wallets and Opinions to Influence Education

LilSugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:00:00 -0700

How much say should parents have in their children's education? In an age where adults are known to begin educating babies in the womb, obsess over their tots' preschool admissions, and sign them up for dozens of activities, it's no wonder that some parents try and control their child's class placement. Whether it's mom asking that her son not be placed in the same class as his nemesis, or dad requesting a specific teacher based on reports from PTA members, principals deal with a legion of requests. And many helicopter parents are used to getting their way - even paying to push their opinions on the institution. In some private establishments, mothers and fathers have pooled their funds to buy members of the faculty out of their contracts. Is this appropriate - what's your opinion on the issue?

Do You Give Your Child's Teacher a Holiday Gift?

LilSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:00:24 -0800

Has holiday gift giving gotten out of hand? We see gift guides for everyone from our kid's coach to the local crossing guard - not to mention the tips we dole out to our service providers. Where is it OK to cut the list? Well, some schools have tried to put an end to present stress by banning the practice of giving gifts to teachers. Parents pool together to collect a minimal amount for each child in the class and then present the teacher with one large gift or just forgo the gesture altogether.

Does your child's school have rules about this?

Source

Do You Prefer Your Tots Be Taught by Women or Men?

LilSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:00:00 -0700

As parents, we send our kids to school to learn, but do we care who teaches them? According to the National Education Association, only one quarter of all American teachers are men. Do you prefer a male or female heading up your child's class?
Source

Lil Tip: Purell for All

babysugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:55 -0700

Back to school means heading back to germs. Unless your kid is a compulsive wee one, washing her hands thoroughly throughout the day is a pipe dream. Who has time to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" when all their buddies are headed out to recess?

Do yourself and others a favor by donating a tub of Purell to your tot's classroom. The teacher will appreciate it and the other parents are liable to follow your lead. * Note, Purell can be dangerous if consumed so it is best used under adult supervision.

Wee Are The World: Irish Dancing in the Bronx

babysugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:00:37 -0700

On St. Patrick's Day, I was reminded of my old sport of Irish dancing. When I was a wee one, my whole family took dance lessons and competed. On Saturday mornings, I would have opted to watch Tom & Jerry instead of attending my dance lessons.

But some kids from the Bronx give up their cartoons and activities to jig and clog. As reported in the New York Times, Irish dancing has taken Public School 59 by storm.

To see a video and learn more about this inspiring tale read more.

Young Irish native Caroline Duggan moved to the New York burrow to try her hand at teaching music. As she became acquainted with her students, she slowly introduced them to her own culture. The Hispanic and African American students who filled her classroom were puzzled by her accent, which initiated a discussion of Ireland.

Soon after, the energetic instructor showed off her "Riverdance" steps, which led to her teaching the moves to 25 students the first year. Now, her roster has multiplied to include nearly the entire student body.

To say the program is successful would be an understatement. Due to the generosity of Irish–Americans and other connections, Ms. Duggan raised $70,000 to help pay for a trip to the Emerald Isle.

She, along with the school's principal, Mrs. McHugh, took 32 children and 18 chaperones back home to show off the darling talented dancers on Ireland’s “Late Late Show." The troupe also performed for President Mary McAlees.

And while the dancers aren't exposed to the Irish music or culture at home, they are soaking it up at school. Many taught their parents the dance and others have gained a sense of confidence and pride with their steps.

And like most things in American culture, the dance moves have been thrown into a melting pot where Ms. Duggan and her students have incorporated something they are familiar with – Hip Hop, into the Irish jigs. The magnificent result has been rewarding for the mentor, her pupils and those who watch them perform.

Check out the gallery below to see some snapshots of the skilled tots.

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Teacher Says: Y'all Are Just Stupid Kids

babysugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:00:55 -0800

As a former teacher, I can certainly understand how students can try a teacher's patience. But a Houston teacher crossed the line when she demeaned her four and five–year–old pupils. Fortunately, one of the parents caught the ludicrous comments on a digital recorder and brought it to the school's attention.

Watch the clip and tell us, do you think the teacher has the right to talk like that to her lil schooligans in that manner or should she be fired? What wild act will be caught on tape next?

Make Your Child the (Rice Krispies) Apple of Her Teacher's Eye

babysugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:00:23 -0700

What does every teacher get on the first day of school? An apple. Smiling faces would be more than enough for any educator, but parents often usher them in with a less than shiny fruit that ends up in the teacher's lounge. In an effort to do something fun the night before my daughter's very first day of preschool, together we made Rice Krispies apples that I hope won't be tossed into the compost.

To see how to make these tasty delights, read more.

Using the same ingredients (plus one) that you use for regular Rice Krispies treats, melt the marshmallows and butter in a pan or bowl. Add some red gel dye to the mix. When the mixture is a lush red, add the cereal to the mix and stir. Instead of pouring the mixture into a pan, make baseball size balls and lay them out in pans that can be refrigerated. Once they have cooled off for a little bit, take them out and sculpt them into apple molds. For my stem and leaf, I used a diced up caramel and half of a green sugar candy. Using a straw, poke a small hole on top and add a leaf and a stem. Wrap it up in cellophane and tie a ribbon around it. Attach a card with your child's name and that teacher will be begging for apples year-round!

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Should Teacher Who "Married" His Fourth Grade Student Be Fired?

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:00:51 -0700

A Portland fourth grader went to the head of the class to "marry" her teacher. The child proposed to Paul Rosenblum who agreed to play groom in the pretend nuptials on the playground. He sported a graduation gown and tie and the bride wore a sheet. They sealed the union by holding hands and running down a ramp. After students told their parents about the ceremony, the school received complaints. The teacher issued an apology for his lapse in judgment saying he was "sick with regret." The superintendent did not comment on whether any further action had been taken. What's your take on the incident?

Yellow Tea Bus: Cost-Conscience End of Year Teacher Gift

LilSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:16 -0700

We all know the drill - the bell rings on the last day of school and students line their teachers' desks with boxes of candy, coffee gift cards and glass apples. But when economic times are tough and families need to stick to budgets, a creative thank-you is a nice concept that will evoke the year's memories.

Inspired by Maum's school bus tea bags, we asked our favorite lil ones to help make a yellow bus filled with tea bags adorned with each member of the class's picture. It costs just dollars to create and will invite the teacher to kick back and relax with a soothing cup once the last kiddo has cleared out his desk.

To see how to create the moving tea box, read more.

Supplies for Project:

Small box of tea bags
Scissors
Yellow construction paper
Glue
Crayons
Photos of child's classmates
Cardboard box

Directions:

Cut little "people" out of the cardboard, ensuring their "arms" are the length of the width of the box and that their "bodies" are narrower.
Closely cut out the faces of your child's classmates and attach them to the "head" of the cardboard bodies with some glue.
Cover the box in yellow construction paper and decorate it to look like a school bus - get as fancy as you wish even calling the bus line "Ms. Bruin's First Grade Class."
Cut slits in the top of the box.
Drop the "bodies" into the slits, ensuring that the "arms" stay on top of the bus, which the bodies drop down.
Attach tea bags to the bodies.
Close the box.

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