Highschool Economics Resource

Economics in a box -- worth reading more about or checking out some of the resources to go with what I already have...

http://www.economicthinking.org/curriculum/EconomicsinaBox/#purchase

"Economic principles explain
• Why some societies prosper while others stay in poverty
• Why entrepreneurial businesses create jobs and produce innovative products and services
• Why so many government programs fail and government policies backfire

Much of economics flows from common sense observations and insights into everyday life. The core textbook, Common Sense Economics, is an easy to understand book that explains economic principles using everyday language and easy to understand illustrations and examples.

Economics determines much of today´s social and political landscape, and students who understand these principles will be well-positioned to play leading roles in business, government and society.
"Economics is not about things, tangible material objects; it is about men, their meaning and actions." Ludwig Von Mises"

Community college credits and transfers to NC Universities

From Kate: (thanks!)
All the WakeTech College Credit equivalencies can be found easily for each NC state school.

http://www.northcarolina.edu/content.php/assessment/reports/student_info/caa.htm

Helpful for those dual credits that we might get to in a few years!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom lapbook

A very cute lapbook for preschoolers:
http://lapbooksbycarisa.homestead.com/CHickaBoomTotBook.html

and someone's take on that idea:
http://mylapbooks.blat.co.za/

Preschool Alphabet Activity

The Active Alphabet -- I need to make some cards for J as he'd love this activity!


Spent most of the day with him practicing his alphabet on the Fisher Price keyboard attached to my laptop (tracing letters with the mouse/pen)... he's so excited that I can figure out the letter he wrote. I think he may be able to write his name before he's 3 1/2 -- unless some other interest develops before then!

http://www.universalpreschool.com/how-to/active_alphabet.asp
Use this list as it is, or come up with fun action words of your own!

* A is for Airplane — Pretend to be an airplane. Spread your arms way out at your sides and "fly" around the room. Don't forget to add sound effects too!
* B is for Bow — Show your child how to take a bow by bending from the waist.
* C is for Clap — Clap your hands together.
* D is for Dance — Put on some music and dance.
* E is for Elephant — Pretend to be an elephant by making an imaginary elephant trunk with your arm.
* F is for Frog — Jump, hop, or leap like a frog.
* G is for Grin — Smile!
* H is for High-Five — Show your child how to give a "high-five." You each raise your arm above your head, and slap your open hands together.
* I is for Itch — Pretend to scratch an itch.
* J is for Jump — Jump. (Some young children may not yet have the coordination to jump. If not, then "J" can be for Jog.)
* K is for Kick — Kick a ball or balloon or an empty box.
* L is for Laugh — Ha ha ha ha ha!
* M is for March — Show your child how to march around the house.
* N is for Nose — Point to your nose.
* O is for Open — Open and close your hands, or open a drawer or door.
* P is for Pout — Stick out your bottom lip to make a pout or look of displeasure.
* Q is for Quiet — Put your index finger in front of your lips and say, "Shh."
* R is for Run — Run around the room, run outdoors, or show your child how to run in place.
* S is for Sit or Stand — Sit down and then stand up.
* T is for Twist — Show your child how to twist their body to the right, and then to the left.
* U is for Up — Pick your child up.
* V is for Vacuum — Vacuum the floor or pretend to vacuum.
* W is for Wiggle — Wiggle your arms, legs, and body.
* X is for "X" — Make an "X" shape with your index fingers, or shape your body into the letter "X" (stand with legs set apart and arms stretched up and out)
* Y is for Yummy — Say "Yummy" while you rub your tummy.
* Z is for Zipper — Find a zipper on a piece of clothing. Zip it up and zip it down.

Unit Studies and Older Kids

We had an interesting discussion last week about why unit studies were used so much more at the younger ages than at the older ages. I've really been thinking about it since we had a marvelous time with unit studies when my 7th grader was in K-3 -- and some later on than that. However, when I look ahead to highschool, I don't automatically look at unit studies, nor do I feel that it's as important or doable.

For one, I do want a strong university-bound transcript at the end and the basics seem easier to cover with individual classes, though some lend themselves to easily be covered together such as English/Literature and History/Social Studies. However, to get enough depth to do any AP exams or SAT Subject Tests in specific areas will mean really focusing on one topic.

I think one of the other reasons is that as he gets older (& as his little brother needs more of my time), he's looking for other things -- more independence in what he's doing, information and learning from other people, etc. These lend themselves easier to outside classes on specific subjects or on purchased curriculum that covers the material.

And, from my perspective, it was great fun to put together a unit study on kings and queeens or light houses, because I knew how all the pieces fit together and I had room to be creative. As his level of understanding and learning increases, it becomes harder to create a unit study because I don't have the background to pull it together easily. It would need to be based on someone else's framework -- and there aren't many unit studies available for this age group that combine things in a manner that I feel are interesting and cover things at the appropriate level.

LEGO Engineering: From Kindergarten to College

An interesting 52 minute video from Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach

LEGO Engineering: From Kindergarten to College
For the past 10 years, Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach has been working with the LEGO Group to bring engineering into every classroom as a way to teach creativity, teamwork, and systems engineering as well as math, science, and literacy. We believe that as the world becomes more technical, and more dependent on technology, it is imperative that those who vote and who make policy understand the fundamentals of science and engineering so that they will make informed decisions on policies like developing a sustainable energy plan or reducing global warming. We do this by bringing engineering into the pre-college classroom and challenging students to design and build solutions to open-ended problems. Chris Rogers will show a number of examples from around the world of how teachers have used LEGO Robots to teach everything from how to graph to how to problem-solve. From LEGO snowplows (made by 1st graders) to automated hamburger makers (made by 13 year olds) to a LEGO robot driven by a fruit fly (made by a doctoral student), students have been excited, innovative, and very enthusiastic to learn. He will conclude by explaining how you can help affect your local school and classroom. Kids (of all ages) welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG-izyXfFHI

Blogs to Read (when I next have time!!!)

Blogs to go back and read:

Cult of done by Daniel Pink (he wrote the book about how important right brains will be in the future -- and spoke on PBS tonight -- interesting -- and what does it mean to educational objectives?
Anyway, this blog has some interesting quotes about getting things done:
http://www.danpink.com/archives/2009/03/cult-of-done

Free to have fun: Reclaiming your hobbies
Worth thinking about in this crazy pace of life we lead!
http://www.onsimplicity.net/2009/03/free-to-have-fun-reclaiming-your-hobbies/

A very cool list of blogs here that I need to check out!
20 Must Read Blogs for Married People
http://www.simplemarriage.net/20-must-read-blogs-for-married-people.html