#ReadAloud15
Happy Labor Day. Whether it’s a barbecue with family, a picnic at the park with friends, or a trip to the beach with Fido, I hope you are relaxing on the day set aside to honor American workers and their contributions to making this country strong. We honor all workers, both blue and white collar and we honor teachers, who are most certainly a vital part of our healthy workforce.
Labor Day is also the unofficial end of summer for many around the nation, so for those of you that are on the verge of heading back to school, (both students and teachers) we wish you the best!
Move over Reading, Writing, and ‘Rithmatic.” According to “The Learning Curve,” here are the 8 “Must-Have” skills students will need in the future to stay competitive:
Leadership. Digital Literacy. Communication. Emotional Intelligence. Entrepreneurship. Global Citizenship. Problem Solving. Team Working.
Notice the strong reliance on the social-emotional aspects of interpersonal communication, along with the need to lead and be able to work in a collaborative environment. Students often balk at group work, but this is what all future employers see as essential.
These “21st century non-cognitive skills” are essential in a global market, and are defined as the “abilities important for social interaction.”
I found this post via Edudemic. You can read their entire post here. The information and graphic came from the original report called “The Learning Curve,” produced by Pearson. You can read it here.
Saying goodbye to one of your teachers is not an easy thing to do. You don’t always meet a teacher in a classroom. Sometimes, you meet a teacher in a book. That was Dr. Angelou. A teacher to anyone who opened one of her books and read even a page of her beautiful words. The world’s teacher.
Rest in peace Maya Angelou. Thank you for your amazing legacy of words & action, for leading the way, & for sharing w/ us your powerful philosophy that, “when you know better, you do better.”
Dr Angelou on Doing What You Love: “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”
On Stories: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
On Success: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”
On Survival: ““My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Add some SWAG to your LinkedIn Profile in 5 Easy Steps.
Here’s why:
LinkedIn is THE most popular social media site used by recruiters in all professions. That’s right. A recent survey from “Jobvite found that 93 percent of job recruiters tap into LinkedIn to find qualified candidates,” according to CNET.
Make sure you are making the most of your profile page. You want to be Irresistible…don’t you? Of course you do! So, start with these 5 simple steps to getting found!
October is Bullying Prevention Month.
“Nobody likes you. You can’t play on this court. Not at this lunch table. You talk funny. You’re not one of us. Too short. Too tall. Too fat. Too dumb. Too smart.” Hurtful words that cut deep. And in the rapid-fire age of social media that our kids live in, these words become wounds that spread quickly.
We must all work to prevent bullying–in our classrooms, our communities, and our homes. October is Bullying Prevention Month. No, it’s not fun, it doesn’t have a catchy ring to it, and sometimes, adults are actually afraid to talk about the issue. But, it’s our job. We need to stand up, be role models and work for change.
STAND UP. Be the Change and Stop the Bullying: We all need to be a part of the solution. Do your part. Stand up and speak up when someone is being a bully—whether it’s an adult, or a child. I found out that my child was teased at school recently, and I can tell you, it wasn’t a good feeling. Luckily, she told me about it, and I was there to make sure something was done. But lots of kids are silent, ashamed, or don’t know who to turn to. Be a Hero. Be a role model. Don’t shrug and say “kids will be kids.”
Let’s give our kids some tools to talk about bullying, to prevent bullying, and to come to us if & when they have a problem. The best way to make sure that happens is to remain open, caring and truly engaged.
Connect. Create a Culture of Respect: James Dillon, a retired elementary school principal who now speaks at workshops on this issue, recently told education website Edutopia that: “Little things can make a big difference. Simple and genuine gestures, such as regularly greeting students, talking to students, and addressing students by name, help to make students feel connected.”
When students are connected to a school, a classroom, or even the community, they are less likely to engage in bullying behaviors. When children know educators and adults genuinely care about them, they are more likely to report bullying at the early stages and get the help they need.
Care. Participate in the Movement: This infographic gives a snapshot of ways you can reflect on and participate in the anti-bullying campaign, this month and beyond. There are facebook pages, an anti-bullying pledge, and even a text-based game. It can be as simple as having a “Unity” day on campus, where students are encouraged to wear orange, the color that symbolizes taking a stand against bullying.
Let’s make schools safe and inviting for all students. All students deserve that.
Want more resources? Here’s a link to the article from Edutopia called “5 Tips for Bullying Prevention” with different ideas for principals, teachers and parents. And here’s a lesson I’ve posted before, from Squarehead Teachers, which even the youngest children will understand and be strengthened by. The National Bullying Prevention Center has teacher toolkits, resources, and a listing of events designed to raise awareness and get everyone involved to…
Help Stop Bullying: Stand Up. Connect. Care.
