The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

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EDUCATION AND EXERCISE By Sarah Newton Get your students moving I do believe that a lot of current schooling is failing our young people. It feels, in some cases, that schools have gone backwards in their approach to young people and that despite lots of innovations in education, it feels as if we are no further forward in our approach to education. As I sit here looking at my bookshelf I am reminded of two books that I really must read, Spark and Brain Rules, which both talk about the effect of exercise on learning. Currently, in the UK, most schools are cutting down on exercise in the curriculum and exercise; it appears to be of secondary importance to results and achievement. And then we wonder why we have an obesity problem among our children. However, there are pockets of amazing things happening, like one school in America that ensures every student has PE each day and has including PE-ready sessions before remedial Maths and English, with incredible results. Here is why exercis...

What an exciting week we have ahead of us! It is amazing how today’s youths are getting involved in politics and taking the initiative to learn all they can. This is not only a historical time for our country, there is a feeling of unity among all people of all ages. This can also a great time to spend with your kids and explain the importance of this upcoming week. How do you feel? Do your kids truly understand the history of this moment? This is a perfect opportunity to have family time and excitement as well as creating lasting memories. Below is an article Connect with Kids posted back in June outlining how teens really took part in this past election. Again, an exciting time in history! Source: Connect with Kids “When parents talk about politics with their kids, when they participate themselves — this leads to a higher level of interest in politics among their children,” – Dr. Alan Abramowitz, Political Science Professor, Emory University Nineteen-year-old Will Kelly is pounding t...

Source: Connect with Kids “You see it everywhere, you see it on the websites, all of these paper mills - places where you can buy papers, [there are] a variety of ways you can cheat, huge variety of ways. [And many teens think] ‘Well, if it’s so widespread, how could it be so wrong?’” – Hal Thorsrud, Ph.D, assistant professor of philosophy, Agnes Scott College “Hi YouTube, it’s me Kiki,” says a young teenage girl staring into her web camera. “Today I’m going to show you guys how to cheat on a test … the effective way.” This video on YouTube, that had over 100,000 hits in the first week after it was posted, is a tutorial for cheating. “I know it’s not a good thing to cheat,” Kiki continues, “it’s like academic dishonesty blah, blah, blah … but you know, everyone, I think everyone has at least done it once.” Kids know cheating is wrong, but still they do it. Why? “Sometimes the teacher doesn’t give us enough time on our work and we run out of time,” says one girl, “and we have no where e...

Everything You Need to Know to Find Success in College and Beyond While college is a challenge for any student, the increased workload, complexity, freedom and competing demands make it particularly daunting for those students with Attention Deficit Disorder. But you need not be overwhelmed and you can succeed! College Confidence with ADD will help you turn obstacles into opportunities and overcome social, academic, financial, and personal challenges both in and out of the classroom. Whether your goal is to get into the school of your choice, improve your grades, survive the experience, gain guidance and direction, or springboard into the future of your dreams, this comprehensive and essential guide will help you succeed. Perfect for ADD students and parents alike. Ideal for busy lives and whirring minds. Also available in audiobook format as an immediate download . Learn more at http://www.thecreativelearninginstitute.com/paperback.htm

By Sue Scheff One of the most important parts of any community is the local school system, and it’s easy for concerned parents and good citizens to become intimately involved in some important aspects of school decisions. Becoming involved with local schools helps decide the direction of the youth in your community, which is of the upmost importance for the success of any community system. A simple way to begin your citizen school involvement is by attending school board meetings. School board meetings help decide most of the important aspects of a school’s future, including school curriculum, dress code policy, disciplinary measures, budgeting, hiring teachers, new school buildings, and a variety of other things. This is one the best ways to be a part of local school decision making, and if your school board is elected it allows you to vote on school board members while understanding the types of administrative issues that my affecting your kid. At the very least, attending school boa...