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

What a fantastic article as school as just opened in many areas. Education.com is always full of informational and up-to-date news on academics, parenting and more. One of my favorite websites! Source: Education.com Ethics in the Classroom: What You Need to Know By: Anna Weinstein Ethics and morals are often associated with religion, but schools can also provide important lessons in ethical thinking and action. “There’s a big fear out there that somehow teaching ethics in school will seep into students a particular religious viewpoint,” says Dr. Bruce Weinstein, aka The Ethics Guy. “But ethics must be taught and are being taught in school. It’s impossible not to teach ethics in a school.” Weinstein, who writes a weekly column for BusinessWeek.com and recently released the popular book Is It Still Cheating if I Don’t Get Caught?, says if schools have a code of conduct, they are teaching ethics. According to Weinstein, there are five basic principles of ethics that are common to all ...

Kara Tamanini offers sound and understanding advice regarding ADD/ ADHD children. Take the time to visit her website. Her books for children are excellent! I was very impressed and recommend them if you have a child that is ADD/ ADHD . Source: Kids Awareness Series By Kara Tamanini The most important component at arriving at an accurate diagnosis of ADHD is to complete a thorough and comprehensive evaluation. Many times, I have seen children and they have have been brought in by their parents and diagnosed by their pediatrician after being seen for five to ten minutes. In addition, parents will often tell me that either their child’s pediatrician or a child psychiatrist, prescribed their child medication after being seen and the parent is uncertain as to whether or not their child received an accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, this happens all too often and the steps to arrive at a diagnosis of ADHD should take more than 5-10 minutes in a doctor’s office. First and foremost, a c...

When your teenager reaches the age of their new freedom, called driving, it can cause many parents to reach stress levels that they never knew existed. Or quietly honestly, just hoped this day would never come, since it was only yesterday we taught them to ride a bike. As a Parent Advocate I believe an educated parent is a prepared parent that equals a safer teen! I know personally the stress I went through when both my teens (now adults) started driving. What I found to be interesting was that my daughter was very anxious to get behind the wheel and had her permit within a week of her birthday. My son wasn’t in any hurry and actually was 18 before he got his license. We all have different teens with unique personalities; however the nature of parenting usually doesn’t change: we worry. I am listing a few great resources targeted at helping you with this next stage of parenting teens - teen drivers. Teen Driving – A must read and print out, Teen Driving Contract . This website offers...

Teach Time Management: The Key to Success by Education.com Topics: Organizing Your Work, Scheduling and Time Management Every busy parent, wishing for more than 24 hours in the day, has tried to come up with ways to make more efficient use of their time. By establishing efficient routines and reasonable schedules in your home, you have the ability to do just that. You might even find yourself with enough time to plan fun extra activities to do with your family. Rhona M. Gordon, a speech pathologist, organizational specialist and author of Thinking Organized for Parents and Children , has these tips for parents to try: •Start early! To save time, everything in your house should have a designated place, including: back packs, lunch boxes, coats etc…Start practicing over the summer by having children put the items they use daily, such as swim bags or sports equipment, in a pre-arranged spot. It sounds simple, but it is true– it’s easier to find something if that item has a home. •Set ...

When your child comes home with disappointing news that they either didn't make the team or was recently cut from the team, are you prepared on how to handle these feelings of rejection and negative emotions? Be an educated parent - here are some very good parenting tips. Source: Connect with Kids “There’s about 30 kids in there, and only 10 can make it.” – Glenn, Age 13 The start of the school year means the start of sports try-outs. Kids will run and jump and throw and catch as hard as they can and then some find out they didn ’t make it. They didn ’t get chosen for the team. How can you help your child cope with rejection? Fourteen-year-old Chelsea and 13-year-old Glenn are trying out for their middle school basketball teams. “[It’s been] pretty hard, for a try-out,” Glenn says. “I’ ve been working hard doing push ups, sit-ups, running a mile, doing different drills,” Chelsea adds. It’s a competitive program, so they might make the program and they might not. Those who don’t, ...

I was so flattered and honored to speak with Columnist and Journalist, Kathleen Parker . She interviewed me yesterday and wrote an amazing column which included my new book book, Google Bomb , that is now available on Amazon and will be officially released on September 1st. The endorsements and reviews have been fantastic! There is a ground swell, and I believe we have the making of a best seller. The topic is timely and sizzling with the recent news on Google being forced to expose an anonymous Blogger. Follow Google Bomb Book on Twitter @GoogleBombBook and @SueScheff Shock Waves From the Google Bombs By Kathleen Parker Wednesday, August 26, 2009 When Oscar Wilde observed that the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about, he could not have imagined the Internet. The wild frontier we now know and (mostly) love called the blogosphere is a not-always-okay corral where Free Speech is armed and often dangerous. The latest showdown is between two women — a Vogu...

What a great website and educational information to help you raise your daughters. Take the time to learn more about A Way Through . The New School Year: Starting with a Clean Slate By Jane Balvanz Last week we had our school’s ice cream social and meet the teacher night. There was such excitement as students raced around to find out whether they got the “right” teacher and if their friends were in their class. Kindergarteners marched in with their parents, behind them if they were wary and ahead if they were excited. I like to watch this rite of passage. The kindergarteners start school with clean slates. No one really knows them. These students basically are happy little people, and as a teacher friend of mine once said, “They smell like milk!” They love school, the teacher, the kids, the crayons, and everything in the whole wide world. They are curious little sponges absorbing everything they can. I like that they start the school year with a clean slate. I wish that for all studen...

Get ready for Dr. Michele Borba's BIG Book of Parenting Solutions , releasing just in time for school. Here is another sneak peak about a very important topic, bullying. REALITY CHECK: Research finds that 49 percent of kids say they’ve been bullied at least once or twice during the school term, but only 32 percent of their parents believed them. By Michele Borba Those school doors will be opening soon and excitement is in the air. But many kids may not be sharing that excitement and in fact may be a bit jittery. And they have good cause. One study found that one out of every four children will be bullied by another youth in school this month. If your child is bullied, it means that peers are intentionally causing him pain. Reports also confirm that bullying is starting at younger ages and is more frequent and aggressive that ever before. Do know that if your child is bullied chances are he or she did NOTHING to cause it. Bottom line: bullying behavior must be taken very seriously....

As school is opening, is your child gifted? Have you ever considered the stress and anxiety that comes with being gifted? Having to meet high expectations and feeling the pressure that can result in other difficulties. Please take the time to read these great parenting tips. Be an educated parent. Source: Connect with Kids Stress of Being Gifted “I have all this pressure on me that they’re saying ‘Emily, help me!’ And then I can’t.” – Emily, age 10. A small percentage of the kids now heading back to school are called “gifted.” They are children who are very smart, multi-talented and often stressed out. High expectations and the pressure to succeed can weigh heavily on high IQ kids. But there are ways to help them cope with the pressure. Ten-years-old, she practices the piano almost every day. Emily is a gifted student and she knows it. She expects to perform better than the average student and will push herself until she does. “If I don’t maybe play piano really good that day,” she say...

As school is opening, be an educated parent - read more about school fights and parenting tips to help you help your child. Source: Connect with Kids School Fights “People are just throwing words, and words turn into action and they start hitting each other.” – David, 16, on school fights he has witnessed One in three teens, both boys and girls, say they’ve been in a school fight, according to the latest survey by the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center. In the dynamic of fighting, there is an attacker and a victim, and typically, one more child: a witness, who is also a victim. Some students say fights are almost commonplace. But for every child in a fight, there are a hundred others who watch, and it’s frightening. Ron, 17, says just a couple of weekends ago, a brawl broke out in the stands at his high schools basketball game. “The stands emptied, everybody came to the middle of the floor and just kind of converged. I think there were a few people taken to jail,” say...

Please note that Carolina Springs Academy , the program that harmed my daughter and defrauded us, has had their license revoked this month. They have recently changed their name to Magnolia Hills Christian . It is believed the staff will remain and I believe nothing will change except the name. Falling under a Christian/Religious umbrella may not require them to meet the same regulations a traditional accredited school or program would meet. The irony of this change is when my daughter asked for her Bible at Carolina Springs Academy, they took it from her – and she got demerits. They were not allowed Bible Study or to have any Bibles. She prayed every night that she wouldn’t wake up – it was that bad. She was cautious not to be caught praying since that would have been a demerit, too. Our story is published in Wit’s End (Health Communications, Inc. July 2008) or you can read A Parent’s True Story . The marketers (Teen Help, Lisa Irvin , Help My Teen, Jane Hawley, Teens in Crisis, Life ...

What does Ziggy have in common with single parenting? Tom Wilson! Many people may wonder why a Parent Advocate would write about a cartoon character. Well, the cartoonist is not a cartoon character, he is very real and his memoir, Zig-Zagging , is a remarkable story of how Ziggy empowered Tom Wilson’s life and has given so much to people throughout the world. Afterall, who doesn’t know and love Ziggy ? Who can’t relate to some of Ziggy’s situations written in the comic strips? Last spring I picked up Zig-Zagging and was ready to read all about how Ziggy was created and what drives him. Instead, with the turn of each page, I realized that Tom Wilson is much more than Ziggy. Sure, Ziggy is the animated Icon character we all love, but Tom Wilson is the man that gives Ziggy life. What I didn’t know was how Ziggy gave Tom Wilson life. Tom Wilson’s father (Tom Wilson Sr.), the original creator of Ziggy, left him a legacy that he couldn’t ignore. From a young boy he would watch his father...

Amazon has the books ready for delivery and already the demand is high! Online vs Offline - are they equal to who you are? When Revenge turns to E-Venge? Do you know how to protect yourself? Free Speech does not condone Internet Defamation! Rise above Internet Defamation - learn how to take your online image back and how to maintain it!

A Way Through - The Female Freindship Experts. Recently I was introduced to this educational website for parents of daughters. You will find some great tips, advice and information to help you be a better parent to your daughter. Here is one of their recent Blogs on a hot topic - bullying. By Blair Wagner How Should a Girl Respond to an Emotional Bully? Let’s say you’re in a meeting at work and a co-worker rolls her eyes when you offer a suggestion to a problem your team is discussing. You’re tired of her constant non-verbal abuse and you decide to address her. Do you know what you’d say? What tone of voice would you use? What emotion would you portray as you walk up to her? This situation is stressful enough to make even the most socially savvy adult break into a sweat. Can you imagine doing it when you are nine years old? Or 13 years old? Pay Attention to Words, Tone of Voice, and Emotion Girls struggle with how to respond when they are on the receiving end of hurtful friendship be...

Another sneak peak of what The BIG Book of Parenting Solutions , by Parenting Expert, Dr. Michele Borba . As school opens, this is a timely post. Parenting Solutions to Stop “Poor Loser” Attitudes and Boost Sportsmanship By Michele Borba REALITY CHECK : “I should have won.” “They ought to fire the coach.” “I could have gotten the right answer. The teacher doesn’t like me.” “If I were on a better team I’d win.” Sound familiar? They’re all symptoms of a deadly youth ailment called “Poor Loser” and it’s spreading among our youth. Watching any kid be a poor loser is embarrassing, but when the kid is yours, it’s downright humiliating. Sure, your son or daughter may be the best drummer in the band, have the highest-grade point average in the class, be the best gymnast on the squad, or the fastest sprinter in town, but the moment she starts blaming others, making excuses, arguing, or booing, her skills no longer matter. What everyone sees instead is just a poor loser, and that’s a tough image...

As school is opening, many parents that have teens entering High School have probably already researched their reputation. Recently Education.com posted this article about what High School rankings are, and what to they mean. At this time of the year, I felt it was a good time to share this article on my Blog. Source: Education.com High School Rankings: What Do They Mean? by Hannah Boyd First came lists naming the country’s “best colleges.” Then magazines began ranking high schools. With a click of the mouse, parents can read whether their local school is considered one of the top 100 in the country, one of the top 1000, or whether it fails to make the cut. While this may fill “winners” with pride, it leaves others wondering why their wonderful school didn’t make the list, and how any one school can claim to be the “best” anyway. “There are plenty of rankings available, and some feel like ‘beauty’ contest awards – ‘best test scores,’ ‘top debate or sports teams’ etc,” says Paul Gazze...

If you don't receive Sue Blaney's 2 Minute Tips , you should subscribe. She always offers sound and reliable advice on raising our teens today. By Sue Blaney My tip this week is – Link Freedom and Responsibility - Listen now. I received a query from a mom of a teenager asking for my input on curfew times for her teen. New curfews and questions about updated rules are relevant now as a new school year begins. As they go up a grade teens may have expectations for additional freedom; and they will likely be making some new friends and opportunities for new social activities could be on the horizon. So let’s talk about curfews in the context of additional freedom for your teen in general. What kind of additional freedoms are appropriate as your teen grows? More on Link Freedom and Responsibility - 2 Min Tip #69

Source: Connect with Kids “Sometimes when parents are trying to figure out what’s their role and how much do they push and how much do they step back, there are gonna be some differences and some miscommunication,” – Rick Van Haveren, Ph.D., Psychologist Today there are about 4 million kids who play sports and have a unique set of both rewards and challenges: their coach is their mom or dad. How can these parents make the best of the situation both on and off the field. Bill Bufton loves to watch his sons Beau and Brett play ball. Bufton is not the boys’ father, he’s also their coach. “It has its ups and downs,” says 16-year old Brett. “But I guess [one] of the good things is he’s always there to help you.” But there are admittedly some downsides. “I tend to take the game and sometimes practice home,” says Coach Bufton. “And I like to talk about things as we get home and they like to just leave it at the gym or at the field.” “[Sometimes] I get home and he’d be on my case all the time ...

Source: Reality Check Blog by Dr. Michele Borba Here are few of many tips on Cyber Safety and Cyberbully from Dr. Michele Borba's book The Big Book of Parenting Solutions to help you keep your kids safe online. •Hold a media talk. If your child isn’t talking about cyber-bullying, don’t assume he hasn’t been affected. Let him know you’re aware of the darker side of Cyberspace. Start the discussion: “What have you heard about…” “What are the other kids saying?” Let your child know from the start using your family computer is a privilege and comes with responsibility. That privilege will be removed immediately if your child abuses your family’s rules. •Don’t be too tough. This one sounds contradictory but here’s the low down: A study at Clemson University found that kids often did not tell their parents about cyberbullying for fear of losing online privileges. One study found that almost 60 percent of kids did not tell their parents when someone was abusive to them online. So don’t o...