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Oxygen Used in Fight Against Autism

The number of cases of autism is on the rise. There is no known cure...but here is one unconventional practice that is drawing second looks from researchers:
Click here

Starting School is not a Race

The Globe and Mail article by Marina Jiménez (Early Education’s Top Model: Finland, June 16, 2009—available online at www.theglobeandmail.com, search Education Finland) that explains Finnish children don’t begin primary school [Grade 1] until age seven even though they have access to free, full-day daycare (up to age five) and Kindergarten (age six).

Jiménez writes, “Finland has consistently been among the highest scorers worldwide in the international assessment for student performance—a study carried out by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.”

“In 2006, Finland’s 15-year-olds scored the highest in science and the second highest in literacy of 57 countries. The World Economic Forum ranks Finland No. 1 in enrolment and quality and No. 2 in math and science education.”

Full-day Kindergarten would be convenient for those who would otherwise seek out daycare for the other half of the day, so it’s easy to understand why many parents would like full-day Kindergarten. But Kindergarten is more demanding and task-oriented than daycare, and most five-year-olds will find full-day Kindergarten too rigorous. In Kindergarten there is less opportunity for free play, which is crucial for a child’s development.

Psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Temple University) comments, “The philosophy of play is really about an integrated philosophy of learning. It’s about how human beings get information. We learn by being active, not passive…I think today we have a real problem in a misperception of play. I think we think of play as not work, and when we realize that, as [Jean] Piaget once said, ‘…play is the work of childhood.’ Piaget was one of the greatest living psychologists of our time.” (Listen to the interview at www.cbc.ca/ideas/features/hurried-infant/index.html.)

The government of BC should be creating full-day senior Kindergarten classes for those six-year-olds who would benefit the most, rather than using the $151 million set aside for full-day Kindergarten, and restore cuts to programs.

For more information, listen to an interview with Carl Honoré, (www.carlhonore.com) author of Under Pressure: Putting the Child Back in Childhood, www.cbc.ca/wordsatlarge/blog/2008/04/
under_pressure_by_carl_honore_1.html.

Walnuts - The Great Brain Food

Your brain accounts for 2% of your body weight but burns over 20% of your energy reserves. That means your brain is a big deal...it's working pretty hard. To get the most from your brain you need to feed it often with slow-release, high quality nutrition.

It doesn't get much better for your brain than raw, unsalted walnuts!

The Romans and the Ancient Chinese thought that since walnuts look like the brain, they must be good for the brain. Recent science proves them right!


Here's what you get:

Walnuts develop 3 dozen neuro-transmitters for your brain.
Walnuts are packed with vitamin E
They contain the, all important for your brain, fatty acid omega-3.
Walnuts can improve brain function and memory.
They can even lift your mood.
They improve artery function after a high fat meal.
Walnuts promote heart health....and what's good for your heart is good for your brain!
They can help prevent cognitive decline as you age.
Walnuts can help your brain get a good, natural night's sleep.
Some studies seem to indicate that walnuts even play a role in reducing cancer.

This may be the "clincher":
Eating walnuts lowers the risk of weight gain. This seems counter-intuitive. But a 28 month study in Spain found that people who ate nuts at least twice a week were 31% less likely to gain weight than people who did not. Study authors concluded, "Frequent nut consumption was associated with a reduced risk of weight gain (5 kg or more). These results support the recommendation of nut consumption as an important component of a cardioprotective diet and also allay fears of possible weight gain."

Eating just 4 walnuts a day can help.

info c/o terrysmall.com

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

Don't tell me your age; you'd probably lie anyway-but the Hershey Man will know!

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

This is pretty neat.
DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute ...
Work this out as you read ...
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.


1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1760 ..
If you haven't, add 1759..

6... Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.



You should have a three digit number

The first digit of this was your original number
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).


The next two numbers are



YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)


THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2010) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.
Chocolate Calculator.

Teaching kids to be entrepreneurs

I like this video. It reminds us that kids who do not fit into the school system are not misfits - they are simply beyond the scope of public education. The next time you have a parent asking you what to do with their child who just does not have any interest or ability when it comes to school, you will have a lot to tell them - watch this video:click here.

ESL Goldmine

I find this site to be a real treasure chest of resources tips and information. If you scroll to the bottom you will find their list of best ESL sites (EFL in the U.S.):click HERE