The Newtown tragedy underscores the violent society we live in. It's a complex issue but I believe that better parenting i.e. establishing a culture of learning in your home that models and encourages respect, selflessness, kindness, compassion, and life-long learning will produce results.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
NEWTOWN, VIDEO GAMES AND PARENTING
When the president read the names of those innocent chldren who were slaughtered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut, my heart went numb. Many Americans share those names among their own families and loved ones. I could not help thinking about my own children, grandchildren, and relatives who share those -now heavenly - names. And I cannot get Emilie Parker's picture-one of the first children's faces flashed across the TV screen- out of my mind.
This week I expected to share with you another article about homework but the evil that was visited upon Newtown, CT has given the entire nation pause as we all reflect on this unfathomable heart wrenching tragedy.
As did many Americans, I spent the past three days praying for the victims and their families, wondering why this happened, and listening to the experts and the president telling the nation that the circumstances surrounding this calamity were very complex. I also called a former teacher I worked with who used to live in Newtown; I needed to talk; I had to vent.
I have written previously about video games when a parent wrote to me about concerns he had with his son's obsession with them. I will not repeat the article here but if you are interested in reading it, go to my website and look for,"The Impact of Video Games" written in August 2011.
Why Did This Happen?
Everybody is asking this question but we will never know what the shooter was thinking about or what motivated him to commit this heinous act. Four
Monday, December 10, 2012
HOMEWORK AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT:Part 2
"Some of the stuff(homework) isn't worth two minutes of their children's time"
HOMEWORK AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT:Part 2
TIP OF THE WEEK- 12/10/12
NO HOMEWORK! THEN WHAT?
Last week I concluded my post by referring to Kohn's notion that non-academic skills (discipline and engaging in required study habits) teach nothing since kids have no say in the matter and are not exercising their own judgement. According to Mary Jane Cera(see last week), the kids at her school take home what interests them such as journal writing and their music. " A lot of what we see kids doing is continuing to write in their journals, practicing their music with friends, and taking experiments home to show their parents." says, Cera.
HOMEWORK GUIDELINES:
The National PTA guidelines for homework are:
Grades K-2=10 -20 minutes
Grades 3-6= 30-60 minutes
Grades 7-12= 1-2 hours
This time frame makes no sense at any grade level if the assignments are poorly conceived and lack quality. Is your child taking home a bunch of mindless work sheets? Is the assignments 15 repetitive math problems when it could be five instead. If your child knows, understands, and demonstrates the concept, why does he/she have to do them at all? " Some of this stuff is not woth two minutes of their time." opines Mr. Kohn. He says that parents should ask two fundamental questions regarding homework:
1) Does the assignment make kids more excited about the topic or learning in general?
2) Does the assignment make the kids think more deeply about questions that matter?
A parent informed me this past weekend that one of her son's teachers gave tons of homework while another teacher at the same
Monday, December 3, 2012
HOMEWORK AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT-Part 1
"Homework is all pain and no gain." according to Alfie Kohn the author of The Homework Myth. Kohn reveals that there are no research studies that link homework to student achievement; even in high school
HOMEWORK AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT-Part 1
TIP OF THE WEEK-12/4/12
Are you stressed out during homework time? Do your children love doing homework or are they frustrated too? What is the purpose of homework? Does the assignment make sense? Is it even necessary? How about NO HOMEWORK?
IS HOMEWORK NECESSARY?
"Homework is all pain and no gain." according to Alfie Kohn the author of The Homework Myth. Kohn reveals that there are no research studies that link homework to student achievement; even in high school.
Some schools are banning homework in an effort to assure that learning remains a joy andNOT-according to Mary Jane Cera(academic coordinator at a prvate school in Arizona) "a second shift of work that impedes social time and creative activity."
My grandaughter and I define "social time" differently. I define it as face to face interactions between and among friends. She prefers to text and hang out on Facebook instead of the corner.
I vividly recall, a mere two and a half years ago when I was teaching fifth grade, the expressions of delight on the faces of my students when I announced that there was no homework that night. There were also a few yippees.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HOMEWORK?
As a teacher, I did not give much homework and never burdened kids with homework on the weekends. As a principal, I advised teachers to do the same and also limit the number of items on each assignment. However, as both a teacher and principal, I did recommend that students read each night.
In the minds of proponents of homework, three purposes
PARENT INVOLVEMENT: HOMEWORK-Part 1
PARENT INVOLVEMENT: HOMEWORK-Part 1
TIP of the Week-12/3/12-www.asktheprincipal.info.
Are you stressed out during homework time? What is the parentaE
PARENT INVOLVEMENT: HOMEWORK-Part 1
Homework is all pain and no gain,” according to Alfie Kohn. In his book, "The Homework Myth", Kohn reveals that there are no research studies that link homework to student achievement; even in high school.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT: HOMEWORK-Part 1
Homework is all pain and no gain,” according to Alfie Kohn. In his book, "The Homework Myth", Kohn reveals that there are no research studies that link homework to student achievement; even in high school.
Monday, November 19, 2012
PARENTS: RAISE ORGANIC CHILDREN-PART 2
This week I promised to report the startling results of a study that revealed lower pesticide levels in children’s urine after only five days of eating organic food. What’s the big deal? According to Joel Forman, associate professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and co-author of the study, “Kids’ nervous systems are developing. Exposure to toxins can have different and much more profound effects on children
PARENTS: RAISE ORGANIC CHILDREN-PART 2
PARENTS: RAISE ORGANIC CHILDREN-PART TWO
TIP OF THE WEEK-NOVEMBER 19, 2012 The previous Tip of the Week presented the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP)-eating organically grown food reduces exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and the chemicals in synthetic fertilizers
. This week I promised to report the startling results of a study that revealed lower pesticide levels in children’s urine after only five days of eating organic food. What’s the big deal? According to Joel Forman, associate professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and co-author of the study, “Kids’ nervous systems are developing. Exposure to toxins can have different and much more profound effects on children.”
Regarding the consumption of organic milk, the researchers do not believe that the same benefits occur as eating organic food. Parents have concerns about milk because of the growth hormones and estrogen given to cows. But these additives according to the AAP do not effect humans and, “appear to be safe.” My emphasis would be on the word, appear.
Another hot topic in this interesting WSJ article by Andrea Petersen, is the consumption of red meat. It is reported that eating beef increases children’s exposure to the anti-biotics given to cattle. Eating organic meat reduces this exposure and may reduce the risk of disease related to anti-biotic resistance bacteria. One study noted an increased risk of breast cancer for teenage girls later in life who eat red meat from animals treated with hormones.
The final decision on whether to eat organically or conventionally is
Thursday, November 8, 2012
PARENTS: RAISE ORGANIC CHILDREN
If you are not already convinced that organics may be better, read on. According to a Wall Street Journal article, “Report Supports Organic Produce, but Not Milk” by Andrea Peterson, eating organic foods is recommended advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics. (AAP
PARENTS: RAISE ORGANIC CHILDREN
PARENTS: RAISE ORGANIC CHILDREN TIP of the WEEK November 7, 2012
“Do you have any real butter?” Can you imagine a dinner guest uttering those words to his hosts when he sees margarine on the table? Mea culpa; it’s me. Yes, I am the proverbial organic nut and have been one since the early 90s when I decided that foods grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers had to be better than foods grown conventionally.
I not only paid the price for higher food costs at the store but I also paid the price socially by being derided and teased by friends and relatives for my opinions. I was also the recipient of those non-verbal looks translated to mean; “You’re weird”.
What’s the cliche? I believe it’s “What goes around comes around” or is it “What comes around goes around”….no matter.The organic food movement has grown exponentially during the past 20 years and you can’t find a major supermarket that does not include an organic section. And yes, some of my early tormentors are indulging themselves on organic food products and grass fed beef devoid of anti-biotics and other unnatural substances.
If you are not already convinced that organics may be better, read on. According to a Wall Street Journal article, “Report Supports Organic Produce, but Not Milk” by Andrea Peterson, eating organic foods is recommended advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics. (AAP)
The discussion or controversy surrounding the nutritional benefits of organic foods versus those of conventional foods has been
Thursday, October 18, 2012
PARENTING vs TEXTING:Danger Ahead-Part 3
There is a natural tendency for toddlers to hurt themselves if they are not properly supervised, according to David Schwebel, a professor of psychology at the University of Alabama. Parents also seem to understand that kids will find a way to hurt themselves even when they’re in the same room with them.
PARENTING vs TEXTING:Danger Ahead-Part 3
There is a natural tendency for toddlers to hurt themselves if they are not properly supervised, according to David Schwebel, a professor of psychology at the University of Alabama. Parents also seem to understand that kids will find a way to hurt themselves even when they’re in the same room with them.
PARENTING vs TEXTING:Danger Ahead-Part 3
TIP OF THE WEEK-10/18/12 PARENTING VS TEXTING: Danger Ahead-Part 3 Dr. Wally Ghurabi, medical director of the emergency center at the Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopedic Hospital is quoted as saying, “ It’s very well understood within the emergency medical community that utilizing devices-hand held devices-while you are assigned to watch your kids-that resulting injuries could very well be because you are using those tools.”
There possibly may be other factors that are causing the increase in toddler injuries such as toddlers engaging in riskier behavior or parents’ tendencies to rush off to the ER for minor accidents. However, experts don’t agree with that because injuries to older children where adult supervision is not as stringent are decreasing.
Furthermore, parents do not usually incriminate themselves as the cause of their child’s injury. When parents are asked to describe how the child was hurt, they respond by saying such things as “He fell out of a tree or he stumbled into the swimming pool or the television fell on him.” Usually, they are asked no further questions. Doctors do not ask whether the child was being properly supervised.
There is a natural tendency for toddlers to hurt themselves if they are not properly supervised, according to David Schwebel, a professor of psychology at the University of Alabama. Parents also seem to understand that kids will find a way to hurt themselves even when they’re in the same room with them.
There is much more to this WSJ article that also contains disturbing anecdotes
Thursday, October 11, 2012
PARENTING vs TEXTING: DANGER AHEAD- PART 2
Is there a relationship between toddler accidents and the increase in the number of people who own an iPhone or BlackBerry? iPhone and BlackBerry users have increased from nine million in 2007 to 63 million at the end of 2010. According to the research firm, comScore, there are approximately 114 million people using these devices as of July 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
PARENTING vs TEXTING: DANGER AHEAD
A recent A recent CBS Sunday Morning Show segment featured a story about people who were asked to do without their mobile devices for a week. They tried but could not do it.CBS Sunday Morning Show segment featured a story about people who were asked to do without their mobile devices for a week. They tried but could not do it.
PARENTING vs TEXTING: DANGER AHEAD
A recent A recent CBS Sunday Morning Show segment featured a story about people who were asked to do without their mobile devices for a week. They tried but could not do it.CBS Sunday Morning Show segment featured a story about people who were asked to do without their mobile devices for a week. They tried but could not do it.
Friday, September 21, 2012
FOUR BASIC BACK TO SCHOOL PRIORITIES-PART 3
One of the best starting points for a discussion is the work your child brings home from school. This may not happen during the first week of school unless you have a kindergartner. But expect to see school work by the end of the second week of school. If you don't see work samples by the end of the second week of school, contact the teacher.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
FOUR BASIC BACK TO SCHOOL PRIORITIES-PART 2
“Our mission as parents is to provide an environment in our home that will support the physical, emotional, and academic growth and development of our child. We look forward to helping our child become, literate, a good citizen, a critical thinker, a lifelong learner, and a person who cares about other people especially the less fortunate
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
PARENTS: FOUR BASIC BACK TO SCHOOL PRIORITIES
PARENTS: Four basic back to school priorities that have nothing to do with supplies
By
James L. Casale, Ph.D.
“First things first”
-Stephen Covey
-
The stores are mobbed and the sales are in full swing. The kids are hanging off the shopping carts, “Mom, I need this!”
School supplies are rocketing off store shelves, into shopping carts, and will land on the planet, School, in August or September. Newspapers are laden with ads for school supplies and TV commercials for school stuff have taken over where the Olympics left off.
Gee, am I that ancient? I don’t remember my mom taking me to the store for supplies or even asking me what I needed. In those ancient times, all I needed was a pencil and some paper. And I think the teacher gave them to me. How did I get through school without a highlighter?
Now, the vast array of required supplies includes so much more than pencils and paper and notebooks. Retractable highlighters, twistable crayons, clip boards, dry erase boards, shiny folders with graphics, three ring binders, pocket folders, back packs with wheels, thumb drives(what are those?) and more, now comprise the grocery list of items that are the “must haves”.
Hey-you elementary kids -don’t forget to bring in your box of tissues. At the last school I taught in, the students in the fifth grade had to bring both tissues and zip lock bags. I’m not sure why. There was plenty of sneezing but I never used the zip lock bags. Maybe the used tissues were
Thursday, August 30, 2012
About Dr. Casale
Dr. Casale is an award winning educator with 40 plus years of experience encompassing four states; New York, Florida, Texas and Connecticut. In 1974 he was named the Florida Teacher of the Year; the first male teacher so honored. In 1988 he was the principal of Purchase Elementary School in Harrison, NY which received national recognition as a School of Excellence. He has numerous other awards.
Starting as substitute teacher in Westchester County, NY after serving his active duty with the United States Marine Corps Reserves, he subsequently served his students and their parents as a classroom teacher, Community Education Director,Adult Education Director, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent, ESL teacher and ESL consultant. In 2009/2010, he was back in the classroom for a one year stint as a fifth grade teacher. He contributes articles to newspapers and from July 2011 to December 2011, he wrote a weekly column for the Naples Daily News in Naples Florida.
He has been an adjunct professor at various colleges in New York and Florida. Currently, he is an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Dr. Casale has two grown children; James and Karen. He has four grandchildren; Olivia, Christian, Caroline and Luca. He lives with his wife Janet in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
If you would like to contact Dr.Casale, e-mail him directly, at :jameslcasale184@gmail.com
About Ask the Principal
This site is basically a blog for parents who are seeking advice about how to navigate the public school system in the best interests of their child or children. If you are experiencing problems or have issues with teachers or administrators, or you just have questions about schools and schooling, this advice blog may be able to help you.
Hopefully, I will be able assist parents with solid advice, information and tools that will result in more positive experiences for them and their children. Parents are their child’s first teacher and they must become knowledgeable and remain active throughout the K-12 journey and beyond. Parents who are not active and suffer from the “ leave it to the teacher and the school syndrome” are gambling. Why? There are not enough outstanding teachers or principals to reform the public schools.
This site may also benefit teachers, administrators and school board members whose professional mission is to improve and become what they preach to students— a lifelong learner. As a committed lifelong learner myself, I look forward to YOUR comments and advice which may contribute to my improvement and that of the participants in this blog.
CASALE CONSULTING SERVICES:
Dr. Casale offers a variety of services to individuals, groups, schools, and interested organizations.
PRIVATE TUTORING AT EVERY LEVEL.
Elementary- All Subjects.
Middle School-All subjects except advanced math.
High School- Reading,Writing English, History, SAT Prep(verbal)
Price=$50.00 per hour
PRIVATE CONSULTING FOR PARENTS(locally or by phone)
Price= $30.00 per 1/2 hour
PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOPS for parent organizations in public or private schools, libraries, or any interested group.
Price=TBD
CONSULTANT- to any public or private school on a variety of topics under the headings: Leadership, Curriculum, Instruction, & Management.
Price= TBD
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