4 Things Students Should Know About Finance and Saving for Their Future

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Miles Young
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The years you spend gaining a higher education are often riddled with financial struggle. Students face a regular struggle just to make ends meet. Just because you’re hitting the books, however, it doesn’t mean that putting away some money is entirely impossible. Here are four things to know that can help you teach your students about their finances.

1. You Can Live Plenty While Buying Little

Image via Flickr by krasi

As a student, you have resources available to you that make it possible for you to leave some items off your shopping list. Schools often host events that include free food. Take advantage of them. Before you buy your books at the college bookstore, see what other options are available to you.

Can you get some books from upperclassmen who no longer need them? Are there deals online? For that matter, is the book available for free in the public domain?

Keep your eyes open for freebies of any sort. Potential steals can come from a number of sources. You might get a gift from relatives, find a great item for free online, or score something great at an event at your school. You might be surprised at just how little you really need to spend money on.

2. Other People Are Willing to Help

Society idealizes education. Other people who know you’re a student will often go beyond just encouraging you in your pursuit of higher education. They will also help you with your finances — many businesses, for example, offer discounters to students. And your guidance counselor at school will be happy to tell you about scholarships and other programs designed to help you cope with the cost of education.

Don’t underestimate the help that comes from relatives. You won’t need to beg for cash or complain constantly about how you cannot afford anything. At the same time, inform your family members of your needs. If you do that in a tactful and dignified manner, when your family exchanges gifts on special occasions, your relatives will have a good idea of what they can give you that will be really useful to you.

3. You Can Save for Your Future Even Now

You might feel like it’s impossible for you to think about saving for your future when you are barely surviving now. Don’t disregard the power of putting away a little money when you can.

All of the little amounts add up over time, even if you are just putting your spare change into a coffee can. If you’re looking for help, do your research and check out resources like the CrunchBase profile on Fisher investments, for example, to get some valuable guidance.

4. Living on a Budget is a Skill You Can Develop

Remember that class in high school that taught you how to make a budget? Well, if you have not already put that skill to use, now is the time. Set a goal for saving. Of course, while you are in school, your primary goal is to do well in your studies, so do not sweat it if the amount you can set aside every month is meager. The habits of living by a budget and saving money are ones that will serve you well for the rest of your life.

Taking charge of your finances does not mean living an austere, boring life. It means making wise decisions about spending and saving, decisions that will impact your future. Teach these lessons to your students early on and they will be able to make better financial decisions later in life.

Posted in Teaching Tips | Tagged education, finance, investing, lessons, money, saving | Leave a comment

5 Steps to Help Your Child Prepare for Their Dream Job

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Miles Young
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Preparing children for the future is one of the primary responsibilities of parents and teachers. After feeding, clothing, and housing children, caregivers must address the more complex issues of education and skill-building. When you prepare your children wisely for what’s ahead, you can help make sure that their dreams really are possible.

Ask Open-Ended Questions About Career Paths

Image via Flickr by FtCarsonPAO

The best way to find out about your child’s interests is to ask open-ended questions. Pose questions that encourage creative thinking. Ask, “What kind of job schedule do you think you would enjoy?” rather than “Do you want to work a five-day week?” Talk about different careers as often as possible. On errands, discuss what different professionals do as you pass places of business. Books and television programs present lots of opportunities to discuss the careers of main characters.

Encourage Hands-On Exploration

When your child shows an interest in a particular area, encourage him or her to explore further. The sooner children can try a certain field, the sooner they can confirm their interest or realize that it’s not for them. Look for shadowing programs that allow hands-on activities. Arrange for your child to interview someone in their desired profession. Rent educational DVDs from the library that show a day in the life of a particular professional. If your child shows interest in the culinary arts, have him start helping cook for the family. The prospective veterinarian can volunteer at a local shelter.

Provide a Well-Rounded Education

It’s reasonable to assume that your child may change his mind about his desired career path at some point. Provide a well-rounded education so he’s not handicapped if he makes a change. Reading, writing, math, science, and technology are universally important. Don’t let your child shrug off low algebra grades just because she’s currently focused on a career in journalism. There are many tutoring centers available that can help children who are struggling in a particular subject. Seeking help from tutoring centers early on will keep your child from falling behind and getting discouraged.

Teach Financial Skills

Financial skills are important in any profession. Give your child an allowance and teach him to use it wisely. Children learn to manage money better when they have some to practice with. As your child gets older you can include more advanced principles into your money management. Perhaps you’ll allow her to borrow against future allowances at the price of an interest fee to show how credit cards work, or offer interest for funds that stay in the family bank.

Offer Opportunities for Entrepreneurship

Give your children chances to explore entrepreneurship when possible. Many creative children have actually started lucrative businesses this way. With online resources like Etsy and Ebay, it’s possible for kids to sell their wares around the world. Whether it’s a lemonade stand or a customized jewelry business, entrepreneurship offers valuable lessons for any career path and allows children to explore their talents and passions.

Encourage exploration and innovation in everything your child does and always keep an eye out for activities that will help him or her grow. Supportive parents can make all the difference in a child’s future.

Posted in Teaching Tips | Tagged careers, child teaching, inspiration, studying, teaching | Leave a comment

What to Focus on After the CST

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Damien Riley
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3IsAfter the CST in most districts there are still around 30 days or so of instruction. When so much of the emphasis is on test prep and standards based instruction, then comes the question to ALL teachers after the standards test: “What now.” There are many things to teach once the CST is over for the year. Regular, district curriculum is still required and of course a balance of these things is in order throughout the year. Having said that, as academic instruction continues it can be a good idea to something like a field trip to the public library. This is a great way to get the kids a tour of “academia.” While most searching these days is done on the internet, the library remains an incredible resource the kids should know about. There are so many other things you can teach and do with your class after the CST.

Teaching kids music has a proven effect of increased academic performance. Get some Disney music or other choir based music and teach them to sing. You don’t have to be great at it yourself. Some of the old songs like “Davey Crockett” or “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” have historical content that you can teach across the curriculum with history. If you have access to musical instruments, take some time to expose them to those. Art or course has value. One type I like to explore with my kids each year is “rip art.” The kids come up with truly talented work when we try it. As you work more art, music, sports, etc. (stuff outside of Language arts and Math) I think you will find ways to embed the academic standards into these areas. Life included academics but that is not all there is to life. Teach them about jobs and nutrition, all the while bringing in what you have taught them in the content standards. The Sky’s the limit. I think it’s a great idea to continue imparting eclectic knowledge after the standards test. It can even be helpful and inspiring to try subjects outside the daily grind of what we think of as CST preparation. In time, I hope teachers will be encouraged to teach and be tested more on topics outside of standardized testing. Now for your input: What do you teach after the test?

Posted in Opinion, Teaching Tips | Leave a comment

6 Resources for Online Degree Programs: How to Find the Right Path

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Miles Young
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We all know getting a degree is one of the most important end goals for any student. However, with so many degrees and schooling choices available for students these day, it can be difficult to put them on the right path. There are so many options, it can be a little overwhelming. Everyone’s path is different. There are a variety of resources out there that can help you decide on the correct path for those seeking advice.

Career Information for Students

Image via Flickr by Meathead Movers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers career information for students. Using this tool, you can find careers based on your students’ interests. You will then be able to find out what education they will need, the job outlook for their careers, and even the salary information for different positions.

Talk to Other Teachers/Colleagues

For those still in high school, it’s critical that they plan for their future. One of the best ways to help them with this is to use the resources you have right there in the school. Talk to other teachers or advisers and see what insights they can offer. They will be able to help point you in the right direction. On top of that, they may even suggest specific schools or degrees that may not have occurred to you in the first place.

Compare Brochures

It may seem a little outdated, but comparing brochures of schools you are interested in can help you decide which one is the best option for you. You should always have brochures and paperwork available for inquiring students. Many online degree programs such as http://online.bryantstratton.edu/ offer their brochures digitally. So it’s easy to print and make multiple copies. for students.

Take a Profile Quiz

Have you ever taken an online personality quiz? There are also quizzes that are designed to help you decide on a major or a degree path. These quizzes ask you questions about your personality and your interests, and help you understand what you are good at. This can point your students in the right direction for selecting a degree that best fits them. They’re also fun to take for yourself!

Take a Look at In Demand Jobs

When selecting a degree, it is a good idea to understand what the job outlook is. Is the career something that is expected to have a boom in the next few years? Or is it a career that is starting to die out? Knowing this can help you decide if it is a good idea for your students or not. You can find this information by searching for the most in demand jobs now and for the future.

Go With Your Gut

Let’s be honest. In most cases, students already know what they want to do. At the very least, they have a basic idea of the things they’re interested in. Generally, it is a good idea to take this into consideration and poke around a bit. Ask about what research they’ve done, what they enjoy about class now and what they’d like to see themselves doing in ten years. Choosing a major can be scary, so try to ease their minds and put them on the right path with gentle, yet honest opinions. There’s nothing wrong with giving an honest opinion, as long as it doesn’t shatter their spirit.

Deciding on a degree is an important step; it is not something that should be decided on a whim. By giving students the right resources and encouragement, you may give them the gentle push they need to succeed.

Posted in Teaching Tips | Tagged college advice, degrees, online degrees, resources, teacher tips. student guide | 3 Comments

The Written Behavior Log – A Win/Win/Win

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Damien Riley
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20120817-141710.jpgProbably the best student behavior related advice I ever got as a new teacher was to “Write things down.” Keeping a written record of things students do is powerful when dealing with parents, the Principal, and when seeking to improve the school’s behavioral programs. It carries more weight than your simple “recollection” of events. If Johnny misbehaves, the parent and administration wants to know exactly how and when he did so. This can be a fancy three ring binder you create or just a lined sheet of paper on a clipboard. The only essential is that it must be written in regularly. It’s so important, I say it should be part of any sound classroom management.

3Is2Win 1: The parent. We live and teach in a time where the teacher/parent relationship is constantly being redefined. For one student, you are the “guide,” the “mentor.” This is of course the ideal situation we hope for with all our students. Unfortunately, there are other parents who can be hostile toward teachers. They can complain to no end and even enter the classroom sometimes to share their discontent about their child. These are the ones we must give our full attention. They may have a real concern but in other cases, they may just want someone to hear their complaints. In either case, you need to be a listener #1. Imagine if you were in their shoes, wouldn’t you want to be heard? What if your child was being bullied? On the other hand, what if your child were accused of bullying? I have seen upset parents calm down quite quickly simply because I didn’t react or reply, I only listened and gave active listening feedback. If something has happened with their child on the offending end, you will have a much better case if you have a written behavior log. You can examine your well reasoned points if you are lucky. Without a behavior log of the events their child was involved in, you don’t have a leg to stand on and they may try to assault your character, saying you have no proof or you make things up. Let me not here that the goal of a teacher should always be so find a positive solution with parents. We, in a real sense, work for them. We do not, however, have to be at the mercy of ones who seek to disparage us because we are allegedly disorganized or without proof.

With_SupesWin #2: Your Boss. The Principal will greatly appreciate your log as well. I think they have one of the hardest jobs in education. They field complaints all day as well as attempt to foster an ideal learning environment. When they get a phone call about a child in your class, you can get out your log and show your observations. Without the log, it is your word against the parent and that put the Principal in a very precarious situation. We all want the needs of the child to be met. The Behavior log can help us to that end, even if it documents what the child has done wrong. We can look at positive solutions. If you simply try to recall what has happened in class, you run the risk of being the problem! That’s right, a Principal may choose to see you as the problem even when the child has done wrong. The solution? Write it down as it happens. This can also be a great tool to pull out during a time of teacher evaluation.

IMG_0045Win #3: The School. The best reason to have a behavior log is to help constant improvement of the school’s behavior plan. You can bring that information to a school site council meeting (or other meeting) and make informed statements about what behavior problems are occurring. If multiple teachers see trends, it can be possible to brainstorm solutions. You can show statistics at parents meetings as well as any meetings that concern student behavior and safety. This benefits the school and the child as well as the family. Most schools in the 21st century recognize the value of those three entities.

To close, I encourage you to keep a behavior log in your classroom. It will foster your professionalism with parents and administration as well as benefit the school. Sounds like a win/win/win right?

Please leave a comment! This is a blog that thrives on other peoples’ opinions. Thank you in advance for commenting.

Posted in Issues in Education, Teaching Tips | Tagged behavior, classroom management, legal aspects, the teaching career | 1 Comment

Revising Your Teaching Strategy

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Damien Riley
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clip1Try as we might as teachers, sometimes we don’t get classroom management right. To adapt and fix it, we must be open to change. This often requires tweaking little things here and there and sometimes it means a complete overhaul of your lesson plan and classroom management approach. Even when you’ve been at it many years, you are never immune to change. Ours is a career where change is always happening so we must adapt. Revising your strategy is the solution to the challenge we call change.

It’s very complicated and different for each classroom. Having said that, I would divide a complete overhaul into three areas and apply strategies as needed:

  1. PLAN. Identify focus standards. Most schools in California are focused on the California content standards. Gone are the days when teachers’ differed in their opinion on what should be taught. While shades of that remain, teachers know the biggest recognition comees from high standardized test scores. Even though I know that is the best target, I will be flexible and say a teacher should identify what they want to teach. You’d do well to simply identify standards but the point here is that you are focused on something. It has been said, and it is true, that if you aim at nothing you will surely hit it. Get a yellow pad and write down 2-3 focus standards a day. These become the measuring rod of whether you did you job.
  2. TEACH. For each standard use a teaching method such as edi or the Madeline Hunter lesson plan and write lesson plans. Teach them, check for understanding throughout and finally, assess that 80% or more of the class has achieved mastery.
  3. PLAN CONSEQUENCES. Plan how you will control classroom discipline. Some classes will not require much of this and others will demand hours of planning in a trimester. Read up on the subject and be open to trying things other teachers do that are working for them.

I hope as you are revising teaching strategies you don’t feel like a failure. It can feel like that sometimes as a teacher in a challenging environment. Make sure you take the quiet time to reflect, research and converse with positive colleagues. In time, the hardest challenges will become your greatest strengths. The reason I am qualified to tell you this is because I have revised my teaching several key times in my career and the end product is seeing myself as an accomplished teacher. You can have that assurance as well if you always stay open to revising your teaching strategy.

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Music in the Classroom – In Some Strong Hearts

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Damien Riley
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musicThe title is true for my school anyway. Amid the rigorous academics demands on school children these days, it is refreshing to see teachers keeping music in the classroom. Most people from my generation got some music instruction, or at least music appreciation, in elementary school.  I will never forget Mr. Davis pulling us out of class once a week and teaching us to pluck the guitar saying “Santa Ana freeway” in time. I’ve been carrying that torch, in my small way, ever since I started teaching, keeping music in the schools.

With kids it’s best to start with the basics and work their way out: the parts, the strings, the chords, then teaching with songs, and later riffs and solos. It’s great to know that some administrators, teachers, and districts believe that music in the classroom should remain “still standing” even in these times of recession.

Posted in Issues in Education | Tagged music in the classroom | 6 Comments

No Superman – When Tests Scores are Human

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Damien Riley
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Teaching is a task that should come from the heart and reach to the heart of children. After that, there is a test. The Standardized testing that goes on in every state in the union is keystone to student placement and, some would argue, future achievement.

Teaching “from the heart” is crucial at all times in my career and sometimes I need to take a quiet walk or something akin to that to remember it. At the same time, teachers are valued on the basis of their test scores in many schools and in many districts that I have been familiar with. That’s why I chose to write today about addressing low scores.

Low standardized test scores are not an indicator of talent, either by the student or the teacher. Rather, they indicate incorrect focus. Many teachers go through their day with a vision of some sort. One teacher might actually aim for high test scores and teach as closely to the test as possible. Another may see socialization skills as a more important focus and teach through those as a lens. It varies as much as teachers do. While it is important to have values and teach from your heart, we as teachers have to remember the “steel horse” we ride: the standards test. If our heart isn’t in it, we will not succeed but with our without “heart,” we won’t make it as teachers in this millennium without decent to great scores on our standardized testing.

When you get low data from a test as a teacher you can feel overwhelmed. It can even feel as if you are failing at your career. The truth is, with a little strategic planning based on the data (your best friend) you can get the “correct focus” that turns the dreaded low scores into the tool they should be to score high. There have been years when all my kids ever scored was high, there were others when the kids just never seemed to “get” certain standards on the test. Now I aim for high scores that are taught “from the heart.” I suppose in a perfect world I wouldn’t care about the test and just give kids what I feel they need to be well-rounded 4th graders. Unfortunately, this world is not perfect so to a certain extent, it is back to the old drawing board to make a way toward student achievement on the standards test. Work with what you have.

Posted in Teaching Diary | Tagged test prep | Leave a comment

The Challenge of Making Your Not-so-Favorites Your Favorites

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Damien Riley
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20130401-170518.jpgThere are 30 some odd kids in your class as a teacher. It is so easy to gravitate and focus on the needs of your favorites. They are as such because they fit in to your paradigm. Disclaimer: No teacher should have “favorites” but I am using the term to simply make a point we always need to keep an open mind to all our students. For the purposes of this article, by “favorite” I simply mean ones that are easier to understand and reach. That is m goal with every student. Thank you for understanding my disclaimer. Favorites are natural to your style of teaching and personality. You “get” them and so they often are easier to reach and teach. These are not the students that challenge you to be great. I challenge you to pay more attention to the difficult ones, those who are more difficult to understand. When you reach them, it’s a huge win for you and they.

We shun things we aren’t familiar with. A kid may seem annoying on purpose when her/him is only operating under their home paradigm. Not only can you offer them academic help but they can teach you more about how students perceive and survive in the world. Ring any bells? Please comment.

It is one of my top values for my blog here to host comments. I promise to give you my posts until my dying day but I covet YOUR comments more. Teachers, parents, administrators, edubloggers, and anyone interested. PLEASE leave me a comment. I promise to reply.

Posted in Teaching Tips | Tagged test prep | Leave a comment

What Teaching Strategies are You Using This Close to the Test

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Damien Riley
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20130402-124441.jpgYou know I write these posts to archive the good teaching stuff I have run across. But more than that, I selfishly love getting your comments. Many times I find reader comments more helpful than my own material. PLEASE COMMENT.

As I have written here before, I am big into data. I use it to plan my instruction. Currently, I have used OARS and EADMS to dis aggregate student data. I can see the holes that need filling. Those are pare of the plan for the next 2 weeks. I plan to use white boards for whole class assessment. The time for tests before the test is long past. This is an exciting time of the year because it’s when you release your students to do what you’ve worked at all year. Now, great teachers, your comments!

Posted in Teaching Diary, Teaching Methods, Teaching Tips | Tagged test prep | Leave a comment