Knowledge Essentials

How to Make Social Networking an Educational Experience

2010-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Education and parenting expert Amy James shares tips for kids using social networking sites.

Learn how to make social networking an educational experience along with safety tips and other ideas.

Get Your Mother the Perfect Mother's Day Gift

2010-05-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is just a little more than a week away and if you want to do something special for your Mom, but not spend a fortune.

CBS News Education Expert Amy James came to the NEWS 9 studio with some ideas that look like you spent a fortune.

Teaching Kids the Dangers of Distracted Driving

2010-04-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

The "No Phone Zone" lesson plan will educate students on the dangers associated with distracted driving (texting while driving, talking on the phone while driving).

It was inspired by an episode of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' that focused on the dangers of distracted driving.

This lesson plan was created by Derek E. Baird and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial -ShareAlike 2.5 License.

This lesson plan is not endorsed or affiliated with Oprah, OWN or Harpo, Inc.
No Phone Zone Lesson Plan

Learning at Home with the Knowledge Essentials Book Series

2010-04-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

Amy James shares educational activities you can do with your kids at home every week, but you may not know Amy has a series of books full of more lessons for learning at home.

Related: School Success for Children with Special Needs (Amy James)

Free St. Patrick's Day Themed Worksheets

2010-03-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

Worksheet | Grade 4-5 | Language Arts | St. Patrick's Day Rhymes

We've just uploaded a bunch of new St. Patrick's Day themed worksheets over on Scribd. These worksheets are provided by Knowledge Essentials and are free to use.

Valentine's Day Crafts Kids Can Make

2010-01-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

Education specialist Amy James shares some fun ideas for fun Valentine's Day decorations that your kids can make for your home or to give to family and friends.

Here are the printable instructions for the crafts.

You can also check out our archive of Knowledge Essentials lesson plans for teachers and home school families over on Scribd. And yes--they're free!

Parent Essentials: Teaching Your Kids Media Literacy

2009-09-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Recent studies have shown that exposure to television increases a child’s tendency to be obese, violent, and withdrawn. Additionally, television is often blamed for such ills as a decline in reading scores and even the breakdown of moral values. So why would we ever want our children to watch television?

Perhaps the problem is not television itself, or even television programming. Perhaps the problem is too much unsupervised, unregulated viewing. Instead of simply turning the television off, we can use television as a teaching tool. Judicious, supervised viewing can help children develop their critical thinking skills.

1. Never forget that programming is there simply to help advertisers sell their products. No matter how good a show is, if people don’t tune in and if advertisers aren’t willing to sponsor it, it will be taken off the air. So in a real way, we can measure a successful program by how many people are buying the products advertised during its air time. For that reason…

2. Keep track of what commercials are shown during any television program. It is easy to determine who the target audience is, and knowing the target audience of any television program will give you insight into what the aim or purpose of the show it. It will never be simple entertainment.

As you watch television with your child, help him or her keep track of what commercials appear during different television shows. Discuss what the commercials are selling, and who might be expected to buy. De-mystify the commercial-to-program connection for your child.

3. Pay attention to family dynamics in television shows. For “humorous” effect, today’s television shows tend to display insults among family members, even from parent to child and vice versa, as normal family behavior.

As you watch these sitcoms with your child, comment on the inappropriateness of insulting comments. Also point out when family members treat each other with kindness and respect (if you ever notice that happening in a show).

4. Help your child understand the difference between “reality” and “fantasy,” at least as it is represented on television. Discuss unrealistic behaviors, situations, or results as you see them during a program. We tend to think children understand “real” and “make believe,” but they need help with those concepts.

5. In part, television can communicate without words. So teach your children the “language” of television, which includes music, lighting, costumes, props, camera angles, editing, and other techniques.

We can help children to recognize and name these elements, and to discover how makers of TV shows use these techniques to create atmosphere and construct meaning. (See attached worksheet.)

6. Use television programs to help children understand and appreciate literature. Television viewing can be used as a supplement to—instead of an alternative to—reading.

You can use television shows to help students understand the structure of fiction by treating it as a “story” with all the story parts: plot, setting, characters, conflict, and theme. You can even teach the parts of plot, following the “arc” of the storyline in the program.

7. Use the themes of television programs to discuss important issues with your child. Don’t assume that your children “get the point” of a story that deals with drugs, violence, or other social problems.

Ask your child what the “lesson” of the program was or how he or she might have handled a situation in the story. Sometimes it is easier to discuss troublesome issues in terms of a program on television, and it gives you a teachable moment in which to reinforce your values.

8. Limit television viewing. Even the very best television programs won’t help your children’s mental development as much as reading will. Reading will promote sustained concentration whereas television inhibits it. Reading allows more time to reflect and digest ideas.

It is much easier to discuss stories being read than it is to discuss stories being watched. Especially during their early years, while their brains are developing and literally learning how to learn, children need the focus and concentration that reading provides.

You can find our media literacy worksheets, along with our other resources, over on our LearnHub page.

Hey Josh for Grown-Ups: Advice for Parents & Teachers

2009-09-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Josh Shipp, the popular youth speaker and dispenser of wisdom to teens, has launched a new project called Hey Josh for Grown-ups (uhm, yeah. That's YOU! The grown-up!)!

Josh has put together a really good, high quality program for parents, teachers, scout leaders, youth pastors---just about anyone who works with teens. Oh, and it's free.

Here's the scoop from Josh:

Maybe you’re a parent of a teen, maybe you're a teacher, a coach, a boy scout leader, or guidance counselor. Maybe you volunteer at a summer camp, or maybe you're the grandparent of a teenager. Regardless of your specific role, I believe you want to see the best in that teenager.

You want to help them reach their full potential. That’s what I want, too.

So, welcome to Hey Josh for Grown-ups. I’m laying out all my strategies, secrets, and techniques--all of the stuff I use to effectively reach and communicate with teenagers--for you to use with the teenagers in your life.

Now Josh likes to joke around and be that funny kid in the class (just ignore the hair. no really, ignore it and nobody gets hurt), but make no mistake--he knows a lot about teens and what their going through.

Josh has talked to literally thousands of kids and wants to share what he learned with you--the grown-up.

[via Barking Robot]

Senator Edward Kennedy’s Impact on Education

2009-08-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Senator Edward Kennedy changed the face of education as we know it today; starting in 1964 when he made the first speech in favor of civil rights legislation which resulted in the integrated schools we have today.

In 1965 Senator Kennedy introduced and passed legislation for the National Teacher Corp – giving college scholarships to teachers that agreed to teach in impoverished school districts – a program that was available to me when I became a teacher and continues today.

In 1967 the Senator introduced and passed school reforms under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – an act that continues today.

This act included Title 1 funding for teaching reading in low income schools – which funds 70% of all schools in the United States today. This act is now known as the No Child Left Behind Act as it is simply a revision and expansion of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Education Act.

In 1968 Senator Kennedy began championing Bilingual Education – something that is prevalent and increasingly important today.

In 1972 Senator Kennedy was responsible for Title 9 which protected women from discrimination in education and required that funding be made available for girls sports in schools. Something that impact me as a child and later as a coach for girls sports.

In 1975 the Senator was an original cosponsor of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which later became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and requires a free and appropriate public education for children with disabilities in every state.

This is personally touching to me as my dad was the principal of the school in Norman that taught ALL children with disabilities and I was then privileged to see children with disabilities integrated into all schools and classes.

I was further blessed to have taught them in a classroom with students that did not have special needs. I’ve written a book on this topic and the issue remains dear to my heart.

These acts have lasted throughout the years since passed – revised in various ways, but always expanded and never decreased. The acts were expanded to include early childhood education and higher education.

His impact on education surpasses the legislation through his shining example of public service which is a virtual requirement for the acceptance of many college applications.

We speak about the many things the Kennedy’s have meant to our country and we almost always think about what would have been if his brothers had lived. Senator Kennedy did live and impacted our lives through health care, civil rights and most importantly to me: education.

Today, reflect upon how your education was impacted by this great man and then think about the opportunities your children have because of him. Use this moment as teachable moment in the many ways you should but please do not forget that he is one of the greatest architects of our current education system.

Get 'Swine Flu' Updates on Your Cell Phone

2009-08-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to protect yourself from the H1N1 virus is to wash your hands and stay informed about possible outbreaks in your area.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as most school districts, post updated flu information on their websites. The CDC also maintains several Twitter streams (see 'Related Links') with the latest information on the seasonal and H1N1 flu virus outbreaks.

Perhaps the easiest way to stay up-to-date about swine flu is to get updates delivered directly to your mobile device via SMS. The team over at CellPhones.org have Get SMS Updates About Swine Flu">created a new service designed to help you stay informed during the fall flu season.

Here's how it works:

Text PIGFLU to 41411 and CellPhones.org will send updates as news develops about the Swine Flu.
The only cost is your cost for receiving regular text messages, and there will be no other billing.
CellPhones.org are providing this service in the public interest.

Daily Updates will include:

CDC/WHO Updates
Information about New Out Breaks
Information From Health Authorities

Related Links

How Kids Learn from Video Games

2009-03-17T13:37:00.001-07:00

"Here’s a clip from SXSW 2009 on YouTube where Henry Jenkins is interviewed by The Guardian UK about learning from video games.

He says in the clip that every game has an online community and it’s there where people start to trade information and learn from each other.

Henry also argues that there is a learning ecology that takes place outside of the classroom and that schools cut themselves off from this learning by blocking games and YouTube - leaving students disconnected with the best ways of learning. This hinders students from becoming technically literate and be prepared for the future." [via]

Related Resources

PBwiki Weekly Webinar

2009-03-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

This week on her News 9 segment, Amy shared lots of exciting and interesting ways to use a wiki to manage your family schedule. While there are lots of different companies who provide wiki clients, our favorite is PBwiki.

Did you know that PBwiki hosts complimentary Office Hours each week? Yep, it's true.

Join PBwiki every – Wednesday at 1 P.M EST to speak to the staff and get help getting the most out of using a wiki with your family.

Sign up for PBwiki Office Hours here.

Subscribe to KE.TV on iTunes

2009-03-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Knowledge Essentials founder Amy James has a weekly segment on CBS News affiliate News 9 in Oklahoma City? Yep, it's true.

Each week Amy shares ideas, suggestions or resources designed to help parents learn the art and science of teaching their children so that they can apply these skills at home, school and the community.

We're happy to announce that we've added Amy's segments to iTunes! Now it's easy as ever to subscribe to her weekly segments and learn on the go!

Help Protect Your Kids From Meningitis

2009-02-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

Make sure you know how to protect your family and ask your child’s health-care provider about how to protect your child against meningococcal disease.

What is meningococcal disease and meningitis?

An infection with meningococcal bacteria causes a serious, potentially fatal but rare infection called meningococcal disease. You may have heard it referred to as bacterial meningitis.

How does a person catch meningitis?

Although meningitis is not common, a person can catch it by having close personal contact with a person who is sick with the disease. You can also become infected by a carrier — a person who has the bacteria in their nose and throat but never becomes sick.

It's important to note that t/weens and young adults are at increased risk for catching the disease.

How can a person prevent meningitis?

While there isn’t a way to be 100 percent protected, you can help reduce the risk of getting meningitis by avoiding the behaviors that spread it.

There is also a vaccination that can help prevent it. Ask your child's health-care provider about how to protect your child against meningococcal disease.

Learn more at: FightMeningitis.com

Related Resources

Black History Month Lesson Plans

2009-02-06T16:08:00.000-08:00

In honor Black History Month, the Knowledge Essentials team has created a series of free lesson plans on Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, School Desegregation and the Civil Rights Movement.

You can find these lesson plans and activity sheets, along with our entire repository of open educational resources, over on our LearnHub Knowledge Essentials page.

Yahoo! Safely: Web Safety Tips for Parents

2009-01-23T17:25:00.001-08:00

How does Yahoo! help keep kids safe online? Find out on the recently launched Yahoo! Safely site! As the most trafficked internet destination in the world, Yahoo! is committed to ensuring that the 30 million children on the internet in the US are exploring it safely.

The new Yahoo! Safely site aggregates resources, knowledge and expertise from across the Web for children, parents, and educators to raise awareness about the importance of safety, ethics and piracy.

Check out some of the interactive features on Yahoo! Safely that help kids form safe and smart Internet habits early in life:

Games and Activities – Play cyber-safety games online
Clips and Videos – Watch educational videos that help kids become good cyber-citizens
Weekly Poll – Vote on opinions about safe practices
Avatar ID Card – Submit Avatars to be featured in the gallery
Online Safety Forum for Parents – Join in the discussion about online child safety
Tech Advisor Articles – Get expert advice from Yahoo! Tech bloggers

Related Resources

Media Awareness Network (MNet)
Be Web Aware (en)(fr)
eSchool News: "Programs Aim to Stop "cyberbullying"
New York Times: Cyberbullies
GetNetWise.org
BBC > Safe Surfing

Free President's Day Lesson Plans

2009-01-21T17:35:00.000-08:00

It's almost President's Day and we've created a series of free lesson plans that you are free to use and share it with your colleagues.

To see all of our lesson plans, check out our repository of open educational resources over on the LearnHub Knowledge Essentials page.

Knowledge Essentials on Facebook

2009-01-11T17:30:00.000-08:00

We've created a little home for Knowledge Essentials over on Facebook. Be sure to come on over to our shiny, new Facebook page!

If you have any resources or ideas you'd like to share, feel free to leave a comment on our Facebook page discussion board. Or leave Amy a shout out on our Wall!

Going Back to School Green

2008-12-17T13:40:00.001-08:00

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Back to school is the perfect time to start some earth-saving habits! What can you and your child do to go back to school green?

Join Knowledge Essentials on Twitter

2008-12-16T19:42:00.000-08:00

We've created a little home for Knowledge Essentials over on Twitter. Be sure to come on over and leave us a "tweet out" on our Twitter page!

If you have any resources or ideas you'd like to share--just tweet us!

The Santa Conversation

2008-12-15T10:31:00.001-08:00

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Christmas Decorations and Gifts Kids Can Make

2008-12-15T09:36:00.001-08:00

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Thanksgiving Table Decorations that Kids Can Make

2008-12-15T09:30:00.001-08:00

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Full Contact Homework

2008-12-15T09:24:00.001-08:00

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The Electoral College

2008-11-10T18:32:00.001-08:00

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The electoral college is hard to understand and harder to explain to your children. Check this out first and you can be an expert too!

Math and Geography with NBA Basketball

2008-11-10T18:21:00.001-08:00

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Looking for an interesting way to supplement your child's math or U.S. geography? Look to the NBA schedule to get your start! Learn interesting facts about the states, the teams, average your favorite player's statistics and more!

Sonic Boom is now the Thunder

2008-10-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Today is the first home game of Oklahoma City's very own NBA team! This is a big day for sports fans across the state. No more teasing our complete loyalty with displaced NBA teams for a season or two...nope, we have a team that is here to stay.

In honor of the new season opening and our new team, I made some worksheets that use the games as a way of refreshing geography and math skills. My segment is live from the Ford Center this afternoon. I'll post the worksheets and clip with this blog.

Best,
Amy

Halloween Decorations that your Kids can Make!!

2008-10-28T11:22:00.001-07:00

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Let's have some fun and save some money at the same time! Check out these easy to make decorations and try them or your own ideas!!

Voting, the Economy and your Kids

2008-10-28T11:13:00.001-07:00

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Voting may be the strongest economic tool that many of us have this fall and it is very important that we use it! No matter who you are voting for, it is important to discuss your vote with your child and take them with you to vote. Think they aren't interested? Think again!

Kids 9 and under: they know we are choosing a new leader and taking them with you to the polls helps them feel a part of it!

Kids 9 - 14: developmentally, these kids are looking for ways to disagree with you, so don't be surprised if they do!

Kids 14 - 18: discuss your choices frankly with your teenager. If they wants to convince you to vote another way, ask them to do the research and give it their best shot!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hi!

It really feels like fall today and it is the perfect day to talk about Halloween decorations your kids can make!

Fun facts:

95% of us will buy candy - and spend an average of $21 per person!!

Halloween is second only to Christmas when it comes to spending on decorations

90% of parents admit that they take candy from their kids' treat bags (hahahaha)

This year's budget is definately smaller than last year's...and it looks like I need to save my money for the candy (at $21 per person)... so I took a look around the house and the decorations came fast and furious!

Trashy-Cat:

1. Cut two card board triangles for the ears.

2. Fill part of the bag with old packing material, newspapers or plastic grocery sacks or anything pretty light.

3. Twist the bag to form the head. Determine the ear placement by looking at the head. Untwist the head and put the cardboard in the right spot. Twist the cardboard into place. Twist the head back into place (since you had to untwist it to put the ears in). Seal with a twist tie or pipecleaner.

4. Fill more of the bag to make the body - leave part of the bag unfilled for the tail - then twist and seal with a twist tie or pipecleaner.

5. To make the tale, gather up the remaining trash bag and twist twist ties or pipecleaners around it to give it shape.

6. Make the cat face with stickers (we cut up alphabet stickers and made a great face!) and attached whiskers made out of pipecleaners.

Lollypop Ghosts:

How easy! A tissue box, magic markers, twist ties and lollypops... that's all you need for these scary treats!

1. Drape a tissue over a round lollypop and use clear tape or a white twist tie to seal it.

2. Use a marker to make the eyes.

That's all for now! Happy Happy Halloween!

Presidential Politics and your Children

2008-10-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hi!

The 3rd and final debate is tonight and it is a great learning time for your children. As a former Civics teacher, I want everyone to vote, talking about voting, take your kids with you to vote and then wear your I voted sticker all day!!

What are the most important issues in this election to your family? The economy? The war? Talk to your children about them and why you are voting for the candidate you have chosen. Not sure how to get started? Check out these sites:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/election2008.htm
http://www.weeklyreader.com/election/index.asp
http://www.pbs.org/vote2008/tools/

Happy voting!

Amy

Children's Chores

2008-10-13T07:01:00.001-07:00

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What chores can you reasonably ask your child to do at each age? Determining your child's chores and then deciding how to reward your child for doing them can be confusing. Check out these chore tips!

Getting in the Halloween mood

2008-10-06T17:50:00.001-07:00

OK, so money is going to be on your mind going into the holiday season and you can't just hammer into your kids that no one has any....so I think it's time to get a head start on saving during the season by making it seem like nothing has changed.

In that spirit, I've been looking up fun Halloween costumes to make today and figuring out which learning standards you can meet while making them. It's been fun. You will not believe how many things you can make with a box and some duct tape!! :)

Stand by....

Banking and Saving with Your Child

2008-10-06T17:47:00.001-07:00

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Now is the perfect time to support your local bank by opening a savings account with your child. Get in the habit of saving regularly with your child using these simple tips!

Got Bank?

2008-10-02T06:16:00.000-07:00

Hi!

Today I am doing my segment about Banking and Saving with your kids. I've been doing some research on it and I am shocked. In two generations, we have lost the discipline to save money. The savings rate, which is higher this year at 3%, was as low as -1% 3 years ago. With the economy as it is, these figures may finally mean more to each of us.

How did we, as adults, create a culture where we actually saved nothing one year but accrued debt? I'm not talking about Wall Street fat cats here. I am talking about us. Ordinary Americans have contributed to the credit crisis at an alarming rate....and what are we teaching our children???

I say it's time to teach them to save, and while we are at it, let's save some ourselves. What was that (not to) old rule about saving 10% of your income? I say it's time to start doing that again and even more, it's time to teach our children to do the same.

PreK - 2nd grade: a piggy bank is a perfect way to start saving with your youngster. Once a month, count the money in the piggy bank with your child and take 10% of it to the bank to put into a savings account with your child's name on it.

3rd grade to 7th grade: Bank and budget with your tween. Encourage your child to put away half of all money earned from allowance and half of all money given as a gift. At the end of the month, ask your child to put 10% of their total income for the month into savings. Next, put 15% of their total income for the month into a college savings plan and finally introduce budgeting to your child by requiring them to pay for extras at school from the remaining 25% of their monthly income. http://www.collegesavings.org/

8th grade to 12th grade: Bank, budget and work. Your child will be ready for more responsibility now and can earn more by doing more chores around the house and getting a job outside of the home. It is really important to have your eyes on college and the expenses at this point. If your child has already been saving along side with you for college, it is an easy conversation - how much do you and your child need to add to savings before graduation? Work it out, set a budget and stick to it.

If you and your child are saving together for college, then higher education does not become a goal, it becomes an assumption.

Think about it, find a coffee can and make a piggy bank. It's better than teaching your children how to structure a bailout plan....

:) Amy

Kids and Finance

2008-10-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

How many of you have been trying to explain "financial crisis" or "collapse of banking" to your kids? It's hard - particularly when it is so complex and it is freaking you out.

I have been doing a series on CBS about the financial crisis and how to speak to your kids about it. The question is how much do you really tell them?

I think you tell them a lot. Understanding our economic system is an important component of social studies learning standards and you can count on it being tested. This crisis isn't just about Wall Street and the sooner you and your child explore that together, the sooner you may be able to get your child to help you save money instead of driving the budget (parents of tweens and teens). So let's use the news to reinforce those learning standards!

Tune in tomorrow for banking tips and saving with your child!

Best,
Amy

My first post!!

2008-09-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hi!

I am a former middle school teacher. I liked middle schoolers a lot. Elementary and high school teachers always seem to think that is unusual.

My parents were teachers (and my aunts and uncles, my grandad was dean of education at East Central and almost all of my cousins are teachers). I started going to work week before I could walk. I was a bulletin board master by 8 and sick of professional development meetings by 3rd grade. (Just the amount of them...every Wed for an hour... and I rode to school with mom...) When I started to drive, I had to do chores in mom's class. So frankly, by the time I was out of college I felt like a retired teacher!!

When I got tenure, I was 25. I quit at the end of that year. My mom's school fed into mine, it felt so small... I moved to San Francisco to go to law school and then I started my first company - Think Interactive. It did online professional development (go figure)...

At Think Interactive I started thinking about the state learning standards so mom and I made a database where we entered all of them in by hand and assigned Bloom's levels to each standard. The reports I was running were really interesting... so when NCLB came along, I was one of a couple of people that had a standards database and that is how I started my company, sixThings. We do standards based curriculum alignment. I really like it.

Knowledge Essentials came along for two reasons... first I had a lot that I wanted to say to parents in plain words.. and second, I was really poor while I started my company and needed to eat.

Seven books later I am still not out of things to say. I have very clear opinions about teaching and I want parents to hear me. A few of my mantras are:

1. If you haven't been in the classroom, don't tell me about the classroom (this applies to specific CEOs of education publishing/software companies).

2. Education toys are not my thing. I don't see any greater value in an educational toy than I do in a regular toy. The difference between them is in your mindset when you play with them with your child. Buy them toys they like and use your good brain to incorporate the toys into your child's learning.

3. Every parent can teach their child something.

4. I like public education and state colleges/universities.

5. I think teachers should be certified, even if they work in a private school.

6. I don't think learning standards are the worst thing. I sort of like them. I have seen publishers work hard to streamline their curriculum to meet them and I think it has made their products better.

OK, so now you know a little about me... tell me something about you!

Let's learn!

KE TV: Explaining the Economic Crisis To Kids

2008-09-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

Tough economic times are everywhere. How do you explain what the economy is to your child and then parlay that into help with your household budget?