Meryl Jaffe's Blog (35)

Invigorating Instruction

Do you believe in the power of a liberal arts education or in studying trades? Please visit my blog and join the conversation. I bring in William Chace's article "The Decline of the English Department" and discuss the power of studying English Literature. Please add your voice and perspective... http://departingthetext.blogspot.com

Added by Meryl Jaffe on September 13, 2011 at 8:06am — No Comments

Deaf Ears, the Economic Debacle, and How to Teach our Kids to Listen

I had another post ready, but as I sit hear reading the Sunday New York Times, another, possibly more pressing issue hit me: Deaf Ears. As the US (and possibly the world) economy unravels and our political systems appear ineffective - our leaders seem to have blinders and deaf ears.

The article "Amid Criticism on Downgrade, S.&P. Fires Back" The article details that:

"The day after Standard & Poor's took the unprecedented step of stripping…

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on August 8, 2011 at 1:11pm — No Comments

Zero Tolerance for Bullying

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on July 12, 2011 at 7:53am — No Comments

X- Rated Cursing and a Bedtime Story for the Sleep Deprived Parents. What is Acceptable?

Today I posted about cursing and the (incredibly funny) Go The F**k to Sleep book by Adam Mansbach, read by Samuel Jackson. What is your take on cursing with kids? What are some of your favorite alternatives? I'd love to hear from you:

http://departingthetext.blogspot.com

Added by Meryl Jaffe on June 28, 2011 at 3:26pm — No Comments

Visual Literacy, Blogging, and Comic Books: A MUST for Home, Work, and School

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on June 13, 2011 at 12:17pm — No Comments

A Dialogue: Uncollege? The Five Minute College? Or a Traditional Liberal Arts Education

My hu sba nd jo kes about college being the best seven years of his life despite the fact that he graduated in four years. And, while he and I strongly advocate for liberal arts college education and are the proud parent of two college graduates with a third on his way, there is much to be said about the Uncollege social movement founded by Dale Stephens and recently…

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on June 7, 2011 at 7:18am — No Comments

A Tribute to Teachers

With the 2010-11 academic school year closing, I dedicate this post to all the teachers I've had the pleasure of working with and learning from.

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This piece…

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on May 31, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

Science Fiction: Skills, Chills and Thrills it Offers Our Kids

http://youtu.be/G5MHNvOVl8Y I discovered science fiction in my teens, but it was as a parent and teacher that I realized how rich this genre is in creative opportunities. Science fiction reflects scientific thinking of the time period in which it is/was written, and has proven a rich springboard for future research.

As science fiction weaves story lines with real or imagined innovations in science and/or technology, it comments and… Continue

Added by Meryl Jaffe on May 24, 2011 at 7:33am — No Comments

What are Perceptual Motor Skills and How Do I Get Me Some?

http://youtu.be/2ctwe-dV-Tk

Perceptual motor skills refer to our ability to coordinate small and/or large muscle groups to accomplish some task we visualize doing. It requires our integrating eye-hand or eye-foot coordination (or eye-any other body part) so we can button our shirts, writing our names, enter our blogs (even after accidentally erasing them...yes this is a rewrite), jumping rope, shooting…

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on May 3, 2011 at 6:48am — No Comments

Getting them to Sleep ... Bedtime Rituals

http://youtu.be/BpXUYIOoFzM

We all know it's important to get our kids to sleep. It's important for their health and day-time functioning, and it's important for us to get our own grown-up quality time.

The best way to get them to sleep (aside from tiring them out, drugging them or knocking them unconscious - the latter two being highly frowned upon) - is to establish a bedtime ritual. Here are some suggestions on how to… Continue

Added by Meryl Jaffe on April 28, 2011 at 9:58pm — No Comments

NO! How Do You Deal with "NO"?

"No! Wrong! "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyupP2LxbZI

The way I look at this, there are two issues with "NO."

Telling a child, or anyone that they can't do something.
Responding to a question with a wrong answer.

In regards to not being allowed to do something, sometimes it is for the safety of the child, sometimes it's for the sanity of the adult, and sometimes someone is just being mean and/or petty.…

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on April 18, 2011 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Memory? What Memory?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK1W_9h5Qlc

Science fact: Fish Have No Memory!

Quick short-term memory quiz (for those who just watched the video above):

1. How many strike were…

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on April 12, 2011 at 5:07am — No Comments

Facial Literacy Or...Securing Social Skills - Part 1

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on April 9, 2011 at 4:59am — No Comments

Learning with Laughter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghIoTW10qwc http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghIoTW10qwc

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXx2VVSWDMo…

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on March 31, 2011 at 3:32pm — No Comments

Kicking back a bit...What's all this about Inference?

In my last post I summarized my C2E2 presentation. What I would like to do this week is kick back, discuss some of the comments and take them a bit further.

What's all this about inference?

Inference is the act of drawing a conclusion by deductive reasoning. Some people describe making inferences as 'reading between the lines' which is SO appropriate when talking about reading graphic novels.

We make inferences… Continue

Added by Meryl Jaffe on March 26, 2011 at 8:47pm — No Comments

My Jaunt at C2E2 2011...Departing the Text: Teaching Inference with Graphic Novels

I just got back from C2E2 2011. Not only did the panel go well, I love conventions...walking around...getting free books...and pitching mine.

At the request of some of my readers, let me tell you about… Continue

Added by Meryl Jaffe on March 23, 2011 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Investing in Luck...Or... What's Luck Got to Do With It (To Paraphrase Tina)?

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Added by Meryl Jaffe on March 17, 2011 at 7:20pm — No Comments

Looking at the World From Another Perspective - Departing the Text Richard Feynman Style

Thanks to both Stacey Johnson and to http://writersisland.wordpress.com for inspiring this post:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsgBtOVzHKI&feature=bf_next&list=PLAF0DF573FA4E9B58&index=11

Richard Feynman was an accomplished teacher, traveler, painter,… Continue

Added by Meryl Jaffe on March 14, 2011 at 9:40pm — No Comments

Theme Thursday: Sense of Space and the Infinite

What do you think of when reading: "SPACE" and "INFINITE"?

Two images (both from books) come to my mind as I contemplate 'a sense of… Continue

Added by Meryl Jaffe on March 11, 2011 at 9:00am — No Comments