Math Magic

In the below video, Arthur Benjamin demonstrates his skill in mental math calculations. The key is learning algorithms that can be applied to certain types of math problems. The ability to do these calculations mentally can be time saving for students taking SAT and/or ACT exams. For K-12 students, knowing the basic math algorithms is still a must though.

In another video by Benjamin he briefly explains why statistics is the most important math class for individuals and not calculus.

Lastly, if one is interested in learning how to use some of these calculation tricks, Benjamin has written a book, Secrets of Mental Math, that may be of interest.

H/T: Simoleon Sense

A Reason To Stay In School

Fortunately, economic recessions do not occur on a frequent basis. However, when the economy does hit a recessionary patch, unemployment is sure to rise and this recession is no different. As the below chart details, those hit the hardest by unemployment are individuals who do not have a college degree (bachelor's degree or higher). It pays to stay in school.

(click to enlarge)

Source: EconompicData

Parents Can Do Their Part To Fix Education

Across the country, our public school systems face many challenges. A recent Wall Street Journal article titled, Raising the Bar: How Parents Can Fix Education, summed up the view many have on our school systems in this way:

"Indifferent bureaucracy, change-averse unions, faddish curricula, soaring school taxes matched with mediocre student performance -- the list is long and seemingly unchanging."

Fortunately, in Madeira, we tend to turn out well educated students that are prepared to face the challenges of college and/or enter the workforce. This is not to say we, as parents, can't do more to improve the educational opportunities for our kids. The article cites recent research that indicates a parent's expectation of their children in regards to their learning is a predictor of the success those particular individuals have in school. Michigan's Department of Education notes,

"Parents of high-achieving students set higher standards for their children's educational activities."

So what is it parents can do?

"All you have to do is to start insisting that your children fully apply themselves to their studies -- and commit yourself to doing your part. That means making sure they do all the work expected of them as well as their abilities allow. It also means making sure everything at home stands behind these principles and supports the idea of learning.

These will sound like obvious ideas. In fact, given all the distractions of modern life, it is a radical departure from the normal order of things. Let's face it: More than budgets or bureaucrats, more than textbooks or teachers, parents are the reason that kids perform as they do in school."

Reader comments to the article were printed in the Journal's Saturday edition under the title, Don't Just Blame Teachers; Parents Are Educators Too, and they are worth reading as well.

Source:

Raising The Bar: How Parents Can Fix Education
The Wall Street Journal
By: Daniel Akst
August 29, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121996426389881371.html

Don't Just Blame Teachers; Parents Are Educators Too
The Wall Street Journal
September 6, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122066167629205911.html

The Governor's Conversation On Education

Governor Strickland is visiting 12-cities across the State of Ohio in order to outline his thoughts on reforming Ohio's education system. The 12-city Conversation on Education forum was held in Cincinnati on July 28th. He is using these "conversations" to solicit input from the public and local educators.

A replay of the Cincinnati forum can be seen at the following video link.

The website video link is located at the Conversation on Education website.

The six principles he outlined at the beginning of the forum are:

• Strengthen our commitment to public education.
• World-class schools that produce a talented, competitive workforce.
• Building on the strengths of our current education system.
• Recruiting and retaining skilled teachers.
• Develop a personalized education for each student.
• Using testing and assessment to guide an individualized education and understand student's capabilities.

A second round of education forums will be held later in the fall of 2008 that will focus on how to properly finance a truly reformed system of education. The governor plans to introduce his education reform proposal in 2009.

I believe there are some good aspects to the above six principles as he calls them. The key will be the finer details that are included under each of the principles.

All Day Kindergarten Funding Update

On November 14, 2007, the governor for the state of Ohio signed House Bill (HB ) 190. A part of the bill allows school districts in Ohio that are not eligible for poverty-based assistance funding for all day kindergarten to charge tuition for these all day kindergarten programs on a sliding scale basis. The sliding scale is to be based on ones family income level. The bill requires the Ohio Department of Education to issue an annual tuition report detailing the tuition charged by districts for all day kindergarten.

Source:
Legislative Lowdown
The Ohio School Board Association
http://www.osba-ohio.org/htmlemail/LVS_LL_010408.htm

Madeira Athletics: Fall Sports Highlights

Madeira's strong academic results have spilled over into the athletic program during this fall season. It seems to me there is a direct correlation between an individual's or team's desire to excel in the classroom as well as on the athletic field.

• On October 12th & 13th, Brooke Van Skaik carded a two day total 166 in the girl's state golf championship. This was good enough to place Brooke tied for 27th overall.

• On October 27th, the Boy's Varsity soccer team won the District title by beating Sidney Lehman Catholic 4-3 in the first overtime period. The soccer team went on to play Springfield Catholic in the Regional Semifinals on October 30th. The team's tournament run, however, ended on this night with SCC coming out on top in a 5 -0 match.

• Junior Lauren Dehan finished 35th in the girl's state cross country championship on November 3rd. Lauren finished with a time of 19:43.19.

• The Girls Varsity soccer team beat Indian Hill in the Region Finals 1-0. Leslie Shaw lobbed a shot over Indian Hill's goalie with less than 10 minutes remaining in the second period of the match to secure the win.
  

Madeira School District Takes Proactive Steps On MRSA

Throughout the country and Ohio, MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), a form of staph infection, has been on the rise. Madeira schools have not reported any MSRA cases, but the school is being proactive in dealing with this situation. The school is sending information to parents of students that outlines steps that are being taken within the schools to prevent an outbreak of MRSA.

Families can help prevent the spread of MRSA by following good hygiene practices:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.

• Avoid contact with other people’s wounds and bandages.

• Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razors.

• Disinfect surfaces of exercise equipment before and after use.

The symptoms of MRSA depend on where the infection occurs. Common signs of a skin infection include redness, warmth, swelling and tenderness. Often a MRSA infection will look like a spider bite, boil, abscess or pimple. If left untreated, it could progress into a more serious illness. If one suspects they have a staph type infection, they should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

In outbreak situations, the environment has not played a significant role in the transmission of MRSA. Studies in health care and community settings show skin-to-skin contact, direct contact with the infected wound drainage or contact with contaminated surfaces or things such as sports equipment as the likely source of transmission. MRSA skin infections are not spread through the air.

Additional information on MRSA can be found at the Ohio Department of Heath's website.