More Students Going to School?

Yesterday, I met one of my college colleagues at a Subway, and she had told me that her office at the community college was fielding 300 calls per day, and she mentioned that she wasn't sure how the other offices were doing. People were standing in lines waiting to register for classes. My colleague continued to say that people couldn't choose which class or section to sign up for, instead many were put on the waiting list. She said that new classes may be formed to accommodate all those students. I had asked her why did she think that that everyone was going back to school. She had mentioned she wasn't sure, so I started thinking about it and asking others their ideas.

Here are some:

• The economy is getting better, and so companies are offering education as incentives.
• The federal government is offering more financial aid.
  
• Loans may be available for people.
• The recession was a wake up call for many to improve their lifestyle through education.

I would be interested in knowing what you think.

Searching for Online Colleges

Deciding which accredited college or university can be a daunting and overwhelming task because of so much information and different options to choose. However, college and university hunting can be an awesome experience to remember by using eLearners.com.

eLearners.com organizes the different possibilities that are available for you to choose. The categories are Online Degrees, Online Programs, Online Courses, Online Colleges, and Campus Programs. There are also sectional tabs of resources like: eLearners Advisor, Articles and Resources, and Blogs and Forums.

The best part of eLearners.com is knowing that the colleges that are listed on the website are accredited, even if you decide to attend an online college. If you opt for online learning, you will chose from accredited online colleges.

eLearners make choosing an accredited online college or university easy and less stressful for you. It is because it is like a search engine tailored to educational programs, degrees, and colleges and universities.

Visit eLearners.com for more information.

Understanding the Mortgage Crises

I got this link through a Twitter buddy, and I thought I would post the link here because I believe it serves an educational purpose.

Enjoy. I would be interested in knowing what you thought of the presentation.http://docs.google.com/TeamPresent?docid=ddp4zq7n_0cdjsr4fn&skipauth=true&pli=1.

"Classroom Discipline" this weekend for those in the Philly area

WHAT: Free teaching workshop on "Classroom Discipline"

WHO: Teachers of weekend schools, homeschools, and/or full-time Islamic schools in the greater Philadelphia area - ADULTS ONLY.

WHERE: Villanova Foundation for Islamic Education, 1860 Montgomery Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085

WHEN: Saturday, November 17th at 2:30 PM

WHY: Help educators further develop their teaching techniques, as well as serve as a meeting ground and encourage networking among area Islamic schools.

HOW: Registration is required for attending this meeting. ADULTS ONLY PLEASE. Register via email (preferred) or phone. Contact information is listed at the end of this email.

Contact information: FarheenKF@gmail.com or (610) 935-0613

Tell Your Senators to Increase Education Funding in 2008

More Funds Needed in 2008: Contact Your Senators Now

The 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill (S. 1710) is scheduled to go before the Senate next week, possibly as soon as Tuesday. This bill provides federal funds for education, but not enough.

The Senate bill...

includes an overall education funding increase of $2.6 billion—4.3 percent more than the 2007 funding level.


is $1.6 billion less that the funding bill passed by the House, which provides an increase of $4.2 billion, or 7.4 percent more than the previous year.
At a time when schools need more resources and support, the Senate bill falls short on vital funding increases, especially for teacher quality programs.

Please contact your Senators and urge them to support amendments that would increase education funding to reflect the numbers provided in the House-passed bill.

Class went well

My students and I had our first class meeting. I would say about 22 students are freshmen and sophomores, while 8 students are juniors and seniors. I would say it is a somewhat diverse class. I explained to students my expectations and standards for this class. I was trying to get them to talk more. Because majority of these students freshmen and sophomores, they will need to become comfortable with my class, each other and me.

I will be sure to keep my readers posted throughout the semester. If you are a college student, how is your first couple of days?

My Fall Semester Begins

It is time for me again--to teach my kids. That is what I call my college students. I am probably only a few years older than some of them, some are even a few years older than me. But I affectionately call my students "my kids." I don't know why, maybe because I enjoy what I do?

I always try to start on a positive note because students are people. People have lives filled with problems, solutions, emotions, you name it. I don't believe my class should be a burden to their lives, but a benefit. That is why I base my class about them. So that they can think about themselves and everyone else. Reflection on one's life is extremely important to grow as a person.

Not all students welcome my theories or opinions because they feel it is not the traditional teaching in a university setting. However, by the end of the semester, those once reluctant students say my course has been one of the best courses they have taken.

Sometimes, people are afraid of something new, until they give it a try! I will keep you posted after Wednesday's night's class.

Summer Vacation

I have been on summer vacation from blogging because I was wrapping up a summer class I was teaching, and I also had family matters to take care of. I am happy to say that I am pleased with the way those matters ended.

Things I learned from my class: students DO listen, even if they appear like they are not. I had one student told me that he enjoyed my class, that he regretted not taking it in the fall or spring times. He sincerely meant it. Many students nodded in agreement. Some students stayed after on the last day of class to watch The Freedom Writers Diary film (a very good one by the way).

Things I learned from my family: is not to take anyone for granted. Enjoy what each family member has to offer, and not to nit pick on each other's qualities. Why should we? Enjoy them for who they are and what they have to offer. Family is a building block. We are all interdependent on each other.

Now, I am spending more time with my family, and loving it. I also will begin preparing for the fall semester. I will keep you updated. I am in the process of looking for interesting books for my students to read. I am going to have them read the Freedom Writers Diary again. If you have suggestions for what other books I shall use for my education course that focuses on today's issues, let me know. Post your comments, and I will consider them.

Free SAT Test Preparation Resource

Preparing for the SATs can be an overwhelming experience for college bound students. However, there is a free website by SATExamPrep.com that offers study guides with focuses on math, writing, and a critical reading section.

The website satexamprep.com does ask for personal information, and you can elect to or not to receive news, announcements from SAT Prep, their partners and other forms of educational opportunities.

I would highly recommend this resource to college bound students to use as a supplement for their SAT experiences, whether testing or preparing.

Interested? Go to www.satexamprep.com, and take a look around. Be sure to read the about section at www.satexamprep.com/about_SAT.html, for more information.

This post is sponsored by SATExamPrep.com.

Finished Spring Semester

It is official. I am done teaching for the Spring semester. Well sort of. I have to hand in grades May 14, 2007. Then I am officially done for the semester. Wow, this has been an interesting semester.

I am constantly looking for ways to improve my education course. I love teaching. I also learn that all students are totally unique, literally. I have not met anyone who is the same from the time I began teaching. It is really interesting. I can honestly say since I have been teaching, that each class is different. You never end up with the same type of students, which is cool. That is what makes the world a cool place, full of diverse ideas.

I am honored to be teaching a course this summer, twice a week. After taking a course in social justice in education, I have decided to change the course somewhat. I want to socialize the issues, meaning make them more personal, and less statistical or numerical. We need that human touch, that human feeling.

Maybe, just maybe, we will then be inspired to do something.

Turn off TV week April 23-29, 2007

This week is Turn Off TV week. Take time to spend time with your family by doing different activities, such as talking about different issues, reading together, or even playing games.

The point is become active participants, instead of passive ones. Life is too short to keep watching television. Some television programs may be educational, but many aren't. Parents should pick and choose for their children who are unable to do it themselves.

Check out this Adbusters.org's website at http://adbusters.org/metas/psycho/tvturnoff/ for more information on Turn Off TV week.

Week of the Young Child

This week is considered Week of the Young Child. This is a week to bring awareness and different issues related to children. Many children have problems today, such as malnourishment and living in poverty. Let's make it our goal to eliminate malnourishment and poverty, for the children's sake.

For more information on the Week of the Young Child, visit National Association for the Education of Young Children, at http://www.naeyc.org/about/woyc/.

Is Preschool too competitive?

I know competition is good, and it's healthy. But when should competition begin with our students or children? Preschool is an exciting time for many youngsters. Is that when should we introduce competition? Or should we do it between adults?

Here is an interesting article that I found on Slate.com:

The Getting-Into-Preschool Puzzle
Can an admissions director really evaluate a 2-year-old?By Emily Bazelon
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2007, at 2:50 PM ET
It's March, which means it's time for a spate of stories about the high comedy of preschool admissions. In certain cities—or rather, in certain well-off circles in a few cities—getting a 2- or 3-year-old into a coveted school is an enormous preoccupation. The preschool wars have adopted the weapons and lingo of the college wars: consultants, résumés, essays, safety schools, and early decision($). This year, a film crew is coming to New York to document the preschool version of Survivor. And the New York Times and the Washington Post have parodied the benighted admissions process—with missives by groveling parents and chirpy advice-givers (when filling out the admissions form, "describe your dream date, and not your actual child").

Click link here: http://www.slate.com/id/2161913/?GT1=9231