Courteous and Bien Educado

This nugget from Lloyd D. Newell on "Music and the Spoken Word reminded me how important it is for us to teach our Esperanza scholars to be courteous and to be "bien educado." 

The Greater Courtesies

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell 1/29/12

Nineteenth-century American writer Christian Bovee once said, "The small courtesies sweeten life; the greater, ennoble it.”1 Sometimes, with the pressures and stresses of life, we might forget that in many cases, the small things are the big things. The lessons of good manners we learned as children—to say "please” and "thank you” and "excuse me”—may seem outdated in today’s demanding adult world. But politeness is never out of style, kindness is never old-fashioned, and we never outgrow courtesy. And it goes much deeper than polite words. As one commentator noted: "Making people feel important is part of courtesy, so it’s important to remember that whether or not people remember what we say or do, they do remember how we made them feel. . . . Always be kinder than necessary because you can never be too kind.”2 Helping people feel respected and loved takes more effort and, at times, more self-discipline than just remembering to say please and thank you. But it’s the mark of a great soul. This type of courtesy focuses more on how we make people feel than just what we say to them. It springs more from sincere love for others than from a mere sense of social obligation. It measures not the size of the courteous act but the size of the heart behind it. A smile, a returned phone call, a thank-you note, a word of congratulation on a special occasion, verbal and nonverbal responses to those who need our attention—even these seemingly small things, if inspired by genuine love, can turn out to be the greater courtesies, the big things, that both sweeten and ennoble the life of the giver and the receiver.

Remembering Our Childhood

As we are working with our Esperanza scholars it's good to remember what we felt and loved as a child. 

"Families"

I listened this morning to the BYU Devotional speech that Julie Beck gave on January 17, 2012.  Although her speech had to do with the organization of the LDS Church in quorums and relief societies, it reminded me of something we might want to consider at Esperanza.  While I was teaching at Jackson Elementary we organized our students into "families" with students from different grades getting together periodically with a staff member to participate in projects/activites together.  I feel this is something we might want to consider doing at Esperanza.   After all we may argue that there are some Esperanza goals that can't be accomplished alone--- individuals will  need each other to accomplish them.

This concept also fits really well with the idea of Suzi Ramos to cluster Esperanza parents and families in clusters. 

Let's Stay Together

At a campaign fundraiser  at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, President Obama took the stage, crooning a line from Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" during his speech.  After the President's rendition the sales jumped 490%.  There are some lessons from this for Esperanza:

1. Great things can come from small things
2. Music is powerful
3. Take a risk

Also, the lyrics of this song can be applied to us at Esperanza. 


Al Green's "Let's Stay Together"

I, I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do is all right with me'
Cause you make me feel so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you
Let me say that since, alright, since we've been together
Loving you forever is what I need
Oh let me be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue
Oh let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad, alright, oh yeah
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oh tell me why, why, why, why, why, why
Why people break up, turn around and make up
I can't see, you never, never, never do that to me
You better not do, staying around you is all
All these eyes will ever see
Why won't you say that me, everybody says
That let's, let's stay together
Lovin' you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Everybody says, "Let's, let's stay together
I'll keep on lovin' you whether, whether
Times are, oh times are good or times are bad
Whether, whether good or bad, happy or sad
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Three Models of Pedagogy

"The flower that sits on the right has its roots next to the basic skills teacher; when kids ask questions, it grows leaves, and when minds expand, it bursts into flower."

Thanks to Rossana Quiroz for sharing this on FB this morning. 

Potential

This posting on Facebook by my friend Sharon Andrews reminded me of another of my favorite sayings:  Be patient.  God isn't finished with me, yet."

It is my hope that all of us at Esperanza will make the effort to not only look at each other for what we are now but also at our potential. 

What Success Looks Like

This is a great reminder as we strive to teach our Esperanza scholars, their families, our educators, and our board about being a Glasser Quality School. 

Paladin

In the late 1950s and early 1960s the United States television series Have Gun – Will Travel starred Richard Boone as a "knight without armor" called "Paladin".^[When I was a young girl I often watched this program and recently have seen some reruns.  Yet until today I didn't know the meaning of the word "paladin":

MEANING:

noun:
1. A strong supporter of a cause.
2. A heroic champion.

 

I hope that all of us associated with Esperanza can be paladins!

View of the World

I have been reading the most delightful book--Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life--by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  She has taken each letter of the alphabet and written things from her life associated with that letter.  What has been so fun is to see she has had experiences just like me ---experiences that I felt no one else in the world would have. 

One of her sections is titled "Other People":  It's hard to accept that other people's lives are as full and real and now as yours.  You look at someone and sort of think, against your intellectual knowing better , that they have less complex life, they're able to flit about, their lives aren't clogged with the same kind of pressing deadlines, they don't really have cousins like your cousins, they are free tonight, of course they are free, or if they have plans they can easily break them to be with you. 

                       3/29/1976

Our lives just feel so impossibly big to us; we're breathing versions of that Saul Steinberg poster, where New York is the foreground, prominent and massive and drawn in color-pencil detail, and the other states and Asia and Africa are tiny lumps fading into the horizon." 

It is important to remember that all our Esperanza people--educators, scholars and their families, board members, etc.-- lead complex lives and be respectful of that fact. 

Appreciating Esperanza

As I listened this morning to the BYU Devotional speech given by Pres. Samuelson and his wife I felt there were many things that applied to how I hope we will feel about Esperanza. 

President Cecil O. Samuelson and his wife, Sharon, addressed students Tuesday morning—January 10, 2012-- in the BYU Marriott Center in the winter semester opening devotional. They told students why they appreciate BYU and encouraged them to be stronger in their studies.

 “We love the people we meet at BYU,” Sister Samuelson said. “This includes, of course, the students, faculty, staff and administration, but also the many loyal supporters, donors and friends who contribute in such significant and diverse ways.”

President Samuelson expressed his appreciation and love for the ‘Spirit of the Y,’ and the beauty and functionality of the campus, including the miracles that have produced so many significant facility developments.

Sister Samuelson reminded students of the mission statement of BYU and its dramatic difference from other university mission statements. The mission of Brigham Young University is to assist individuals to achieve the aims of a BYU education which are to be spiritually strengthening, intellectually enlarging, character building and leading to lifelong learning and service

We have promised to be honest in all of our dealings, treat others and the institution with respect, and be personally responsible for all dimensions of our conduct and behavior.

President and Sister Samuelson also expressed appreciation for the mentoring opportunities at BYU and asked students to make it a priority. They also urged students to better understand the importance of studying for their classes.  Sister Samuelson said the president has mentioned that some students seem shocked about the expectation that they will spend at least two hours studying and preparing outside of class for every hour in class.  “What that specific preparation is and how you study will vary,” she said. “What will not change, however, is that it is impossible for you to get all you can from your classes and course work if you do not make the necessary independent effort to read, study, think, read and study some more both before and after class.”

It becomes clearer to me that this [BYU] is a very special place. We have not yet achieved our full possibilities but we have made progress. If our potential will be realized, then we should be confident and committed to doing our parts, individually and collectively, to make it so.

Stereotypes

This picture says it all.  We want to be careful about stereotyping our Esperanza scholars and their families.  Things are not always what they seem. 

Memories

God gave us memories that we might have roses in December~James M. Barrie.

The culture we create at Esperanza with our rituals, ceremonies, traditions, architecture, artifacts, symbols, and stories can create memories that will encourage and inspire our Esperanza family.

"The Magnificent Ambersons" Message

Last night we watched the excellent "The Magnificent Ambersons" (library DVD) based on the book of the same name by Booth Tarkington.   I had recently read the book.  The movie and book made me think of Mitt Romney and his seemingly inability to connect with who don't live in his world.  Not only is it important for our Esperanza scholars and their families from different socioeconomic worlds to come to Esperanza but we need to find ways for them to get to know each other.  It is only when they are able to relate to each other that we can all truly support one another.   

Happy Winnie the Pooh Day--January 18th

Winnie the Pooh stories (and movies) have been translated into a number of languages., including Spanish.  Winnie the Pooh and other characters in the stories by A. A. Milne are universally loved. 

Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

Great picture from Norman Rockwell--says so much.

Watched the movie "Lost Boundaries" yesterday--a true story that took place in New Hampshire about an African American doctor and his wife who looked and passed as white.  Great message. 

Some favorite quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

 “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

“Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Let's find ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Day that will be meaningful for our Esperanza scholars...and remind our students that even though Martin Luther King has 94% approval rating today he only had a 33% approval rating when he was alive. 

Eight Cow Person

Thanks to Flavia McKnight--one of our Esperanza founding board members for reminding me of this favorite story and film.  It is my hope that everyone at Esperanza will treat everyone else at Esperanza as an "8 cow" person so all can work on reaching their potential.   

JOHNNY LINGO'S 8-COW WIFE~~

condensed from Woman's Day Patricia McGerr When I sailed to Kiniwata, an island in the Pacific, I took along a notebook. After I got back it was filled with descriptions of flora and fauna, native customs and costume. But the only note that still interests me is the one that says: "Johnny Lingo gave eight cows to Sarita’s father." And I don’t need to have it in writing. I’m reminded of it every time I see a woman belittling her husband or a wife withering under her husband’s scorn. I want to say to them, "You should know why Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for his wife."
Johnny Lingo wasn’t exactly his name. But that’s what Shenkin, the manager of the guest house on Kiniwata, called him. Shenkin was from Chicago and had a habit of Americanizing the names of the islanders. But Johnny was mentioned by many people in many connections. If I wanted to spend a few days on the neighboring island of Nurabandi, Johnny Lingo would put me up. If I wanted to fish he could show me where the biting was best. If it was pearls I sought, he would bring the best buys. The people of Kiniwata all spoke highly of Johnny Lingo. Yet when they spoke they smiled, and the smiles were slightly mocking.
"Get Johnny Lingo to help you find what you want and let him do the bargaining," advised Shenkin. "Johnny knows how to make a deal."
"Johnny Lingo! A boy seated nearby hooted the name and rocked with laughter.
"What goes on?" I demanded. "everybody tells me to get in touch with Johnny Lingo and then breaks up. Let me in on the joke."
"Oh, the people like to laugh," Shenkin said, shruggingly. "Johnny's the brightest, the strongest young man in the islands, And for his age, the richest."
"But if he’s all you say, what is there to laugh about?"
"Only one thing. Five months ago, at fall festival, Johnny came to Kiniwata and found himself a wife. He paid her father eight cows!
I knew enough about island customs to be impressed. Two or three cows would buy a fair-to-middling wife, four or five a highly satisfactory one. "Good Lord!" I said, "Eight cows! She must have beauty that takes your breath away." "She’s not ugly," he conceded, and smiled a little. "But the kindest could only call Sarita plain. Sam Karoo, her father, was afraid she’d be left on his hands."
"But then he got eight cows for her? Isn’t that extraordinary?"
"Never been paid before."
"Yet you call Johnny’s wife plain?"
"I said it would be kindness to call her plain. She was skinny. She walked with her shoulders hunched and her head ducked. She was scared of her own shadow."
"Well," I said, "I guess there’s just no accounting for love."
"True enough," agreed the man. "And that’s why the villagers grin when they talk about Johnny. They get special satisfaction from the fact that the sharpest trader in the islands was bested by dull old Sam Karoo."
"But how?"
"No one knows and everyone wonders. All the cousins were urging Sam to ask for three cows and hold out for two until he was sure Johnny’d pay only one. Then Johnny came to Sam Karoo and said, ‘Father of Sarita, I offer eight cows for your daughter.’"
"Eight cows," I murmured. "I’d like to meet this Johnny Lingo."
"And I wanted fish. I wanted pearls. So the next afternoon I beached my boat at Nurabandi. And I noticed as I asked directions to Johnny’s house that his name brought no sly smile to the lips of his fellow Nurabandians. And when I met the slim, serious young man, when he welcomed me with grace to his home, I was glad that from his own people he had respect unmingled with mockery. We sat in his house and talked. Then he asked, "You come here from Kiniwata?"
"Yes."
"They speak of me on that island?"
"They say there’s nothing I might want they you can’t help me get."
He smiled gently. "My wife is from Kiniwata."
"Yes, I know."
"They speak of her?"
"A little."
"What do they say?"
"Why, just..." The question caught me off balance. "They told me you were married at festival time."
"Nothing more?" The curve of his eyebrows told me he knew there had to be more.
They also say the marriage settlement was eight cows." I paused.
"They wonder why."
"They ask that?" His eyes lightened with pleasure. "Everyone in Kiniwata knows about the eight cows?"
I nodded.
"And in Nurabandi everyone knows it too." His chest expanded with satisfaction. "Always and forever, when they speak of marriage settlements, it will be remembered that Johnny Lingo paid eight cows for Sarita."
So that’s the answer, I thought: vanity.
And then I saw her. I watched her enter the room to place flowers on the table. She stood still a moment to smile at the young man beside me. Then she went swiftly out again. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. The lift of her shoulders, the tilt of her chin the sparkle of her eyes all spelled a pride to which no one could deny her the right. I turned back to Johnny Lingo and found him looking at me. "You admire her?" he murmured. "She...she’s glorious. But she’s not Sarita from Kiniwata," I said.
"There’s only one Sarita. Perhaps she does not look the way they say she looked in Kiniwata." "She doesn’t. I heard she was homely. They all make fun of you because you let yourself be cheated by Sam Karoo."
"You think eight cows were too many?" A smile slid over his lips. "No. But how can she be so different?"
"Do you ever think," he asked, "what it must mean to a woman to know that her husband has settled on the lowest price for which she can be bought? And then later, when the women talk, they boast of what their husbands paid for them. One says four cows, another maybe six. How does she feel, the woman who was sold for one or two?" This could not happen to my Sarita."
"Then you did this just to make your wife happy?"
"I wanted Sarita to be happy, yes. But I wanted more than that. You say she is different This is true. Many things can change a woman. Things that happen inside, things that happen outside. But the thing that matters most is what she thinks about herself. In Kiniwata, Sarita believed she was worth nothing. Now she knows she is worth more than any other woman in the islands." "Then you wanted -"
"I wanted to marry Sarita. I loved her and no other woman."
"But —" I was close to understanding.
"But," he finished softly, "I wanted an eight-cow wife."

A great website for the Johnny Lingo film: 

www.johnnylingo.com

Take Time to Ponder

As I listened this morning to the fireside talk by Elder Jay Jensen given on January 8, 2012 I was reminded of a story told by Boyd K. Packer in his book Teach Ye Diligently.
He reports the story by saying, "I have a friend who bought a business.  A short time later he suffered catastrophic reverses and there just didn't seem to be any way out for him.  Finally it got so bad that he couldn't sleep, so for a period of time he followed the practice of getting up about three o'clock in the morning and going to the office.  There, with a paper and pen, he would ponder and pray and write down every idea that came to him as a possible solution or contributions to the solution of his problem." 

I would encourage all of our Esperanza educators to take time often to ponder and reflect on their teaching/leading--with a paper and pen to write down the impressions that come.  I had heard once to have a goal of writing 20 ideas each day and then at the end of the week choosing the best ideas to implement. 

I believe it will be in the quiet and the still--and not our busyness--that we will build Esperanza into the school we want it to be.

The Rainbow Connection

This song The Rainbow Connection is such a beautiful song.  May all of us associated with Esperanza be dreamers. 
The Rainbow Connection

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
and what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard
and answered when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell. We know that it's probably magic.

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors.
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

On the Way to Quality

One of our Esperanza founding board members--Flavia McKnight-- shared this on Facebook.  I feel it fits perfectly with our "quality school" pillar.  So does this Facebook posting by Carlos Linares:  Stop thinking you’re not ready. Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

Looking Forward to Mondays

“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” Aristotle (384-322); Philosopher

In other words we don't want our Esperanza educators or scholars to feel this way on Mondays:

Effective Principals

Article in Education Week by Christina Samuels on January 6, 2012

The New York-based Wallace Foundation has distilled a decade's worth of research and work funding leadership projects in 24 states into five "key functions" that effective principals must have. Those functions include shaping a vision of academic success for all students; creating a climate hospitable to education; cultivating leadership in others; improving instruction and managing people, data and processes to foster-school improvement.

Our Esperanza Scholars Are New Every Day

I learned in my teaching career not to read the cum folders of new incoming students to my class until after about three months so I wouldn't make prejudgments about them.  I feel we need to give our Esperanza scholars an opportunity to start every day "new." 

The Power of Music

Lots of Facebook friends share favorite songs.  It's a reminder of the power of music.  Therefore, it behooves us to use music a lot in the classroom.  It can be used as background.  Lyrics can be used as a hook for reading, writing, and/or for a social studies lesson.  It can also be used to teach concepts. 

I look forward to hearing music coming from every Esperanza classroom. 

Values: An Incredible Website!!!

This morning I watched the BYU Devotional Speech of Elder Neil Andersen that he gave on September 11, 2011.  He showed a video clip that I really liked that came from the website http://www.values.com/  Therefore, I went to the website to take a look.  It is fabulous.  It contains valuable information we can use at Esperanza as we strive to instill character as part of our curriculum.

At this website I found another great website we can use---  www.randomactsofkindness.org

Importance of Both Math and Humor

The wife of one of our Esperanza Board members--Cody Case--shared this on FB this morning.  Not only is it fun to share humor but it's also a reminder how valuable math is.  Cody is working on a math proposal for how we want to teach math at Esperanza. 

Happy King's Day

This is a great tradition we will want to celebrate at Esperanza with staff and scholars.

 

Traditions - Three Kings Day Celebration.
Three Kings Day remains an important holiday for the people of Mexico. In addition to the gift-giving aspect of the day--putting the gift in shoes-- there is also a culinary treat that is specific to the holiday. Known as 'Rosca de Reyes' (King's Cake), this holiday dessert offers much in the way of symbolism. Shaped in the round to signify a king's crown, this sweet bread holds a s...pecial surprise. Baked inside is a small plastic figurine representing the baby Jesus. Whoever finds this token is obligated to host an upcoming party for the occasion of 'Dia de la Candelaria' (Candlemas Day) which occurs each year on February 2nd.
Rosca de Reyes
The effigy of the baby Jesus, hidden inside the cake, represents another aspect of the holiday. The reason Jesus is 'hidden' inside the bread is to symbolize how in life, the Christ child's birth location also needed to remain secret, in order that his life be spared. The ruler of Jerusalem at the time, King Herod, had been appraised of the mystical signs that indicated the new and rightful King of Jerusalem was soon to be born. Herod's reaction to these predictions was swift and horrible. He ordered his minions to murder all male infants recently born in Bethlehem. However, as destiny would have it, Mary and Joseph found their lodgings in a manger, not an inn. Herod's henchmen didn't think to look for an infant in such a location.
Another lovely custom associated with the Three Kings Day holiday centers around the evening meal. Traditionally, the supper served on this special day is delicious corn tamales accompanied by hot chocolate. This makes for a perfectly quintessential Mexican meal and one that is enjoyed by everyone in attendance.

A Reading Life

Donalyn Miller, the author of the Book Whisperer, recently wrote this on her BLOG.  I feel this would be a great challenge for all Esperanza stakeholders to do as well. 

On Tuesday [after Christmas vacation], when my students return to school, we will reflect on our reading lives over the past year and plan ahead. Whether my students decide to read more books, or finish that series they never did, or spend a little more time reading every night, or reread The Hunger Games before the movie comes out in March, they will all commit in some way to continuing their reading lives in 2012. How and what and when we read doesn't matter as much as our willingness to keep reading. That's the only reading resolution we need.

Message from Gloria

I received this today in an email from Gloria García (friend/colleague of Janette Morey).

PROFESORA BARBARA:

Espero que se encuentre bien y que haya tenido una bonita navidad y haya recibido un feliz Año 2012. Pido Disculpas por escribir en español, espero que el próximo lo pueda hacer en ingles, no sé si sea tarde para mi pero he pensado mucho y me agrada la idea de trabajar en Esperanza, debe ser la mejor experiencia en mi vida.

Debido a este deseo quiero compartir algunas ideas que me gustaria desarrollar con los niños si tuviera esa oportunidad, y si nó, espero que ud. pueda aplicarlas en Esperanza, si así lo desea.

1.- Los contenidos programáticos deben ser facilitados al alumno con una secuencia conceptual en cada contenido, donde el niño pueda vivir experiencias que queden grabadas en su zona de desarrollo próximo, es decir que no sea un proceso memoristico, sino de conocimiento práctico, esto lo prepara para nuevos conocimientos y tambien para que el niño empiece a saber lo que le gustaria estudiar cuando sea grande, debe ser una enseñanza totalmente motivacional, uniendo en forma paralela las diferntes culturas que se encuentren en el aula.

2.- Motivar a los alumnos al proceso de escritura, en algunas culturas los niños son lectores natos, pero no escritores, esta práctica se consigue cuando le damos la potestad al niño de entregar informes, estos informes deben ser realizados en clase luego de un tema discutido, ó de algo que llamó su atención, luego el tiempo que debe tomar el docente para leer lo que escribió su alumno, copiarlo en la pizarra y hacer un análisis de lo escrito, enalteciendo el valor de la escritura, para luego argumentar lo que se debe corregir, en este proceso el abordaje de contenidos es extenso y muy nitritivo para el aprendizaje del niño. Esta ha sido una de las mejores experiencias y de mucho éxito que he conseguido con mis alumnos en cualquier grado, ha servido para motivarlos a escribir sus propios diarios de vida, esto mejorará la sintaxis y la semanticidad de sus escritos, obviando lo monótono de las copias sin sentido, dando lugar a escritores sin miedo, de manera que llegan a la universidad y sus tesis son de un vocabulario amplio y bien organizado para ser entendido.

3.- El aprendizaje de la matemática debe ser basada en vivencias reales de acuerdo al entorno del alumno, esta área es importante para el desarrollo cognitivo del alumno, esta enseñanza se dejará notar al saber que a nivel primaria el abordaje son los numeros naturales, al quedar bien comprendidos le dará paso a la comprension de los numeros de la recta real tanto positivos y negativos, a traves de problemas sencillos y complejos de acuerdo al nivel de los alumnos y que atienda las necesidades individuales de los alumnos.

Estas son algunas de las ideas, si tiene alguna pregunta para mi, puede hacerla con confianza, y le responderé, me encantan los artículos de los blogs, de cada uno se puede opinar y apender, son excelentes. Gracias por tomar tiempo para mi.

Atentamente:



GLORIA GARCIA DE HERRERA.

The Importance of Play

First Lady Michelle Obama may be on to something with her unflagging “Let’s Move” admonitions — the latest research shows that physical activity may help children do better in school.

Amika Singh, a senior researcher at VU University in the Netherlands, reports in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine that physical activity is associated with better academic performance, as measured by higher GPAs and better scores on standardized tests. She and her colleagues reviewed 14 studies, some of which simply recorded the amount of physical activity that children, parents or teachers reported that youngsters got over three days to seven days prior to the study, and some of which randomly assigned students to varying amounts of exercise a day. Taken together, the studies showed that the more physical activity the children had, the higher their scores in school, particularly in the basic subjects of math, English and reading.

The data support earlier research that linked exercise with more productivity and fewer sick days for adults, and could fuel the ongoing debate over whether physical education classes should be cut from school programs due to budget constraints. According to the Centers for Disease Control, students should have about one hour of physical activity every day to remain healthy; only 18% of high school students met this requirement in the week prior to a 2009 survey and 23% had not exercised at all during that period. The argument for reducing the amount of school time devoted to physical education is based on the fact that standardized test scores for US children have been dropping in recent years, and some administrators believe gym time can be better used to boost academic performance.

But Singh and her team show that rather than impairing school performance, physical activity may actually improve grades, which could help to retain gym programs throughout the nation. The studies considered physical activity as any exercise children received from either school-based physical education classes or organized sports both inside and outside of school. Being more active, says Singh, may improve blood flow to the brain, which provides more oxygen to cells involved in learning and attention. Exercise also boosts levels of certain hormones that can improve mood and fight stress, both of which can also provide a better learning environment for children.

Singh says that the benefits of physical activity may extend beyond academic performance, however. “Children learn by participating in sports, learning rules, and learning to act appropriately in a social environment,” she says. “And that translates into the classroom, where children who are physically active may adhere better to classroom rules and get along better with teachers and classmates. So academic performance may just be the short term benefit of exercise; there are a whole range of social and behavioral benefits that go beyond grades as well.”

One limitation of the analysis, however, is the fact that Singh deemed only two of the 14 studies as being high quality, meaning that the studies were set up in such as way that the both physical activity levels and academic performance were measured in a reliably objective way. Some of the studies depended on either the students or parents and teachers recalling how much exercise the children got over a certain period, and these surveys are always subject to bias.

Still, the findings hint that getting active may have long term benefits not just for the body, but for the brain as well. And the physical activity doesn’t have to occur in a single bout of hour-long exercise. Shorter periods of activity that break up the hours-long school day may be just as effective as a single session, and may make it easier to work in physical education into school curricula.

http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/03/let-the-kids-play-theyll-do-better-in-school/

Family Involvement at Esperanza

The focus of our next Esperanza training the end of this month is family involvement.  We might want to start out with this cartoon???

New Beginnings

A few different friends posted this wall photo on FB.  I love it.  New beginnings can be so refreshing!  It is important that we allow our Esperanza scholars (and educators) to experience new beginnings often. 

Esperanza As a Light

I listened this morning again to the BYU devotional speech given by Pres. Thomas S. Monson on November 1, 2011 about being a light.  President Monson used Webster's definition of light as "something that illuminates." He said that just as turning on a light switch in a dark room will bathe the room in light.

It is my hope that Esperanza can be a light and illuminate on how to help Hispanic learners reach their academic potential.