It is time to get ready for a great school year! Hopefully, you have recieved your books already. It is fun to see how excited the kids get when the new curriculum starts coming in. If you have any questions or concerns, the ORCA office is open and ready to answer your question at 503-394-4315. Don't forget to log into your LMS - students and learning coaches - and complete your orientation.
And, oh yes, for those of you who have students who love new school supplies - and backpacks - please head on over to My Precious Kid and enter a contest for a fabulous school giveaway.
“Free Back To School Giveaway at http://bit.ly/aSD008 Register today! @MyPreciousKid ”
Enjoy these last gorgeous summer days! And start your engines!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Everything I Needed to Know - I Learned at Summer Camp!
Robert Fulghum wrote a great book several years ago and reminded us that essential life lessons start early. Far be it for me to disagree with a master - a positive kindergarten experience does last a lifetime - but in terms of pleasure, pain and life lessons, summer camp is not far behind!
Life Lesson Number 1 - The Right Knot Can Tie It All Together! Okay, I was at Boy Scout Camp with my son and Boy Scouts do love their knots. As an observer, however, I want to remind you that focusing on fundamentals gives the learner a solid foundation on which to grow. My son was industriously working on mastering the basic Square Knot and on some simple splices but older scouts used knots this summer to fasten sails, climb mountains and even to provide assistance during search and rescue efforts. There are frustrations and hurdles to be crossed when learning fundamentals but the payoff is big!
Life Lesson Number 2 - Camp Food is Good Food! A camp chef has a big job to do - and limited resources to do it with. No one, however, ever goes away hungry! There are, I believe, a couple of secrets to the attraction of camp food. First of all, anyone who has ever gone to camp knows that you are functioning at one speed - fast and furious. A whole day of running around in the hot sun gives everyone an honest appetite that makes nutrition an essential part of the day. It also does not hurt that at summer camp someone, usually, is cooking and cleaning for you. There is nothing more welcoming than the sound of the dinner bell at summer camp. Someone remembers that I am hungry and I need fed! Thank you, Camp Chefs.
Life Lesson Number 3 - Big Things Do Come in Small Packages! Okay, this one isn't as fun as it sounds. Sometimes small tasks get bigger as we unpack them. Mastering this lesson is one that will give you the power to unlock the mystery of Algebra, Physics, Literature.....the list goes on. Alex and I were at a beautiful summer camp located at Lake Coeure D'Alene, Idaho. On paper, the camp was small. C0mpact, we thought. Well, we were surprised to actually get there and see the real camp - doesn't look like a big camp on paper but it is built on a Mountain! There was a reason that the classes were at the top of the mountain and the dining hall at the bottom! We needed some motivation to make it to the top - and all the way back to the bottom. Sometimes even the simplest task can get too big for us to grasp. If it seems like it is too big to be tackled, take a break, get some perspective and a fresh breath. Coming at an issue with a new perspective can make all of the difference.
Life Lesson Number 4 - Create Campfire Moments! Picture this - a sunset view of beautiful Lake Coeure D'Alene, a few last boaters sailing by, an open air stage and a roaring campfire. Nothing wraps up a day of summer camp better than a camp fire. Good friends, a little music, a few jokes maybe a s'more or two thrown in. A camp fire. In our everyday lives we need to inject a few of these camp fire moments. Rest, relax and restore. As a learning coach there will be many days when you are running on high - and the small things are all looming large - take a moment to appreciate your child, the gifts education in the home and parental involvement bring to your live and to your child's. And have a s'more.
Life Lesson Number 5 - Just Paddle the Boat! Okay, one more camp story. It was a amazing experience. Thursday night - almost the end of the week - and we were checking out the War Canoes and planning a paddling trip across the lake! Two war canoes, six adults, and 18 scouts paddling 5.8 miles. At the end of our excursion we set up shelters using tarps and slept outside in our sleeping bags. I think I cheated by putting my toothbrush in my pocket. The next morning we broke camp at 4:30 am and paddled back across the lake. The Lake was beautiful. The sky was clear blue. The canoes were massive - and amazing. This was a once in a lifetime experience. A once in a lifetime experience that came with some cost. Once you got in the boat, you had to paddle. Believe it or not, there were a few of us, that weren't sure that we could paddle the boat all the way across the lake. If we hadn't, the cost would have been tremendous. Participating - and finishing this trip was an amazing experience and achievement. Appreciate great opportunities. Use them, learn from them and grow from them! The other lesson here is that it is good to be part of a team. Knowing who your team it - and how to use them - will change the experience of being a Learning Coach from a good one to a great one!
Summer camp - a good thing! Time with your child and making yourself an important part of the learning process - a great one. Enjoy your summer - and get ready for a fantastic fall.
Life Lesson Number 1 - The Right Knot Can Tie It All Together! Okay, I was at Boy Scout Camp with my son and Boy Scouts do love their knots. As an observer, however, I want to remind you that focusing on fundamentals gives the learner a solid foundation on which to grow. My son was industriously working on mastering the basic Square Knot and on some simple splices but older scouts used knots this summer to fasten sails, climb mountains and even to provide assistance during search and rescue efforts. There are frustrations and hurdles to be crossed when learning fundamentals but the payoff is big!
Life Lesson Number 2 - Camp Food is Good Food! A camp chef has a big job to do - and limited resources to do it with. No one, however, ever goes away hungry! There are, I believe, a couple of secrets to the attraction of camp food. First of all, anyone who has ever gone to camp knows that you are functioning at one speed - fast and furious. A whole day of running around in the hot sun gives everyone an honest appetite that makes nutrition an essential part of the day. It also does not hurt that at summer camp someone, usually, is cooking and cleaning for you. There is nothing more welcoming than the sound of the dinner bell at summer camp. Someone remembers that I am hungry and I need fed! Thank you, Camp Chefs.
Life Lesson Number 3 - Big Things Do Come in Small Packages! Okay, this one isn't as fun as it sounds. Sometimes small tasks get bigger as we unpack them. Mastering this lesson is one that will give you the power to unlock the mystery of Algebra, Physics, Literature.....the list goes on. Alex and I were at a beautiful summer camp located at Lake Coeure D'Alene, Idaho. On paper, the camp was small. C0mpact, we thought. Well, we were surprised to actually get there and see the real camp - doesn't look like a big camp on paper but it is built on a Mountain! There was a reason that the classes were at the top of the mountain and the dining hall at the bottom! We needed some motivation to make it to the top - and all the way back to the bottom. Sometimes even the simplest task can get too big for us to grasp. If it seems like it is too big to be tackled, take a break, get some perspective and a fresh breath. Coming at an issue with a new perspective can make all of the difference.
Life Lesson Number 4 - Create Campfire Moments! Picture this - a sunset view of beautiful Lake Coeure D'Alene, a few last boaters sailing by, an open air stage and a roaring campfire. Nothing wraps up a day of summer camp better than a camp fire. Good friends, a little music, a few jokes maybe a s'more or two thrown in. A camp fire. In our everyday lives we need to inject a few of these camp fire moments. Rest, relax and restore. As a learning coach there will be many days when you are running on high - and the small things are all looming large - take a moment to appreciate your child, the gifts education in the home and parental involvement bring to your live and to your child's. And have a s'more.
Life Lesson Number 5 - Just Paddle the Boat! Okay, one more camp story. It was a amazing experience. Thursday night - almost the end of the week - and we were checking out the War Canoes and planning a paddling trip across the lake! Two war canoes, six adults, and 18 scouts paddling 5.8 miles. At the end of our excursion we set up shelters using tarps and slept outside in our sleeping bags. I think I cheated by putting my toothbrush in my pocket. The next morning we broke camp at 4:30 am and paddled back across the lake. The Lake was beautiful. The sky was clear blue. The canoes were massive - and amazing. This was a once in a lifetime experience. A once in a lifetime experience that came with some cost. Once you got in the boat, you had to paddle. Believe it or not, there were a few of us, that weren't sure that we could paddle the boat all the way across the lake. If we hadn't, the cost would have been tremendous. Participating - and finishing this trip was an amazing experience and achievement. Appreciate great opportunities. Use them, learn from them and grow from them! The other lesson here is that it is good to be part of a team. Knowing who your team it - and how to use them - will change the experience of being a Learning Coach from a good one to a great one!
Summer camp - a good thing! Time with your child and making yourself an important part of the learning process - a great one. Enjoy your summer - and get ready for a fantastic fall.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Crossing the Finish Line!?!
This is the time of year we are all sharing a common experience. School is out! We finished - and we feel good! And we should feel good. You have guided your child through the shark infested waters of state work samples, scantron tests, unit assessments and spelling tests! You did well - and should celebrate your achievements - and oh yeah, your child's achievements.
I hope that you have plans for park lunches and play dates, for swimming lessons and summer movie trips. You have all earned a break. There are lots of local summer lunch programs throughout the tri county area. Many of these lunch programs incorporate crafts, games and activities for your kids. It is a great time for your family - and lunch is totally free for kids from 1 - 18. Theses programs are generally supported by the Federal School Lunch program so please remember that the food is generally reserved for children. Many of the programs need volunteers - and we would encourage you to get involved with your community and volunteer. This is a great way for you and for your children to build relationships. There is also a link on the website for a summer movie festival at Regal Cinemas that feature totally free, family friendly movies all summer long! Make plans and have fun this summer. You have all earned it!
There is, however, an interesting phenomenon at play here. Once you cross a finish line - you need to get ready to start the race all over again. And the starting line may seem to come faster than you can even imagine it! I read a Facebook post today - a friend was sending her oldest son off to his last day of Kindergarten and most of the responses were, of course, "It seems like he just started yesterday..." Time does, indeed, often seem to fly!
Why not slow time down a bit by doing the good "coach" thing and encourage your team to stay in shape. There are a lot of fun ways to keep hard earned skills honed and stretched over the summer. I have a soon to be fourth grader who is practicing her multiplication tables this summer with a totally cool, totally awesome, totally free downloaded game. She loves the graphics, the game and the fact that she is doing math without "doing math". Check out Timez Attack at http://www.bigbrainz.com/. The kids also like to challenge each other to one minute math drills - and you can print out free worksheets at http://www.themathworksheetsite.com/. For those who need to keep handwriting - and composition skills - up, a simple lined notebook and a fun pen may be just what the doctor ordered. My kids have a book that I write ten words a day in - and they copy the words five times each. They also have a notebook that is just for them to write whatever they want in. A couple of summers ago they enjoyed writing the "grocery list" as I was figuring out what we needed to buy at the store. Last summer they seemed to like to write names and phone numbers. This summer I hope we may see some poetry or even a real story! Wow! Anyway, it is great fun for them and an easy way to maintain some skills you don't want them to loose touch with over the summer.
Please take some time to enjoy all your accomplishments over the last year. You have earned the privilege. You may also want to keep your team on track and remember that our starting line is right around the corner. We are working on some ways to help us all do our job a little easier next year - please feel free to share any ideas, concerns or questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you - and maybe seeing you at the Park this summer! Enjoy.
I hope that you have plans for park lunches and play dates, for swimming lessons and summer movie trips. You have all earned a break. There are lots of local summer lunch programs throughout the tri county area. Many of these lunch programs incorporate crafts, games and activities for your kids. It is a great time for your family - and lunch is totally free for kids from 1 - 18. Theses programs are generally supported by the Federal School Lunch program so please remember that the food is generally reserved for children. Many of the programs need volunteers - and we would encourage you to get involved with your community and volunteer. This is a great way for you and for your children to build relationships. There is also a link on the website for a summer movie festival at Regal Cinemas that feature totally free, family friendly movies all summer long! Make plans and have fun this summer. You have all earned it!
There is, however, an interesting phenomenon at play here. Once you cross a finish line - you need to get ready to start the race all over again. And the starting line may seem to come faster than you can even imagine it! I read a Facebook post today - a friend was sending her oldest son off to his last day of Kindergarten and most of the responses were, of course, "It seems like he just started yesterday..." Time does, indeed, often seem to fly!
Why not slow time down a bit by doing the good "coach" thing and encourage your team to stay in shape. There are a lot of fun ways to keep hard earned skills honed and stretched over the summer. I have a soon to be fourth grader who is practicing her multiplication tables this summer with a totally cool, totally awesome, totally free downloaded game. She loves the graphics, the game and the fact that she is doing math without "doing math". Check out Timez Attack at http://www.bigbrainz.com/. The kids also like to challenge each other to one minute math drills - and you can print out free worksheets at http://www.themathworksheetsite.com/. For those who need to keep handwriting - and composition skills - up, a simple lined notebook and a fun pen may be just what the doctor ordered. My kids have a book that I write ten words a day in - and they copy the words five times each. They also have a notebook that is just for them to write whatever they want in. A couple of summers ago they enjoyed writing the "grocery list" as I was figuring out what we needed to buy at the store. Last summer they seemed to like to write names and phone numbers. This summer I hope we may see some poetry or even a real story! Wow! Anyway, it is great fun for them and an easy way to maintain some skills you don't want them to loose touch with over the summer.
Please take some time to enjoy all your accomplishments over the last year. You have earned the privilege. You may also want to keep your team on track and remember that our starting line is right around the corner. We are working on some ways to help us all do our job a little easier next year - please feel free to share any ideas, concerns or questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you - and maybe seeing you at the Park this summer! Enjoy.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
In Pursuit of Excellence...or just Chasing My Tail?
Bart Starr was interviewed for an article last year and remembered that his coach, Vince Lombardi, often encouraged his team to "pursue perfection". Of course, he also remembered that they never got there - but that in pursuing perfection they captured excellence. That is a great mental picture. One in fact, that I try and remember occasionally. The visions most often chase me, of course, on the days when the kids are days behind in math or spelling, I have worn my sweats all day long and the kitchen sink is full of dirty dishes. It is hard to find excellence when life's challenges are taking over your big picture.
This blog is an attempt to block out the challenges and give you five minutes to focus on the opportunity to celebrate all that you do - and all that you accomplish. As a Learning Coach, you are an essential component of a new school model. That model is providing leading edge technology, high quality state certified teachers, the finest curriculum available in the United States today, and it happens from the comfort of your living room...or office...or bedroom...or on vacation....okay, it really can happen wherever you want to create a school environment for your child. And pretty much, that makes our unique school model the very definition of excellent. The opportunity really begins with you, with your committment to your child's education, your willingness to participate in the process as the Learning Coach, and your ability to put your life on hold and walk through this experience together with your child.
We, like you, are "just Moms". We have been blessed by children, who while not perfect, have been underserved in the traditional public school sector, leveraged out of a private school environment or maybe even come from a more traditional homeschool system. We live with the "laundry monster", have dust bunnies and have occasionally found a leftover cup of coffee on the computer desk that closely resembled a science experiment. We also have had the extraordinary experience of schooling our children at home using Publicly provided educational curriculum. We have created relationships with teachers committed to supporting our children's development and discipline. We have received boxes and boxes of curriculum - and have successfully organized, used and returned that curriculum. And we know that you can do it too! As a matter of fact, we want to join you in your quest and watch your success.
Bart Starr and the Greenbay Packers never did find that perfection that they were looking for. Most football fans remember that they did manage to catch excellence in a big way! We hope that you remember that perfection is not a label that is going to fit most homeschool homes - some days you will probably feel like you are chasing your tail - but the payoff is big. Your kids will not be perfect but what they will learn will help them be more responsible, more kind and more effective! Mark Twain was slightly disparaging about education when he said, "I have never let me schooling interfere with my education." Virtual schools are our society's best attempt to give students the chance for an excellent education without letting school intefere with that process.
We are so glad that you are on the journey with us. We hope that you can take an occasional break with us to celebrate our success, help with that which is holding you back and support others that are taking the same journey.
This blog is an attempt to block out the challenges and give you five minutes to focus on the opportunity to celebrate all that you do - and all that you accomplish. As a Learning Coach, you are an essential component of a new school model. That model is providing leading edge technology, high quality state certified teachers, the finest curriculum available in the United States today, and it happens from the comfort of your living room...or office...or bedroom...or on vacation....okay, it really can happen wherever you want to create a school environment for your child. And pretty much, that makes our unique school model the very definition of excellent. The opportunity really begins with you, with your committment to your child's education, your willingness to participate in the process as the Learning Coach, and your ability to put your life on hold and walk through this experience together with your child.
We, like you, are "just Moms". We have been blessed by children, who while not perfect, have been underserved in the traditional public school sector, leveraged out of a private school environment or maybe even come from a more traditional homeschool system. We live with the "laundry monster", have dust bunnies and have occasionally found a leftover cup of coffee on the computer desk that closely resembled a science experiment. We also have had the extraordinary experience of schooling our children at home using Publicly provided educational curriculum. We have created relationships with teachers committed to supporting our children's development and discipline. We have received boxes and boxes of curriculum - and have successfully organized, used and returned that curriculum. And we know that you can do it too! As a matter of fact, we want to join you in your quest and watch your success.
Bart Starr and the Greenbay Packers never did find that perfection that they were looking for. Most football fans remember that they did manage to catch excellence in a big way! We hope that you remember that perfection is not a label that is going to fit most homeschool homes - some days you will probably feel like you are chasing your tail - but the payoff is big. Your kids will not be perfect but what they will learn will help them be more responsible, more kind and more effective! Mark Twain was slightly disparaging about education when he said, "I have never let me schooling interfere with my education." Virtual schools are our society's best attempt to give students the chance for an excellent education without letting school intefere with that process.
We are so glad that you are on the journey with us. We hope that you can take an occasional break with us to celebrate our success, help with that which is holding you back and support others that are taking the same journey.
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