The Business of Children

To my readers: This week I have a guest blog interview who had written a fictional novel. However, it is based on factual events from her experiences as a teacher. Her name is Chloe Jon Paul and the book is " The Business of Children." As always, the opinions shared by the guest blogger are her own and not necessarily shared by me. Having said that, she does make some excellent points that parents can benefit from!

Questions:
1. What is the #1 issue facing schools today?
The #1 issue, I feel, is all the bureaucratic nonsense that nail teachers to the wall – not allowing them to be creative. The pressure put on teachers to “teach to the test” is what caused me to take an early retirement. In conjunction with that is the lack of administrative support when there is a problem with a student. Lack of teacher respect, bullying, and other issues compound the problem.

2. What can be done to resolve that issue?
I strongly believe that teachers have to continue their fight with teacher union activism, sending a clear message that they deserve better.

3. Should kids that need extra help be mainstreamed into regular classrooms?
No, I think it does more harm than good. While they are out of their regular class, they are missing the kind of instruction they really need. When they enter the regular classroom, everyone knows why they are there. I believe that regular classroom teachers can collaborate with special needs teachers to combine classes on a regular basis for some special instruction. I used to do this all the time and worked marvelously well.

4. How does that affect a. their learning in the classroom and b. the learning of other kids in the classroom?
I don’t think that much real learning does take place. Behavior problems do disrupt other kids and resentment on their part builds up.

5. There are a lot people who feel it is now better to put kids into private schools, what is your opinion? Can public schools still do the job well?
If one can afford to place one’s child in private school, then – yes, it would be better. Home schooling has increased significantly in the last few years. My own daughter home-schooled both her boys. Now, at age 14 and 16, they are both in college.
In the city where I live, home schooling is very big because the public school system here leaves much to be desired.

6. If parents could do one thing to help their kids succeed in school, what would that be?
Ah! If only people would heed my words! They must be willing to do what I did when my 2 children were growing up.

So, in a nutshell, here it is:
-One TV, record player, telephone in the house – nothing ever in their rooms!
-Dinner together every night with conversation about their day.
-Earning TV time by signing up for chores. Eventually, I allowed them to trade their TV time credits into cash.
-Making sure that they read quality books and show interest in the world around them by engaging in some kind of volunteer work.
*** I must have done something right because both my children are successful adults. They both have Master’s degrees and do interesting work in their respective fields.

7. Based on your experience, what is the a. most negative change you have seen in schools and b. the most positive change you have seen over the years?
The most negative change, as far as I’m concerned, is the emphasis put on assessment tests. Frankly, I can’t say that I’ve seen positive change.

8. How are the rookie teachers today different that when you began your career?
I think rookie teachers are savvier and they have the ability to network with other teachers worldwide through the many groups on the Internet – something we didn’t have years ago. They have instant access to oodles of information that took hours to research years ago.

9. Why did you write this book?
I wrote the book back in the early 90’s when I took a leave of absence from my teaching position. I wrote it because I felt it would be therapeutic for me to record some of my experiences but I didn’t want it to be a memoir. I had just finished a very bad year at the school where I was assigned and I seriously considered quitting altogether. Fortunately, I decided on a leave of absence without pay and went to stay with a dear friend in Maine where I had done the best teaching of my entire career. I actually trashed the book after I finished writing it, figuring that it had helped relieve some of the tension. My friend, however, retrieved it saying, “You are NOT throwing this away!” So I shelved it and went on to other writing projects which resulted in 2 other published works – non-fiction: What Happens Next? A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits…and More

Entering the Age of Elegance: A Rite of Passage & Practical Guide for the Modern Maturing Woman

10. Why did you choose to write it in fiction?
I had always wanted to write fiction and I figured that the experiences I had had through the years, especially as a union activist, could lend credibility to the story. The characters are not real people that I ever knew or worked with although some of their characteristics could be considered a composite of several different people I encountered in my 35 years of teaching. Some people have asked if I’m Vera or Deidre and I must admit that there is probably a little of me in both of them. JJ
When writing fiction, an author must really get inside that character’s skin – think, talk, and act like they would. This is especially challenging when the character is male and you’re a female author. Some of the language at times may be a bit coarse. I don’t use that kind of language personally but I know that some friends will read the book and exclaim,” Chloe wrote that?!?
Most people aren’t going to sit down to read a heavy document explaining the ills of education but a novel that portrays those very ills can be a real eye-opener!

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About the Author:
Chloe Jon Paul, M.Ed., is a retired educator and writer of several published articles and a previous book entitled "What Happens Next: A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits" and More... State representative for the National Family Caregivers Association's caregiver community action network 2006-2008; Advisory board member: MD, Healthcare Commission and the Interagency Commission for Aging Services: Maryland Dept. of Aging; Hospice and homeless shelter volunteer.

Goshen College Controversy Is Parenting Failure

Last week a firestorm erupted over the fact that a small Mennonite college, Goshen College in Indiana, decided to no longer play the National Anthem at sports events. At first I was outraged. Then I backed off and thought about the fact that they have every right to make that decision. Now after mulling it over for a few days, I have something to say about it today, on Flag Day.

After doing research, I discovered the following facts:

• Mennonites believe in peace and the fact sheet on the college states "...playing the national anthem has not been among Goshen College's practices because of our Christ-centered core value of compassionate peacemaking seeming to be in conflict with the anthem's militaristic language."
• Also some members of the religion, although this is not an official church position, say that to sing a hymn of allegience like that is to display more loyalty to country than to God.
• Historically they did not ever play the anthem until 2010 when they chose to lift the 116 year old ban on playing the anthem. They agreed to allow an instrumental version of the song to be played.
• Mennonites historically came to this country seeking religious freedom from the persecution that they received in their homelands.

So what are we looking at here? Their ancestors came to this country seeking a chance to practice their religion in peace. Finding that freedom in the new country, they were content to let others fight for their right to maintain that freedom against enemies that would deny freedoms to all of us. Okay, I get that. The Amish, Quakers, and others are peaceloving people who refuse to take up arms. I can respect that.

What troubles me is the lack of gratitude on the part of this college for the country that provides their ability to practice their religion without interference. This is the same country whose brave men and women died on battlefields, mothers wept at the loss of a child, fathers saw their lineage end as their sons died, children lost parents, and the world lost many brilliant future leaders so we all could remain free. This is the same country that has been a refuge for the oppressed for more than 200 years.

In my heart, I love God, family, and country. But sometimes that order gets all blurred together--days like Dec 7, 1941 and Sept 11, 2001. So while I understand their priorities, I am saddened by the fact that they feel no sense of loyalty to the country that has paid the price of their freedom in blood.

Parents of Goshen, wake up! I don't care what your church leaders say--this is the United States of America. She has stood for your freedom and protected it since your people first stepped foot on her beautiful shores. She deserves some measure of your appreciation and loyalty. It is time to teach your children about the greatness of our land and our history. Yes, it is run by flawed individuals who make mistakes. However, we can change that at the ballot box. Bottomline, is that we have lived with our freedoms intact for a long time now--less than 10% of the people in the history of this planet can boast of living with the freedoms we cherish. Teach that to your kids.

If the first verse of the national anthem is offensive to you, perhaps the last verse will be more acceptable:

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Yes, I defend your right to live as you choose, but I am saddened and somewhat angry that you at Goshen College have no appreciation for why you can live as you choose.

Give the Botox to Barbie!

On Good Morning America there was story about a mom who injected her 8-year old daughter with Botox for an upcoming beauty pagent in which the girl was a participant. http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/botox-girl-mother-13611500

I am alternately saddened and enraged by this story. This poor little girl is being taught that looks are everything in life--that it doesn't matter what pain or discomfort is involved, she must do all she can to enhance her looks. What about just being a little girl, playing with dolls and friends? Why is that not enough? We need to let kids be kids and stop marginalizing their innocence. Why must they become mini-adults while interrupting imaginative play that is so beneficial to them for the rest of their lives? Instead they are learning that pain, suffering, and rejection are worthwhile prices to pay for a few short minutes of potential glory that they will barely remember.

These moms push and prod and make their little girls grow up too fast. Why? Is it a desire to give some meaning to their own sad lives? It certainly is NOT for the child. It is all about the mom and some twisted need to prove their little girl is better than the others around her. I think it is pathetic and it angers me. I have even heard stories about little girls having their baby teeth removed and fitted with dentures until their adult teeth come in!

And this mom ordered this poisonous substance off the internet and injected it herself. How did she know for sure what she was actually getting when ordering off the internet? She could have put anything into her precious little girl. According to ABC, the mom also waxed the poor baby's legs and bikini line. "I know one day she will be a model, actress or singer, and having these treatments now will ensure she stays looking younger and baby-faced for longer," says the mom. My question is: at what price to this girl's emotional and physical well being?

The whole thing is completely disgusting and irresponsible parenting. The girl was removed from the home and the mom is being investigated. For one, I hope she never goes back into this woman's custody.

Kids need time to grow and play and learn without being pushed into a cruel adult world. If you must teach your kids about Botox, why not pretend to inject it into Barbie while teaching her that Barbie is not the real world. Tell her that real women don't look like a Barbie doll with her perfection and taking injections of poison to enhance your looks is not necessary. Teach her that she is perfect as she is.

Parents are supposed to teach their children that the inner person is what matters; that they are special and perfect just the way God made them. Parents need to help feed their little self esteems and encourage them to become responsible, caring, productive adults--not little entitled walking Barbie dolls.

Dancin' At the Salty Dog

Well, it is getting to be the start of vacation season so I thought I would mention one of our favorite destinations to you.

The little man (one of my grandsons) may not be "dancing the night away" but he sure is involved in his moves. And he is not the only one. Any time Dave Kemmerly is playing at the Salty Dog Cafe on Hilton Head Island, S.C., you can find kids dancing around him--loving the tunes he is putting out. Since the kids are there it is a certainty that you will find parents and grandparents enjoying the entertainment (both the kids and Dave), laughing, taking photos and videos.

We have been going to the Deck to hear Dave for many years now and he was even on Parents Rule radio show last year. It is a laid back place where we can lean back and relax. Forgetting our stresses for a while, we listen to the variety of old songs, new songs, and novelty songs that Dave plays mostly by request. On the radio last year he said that he probably knows 3-4,000 songs. And I believe it because he is rarely stumped when asked for specific songs by sunburned vacationers. He plays guitar and occasionally piano on the Deck, but can also find his way around the drums, upright bass, and sax. He states that coming from a musical family (dad was a drummer who once played with Johnny Cash and mom was a classically trained pianist), he and his brothers just picked up the "family" business without too much difficulty.

It all makes for a great time full of music, burgers, shrimp, ice cream stained faces, dancing and lots of laughter and smiles under the stars. There are trivia contests every night and not too many bugs early in the season.

These days we are all under much stress with economic uncertainty and conflicts world-wide. That is why it is so important to find a place to de-stress. If you make it to Hilton Head, I recommend Dave Kemmerly and the Salty Dog Deck. But if you can't get there, find your own place where your world is at peace--even if it only for a few hours. Find your own "Dave" whereever or whatever that is to you.

And if you get to listen to Dave, do yourself a favor and request that he play some songs he has written. He doesn't play them very often, but they are terrific!

Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother’s Path to Self-Discovery

Today I have the great pleasure of being a host of the Virtual Blog Tour of author Tina M Games whose book Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother's Path to Self-Discovery (and its accompanying deck of 54 journaling prompt cards) is celebrating its 1st birthday on Amazon on Tuesday May 3, 2011.

Author Tina M Games is certified creativity and life purpose coach. She calls herself the "Moonlight Muse" for women who want to tap into the "full moon within" and claim their authentic self, both personally and professionally. Through her signature coaching programs, based on the phases of the moon, Tina gently guides women from darkness to light as they create an authentic vision filled with purpose, passion and creative expression.

Yesterday, Tina visited Dawn Espelage at http://lifelinesjournaling.blogspot.com/ , where she answered about how this idea took shape, astrology’s role, tapping into intuition and thoughts on living an authentic life.

Today, I'd like to share with you a recent interview I had with Tina when I got to ask her some questions on importance for kids to follow their heart, journaling importance for moms, moon in our lives and Tina’s on learning lesson. I hope you enjoy it.

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Tina M Games: Thank you, Pat, for your interest in my book, Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother's Path to Self-Discovery and its accompanying deck of 54 journaling prompt cards.

I believe that mothers are a significant part of the "ripple effect" - that will transform the world into a more loving, more nurturing place. Imagine for a moment a "pebble thrown into a pond." It creates a ripple that goes on and on and on.

When a mother is living life with complete authenticity, she's subconsciously giving permission for her kids to do the same. She's truly at her best - creating powerful change for her family, her community, and for the world at large. It's all part of "the ripple."

It's my belief that "a happy mother makes the best mother" - and our kids really do want to see their moms happy!

Pat Montgomery: Why is it important to teach our kids to follow their hearts?

Tina M Games: Wouldn't the world be a much better place if we were all following our hearts? If we could truly live life with passion and purpose, everything would have a richer and deeper meaning. It would create a ripple of positive and loving energy that could literally heal the world.

I believe that mothers are a significant part of the "ripple effect" - that will transform the world into a more loving, more nurturing place. Imagine for a moment a "pebble thrown into a pond." It creates a ripple that goes on and on and on.

When a mother is living life with complete authenticity, she's subconsciously giving permission for her kids to do the same. She's truly at her best - creating powerful change for her family, her community, and for the world at large. It's all part of "the ripple." And if our children could live life in a way that honors who they really are, it would make the ripple even bigger because they would touch lives in a positive way, too - just by living authentically.

Because moms are natural role models, our kids are observing all the time. There's a lot of truth in the saying, "Monkey see, monkey do." In other words, when a mom is modelling the value of following her heart, her kids "get it" - much more than they would if she was just saying it. Kids feel energy. They know when a person is happy and when they're not. So why not be happy - and get the ripple going!


Pat Montgomery: Why is it important for moms to journal—aren’t their days busy enough?

Tina M Games: As a busy Mom myself, I know the value of time. But I also know the value of prioritizing. Moms are at the beginning of the "ripple effect." Each and every one of us has the power to create great change in the world. And this change is most impactful, when we begin with ourselves - looking at the mirror and honoring the person who is staring back at you. This is WHO will create great change in your life. So why not honor yourself with the gift of time?

A journal writing practice can begin with only five or ten minutes a day. One of the techniques that I use with my clients is called a "five minute writing sprint." I invite my clients to close their eyes for a few seconds and ponder a question or a quote. What immediately comes to mind when they think about this question or quote? Then I ask them to open their eyes and begin to write for five full minutes. No censoring, no corrections in spelling - just writing, whatever comes to mind. Then I ask them to go back and read it, paying close attention for little nuggets of wisdom, often hidden in rambling thoughts.

If we can take 30-45 minutes to have a pedicure, we can journal write. I do it all the time. The ladies at my local nail salon know that I will come in with my journal - and I will sit and write while getting a pedicure. They honor my time and they give me the space to "be" with my thoughts while taking care of my desire to have a nice pedicure. And I can't begin to tell you how much wisdom I gain, how many answers I receive, when I slow down and give myself the gift of time.

We all are busy and we all want to get "there" (wherever "there" is) in the fastest way possible. But true wisdom and real clarity only come in the "slowing down" and in the "listening and paying attention." If we're too busy speeding ahead to the next place in life, we're going to miss an awful lot along the way.

Pat Montgomery: You based your book and your advice on the phases of the moon—what is so important about the moon in our lives?

Tina M Games: The moon brings a very feminine energy to our lives. She tugs at our emotions, moving with the ebbs and flows, and mirrors our menstrual cycles (the lunar calendar follows a 28-day cycle just as our bodies do). In astrology, the moon represents our emotional nature. It also shows the type of relationship a woman may have with her own mother as well as the type of mother she may be herself (her style, her demeanor, her strengths, her weaknesses).

My work with the moon phases came out of my own experience of connecting with the moon during a really dark period in my life. Shortly after the birth of my first child, and after making some fairly significant life changes at the same time, I fell into depression - a place that felt so foreign to me, a place where I felt like I had fallen into a black hole with no way out. It was during this time, a period that spanned over two years that I had disconnected from everything that made me happy. Because my son suffered from chronic illnesses related to serious colds and severe ear infections, I made a very difficult choice to give up a successful career in order to care for my son full-time. I hadn't realized until this experience how much of my identity was tied into my career. Without it, I felt very lost and very unhappy.

It was during this time that I fell back on a great passion of mine - journal writing. And as a mom of a baby who did not have a normal sleep schedule, I found myself exhausted and emotional much of the time. So night after night, after I'd get my son settled and after my husband went to bed, I'd grab my journal and retreat to my favorite chair - beside a big bay window where I caught a glimpse of the moon. It was the moon that taught me the meaning of transition. I'd watch this beautiful lunar goddess, night after night, move in and out of her various phases. And before long, I began to connect her phases with my own emotional tides.

I noticed that the moon always began in darkness and gradually, she'd move into full light - and cycle back around again. And I noticed the contrast between dark and light - the darkness of the night sky against the beautiful full moon light. I started connecting to this - as if I was being divinely guided through my own transitions of dark and light. I began to notice the ebbs and flows of my emotions. There were good days and bad days.

So when I came to the point of writing my book, I wanted mothers to realize that every human transition begins in darkness and gradually moves into light, where we get a glimpse of what is possible. And then we retreat, to ponder the many ways we can manifest these possibilities into reality. This requires deep work, where we step into our own truth and into our own power - and where we can emerge in the most authentic way possible. This is what I call the Blue Moon phase - when we finally realize that we are here on this Earth to be WHO we are, to put our personal thumbprint on the world in the most truthful, most authentic, most unique way possible. Each one of us are individuals being divinely guided on our own purposeful path.

Pat Montgomery: What have you learned along the way?

Tina M Games: What really changed things for me was the discovery that my life had a bigger meaning, a bigger purpose - and motherhood was only a part of it. By journal writing through my two-year depression, I began to discover the synchronicities in my life. I started exploring my life story - up until that point.

I began having rich conversations with my mother and learned about the depression that she had battled, trying to raise four kids with very little support. We discussed the importance of having a personal identity - a connection to something deeper within ourselves that was expressed fully in the outside world.

This led to other dialogues with other mothers - and I was fascinated by the similarities in our stories. While we all loved being moms, we all desired "that something else" - that something that connected all the dots, that brought all the life experiences together to create a path toward a bigger purpose.

Here in 2011, I can look back on those two years of my life where I fell in complete darkness, floundering, trying to find my way out - and I can say, it was all part of my life's journey. It's what led me to my life purpose - to empower mothers to step into their greatness. It's a ripple effect. A mother touches so many lives - and when she's down, it affects the flow of the ripple in a significant way. And when she's up, the ripples go on and on and on.

My experience with depression - that feeling of being totally disconnected to myself and the world around me - led me to the pages of my journal. It led me to asking the question, "I'm a Mom, but who am I really?" And by "being" with the truth of the reality and by listening to my intuitive wisdom, I found my voice. I found my bigger purpose in life.

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I hope you enjoyed this interview with Tina M Games and that you’ll check out her book and card deck Journaling by the Moonlight: A Mother's Path to Self-Discovery this month at http://moonlightmomscircle.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.html

Here's why:

FREE 3-DAY PASS
When you visit the page at the link above and request a "launch reminder", you will automatically receive a FREE pass to Tina's 3-day "I’m a Mom… But Who Am I Really? Telesummit" with 11 creative writing moms and grandmothers speaking on how to use intuition, journaling and creativity to explore life purpose. You can listen to the telesummit online in the comfort of your own home, and even ask questions during the broadcast.

This telesummit is a completely free "no purchase necessary"
gift from Tina, to celebrate the 1st birthday of her book.

FREE GIFTS
When you buy Tina's book or the card deck during its birthday celebration on Tuesday May 3, 2011, you can ALSO receive a complete library of beautiful personal development gifts from authors, speakers, coaches and other enlightened professionals from around the globe.

To claim your 3-Day Pass and read about the free gifts, go to: http://moonlightmomscircle.com/book-launch/pages/pre-launch.html

Thanks for reading! As usual, please feel free to share your comments and thoughts below. I love reading your feedback.

AND… be sure to follow Tina tomorrow when the next stop on the Virtual Blog Tour is Andrew Mondia who will be interviewing Tina on inspiration by connecting moon with journaling, personal growth and the intention for readers. To visit that "stop" on the tour, go to http://www.andyinspire.com/?p=315

A World Without Fish: How Kids Can Help Save the Oceans

Mark Kurlansky, renowned author of the award-winning bestseller Cod, has just authored a forthcoming family book called WORLD WITHOUT FISH which is a children’s book that includes — biology, economics, evolution, politics, climate, history, culture, food and nutrition — in a manner that is instantly understandable and appealing to kids. Below is the interview about his new book with questions asked from his 10-year-old daughter and fishing companion, Talia:

What Inspired you to do the book and what made you decide to make it a young adult book? I have been thinking about these issues for 45 years since my first job as a commercial fishermen. I have often written about them, especially in Cod and The Last Fish Tale. But it is an enormously complicated issue and one that needs explaining. I find that kids are particularly interested in it and in environmental issues in general. They understand that we are leaving them a mess and are not particularly happy about it. So I decided to write a book for the whole family that would give an understanding of the problem of what is and isn’t being done about it and what can be done by us as individuals and as families. I think that it is a writer’s job to work toward a more enlightened society and that begins by feeding the hungry minds of children and then helping families to find their direction. A society of enlightened families is a healthy society.

How did you decide to weave in a graphic novel and how did you decide the story and characters? I am a great believer in storytelling and in a sense all of my text is connected circles of storytelling so that a book is constructed a bit like an onion.. But a graphic novel was an opportunity for a more pure form of storytelling. It is about a father teaching his daughter as she confronts the realities of the world and the daughter than teaching her daughter. So on one level it is about you and me except that I promoted myself to distinguished marine biologist, which, of course, I am not. On another level it is about parents and children, which is what all environmental issues are about. The central issue is what kind of planet do we pass on to our children.

Do you really believe that if we work hard enough even us kids can make a difference? Kids can make an enormous difference if they proceed with gentle and respectful determination. They can teach their parents, and families are the building blocks of society. But also they are the inheritors of the world and will not only have its enormous problems but its enormous responsibilities. Technology is changing the world a at faster pace than has ever happened before and your generation by controlling and directing that change can have a greater impact than any generation in history. We could feel sorry for all the problems you are getting but also envious of the exciting opportunities. You begin this process of becoming a responsible and significant force for change as a child. It begins by learning.

What do you believe is the most effective thing that we all can do? Talk. Of course first you have to study and learn so that you know what you are talking about. Then talk with your family, with your friends and neighbors, get your parents talking with the store keepers, asking about the fish they buy and why everything has to come wrapped in plastic. Is your yellow school bus painted with chromium? Isn’t there a safer paint? Do we have to be using so much energy? Should we shut off lights, walk instead of riding. Everybody needs to be talking about these things.

What are the fish that we should eat? There are two considerations.—your health and the health of the planet. For your health you should eat low on the food chain. Fish is extremely healthy but certain pollutants such as heavy metals concentrate as they go up the food chain. So large fish are less healthy than small ones. Also you should eat fish from sustainable fisheries, fishermen who are careful to preserve the species they fish. Line caught is preferable to other kinds of net fishing although smaller fish are caught with different types of netting that may not be harmful. Alaskan salmon are well managed and delicious. California sardines are also well-managed and being fairly low on the food chain and rich in oils extremely healthy.

Is their anything that is scarily bad to buy and eat? Blue fin tuna are endangered, hard to regulate because they migrate all over the world and so high on the food chain that they are probably bad for your health. Avoid eating fish from chain restaurants and cheap frozen fish.. They need to get low priced fish and this usually leads to abusive fishing. Beware of overfishing inexpensive pacific pollack.

Do you recommend anything? Such as companies to buy from etc. There are organizations of fishermen specializing in sustainable techniques. Unfortunately many do not create brand names so they are hard to identify. Thos who do are often more expensive but they are worth it both for their good fishing practices and the high quality of their fish. Two examples are Chatham cod from Massachusetts and Copper River Salmon from Alaska.

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Mark Kurlansky is a former commercial fisherman and New York Times bestselling author of Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World, Salt: A World History, The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell, and 16 other books. He’s won numerous awards, including the James A. Beard Award, Glenfiddich Award for food writing, ALA Notable Book Award, The New York Public Library Best Books of the Year Award, Los Angeles Times Science Writing Award, Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He has illustrated many of his books himself. Kurlansky lives with his wife and daughter in New York City and Gloucester, Massachusetts. His website is http://www.markkurlansky.com/

Talia Kurlansky is 10 years old and working her way through the fifth grade. An adept Editorial Advisor, she vetted each chapter of WORLD WITHOUT FISH, helping her dad (bestselling author Mark Kurlansky) ensure that there were no boring parts and that the book would be equally enjoyable to children and adults.

Tame the Power of Technology

Nine Top Tips to Tame the Power of Technology When It Interferes with Homework by Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed.

Technology has transformed our world, but for our kids, life without gadgets would be unimaginable. They expect to have access to these devices 24/7, but their expectations and reality are very different. Tech¬nology can be an asset to learning. It can also be a significant detractor unless parents establish clear policies and consequences. If the overuse of technology is af¬fecting your child’s schoolwork, try these simple solutions:

• Set limits starting with an electronics-free routine. When your child returns from school, allow screen access for an agreed upon period of time, and then the electronics go off. In many families, it is a half hour, but whatever time allotment you determine, stick with that time limit daily. You may also want to have a small box or container labeled “electronics go here”. That way, you’re not holding out your hand asking for your child’s beloved cell phone. Having a neutral place for it to be placed makes the transition less confrontational. It also limits the child’s temptation to sneak calls, texts, or games while doing homework.

• Trust but verify. After homework is completed, your child can retrieve his electronics after an adult has verified that the work is done. This usually includes checking completed assignments against what has been recorded in your child’s planner or posted online by the teachers.

• Consider returning electronics later in the evening. If your child is one who will rush through homework just to have access to his gadgets, consider a later time for returning them. You may find that about an hour after dinner works well. By this time homework should be out of the way unless an extracurricular activity is thrown in the mix.

• Having a routine decreases battles because kids know what to expect. Even if your child’s schedule is different every day, stick to a routine as much as possible. For example, if your child returns home from school at 4:00 and has a half hour of screen time, then homework would start at 4:30. The electronics can be collected from the basket by your child at 7:00 p.m. Now, if he has soccer practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30, allow him access for a half hour after school. Expect that he start his homework before practice and then work on it again immediately after dinner when he returns. On those evenings, he may not earn screen time until his work is completed. Depending on the age of your child, you may be wondering…

• What if he needs the computer for research? The answer is to allow him to print out information needed for the writing portion of the as-signment. That way, he’ll have the information, but won’t have con¬tinuous and distracting access to the Internet.

• What if he needs to type his homework? If your teen has a desk and computer in his room, but is constantly surfing the Internet when he should be doing homework, disable the Internet and only run word processing programs only. This isn’t hard to set up.

• What should I do if I see him online or texting when he should be doing homework? After you’ve established a “no screen time” policy and window of time that this rule is in place, you must enforce it. Let’s say your policy is in effect from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. If he breaks the rule, penalize him an hour and restrict his use until 8:00 p.m.

• She says she focuses better when multitasking. Could this be true? No. In fact, studies show that when kids continually multitask, they lose the ability to focus on one thing at a time. Picture your daughter with earphones in while listening to her iPod, texting furiously, and checking her Facebook page all at the same time. This is common, but not pro-ductive. The problem is that when kids try to concentrate on just one task, such as reading or studying, they’re less able to sustain attention because they are so accustomed to stimulation from multiple sources. Even though you can discourage this type of behavior, you cannot stop it. You can, however, eliminate it during homework time.

• She says she can’t focus without music. Should I allow her to listen? There may be something to her claims. Studies show that the majority of kids do attend better with background music. If your child is productive when listening to her iPod, allow its use; however, if she is constantly distracted, then consider soft background music only. By setting limits and boundaries now, you’ll be helping to create a positive and production homework environment in the future. Good habits now will pay off throughout the high school years and in college, too.

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Ann K. Dolin, M.Ed., is the founder and president of Educational Connections, Inc., a comprehensive provider of educational services in Fairfax, VA and Bethesda, MD. In her new book, Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, Dolin offers proven solutions to help the six key types of students who struggle with homework. Numerous examples and easy-to-implement, fun tips will help make homework less of a chore for the whole family. Learn more at anndolin.com or ectutoring.com.