Pleasantville High School

Buying a Projector for Your Classroom

If you’re looking to buy a new projector for your classroom there are a few key tips you should look out for before taking the plunge. Projector prices vary wildly and you need to ensure that you get the right machine for your educational facility:

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Before you buy, write down 3 important features you need your projector to have. E.g. does it need to be lightweight and easily portable? Will it receive high usage and therefore need to be durable? Processor speed and image quality may also be on your list.
Check out deal of the day to make sure you are getting the best possible price for your new projector.
Ensure that the projector you buy is recommended for compatibility with the machines you already have. A non-compatible projector may lead to poor performance and difficult set ups when you have a classroom of students eagerly waiting to start class!
Warranty. If your projector is going to be well used around campus then you need to know that your warranty will cover you for repair. There may be cheaper projectors out there but they may not have warranty, which will make it more expensive for you in the long run.
Size and weight. Check the size and weight of your potential projector. If you’re moving from class to class you don’t want to be carrying what seems like a bag full of bricks. And if you have limited secure storage areas then size will also be a factor.

These few tips before purchasing should ensure that you and your new projector have a wonderful working relationship!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Overhead projector, projector, Warranty

Should You Home-school?

Homeschooling is one of the few alternatives to a public education. This decision to home-school is a very personal one and should be made with the thoughts of what is best for your child. But if you are considering it, there are certain criteria that you should keep in mind. Each state is completely different when it comes to homeschooling laws. So be certain that you check out the state laws before tackling the challenge of teaching your child.

A socially active child may find a school setting more to their liking. Whereas a child who is easily bored or has problems paying attention for long periods of time will benefit from a home-school setting. The difference is based on the child’s personality. Of course, this does not mean that a home-schooled child will be socially isolated. Many communities have organizations where home-schooled children meet each other, play sports, and participate in many different activities with their peers.

Another part of the home school equation is the parent. Homeschooling requires an investment in time, resources, and research to understand what the child needs to learn to keep them on track with their age group. Not every parent has the luxury or patience to invest in this task. This is where the decision becomes a personal search to see if you can accommodate homeschooling or if you have to trust the school system for your child’s education. Sometimes, the need to earn a living outweighs any prospect.

There really isn’t a right or wrong answer to whether or not you should home-school. After all, it is the individuality of the child and the parents that determine if home-school is the right course.

Filed Under: General, school Tagged With: Education, Homeschool, State school

Tips for Avoiding a Cyberbully

With technology being such a dominant force in the lives of just about everybody these days, there’s no surprise that bullying has taken on a technological form as well—cyberbullying. There’s really no difference between this and regular bullying, other than the fact that cyberbullying is committed via the Internet or other electronic device such as through a mobile phone via text message.

While cyberbullying seems to be more common and much easier these days, both forms of bullying are dangerous and can have very negative effects if the situation isn’t handled in a timely manner. It may be difficult to avoid being a victim of bullying, whether it’s face-to-face or on the Internet, but there are some simple steps your child can follow to avoid getting mixed up with a cyberbully.

One of the best ways to avoid someone who is bullying you via the Internet or other technological means, is to ignore them. Delete the email, text message or wall post. Block his or her email address, phone number, and block them in any other way possible.
Never respond to any harassing messages you may receive. Replying may just give the bully more reasons to attack you. A reply also shows the bully that he or she has affected you. Don’t give him or her that satisfaction.
If any of the messages are particularly threatening (if they’re threatening your life or the lives of loved ones, for example), don’t be afraid to save and/or print these communications and take them to the local authorities. Harassment charges can be brought against the cyberbully if you want them to be.
Remember that bullies thrive on your responses, emotional or physical, to what they’ve said or done to you. Ignore them at all costs and never give them the satisfaction of seeing you hurt or rattled.

Filed Under: Cyber Bullying, General Tagged With: Bullying, Cyber-bullying

Gifts For School Teachers

Teachers are sometimes remembered during the holiday and the end of the year when all of their hard work is rewarded. The problem of what to get them is a little complex because your personal knowledge of their likes and dislikes is limited. But there are some things that you can’t miss on when it comes to teachers and they appreciate the gesture of being remembered.

The gift of school supplies for the classroom is always a good place to start. If you load up during the sales and have leftover items, their classrooms can always use the extra supplies. With those supplies, they can do that school project that they have been putting off or help a kid who needs something. If you aren’t sure, you can always ask what your classroom needs.

Another good gift is to get is gift cards to local general stores. Chances are your child’s teachers shop at those stores. Gift cards do not require an intimate knowledge of what your teacher likes. They get to pick and choose what to buy. They are better than a generic gift that may not see use. Perhaps, the hardest part is picking which store to buy a gift card for.

With all the stress of the holidays and the anticipation of the end of the school year, teachers are thrilled when they make your guest list. No, your child won’t get better grades as a result of your gifts. But your teacher will feel appreciation for your thoughtfulness in remembering them during times of celebration.

Filed Under: Kids, Teachers Tagged With: Classroom, Gift card, Teacher

Questions You Should Be Asking Your Child’s Teacher

The only time parents really have one on one conversations with their child’s teachers is on parent/teacher conference days. It is during this time that parents really learn about what their children are doing in school. There are certain questions that parents can ask to find out the problems that their children are facing, what is going well, and what is not working. A child’s performance in school is only measured by grades but those grades can’t gauge how well your child is actually doing.

One of the things you should inquire about is your child’s socialization with the others in their class. How well your child interacts with other students reveals a lot about their social life. If they are loners or are getting picked on, it could indicate a social problem or that they are subject to bullying. Your child’s social abilities are a critical part of how well they do in school. A bad social life intrudes upon school work and diminishes the value of your child’s education.

Another line of inquiry should be into your child’s general attitude toward the class material. Every child has a bad day once in awhile but if the bad attitude persists for a period of time, it is time to investigate into why the child is displaying such behavior. There could be a multitude of reasons. The school work could be too easy and they are bored with it. It could be too hard and they are struggling with the concepts. Either way, a problem exists that must be dealt with.

There are many factors that play into how well a child is doing in school. Grades are only an indicator of schoolwork and tests.

Filed Under: school, Teachers Tagged With: bully, Child, Parent

Investing Time Into Your Child’s Education

Lately, the news has been about how much money the education system is getting cut. But your child’s education does not have to suffer because the money is not as prevalent as it once ones. With practically everyone getting financially pinched in the economic downfall, schools are no exception. In fact, there is a more critical component to your child’s education than the money, that is the time parents invest into teaching their own children.

A child’s first teacher is their parent or caregiver. In fact, this does not change as children get older. A parent still plays an important role in their child’s education. Parent involvement factors into how well children do in school. However, time is one of those commodities that seem to run out fairly quickly. A really good start is to sit down and help with the homework.

However, that is only a start. Investing a few hours in the weekends to teach your child things can work wonders. A walk can turn into an exploration of the environment. A local trip to the museum or zoo is an opportunity to learn. Even if you don’t have money to spend, consider using the internet to create homemade projects or just play a game that emphasises a skill. What matters is that you invest a some time into helping them with their education.

School is not the start of a child’s learning process nor does the end of the school day signify that the learning is done. Parents who invest time rather than money into their child’s learning will reap rewards well beyond school. Finding the time can be difficult but even a few minutes can make a world of difference in your child’s knowledge.

Filed Under: Kids, school Tagged With: Child, Education, Parent

Danger signs teachers should look out for

Student violence needs to be controlled at most basic level – the classroom – and it is the teachers who can detect violent behavior among students the earliest. Teacher need to be trained in identifying and tackling bad behavior and acts of violence committed by their students in order to fight school violence effectively. Here are some warning signs that teachers need to keep an eye out for in the classroom:

1. If you notice that a student that has been performing well in his or her studies suddenly stops paying attention or loses interest, then chances are that they are suffering from some form of psychological pressure.

2. Students showing an inclination towards violent and aggressive games generally use such sports to vent out built up frustration. Try to observe if the student likes inflicting pain on others during sports such as rugby or basketball.

3. A child who remains isolated from the rest of the class and seems depressed may be suffering emotionally. Without proper counseling, such students have the potential of becoming serious aggressors.

4. While checking creative essays, notice trends in a child writing. If you notice that a child is regularly writing depressing or negative essays, then he or she may be suffering psychologically and should be observed further.

5. A child who is unable to control his or her anger and frequently has outbursts where they argue and fight with classmates is more likely to commit acts of violence at school so keep an eye out for students with temper control issues.

6. Students who have repeatedly been caught for bringing weapons to school most probably carry them for a reason, be it offense or defense. Try to find out from such students what makes them feel the need to carry weapons.

7. Students who are violent but are afraid of doing anything to classmates often tend to take their frustration out by committing acts of violence against animals.

Filed Under: school, Violence Tagged With: Child, School, Violence, Violence and Abuse

How teachers can reduce school violence

Teachers interact with children at a basic one to one level and do so on a daily basis making them the perfect medium to influence children to stay away from acts of violence. But what can a teacher do to curb the violent streak in students? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Be aware of what goes on in the corridors of the school once your class is dismissed. Most bullying and violent acts happen in between classes and during breaks so make it a practice to conduct rounds of the corridor and school grounds during this time. If you notice a student being bullied or targeted, intervene immediately, sending out a strict message to the aggressors and reassuring the victim of security.

2. Keep an eye out for students displaying discriminatory mindsets. Student often show their prejudice against others when they speak out in class. If you notice such behavior, try to change the child’s mindset in a tactful way. If the behavior continues, you should bring it to the attention of the school authorities who might want to have a word with the child’s parents.

3. Listen to what your students say during idle time in between classes. Classmates are often aware of students planning an act of violence or talk about ones who have been behaving badly. If you hear such talk, take the child into confidence and try to get details which should then be passed on to the administrator.

4. If your school has an anti-violence program, sign up for it! If it doesn’t, then try to have one organized. Get your students to help out with the program for it to be more effective and successful.

5. Students often hesitate to report acts of violence committed against them for fear of repercussions. Talk to your students encouraging them to report such acts and assuring them of anonymity and safety.

Filed Under: school, Violence Tagged With: School, Student, Violence

A Systemized Approach Towards Addressing Violence

The rising incidents of violent behavior by students has made school rethink how they can tackle such behavior most effectively. While enhancing security arrangements on the school premises can help in controlling the number of violent acts being committed, the key to eliminating the problem at its root is to identify and treat the causes of bad behavior among students. Here is a step by step approach that schools can take in order to take the issue of violence by students:

1. Take a feedback: If you want to know what the problem areas are, you need to go to the source – the students. Create a questionnaire asking students to identify factors at school or in their personal lives that incite them to violence. Allow students to answer the survey anonymously to encourage a more honest response.

2. Analyzing Data: Once you have received the results of the survey, analyze the data to identify areas that maximum number of students have mentioned as influencing or encouraging them towards violence. The analysis will allow you to shortlist the major causes of violence by students and prioritize which problem should be addressed first. Take teachers, other administrative staff and, if possible, get parents involved too in setting clear and actionable goals to gradually address the issues.

3. Brainstorming: Again, keeping students in mind and taking feedback from teachers and parents, devise strategies and action plans on how to attain the goals you have set towards the resolution of problems with violent students. Make realistic and time bound action plans. Once plans have been made, assign the responsibility of executing the plans to teams and provide them with required resources.

4. Implementation: Individual teams need to follow up on their action plans which may include detecting acts of violence, identifying behavioral patterns, counseling as well as corrective measures. Regular update meetings to monitor the progress of each team will ensure that they are motivated to see the action plans through.

5. Re-analysis: Once the decided time of implementation is through, conduct a follow up survey and analyze the success of the process.

Filed Under: school, Violence Tagged With: Brainstorming, students, Violence