Over the past decade, many new services have become available to the whole world through the internet, one of those services are Custom Writing Services. So what is it all about? Today, people have no time to write or do not want to write because they are lazy. Some people might have to write reports, other might need to write essays for schools, and some college or university students can also be too tired to write their term paper for themselves, so all of these people search for a place where they could buy premade or new essays, reports, and term papers.
Most writing services are available on the internet. This is what happens, you go to the website, check their prices which are normally ten to eleven dollars per page with a 12.5 font size, buy a document or order one to be written about the topic you wish to be written about, pay them and enter your recipient details. Custom Writing Services websites have two methods of obtaining essays, reports or term papers: either by buying it from anonymous people online, or by hiring people to work for them and work fulltime to write whenever someone orders a specific topic to be written.
The most common and most popular writing services are custom essay writing services, primarily because the demand on essays in everyday life outscores the demand on reports, term papers, and any other type of writing. Many essays are sold every day through the internet via essay selling websites, some of these websites have a good reputation and provide plagiarism free high quality essays, while others are not as good and are most likely plagiarized. When someone orders an essay about a certain topic to be written, it is delivered within less than forty eight hours.
Essay writing services are one of the most popular methods of obtaining good quality essays in the present days, however, it is very necessary to have plagiarism checkers and buy only certified essays. Ordering essays is a very simple task; all you need is a computer, internet, and most likely a credit card or PayPal account.
About the Author
Myself webmaster of Essay Emperor http://www.essayemperor.com/ that provides elite academic essay writing, dissertation writing, custom writing services, essay writers and English essay writing at competitive rates. Whether you need editing, research, consulting or custom essay writing, Essay Emperor can help.
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Alternative Law Careers: What To Do If You Don't Want To Be A Lawyer
Alternative Law Careers: What to do with your Law Degree if you don't want to be a Lawyer.
For more information and other great articles visit www.LawDegree.me
You took the LSAT and after getting accepted to law school, worked hard over three years reading, studying, writing and researching. You spent night after night doing the tremendous preparation necessary study for and pass the bar exam. After, Juris Doctor in hand, you tried your hand a career as a lawyer. You worked for the city, the state or you started off at a firm. Hours after hours of grueling research and late nights writing reports and motions. Or perhaps you went into private practice. You advertised, hung your sign, waded into the brutal courtroom litigation process. You gave it your best shot, but when all is said and done, you just don't think being a lawyer is for you. So what do you do? You have a JD but you don't want to be a lawyer! Don't despair. You're not alone. A law degree can be a valuable tool to help you enter into a number of other fields for those that working as an attorney just isn't the right fit.
Tangential Legal Careers
There are many lawyers who while enjoying the theoretical aspects of law simply do not enjoy the mundane aspects such as the paperwork and research involved. They require different kinds of stimulation and incentive in their career. One popular career path is in the variety of legal sales oriented jobs. A tremendous industry exists in support of the legal profession providing data, software and other information and related services to lawyers and law firms. These companies have a strong need for law-savvy sales associates who can communicate with lawyer clients on their level.
Advantages to working in sales include a bonus and commission structure that can offer substantial financial rewards and all without the tremendous paperwork and research and isolation that typical legal work engenders. Those who enjoy working with many different people and developing relationships as well as enjoy flexibility in scheduling and often travel also find this career field rewarding. Some companies even offer the option to work part-time or full-time from home with many sales calls taking place over computer with teleconferencing. While definitely for the more ‘self-starter' of personalities, a legal sales career can be a very rewarding alternative legal degree track. For even more ideas of Alternative Legal Careers make sure you visit www.LawDegree.me
Entrepreneurial and Business Pursuits
Many ex-lawyers complain about the stifling atmosphere they encountered at law firms or working in private practice. While envisioning the fast-paced exciting legal world in such television shows as LA Law or Law and Order while in Law School, when out in the real world they find that reality is far different. Often, associates spend entire weeks and months without leaving research libraries and the paperwork involved in even the simplest of cases…and the restrictions and legal gymnastics required to settle a case can take all the excitement and gratification that the young lawyer thought was going to be part of their career. It is no surprise then that many lawyers decide to pursue more entrepreneurial pursuits when leaving their practices.
Luckily, many of the skills and talents you honed as a lawyer can be put to good use in the entrepreneurial world. Many lawyers start their own businesses, often in fields far askew from the legal profession. The time management, attention to detail and project management and completion abilities you honed in law can make for great success in the free market. Pick any interest, hobby or passion and there is guaranteed to be a Juris Doctor holder that has made a successful business of it.
One innovative soul opened a coffee shop where he offered legal advice free on certain days. Others have opened restaurants, developed online businesses or created innovative ‘green' companies taking advantage of their knowledge of environmental law. Still others have started non-profit ventures or nature and conservancy companies that were able to use their particular specialties in their prior legal fields. It is not uncommon for law degree holders to move into investment banking or use their real estate legal skills to work in real estate finance or development. The added legitimacy of a Juris Doctor degree will help gain credibility in any venture you pursue and can often help convince lending institutions of your reliability when considering new business loans. The sky really is the limit.
Creative Fields
A third popular alternative law career path popular amongst those with a creative edge are the many novel paths taking advantage of the strong writing and organization skills that were honed in a legal career. Many television writers and journalists are known to hold JD's. As well, radio and television journalists with law degrees are prized for a variety of roles from legal commentary to specialty topics such as civil rights, criminal and entertainment law. Still others use their legal background to work as legal consultants or become writers on important legal issues.
Another potential path are those professions that harness the networking and deal making aspects of legal work. Many Hollywood talent agents and managers have law degrees which helps them in their contract work and negotiations. High end job recruiters and political advisors are often required to hold a legal or comparable degree as part of their credentials to reach the heights of their profession. Finally, a small but dedicated subset of law degree holders become artists in their own right becoming filmmakers, poets and painters and often drawing from their legal experience to create works that comment or discuss important issues. Several famous novelists got their start as lawyers, from the famous trial attorney Vincent Bugliosi to the now famous…but unknown as a lawyer, John Grisham.
Obtaining your Juris Doctor is a great accomplishment in itself. Just because one finds working as an attorney unfulfilling does not mean the work put into obtaining your status as a lawyer is a waste. This essay merely hints at the possibilities that are available to the law degree holder out in the work place. I wish you well on your journey and make sure you stop by www.LawDegree.me for more great articles on the legal profession both in and out of the courtroom.
About the Author
With Degrees in Film, Real Estate Finance and Development as well as a PhD in Psychology, Robert Levin writes expert articles covering a broad range of issues. Some of his websites include: www.toptenmba.com and www.MBArankings.me.
Bob Chapman's Economic Report: Banks Will Still Profit in this Faltering Economic Recovery 2/2
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How to Write Articles Quickly
One of the best ways to promote your website or blog is through article marketing. Learning to write articles quickly is a skill you have to master to accomplish this.
Many website owners make article writing a lot more complicated than it has to be. When writing for websites, remember first of all that people online are scanning web pages, not reading every word, so there is no need to spend hours making every word perfect.
Your content isn’t going to be totally unique, no matter what you write about. Every topic you can think about has already been written about by someone else. Think about it – every newsworthy event is covered by CNN, NBC, ABC, etc. Every network and every newspaper are all covering the exact same event or topic, just in different words.
The fact is, there are no new topics. Your job is to take what’s already been written and improve on it by injecting your own comments and personality.
One way to do research quickly is by inputting the topic you want to write about into a search engine. Choose three or four matches and read these articles thoroughly, taking notes.
Or, other places for quick research include article directories, forums and yahoo answers. By reading what people are asking in yahoo answers, you will learn what information people are looking for.
Amazon.com provides some great tools for quick research. By choosing a few top-selling books on a given topic, you can research quickly by browsing a book’s table of contents, the back cover of the book and even an excerpt.
Once you have taken sufficient notes, it’s time to put your article together. Write an outline of the important points you want to make in your article. Then write the article without looking back at the other articles. This is nothing more than the same work you did in high school writing book reports. Most of us have written quite a few book reports in our lifetime, and in those days many of us put ourselves through the unnecessary stress of cutting it too close to deadlines. That means we already know how to write and research quickly!
Basically, we need to decide what we’re going to accomplish and when. If we intend to write an article a day, then we have to stay glued to our computer until we complete that task. If we want to get it done in half an hour or less, this is another goal to work toward. Practice will definitely lead to improvement.
Article marketing is one of the best forms of free advertising there is. Learning to write articles quickly is an easily learned skill that will help us get the most out of article marketing.
report maker"report maker" Can anyone help me with Windows Movie Maker?
Baically I download the K - Lite Codec pack on to my computer and I thought it would help Windows Movie Maker, but the result is my Windows Movie Maker has gotten slower, and the error report keeps coming up, and says that Windows Movie Maker has to close, and it keeps coming up everytime I go on it so anyone go any tips?
If WMM is giving you problems...try this freebie... http://videospin.com Have a look and see if it's any better. I think you'll find it is.
writing report card comments"writing report card comments" what positive comments teacher can write in students report cards?
Write only 3 brief sentences. All the three should be strongly positive. 1.The first sentence should encourage the student for the progress made in the field where he/she was lacking till the previous report. 2. The second will focus on the immediate problem- remember, it should be just one - handwriting, math, punctuality or any one thing in particular, hinted in a mild way. 3. The last sentence will boost the student's self-confidence & therefore will suggest his/her possible strong points that would help to get over the problem, again put in a sugar-coated manner. The student will be encouraged to make a self-assessment & will feel good about him/her self. The classmates & parents wouldnot have anything against him/her either. And you will be respected and loved!
Harrison Ford Is Very Angry! -- "Megamind" & "Morning Glory" Film Reviews
writing comments for report cards"writing comments for report cards" moms or dads.?
okay so i need at least ten people to answer this at leastt. so for school we're having a debate, and i need to know this information. okay, so for your child's report cards, do you prefer number/letter grades or would you like it if the teacher wrote ONLY comments, and no letter/number grade. and you cant pick both..you have to pick one. k thanks=)
both that way the teacher can tell if ur kid is misbehaving and they cannot show favoritism
Innocent Chapter 4
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Insider Secrets For Using Special Reports To Get More Customers
Special reports are one of the quickest and easiest ways to attract local prospects online and become an industry expert. Here are several insider secrets on how to write and use your special reports to get more customers.
First, don't over-think the writing process – just provide useful ideas about your product or service as if you were talking to a customer face-to-face. Ask yourself, "What information would my ideal prospect find helpful when considering my product/service?"
For example, let's say you sell office furniture. You might title your report "7 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Office Furniture." You could then explain why you shouldn't buy without first having a master plan … why basing your purchase on price could come back to haunt you … or why focusing too much on style instead of function could decrease employee productivity.
Get the idea?
If you don't feel comfortable writing, record your tips and then have them transcribed. Of course, you can also call me. I'll ask you questions and write your special report (and get everything set up for your website) based on the responses you gave over the phone.
The key to your special report's success is value. Give information so valuable your prospects would gladly pay you for it.
Once your report is ready, the easiest way to make it available on your website is a service such as AWeber. You can use AWeber to create your web form, collect/store e-mail addresses and deliver your report the instant your prospects request it.
If you're concerned about cluttering up your website's design, consider a lightbox. This type of web form allows you to display an opt-in box separate from your actual website. (For an example of how a lightbox works, click the link at the bottom of this e-mail to see one on my blog.)
In addition to offering the special report on your website and other targeted areas online, don't forget about your offline options. Mailers, advertisements and even your business card are great places to promote your special report.
A small classified ad for your special report might read something like:
WARNING … Need New Office Furniture?
Get these facts before you open another catalog
or walk into one more showroom. Your FREE
report, 7 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When
Buying Office Furniture, is available now at
(enter website).
Notice how there's no mention of a company name or a sales pitch. Instead, you're offering education.
Another easy and cost-effective idea is to distribute your special report as a flyer. Basically, you can print your special report on the front and back of a single sheet of paper and distribute it to targeted prospects at homes or businesses. You can also use the flyer as a handout at events where you're in contact with prospects.
Do some searching and you're certain to find a flyer delivery company in your area. You can even cut your costs completely by printing and delivering your special report yourself.
A few other tips for your special reports:
Include testimonials. Anything you say about your product/service is never as powerful as your customers' comments.
Weave in stories. Explain how people have successfully used your product/service.
Don't forget a call to action. Tell your prospects exactly what you want them to do after reading your special report.
Encourage sharing. Prospects will give your special report to other people, especially if you include a sentence telling them to do so.
About the Author
Tom Trush is a copywriter for Write Way Solutions in Phoenix, Arizona. You can view more free copywriting and marketing articles on his blog at http://www.writewaysolutions.com/blog, or sign up for his free 14-day crash course to learn how to write powerful autoresponder e-mails at http://www.autoresponderwritergetsleads.com.
St Mary's Final Sunday Mass - Pt 33 - Homily
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MATHEMATICS LABORATORY IN SCHOOLS
MATHEMATICS LABORATORY IN SCHOOLS
It is a place where:
1) Students do experiments with numbers and geometrical shapes and try to generalize these patterns.
2) Students do most of their calculations with the help of scientific calculators.
3) Students draw graphs of large number of functions with the help of scientific or graphic calculators and try to become familiar with graphs of all the functions they usually deal with.
4) Students solve real life problems with real data because complex calculations are no longer a major consideration.
5) Students express their answers to mathematics problems in decimal numbers and not in symbols and have a good idea about their magnitudes.
6) Students get practice in estimating orders of magnitudes and obtaining approximate answers when exact answers are difficult to find.
7) Students make charts and models to illustrate mathematical ideas.
8) Students do almost all the work themselves, of course under the guidance of teachers, but the students are active all the time and are involved with what they are doing.
9) The creativity of students is allowed free play.
10) Students solve graphically equations involving all types of functions.
11) Students are free to discuss among themselves and with the teachers; in fact students and teachers form joint investigating teams.
12) Students find areas and volumes of both regular and irregular solids.
13) Students undertake projects both in mathematics and its applications.
14) The concepts and theorems are not given to the students; these arise naturally from their investigations.
15) Interfaces between algebra, geometry; probability; calculus etc are freely investigated and discussed.
16) Attempts are made to interpret every symbolic solution.
17) The process of mathematics is emphasized much more than the product of mathematics.
18) Students are encouraged to find alternative solutions and alternative methods of solving problems.
19) Students enjoy learning mathematics.
Before we proceed further, let us explore as to why students do not fair well in mathematics. The reasons are not difficult to find.
It is not because:
i) Students are unable to solve certain problems,
ii) Or, students are not able to memorize formulae etc.
But, it is due the fact that there are some inherent weaknesses in the teaching of present day mathematics. These are listed below:
1) Mathematics is taught as an abstract subject.
2) Mathematics education is far removed from applications.
3) Mathematics is taught as an isolated subject.
4) There is too much emphasis on symbols and their manipulations and relatively little on problem solving.
5) Too much time is spent on routine monotonous drill type arithmetical calculations.
6) The goal of mathematics education appears to be passing examinations in mathematics and not understanding mathematics and its applications or developing capacity to think mathematically.
7) Instead of developing creativity, mathematics education encourages conformity to standard methods.
8) It trains students to think that there should be only one method of solving mathematics problems.
9) It trains students to think that there can be only one solution to a problem.
10) Mathematical proficiency is often confused with proficiency in making arithmetical calculations.
11) The process by which mathematics is created is seldom taught or emphasized.
12) Mathematics is presented as a purely deductive science though it is also as much an experimental science as physics or biology.
13) Geometric and Physical visualizations remain very weak.
14) Even geometric objects become just relations between symbols and are not curves or surfaces.
15) It convinces the students that the only law which matters is the linear law.
16) Students develop no idea of the order of magnitude of the results they get.
17) Students are passive learners.
18) Students do not talk mathematics, discuss mathematics or think mathematics.
19) Mathematics is taught as a collection of topics.
20) The historical development of mathematics is never emphasized.
Thus the objective of a mathematics laboratory is to:
a) Remove the weaknesses of present day mathematics education which the mathematics laboratory and the mathematics laboratory alone can do it.
b) To develop the much needed confidence in students.
c) To generate interest in the subject.
d) To make the students divergent thinkers.
Having seen “WHAT” and “WHY” of a mathematics laboratory let us now discuss the “HOW” of it.
Time-table Re-scheduling:
While preparing class-wise time-table, in JNVs, the provision for mathematics practical periods may be made in the following manner:
From classes VI to X, there is a provision of one theory period of mathematics in each class in every day working time-table. Also in each class two periods for “ART” are allotted per week. It is suggested that one theory period of mathematics may be combined with one period of art and the combined periods may be re-named as “MATHEMATICS PRACTICAL PERIODS”. This way in five days each class will have an opportunity to visit the laboratory. As regards classes XI and XII are concerned, the students normally opt either mathematics or biology. The students opting mathematics can be taken to the laboratory during the practical periods for biology.
Layout of a mathematics laboratory:
The ideal mathematics laboratory will have the following sections:
1) Section for job discussion and planning the solution.
2) Section for making sketches, drawings for taking observations.
3) Section for reporting the results.
4) Section for making the working models as per job specifications.
5) Computer section for doing experiments of mathematics on computers.
The above sections (steps to be performed by students) need be discussed by the teacher in-charge, in the laboratory. Before the children are asked for execution, the teacher should explain the planning part as well as he/she should help them in identifying the appropriate solution in respect of choice of proper tools and their use in execution. The teacher should also explain the use of computers in finding the solution and the method of checking the accuracy of the solution already found in the laboratory.
Furnishing Mathematics Laboratory:
Sufficient furniture should be provided in the laboratory to do experiments and at the same time for displaying the working models and other means of taking observations; to carry out experiments and make a clear understanding about the use of procedural tools in engineering projects. These models are made out of discarded toys and waste articles found around us. This approach boosts the creativity, scientific development of the brain of the children, and satisfies their zeal to do something new and unique.
Raw Materials:
To enable the students to work in a mathematics laboratory, there should be a few cupboards to store raw materials, which can be issued to the students when they come to the lab for doing practical work. The list of some of the essential raw materials is as under:
I) Circular discs: Plates of different diameters may be cut on thermo Cole sheets or may be plastic metal discs purchased from the market to determine the value of ? or such other experiments.
II) There should be square/rectangular plates cut from thermo Cole sheets, different solids like cone, cylinder for drawing different shapes and making observations for various computations.
III) A thick card sheet, capable of folding, to prepare packing boxes, envelops etc or other small objects.
IV) The students will be required to use drawing sheets, graph papers, cutting tools, thread, small balls made of different materials, ready reckoners, rubric cube, calculators etc.
Measuring Equipment:
1) Measuring tapes 30m; 10m; 2m; 1m and smaller lengths, arrows (iron wire nails 20 to 30 cm long; 2.5 mm in diameter)- they act as pegs to mark points on the field ; pipe hole 1m long ; 10 mm in diameter, pointed at one end; painted with red and white strips- used for making solar observations and determination of N-S direction at a place and also finding out the angle of elevation of the Sun at any time.
2) Plain mirror, plum bob suspended from a hook, drawing board , mini drafter, vernier calipers , working models to verify law of parallelogram of forces, triangle of forces etc.
Display models:
1) Children are assigned task to imagine suitable design data to prepare models and keep them for display in the lab. This includes different types of packing boxes; tents-pyramid shaped; circular and dome shaped etc.
2) Storing typical shaped tin cans or paper packets like a tetrahedron; prism; cylindrical shaped which are available in the market for packing milk or juice. The children are assigned task to imagine suitable design data to prepare attractive packets for liquid contents.
3) Certain models are prepared to demonstrate the principles used in making some scientific instruments, e.g. optical square; cross staff; periscope; kaleidoscope etc. The students thus come to know the use of such scientific equipments.
Working Models:
1) Plane co-ordinatograph: It is a model prepared in the lab and used for making observations of co-ordinates of various points in a plane. This is of great help to explain the basic concepts of co-ordinate geometry in two dimensions. Students are asked to take observations of points and write equations of incident ray; reflected ray; equations of circles; parabola; plane; straight lines; tangent lengths etc on the basis of co-ordinates observed on the working model. The students can understand the transformation of one system of co-ordinates into the other, trigonometric ratios and their applications etc.
2) Plane Space Co-ordinatograph: It is a model prepared in the lab and used for making observations of co-ordinates of various points in the space above the surface. This is of great help to explain the basic concepts of co-ordinate geometry in three dimensions. Students are asked to take observations of points in space; write equations of straight lines in space and locate points in space. The students can understand the transformation of one system of co-ordinates into the other. With such experiments, children come to know how to determine the distances of cloud; sun; moon; space craft at the time of Arial photography etc.
3) Dip Measurement Model: It is a model made out of transparent plastic cylinder to represent railway tanker. This demonstrates how easily the liquid contents or the volume can be determined in case of cylindrical tanker making few observations.
4) Water analog model: It is a model to take observations for filling the pool by different taps having different rates of discharge. Such observations enable the students to formulate quadratic equations and find out their solutions. Such working models analogy can be applied in solving different types of problems related to the formation of quadratic equations on the basis of given conditions. Also the observations may be used to tackle problems based on dispersion theory and determination of the most probable value in a set of observations.
5) Model To Make Observations of Time Periods: A pendulum is suspended in the lab and time period for the oscillations are observed. This leads to the value of g, the acceleration due to gravity.
6) Equilibrium Forces Analog Model: This model is used to formulate the equations of equilibrium.
The Concept:
On the lines of science laboratory, the concept of mathematics laboratory may be visualized and developed. It is a place where every one should get an opportunity to establish correlation of one subject with allied subjects.
The basic linear equation answering the needs of mathematics laboratory is:
15) Activity 14: Get triangle equal in area to a parallelogram.
16) Activities 15, 16: Quick Calculations.
This is not the exhaustive list of activities to be performed in the laboratory. Many more activities may be thought of and performed in the laboratory.
The details of the above mentioned activities are available in the accompanying CD. These can be viewed using Microsoft Power Point and clicking to view slide show.
About the Author
PRABHAT MARWAHA M.SC MATHS, B.ED. 15 YEARS TEACHING EXPERIENCE TO SENIOR CLASSES. PRESENTLY WORKING AS VICE PRINCIPAL IN JNV LONGOWAL, SANGRUR, PUNJAB (INDIA). EMAIL-ID:prabhat.marwaha@gmail.com
Fast But Fair Methods to Grading - Part 9
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Homeschool Grading
Every family that decides to homeschool must tackle the issue of grading. Do grades help you assess your child's progress? Or is the whole reason for grading a throwback to a content standard in public schools that is not really relevant to homeschoolers? Every state has content standards that can be obtained from your local superintenent's office. These describe what should be taught in a given year and a grade. And in public schools, standardized testing measures how well a child meets those standards. Are those the standards you want to use to evaluate your child, or do you want to use those standards as a guide or not at all? The answers to these questions go to the heart of why you homeschool in the first place and how you see your homeschooling relationship with your child. Your own core beliefs and values will dictate some of your answers to these questions along with the legal requirements for homeschooling in your state. Listed below are some of the options for you to consider in grading or not in your homeschooling family.
Option One: No grading at all, at least through elementary school This is an option that can be pursued by families who do not have state assesment standards for homeschoolers. If you are not required by law to send in yearly graded reports or to do yearly testing with your child, then you have the freedom to decide for yourself whether you think that grading is a helpful assesment tool with your child. If you choose not to grade your child, you will still want to keep a good portfolio of their work and track their progress through the year in some kind of planner. You will also probably want to commemorate your child's acheivements in some way unless you are a firm believer that a job well done is reward enough. Many parents who do not grade at all in the elementary years find that they need to do so in high school in order to create an acceptable portfolio for a college-bound student. Philosphically speaking, parents who do not grade are focusing on the individual child learning from within and working to a standard that is family-related but not state-related.
Option Two: Limited Grading Some parents do not want to get bogged down in grading every bit of written work, so they simply give a numeric score for work in math and do not grade written work at all. They may insist that a child rewrite an essay or report if they either have not understood the material or not given their best effort. Once a good and consistent writing effort has been made, then the parent is satisfied that the material has been mastered or the skill acquired and no grade is needed. The idea here is that children do not need that external grade system if they are not comparing themselves to others and are doing their best.
Option Three: Consistent Grading System Parents who decide to grade their children consistently whether from choice or state requirements can document their chid's progress in a number of ways. If you need to review some of these ways in more detail, you can print out a grading chart or different grading rubrics free from the internet by doing a Google search under Grades or Grading Charts or Grading Rubrics for homeschoolers. A worksheet can be graded by simply dividing the number of problems correct by the total number of problems to receive a percentage that translates to a grade on the grading chart. An essay can be graded based on the standards that you have explained to your child for excellence. You can break these down into elements especially for older children and you can either create your own rubric or follow one printed from the internet. For end of the year grades, you will have to tally up all the grades and divide by the total number of assignments to get a final grade. Be aware that this system does not reflect improvement or distinguish between assignments that are more or less important. To do that you will have to give some work a greater weight in order to have it count more towards a final grade.
Regardless of what grading system you use, if any, remember that it is important to keep track of your child's lessons and work in a planner/journal that details your weekly progress with the child. You need this to assess your own progress in teaching and it is very handy to have good teaching notes when you have multiple children that you homeschool. You will also want to keep representative papers, art work and photos in some sort of portfolio you can store in a large binder, a file cabinet, or a box. You will want to review this yearly work yourself as you plan your next homeschooling year. At the heart of homeschooling is the loving guidance that you provide a child that you know well. If you do your best to prepare your child's lessons so that they love learning and grow in understanding and wisdom, then they will develop interests and skills that will serve them for a lifetime. They will then truly acheive mastery regardless of what grading system you choose.
About the Author
Jennifer K. Gray is the Director of Operations for LessonPathways.com. Lesson Pathways is an innovative online curriculum created entirely from INTERNET RESOURCES, making it easy for educators to use educational resources and links, with limited pre-planning time!
Shaping the Way We Teach English: Module 10, Alternative Assessment
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Helping Educators Identify Potential Rampage School Shooters
With school in session, there is always the concern that "it might happen here"; some kid may snap and go on a rampage shooting spree in our school. Educators ask themselves, "How can we know? How can we prevent it from happening here?" Senior Psychologist of PA Residential Programs at KidsPeace, Dr. Peter Langman was kind enough to offer some great advice aimed at educators and school administrators contained in his new book, Why Kids Kill: Inside the Minds of School Shooters, which was published by Palgrave Macmillan in January 2009.
Definition
Dr. Langman defined a rampage school shooting as "a large-scale event where several people are shot or killed. Some victims may be targeted, but this type of event goes beyond that and includes random victims, too. These attacks are committed by students at the school or, in some cases, former students who may have been expelled or have left the school for some other reason." Langman was quick to point out that rampage school shootings differ from targeted shootings where two kids have a fight and one brings a gun to school to shoot the other. Rampage school shootings are also different from the tragedy at the Amish school a few years ago where a total stranger picked a school, held hostages and committed mass murder. He was an adult and had no connection to the school.
Langman stressed, "School shootings are rare events, and kids are much more likely to be killed at home, in their vehicles or in the neighborhood than they are at school. School continues to be the safest place there is for children in terms of where homicides and accidental deaths occur. Having said that, however, every school needs to be aware that it could happen there or anywhere, so they need to be on the lookout and know what to look for and have procedures in place."
Having a Plan
According to Langman, what all schools need to have in place is a Threat Assessment System. To develop such a system, Langman recommends the 2006 Guidelines for Responding to Student Threats of Violence by Dewey Cornell and Peter Sheras. He says it is an excellent manual for setting up threat assessment procedure at school, not just for school shootings but also for any kind of threat of violence. There are also guidelines on the Web sites of the FBI and Secret Service, which have both done research and produced documents on school shootings and preventing such attacks on schools.
Three teens and a recent high school graduate in Green Bay, Wisconsin, amassed an arsenal of guns and bombs and planned for two years to go on a rampage in East High School. A friend heard about their plans and told the principal, and the attack was thwarted.
Signs of a Threat
Attack-related behavior is the most important thing to look for when assessing a potential threat by a student, and, Langman said, it can take different forms. Attack-related behavior is anything a boy has done that indicates he is actually preparing a violent attack. It should be noted that Langman uses the words boy and he in this article because school rampage shooters are almost always male. Attack-related behavior can show up in different ways. One is called leakage, where potential shooters leak their plans or intentions to others, and it can take several forms:
• A boy may warn friends to stay away, telling them not to come to school on a certain day because something is going to happen
• Another type of leakage may be bragging to others, saying, "wait till you see what happens in the cafeteria tomorrow," encouraging people to come take a look
• Recruiting peers to assist in the assault is another form of leakage where the potential shooter says, "I'm doing this tomorrow, are you in?"
Additionally, if teachers or guidance counselors hear talk that a boy bought some guns over the weekend and is planning on using them at school, this is attack-related behavior. If a youth is known to be diagramming the school, thinking about where a bomb could be placed to bring down the whole building or talking about setting up a sniper position on the hill outside the main entrance, this planning is attack-related behavior, and a pretty imminent risk exists. "I want to emphasize that we are talking about behavior," Langman stressed, "things kids do rather than what clothes they wear, what music they listen to or what video games they play – these are not predictive. It is the behavior of the kid, not what he looks like that people should be assessing."
Another type of attack-related behavior identified in several cases is that the shooters take many pictures of themselves holding weapons and posing with firearms, or videotape themselves with guns prior to the attack. Sometimes they feel the need to record themselves with their weapons. In fact, one school shooting was stopped in California by a clerk at a photo shop who alerted police when developing a roll of photos of a young man with a whole arsenal of weapons. Police searched his room and found many guns and bombs and prevented an attack that was planned for the next day.
Other warning signs that are not as clearly predictive but might warrant attention include an obsession with violence and violent media, meaning a boy's talk, writings, assignments, class projects, oral reports and everything he does are about shooting people; such a fixation could be a red flag. "This does not mean that when a student writes a story where someone gets shot, there should be concern," Langman warned, "but, when there's a fixation on weapons and violence, it could be something to look into."
When asked if violence in general is an indicator that a youth is at risk, Langman said, "A prior history of violence suggests there is going to be a future history of violence; however, that is not always predictive. Shooters may never have been violent and then, one day, they erupt. It would be a mistake to think that because a boy has never done anything violent before, he's not going to now."
Metal detectors and security cameras do not work if a young man is intent on perpetrating a rampage shooting. He and his colleagues will have the entire act well planned and either elude or break through security. Langman believes that it is far better to invest money that is allocated to metal detectors and cameras into mental health counselors, school resource officers and psychologists to help meet the needs of kids who are depressed, abused and struggling to get by. "Schools will obtain better prevention through increased staff resources than physical security measures."
Two boys, aged 11 and 12, bragged of planning an attack on the school resource staff and then random students in South Carolina, but the sister of one notified the grandmother of the other, and the boys were stopped before hurting anyone.
Communication is Key
Determining the risk of a student requires the entire staff to work on identifying the pieces of the puzzle. As an example, a guidance counselor may hear that a boy was arrested over the weekend for possession of fire arms, the English teacher may get a story that the student wrote about wanting to come to school and shoot people. If the counselor and teacher are not sharing this information with each other, the pieces are never put together.
When asked how schools can make sure that there is communication about any potential risks or attack-related behavior, Langman said, "It differs among schools, but the disciplinary component, guidance counselors, psychology staff, teachers, coaches, maintenance workers, security officers and all adults working in a school need to be trained." "If they see something that raises a red flag, they need to know who to communicate with to share this information." This can be through formal meetings, e-mail, phone calls – whatever works in that school to ensure that red flags are noticed and reported to those who are responsible for the security of the school.
A 17-year-old in Belvidere, New Jersey, made a hit list of the students he was going to shoot in March of 2008 and showed it to classmates; they notified the police, and the shooting
was averted.
Getting Students Involved
"The number one thing that prevents school shooting is kids reporting what they hear," Langman stressed. "So, beyond training staff, the student body needs to be trained on what to look for and how to report a threat." Of course, students need to feel safe when they report something that they think may be a safety risk. "The important thing is making kids see the distinction between a tattle tale and a reporter," according to Langman. "When you tattle or snitch, you are doing something to get someone in trouble; when you report a safety concern, you are doing that to keep people safe. There is a fundamental difference between snitching and reporting. Students need to understand this difference and discuss what would happen if they report a friend, and what might happen if they do not." If a classmate reports a friend, he might be angry, but, if that information is not reported, he might come to school and kill the student or others and himself or get killed by police or end up in jail. "It is a stark reality that school shooters end up dead or in jail," Langman emphasized.
The best way to get students to take this subject seriously is to present details of actual events: "So and so was a 9th grader who was heard making comments about wanting to kill people at school. No one took it seriously, and, on the 20th of April, he came to school with these weapons and killed 10 people." Repeating the history of some of these shooters can make students realize that rampage attacks really do happen.
Emphasize that, if a student cares about a friend, he needs to do what he can to keep everyone else and the friend safe. "It is true that your friend might be angry, but, in the long run, he will be grateful," Langman said. "If you don't report it, and it happens, how are you going to live with yourself the rest of your life? It is better to have an angry friend in the short run than to have that kind of guilt in the long run."
To help students who fear for their own safety if they report a potential threat to authorities, there should be several ways to report their concerns, including voicemail, e-mail, a mailbox or a designated person to whom they can report safety concerns. A school safety officer should be available for students to express their concerns. Students should be trained about leakage and attack-related behavior and understand that nothing will happen to the boy they report if there is no threat. If a student is not sure that a safety risk exists, it is best to report what he knows and let trained adults assess the risk.
There should also be training available to parents, since they spend the greatest amount of time with their children and should know them better than anyone else. They should be alarmed if their child starts collecting weapons, hides weapons or bomb-making materials in his room, visits Web sites that teach bomb making or idolizes mass murderers.
In Grand Rapids, Minnesota, a parent saw plans posted on the Internet by her son and a friend to go on a shooting rampage in their school. She reported this to police, and the two 12-year-olds were apprehended.
What to Do if a Risk is Identified
What steps should a school take if a threat is reported? First, Langman said, staff should perform a threat assessment. They should find the youth who poses the alleged threat and keep him under close surveillance, particularly if the threat is deemed to be imminent. Bring the parents in and compile information from every possible source on whether this student is at risk of committing a violent act. If he is alleged to have already brought weapons to school, law enforcement should be contacted because that would be a legal violation. In the absence of a weapon on campus, the police will be helpful in intensifying the level of risk assessment and intervention. The aforementioned book by Cornell and Sheras discusses how to differentiate between substantive and transient threats.
If a boy is identified as being a potential threat, try to get him help before he escalates to an imminent threat. Langman is adamant about the need to reach out to kids in crisis, rather than simply punishing or suspending them, which does not resolve the situation and may drive them into greater crisis. "Typically, school shooters are very desperate and highly distressed kids; if the school can reduce the stress level, it can reduce the
threat level."
A 16-year-old in Indiana plotted a Columbine-like attack with the ambition of breaking the record for number shot in a single rampage. He posted his plan on MySpace and had a notebook with his plans in his locker. His plans were foiled when his MySpace post was reported to police.
Summing it Up
The key issue is what the student has done, not who he is, what he looks like, what music he listens to or who his friends are. The risk assessment should be based on behavior – if a youth thinks the Columbine shooters are cool, that might raise a red flag, but it's not a definite indicator that he will be a shooter. However, if this admiration escalates – if he talks about wanting to imitate Harris and Klebold and is acquiring firearms, then there is clear attack-related behavior. Beyond identifying potential risk, communication is the key to prevention: All staff members should communicate with each other if red flags are raised, as the combination of behaviors in different environments could suggest a true risk. Parents and the entire student body should be trained in the warning signs and know that their reporting what might appear to be the risk of an attack could save many lives, including their own.
In Wichita, five students at Riverton High School were arrested after posting on MySpace the details of how they were planning on killing 12 popular kids during a rampage shooting.
KidsPeace is a private charity dedicated to serving the behavioral and mental health needs of children, families and communities. Founded in 1882, KidsPeace provides a unique psychiatric hospital; a comprehensive range of residential treatment programs; accredited educational services; and a variety of foster care and community-based treatment programs to help people in need overcome challenges and transform their lives. Visit our websites, KidsPeace.org, TeenCentral.Net, ParentCentral.Net, and Fostercare.com for more information.
About the Author
KidsPeace is a private charity dedicated to serving the behavioral and mental health needs of children, families and communities. Founded in 1882, KidsPeace provides a unique psychiatric hospital; a comprehensive range of residential treatment programs; accredited educational services; and a variety of foster care and community-based treatment programs to help people in need overcome challenges and transform their lives. Visit our websites, KidsPeace.org, TeenCentral.Net, ParentCentral.Net, and Fostercare.com for more information.
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