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AES News

Holiday 2007

In This Issue

What's New at AES

"What's in your (kid's) backpack?"

"Keeping control in the classroom-is Ron Clark's method for you? "

Product Spotlight: Language Learning Software

Coming Next Issue

Parents' Resources

Education.com

Bullying

Scholastic

KidSource

Educators' Resources

ARCHIVES

What's New at AES

Gift Certificates! That's what's new at All Educational Software. Just in time for holiday gift-giving. Now you can give the gift of learning wrapped up in fun to everyone on your list. Let them choose their own software with a gift specially from you. Perfect for last minute giving!

And our Holiday Coupon will make shopping this holiday season a little easier on your pocketbook.

Parents, take a look at our feature on "What's in your kid's backpack?" You'll be surprised to learn how much of a burden this necessary baggage really is and learn about some state-of-the-art improvements.

Behavior problems are one of the top teacher issues. Learn how Ron Clark addressed those issues in his inner city class and proved the system wrong. Maybe you can use some of Ron Clark's "Excellent 11".

Our Product Spotlight this month is on Language Learning Software. Find out how painless and personalized interactive software can make your foreign language learning. It's like having your own tutor speaking right to you!

We wish you peace and happiness this holiday season,
All Educational Software

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Offer Expires: Jan 31, 2008

For Parents:

What's in your (kid's) backpack? boywithbackpack

Backpacks are heavier than ever and younger kids are toting them for longer times. Lugging heavy backpacks can lead to pain, poor posture and muscle strain. Here are some tips on relieving the backpack burden, as well as some ways to use backpacks to keep your kids safe and well-equipped.

Some FACTS:

One study of students ages 9 to 20 found that 6 out of 10 reported chronic back pain related to heavy backpacks.
A report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that more than 7,000 emergency room visits in 2001 were related to backpack injuries, including foot and ankle sprains from tripping over backpacks, fractures from packs falling on hands and strained shoulder and back muscles from lifting and lugging heavy backpacks.
Nearly half of those injuries occurred in children ages 5 to 14.

Some TIPS:

Experts say that a loaded backpack should weigh no more than 15 percent of a student's body weight. That means, if your child weighs 100 pounds, their backpack should weigh no more than 15 pounds.
When loading the bag, pack heavier items first so they are closest to the back and arrange objects so they won't slide around.
For extra-heavy loads consider, giving your child a tote bag to hand-carry some items or a book bag/backpack with built-in wheels they can roll around instead of carrying
Make sure your child wears their backpack on their back, not slung over one shoulder, dangling from an arm or draped around the neck.

Select a backpack with well-padded shoulder straps and adjust the straps so the pack fits snugly against your child's back. The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back and should not sit more than 4 inches below the waistline.

Helpful Innovations:

GPS tracking devices: GPS tracking for children uses a lightweight tracking device that can attach to a backpack or clip onto pants. Some GPS tracking devices for children are worn like watches or even attached to the shoes. The GPS tracking for children allows parents to easily find a child who gets lost or wanders away. It can also be used to help locate a child that is abducted. For more about GPC tracking, please read: GPS Tracking For Children: What You Need To Know

Zip Lists: These are one of those inventions you wished you had thought of!
As the site says, "These durable, waterproof 2.5"W x 4"H checklist cards attach to the outside of a school bag or backpack (key ring and clip included). Listed on the front are everyday school supplies kids need -- and your student can use the spaces provided on the back to add any special items he or she has to remember! Attach to the outside of the backpack, check the list, and go -- never forget a school item again!" Check them out here!

For Educators:

Keeping Control in the Classroom: Is Ron Clark's Method for You?

First there was Ron Clark's Essential 55. Now there is Ron Clark's Essential 11.

Who is Ron Clark? Ron Clark is simply a teacher. A teacher who has produced extraordinary success stories from classrooms of kids doomed to failure or worse.

After a five-year teaching career in rural North Carolina
where his low-income class was invited to the White House for its unprecedented academic achievements, Clark moved to a school in Harlem, N.Y., and was named Disney's American Teacher of the Year. "The Essential 55," Clark's book about the principals of education, was a New York Times Best Seller. Clark was portrayed by Matthew Perry in a television movie.

Saying his students earned "unprecedented academic achievements", is an understatement. He used some simple, common sense philosophies and combined them with a relentless passion to ignite and feed the basic and intellectual needs of his students and the results were nothing short of miraculous. The television movie was moving and motivational, but his personal lectures are fire-starters for teachers.

What does this have to do with keeping control in the classroom? See the movie or read more about Ron Clark and you will see how his philosophies helped him turn a classroom full of the worst behavior problems in the school into a classroom of academic super-achievers. It might not work for everyone in every case, but every teacher can find inspiration, hope and even some tactics in Ron's methods.

Ron says, "If you walk into your classroom and don't see a future teacher or astronaut, it will never happen," "As teachers, we have to dream bigger than
these kids. We have to lift them up."

The 11 fundamental qualities Ron says tachers and parents can use to motivate, inspire and educate children are the underlying principles of teaching: enthusiasm, adventure, creativity, reflection, balance, compassion, confidence, humor, common sense, appreciation and resilience.

But his #1 fundamental is RESPECT. "My discipline is old fashioned -- I don't play," Clark said to a group of educators in Texas. "My kids aren't even allowed to speak during the first week of school. They have to earn that."

On the other hand, he said students deserve the same respect from their teachers.

"Kids are looking at us to learn what they are," Clark said. "When you throw words like 'stupid' and
'ignorant' around, that's what they believe."

Clark told the audience that the classroom family should also extend to custodians, cafeteria workers
and parents.

"If you really want to make an impact, visit their home," Clark said. "I guarantee you it will change
everything.

Read more about Ron Clark or learn more about
Ron's school, the Ron Clark Academy.

Product Spotlight: christmasbells

Language Learning Software

It's never too late or too early to learn a foreign language. Language Learning Software makes language learning easy with self-paced instruction that immerses the learner in the sounds and culture of the language. Personalized instruction and speaking teachers provide an environment where the learner can concentrate on, repeat and reinforce weak areas. For the beginning language learner, the serious learner or the traveler, learning a language at home is like having your own personal foreign language tutor.

JumpStart Languages starts early language learning in children as young as 3 to 6. Kids meet Buddy and learn to speak in native tongues, discover foods and culture from around the world, take video voyages, attend a costume party and hear their favorite fairy tales in foreign languages. JumpStart Languages introduces French, Japanese, Spanish and English language learning with simple, age-appropriate instruction disguised as fun and games that your child will delight in playing.

The Speak More language learning series uses a 4-pronged approach to help anyone ages 10 and over learn a foreign language quickly and easily:

Recognize It: See and hear the foreign words and phrases as you flip your way through the cards until you automatically recall their meaning.

Know It: Reinforce your learning by typing in the English meaning. In no time at all you will know all of the words on the list.

Produce It: Now it's time to produce the foreign words on your own. See the English and say the foreign word until the definition comes to you instantly.

Own It: Confirm that you own the language by typing in the words and phrases.

In no time, the Speak More language learning software can help you learn Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese or Spanish.

What's the hardest part about learning a foreign language? The pace, availability of repetition and accessibility to the spoken language. Language learning software solves all these problems with your very own personal tutor who never tires of repeating!

Coming Next Issue (Spring)

Shower of Savings coupon
"Discover the 7 'Must Know' Keys to Homeschooling Success"
"The Jason Project Takes Math & Science Education Out of the Classroom"
Product Spotlight: Learn to Type software

HELP US HELP OUR CUSTOMERS! Purchase any educational software from All Educational Software and send us a
brief review that we can share with others considering this software. Simply write a few sentences about
the software and email to: review@alleducationalsoftware.com. In thanks, you'll receive a coupon toward your
next purchase from All Educational Software!