Daring Robber Does Daylight Disappearing Act

I'm not in favor of bank robbery - or any other kind of crime, for that matter. But you've got to admit that this still free at large Seattle bank robber did have a certain style. Here's how it all shook out.

At the end of September, 2008, an unknown person put an ad for a job interview into the local Craigslist. As a result, he (or she) got several dozen people to all show up at the same time at a local bank. All of them agreed to all wear safety goggles, a yellow vest, and a respirator mask. And many of them wore the blue shirt they were asked to wear "if at all possible".

The robber also showed up as they all arrived, wearing the same outfit. Although he looked like he was part of the crowd, he had one other thing with him - a can of pepper spray. Using the crowd as a camouflage, the robber first squirted the pepper spray at an armored car guard. When the guard was temporarily subdued and disoriented the robber grabbed several bags of cash and ran.

Now, if this wasn't enough, just like in a grade B movie, the robber dove into the nearby river. But he had a well prepared plan. He swam over to and un-tethered an inflated inner tube. After hoisting himself into it he just paddled away. Last time he or she was seen was floating down the river.

So, what would you do if you ever find yourself in the midst of a bank robbery? The most important thing is to protect yourself. Don't be a hero. Let the robber have what he wants. Your money is insured, so why risk your safety?

You might be angry, you may be scared, but you've got to control yourself. There's a good chance that the robber is desperate. After all, don't you have to be a bit desperate to try to rob a bank? If that's the case, why mess with someone that's in that psychological situation?

If you still want to be heroic you can try to notice and remember details about the robbers. Their physical characteristics, like their weight, height and the color of their hair and eyes. Look for tattoos or scars. See if they have any unusual mannerisms.

Don't stare, though, because the bank robber does not want to be caught and he probably will know why you're looking at him so intently. Again, the best thing to do is to keep a low profile and let the robber take what he wants so you and everyone else can be safe.

And, if you see the bank robber driving away, try to remember what the getaway car looks like and the direction it headed.

After he's left don't touch anything. You don't want to destroy the evidence or alter the scene of the crime.

Making the Most of Your Music Classroom

Although at a glance the music classroom may not seem like the most important classroom in the school it's essential to your student's development.

You may have a room you already use as a music classroom, but have you ever considered a dedicated portable classroom. Most schools are struggling for space which isn't surprising as most school buildings weren't built to accommodate the quantity of students we're seeing today.

Portable Classrooms are the most obvious solution to schools struggling with space, as beneficial as having a dedicated music programme is, the most obvious drawback is going to be the noise, asking students in a music classroom to be quiet isn't going to be practical, having an additional portable classroom just for music away from the main school building means the students can make as much noise as they like without the worry of disrupting the other classes.

Space is already a problem for a lot of schools, the music classroom comes with the added worry of finding space for the instruments as well as the students, from tambourines to drum kits, they all take up a lot of room and unfortunately most pianos don't fold away into a cupboard.

All this extra equipment may also pose an extra security risk, portable classrooms can have their own security system, any windows can be fitted with security blinds and all windows can be toughened, making our portable classrooms safer than some school buildings!

So why is music so important?

It's impossible not to get your students motivated in the music classroom, the first thing they do in the morning is turn the radio on, you spend most the day trying to prise their MP3's headphones out their ears and you can't turn on the television or visit the cinema without tripping over the latest music orientated programme or film, whether they realise it or not, their lives are dominated by music!

It's not practical to have a music classroom full of students trying to sing the latest pop song but take the lyrics away and let them hear the music and they'll still be interested. There are so many reasons why you want your students to be interested in their music classroom:

The music classroom provides the perfect creative outlet, whether you've got a shy student who never opens their mouth during their other classes or you've got a disinterested student who struggles to even show up to their other classes, they might surprise you with a gift talent in music.

Basic rhythm and rhyme can cross from the music classroom to other subjects, most people learn the alphabet with the same generic tune, and you could even apply a basic rhythm to Shakespeare's work to help your students learn his plays.

Harmonious music requires discipline and concentration, getting a whole class to produce an entire tune or sing an entire song requires great team work, this teamwork can again be taken to other subjects too. The music classroom can inspire all students to get along peacefully, something that may not happen in the playground.

Every culture has its own unique music genre, different periods in history favoured different music styles, the music classroom is a great place to bring these all together, Bhangra and Punjabi music can teach students about Indian culture in a more productive fashion than reading straight from the text book

Scholarship For Moms - Flexible Class Schedules And Online Courses Are All Covered By The $10,000 Grant

Attention all single mothers, if you have been wanting to improve yourself and your chances at a better future through a college education, but have been unable to do so because of tight financial situation, now's your chance. Several specialized scholarships for moms have been made available through the US Government. If you are in the situation where a college education would give both you and your child a brighter future but have been unable to do so, now's your chance. Best of all, the money that you get for school never has to be repaid!

Single Mother Grants
have been promulgated by the government due to increasing number of divorce in the United States. Obama’s grant is aimed at giving single mothers the opportunity to enhance themselves through education. All you have to do is to apply and submit the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” to colleges that support such grant. Afterwards, a confirmation of your grant status is sent to you in the form of “Student Aid Report (SAR)”

Sometimes a single mother may find getting to and from a campus where classes are head a bit difficiult either due to travle time or maybe a lack of child care. While that may have been a problem in the past, many college's these days have several courses that can be done online, giving you the flexability to go through your school work when time permits. Or maybe when day courses are out of the question, afternoon or evning classes may be available once again working around your schedule so you don't miss out.

It is important, especially for mothers, to obtain a college degree or complete their education. More income and revenue can be generated when a person holds a degree. In order to have better lives, single mothers are given opportunity to improve their status so they could get good jobs. Obama’s program scholarships for moms and women who want to go back to school is a wonderful aid that you must grab for the sake of your child’s future. Help yourself and your country by being a responsible and educated mother and citizen.

But They All Read At Different Levels By Laura Robb

Not too long ago, on a visit to two sixth-grade classrooms, I saw very clearly the challenge teachers have before them when they try to differentiate reading. In both classrooms, 11-year-olds who read like fourth graders shared tables with classmates who read like the average ninth grader - a five-year span. How you approach this challenge can make a huge difference for all levels of readers.

In the first classroom, where the students were leaning about biography, the teacher asked them to read the first two chapters of The Greatest: Muhammad Ali by Walter Dean Myers. But only half the class read the chapters. A few students just looked at the photographs, two students wrote notes to each other, one put her head on her desk, and several others began doodling. Roughly five minutes into the silent reading period, the teacher gathered the non-reading students and read the chapters aloud to them. When class ended, she sighed. 'What else can I do? They can't read the book, so I read it to them.' This is one way to manage whole-class reading. But there is another way.

In the second classroom - in the same school - the teacher read aloud a passage from Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull. As she read, she modeled cause/effect strategy by thinking aloud and answering students' questions about her thinking process. Next, she gave students instructions for silent reading: They were to read the next two chapters of their book, jotting down tough words on self-stick notes. Each student was reading a biography at his or her own level. Some pairs read the same title, but most students had their own specially chosen books. As the group read, the teacher held individual conferences. When she met with Josh, she focused on making inferences. Keisha and Carla practiced using context clues. With David, she focused on causes and effects. Each conference lasted no more than a few minutes.

You're probably thinking that you'd have a much better chance of reaching all your learners if your classroom looked more like the second one. But maybe you don't know how to do it. Here are the 10 most frequently asked questions I get from teachers on differentiating reading instruction. I hope they'll help you diversity, too!

How do I get started with differentiation?

The first step is to move away from organizing your teaching around single books. Instead, choose a genre from which all books will be drawn, and pick a topic or theme. You can then focus on a particular issue that is present in all texts. Students studying realistic fiction, for instance, might discuss what constitutes a family, and what determines whether their relationship is smooth or rocky. If you have students read different books on the same topic, they'll be able to bring a variety of ideas and perspectives to their discussions. Besides, using different texts means students will be able to advertise great books to one another!

How do I find books at each student's reading level?

I ask students to use the 'three-finger method' to see if a book is just right for them. Have students open their book to a age near the middle and read it. Using the fingers on one hand, students should count the number of words they can't say or don't understand. If students get past three fingers, the book is too hard. The book is 'just right' if students understand and can say all but two or three words and if they can retell what they read. Of course, as you get to know your students better, you will be able to predict what kind of books will be just right for each one. Then you can gather books from your local library, school library, or reading resource room. Also, check out book club offerings or host a book fair at your school. Keep a small monthly allowance for searching local yard sales, and collect reading material from friends, family members, and neighbors, too.

What does a unit plan look like? How much planning do I need to do in advance?

I suggest making an overall plan for each unit, including the theme, your choice of reading and vocabulary strategies for modeling and student practice, the selection of read-alouds, a variety of independent texts for students to choose from, journal entry assignments, and tiered projects that meet the varied reading and writing levels of students in your class, as well as their particular interests. You know your class best.

Should I have individual conferences with students? What should I cover?

Meet with students individually while the group is doing silent reading. You might talk about a reading strategy you're working on or discuss specific aspects of text structure. For students who read far below grade level, you'll want to check their general comprehension before talking about these topics. Ask them to retell part of the text. You can also work with students on using context clues or discussing how your theme connects to the text they're reading. Students who can work independently can have partner conferences and then turn in a paper showing what they discussed.

How do I keep conferences to only five minutes?

The key is to focus the conference on a single topic. For example, if you're holding a conference on a specific reading strategy, first have the student explain the strategy and tell how it helps her understand what she reads. Then, have the student open her book and read one page aloud to you, doing a think-aloud to show how she applies the strategy to her independent text. Take notes on the student's performance, and provide scaffolding as needed. To make sure you don't lose track of time, us a kitchen timer.

How do I assess students when they have different assignments?

Try using journal entries. If I want to grade students on their comprehension of realistic fiction, I might ask them to write journal entries that tell how they drew conclusions about a character's personality, what changed from the beginning to the end of the book, what the conflict was, and so on. Also try using tiered activities; that is, give students a menu of activities at different levels. Tiered activities can help you discover students' levels because students will usually choose activities they know they can complete successfully.

Should I organize students into groups so they can discuss their reading?

Absolutely! I like to take some of the week's class time to meet with small groups for a 10- to 15-minute discussion. During these discussions, ask group members to talk about an open-ended genre question (for biography, Do you feel the person's accomplishments were positive or negative? Why?), or you can ask them to connect their book to an issue you've been discussing. Holding these conferences reinforces the social aspects of reading, and moves interaction beyond you and the student to the whole group.

My students are reading so many different books. do I need to read them all?

The answer is — fortunately — no! You can try to skim several books before a unit starts, but don't be discouraged if it's not possible to get to know them all. You'll be able to determine whether a student has read a book by the amount of detail he offers in his discussion. When you get a response such as, 'The main character is a detective, and she's really smart. She solves the whole mystery,' you should definitely probe further. Ask the student to give examples of why he thinks the character is smart and how she solves the mystery. If the student can't do this, he may not have read the book or he may have found it too difficult. Ask gently, 'Why is it tough for you to remember the details?' If the book was too hard, give the student a few other choices.

Does every student need to read the same number of books?

No. Your stronger readers may choose longer texts, which means they will read fewer books. Meanwhile, struggling readers may read shorter texts but read more of them. Negotiate with your class the minimum number of books they should read in a unit. Prepare a schedule with reading and writing due dates, and remind students of the dates often. Help students budget their time by scaffolding the process. For example, break down a writing assignment into chunks (drafting, revising, publishing) and give a due date for each step. This way, you can offer students feedback between each step, further scaffolding their final outcomes.

What do I do if students don't complete their reading assignments?

This situation must be handled with care in order to build trust and help students develop a passion for reading. One of my students, Zach, arrived at school announcing that he disliked reading and hadn't done any of the summer reading. 'Are you going to call my mom?' he asked. I told him we would try to work it out together. We had several lunch meetings during which I found out more about Zach's reading struggles and about his personal interests. After we found books that suited his needs, Zach began to enjoy reading and did a lot of it. By the time he asked me if he still had summer reading to make up, I told him that he already had!

As teachers, our most basic goal is to reach each and every one of our students. By implementing differentiated instruction, you can meet your students where they are and provide the scaffolding and inspiration they need to move forward.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=245270&ca=Education