tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124757332024-03-07T15:20:20.806-05:00we are kindermusik<img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/7509/1522/1600/Icons.0.jpg">Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.comBlogger583125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-66849764938725870262009-10-16T18:45:00.002-04:002009-10-16T18:58:50.691-04:00Kindermusik's official blog has moved!The official Kindermusik blog has moved here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kindermusik.com/mindsonmusic/">http://www.kindermusik.com/mindsonmusic/</a><br /><br />Starting my career at Kindermusik after the infamous Molly McGinn had already left, I never had the pleasure of working with her. Of course, her name is still used around the Kindermusik universe with great reverence. We recently tracked her down and asked for access to this blog so there wouldn't be any confusion about where Kindermusik's "official" blog lives.<br /><br />On arriving here I find that Molly had racked up <span style="font-weight: bold;">606 posts</span> in the time she maintained this blog. That's astounding and jaw-droppingly impressive. Some of the content is silly, some informative, some random, some laser focused. All of it's valuable, and I'm glad it lives on on the web.<br /><br />To keep up with the latest and greatest at Kindermusik and the world of music and childhood development, please come join us at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.kindermusik.com/mindsonmusic/">Minds on Music</a>. We'll have contributions from educators, Kindermusik employee-owners, and guest writers. Thanks. Hope to see you there.<br />-Shawn<br />Kindermusik Internationalshawnmcurriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14034738583881153125noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-31629059405016932552008-02-14T09:51:00.000-05:002008-02-14T09:53:34.947-05:00Yes we can<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BHEO_fG3mm4&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BHEO_fG3mm4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://wearekindermusik.blogspot.com">wearekindermusik.blogspot.com</a></div>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-25643902498822429522008-02-13T10:18:00.003-05:002008-02-13T10:47:53.107-05:00Making way for the new<object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w4y272NI7J8&rel=1&border=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w4y272NI7J8&rel=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object><br /><div>I've been trying to figure out how to write this post for about 4 weeks now. "This post" being my last post to "we are kindermusik" as its official owner. </div><div><br /></div><div>February 1 was my last day at Kindermusik. In recent months it's become clear that it was time to move on. The goal, the hope moving forward, is to start my own online media company and pursue the whimsical notions that you instill into a child's heart and mind every day: music. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, Careyanne Deyo will pick up where I left off. And if you don't know Careyanne, you will, and you'll come to love her. </div><div><br /></div><div>I could talk about her as a colleague, but that wouldn't describe her. You have to describe Caryeanne as a friend. She's the one who always shows up when she says she will. Speaks in a soft, but audible voice, that relaxes the everyday gnashing noises of the world and makes you grateful for the quiet. Her creativity is persistent, and her heart and mind work together for the Kindermusik Educator. She's also a great supporter of the arts, having recently relocated to New York City so that her very talented husband, Tony Deyo, can be closer to the craft and career he loves as comic writer and performer. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the coming days, I'll post more information about where you can find the new and improved Kindermusik blog. </div><div><br /></div><div>Whether or not it can be dismantled and played like a symphony orchestra .... well. Maybe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you all for your support, your interest, and what you do every day for Kindermusik, music and education, families and their children. Kindermusik taught me to love music again, and I wouldn't be where I'm going now, if I hadn't experienced it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Music is happiness.</div><div><br /></div>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-35324702218324301672008-01-31T10:59:00.000-05:002008-01-31T11:02:52.982-05:00The safest thing you can do is take risks<embed name="flashObj" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=" src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/980097284" width="486" height="412" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=1385253108&playerId=980097284&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://services.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" seamlesstabbing="false" swliveconnect="true"></embed><br />Seth Godin shares the importance of taking nurturing curiosity.<br /><br />Thank you Sean. Via <a href="http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2008/01/21/seths-blog/">Bob Lefsetz</a>.Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-41042789627479587302008-01-30T10:24:00.000-05:002008-01-30T10:26:23.703-05:00Screen shotsMerri asked the other day how to capture the image from the network program. Here are a few directions on taking screen shots from my favorite little birdie, Sean.<br /><br /><blockquote>on a pc, hit "ctrl" + "print screen", then go into a paint program and<br />paste it ("ctrl" + "v") into a new file. crop away.<br /><br />with a mac, hit "command" + "shift" + "4" to get a screenshot cursor, drag<br />it around the area you want captured, let go (listen for the snapshot sound),<br />open the "Picture 1.png" file on the desktop and crop away.<br /></blockquote>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-1100618648811053482008-01-28T17:23:00.001-05:002008-01-28T17:23:26.267-05:00What does your social network look like?<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefangmonster/352461415/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/352461415_0ab94caa02.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefangmonster/352461415/">Epicurious HTML graph</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/thefangmonster/">Noah Sussman</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> I was mesmerized watching this illustration come together. Drop in your blog Url and have fun.<br /><br />http://www.aharef.info/static/htmlgraph/</p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-67116065054756653422008-01-28T10:49:00.001-05:002008-01-28T11:10:24.237-05:00Is there a John Smith in your classroom?<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefframone/407507087/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/407507087_7a788b03df.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jefframone/407507087/">Chicago Theatre #2</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/jefframone/">R.A.M.O.N.E.</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> I've spent several Friday nights listening to the NPR radio program "This American Life." Many times the Chicago-based storytellers have kept me in the car listening for the full hour with a backseat full of melting groceries.<br /><br />So when I got this email from a producer for the Showtime spin-off of the radio series, I wanted to help.<br /><br />Producers are looking to do a series of life experience stories on the men named "John Smith." <br /><br />Specifically, they'd like to know if there is a young John Smith in your Kindermusik classrooms to include in the story. <br /><br /><strong>If there is a John Smith in your classroom, contact "This American Life" producers at 800-463-4505, or email johnsmithcasting@leftright.tv</strong><br /><br />Here's more from Anna's email:<br /><br />The idea of the show is to give a sense of what it¹s like to be living and working, growing up and growing old in America right now. We want to do that by talking to people of all different ages who just happen to be named John Smith. <br /><br />We want to talk about the things that matter most -- jobs, loved<br />ones, homes, hopes, worries, fears, regrets and so on. We¹d like everyone in the story to be named John Smith because we want the stories to feel universal.<br /><br />In particular, we're interested in the issues people are facing that are unique to their age. For instance, we'd love to find a young John Smith. Maybe a toddler about to take his first steps, or a child with<br />his first real bike. Or in the case of Kindermusik, a John Smith learning to speak and sing, move and dance!<br /><br />To give you a better sense of who we are, here¹s a little background. <br /><br />"This American Life" is a documentary series that airs on Showtime. The first season in Spring 2007 and we're currently at work on Season 2 which will air later this spring. The series was nominated for three Emmys last year, but it's a spin-off of a public radio program (also called This American Life) that has won most of the major journalism awards in the country, including the Peabody, duPont-Columbia, and Murrow awards. <br /><br />For more information, please check out the website: www.thislife.org/<br /><br />I don't know if there's even a single John Smith in the US who's enrolled in Kindermusik classes, but finding a real, live John Smith is harder than you'd think . . . So, we're trying to make our search as wide as possible!<br /><br />We'd be thrilled to find a John Smith in the age range of newborn<br />through 7 years old.</p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-11627376708127925922008-01-28T10:06:00.001-05:002008-01-28T10:08:23.116-05:00Music is the language of learning<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dumpsterdiversanonymous/2119695900/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2040/2119695900_d5595a2192.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dumpsterdiversanonymous/2119695900/">SWAPBOT - ALPHABET POSTCARD F #5</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/dumpsterdiversanonymous/">dumpsterdiversanonymous</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> For the last five years, I've been looking for the words to describe why music is such an important presence in a child's early development. <br /><br />There's the brain research, yes. Compelling, and interesting, however it's really gross to talk about a child's mind in terms of neural networks and neuron firing. <br /><br />There's the scientific proof, yes. Studies previously performed on Kindermusik students show positive growth in intellectual and self-control behaviors. Still, some educators and experts can't be swayed by even the most convincing studies. I think it's just the way some people are wired. <br /><br />For me, though, I finally yawped out a Eureka when I realized what preschool teachers have know all along. <br /><br />Music is inherent to the methods used in early learning. Repetition, rhyme, exposure to patterns, and a variety of sounds are defining qualities of both music and early learning. That's likely why music and language share the same pathways in the brain.<br /><br />That's why, to a child, music is the language of learning.</p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-89527064852897378852008-01-24T09:33:00.000-05:002008-01-24T09:41:54.535-05:00Who do you want to Jott?<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.jott.com"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159052309978976946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX6IY7BjLaRhwpryymKigE85ha2Np2wLepJg0ThMgLijp8Yx_m_KfLk7BX8DkHjVfOBZaz0sNXNiVybXhE2rHW3HfrA7j-oaZ7lo58HPVpMlXoXIUp3yoNcfu7s9yKZrTFhhz/s400/jott_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Sean and I sat in on <a href="http://www.sethgodin.com/">Seth Godin's </a>web talk yesterday about his new book, Meatball Sundae. He talked about <a href="http://www.jott.com/">Jott,</a> a web-based service where you call a phone number, leave a message, and the service will type the message, and send it to your email address, or your phone's text inbox.</div><div> </div><div>I set up an account for myself, but had some trouble leaving a message. But, I was calling from my cell phone, which doesn't pick up sounds so well. And, the service is still in Beta.<br /><br /><strong>Educator tip:</strong> Still .... there's an option to send your message to multiple addresses, or phone numbers. That's a quick, easy option if you need to send families a quick message, or reminder, when you're on the run. Might be worth playing around with a bit. </div>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-37392108272575491262008-01-18T12:08:00.001-05:002008-01-18T12:12:41.766-05:00You must have been a beautiful baby<div class="flickr-frame"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaz/67116550/"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/67116550_b86aa475ec.jpg" /></a><br /><span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaz/67116550/">KinderMusik with Teacher Jeannie - 38</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/diaz/">Our Awesome Planet</a>.</span></div><p class="flickr-yourcomment"><a href="http://www.kindermusikofholland.blogspot.com/">Yvette</a> and I were talking today about simple ways to get permissions from families to blog or post pictures of their children from class.<br /><br />As you all get more comfortable and adept at using video--and I can see that you are--you could incorporate a photo release form into your registration process.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br /><strong>Build community.</strong> Through photos, images, and videos you can create a virtual Kindermusik community online as families come back to see the class experience through a different lens.<br /><br /><strong>Get your families involved.</strong> Something about being a parent brings out the photographer in everyone. Though some families are still cautious about posting their child's pictures online (a request that should always be respected) other families are more than happy to share. See if they'd be willing to flex some creative talents in your classroom.<br /><br /><strong>Link to their <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=kindermusik&s=int">flickr</a> or online photo albums.</strong> If your families have flickr accounts, ask if you can feature some family photos.<br /><br /><strong>Smart marketing.</strong> If a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diaz/69340729/">picture says 1,000 words</a>, photos of your families having fun in class will say more than any Web site can.<br /><br /><strong>Choose wisely.</strong> Post pictures with a little style, humor, or flair, and it will show how serious you are about putting music and children in the best possible light.</p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-26959108949612538612008-01-14T14:30:00.000-05:002008-01-14T14:40:24.676-05:00While we're talking about videos ...Miss Sunny, you have <a href="http://www.musikandmotion.com/">utterly amazed me</a>, once again. Watch a video of her parents talking about her Kindermusik program.<br /><br />Here's how she did it, in her words:<br /><br /><blockquote>I'm so very excited to share with you that Musik & Motion website now features an in-house video of our very own Kindermusik families in action. In working with <a href="http://www.chrisstoneeditorial.com/About.html">Chris Stone</a> (a genius in video editing and story crafting) and Pat Kuske (ditto for cinematography)-- these two amazing and talented people have skillfully and visually captured a bit of what goes on in the Kindermusik class at <a href="http://www.musikandmotion.com/">Musik & Motion</a> in a 5 minute 38 second video. Chris and Pat are consummate professionals, extremely personable, dependable, and willing to go the extra mile for you. I hope to be able to work on future projects with both of them again! Kindermusik families, thank you for generously offering and bravely sharing your testimonials on camera after class. Each of your testimonials whether on/off camera, written or verbal mean oh, so much to me, and I appreciate every word of it!And Kindermusik educators out there, if you're looking to create a video for your program, please don't hesitate to contact me or <a href="http://musikandmotion.blogspot.com/www.chrisstoneeditorial.com">Chris</a>. Ditto for any businesses, schools or non-profit organizations looking to capture your mission and story on camera.</blockquote>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-6561807922575034782008-01-14T11:31:00.001-05:002008-01-14T11:36:30.645-05:00Yvette's Viral FOL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjLQVGhx2jnM0E3EQbpVXRPWCc8NY6ZeaUF9FjIOYAFQcpW7PNfsbogfFLjHrYHFTHIsa2oRy4WH7swxLzvE2Wx7PFOMpnS2MP1fKnFvbcWpmXh0f0WsGAbwcpui9vFGrgYPW/s1600-h/boy_thinking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155371214090851618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjLQVGhx2jnM0E3EQbpVXRPWCc8NY6ZeaUF9FjIOYAFQcpW7PNfsbogfFLjHrYHFTHIsa2oRy4WH7swxLzvE2Wx7PFOMpnS2MP1fKnFvbcWpmXh0f0WsGAbwcpui9vFGrgYPW/s400/boy_thinking.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.kindermusikofholland.blogspot.com/">Yvette </a>took a short video of herself, explaining the importance of attaching positive emotions to early learning experiences. Now it's a visual, viral FOL that parents can share with each other online.<br /><br />Brilliant. She must be a Kindermusik Educator.Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-49027256704095778412008-01-08T10:49:00.000-05:002008-01-08T12:08:55.160-05:00Made me think<object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xUr3AXv9rGM&rel=1&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xUr3AXv9rGM&rel=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object><br /><br />This would be a great idea for a mini-video of your Kindermusik students--talking about what they've done in Kindermusik. Makes me think <a href="http://pinkomarketing.pbwiki.com/Pinko+Marketing+Manifesto">Pinko.</a>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-35064654708971947452008-01-07T21:42:00.000-05:002008-01-07T22:00:17.829-05:00Stella's Dance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx3kI2cq5JYQ1TKUAmz9x2YYxb7Ylh4A-y6LGxdQuFRe_00pPFRpxAbubWvtVtGe9vbW1fA7L39Js5UBaxyxv0YINQLunfmQ8oQTM6FOohWplijsMlZb3ZmEjZvwxgLpNkSPc/s1600-h/59994.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIx3kI2cq5JYQ1TKUAmz9x2YYxb7Ylh4A-y6LGxdQuFRe_00pPFRpxAbubWvtVtGe9vbW1fA7L39Js5UBaxyxv0YINQLunfmQ8oQTM6FOohWplijsMlZb3ZmEjZvwxgLpNkSPc/s400/59994.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152930830853133586" /></a><br /><br />I moved around alot growing up. Best, best, bestest friends were hard to come by. Scratch that. Bestest friends are hard to come by even if you live in the same town all your life.<br /><br />We were b/f in 7th grade, and Rachel and I lost touch somewhere around junior year. I changed schools. She got a boyfriend. We drifted. <br /><br />Years later, sometime in February 2005, I'd heard that Rachel's husband--and father to Rachel's 1-year-old daughter, Stella--had died in his sleep. Within a few weeks I'd bought a plane ticket to Verona, WI, and met up with Rachel again. We didn't skip a beat. All those years had disappeared. And we laughed and grieved over 1,000 things. <br /><br />At the time, Rachel was frustrated that she couldn't find any books to help her daughter deal with her grief. So. She wrote her own. <br /><br />Now available online, and in your Barnes & Noble, and Borders book stores. If not available, ask them to order it and perhaps the store will consider carrying the book.<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stellas-Dance-Rachel-Thill/dp/160247513X">Stella's Dance.</a><br />Rachel and Stella's story in <a href="http://www.madison.com/tct/entertainment/index.php?ntid=265043">The Capital Times. </a>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-74488953612367069442007-12-11T11:56:00.001-05:002007-12-11T11:56:48.029-05:00Remember this little one?<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kS-zkLcVNls&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kS-zkLcVNls&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />It's still true today. Thank you.Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-42533922636936973922007-12-10T15:36:00.000-05:002007-12-10T16:02:33.115-05:00What's on your mind?<span style="font-size:130%;">"According to neuroscience and child development research, brain development proceeds at a faster pace between conception and the first day of kindergarten than during any subsequent stage of life. In the early years, basic capacities such as trust, self-confidence, empathy, and curiosity are established. How people think, learn, reason, and relate to others throughout their lives is rooted in their early relationships, experiences, and environments."</span><br /><br /><a onclick="dcsMultiTrack('DCS.dcsuri','/documents/CommonVision_Dec2007.pdf','WT.ti','Common Vision report PDF - Press Release');" href="http://www.preknow.org/documents/CommonVision_Dec2007.pdf" target="_blank">Common Vision, Different Paths: Five States' Journeys toward Comprehensive Prenatal-to-Five Systems</a>"<br /><br />One clarification: Research like this isn't meant to crank up the guilt factor for parents. It's meant to inform the people who are making the the public policy and academic decisions that will affect children who<em> don't</em> have immediate access to a loving, nurturing environment.Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-56406408183211458552007-12-04T13:56:00.001-05:002007-12-04T13:56:10.961-05:00Do books still matter?<style type="text/css">.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }</style><div class="flickr-frame"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtinalamb/64527278/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/64527278_7ace34819e.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a><br /> <span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtinalamb/64527278/">What Makes a Shadow</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/xtinalamb/">xtinalamb</a>.</span></div> <p class="flickr-yourcomment"> "We’re just not going to be reading for text anymore,” said Saveri, the Institute for the Future researcher. “We’re going to be ‘reading’ for movies, graphics, images, digital stories, symbols,” she says. “You may say young people aren’t reading the classics, but 20 years from now, there might be some classic multimedia pieces with video, with hyperlinks. That’s the new edge of literacy.”<br /><br />Saveri suggests parents blog with their kids, make a YouTube video, jump into the new media - and take books along. “We’ve got to get over our nostalgia,” she says. “Denying your child a rich media world is doing your child a disservice.”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edukey.net/2007/12/03/do-books-still-matter/">Do books still matter?</a></p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-33607432064801925492007-12-04T13:22:00.001-05:002007-12-04T13:24:47.407-05:00Super Silver Snowflake<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77YdJc_ArhRjaH-DIUVimwxrryMwFfn9PuYXmSSuWAjHRQFf3LDk7_upydVIQoUVuUnjxl3ixQLXfKpSH4N3b4RWnVoVgAdVRaMXw6EFokQTQztZht8ec0x9cI-xSJCfjT5cO/s1600-h/snowflake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140185005825101042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77YdJc_ArhRjaH-DIUVimwxrryMwFfn9PuYXmSSuWAjHRQFf3LDk7_upydVIQoUVuUnjxl3ixQLXfKpSH4N3b4RWnVoVgAdVRaMXw6EFokQTQztZht8ec0x9cI-xSJCfjT5cO/s400/snowflake.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Step-by-step instructions <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake">here.</a> Thank you <a href="http://swissmiss.typepad.com/weblog/2007/12/77-gifts-under.html">swissmiss. </a></div>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-30650139392600745532007-11-30T11:43:00.000-05:002007-11-30T11:49:53.126-05:00South Korea's singing highway can save you<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURFUVCrJ62DRvx9ON6f07Kqya4NixNVr86wqUDqCxjb4GSDwDLuKqquCbAGpjoVQeFNM5Z2uMycCTq8IwymV13c5EiCOKlyCB-LDTrO-LlmyJZayo0RHuNKDvTuTmJEhcGLV2/s1600-r/road.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138676449409239986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TLfiG2R0Zs_fDChf1wb9n6_ksuECNcFblj6PxTgg5LdY-Wokw0iCZZJ3DKyYlul24VV-UJJooyYtqvxkDBKPuu1pQMK0UP0s5IfLLCcicIYcjulPc5I4GhQ6ahADF__GIVaP/s400/road.jpg" border="0" /></a> Can you name that tune? Watch the abc news clip <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3932245">here. </a><br /><br />Via <a href="http://www.neatorama.com/2007/11/30/the-singing-highway-in-south-korea/">neatorama.</a>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-28553156121315561132007-11-29T14:58:00.001-05:002007-11-29T14:59:49.308-05:00Hopscotch-like music game<div class="flickr-frame"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zombie37/1555410501/"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2307/1555410501_93c933f0fc.jpg" /></a><br /><span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zombie37/1555410501/">instructions</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/zombie37/">Zombie37</a>.</span></div><p class="flickr-yourcomment">Does anyone know how to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zombie37/1555400779/in/photostream/">play this?</a></p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-233788324740428032007-11-29T14:44:00.000-05:002007-11-29T14:46:48.358-05:00Lookybook<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75YZccH7zgOBNKa2O2Havf4AO8Vf3HGYRhwUGDFUijPhlCRJ6OM-J7ocP_6eIi5oKKUPPn1YkYONITPdTjzJlcJPIRK_bf6uEoh7YVLr7zz_tyqzZQMfHZYYz0l6e_xiJ87_J/s1600-h/BK_SPKLSPN.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138350701909642098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75YZccH7zgOBNKa2O2Havf4AO8Vf3HGYRhwUGDFUijPhlCRJ6OM-J7ocP_6eIi5oKKUPPn1YkYONITPdTjzJlcJPIRK_bf6uEoh7YVLr7zz_tyqzZQMfHZYYz0l6e_xiJ87_J/s400/BK_SPKLSPN.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://lookybook.com/">Lookybook </a>lets you flip through the online pages and find out if it'll be favorite before you buy online. </div><div> </div><div>Thanks <a href="http://swissmiss.typepad.com/">swissmiss</a>.</div>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-66958808835635283402007-11-29T10:35:00.001-05:002007-11-29T10:36:28.560-05:00Myths and facts about raising an only child<div class="flickr-frame"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikaverg/372614508/"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/372614508_13b85df1cb.jpg" /></a><br /><span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikaverg/372614508/">don't you love those little feet?</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/erikaverg/">:: e r i k a ::</a>.</span></div><p class="flickr-yourcomment">Myth: Only children are aggressive and bossy.<br /><br />Fact: Only children learn quickly that attempting to run the show, a ploy that they may get away with at home, doesn’t work with friends and a bossy, aggressive attitude is a quick ticket to ostracism from the group. Lacking siblings, only children want to be included and well liked.<br /><br />Myth: Only children prefer more solitary, non-competitive amusements because they are alone a great deal of the time.<br /><br />Fact: This preference has more to do with social class than family size. The interests in these amusements stem from parental values and the home environment of middle- and upper-middle class families, which are more likely to have a single child…<br /><br />Myth: Only children are spoiled.<br /><br />Fact: Being spoiled is a reflection of our society. The Chinese feared they were raising a generation of “little emperors” when their only child policy was in effect. Looking back 20 years later they found the only children were not particularly spoiled and found no difference in only children’s relationships with friends when studied with children who had siblings.<br /><br />Myth: Only children are selfish.<br /><br />Fact: Every child at one time or another believes the world revolves around him…<br /><br />Myth: Only children must have their way.<br /><br />Fact: Children with siblings often have more “who’s the boss” difficulties because they are constantly forced to share toys, television times, and parents…<br /><br />Myth: Only children are dependent.<br /><br />Fact: Because of adult guidance and lack of siblings to lean on, only children are more self-reliant and independent than those who have brothers and sisters to fend for them.<br /><br />Myth: Only children become too mature too quickly.<br /><br />Fact: Children with siblings relate and talk to their siblings rather than their parents. The only child’s primary role models are parents. The result is that only children copy adult behavior as well as adult speech patterns and develop good reasoning skills early on making them better equipped to handle the ups and downs of growing up. A good thing, for sure…<br /><br />Source: Modern Mom, CA<br />http://www.modernmom.com/content/2875/2/<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edukey.net/2007/11/29/how-to-raise-an-only-child-myths-and-truths/">Edukey</a></p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-23793333158299519542007-11-28T11:28:00.001-05:002007-11-28T11:32:43.371-05:00The balancing act of early education<div class="flickr-frame"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/udronotto/374516860/"><img class="flickr-photo" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/374516860_a4e0fdae22.jpg" /></a><br /><span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/udronotto/374516860/">circus</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/udronotto/">udronotto</a>.</span></div><p class="flickr-yourcomment">"Journalists have written quite a bit about the phenomena of affluent parents willing to do just about anything to give their kids an edge.<br /><br />"Cloaking consumerism in pseudo-science that makes natural development seem to depend on the right toys--rather than just loving, talking to, reading to, and playing with your children--helps fuel this unfortunate parental instinct. This impulse among some parents creates business opportunities and it's no surprise companies are out there capitalizing on them.</p><p class="flickr-yourcomment">"Sometimes the universal pre-kindergarten movement overemphasizes education, as well, causing opponents to complain that schooling is more important than just fostering normal, healthy development. </p><p class="flickr-yourcomment">"These issues are worth more critical attention, I think."</p><p class="flickr-yourcomment"><a href="http://www.earlyedcoverage.org/2007/11/a_lesson_plan_for_infants_this_will_be_on_the_test.html">Early Ed Coverage</a></p>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-6955368201469374652007-11-27T14:29:00.000-05:002007-11-27T14:31:26.995-05:00Women In Art<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nUDIoN-_Hxs&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nUDIoN-_Hxs&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Thank you <a href="http://kmwithjeanne.wordpress.com/">Jeanne.</a>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12475733.post-27481902910856546962007-11-20T16:07:00.000-05:002007-11-20T16:10:36.665-05:00Shel Silverstein<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6k9s4CcFEBAPg_icdBxGAlTjAgOZw5p88z1FDE4Uym4wVs34xEmgRpwcKavDifFTozEGCzGfE3u7RozwCQ-B8pEe0xSl-QxZMTJrnudUJcW4xjEnMFoO7Q8pclFdWJ5aj9K9/s1600-h/embroider.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135032315687471970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6k9s4CcFEBAPg_icdBxGAlTjAgOZw5p88z1FDE4Uym4wVs34xEmgRpwcKavDifFTozEGCzGfE3u7RozwCQ-B8pEe0xSl-QxZMTJrnudUJcW4xjEnMFoO7Q8pclFdWJ5aj9K9/s400/embroider.jpg" border="0" /></a> I was wandering around <a href="http://www.molliegreene.com/">Mollie Greene's </a>world and found a link to this <a href="http://www.shelsilverstein.com/play.asp">Shel Silverstein </a>Web site. That's also when I wandered into this <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/merwing/55734084/">embroidered world </a>on flickr.<br /><div></div>Molly McGinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07809224750579529192noreply@blogger.com0