EdTech 20/20 Blog: Home Self Improvement (Unschooling our kids)

This post is not the beginning of my thinking on the topic, but it is the first time I've tried to articulate these thoughts into writing.? I beg you to forgive the rough edges.

Seth Godin just published his Stop Stealing Dreams education "manifesto."

I've read many, but not all, of the books that he references.? His manifesto and those foundational books resonate with me.? I have verbalized for the last four years that as a middle school teacher "I am part of the problem," but it's only in the last four months that I have some inkling of how to maybe actually change that status.?

I've taught for 14 years, mostly in the secondary level in the USA.? I'm part of an institution that is meant to do good and is staffed almost universally by good people wanting to do good.? And yet we do not do the good we mean to do (o wretched man that I am--who will deliver me?) and instead institutionalize obedience when what we wanted to do all along was to develop capacity and foster creativity.

My daughter and two boys are in currently in elementary school, and we their parents are grateful for their traditional classrooms, complete with its peer interactions (both the friendships and the dramas), recess, monkeybars, cafeteria food, spelling bee, penalties for late work, reward systems, science projects, and occasional homework.? I'm glad they are in elementary school and wouldn't have wanted to do those ages any other way.

Middle school looms.? My daughter is a 5th grader in a K-5 school and next year would go to a local middle school.? Now, my daughter is not yet a teenager and while we certainly hope for the best for her, middle school looms.? What a toxic environment to place the most emotionally fragile humans in our society.? Honestly, who would have invented, in this modern era, a plan that takes 500 of a town's middle schoolers to a central building and causes them to sit in clumps of 30 until a bell rings to signal that they should stand up en masse, jostle in the halls, and return to a different classroom of rows and columns for another hour of trying not to pay attention to the leader in the classroom?? Nobody would have thought that's a good idea if it hadn't already been that way when we found it.?

I believe adolescence is an artificially created "age" that is caused by society withholding responsibility from its emerging adults until too late. And yet, pubescent hormones are very real, and pre-teen turmoils are rarely avoided altogether.? There's something important there, though I really don't yet know what it is.? Something about adolescence not being in a causal relationship with pubescence.? Interesting to think more on.

We're the lucky ones, my family.? We live within the means of a one-salary home, and so we have the freedom to have our daughter at home with us next year rather than send her off to the middle school.? Does that mean we're going to home school?? No, I don't think so.? More like unschool, though I may be muddled in my terminology.? We're calling it HSI, Home Self Improvement.


Home Self Improvement:? Creative.? Capacity-building.? Exploratory.?
Foreign languages, math, geography, drawing, writing, typing, cooking, and EXTENSIVE reading.? In the reading category alone: biographies, historical fiction, science, Newberry Award winners.? Also TED Talks as jumping-off places for student-led research and discovery.

Is HSI going to be "school" for the Chase kids only until high school, or is this it through college?? I don't know.? The local high school has a fantastic DECA/FBLA club, and I'd love to have my kids get to do drama, culinary classes, and the upper level maths/sciences/humanities with engaged teachers and leaning-forward peers.? Can you imagine what their school experience would be if they could "skip" all the classes where peers don't want to be there--I'm thinking of my freshman health class as I write--and go right to the ones that are upper-level and not "required."? It's in those academic classes that you'll find kids leaning forward, and it's those classes that I'm excited to help my kids prepare themselves for.? The other credits they'll still have to get, but they can get them online.

I want each kid to come out of HSI a sleek, powerful racehorse of a person, not a fat little pony.

What Middle School Should Be (a bucket list for HSI)
Wonderopolis,
TED Talks,
http://thekidshouldseethis.com/
Typing
Volunteer Service
Language Learning
http://duolingo.com/
Dictation
Spelling/Writing
Blogging Explorations (photojournaling laser experiments, cooking recipes, etc)
Scratch/Alice
Khan Academy Math
Reading, Fiction and Non, historical fiction
Biographies: Temple Grandin: Animals make us human.
Arts Education
Geography
How Stuff Works
Newberry Award Books: www.goodreads.com
Rock/plant identification
Made to Stick, Rich Dad-Poor Dad and other similar "grown-up" titles.
Whyville
Quest Atlantis
World News

We'll set up in our home a pyramid scheme of incentive.?
Weekly requirements include extensive reading, blogging her way through her own explorations and discovery, and Khan Academy math, among other projects that will come and go.? She is only permitted to have a Chinese lesson if ALL other weekly requirements are in place and finished. I only release funds ($25 a week, in our case) if a Chinese lesson passes muster with the Chinese teacher (who requires homework/practice--she's no pushover).

Invitation to form a cohort:
We're unenrolling our daughter from school this June.? If she had another peer to run this race with, regardless of geographic place, she'd do better.? I can set up an Edmodo classroom for them to interact with and so they can comment on each other's HSI.? I don't think it's important that they be the same age, though most of my work will be toward challenging the middle school age range.? Any 6th, 7th, or 8th graders want to jump off the school train and see how it goes with unschooling and intentional self-improving at home?

Source: http://blog.edtech2020.com/2012/02/home-self-improvement-unschooling-our.html

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Marsquake? How rumblings could bolster hope for life on Mars.

If seismic activity on Mars is recent, and it can be traced to a volcano, it could mean that there is a source of heat to melt ice and provide potential habitats for simple forms of life.

A pair of long gashes in the surface of Mars associated with a towering volcano shows evidence of marsquakes that could have occurred within the past few million years, and perhaps within modern times, according to new research.

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If such activity is recent, and it can be traced to the volcano, it would imply that the mountain is still active ? its magma providing a source of heat to melt ice and provide potential habitats for simple forms of life.

The gash is one of a pair of parallel features known collectively as Cerberus Fossae. These appear to be enormous collapsed lava dikes formed during eruptions of Elysium Mons, a volcano that vaults more than eight miles above the vast lava fields that surround it.

The mountain is thought to have been active within the past 2 million years. In principle, it still could be, with magma working its way down the flanks through subsurface conduits, rather than through repeated surface eruptions.

In 2010, another team of researchers hunting for heat sources on the Martian surface with an instrument aboard NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter reported that they had detected warmth in the gashes, known as graben. The team noted that the signatures were hard to explain without invoking a subterranean source of heat.

Now, a team of researchers interested in faults on Mars says patterns of fallen boulders in both graben testify to marsquakes.

The team estimates that the temblors have occurred over a geologically recent span of time that could include the present day. If the evidence they see resulted from one quake, it would have registered at least a magnitude 7.5 had it occurred on Earth, comparable to an earthquake that devastated eastern Turkey last year. The results appear tomorrow in the Journal of Geophysical Research ? Planets.

The link between volcanoes, active faults, and potential habitats ?makes the boulder data we have collected so intriguing,? said Gerald Roberts, a geophysicist at the University of London who led the British-Italian team that conducted the study, in a prepared statement.

Using boulders as benchmarks for earthquake activity is one way to get around the dearth of instruments on Mars for taking the geophysical pulse of the planet. So far, NASA's Viking landers, which arrived at Mars in the mid 1970s, are the only platforms that carried seismometers to Mars, notes James Head III, a planetary scientist at Brown University in Providence, R.I., who studies volcanoes, quakes, and tectonics on other planets.

Unfortunately, he adds, the only shaking they detected came from vibrations as wind buffeted the landers.

Indeed, he adds, ?it's pretty remarkably abysmal? that basic information gleaned from seismometers ? from the structure of a planet's interior to the level of quake activity ? is still lacking for Mars. Scientists have had to turn to Earth's moon as a model for what the structure of Mars' crust might be like. Apollo astronauts left seismometers on the moon that operated until 1977 and revealed a great deal about the moon's structure.

Given the paucity of data on quake activity on Mars, Dr. Gordon's team has provided a ?great analysis and is very thought-provoking,? says Dr. Head, who was not part of the team.

In an e-mail exchange, Roberts explains that the inspiration for using boulders as surrogates for estimating quake activity came during a conversation he was having with a colleague. The colleague asked about detecting earthquakes on Mars and Roberts recalls regaling him with the Viking story. The colleague then asked: "Can you not see evidence of landslides triggered by marsquakes?"

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/ll5mZpxaXT4/Marsquake-How-rumblings-could-bolster-hope-for-life-on-Mars

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Fish-oil to get Pets - Cheap Car Insurance + Other Ideas

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This author possesses invested a long time learning about omega-3 fatty acids pertaining to puppies dry skin and other connected subjects. Discover more with regards to fish oil for dogs

Source: http://cheapcarinsurance123.net/fish-oil-to-get-pets/

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Should a Christian Band be NonProfit? | ChristianBandHelp

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO.

Almost Always?

NO.

Here?s why?

• It is expensive to form a nonprofit corporation.
• It is expensive to maintain a nonprofit corporation.
• Nonprofit corporations are one of the most restrictive types of business.
• Nonprofit corporations require more paperwork than almost any type of business.
• Nonprofit corporations will allow the band the least amount of control over their ministry and business.
• Nonprofit corporations are a lot of work.

It is true that donors give larger amounts of money when they can take a tax deduction.? It is also true that charitable foundations give grant money to nonprofits. But, the tax benefit to potential donors generally just does not pay off for Christian bands. ?People that donate large amounts of money most often give it to organizations that address a physical need, such as food pantries or poverty relief in third world countries.? Additionally, funders of larger donations usually require paperwork to ask for the donation as well as paperwork to show how the money was spent. In the end, the band may receive more money but most often those donations are not increased enough to cover the costs or justify the huge amount of time it takes to get them.

That was the short answer. Read on if you need more info ? we?ll crunch some numbers and give you examples. Let?s take one issue at a time.

It is expensive to form a nonprofit corporation.

The filing fees with the IRS are over $500. If you are able to learn how to fill out the forms correctly you may get off easy here. But, I have not known many people who got it right the first time. Then, of course, you have to deal with your state laws; every states filing fees and requirements are different. Some people are able to convince an attorney to file all the forms pro bono. This is a HUGE blessing and does not happen often. If you are not able to figure out the forms by yourself and need to hire an attorney, plan on additional fees of at least $1,000. I have heard of companies being able to get nonprofit status for $750 total but most people end up paying in the neighborhood of $2,000 when it is all said and done. More start up information is available here.

It is expensive to maintain a nonprofit corporation.

Nonprofits are not required to pay taxes (which can save you a ton of money when buying equipment), but they are required to file tax forms. Of course those forms have filing fees ? usually in the neighborhood of $250 per year Federal plus state fees which vary widely. Can you file these forms yourself? Maybe, but probably not. Most organizations hire an accountant to do the basic forms. Also, nonprofits are required to give employees W-4?s and independent contractors 990?s ? more accounting fees. (Let?s not even discuss payroll taxes and withholding.) Most small nonprofits spend in the neighborhood of $1000 per year for their accountant. The big organizations spend a lot more. Your accounting fees could skyrocket? if you do not keep awesome business records using a professional program like QuickBooks. And guess what happens if you do not file the appropriate forms at the right time ? fines, and lots of them. You can get the fines waived but it usually takes an accountant or attorney to wade through the process (more accounting and legal fees).

Nonprofit corporations are the most restrictive types of business.

There is a lot of paperwork that has to be filed with the government for tax purposes in a nonprofit. There is also paperwork that has to be filed which tells how the company will be governed ? these are called by-laws.? Technically you get to write your own by-laws but the federal government and most state governments have requirements you must follow. These requirements include a Board of Directors that runs the business. The ins and outs of which band members are also Board members and who gets paid can be tricky. Ideally, employees get paid but do not have a say in business decisions and Board members make decisions but do not get paid ? in real life that can be a problem. There are ways to work it out, but it needs to be done correctly by someone who knows what they are doing or Uncle Sam can revoke your nonprofit status. There are also an almost uncountable number of laws governing things like what qualifies as a legitimate business expense, when the company can pay for food, how to write down mileage expenses, and even who has to be notified if you receive a donation of over $5,000. Many of these rules are applicable to any corporation, some are applicable to any form of business, and some are specific to nonprofits. If you know what you are doing it?s not a problem, if not ? it can be a real headache. You cannot just do whatever you think is right in any given situation; you must follow federal laws, state laws, and your organizations by-laws.

Nonprofit corporations require more paperwork than almost any type of business.

Every business requires the paperwork of bank statements,? inventory records, and lots of receipts for everything. Plus, we?ve already talked about the legal, accounting and tax paperwork for nonprofits. How much more can there be? Yup ? you guessed it ? a lot. Since nonprofits are governed by a Board of Directors, records of their decisions should be kept on file. This includes agendas and minutes from Board Meetings and committee meetings. Personal records of individual Board Members are also required, these include information like when they served as a Board member, their address, social security number, and phone number. Board members are liable for wrongdoings of a nonprofit, so these records both protect from and allow prosecution in extreme cases. Nonprofits also must keep a record of their assets, how much they are worth, and what happened to them if they are disposed of (yes, there are even laws governing that). If the nonprofit shuts down records must be kept of where the assets went, the IRS will ask. Other types of businesses should keep these records as well, but nonprofits will generally receive much more IRS scrutiny in this area.

Nonprofit corporations will allow the band the least amount of control over their ministry and business.

We have already discussed the Board of Directors and employees? the Board sets policy and employees implement their decisions. This is limiting enough, but the Board cannot set any policy or make any decision they want. When you file paperwork to set up your company you will include a mission statement. It is the Boards job to make sure your organization is living up to the mission statement. Not doing the mission or doing something other than the mission statement can cause legal issues. ?A certain amount of projects other than the mission statement can be done and mission statements can be changed, but again you have to know what you are doing. Legal advice is advisable.

There is also the issue of what to do with the profits or losses of the company ? you are limited in your choices as a nonprofit. The greatest limitation is that those profits cannot end up in your pocket.

Nonprofit corporations are a lot of work.

I think you have probably figured this one out by now.? The administration of a nonprofit corporation can be a full time job. It?s not something you do haphazardly, on the fly. There are long term tax and legal ramifications for everyone involved. So, it is important to get it right. Grantspace.org, Boardsource.org, snpo.org,? and Foundationcenter.org are great resources to find out what you will be getting into before you start.

So, when should a band consider becoming a nonprofit corporation?

In my opinion, Christian bands might consider becoming a nonprofit corporation if:

• There is someone in the band who can do all the work themselves ? like a CPA who specializes in nonprofit accounting.
• The band is forming a ministry that will focus on fundraising for a cause.
• If the band is promised a large gift of $5,000 or more only if they become a nonprofit.
• Band members are donating large enough amounts of money to the ministry as to justify the extra expenses with individual tax savings. Most often, band members are better off to take business losses at this point as a partnership.

If you do decide to start your own nonprofit corporation, here?s the best book I can recommend:

How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation (How to Form Your Own Nonprofit Corporation)

You should read this even if your hire an attorney to do the work for you because it will give you a good understanding of the process and how it affects you in the future.

There is another way?

It is called fiscal sponsorship. In the nonprofit world it means a nonprofit organization adopts your organization. In the Christian world it means you are sponsored by a Church. Donors are able to give to the Church and take a tax deduction for the gift. They are also able to designate that the money goes directly to the band, since the band is one of the ministries of the church. If you really need nonprofit status, talk to your Pastor ? see if this could work for your band. You?ll save headaches and a lot of cash if you can come under the Churches authority and structure. I do not recommend that every band should be sponsored by a Church, but it is a good option that works well for many bands.? Be discerning, get the most information you can, and seriously pray about it for your band.

Please note that I am not an accountant or attorney. You should consult your tax advisor and get sound legal advice before attempting any business structure for your band.

Hope this helps! Please leave a comment about your experience with the business structure of your Christian band.

Source: http://christianbandhelp.com/should-a-christian-band-be-nonprofit/

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The Risk-management-based Audit and It's Using in Enterprise's ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]With the development of the economic and the impetus of the new technological revolution and with the market changed from seller to buyer, the competition between producers becomes more and more intense. With the intensity of the ...

Source: http://www.economics-papers.com/the-risk-management-based-audit-and-its-using-in-enterprises-business.html

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Benkaat Blue wins at Monmore, pleasing trainer Mark Wallis | bettor ...

Benkaat Blue wins at Monmore, pleasing trainer Mark Wallis

Benkaat Blue stormed to a comprehensive victory in the Ladbrokes.com 480 Puppies Div 1 race at Monmore in England on Saturday, February 25, 2012. The cash prize for winning the 480 metres open race was ?150.

The victory was quite pleasing for Mark Wallis, trainer of the triumphant greyhound. He has gained a lot of confidence after Saturday?s performance and has now set his sights on the Ladbrokes Puppy Derby.

Benkaat Blue was not the favourite to win the race, as he earned a starting price of 5 to 2 for the event. However, he took the bettors by surprise, covering the total race distance in 28.24 seconds.

The blue coloured dog did not get off to an ideal start, as he was behind a couple of runners. He was also crowded in the middle section, which almost ruined his race. However, he stated increasing his pace gradually, finishing almost five lengths ahead of the runner up greyhound.

This dominant run will certainly encourage the punters to invest more money on the winning greyhound in future. He is the son of Droopys Scolari out of Star Of Dromin and was born in April 2010.

The biggest surprise of the race came from Millwards Alpha, trained by P. Young. He was the least favourite to win, with a starting price of 25 to 1, but still managed to finish as runner up.

Millwards Alpha was not considered to be a threat for the rest of the pack in this class. However, he surprised one and all with a terrific run. He went off to a great start, which almost earned him victory, but he was caught by Benkaat Blue in the end.

The second placed greyhound is the son of Royal Impact out of Dalcash Diva and was born in April 2010.

Third place went to Scramble, another greyhound not expected to finish in top three. She had a decent run, covering the total distance in 28.90 seconds. The D. Childs trained bitch is the daughter of Head Bound out of Bluetoon Megan and was born in May 2010.

P. Sallis would have been extremely disappointed at the end of the race, as his dog, Tulling Joy, failed to win despite being the favourite.

Fire Height Spec and Rooneys Lad completed the order of finish, taking fifth and sixth places respectively.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Benkaat-Blue-wins-at-Monmore,-pleasing-trainer-Mark-Wallis-a132431

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For what reason Forming a great LLC to maintain Investment ...

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Source: http://www.steadman-group.com/for-what-reason-forming-a-great-llc-to-maintain-investment-properties-is-fundamental/

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