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shoaglund's picture

Teacher Appreciation Week 2013

Submitted by on Mon, 05/06/2013 - 11:08am

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week!

Many of us have special memories of that one teacher, or if you were lucky, a group of teachers that really left their mark on our childhood. They inspired us, put their faith in us, made us feel special and with their support, made us feel that there was nothing we couldn't do. Think about the influence and impact teachers have on the development of our children. Great teachers recognize that it's a partnership with parents that works best and together they teach them, help develop their knowledge, and lend support and inspiration so they grow up having all the opportunities available to lead a successful life, whatever that looks like to them. 

Teacher Appreciation Week

pthomas's picture

A Week of Pi, Day 4: Videos to Celebrate Pi Day

Submitted by on Thu, 03/14/2013 - 10:02am

Today is the day: 3.14 aka Pi Day! But we are celebrating all week long... 

pthomas's picture

A Week of Pi, Day 3: Pi Day Activities

Submitted by on Wed, 03/13/2013 - 2:45pm

We've talked about What Pi Is, and have seen some Pi Day Contests you could enter or create. Now for more Pi Day activities. Here are a few links to lists of Pi Day activities:

pthomas's picture

A Week of Pi, Day 2: Pi Contests

Submitted by on Tue, 03/12/2013 - 1:17pm

​Yesterday, We covered What Is Pi?  Now to do something with it.

Pi Day

ebuffington's picture

The Median of Math and Humor

Submitted by on Wed, 02/13/2013 - 9:29am

I Love Math

Have you ever said something that just came out the wrong way?  Has a compliment ever bounced around in your head and when it came out your mouth it sounded more like a slight? 

shoaglund's picture

The National Day of Service - January 19, 2013

Submitted by on Tue, 01/15/2013 - 10:27am

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (MLK Day), a day to honor one of our nation's noble leaders, is this Monday, January 21, 2013, which also coincides with the Presidential Inauguration.  As a way to honor and carry on Dr. King's legacy and to commemorate Obama's Presidential Inauguration,  Saturday, January 19, 2013, has been chosen as a National Day of Service. 

Priscilla Quaye's picture

How to Inspire Your Kids to Give Back this Holiday Season

Submitted by on Mon, 12/03/2012 - 11:25am

Lists of presents filling the page front to back, hundreds of dollars spent on gifts, a warm holiday dinner, presents too plentiful to fit under the tree – these are occurrences that the average American family may be accustomed to during the holiday season.  In the midst of it all, we often forget about the millions of families to which these blessings are not guaranteed. How can we teach our kids about the importance and relevance of giving back and the countless ways to do so this holiday season?

OKVA Student Giving Back
OKVA student delivering 1095 holiday cards to the local Red Cross to send to the troops.

The Importance of Giving Back

  1. Explain to your children that not every family has the luxury of purchasing and receiving gifts or having a warm meal during the holiday season. A great way to convey the importance of holiday giving to younger kids is with books such as The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving by Jan and Michael Berenstain, and Angel Pig and the Hidden Christmas by Jan Waldron and David McPhail.
shoaglund's picture

Developing An Attitude of Gratitude

Submitted by on Wed, 11/21/2012 - 9:07am

Teaching our Kids to be Thankful

Thanksgiving at my home is a time for my family to consciously recognize all the great things going on in our lives. Too often, people find themselves caught up spending way too much time and energy focusing on the misfortunes and things we think we ought to have. 

Sometimes I forget that my kids are always on alert --watching and learning. Has this ever happened to you? You and your spouse or friend are in your kitchen after having a bad day, and you start to complain about a certain situation and you glance over and noticed your little kiddo has been listening.  When this happens to me, I find myself analyzing the situation in my head and putting perspective around the situation so I can explain it in simple terms to them. And then I realize it really is about perspective -- someone always has it worse and often times, the stuff I was complaining about really wasn't even worth the energy! 

So, how do we teach our kids to be thankful for all they have?

shoaglund's picture

Celebrate American Education Week

Submitted by on Tue, 11/13/2012 - 8:12am

American Education Week: November 11-17

American Education Week 2012

American Education Week is a seven day celebration of public education and a time to recognize those who are making a real difference in our children's lives by doing their part to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive a quality education. 

GuestBlogger's picture

Veteran's Day 2012

Submitted by on Mon, 11/12/2012 - 1:26pm

K12 employee Aaron Hall talks to his daughter’s 2nd grade class about his time in the Army on Veterans Day 2012

I had a great opportunity to speak to my childrens’ classes at Newton-Lee Elementary School in Ashburn, VA, today about my time in the US Army and what is means to serve one’s country.  It has truly been an honor to serve our country as an Army soldier and officer for the past 20+ years.  Many ask why I chose to do this; for me, it simply comes down to giving back to the country and our society.  It has been tough at times, because as a leader in today’s military reserve, one is required to actively maintain two professional careers.  It has also been a huge challenge for my family – among other things, my wife was pregnant with our first child when I was called to active duty in 2003 as the US prepared to enter into the  conflict in Iraq.  I was lucky enough to get home for my son’s birth, unlike many others, but it was definitely stressful for my wife to deal with my absence throughout much of her pregnancy. 

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