Clearly, this blog had to be written.

For one, there is a lot of bad television out there. I’m serious. Soap operas masquerading as youth dramas where newly outed teens get an intervention from their friends for taking one hit of a joint at a party (give him a break!). “Investigative news” that’s more akin to trashy daytime talk shows. And I don’t even have cable. I am choosing to watch these programs on Hulu!

My friend has been asking me to “read her yelp reviews” lately. She’s really proud of them. I actually DID IT.

I made a dozen strawberry cupcakes from scratch + strawberry icing. (I’m not proud). The worst part is that no one will eat them (except my boyfriend). Who wants cupcakes from a sick girl?

What I hate most about being sick is you can’t even do all the things that you dream about doing when you’re at work: clean your room, do the laundry, organize the home office, pay the bills… it’s all too much effort. And there’s way too many “Bachelorette” episodes to catch up on and napping to do (dreams are CRAZY when you’re sick!)

I’ve also enjoyed observing the secret life of my dog – what he does all day, his habits, you know. At least my cat soaks in the sun on our side porch. The dog just sleeps (and snores, and farts) next to me, endlessly, until he’s had enough and throws a tantrum, howls, and runs around the house until I feed him.

Here are a few photos from this week. Yes, each photo is taken on a different day. Enjoy.

Every year, parents are demanding more from their children’s schools (and rightfully so). The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 helped move the National School Lunch Program in the right direction, particularly for millions of low-income students who benefit from free breakfasts and lunches. However, additional funding is still desperately needed in order to ensure that our students are consuming the right, high-quality ingredients in adequate amounts.

Chef and Food Revolution star Jamie Oliver is empowering families with information and fighting to make sure that these improvements happen sooner rather than later. Last month, the spotlight was on Los Angeles when Oliver criticized the substandard options available in LAUSD lunches. He drew particular attention to the sugar-laden chocolate and strawberry-flavored milks being served, but was pleased to hear that they may soon be banned in Los Angeles schools. Unfortunately, not all parents are happy about the proposed change, worried that their children will be missing out on a calcium-rich diet. But that got me thinking – do we really assume that the only calcium source our children will consume is one pumped with sugar and artificial ingredients? I actually believe that we can have our cake (er, calcium-rich diet ) and eat it too.

That’s why I have an assignment for parents this weekend. Visit a farmers’ market with your kids! Make it a field trip, grab your reusable bags, and maybe even let your child handle the cash (don’t miss those valuable opportunities for math and money lessons). And for extra credit, consider planting some vegetables in the backyard (tomatoes and squash grow easily in large pots for limited spaces). Check back here next week for some healthy (and delicious!)  calcium-rich recipes that are completely sugar free, oh-so-natural, and sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors, and the LA K-12 Examiner.

Reading, writing… civics?

According to the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress results released last Wednesday, only 24% of American high school seniors scored at least proficient in their know-how of civics. News outlets are reporting points of progress like 4^th graders scoring slightly higher than four years prior – but are we setting our sights too low? Have we become complacent with substandard results and comfortable with an overwhelming majority of citizens who can’t identify and describe the most basic elements of our government?  As Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said in a recent statement, “That’s pathetic.”

Did the United States military have the legal authority to invade Pakistan, a sovereign nation and one of our allies, in order to assassinate Osama bin Laden? How does our government strategically decide between rebels or political leaders in times of revolution as in the cases of Egypt and Libya? When a majority of students are having difficulty with the basics of our own government, it’s no surprise that knowledge of foreign governments is sorely lacking. Every day, the news presents opportunities for learning (and teaching) about international relations. I think this reminds us all that learning does, and should, go beyond the classroom. Through parent involvement, effective and frequent parent-teacher communication, and practical, supplemental education at home, we can help learning continue even after the text books close.

Here are 5 tools that will inspire civics learning at home:

1. Subscribe to the Cobblestone® American History magazine for young readers. For just $33.95 a year you can keep your child entertained with theme-based issues from the news that are researched and edited by experts in the field.
2. Check out History.com with your child a few times a week (make it a tradition!) Read “This Day in History” to learn about historical anniversaries, and watch educational videos that will entertain and inform your young learner.
3. Don’t count out newspapers! Pick a time every weekend to find an appropriate news article that you’d like to share with your child. Encourage them to read it aloud and then take some time afterwards to discuss what they’ve learned and how they feel about the issue.
4. When you’re going over your child’s social studies or history homework, try to find ways to relate what they’re learning to modern issues. How does slavery in the 1800s relate to slavery that still exists today? How have American political parties transformed and been redefined over the years? When you make a school subject or homework assignment relevant, your child is more likely to appreciate and enjoy what they learn – and more importantly, they’ll retain it for later.
5. If your child hears about a controversial or complicated issue in the news (and with the proliferation of media nowadays, chances are, they will) join them on a search at the public library or on the Internet (used with caution) to learn more and find explanations to difficult questions. Remember – hiding your child from challenging subject-matter isn’t the answer. Knowledge is power, particularly when it’s guided by a conscientious parent or teacher.

Check back tomorrow for 5 basic facts you and your child should know about the U.S. government!

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors and the LA K-12 Examiner. Follow Wendy’s education coverage in Los Angeles and read the original post on Examiner.com.

Today, April 20, 2011, is the one year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion – the worst oil disaster in America’s history. The explosion claimed the lives of thousands of animals and our more precious and delicate ecosystems were left with significant and lasting damage.

The associated disorders can cause moderate to significant social, communication and behavioral challenges that affect how the children engage in their studies, friendships and relationships with loved ones. Autism Spectrum Disorders affect all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups, and while there is no known cure, there are many resources that can help families in need.

With the support of the media, people everywhere are talking about autism. The life of bestselling author Temple Grandin was told in the Emmy® and Golden Globe-winning HBO film named after the autism advocate. Diagnosed with the disorder at the age of 3, Grandin continues to serve as an inspiration to many through her impressive professional and personal pursuits.

The ABC television show Parenthood shares the story of a family coming to grips with their son’s Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis. As the fictional family learns to help their child overcome his challenges, families watching can empathize as they struggle with their own daily battles. In this Parenthood clip, the character Max has recently discovered his diagnosis, and his parents learn how to share not only the challenges, but also the advantages, of his disorder.

Chances are, your child or one of their peers is on the autism spectrum. Early intervention is key to improving a child’s development, so awareness campaigns have been extremely effective in helping families in need. April is Autism Awareness Month and there are several organizations that can help you, your family, your children and your school get informed and connected with support.

Whether you are directly affected by an autism disorder or not, there are many ways you can help. Visit one of the resources we’ve listed below to learn more:

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

http://www.autismtherapies.com/

http://www.hollyrod.org

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors, and the LA K-12 Examiner.

Earlier this week, The New York Times Magazine asked 18 high school seniors where they thought they’d be in 10 years and shared their answers through photos and audio clips. Shauna Casale plans to pursue acting. Andrea Patterson wants the Army to pay for her veterinarian training. Those thick admissions letters (and thin rejections) are pouring into the mailboxes of college hopefuls this spring, and fates – in many cases – are being decided.

Several of the interviewed teens expressed a desire to be on their own – not necessarily a need to flee their families (although the subtext could be implied) – but rather, the chance to embrace their independence and experience the allure of adulthood. 17-year-old Nathan Rebelo said he simply wants to, “…be who I want to be without…the judgment of high school.”

While students like Jana Tran would be happy being “financially stable,” others like Andrew Benedict-Philipp say if there were a button that said ‘wealthy’ or ‘not wealthy’ he “would pick the ‘wealthy.’” Even though he has no idea who he wants to be when he grows up, his goal is pretty tough to argue.

Zach Peterson’s plans were driven by a lifelong fascination of science and the influence of his high school Biology teacher. Recently introduced to a path of disease prevention and the pursuit of cures for terminal illnesses, Zach now hopes to one day be a microbiologist. As he watches his grandmother battle breast cancer, the desire is only compounded. “…you have this person that you love in your life and, you know, they’re slowly being taken away from you and you can’t do anything about it,” he says, “…or, at least, not at the moment.”

When a teacher can inspire a student to follow in his or her footsteps, the value of education is clear. Damian Dumas, 18, describes his high school counselor as “cool” and someone he felt comfortable confiding in during a difficult time. When his mom had a heart attack two years ago, his counselor was there to listen. “Basically, she cared,” he said, matter-of-factly. And that’s when he knew that he wanted to become a school counselor.

Our country’s collective student loan debt is nearly $900 billion. On the upside, college graduates generally make at least 10% more than their degreeless counterparts. Does one outweigh the other? Perhaps the real question is: Do we value the worth of our efforts – or more importantly, our worth as individuals – by financial gains alone?

I will confess – my B.A. and M.F.A. have buried me in a mountain of debt (I’ll tell you how much for somewhere in the ballpark of $100K). Even though I’m probably not on the brink of a Bill Gates breakthrough, and I haven’t won the lottery yet (fingers crossed), I still wouldn’t trade my education for anything.

My conclusion: college is more than a certificate of employability, and it’s even more than gaining invaluable knowledge from brilliant minds. It’s a precious time and place where young people have the opportunity to grow and explore how they want to spend the rest of their lives. A college course or club today can lead to a newfound passion and career tomorrow.

Albeit challenging and expensive, college may best be approached as a “haven” and a stopover before hitting the big bad world of the 9-5, utility bills and mortgage payments. And it sure is nice to spend that time with positive, supportive adults who act as our guides, teachers and confidantes.

There are many roads that lead to a college degree. But I think as soon as we start valuing what we learn in and out of the classroom as much as we value our paychecks, the “what’s college worth anyway?” question will be much easier to answer.

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors and the LA K-12 Examiner. Follow Wendy’s education coverage in Los Angeles and read the original post on Examiner.com.

Nearly 70% of our human bodies and the surface of our earth are made up of water. While it’s a vital part of our lives, 1 billion people worldwide go without access to clean, safe drinking water every day.

In the United States, it’s easy to take this precious resource for granted – almost all of us can turn on the faucet and find water readily available. And yet, the bottled water industry is booming, selling about 40 billion gallons each year.

Today is World Water Day – an opportunity to start a conversation about water conservation with the young people in your life. As we learn how to consume and save water responsibly, we can also learn how people in developing countries are suffering due to a lack of safe water. More importantly, we can learn how to help, and inspire our children to get involved as well.

As you sit around the dinner table tonight, or engage your students in the classroom tomorrow, consider sparking a conversation about World Water Day. The discussion can touch upon several academic subjects including:

• Geography (which countries suffer from a lack of safe water?)
• History (how has water use and conservation changed over the years and how has it impacted human health and civilizations?)
• Science (how is water sanitized? What are some of the water-related diseases that pose a threat to human safety?)
• Math and Economics (according to the non-profit organization Charity: Water, “every $1 invested in improved water access and sanitation yields an average of $12 in economic returns” – in short, how can a financial investment in sanitation programs today impact our global economy tomorrow?)

Here are some facts and resources you can use to start a conversation about water in your family or classroom:

• Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.1
• The ancient Romans had better water quality than half the people alive today.2
• Women spend thousands of hours each year collecting and carrying water. 2
• Half of the world’s hospitalizations are due to water-related disease. 2
• 90% of the 42,000 deaths that occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions are to children under five years old (and many of these diseases are preventable).1

Visit http://www.charitywater.org/ to learn more, and http://water.org/ to download informative and educational lesson plans for students of all ages.

1 Charity: Water

2 Water.org

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors and the LA K-12 Examiner. Follow Wendy’s education coverage in Los Angeles and read the original post on Examiner.com.

According to the report that gathered data from several studies, 80% of U.S. children 5-years-old and younger are using the Internet at least once a week. Television still remains the medium of choice, however, with TV usage at an eight-year high among preschoolers.

I was shocked (and kind of impressed) the first time I met a friend’s young daughter. After being introduced to her “Annie” the musical obsession, the 2 1/2-year-old pulled up the video on her father’s iPhone. As she surfed the Internet and watched in amazement, I watched her with the same curiosity and fascination.

Do we have to sacrifice family reading time and after-dinner walks for cross-country Skype sessions and 3D blockbusters? As we evolve year and after, maybe we find our balance by appreciating what we gain and limiting what we lose. Maybe we have to recognize our face in the mirror before we Google our first word.

And then again, if we’re ever feeling nostalgic, we could always turn to YouTube for a glimpse of the past.

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors and the LA K-12 Examiner. Follow Wendy’s education coverage in Los Angeles and read the original post on Examiner.com.

As a native Angelino, I can still remember what it felt like to wake up in the middle of the night to the rumble and sway and the pops of electrical lines outside my bedroom window. Earthquake drills were an annual and yawn-inducing event at my elementary school, and everyone I knew had stolen a granola bar from their earthquake preparedness kit at one point or another (myself included). But no matter how “routine” earthquakes had become, I still feared them. And nothing compared to those few moments as the shaking began when I ran into my mom’s bedroom, terrified and confused. What was an earthquake? Why did our earth shake? Should I be afraid?

Even if an earthquake, flood or tornado has never directly impacted your life, natural disasters have undoubtedly affected people all over the world in record numbers. Death, destruction, disaster – these are heavy subjects for anyone, but children can be acutely affected by what they hear. Reports on the evening news can impact them in ways you may not expect, so always use caution when exposing them to breaking stories and images. Sheltering children completely from world events isn’t the answer either – you know your child better than anyone, so gauge how much information is too much information, and discuss accordingly.

You don’t need to be a science buff to talk to your kids about plate tectonics, seismometers and cumulus clouds. Engage your child’s teacher for tips and encourage them to cover the science behind timely subjects in class. You can also head to your public library for informative books and videos that you and your child can share. Local science museums offer interactive exhibits that are great for active and curious kids, and it’s something you can do together. Oftentimes, the more children learn the why behind traumatic events, the less mysterious and intimidating they become.

The technical information they may need to learn is a challenge in and of itself, but how it makes them feel could last a lifetime. Engage the curious, young minds in your household and approach current events as a teachable moment and an opportunity for learning.

Visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for more tips on helping your kids cope with natural disasters.

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors and the LA K-12 Examiner. Follow Wendy’s education coverage in Los Angeles and read the original post on Examiner.com.