“Kids of 911 callers to receive free back-to-school shoes - St. Petersburg Times” plus 3 more

Kids of 911 callers to receive free back-to-school shoes - St. Petersburg Times
Poems, Parenthood, and Squeaky Shoes - Associated Content
Kids heading back to school? Create some room to think in your home - New Orleans Times-Picayune
New Kid Ventures opens today - San Diego Union-Tribune

Kids of 911 callers to receive free back-to-school shoes - St. Petersburg Times

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 01:36 PM PDT

Times staff
Posted: Aug 12, 2010 04:36 PM

TAMPA — The eight children of the women who attempted to help Officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab will receive free back-to-school shoes courtesy of police and the University Mall.

Renee Roundtree, 37, Rose Dodson, 32, and Delores Keen tried saving Curtis and Kocab after the two Tampa officers were fatally shot June 29 during a routine traffic stop.

On Friday, their kids will get to pick out any two pairs of shoes at any store in University Mall. Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor and the department's Black History Committee will join the kids on the shopping trip.

The mall will also treat the families to lunch.

In addition to new shoes, Tampa will assist the women with housing and other back-to-school needs.

The women have also been offered access to a department grief counselor.

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Poems, Parenthood, and Squeaky Shoes - Associated Content

Posted: 14 Aug 2010 09:30 AM PDT

"Just a one time thing," I said to myself, "She wasn't crying, she was just trying to get her mom's attention. She's gonna shut up now."

I waited a moment for my heartbeat to slow down its pounding tempo.

Finally, calm again, I began to scrounge around my mind, searching for those words that the little Nazi had snatched from me. I began to find tidbits, here and there, of that near perfect line I'd almost formed. Excited, I started gathering everything back to gather, words fell into place, I grabbed my pen, thrust my hand towards the page- a poem was about to be born when-

SQEEEEEEEEEEEK!

The shrill squeal of a squeaky toy shot through the room.

"Ahhhhhhh." I screamed inside my head, "I'm gonna end up working in the fast food industry for the rest of my life because this little bitch won't let me write my masterpiece!"

At this point, I knew she was evil. I glared at her, that little charlatan, feigning an innocent, adorable expression to veil the heartless sadism simmering just beneath the surface. She was clearly out to get me- she was wearing shoes with squeaky toys built in for god sake! Every step she took slapped me in the face! This wasn't even reasonable or fair! This would never happen in a good world! What kind of species even considers putting loud, squeaky-toy shoes on toddler's feet? What good could possibly come from that?!

But there they were, and there she was- staring back at me, malevolent smile smeared on her face.

Our eyes met for a moment longer, her little smile twisted into a smirk, as she took one loud, deliberate step.

SQEEEEEEEEAK!

Then her little smirk burst into a giggle.

I wanted to hate her so bad, I wanted to fly into a tirade about the inconsideration of mothers bringing loud little kids into environments that were obviously intended to be quite. I wanted to be angry, but I couldn't. I couldn't help but love this little kid! She knew exactly what she was up too, and not only did she not care, she enjoyed it! She took one more loud, squeaky stomp, mischievously giggling to herself as she did, our eyes still locked together, and I, helpless and defeated, started laughing along.

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Kids heading back to school? Create some room to think in your home - New Orleans Times-Picayune

Posted: 14 Aug 2010 02:56 AM PDT

Published: Saturday, August 14, 2010, 5:00 AM

Setting up the perfect study space is a lot like finding the perfect wall color or the perfect piece of art -- it's in the eyes of the individual.

But some features seem to be concrete and constant: a lack of clutter, appropriate lighting, sound control, comfortable seating, a handy spot for work materials and an organizational system.

As another school year gets under way, here are some insights from experts on setting up a space that's just right:

De-clutter: "When a space is cluttered and you can't find things, it translates into the brain, and the brain translates it back to the space, " said Cathy Burka, a clinical social worker.

Clear is better, on the desk and in the brain.

Lighting: Architect Michael Cajski of Volume Zero LLC recommends flexibility.

"Lighting is more difficult than it used to be. It used to be taken for granted that the object (being studied) was on a horizontal surface. Now, reflective surfaces like computer monitors are more vertical than horizontal. You need lighting reasonable for both situations."

That includes at least some overhead light from the ceiling. "Depending on how that is configured, you probably want dimmable if possible. And you probably want an adjustable lamp as well, especially if traditional reading and writing material is used more than digital."

Light color can be an issue, too, he said.

Incandescent bulbs give off a warmer color, more yellow than white, and are usually preferred in homes. Cooler colors, like those given off by fluorescent bulbs, tend to feel more clinical.

"I've heard it argued that white light is the optimum reading light, " Cajski said. That type of incandescent bulb, said to mimic midday sun and neither cool nor warm, is available in big-box home stores.

CFL bulbs come in a range of colors, he said, but some may change hues over their lifetimes. Tube fluorescent lights sometimes have a flutter that can reflect in computer monitors and be generally annoying.

Natural light is always a plus, he said, as long as it can be controlled with blinds or curtains.

As for light strength, Cajski says to go with what's comfortable.

Sound: Flexibility is key here, too. Some students need quiet. For them, a room isolated from the hubbub of the family, or at least a room with doors, is best.

Others, though, need some noise, so a CD player or similar device may be an important tool.

"If they're an auditory learner, there might be a need for music (in the background), but not something that's verbal, " said Deborah Oppenheim, a teacher for 30 years and now an educational consultant.

"Baroque music is the best to study to; it mimics the beat of the heart and has tremendous effect on recall."

Studies on the effect of music have spawned a whole cottage industry of music CDs.

White noise might also work.

Comfortable seating: Whether it's a chair at a desk or the kitchen table, or a beanbag in a reading nook on the floor, if a student can't sit comfortably to study ... well, he won't.

Available materials: From pens and pencils -- and don't forget pencil sharpeners -- to dictionaries and other references, everything the student needs should be at his fingertips as constants in the study area. Side trips to find supplies can interrupt the flow of focus and initiative.

If the kitchen table doubles as a study spot, or if the quietest spot in the house varies, Oppenheim suggests creating a supplies-to-go box that the student can take along. A tackle-box-style container works well.

Organizational aids: No matter a student's age, some system of organization is necessary.

Younger kids may simply have to put math papers back into a math folder and the math folder back into a backpack.

For older students, the process becomes increasingly complex along with their course work, and the system should reflect that. Bins, folders, accordion files and boxes are some good choices.

"We assume that after fourth grade kids know how to organize, but every year they need new skills. It keeps building, " Oppenheim said. "I always spent my first month of teaching fourth- and fifth-graders teaching organization."

"In middle school, kids get into trouble because they're moving class to class, " said Dr. Andy Burka, a psychologist who specializes in children and adolescents' educational issues and learning disabilities at Ochsner Foundation.

"They get handouts. Make it a routine to put them away somewhere. It requires much more independence, but they don't want supervision."

Older students "have to have places to put loose papers, past tests and quizzes; it helps to have them in one place. Say, a place they put all their history; a place for math; and a place for English, " he said.

Color-coding is a great tool. "One subject, one color helps you be specific about where you put things down. Sometimes the color codes can make book covers and binders the same. It creates a sense of order."

STUDENT ID: GET TO KNOW YOUR LEARNING STYLE

It seems that Socrates, the ancient Greek scholar, had great advice for designing the perfect modern-day study space: "Know thyself." (Parents may need to paraphrase here: Know thy kids.)

The way a student learns helps determine how his space is best set up, so that's a good place to start.

There are four basic approaches to learning:

Visual: These learners may think in pictures and learn best from visual displays such as diagrams, illustrated text books, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs. In the classroom, visual learners often take detailed notes.

Bulletin boards, calendars and dry-erase boards are especially effective tools for visual learners, so, in the study space, keep competing visuals to a minimum. In a bedroom, that might mean keeping posters, mementos and knickknacks away from the study area.

Auditory: For these students, written information may have little meaning until it is heard. They often benefit from reading text aloud and using a tape recorder.

These are the students who might most need background noise, such as instrumental music, to help them focus while they study. Designing a study space that's shielded from random noise becomes more important for auditory learners.

Kinesthetic and tactile: Tactile/kinesthetic people learn best through a hands-on approach, actively exploring the world around them. They may find it hard to sit still for long periods and may become distracted by their need for activity.

A kinesthetic learner might need to pace while reading, meaning the study area would need extra room to accommodate that.

A tactile learner, on the other hand, might squeeze a stress ball while reading. Decor with multiple textures could be distracting in this student's study space: Put that chenille throw somewhere else.

Learning style also determines how a student perceives organization, said Deborah Oppenheim, a teacher for 30 years and an educational consultant.

"The over-arching theme is the individuality of it; no specific organization would work for all kids. Parents have to get to know their child, " said Dr. Andy Burka, a psychologist who specializes in children and adolescent educational issues and learning disabilities at Ochsner Foundation. He and his wife, Cathy Burka, a clinical social worker, run the Challenges Summer Program, which teaches resiliency skills to schoolchildren.

That's why the process of setting up a space and an organizational system should be collaborative, rather than dictated by the parent.

And it can require parents to do a lot of thinking outside their own comfort zones.

A mother wired like Cathy Burka, who Andy Burka says "came out of the womb knowing how to study, how to keep things neat, " might have to really work at understanding and communicating with a child who doesn't share that trait.

Development also plays a big role in determining what's appropriate.

"There are always going to be transitions from year to year based on development, " Oppenheim said. "How you file, how you track things, how your notebooks get organized."

Often, these systems are dictated by a teacher.

"But it's all behavior, and it always needs maintenance, " she added.

"A child will feel good when they see organization, " Andy Burka noted. "The question is whether they will continue to keep it up.

"Kids don't want to bother with putting things in the right place. When school becomes really important to them, they get organized. That's a developmental process."

Boys, especially, have trouble because they develop organizational skills later than girls, Cathy Burka said.

The key to helping any child is understanding where he falls developmentally, and compensating for difficulties.

For example, "Some really don't like binders because of the multiple steps involved: making holes and putting onto rings, " Cathy Burka said. "Accordion files can be helpful."

The tone of the "help" is important, too.

"If you harp on a kid, " Oppenheim said, "he never gets better. But if every week you take everything out and reorder, that's positive reinforcement. Bribery -- we call it positive reinforcement, " she said with a laugh.

How does a parent know if a system is working?

"By feedback from the teacher on whether a child is getting homework in, returning papers signed, tests that are supposed to be returned. Get a sense of children's organizational competency from the teacher, " Andy Burka said.

And from your own observations, such as in getting ready in the mornings. If a child routinely can't find his shoes and backpack, there's a problem, Cathy Burka added.

Past the immediate issues, parents should keep an eye on the future.

"For an 8-year-old, it's easier to say from 5 to 6 is study time, " Andy Burka said. "With a 15-year-old, that's not going to work as well. It's a developmental process of gradually taking over responsibility for where and how you study and the space you set up."

Cathy Burka spelled it out in concrete terms: "They start off at the kitchen table; then in their room with the door shut. Then it's CCs (coffeehouse) or the Tulane library. If you haven't learned how to organize by then -- if you're IM-ing or still on the cell phone (while studying), you're in big trouble, "

ONE CASE STUDY

Catherine Schully, a recent graduate of Metairie Park Country Day School who's heading off to Millsaps College in the fall, has worked hard at staying organized and learning to study effectively.

She's worked with Dr. Andy Burka privately and in the O YES (Own Your Educational Success) group he started at the school, where students share tips and compare notes.

At home, she likes to spread out and have all of her work in front of her on the long table in the front office of her Lakeview family home.

The room is by no means bare. It contains artwork, glass accent pieces and a number of lovely porcelain lamps, but, Catherine confirms, they're not the kinds of objects she finds distracting. "It's a nice feel, but it's a serious place, " she said.

On one wall, a set of built-in bookshelves with cabinets underneath flank the French doors, which let natural light flow in.

One shelf stores the reference books she routinely uses, and one cabinet hides her card files (for flash cards), file folders that are color-coded by subject for easy recognition and a large quilted tote full of standardized test study materials. Pens, pencils and the like are always in containers on the cabinet top.

"Have all the things you need in there, so you never have to leave and are not distracted, " she advises.

Catherine's study room also has doors to close it off from the rest of the house. Quiet can be important to her. She has a processing disorder, and when reading, "noises keep the material from getting into my head."

She uses dry-erase boards a lot, such as to make to-do lists and when mastering new math concepts, she said.

"You can erase and fix them and then put it on paper, " she says. Once she has the concept down and further problems are a matter of repeating the steps, she moves back to paper. At that point, she might also play some soft music.

Even though she keeps a school agenda with her assignments written down by class, when she's beginning her homework, she writes them down a second time on a notepad in the order she intends to complete them.

"Writing them down again helps with short-term memory, " she said, adding, "Verbal instruction doesn't always work for me."

Plus, "the feeling of scratching them out (off the list) is rewarding."

(Keeping a calendar follows the same principle, noted educational consultant Deborah Oppenheim. "To put something into long-term memory, you need to look at it three times. So putting it on a calendar, it's another retrieval.")

"A lot of it is taking time to learn about what works for you, " Catherine said. "It's different for every person. It's a lot of trial and error."

********

Karen Taylor Gist can be reached at kgist@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3467.

New Kid Ventures opens today - San Diego Union-Tribune

Posted: 14 Aug 2010 12:19 AM PDT

Business spotlight

By Wendy Fry, Associate Staff Writer

Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 12:02 a.m.

There's never a dull moment inside Kid Ventures.

Picture young boys yanking out a fire hose to rescue stuffed animals stuck in a (pretend) burning castle, while just a few feet away, a costume princess blows bubbles for children who are finger-painting.

"Every day is something new," said store owner Debbie Solomon. "There's always something going on."

The store, which celebrates a grand opening today at its newest location in South County, has costumes, art supplies and rooms filled with life-size props such as pirates ships, fire stations and cars. There is plenty here to spark the creativity in any child, but the business mainly caters to kids between the ages of 1 to 8.

Why Kid Ventures?

Solomon noticed that often parents want to play with their children but don't know how. She also knows sometimes parents need a break, which is why her store features a Parent Cafe with Wi-Fi and a place for parents to relax.

Solomon, 38, opened the first Kid Ventures in Pacific Beach just after she had her first child in 2009. With the second location, Solomon collaborated on the life-size village facades with Jim Vanegas, an artist and contractor who once worked for Disney.

The South County Kid Ventures is at 851 Showroom Place in the Eastlake Design District of Chula Vista. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays. The store is open for birthday parties Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Admission is $12 for the first child and $8 for siblings. Kids are required to wear no shoes and socks as they play.

Kids Shoes

Saturday, August 14, 2010