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Arts & Crafts Busy Book : 365 Activities by Trish Kuffner, Bruce Lansky (17)
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Family Activities
365 FUN, CREATIVE ACTIVITIES TO STIMULATE YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR This book contains 365 creative and educational arts and crafts projects for children ages two to six that provide a great alternative to using TV as a babysitter. It shows parents and daycare providers how to: --Stimulate creativity and self-expression with activities that encourage a child to explore his or her place in the world. --Create experiments with paint, glue, playdough, paper, and markers that focus a child's energy constructively. --Encourage the development of a child's concentration and coordination, as well as organizational and manipulative skills, with well-chosen arts and crafts projects. --Save money by making arts and crafts supplies such as paints, playdough, and craft clay with ingredients that can be found around the home. Celebrate the holidays and other occasions with special projects and activities. The Arts and Crafts Busy Book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. It should be required reading for anyone raising or teaching young children. iParenting Media Awards 2003?Greatest Holiday Winner: BookAn iParenting Media Award Winner!
Rank: #34457 in Books
Brand: Meadowbrook Press
Published on: 2003-06-01
Released on: 2003-06-01
Original language: English
Number of items: 1
Dimensions: 1.00" h x 5.40" w x 6.90" l, .80 pounds
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? The University of Arkansas is reviewing nearly 100 early decision applications from people interested in becoming Arkansas Teacher Corps fellows.
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The new teacher-preparation program designed to help Arkansas school districts in high-need areas fill open teaching positions set an early decision deadline of Jan. 18. The program aims to provide an accelerated path to teaching for talented people with the overall goal of having a lasting impact on students and communities in Arkansas.
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Applications are still being accepted on a rolling basis until March 15. The application is available online at the program website.
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Applicants are required to have a bachelor?s degree in any major and demonstrate academic success and service orientation, said Benton Brown, director of the program. Those who are awarded Arkansas Teacher Corps Fellowships will receive a $5,000 stipend per year in addition to their teaching salary from the school district that hires them.
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?We are seeking high-achieving students with a particular desire to serve communities and students in the state of Arkansas,? said Gary Ritter, one of the faculty directors, adding that the goal of the program is to have 100 fellows teaching in the state by 2015.
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About half of the applicants so far have personal experience in low-income communities, Brown said. Many have grade-point averages of 3.8 or higher and standardized test scores in the top 10 percent. They hold degrees from universities across the state of Arkansas as well as Ivy League and other top tier schools.
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The development of the Arkansas Teacher Corps program was led by Tom Smith, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, along with Ritter, holder of the Twenty-First Century Chair in Education Policy, and Conra Gist, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction.
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?This program will help us meet needs in the state currently not being met by us or other colleges of education in the state,? Smith said. ?We want to offer multiple paths for teacher candidates with the ultimate result that students will have the best teachers possible in their classrooms.?
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The program will address shortages in high-need districts based on both geographic and specific content area shortages. District officials noted the difficulty of finding enough qualified candidates to teach in content areas such as math and science as well as attracting qualified teachers to low socioeconomic areas of the state.
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Jerry Guess, superintendent of the Pulaski County Special School District, hopes to hire Arkansas Teacher Corps fellows to staff shortage areas in his large central Arkansas district. ?We are experiencing a desperate shortage of teachers in certain areas,? Guess said, citing multiple positions open halfway through the fall that he was having difficulty filling.
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Kelvin Gragg is superintendent of the Dermott School District, a small district in southeast Arkansas. He has seen how the national program Teach for America worked well in his area but does not have enough teachers to help him fill open positions.
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?The problem we have hiring teachers is very similar to what other schools along the Highway 65 corridor in the Delta face,? Gragg said. The poverty level of the region makes it difficult to attract qualified teachers to come to the area and stay, he said.
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?I?m excited about the future teachers we?re going to get from this program because I think they will be high-caliber teachers who may come from different areas and want to get into education,?Gragg said. ?What I have found is that, when a person wants to go into education and they have experience from an outside area, they are the type of teachers who are really willing to bring in new ideas such as technology as well as a new perspective. They want to try new things.?
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Gist, one of the faculty directors, said Arkansas Teacher Corps incorporates ?the best practices of various alternative certification programs like effective recruitment and selection processes, and developing partnerships with locally based community organizations.?
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The professional development component and support of Arkansas Teacher Corps make the program attractive, Guess said, but he?s also pleased the program emphasizes community service.
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?That level of understanding of community responsibility is important,? he said.
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The program will recruit applicants to become teachers and work with partner school districts that will hire these new teachers after they complete an intensive six- to eight-week training program. The training will include workshops, student teaching, and small-group planning seminars. Districts will also supply mentors to assist the new teachers. The program will guide applicants through the non-traditional teacher licensure process so that each fellow is certified in a high-need subject area such as math, science, or English, based on the needs of school districts.
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The program has the support of the Arkansas Department of Education and will collaborate with school districts and community organizations. Funding for this project has been made available by a collaboration between the College of Education and Health Professions, the Walton Family Foundation and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.
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?We have an opportunity with Arkansas Teacher Corps to implement highly transformative measures,? said Tom Kimbrell, Arkansas commissioner of education. ?With so many teachers leaving the classroom in the next decade, there is an increased sense of urgency to recruit the next generation of teachers and to experiment with more innovative programs. Our state?s future depends on our efforts to attract and retain highly effective teachers.?
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?There is general excitement about the program and its potential,? Brown noted. ?Applications are already coming in and we are eager to continue to review applications of enthusiastic individuals committed to making a difference in the lives of students.?
The Cobb community is invited to attend a showcase of performing arts talent from Cobb County schools.
Enjoy a?Theatre & Dance Night at The Earl Smith Strand?on Marietta Square,?Tuesday, Jan. 29?at 7 p.m.?Tickets are just $3.00 at the door.?Theatre programs from Campbell High, Cooper Middle, Harrison High, Hillgrove High, Kell High, Kennesaw Mt. High, Lassiter High, Lindley Middle, Pebblebrook High, Pope High, and South Cobb High will provide an evening of top class entertainment.
Apogee strolled into NAMM with a trio of wares newly outfitted for both iOS and Mac. While the Duet and Quartet are certainly formidable pieces of kit, the more compact Apogee One caught our eye for its dual capture ability without adding too much heft to the ol' backpack. The unit accepts input from a built-in mic and either a XLR or 1/4-inch analog input -- both of which connect via a two-headed Y-cable. From there, the One connects to a power supply and either your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or Apple computer of choice for that dual-tracking capture. After seeing the device up close and spending a few minutes handling it, our main gripe remains the lack of a Lightning connection. Sure it's great that we can outfit our iDevices, but we'd love to see an included cable for the latest port to come out of Cupertino rather having to locate an adapter.
Without being able to capture a solid vocal track on the bustling show floor here at NAMM, we unfortunately can't speak to the quality of that on-board condenser microphone. However, the One seemed to handle guitar licks quite well when recorded with GarageBand on an iPad mini. As we've mentioned before, the outfit has also outed its Maestro app for low-latency monitoring and a bit more control over how matters progress. Aside from all of that, the gadget sports a similar dial knob to that of the original release for selecting functions and controlling input / output levels with dual LED stacks for a visual indicator of said signals. The One wields the same solid build quality that we've come to expect from Apogee based on a few of the other products we've spent extended time with. For a quick walkthrough, take a look at the video that lies beyond the break.
Studies at Michigan State University show there is a happiness boost that occurs when couples marry. This boost lasts about two years, after which people revert to their former levels of happiness or unhappiness.
Infatuation and passion have an even shorter lifespan, and must evolve into companionate love, composed of deep affection, connection and liking according to Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside.
In her recent book happily married couples average five positive verbal and emotional expressions towards one another for every negative expression. For a very unhappy couple this ratio is less than one to one.
This got me thinking about relationships in general, and in particular with our work colleagues and customers.
Ken Blanchard, in his book ?The One Minute Manager? talks about the importance of the one minute praising. He suggests you praise people for what they do right immediately and very specifically. Include in the praising message how good you feel about what they did and how it helps you, the organisation or the family. Pause a moment to let then ?feel? how good it is, encourage them to do the same and provide positive support for their role in the organisation or family.
Blanchard goes on to also introduce the concept of the one minute reprimand. Once again, be specific and deliver it immediately following up with a reminder of their value to you and the organisation or family. The key to the reprimand is realising when it is over.
What does this have to do with sales or account management?
In sales I find it easy to be positive when chasing a new opportunity. I can give out positive verbal expressions regularly and overlook bad customer behaviour just to win a deal. When overdone this behaviour is seen by customers as sleazy sales behaviour often characterised by images of used car sales people or real estate agents.
This is dangerous behaviour if you are trying to win long term business. Just like a marriage, you can become infatuated with winning a new customer and miss the signals which may lead to trouble.
The pain of losing a long term customer, a spouse or relationship in a family can all be linked to similar behaviour patterns. Sonja?s research tells us we need to be catching our customers doing things right;
?Emily, I really appreciated the quick payment on the account. It has helped us keep our contractors happy and deliver a better service. Working with people like you is a real pleasure.?
?George, having the samples arrive a day earlier allowed us to get the tests slotted into this week?s batch rather than next week. It made me feel much more comfortable knowing the results before commencing on the next phase.?
Catching people doing the right thing is simple. The hard thing is taking the time to say something about it. As we get comfortable in the relationship we have with our customers it is easier to look for things going wrong and criticise. Before you know it the ratio of positive to negative expressions drops to less than one and you get that phone call saying ?We have decided to change suppliers?.
Today?s question and Actions
Examine your most important customer relationships and ask yourself ?Am I happy with the relationship, or is it creating stress??. Here are three things you can do to help bring the relationship with the account back into sync.
Look for things your customer is doing well and start praising the individuals who are doing it. Don?t make things up and put on a sleazy salespersons coat. Make it a genuine praising in the way Blanchard puts it.
Keep the negative stuff out of your everyday conversation. It is easy to criticise, however, in an important relationship, going over old ground can be devastating. If something needs to be addressed do so immediately and move on.
Take time to enjoy the relationship you have with your customer. This does not mean you have to be friends, just do things you enjoy together once in awhile.
You will be astounded at how many new opportunities will come your way when you have a customer who is ?in love? with you. Of course you will be enjoying do things for them just as much.
Editor?s note: This is a guest post from Scott Shaffstall.
Nothing is as idyllic for the man sitting behind a desk as dreaming of exploring the great outdoors. Marco Polo ventured through Asia to the Far East. Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic in the opposite direction. Lewis and Clark?s team, with the help of Sacagawea, pursued the Northwest Passage and discovered a few things along the way. As has been previously discussed in the Art of Manliness community, men are wired to explore new surroundings. But amidst our fast-paced modernity, year-long, month-long, or even week-long trips are hard to come by. By using modern recreational off-highway vehicles, in my case a Kawasaki Teryx4, you can escape deep into the heart of the great outdoors in only a fraction of the time needed in the past, while having a hell of a fun time getting there. If you happen to have lady friends or a few best buddies to play navigator, tail gunner, and designated comic relief, it conveniently offers seating for four.
Below are five of the top places to escape in your off-road vehicle, whether it has two, three, or four wheels. And when you cut the engine in the middle of nowhere, you?ll be able to appreciate the beauty that can only be found when a man gets off the beaten track and into nature.
1)?Moab and Paiute ATV Trail, Utah
Two of the best places to ride in the country can be found upon the red rocks of Moab, in Southeast Utah, and via the high-altitude Paiute ATV Trail in the southern central portion of the state. Although it may be a bit of a drive for those on the West Coast, and a major trek for anyone back East, this area boasts without a doubt some of the best riding in the world. Moab has a little bit of everything: sand, water, cliffs, slickrock, giant human-crushing boulders, and epic scenery. It is remote ? extremely so ? and has been labeled by many riders as the ultimate adventure destination. Demanding both intense physical and mechanical skill, the terrain can be unforgiving. But what is exploration without a little risk? Many of the trails in this area were created by prospectors of by-gone eras, traversing two mountain ranges and miles of red rock cliffs. Without a doubt, you will daydream of the bright blue skies overhead once you are back in your office at work.
The other major riding location is known as the Paiute ATV Trail, a 275-mile journey traversing dense forests. This ride takes over 25 hours to complete. Add over 1,500 miles of side forest roads and trails, and the possibilities here are pretty much limitless. Fishing and camping sites are in abundance for the men who shun hotels. Herds of deer, elk, and even moose are present. At its highest point, the Paiute Trail climbs to over 11,500 feet above sea level, offering incredible views. (Be sure to bring your camera.) It is important to note that while Moab can be extremely challenging, the Paiute is less strenuous, allowing you dads out there to bring your miniature men along for the ride.
2)?Calico Ghost Town, California
This silver-mine mecca went boom-to-bust in the 1880s after hundreds of miles of tunnels were carved into its mountainsides by grizzled fortune seekers. From dozens of saloons, to houses hosting scantily-clad females, this town epitomized everything wonderful about the Old West. The town has since been recreated to resemble its heyday, complete with the historic ?Glory Hole? from which sprang over $20 million in silver ore and even a ride-on train for you Lionel buffs out there.
The real adventure, however, begins just outside of town, as the lands surrounding Calico are open to off-road vehicles. Abandoned placer claims, tailing piles, and vertical and horizontal shafts dot the surroundings and give you a feeling of what it must have been like to trek through such country with nothing but a pack mule, a sack of provisions, and a prayer of striking it rich. Today?s canned bean rations are non-existent, as we can carry coolers in the beds of our vehicles. If a mining town isn?t enough history for you, the Calico Early Man Site is located just a few miles away. This archaeological excavation site has uncovered a possible stone workshop, quarry, and campsite of nomadic hunters and gatherers hailing from the Pleistocene Era, a mere 200,000 years ago.
3)?Hatfield-McCoy Trails, West Virginia
The legendary land of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, in which the men murdered the XY chromosome-carriers of the rival family, is also the home of some of the finest riding trails in the country, with over 500 miles to ride in West Virginia. Spanning over five counties, with four more planning to open soon, the area (referred to as Trail Heaven) offers six different trailheads ranging in difficulty from easy to downright masculinity-testing. If the routes alone aren?t enough to get your blood flowing, perhaps the realization that you are riding over some former Civil War battlefields will give you a sense of the era when dudes sported mustaches on a much more regular basis.
As the most popular trail system on the East Coast, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails are not nearly finished. Plans to incorporate the network into multiple states may eventually include up to 2,000 miles of open trails. Luckily, my Teryx4 has comfortable bucket seats, so the pain in my rear that would usually be the consequence of such long distances is non-existent.
4)?Upper Peninsula, Michigan
While Michigan?s Lower Peninsula is already a popular destination for many, with easy access to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes beginning right at the edge of civilization, those looking to really get away from it all should head north of the Mackinaw Bridge to Michigan?s Upper Peninsula. If you?re looking to lose yourself in a forest canopy of cedars and pines the likes of which Robin Hood would be proud of, this is the place. In nearly any direction there are hundreds, if not thousands, of miles of trails that bring you to deserted beaches on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, over abandoned railroad tracks, and across river-spanning trestles over 100 feet high.
If your mother told you that you were a water baby, look no further. The UP features dozens of pristine lakes and rivers, as well as the Tahquamenon Falls, the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi. For those of you who enjoy tracking game, the region is a hunter?s paradise. While vast stands of woodlands make it necessary for hunters to travel to their deer camp or blind via a four wheeler, my Kawasaki is again a perfect fit, with optional rifle case mounts available to secure our weapons of choice behind the rear seats.
5)?Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis, California)
Have you ever seen a movie (think Lawrence of Arabia) that was shot with the hero stranded in the middle of the desert, trekking across a sea of sand in order to get to relative safety on the other side? Chances are that movie was not shot in the Sahara, but in the Imperial Sand Dunes. With summer temperatures approaching 120 degrees, this is the home of some of the most brutal desert conditions in the United States. Over 40 miles in length from North to South, you can easily lose yourself in these dunes and wind up across the Mexican border. (Hint: When you start to see farmland appear out of the sand, chances are you?re in another country).
With razorback peaks rising hundreds of feet from the desert floor, dune bowls almost a mile in diameter, and the best sunsets I?ve ever seen, this is easily my favorite place to escape to. And like a flowing river, no dune in Glamis is ever the same ? the winds are constantly refining their art. To quote the 1962 classic mentioned above, Jackson Bentley asks T.E. Lawrence, ?What attracts you personally to the desert?? Lawrence?s response: ?It?s clean.?
What are your favorite off-roading destinations? Share with us in the comments!
PARIS (AP) -Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has written off his team's chances of catching Spanish league leader Barcelona and has turned his attention to helping the club win the Champions League for the 10th time.
With the Spanish league more than halfway through, Barcelona is 15 points ahead of Madrid, which won the title last season but is now in third place behind crosstown rival Atletico.
"It's impossible to win the league this year. We have to think about the Champions League and the Copa del Rey," Mourinho said Wednesday in an interview with French radio station RMC.
However, he warned frustrated Madrid fans not to build up their expectations ahead of the match against Manchester United in the last 16.
"It's an objective for me (to win the Champions League), but I don't think you should be obsessed," he said. "You have to understand that other teams can win the competition. They also have the potential to do it."
Madrid's difficult season has increased speculation that he could leave the club at the end of the season. He has previously expressed an interest in returning to coach in England one day - where he turned Chelsea into United's main challenger and led it to two league titles - and has also been linked to the Paris Saint-Germain job.
"England, I know it. I like it a lot and I want to go back one day. Because I only spent 3 1/2 years with Chelsea, and I want to go back and work (in England) one day," he said.
While Mourinho said he would welcome the chance to work in France, he distanced himself from speculation linking him with the PSG job - for now - out of respect for PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti and sporting director Leonardo.
"I am a friend of Carlo's, a friend of Leonardo's," Mourinho said. "I want success for them and for everything to go well. I want it to be so that they don't need another coach."
The 49-year-old Mourinho, who led FC Porto to the Champions League title in 2004, would relish a return to Portugal later in his career, but only to take charge of the national team.
"I would like it. Not now, but one day I would," Mourinho said. "I think people in Portugal are also waiting for this moment. It's an experience I want to have, a World Cup, a European Championship."
Mourinho said he was twice close to taking charge of the England team but appeared to rule out taking over England at a later stage.
"Nearly, in 2007, nearly in 2008. But for me it's Portugal," he said. "You can never say never in football, but I think it is Portugal."
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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