ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
Make Your School a Bully-Free Zone
Author: Costello, Maureen
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Bullying,Educational Environment,School Safety,School Culture,Prevention,Teacher Role,Parent Role,Empathy,Role Models,Parent Teacher Cooperation,Parent Participation,Social Behavior

When parents think of bullying at school, the first image that comes to mind may be a large child shoving a smaller, younger child in a schoolyard. But bullying is rarely so obvious these days. The most common forms of bullying can go unnoticed, and can do far more lasting damage. This fact presents a challenge to parents and educators working to create a bully-free environment in their schools. Fortunately, there are concrete, effective steps parents and educators can take to prevent bullying--and prevention is the best solution. In this article, the author stresses that adults must create school, community, and home environments where there is respect and acceptance of all people. When a school is defined by respect and acceptance, it is difficult for bullying to take root and flourish.
Northern Parkway PTA Makes Health a Habit
Author: Ferdinand, Marilyn
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Nutrition,Parent Education,Grants,Elementary Schools,Parent Participation,Parent Associations,Health Promotion,Volunteers,Family Involvement,Workshops,Physical Fitness

Health and fitness have been on the agenda of Northern Parkway Elementary School for quite some time, thanks to the concerted efforts of its involved and active PTA officers and members. For the past five years, the Northern Parkway PTA has held a popular and well-attended Family Fun and Fitness Night and has complemented the activities and information provided to families at this annual event with parenting workshops on nutrition and fitness, among other topics of interest, held in the community throughout the school year. In 2009, Northern Parkway PTA decided to expand their efforts with the help of a Healthy Lifestyles grant from National PTA. The grant allowed Northern Parkway PTA to increase the nutrition-related information provided to every child at their school.
Three Steps to Engage Volunteers in Membership Marketing
Author: Rossell, Tony
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Marketing,Volunteers,Volunteer Training,Participation,Family School Relationship,School Community Relationship,Guides

There is a big world out there, and volunteers can make a significant impact in helping one reach out to others and grow his/her PTA membership. In fact, word-of-mouth marketing tied for the top spot as the most effective method of new member recruitment in Marketing General's 2010 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report. So getting volunteers' help is not just a good idea, but an essential part of membership development. In this article, the author offers three steps to get volunteers plugged in to their membership marketing efforts.
A Blueprint for Empowering Families: The National Standards for Family-School Partnerships
Author: Wilson, Sherri
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Educational Improvement,National Standards,Family School Relationship,Guidelines,Academic Achievement,Parent Participation,Empowerment,Family Programs,Power Structure,Case Studies,Elementary Schools

The six National Standards for Family-School Partnerships provide a research-based framework for strengthening family engagement programs, activities, and policies by shifting the focus from what schools should do to involve parents, to what parents, schools, and communities can do together to support student success. An adjunct to the National Standards is the &quot;Assessment Guide&quot;. This guide is a great place to start to help families and schools determine how well they are meeting the Standards by offering indicators of family engagement. While each of the standards forms a critical component in a comprehensive family-engagement program, many schools still struggle with the implementation of Standard 5: Sharing power. In this article, the author describes the characteristics of Standard 5 and discusses how PTAs can use the &quot;Assessment Guide&quot; to help schools identify how well they are sharing power and then work with them to develop strategies to devise means to better share power with families. (Contains 5 online resources.)
Help Schools by Partnering with Teacher Education Programs
Author: Benson, Gwendolyn
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Teacher Education Programs,Parent Teacher Conferences,Parent Participation,College School Cooperation,Partnerships in Education,Family Involvement,Family School Relationship,Volunteers,Communities of Practice

For the past 10 years, schools have been required by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act-No Child Left Behind (ESEA-NCLB) to develop meaningful family engagement practices that provide welcoming environments to parents. However, for parents who have had negative experiences in school, either as a student or through interacting with their child's teacher and school staff, feeling truly comfortable and welcome may not come easy. Schools themselves often do not know how to change ingrained patterns that may have excluded parents. Work must be done in teacher preparation programs to determine how best to encourage positive relationships and provide education students with appropriate instruction in parent engagement. A trusting relationship can be built through effective school-to-home and home-to-school communication on all matters, both positive and negative. The communication should not end with parent-teacher conferences, newsletters, or greetings at the school door, but also should include engagement of parents and families in school planning. However, the actual process of parent engagement can be as diverse as the populations who attend public schools; therefore, there is no "one size fits all" answer. In this article, the authors discuss what parents and PTA leaders can do to improve current parent engagement practices.
Get Your Student Ready to Go Back to School...Again
Author: Crossman, Anne
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Holidays,Sleep,Parent Role,Readiness,Reading Aloud to Others,Family Environment,Family Relationship,Recreational Reading,Guides,Scheduling

The holidays are here, and with vacation beckoning, school is soon to become an afterthought. However, whether a student is in 1st grade or 12th, with a little bit of planning, there are a few things parents can do to ensure the second half of the school year is even more successful than the first. These few tips include making time over the holidays to read at least one book together as a family, using the holidays as a chance to catch up on some sleep needed, and working the family wake-up time back to its original schedule three days before school.
Welcome to Team PTA
Author: Wharton, Krista
Date: 2012-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Conferences (Gatherings),Higher Education,Leadership Training,Parent School Relationship,Parent Participation,Parent Associations,Parents,Volunteers,National Organizations,Family Involvement

Local PTAs may see their state PTA and National PTA as just a group to which they have to pay membership dues without getting anything in return. They may not see the state PTA as a resource. Perhaps they are not attending their state convention or the National PTA convention because they do not perceive any value. The author has learned from experience that there is tremendous value for local leaders in working with state and National PTA. The conventions offer numerous workshops to attend, leadership training, and networking with other members across the state and the country to share best practices and solve problems. Building local-state PTA relationships is especially important to the mutual goal of empowering families in all the states to help children succeed.
Unsettling Ourselves: Some Thoughts on Non-Native Participation in Decolonization Work
Author: Soltys, Matt
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Outdoor Education,Ecology,Foreign Countries,Canada Natives,Indigenous Populations,Environmental Influences

The ecological impact of colonialism is inextricable from empire building, industrialism, large-scale deforestation, and agriculture. Not long ago one could safely drink from nearly every lake, river, stream, and spring, and one could hunt animals as a part of intact ecosystems. Today's world is very different. Colonization alters the reality through one's language and sense of place. Learning the history of the Saugeen Ojibway or the Algonquins, referring to the area as the Saugeen rather than the Bruce Peninsula, and learning how one can assist these nations' reparations is one way of decolonizing the language and sense of place. Decolonizing people's minds has a lot to do with outdoor education work, which has deep roots in ecology and bioregionalism. The author shares some thoughts on non-native participation in decolonization work. (Contains 1 footnote.)
Transitioning Traditions: Rectifying an Ontario Camp's Indian Council Ring
Author: Wilkes, Taylor
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Recreational Activities,Foreign Countries,Canada Natives,Indigenous Populations,Outdoor Education

Council Ring has always been a very special event, remembered fondly by generations of campers. Taylor Statten Camps (TSC) are not the only camps to cherish such an activity. Across Canada there are dozens of camps that have supported &quot;Indian&quot; assemblies in the past, but a select few still do. Most organizations abandoned them during the 1960s or changed focus to themes that do not risk racist interpretation. This trend outlines the struggle camps have faced to appropriately represent the culture of the First Nations at events--a struggle or, better yet, a challenge people at TSC have just begun to accept. As a long-term camper and senior staff member last summer, the author had the opportunity to participate in reviving the program and observing the progress and obstacles that evolved.
Ecological Metissage: Exploring the Third Space in Outdoor and Environmental Education
Author: Lowan, Greg
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: World Views,Environmental Education,Canada Natives,Ethics,Outdoor Education,American Indians,Comparative Analysis,Indigenous Populations,Cultural Pluralism,Ecology,Self Concept,Philosophy,Teaching Methods,Foreign Countries

Metis scholar Catherine Richardson introduced the concept of the &quot;Third Space&quot; as the existentially blended territory of a Metis mentality. She compared this to the &quot;First Space&quot; of the dominant Euro-Canadian society and the &quot;Second Space&quot; of colonially subjugated Aboriginal peoples. However, during a recent conference presentation, one audience member astutely pointed out that the First Space on Turtle Island was, in fact, Aboriginal, followed by the European Second Space, which resulted in the Third Space of the Metis. The Third Space is a place where Western, Aboriginal, and other cultural beliefs, philosophies, values, and knowledge intersect, cohabit, and intermingle. Concepts such as the Third Space, healing the split head, Two-Eyed Seeing, and metis provide a compelling theoretical basis for exploring intercultural environmental ethics and education. The author uses the term &quot;ecological metissage&quot; to collectively describe these concepts. Ecological metissage denotes a blending of two or more ecological world views in personal identity, philosophy, and practice. The author explores examples of ecological metissage in practice. (Contains 2 figures and 2 endnotes.)
Living Divided No More: A Journey into Health in the Twenty-First Century
Author: Carter, Erin
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Popular Culture,Health,Health Conditions,Health Education,Religion,Environmental Education

This article begins to explore the idea of health. It begins to ask questions about where the idea of health comes from, what it means to different people in different places and why it should matter. As society has been increasingly confronted with the realities of a more economically and technologically driven global society, health has evolved from the human sciences into new spheres, such as politics, economics, popular culture, commerce, and religion, where it has arguably taken on new meanings. The full story of health is the unfolding journey of an idea and how this idea is changing the way people think, feel, and act in today's context. The perspective of health the author presents in this article emerges from her own experiences over the last 31 years. This journey is worth exploring because, as she argues, it coincides with the evolution of ideas about health, from a reductive approach to an emerging approach that embraces health in a "whole"istic way.
Intentionally Tuning into Ecological Consciousness: Using the Body to Interpret the Teachings of the Land
Author: Burkhart, Jocelyn
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Consciousness Raising,Educational Methods,Metacognition,Physical Activities,Mental Health,Environmental Education,Outdoor Education,Physical Health,Well Being

For many researchers and writers in the environmental and ecological education fields, outdoor and experiential educational methods are understood to be especially powerful for the development of ecological literacy and consciousness in students, both of which are crucial if one is to develop healthier and more respectful ways of interacting with the land. As an ecological educator who is passionate about living in a respectful relationship with the land and who has spent the past year studying yoga intensively, the author sought to bridge these two worlds by asking, "How can the practice of hatha yoga aid in the development of ecological consciousness?" The practice of hatha yoga is well known for its ability to help with relaxation, stress reduction, and the development of strength and flexibility. It is also an incredibly powerful practice for aligning body and mind, and increasing awareness of both the physical body and the inner self. Many of the various hatha yoga asanas, or poses, mimic natural landforms and creatures, and physically capture the essence of central quality of each through posture and movement. In this article, the author discusses how to use the body to interpret the teachings of the land. By positioning the body in various asanas and using awareness of the breath to align the mind with the body, it becomes possible to access the unique teachings of each of the various elements of the natural environment.
Musings of a Songwriter: Connecting Students to Community and Nature through the Language of Lyric and Song
Author: Filipowitsch, Michael
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Music,Environmental Education,Musicians,Place Based Education,Singing,Musical Composition,Learner Engagement,Music Appreciation,Music Education,Environmental Influences,Outdoor Education

One of the most enduring lessons that the author learned as a musician is that sometimes the most expressive notes are the ones never played. This lesson continues to teach him as he learns to correctly use it within his compositions, as well as in live performances. The author has used music as a tool to connect with students, and has written songs that spoke to the different environmental, social, and political aspects of where he was living. In this article, the author discusses how music and emotion can be integrated with place-based education to foster actively engaged students with a deeper sense of connectedness and appreciation for the natural world.
Fishing: Learning to Live Well on This Land
Author: Lee, Andrew
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Environmental Education,Ethics,Outdoor Education,Marine Biology,Animals,Recreational Activities

By recognizing opportunities to engage in outdoor experiences, provide subsistence, and foster an environmental ethic, all in their own communities, students might become more inclined to advocate for environmentally sustainable activities in their own regions. This author believes that fishing can aid in fostering a certain ethical view of the environment. It  allows participants to carry themselves into the world in a creative way that not only foregrounds Indigenous ways of knowing but also allows for a certain connection to be made with nature. Because fishing can be both a meditative practice and one of subsistence, it might prove valuable to the fostering of connection to the natural world and to alternative ways of knowing for students. Granted, fishing is only one of these opportunities and may not be for everyone. The author challenges readers to find something in their own community that engages students in the environment for a specific purpose and recognizes alternative ways of knowing. (Contains 1 footnote.)
Bringing Nature into Social Work Settings: Mother Earth's Presence
Author: Gana, Carolina
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Feminism,Foreign Countries,Therapeutic Environment,Social Work,Urban Areas,Group Therapy,Trauma,Counseling Techniques,Counselor Role,Reflection,Environment,Sexual Abuse,Violence,Females

In an urban location in the downtown core of Toronto, Ontario, the author provides both individual and group counselling to women impacted by trauma in a community-based setting. Various modalities and theoretical frameworks that include feminism and anti-oppressive methods inform her counselling practice. The approach that the author takes in the counselling role is to utilize nature as a means to connect individuals and communities with the concepts of reflection, process, and transformation. She believes that bringing nature into the therapeutic environment is a form of feminism and anti-oppressive practice. Aspects of nature, such as mother earth, can be used as symbols of feminine energy and have been honoured by many communities globally as vessels for healing. In this article, the author shares a few narratives of various social work settings where she has incorporated nature into practice as a means to provide reflection, process, and personal transformation while connecting the personal journey to a larger social commonality.
Combining Outdoor Education and Anishnaabe Culture in a Four-Credit Semester Program in Blind River
Author: Thomson, Alexandra
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Adventure Education,Earth Science,Foreign Countries,Secondary School Students,Program Descriptions,Physical Education,Geography,American Indian Culture,English,Outdoor Education,Geographic Information Systems,Maps,Equipment,Water,Ecology,Fund Raising,Tourism,American Indians,Apprenticeships,Physical Fitness,Recreational Activities

This article describes a four-credit semester program at Elliot Lake Secondary School in the late 1990s. This New Trails program is based around physical education and leadership, geography, Native studies, and English credits. The students are outside much of the time. The students become certified in the use of GPS and in map and compass work, and earn accreditation in chain saw use, ORCA Tripping I, Basic Flatwater, Basic Kayaking, WHIMIS, Skidder/Cutter operator's license, Pleasure Craft operator's card and Wilderness First Aid.  They have used these skills to fundraise for the program, for example by cutting trees  for a local home. Students also engage in a two-week co-op placement with local municipalities and tourism businesses to prepare for work in the growing eco-tourism  sector. Finally, the program integrates elements common to many four-credit semester Outdoor Education programs, including cross-country and downhill skiing, fitness, and a culminating canoe trip. The program also has the support of local Aboriginal professionals, and includes a weekly sharing circle led by a certified addictions counsellor. (Contains 2 footnotes.)
Provoking Dialogue: A Short History of Outdoor Education in Ontario
Author: Borland, James
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Adventure Education,Environmental Education,Agricultural Education,Foreign Countries,Climate,Educational History,Outdoor Education,Role of Education,Ecology

History helps educators more clearly describe the role of outdoor education in improving society by fostering awareness of human-nature interconnections. Five branches have shaped outdoor education in Ontario: (1) agricultural education; (2) environmental education; (3) outdoor adventure education; (4) ecological education; and (5) climate change adaptation. While each is a unique discipline, they all incorporate outdoor experiences.  The author aims to foster dialogue with Ontario outdoor educators about their history.
Engaging Our Inner Scientist to Foster Connections and Broaden Our Understanding of This Land
Author: Lester, Greg
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Science Activities,Scientific Concepts,Thinking Skills,Elementary School Students,Interdisciplinary Approach,Workshops,Teaching Methods,Environmental Education,Folk Culture,Indigenous Knowledge

For many educators working with elementary students, it is easy to simplify scientific concepts, but they must always remember that the inherent natural curiosity aroused when their senses interact with the landscape creates the opportunity for the development of interdisciplinary, integrated, higher thinking skills. The authors--one a storyteller and the other a scientist--structured a workshop to offer the participants choices among many simple story titles and questions, which, like a mature tree, offer a myriad of branches and roots, pathways that can be taken in order to illustrate the connection between science and the wonder they observe in their daily lives. This article presents some examples and briefly-outlined concepts that the authors offered. They present just enough to spark a bit more inquiry so that educators can hopefully provide explanations and tell stories at levels that are appropriate for their students.
Out in the Field: Experiencing a Research Learning Journey through a Community-Based Pilot Project
Author: Maich, Kimberly
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Pilot Projects,Autism,Research Methodology,Foreign Countries,Community Colleges,Bachelors Degrees,Agency Cooperation,College Students,Experiential Learning,Student Research,Social Development,Skill Development,Peer Teaching,Preschool Children,Pervasive Developmental Disorders

Applied undergraduate degrees have become regular offerings at community colleges across Ontario, including the Bachelor of Applied Arts in Early Childhood Leadership and the Autism and Behavioural Science Graduate Certificate at Fanshawe College, both of which include coursework related to applied research. In collaboration with community agencies, this research project provided college students with practical experience in various components of research methodology, and explored their experiences in conducting research through the implementation of a peer-mediated social skills program with preschool-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)