Who was the Father of Gallaudet University?

 Meet Edward Miner Gallaudet

·        Lived February 5, 1837 – September 26, 1917

·        Son of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Sophia Fowler Gallaudet

·        Edward Miner married Jane Melissa Fessenden and had 3 children.

·        The first Principal of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind.

·        In 1864, Gallaudet worked for college status of the Columbia Institution and President Abraham Lincoln granted it: this first college of the deaf eventually became Gallaudet University.

·        He served as President, Administrator AND President of the Board of Directors AT THE SAME TIME!

o   President from 1896-1910 (46 years!)

o   Head administrator from 1857-1910 (53 years!)

o   President of the Board of Directors from 1864-1911 (47 years!)

·        He was a strong advocate of ASL and often fought against those who would restrict the use of ASL.

·        He actually attended the Milan Conference of 1881 and wrote a report on it. See the report here.

·        He was honored by 3 Universities who awarded him honorary degrees:  Trinity College in 1859 (M.A.) and 1869 (LL.D.), the Columbian University (later George Washington University) also in 1869 (Ph.D.), and Yale University in 1895 (LL.D.).

 
 

resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Miner_Gallaudet
http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/edward-miner-gallaudet_19861411
 
 

Motivate Your Kids to Learn

Major parent complaint: 

"My kids just aren't motivated to (insert any verb here related to education)."

Most often expressed teacher plea,

 "If I could just motivate my students to (insert any verb here related to education).

What if there were a simple answer to create motivation for

 reading, writing, researching and presenting? Could it really be?

This year for Christmas, we got our boys a present they love and treasure. And it was SO simple.

A science kit.

Not the fancy dancy science kits that cost a lot and do only one or two different experiments. This was a science kit filled with the ingredients you probably already have on your shelves, like corn starch and corn syrup, salt and vinegar, etc. I remember the day I went to use my corn starch and it was all gone, having been the subject of science the day before. So... yes. We got them their own kit of materials to be used JUST for science. (See a complete list at the bottom)

It has been amazing to watch them try out the experiments, discuss the science behind each experiment, and.... (enter drum roll please)

...write and present about their experiments! 

(ok.. so it's still a bit of a challenge for the writing part, but if you require a written portion before they can video tape, Motivation.Is.There!)

What I love most?

Seeing the kids come up with their own experiments. Their favorite question is,

"What would happen if...?"

Actually what I loved even more, 

Seeing my 5 year old daughter come up with her own experiment and then sit down at the computer to type what it was she was doing. She asked for help to spell each of the items in her experiment. She proudly printed it out and showed Daddy. She then asked for it to be her turn to video tape and show her experiment.

See what's missing? No nagging. No arguing. Not even encouraging!

Simply guiding the genius that is already your child or student to emerge.

Asia Citro, MEd author of The Curious Kid's Science Book said,

"Children are born scientists. Young children are curious, observant, and determined problem solvers. Giving children a chance to make their own experiments allows these natural skills to grow and bloom."

Conducting science projects is now a favorite family activity looked forward to almost as much as movie or game night!

Are you a teacher and wondering, "Sure, that's great for the home setting, but that won't work in my classroom?" Stay tuned for my next post on ideas to incorporate experiential science into the classroom. It CAN be done!

Here's the Video!

Sticky Glitter: