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: 

Get started with YOUR Sensory Kits!

Animal Kingdom Sensory World

Ok parents and educators!

 You’ve all seen the incredibly fun, cute sensory kits on Pinterest and blogs and thought,
 “That would be so fun to do for my kids (students)!”
  Then the busy day gets in the way and you don’t take the time to run to 3 different stores, or get online, to get all the different parts that make up the sensory kit.

Ocean Sensory Sand World

This is where I was!

  I saw the kits, 

I wanted my kids to benefit, but it was too overwhelming!

I was even given an amazing book:
150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids by Asia Citro, MEd, which got me wanting to do these sensory activities more!

My kids were going through the book, making lists of everything we needed to build the kits. The list sat there and sat there… until FINALLY… I made time and got what we needed. 

Insect Sensory Sand World

I was amazed at how FUN and educational the kits were. I was also amazed to see how my 5 year old, 8 year old and even 10 year old enjoyed playing with them! The kits encouraged language use, social skills (sibling quarrels), science research and application, creative thinking and problem solving. 

Here's what one expert had to say about sensory kits, and WHY YOUR kids need them!


“Since we know that young children rely on sensory input to learn about their environment, sensory play opportunities are an ideal time to focus on language stimulation in a meaningful context, which is crucial to early language learning.” 

Ocean Sensory World

And “sensory experiences are like food for the brain…they provide valuable input that allows the brain to build new pathways that in turn support growth in crucial areas of development.”

 -  Speech and Language Pathologist at TWODALOO   and read more about WHY sensory play is REALLY NECESSARY here: 

So what are you waiting for?

 You know sensory kits would benefit your child and/or your students! 

You have a theme you want to use a kit with, and you probably already have a bin at home or school you can use! 

And NOW…. You don’t even have to go around searching for all the different objects…

Frog Pond Water World

Deaf Sense Kids have sensory kits READY TO USE!  

Just find a bin of the right size (all of the kits can fit in a medium to large size bin), open up your kit and put it all together. They are ready for your kids/students. The kits with water beads will need to have time and water to grow, but that’s also a fun project to do with the kids. 

Just visit the Deaf Sense Store to get yours today!