Don't Wait Too Long to Do What you Want to do This Summer!

 For that matter, don't wait too long to do what you want to do in life. If you want something, it is okay to think and plan and take the best route, but it is also important to chase your dreams and go out and grab something before someone else steals your dream. Maybe this short video will help....

New Studies About ADHD Medicine Use and Abuse

   Getting caught up on some of my blogs this summer and came across several articles and studies about the amazing increase of students with ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions and the many other students using the drugs to give them an edge in school despite not even having the diagnosis. I was alerted to these studies through the Partnership for a DrugFree America blog. I like that the one study mentions the increase in students and adults with ADHD is not necessarily a bad thing as some of the increase is simply due to more information being learned by the doctors and parents about this disorder. In the past, parents may have thought they were bad parents or possibly even abused their child to correct their behavior. Now, parents are more likely to understand that their child may have an ADHD disorder that could be treated with medicine and different parenting and teaching strategies. And the social stigma against these kids by other kids, parents, and teachers is also disappearing. But these articles also show that with the increase of these drugs in the school every day, they are getting abused by both the kids with the disorder and by kids without the disorder. Please click on the links below to read the short article about these studies and this new information. Kind of an eye-opener....

Use of ADHD Drugs Increase this last decade click here

More HS students using ADHD drugs for better grades click here

Long article from NY Times, but LOTS of great information and actual interviews from kids and parents click here

Common Sense Media's Summer Guide for Learning Activities for Kids and Teens

Common Sense Media's Summer Guide for Learning Activities for Kids and Teens

   Thanks to Richard Byrne of Free Technology for Teachers for alerting me to another great thing one of my favorite sites, Common Sense Media, is offering. If you remember, Common Sense Media is a great place for parents and children to go to find accurate and detailed reviews about the newest movies, books, TV shows, and now games and apps. Now they have added a summer guide to learning apps you could download to a device or games that can be played on certain video game systems. They are broken down into 3 age categories and into 5 learning areas. I noticed that I have already downloaded some of the apps for my own kids. And of course, each app or game is rated by Common Sense Media so you can see how educational or applicable it is for your child. Enjoy!

Common Sense Media 50+ activities for summer click here!

This brief blogpost was copy/pasted from another blog I write and operate, Wildcat Websites. Figured it was good info for both parents and educators who use technology. Enjoy!

Water/Pool Safety Resource

Finally getting back to "school work" and catching up on my blog reading and blog posting and wanted to pass along a "Water Safety" resource for parents and kids out there as our community, like most, really, really likes water related activities in our hot Iowa summers. This website was set up by a family who lost their own child to a drowning incident several years back. Their hope is that this website and their charity can help others avoid an accident like this. Notice that you can click on the "Red Cross" link after reading the facts about water-related accidents if you want to learn safety tips before hitting the pools and water parks/lakes this summer. Stay safe!

Stew Leonard III Children's Charities click here (see Red Cross link for water safety tips when you get to this site)

Great Story on CNN and Many Other Sites Right Now: From Homeless to Harvard

    Stories like this one that I just read on CNN.com right now always make me proud to be in education and help me understand how important educators are in a young person's life. But even more than that, how important any adult influences can be in a young person's life. This girl lived and survived through many difficult issues and events in her life. And despite those obstacles, or maybe even because of them, she will soon be enrolled at Harvard University and likely on to even bigger and better things. And just a year ago, she was homeless. Take a free 10 minutes in the next few days to read this article (a little long, but well worth it) and realize that we have students and young people like this girl in our community who need our support, guidance, or friendly and loving spirit. Even during the summer. And I hope your summers are going well!

From Homeless to Harvard click here!

Went to See the "Bully" Movie Today....

....And a discussion broke out after the movie! Actually, Kim Flagor-Fuller and I went to Fleur Cinema to watch the movie "Bully" and see what a couple of school counselors thought about the movie and the issue. What we didn't know is that a coordinated event was also planned for that same showing. So the theater was packed and as we watched the movie, the audience really got into it by clapping, groaning, or crying, depending on which part of the movie was currently playing. When it was done, a discussion facilitated by a Des Moines Register journalist was held and many in the audience got to voice their opinion, their frustrations, their ideas, and their solutions. So....what did I think of the movie? Well, it was very good and really does need to be seen by everyone. It really shows bullying and the effects it can have on not just the victim, but friends and families of the victim. I think it also shows what bullying truly is. Middle school and high school are tough places with hurtful words, jabs, and looks exchanged every second of every day. But sadly most of this is typical human behavior. However, some of it does rise to the level of bullying and that is what this movie portrays. It shows what happens if these hurtful words, jabs, and looks were done day after day after day. And the pain the movie shows is so real and so saddening....and maddening. The movie does not portray schools in the best light, especially Sioux City schools. But to Sioux City Public School's defense, they are the school leading the charge in making sure this movie gets into every possible school it can. They know they had a weakness and they are owning up to it and vowing to make things right. They are now hoping to lead the state and the nation into solving the bullying epidemic. The only issue I had with the movie is that it was not solution focused. It did a great job of showing the issue and all the pain it can cause, but it did not show how to solve any of these issues. It started to towards the end, but only the last few minutes and after that, the movie ended. I guess the solutions come from the discussion afterwards and I was glad to be a part of that. But I think this movie only works where those who watch it can discuss it afterwards and carry out there solutions to make them lasting solutions.

So, what did we learn from the post-movie discussion?? Well, I think I took away three things from the discussion....

1.  Schools are a big part of the solution and they are not doing enough. It was tough to be a school counselor in a room full of people who just watched a movie showing schools failing at stopping bullying and then having those angry people express more anger and disappointment in local schools. Some stood up to support schools, but most did not. And to some extent....they are right. Schools do need to do more, even our school. I feel we do a pretty good job, but like Sioux City, we can always work on our weaknesses. The tough part that I have learned in my 11 years in education is that schools many times have their hands tied by regulations, rules, and procedures. Public schools cannot just suspend, expel, punish students however they want. There are all sorts of rules about amount of days, how it must work, and what supports must be provided. This frustrates parents when they want action, but in most cases the procedures are in place to make sure everything is done consistently and fairly to all involved.  I know one thing I have learned in my research this semester is that most students just want to be heard, want a safe place to vent, and want to feel like they matter. I try to do that and plan to do an even better job of that going forward. We also plan to document each and every issue more than we currently do. But as the discussion continued, we learned schools are not the only problem...or the only solution....

2. Several people mentioned that many groups are responsible for the problem of bullying. And all of those groups are responsible for the solutions. Schools. Parents. Communities. Kids. Adults. Faith communities. Politicians. Everyone. These groups need to put their differences aside themselves, and work together to find and put into action some real solutions. The focus of the movie seemed to be that schools are at the heart of the problem and need to be at the forefront of the solutions, but really schools just happen to be where teens are most often. The problem is everywhere, so everyone needs to be part of the solution.

3. And maybe the best thing said all night was by a high school student. She said that all of these groups could do lots of things and adults in schools could put every rule and discipline into effect, but the problem will only get better when kids themselves work to solve it. She said the solution needs to be done by the kids. They need to join up and fight this issue. They need to support each other and stand up for each other. They need to lead by example. And they need to rise above the red tape that is holding the other groups back and solve it before it gets worse. Made me proud to think that maybe the best idea in the room tonight was from a student. That gives me hope, a lot of hope.


So....if you can get to the movie, go. If you can't, rent it late this summer and watch it with your family. Have a discussion before and after the movie and consider having that discussion often with your family, your community, your school, your church, and whatever groups you are a part of. The movie shows the problem of bullying. It is our turn to show the solutions.

New National Study on Teen Drug Use

The following link shows some alarming and depressing news about teen drug use, specifically marijuana. We take the Iowa Youth Survey every 2 years, a very similar test I assume. Our data also shows marijuana use increasing, especially at the high school level. We will take the survey this fall, but won't get results until the following summer. Either way, this data is from a national survey and is more recent. The article is kind of long, but most of the key data is bullet-pointed.

Summary of Teen Drug Use Survey

Another Movie Opportunity, This One for Middle School Girls

   A parent sent me some information about a great opportunity coming up next week (Thanks, Julie!). Blank Children's Hospital is presenting a showing of the documentary "Finding Kind" at Hoyt Sherman Auditorium on May 8th from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This showing is for middle school girls and allows them an opportunity to meet the film's two female directors as well! And best of all...the event is FREE! When I first got the information, I tried to do some research on the film, but did not find a lot out there, but did find their website and watched the trailer. It looks like a great movie and one that really, truly addresses the "mean girl" behavior and searches for solutions with young girls leading these solutions. It appears to have a very positive message. I have placed two links below with more information. One is the registration page where you can sign your daughter up and even yourself, the other is the movie's website where you can play the movie trailer to see for yourself what the movie is all about. I also cut/paste the basic information from the Blank Children's Hospital page. I would love to hear a review if you go....please comment on this blog with your review or email me (ben.barry@carlisle.k12.ia.us).

"Tuesday, May 8 - Hoyt Sherman Auditorium - 6-8:30 P.M.

Thank you for signing up to attend Finding Kind. This free event is designed for girls in grades 6th - 8th. There will be a screening of the award-winning documentary, Finding Kind, as well as the opportunity to meet the two young filmakers, Lauren Parsekian and Molly Stroud. Each student is allowed to bring up to two supporting adults."

Finding Kind movie trailer and information click here!

Blank Children's Hospital Movie Experience Registration page click here!

Carlisle Middle School Wins Grant!

I have to brag for just a quick moment. I had the chance to join Sara Grieme (8th grade Literacy teacher), Dr. Schlueter, and Dr. Lane on Friday to accept a grant from Century Link and IASB that we won this year. Sara Grieme was our lead grant writer and the project lead and did an amazing job on this year's grant. This was our 3rd year trying for the grant and we used feedback from previous years to make our grant proposal even better this year. Now the fun part....spending the money and putting our plan into action. Our plan is to use the money to purchase netbooks and Skype softward and hardware to allow our 8th grade literacy students to not just study a topic and present it to the class, but to Skype back and forth with an expert on that topic to work collaboratively to make the presentation even better and even more meaningful. We will have some steps to finalize and we will likely learn as we go on some things, but we are excited to add more technology to our curriculum to make the learning experience much more enhanced for our students. It is always a good way to end the year....by being excited for the next year!

Des Moines Register's Sunday Lead Story About Recent Student Suicides

  The Des Moines Register had a pretty good article in today's online (likely print version too) newspaper. The focus of the article is about a recent rash of student suicides (4 in 2 weeks) in our Iowa school systems and what can be done to educate others about the issues of mental health and suicidal behavior. As a counselor, I thought it was good, useful information. As a parent, I found it to be very good information for me as well. My kids are young now, but they are getting older every day and will hit the ups and downs of their teen years all too soon and this information could be a great resource to start those family discussions before it is too late. Please take a moment to click and read the article for yourself.

Des Moines Register article about Iowa Teen Suicides

May Day Anti-Bullying Campaign Launch AND Stars for Tomorrow Apps Due for 8th Graders This Week!

   Just a quick heads up on 2 important things that I am helping with this week:

"Got Courage?" After the students go home for the day on Monday, I will be posting my 10 "Got Courage?" Anti-Bullying campaign posters around the school building. You can see "rough" versions of the posters and earlier blog here: "Got Courage?" posters blog post Only one of these posters uses the word "bullying", but they all speak to students and how important they are in stopping hurtful words, messages, and actions for being communicated. Students are on the front lines and need to be there for each other, not against each other.  To go along with the posters and the launch of this campaign, all students will get a candy Lifesaver at lunch today and each Lifesaver will have a "bullying" fact or statistic stapled to it. The meaning of the candy is to remind the students that every student can be a life saver by helping someone who needs help....right here in our building. Announcements about these ideas will be in the daily announcements this week as well. Hopefully, with just 20 days left in the school year, this week can be a starting point to get students talking and observing how we all treat each other. We have great kids here at Carlisle and our "bullying survey data" on the Iowa Youth Survey shows that we are better than the average Iowa middle school. But, I am hoping we can get even better and become leaders in the fight to stop bullying.

Stars for Tomorrow applications: This is the $100 Savings Bond scholarship for incoming Carlisle 9th graders (that means this year's 8th graders) and it is due this week by Friday. Students can either give their completed applications to me or mail the materials in on their own. But the key is to do this by Friday! Good luck to all of the 8th graders who apply!

Common Sense Media Now to Review Educational Gaming

Just a quick heads up about a great new route that Common Sense Media is going taking. While they will continue to give very detailed reviews of movies, tv shows, video games, and books for parents and kids so that we all know exactly what positive and negative messages are in these media options, they will now work to do the same with the many educational games and apps your kids get exposed to. As a parent of 3 young kids (soon to be 4!), I love the fact that I can use Common Sense Media for this purpose as well. My kids use our Ipod Touch and IPad a lot and I put many educational games on there. I also direct them to several online educational games. As a teacher, I think I know the quality of each game, but I also like knowing someone is researching them for me as well. To learn more, click on this link and please continue to use Common Sense Media to check out the media your child is consuming.

Common Sense Media's New Learning Reviews