Senior Dad

This week we hear a "First Person" account from Katie Russell, a mother of a first grader whose family life is at risk because of homework. Our Homework "Guru" Sara Bennett gives Katie some advice. Stan has a conversation with Amy Lanou the author of "Healthy Eating for Life, for Children". What should your child eat at lunch? Plus other reveling subjects. Look at our Lunch Box page for useful downloads. We have a candid conversation with Middle School expert Gayle Andrews about paying for our schools, also what works best when teaching and some new approaches to teaching. Stan tells us about a stomp rocket tale. Stan asks for the Hijacked Family Time to be freed.

Dana Woldow a San Francisco volunteer is co-chair of SFUSD student nutrition and physical activity committee and feels that Catering trucks should be treated like Medical Marijuana Clubs, and kept 1000 feet from schools. Hear her in our nutrition segment. Sharp rise in girls pressured to have sex, Zephira Derblich-Milea tells us what's behind the numbers. Download the 2006 study from Liz Claiborne and listen along. Ellie Goldberg updates us on Asthma in the schools and we have 3 downloads about Asthma on our Healthy Schools page. Stan tells us about a power outage.

" The quality of education a child with a disability receives is directly related to the advocacy skills of the parent". Say's Pat Howey a parent whose child's illness turned her into an advocate for children with extra needs. Pat tells us how. Mary McFarland, Oakland California Psychotherapist helps us to understand some of the mental stress facing young people today, from the young student to the teenager. Amy Lanou our Nutrition specialist shares what is best to feed a child for lunch. Stan tells us of boundaries assigned.

Mary McFarland, Oakland California Psychotherapist discusses the need for 'Parent Brainstorming" sessions at public schools and how this will help develop "community linkage". She also talks about students and alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders and diabetes. " The quality of education a child with a disability receives is directly related to the advocacy skills of the parent". Says Pat Howey a parent whose child's illness turned her into an advocate for children with extra needs. Pat tells us how to be an advocate in part 2 of 3. The San Francisco Unified School District is improving because of increased parent involvement. Dana Woldow (a 20-40 hour @ week volunteer) committee co-chair of the student nutrition and physical activity committee wanted to feed more disadvantaged kids breakfast. Hear how far they have gotten and the adjustments they made along the way. Stan tells us of friends lost.

Denise Pope, Stanford Professor and Author of "Doing School" starts a two part interview with a story of over programmed and misdirected kids striving to become robots in an leave no prisoner environment. This far reaching two part series covers homework, parenting, playtime and parental stress and needs for the future. We are testing a new homework survey. This survey can be used by a school or PTA as a barometer to gauge the status of homework issues at the school. We can adjust the survey to enable a school or PTA to receive their data separate from the total data. To get a special survey send Stan an email at Stan@srdad.com . To download a standard survey click the yellow box on the left to get the PDF file. Sara a sophomore in High School dates the wrong boy. Her world is spun around and she almost dies. Hear her story of "dating the boy down the street" " The quality of education a child with a disability receives is directly related to the advocacy skills of the parent". Says Pat Howey a parent whose child's illness turned her into an advocate for children with extra needs. Pat tells us how to be an advocate in the last part of a three part series. Stan tells us he wishes he had three hands.

Ellen Notbohm, Author and mother found out her youngest child had Autism, hear her journey in first person. We have a new homework position on the Homework Primer page. Andy Krackov, Senior Director of Public Information for the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health helps us understand what is in their 2007 study "How Bay Area Parents Say their Kids are Faring-2007". Denise Pope, Stanford Professor and Author covers homework, parenting, playtime and parental stress and needs for the future. Stan tells of the Farmers Market.

Nutrition- Steve Joseph started a war against Trans fat. He went up against the largest food companies in this country and won! He was instrumental in getting the Federal Government to require all food manufacturers to list Trans Fats on their product labels. Hear his story. Healthy Schools- Barry Blesser is a retired MIT professor. He is creative, innovative and one of the creators of digital sound in computers. Barry now directs his energy towards teaching parents how to save their children's hearing while there is still time. Hear the always interesting Barry Blesser. Healthy Mind- Ellen Notbohm has a child with Autism. Today 1 in 150 children have been diagnosed with Autism. Hear what she did to help her child and how the family became closer and how her son is doing at 13. Ellie Goldberg gives us a quick tip Stan tells of a supermarket dictator.

Healthy Mind- David Elkind Internationally renowned child psychologist joins us for the first of a two part conversation. We talk about if computer games encourage violence, is there value to homework and are there benefits to play. Healthy Schools- Laura Plunkett's son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 7. It took the help of the entire family to pitch in and see that he remained well. A story of a family becoming stronger by fighting an issue together Briefing Room- Barry Blesser is a retired MIT professor. He is creative, innovative and one of the creators of digital sound in computers. This week Barry tells of sound and space and how we are becoming disconnected. Hear the always interesting Barry Blesser. Ellie Goldberg gives us a quick tip Stan tells of playdates to build friendships.

Briefing Room- Eric Mar is a father, husband, full time educator, activist and incidentally a member of the school board of San Francisco Unified School District. What motivates a man to take such a thankless job. Is it a stepping stone or is there something deeper? This week we start a three part series, learning what makes Eric tick. We learn his feelings on all the major issues facing us now and for some time in the future. Some of what he says may upset you. Healthy Mind- David Elkind Internationally renowned child psychologist joins us for the part two of a two part conversation. David is most direct and shares the best way to give your child a great advantage. Healthy Schools- Laura Plunkett's son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 7. It took the help of the entire family to pitch in and see that he remained well. A story of a family becoming stronger by fighting an issue together Stan tells of another step towards the moment of truth.

Healthy Schools- Pamela Wolfberg forward thinking educator lets us see her vision of future education and how we plan for the rising rate of Autism in "We are all included" part 1. Briefing Room- Eric Mar is a father, husband, full time educator, activist and incidentally a member of the school board of San Francisco Unified School District. What motivates a man to take such a thankless job. Is it a stepping stone or is there something deeper? This week part 2 of a three part series, learning "what makes Eric tick". We learn his feelings on all the major issues facing us now and for some time in the future. Some of what he says may upset you. Healthy Mind- The Queen of Bipolar Rosalie Greenberg, the zany outspoken author of the new book "Bipolar Kids" says what she thinks about giving kids medications that have not been tested on kids. Stan tells of the moment of truth.

First Person- John C Dvorak is a leading Tech reporter, editor, writer, media star ,blogger (Dvorak.org/blog) and has been a curmudgeon for years. John shares his views with us about parenting. John is a vocal supporter of home schooling.. Briefing Room- Eric Mar is a father, husband, full time educator, activist and incidentally a member of the school board of San Francisco Unified School District. This week part 3 of a three part series, learning "what makes Eric tick". Eric tells of some tough choices that lay ahead. Healthy Mind- The Queen of Bipolar Rosalie Greenberg, the zany outspoken author of the new book "Bipolar Kids" says what she thinks about giving kids medications that have not been tested on kids. Rosalie is the best example of her saying "Listen to the words, not the music". Stan tells of the story creation process. In our Briefing Room Jake Vigdor of Duke University tells us the differences between the sixth grade in a K-5 school and a K-6 school. Is there a difference? Jo Debolt tells us how a school district improved it's scores without spending a ton of money. Stan posts a audible children's story download

Briefing Room- Heather McCracken created Friend 2 Friend Social Network. It is a place for children with and without autism can play together as equals. Heather is someone you should know. Healthy Schools- Ellie Goldberg on what schools can do for the child with allergies. Bob Brokob our 64 year old father to be checks in. First Person- John C Dvorak is a leading Tech reporter, editor, writer, media star ,blogger (Dvorak.org/blog) and has been a curmudgeon for years. John shares his views with us about parenting. John is a vocal supporter of home schooling.. Stan tells of caught in the process. In our Briefing Room Jake Vigdor of Duke University tells us the differences between the sixth grade in a K-5 school and a K-6 school. Is there a difference? Jo Debolt tells us how a school district improved it's scores without spending a ton of money. Stan posts a audible children's story download on the Briefing Room page

Briefing Room- Heather McCracken created Friend 2 Friend Social Network. It is a place for children with and without autism can play together as equals. Heather saw a need, acted and has helped thousands First Person- John C Dvorak is a leading Tech reporter, editor, writer, media star ,blogger (Dvorak.org/blog) and has been a curmudgeon for years. John shares his views with us about parenting. John tells us how he home schools his daughter. Middle School- Gayle Andrews is a middle school expert. This week Gayle tells us what to look for in a middle school and what not to do with the brightest kids. In our Briefing Room Jake Vigdor of Duke University tells us the differences between the sixth grade in a K-5 school and a K-6 school. Is there a difference? Jo Debolt tells us how a school district improved it's scores without spending a ton of money. Stan posts a audible children's story download for young children (5-7) on the Briefing Room page for download.

Ingrid Shafer has team taught at the college level for 40 years at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. She is a Professor of Philosophy and Religion and more degrees to boot. She is a new friend and I asked her how we should teach our quicker learners. That's where our conversation started. I hope you enjoy listening to Ingrid as much as I enjoyed thinking with her. Healthy Schools- Pamela Wolfberg forward thinking educator lets us see her vision of future education and how we plan for the rising rate of Autism in "We are all included" part 2 Rachel Cytron-Miller is the Deputy Director for Programs for Harlem RBI and after school program that reaches 650 at risk kids in a disadvantaged section of NYC. Surrounded by gangs, violence and a school system in distress, this program is making a difference. In our Briefing Room Jake Vigdor is Associate Professor of Public Policy Studies and Economics of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy of Duke University. Their latest study looks to see if K-6 is better than K-5 for children. The Duke research has a chart that shows a significant improvement in behavior in the K-6 environment vs. the K-5 and that that behavior change carries forward for several years.  It also mentions that the students were behind in scores and caught up during the sixth grade in K-6, although that finding needs more thought.  There is also the factor that if you configure schools K-6, 7-9, 10-12 the ninth graders would have a more immature social structure and possibly reduce some of the issues connected with being a ninth grader in a high school. Homework has been the mainstay of American education for the last 75 years. Like hemlines, the perceived need rises and falls as the market demands. Homework can be a polarizing issue. Some parents crave more homework assignments for their children while others seek a way of removing their children from what they view as a treadmill going nowhere. Within families there may be sometime divisiveness and acrimony over homework and some parents would rather retire from their role as the homework warden in the eyes of their children. ...more

We hear from new Sr Dad Bob Brockob (64), his wait is over and he speaks with us as he holds his new son Max. Up and coming children's book author Connie Lee Berry chats with us about volunteering in schools and why she choose to switch from public schools in Florida and go private . Raising children takes a lot of work on the parents part. A welcoming school or school district can make all the difference. Katy Franklin, San Francisco mother of an autistic child gets a reception she doesn't expect. Stan shares a counting lesson. In our Briefing Room Jake Vigdor is Associate Professor of Public Policy Studies and Economics of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy of Duke University. Their latest study looks to see if K-6 is better than K-5 for children. The Duke research has a chart that shows a significant improvement in behavior in the K-6 environment vs. the K-5 and that that behavior change carries forward for several years.  It also mentions that the students were behind in scores and caught up during the sixth grade in K-6, although that finding needs more thought.  There is also the factor that if you configure schools K-6, 7-9, 10-12 the ninth graders would have a more immature social structure and possibly reduce some of the issues connected with being a ninth grader in a high school.