I had a nice email from a National Geographic media contact regarding this theme and contest for students. It seems like a good thing to share with you. Remember though, the contest closes on December 3rd. Go to the National Geographic website for all the details. Teacher and student resources are available there as well.

To encourage students to become more aware of their environmental footprint — and to learn how to create a greener school — Procter & Gamble and the National Geographic Society are sponsoring the “Find Your Footprint” classroom conservation contest. The winning class will receive a major prize worth more than $36,000: five state-of-the-art Promethean digital whiteboards, five classroom sets of Promethean Learner Response Systems (ActivExpressions), $1,000 in National Geographic educational materials and 30 subscriptions to National Geographic Kids magazine.

Teachers can download the comprehensive lesson plan “How Big Is Your Human Footprint?” that covers saving water, saving energy and reducing waste, and get other contest details at www.nationalgeographic.com/findyourfootprint. Entries must be received by Friday, Dec. 3, 2010.

Good luck...Good teaching...Good learning...

Cheers - Mike

Prizes to be won (see site for more details).

Is the school bully waiting for you?

The following commentary is what I did as a kid in high school. I include it as a short essay in this blog because it worked for me.
If you are blind-sided by a bully, wait. You need to be in full control of yourself before confronting the bully. When YOU are ready (on your terms), try talking with the bully face to face, no more than four feet apart. Look the bully straight in the eyes and, very quietly and slowly, say, "don't ever attack me again". Don't waver. Don't make threats. Don't back off. Don't talk. Don't break the stare. Don't answer the usual "or what!". Wait a few seconds and move one step closer. Hands and arms in a neutral position. Summon every bit of energy in your mind and body and while staring repeat, "don't ever attack me again" - in a very controlled low voice, but with a lot of umph behind it. (As if you were ordering someone 30 feet away to comply.) Do not shout! Say it low in volume, quietly, slowly (each syllable pronounced) - and with umph (tense up your tummy but take a deep breath first). Practice using a full mirror at home. If the bully hasn't backed off by then (99% will), then move one step closer and repeat the above. Keep looking at the bully's eyes. You may see uncertainty or a silent 'what is he doing?'. One of three possibilities will develop. The bully will back off, or will strike, or will apologize and be your friend. Be prepared for the strike. Make sure there are witnesses. Now, for me there was no strike. However if there is a strike, you could get hurt. I personally was prepared for hurt and pain. Some people cannot deal with pain, or the possibility of being punched or kicked. But then the bully has probably already done that, and the threat of more keeps you in a locker of mental anguish.

Your mileage may vary. Don't forget, this is what worked for me. Hopefully it would work for you if you try it, however it may not.

Am I saying you should try it if need be? No, but you may wish to consider it as an option you didn't have before. It was an option for me. There are no guarantees whatsoever, because it all boils down to YOU.

Don't have the victim attitude. Instead, have a survivor attitude!

Good learning...Good Listening...

Cheers - Mike