Kinesthetic Learning Style

There are many learning styles (visual, social, auditory, kinesthetic, and etc.). Aristotle was a kinesthetic learner.  Kinesthetic learners are the type of people that learn by doing things.  Instead of hearing a boring lecture or seeing a picture of someone else's research.  Kinesthetic learners are adventurous and like to explore. 

A lot of schools have just lectures.  They should be a thing of the past, but they're not.  Instead of telling kids a certain vocabulary word and memorizing it, give them a group project, so they can collaborate and apply what they've learned.  People will put their initials next to the part of the assignment that they had completed.  That will make sure that no one is slacking and everyone gets the amount of credit that they deserve.

The modern day American school system spoon feeds their students, which is wrong.  It doesn't allow students to ponder about things.  It doesn't allow students to think out side the box or become independent. 

If a teacher tells you what a tree is like, you shouldn't take notes and then memorize them.  Go out there and see an actual tree.  Use your senses (sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound), and find out if the teacher is wrong.  You should always be skeptical and ask questions. 

School vs. Education

School and education are two completely different things.  School is about bubbling in multiple choice answers, answering the question to what the teacher or professor wants to hear, doing a ton of busy work, memorizing things just before the test, caring more about getting good grades than actually learning the material (being performance goal oriented), teachers only teaching for the test--not for life, a fast paced curriculum that forces students to memorize the material and teachers and professors to go at such a fast rate; even the best teacher can't teach things as they should be taught.

Education isn't limited to school walls--it's a lifelong journey.  It's about being street and book smart.  It's also about adapting to your surroundings; otherwise known as intelligence.  Education is also about being smart, which means that you retain information.  Not only should you retain information, but you should know how to use that information and apply it.  Even if you don't know what the answer is, then you should be able to find it.  Education is equivalent to having the knowledge.

How to do Better in School

You should do some extra credit. If your teachers didn't already offer some, then ask. If they see that you're a hard worker, then I'm sure they'll be glad to offer you some extra credit.

Don't be afraid to ask the teacher for help. Raise your hand during class if you have any questions, talk to them after class, or get a tutor.
 
Use mind mapping.  Instead of writing your notes in complete sentences, draw bubbles like you did when you were younger.  In the center should be the main concept.  Then, the other concepts should branch off of that.  So, in the center could be school and then items that branch off of that could be: learning, standardized tests, teachers, students, grades, and etc.  Each topic can have things that branch off of them.  For example: grades--could also have: curving, favoritism, and extra credit.  Everything should be one word or a phrase; you only need what's necessary.  This will teach students quality over quantity.  Use different colors and draw pictures, so that it will be easier to remember.  During the test, students will think to themselves about which color everything was.  One student will say, "I remember that I put learning in blue and I made a textbook."

How to Study

You should study a little bit every day, so that you're not overwhelmed. Studying the night before or the day of the test is the worst thing that you can do. You should study for 20 minutes and then take a short break and study for another 20 minutes. During the break, you can go on a walk, check your e-mail, or talk on the phone. Then, you can take study for another 20 minutes and then take another break and study for another 20 minutes.  You should study for a grand total of 60 minutes. Studies have shown that people remember the first and last things that they read or hear. This method will allow you to have six peaks, so you'll retain more information.
 
Pay very close attention to words that are in bold or words that the teacher talks about often in class. Read the review section--if there is one in your textbook.

Restoring the Meaning of Education

Restoring the Meaning of Education is a non-profit organization that wants to improve the school system across the globe. RME started about two months ago and has already gained a lot of people's attention. RME has over 2,000 friends on Facebook, almost 350 followers on Twitter, and over 150 views on Youtube.

Restoring the Meaning of Education's website is about: the school system, socioeconomic status, success, globalization, how to have a better memory, what type of learner you are and what that means, creating a better future, wellness, and so much more.

Restoring the Meaning of Education wants to make school: practical, safe, less stressful, interactive, fun, and affordable.

Add Restoring the Meaning on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and subscribe them on Youtube. They also have Yahoo! Messenger. Get involved and let your voice be heard!

Restoring the Meaning of Education’s website has: videos, poll & blog questions, and a forum. The site is updated on a daily basis.

Their site has crucial information like updates from President Obama.

If you or anyone that you know would like to join, then please let them know. If you have any: questions, concerns, or suggestions, or want to contribute, then please send an e-mail to rme2011@yahoo.com.

Website: http://restoringthemeaningofeducation.weebly.com/index.html
Twitter: http://twitter.com/rme_11
Facebook Organization Page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Restoring-the-Meaning-of-Education/175192982490877?sk=info
Other Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001775871264
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rme2011

Standardized Testing

Yong Zhao, a professor at Michigan State University, said, “Education should focus on developing children’s strengths, not “fixing their deficiencies.”’ Children need to focus on what they’re passionate about. Zhao reinforced this concept throughout his speech. If students continue to be pushed to learn something that they don’t like, then they will lose passion. This will eliminate the diversity. Zhao said, “This would eliminate people like Michael Phelps because he can’t read.” In other words, Zhao wants to keep art and music classes because everyone is talented in something; not everyone is good at math—maybe they’re good at history. Zhao also mentioned that schools have mandatory national tests on two subjects, which are math and science. This ignores other classes like history and English. It’s basically telling everyone that only math and science are important. Lastly, Zhao exclaimed, “Education is not a business; it should be faith based like a church!” Zhao went on to say, “We need to preserve the dreams of a child.”

Which country has the best education system, and why?

The answer is Finland.

Here are the reasons why:
1) They have 3 teachers in the classroom at all times. This allows teachers to work one on one with their students and find out what they're having problems with.
2) It's a relaxed environment--kids can ask more questions.
3) They live in superb neighborhoods that value education--only 2 percent of students drop out. While 25 percent of Americans drop out of school.

Here is a list of things that I think they should change in their education system:
1) All teachers have a master's degree. This should be changed--just because you attended school for a longer time doesn't mean that you're more intelligent than someone else. School isn't an accurate measure of a person's intelligence level at all. A lot of well educated men & women didn't even attend college. Bill Gates is a perfect example of this.
2) Over there, they expect students to speak four languages. If they're not going to visit that particular country, then what's the point? I'm sure that most of those kids don't want to learn four languages. Schools should focus on their native language. I'm not saying that foreign languages should be offered. I'm just saying that they shouldn't be mandatory.

Are students memorizing material or learning it?

Most students just memorize useless information for the exam. Once it's over, they just forget everything. Teachers rush students into memorizing things that they will never need to know after they pass the class. When am I going to need to know the phonetic alphabet? I'm not going to be a linguistic's professor, so what's the point of learning it? All of the professors think that students should become "well rounded." All that means is that students should spend more time in the classroom "learning" more useless nonsense and spend more money--when they could be working at a job that they're specialized in. College shouldn't be four years!

Crazy Cruise Line

On “HLN”, they talked about a cruise line that had some passengers & furniture moving to the other side of the room due to a storm. They received many complaints from various passengers. Do you know what the cruise line offered them!?! They received a deal for their next cruise—twenty five percent off. If that happened to me, then I would never want to go on one again. That’s just a scam to get more money. They should have offered a refund, but they’re just too stingy. One of the journalists on “HLN” said, “I watch the whale watching t.v. shows, and even they can track down storms better than this. What are we going to do when we see an iceberg?” With all of the technology that we have, things like this shouldn’t have even occurred.

Man Gets Arrested For Climbing a Skyscraper

A gentleman who is in his late 50’s climbs a skyscraper and gets arrested after he got onto the balcony. It’s illegal because of liability reasons—he might damage the building or hurt himself or someone below. This is like saying a kid at a park might kill another kid at a park if they climbed a slide while the other kid was going down it. These are all what if questions; they’re not necessarily going to happen. That’s why it should be legal.

Absurd Dress Code

There was a ridiculous law that just got passed in New Orleans. If your pants are too low or your skirt is two hands above your knee, then you will be fined two hundred dollars. I really don’t get why you have to be fined at all. These people aren’t hurting or threatening anyone. This is considered racial discrimination. I believe this is just another scheme for the government to earn some money.

Politicians Finally Making Sense!

In Nevada, they just passed a new law. If you pay twenty five dollars, then you will be able to drive ninety miles per hour. I have some questions. How often do you have to pay twenty five dollars? Is it weekly, monthly, or yearly? How do the police know who paid for it?

Is America Headed Towards Communism?

We’re already losing our rights—freedom of: speech, religion, and various other things. Today’s society is forgetting our roots and what this country started on. Don’t forget the principles and morals that we once had. The government is trying to manage all of the businesses. For example, the government thought that McDonalds needed to get rid of the toys in the happy kids’ meals because they were causing childhood obesity. Well, that seems completely unfair. You shouldn’t be able to tell a company to do something. This is hurting their business—these toys aren’t hurting anyone. These toys aren’t making you fat; you’re making yourself and your children fat by going there in the first place. Don’t blame a company for your mistakes. You had the choice whether to stay home and eat an organic salad with dressing on the side or have: a big mac, large fries, and a coke

Absurd School Request

I was watching “Showbiz Tonight” earlier today and they were discussing how schools want some unique school supplies. Now, they want students to purchase: toilet paper, wipes—to disinfect things, and even light bulbs! Citizens are paying higher taxes to give teachers fatter salaries for sitting at their desk and handing the kids a worksheet when the money could be spent on school supplies.

Negative Reinforcement

Millions of people are losing jobs and the media is talking about: “Jersey Shore”, Steven Slater, Mel Gibson’s car accident, Bristol Palin & Levi Johnston, building a mosque near ground zero, and other useless garbage. People should concentrate more on what the government will be doing soon and in the years to come. Our society should be more aware of our surroundings and stop being so ignorant. We’re supporting this nonsense that if you act crazy, then you will get a reality t.v. show and make millions. While people all over the globe have to work at a real job for at least 16 hours a day. Those celebrities complain that they had to work so hard. Well, what did they do? *cough* “Jersey Shore” *cough*

Losing Persistence

Many couples give up on their relationship way too easily. Think before you get married. This is a lifetime commitment—not some party that you get to splurge for. Marriage will affect you & your kids, if you have any, forever.

Pressure for Physical Attraction

He or she is still the same person, so you should love them no matter what. I’ve read stories where their significant other has left them because they were too fat. It’s so tragic how couples remain together because of physical attraction. Both of them will look totally different in ten years, so what will they do then—stay together or break up? What kind of message is this sending for your kids? They will imitate you and think that looking a certain way is acceptable. It’s also sending a message that breaking up is alright—you shouldn’t try to make it last.

Another thought provoking poll!

If your significant other gained 10 pounds would you still love them?

Self Motivation

Do things like losing weight because you want to; not because you feel obligated to so. Don’t conform or do certain norms because your peers pressure you. Be yourself and be happy with who you are. Remember this quote, "I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not." If you change for someone else, then they will still complain about you and will think you're a poser. You can't satisfy everyone.

What you can do!

Every person can be of assistance to make our society better. Purchase magazines where people are all shapes and sizes. Walk out the door without your hair and make-up done. This will inspire others to do the same. Also, compliment others when they look more natural; no fake tans, make-up, hair products, and etc.