Search Results for: blog more new uses for old ties

The Technology Band Uses iPads

High school students in Queens, New York, are using the iPad as a musical instrument. The students have been described as having “severe learning disabilities”, and many have an autism spectrum disorder. Their teacher, Adam Goldberg, found a way to use the iPad to enable the students to make music. This is amazing! It has been known, for quite some time, that the iPad is incredibly useful for students with a variety of learning disabilities and special needs. One example of this is how the Milford school district, in Connecticut, uses the iPad with students who have autism. The school … Continue reading →

App-Schooling: New Tech Trend in Homeschooling

Computers and other forms of technology are no strangers to homeschooling.  Homeschool moms learned a long time ago that computers can aid the homeschool experience for both the student and the teacher.  If laptops gave our techie homeschool feet than the tablet gave it wings. Homeschool students and moms are finding the value in app-schooling.  App-Schooling is when a student uses a tablet and applications to study, reinforce lessons, or house lessons.  With tablet in hand, a homeschool student can unlock the door to the world one application at a time.  Homeschool moms can record, store, and plan, lessons. Homeschool portfoilos can … Continue reading →

What to Do With Old Halloween Costumes

In the toy box, Little Red Riding Hood is having a fight with the Big Bad Wolf, and Superman’s trying to step in and break it up. Halloween is a time when we tend to accumulate a lot of new costumes. What can you do with those old Halloween costumes? Of course, the kids will likely be into them for a while. Choose Halloween costumes that are durable, and they may be a hit in the dress ups for years. But after the attraction wanes, where will your costumes find a home? Choose costumes that are made out of reusable … Continue reading →

New Ways Technology is Helping With Autism

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There are many different forms of technology that can be used to help children who have autism. Some can be used to help a child who is on the autism spectrum to communicate with others. Some can be used to detect signs of autism in children. Others help parents learn more about their child. Right now, there are many public schools that are using iPads with students who have autism. The touch screen makes it very easy for kids to use it. Teachers can load it with apps like iPrompt which uses pictures and icons to help a child who … Continue reading →

Native American Celebrities Who Weren’t

I did a blog recently in Green Living about litter and mentioned Iron Eyes Cody. He was the Native American featured in a famous anti-litter commercial of the ‘60s. Or was he? (This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1963 and although there may or may not have been a copyright notice, the copyright was not renewed.) As it turns out, old Iron Eyes heritage was questionable. Although his career was built on playing Native American roles and he supported Native American causes off camera, some believe Cody was … Continue reading →

Woman Fuses Glass to Raise Money for Autism

An artist in California is doing something really unique that raises money for autism. What started out as a simple selection of a shape to create with fused glass turned into a design that fits nicely with groups who want to raise awareness of, and funding for, autism research. Janine Stillman is a glass artist. She creates jewelry using fused glass. This technique involves stacking, or layering, very thin sheets of glass on top of one another. Usually, the layers are different colors. It can be used to create unique, colorful, patterns after the glass has been melted in a … Continue reading →

The Dirt on the Dirtiest Surfaces in America

If you are a parent, the following news may come as a huge relief to you, or it may send you running to the nearest soap dispenser: According to a new scientific survey, play areas at fast food restaurants are not the germiest places in America. Rather, that dubious distinction goes to gas stations. Specifically, gas pumps handles. Given that we are a third of the way through the annual cold and flu season, it seems fitting that we’d get the first look at test results that feature the nation’s most highly contaminated surfaces. Thanks to the folks at Kimberly-Clark … Continue reading →

Shocking New Cigarette Package Warnings

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is turning up the heat to try to stop Americans from smoking. This week, the agency release nine new graphic warnings that will be required on at least 50 percent of the cigarette packages sold in America within the next two years. The FDA hasn’t added any new labels in more than 20 years and it decided to make these good ones – well, depending on your point of view. One label lists a smoker with smoke coming out of his tracheotomy hole in his throat. The caption reads, “WARNING: Cigarettes are addictive.” Another … Continue reading →

Green Celebrities: Cyndi Lauper

She may have just wanted to have fun in the ‘80s, but Cyndi Lauper has since grown up. Actually, her support of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transsexual) rights isn’t a new thing for Lauper – she has been a long time supporter. Lauper got her activist start with labor issues when she worked as a flight attendant in the ‘80s. After that, she did work with the National Organization of Women (NOW). Later, she started working with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The HRC is an organization focused on the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). … Continue reading →

School Uses iPad to Help Autistic Students Communicate

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A school in Connecticut is using iPads to help autistic students to be able to communicate with their teachers and families. The touch screen system that the iPad uses works well with children who have difficulty communicating verbally and are able to use their hands and fingers to manipulate and interact with the iPad screen. There are some apps that have been designed for students who are non-verbal to use in order to indicate what they know, what they want, or what they need. The Milford school district recently purchased three iPads that were handed to families of autistic students … Continue reading →