Technology – Marvellous – When it Works!

The way you measure a society’s soul is by the way that it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela

Issue No. 76 – 31st August 2009

Welcome to Kidz Newz especially to all new subscribers. Kidz Newz is a regular newsletter with information and teaching tips for anyone involved with young children. You are receiving this because you have attended one of my workshops, purchased a book, or you have requested to be on the mailing list. Thank you. Please forward this to anyone you feel it may be of interest to. Feedback is welcome.

PD Updates

Tuesday 20th October 2009 – Millfield Prep School – Edgarley Hall, Glastonbury Somerset, UK. Registration details to follow.

Please forward this newsletter to anyone in the UK that you think may be interested in attending.

Massive Discounts on Move to Learn books! August Only! 1 day left!

August is the final month for this offer.  Prices revert to full retail after 31st August 2009.

Help Your Child to Learn – $29.95 NOW ONLY $9.95 plus postage – SAVE $20!

Help Your Class to Learn – $29.95 NOW ONLY $9.95 plus postage – SAVE $20! SOLD OUT!

Why & How to Get Started – $5.00 FREE with any book purchase.

For further information on these titles, go to my website at www.kidzfizbiz.com or contact me on 0410 642 781 or at info@kidzfizbiz.com to purchase.

Employment Opportunity – Be your own boss!

Looking for a part-time teaching opportunity? Love working with children? Love teaching music and movement? I am looking for people to train to run their own business as Kidz-Fiz-Biz operators. Good retruns and lots of fun. If this is something of interest to you now or in the future, please contact me at info@kidzfizbiz.com or phone 0410 642 781.

Technology – Marvellous – When it Works!

Cast your mind back to an era before we had computers. Hard to believe how we ever managed. Some of you won’t remember a time before computers or even television and mobile phones. Irrespective, all of us, at some time or other, have experienced the frustration of technical equipment not working properly. I am currently reading Paulo Coelho’s The Zahir in which the main character, a writer, has this experience. It was so good I had to share it with you. I’m sure you can identify. I wonder what you do in these circumstances? Throw a foam brick? Swear? I turn the thing off and go for a walk. Enjoy!

“I try to log onto the Internet, but it’s not working. It’s never been the same since I destroyed the connection. I called various technicians, but, when they finally turned up, they could find nothing wrong with the computer. They asked me what I was complaining about, spent half an hour doing tests, changed the configuration, and assured me that the problem lay not with me but with the server.  I allowed myself to be convinced that everything was, in fact, fine, and I felt ridiculous for having asked for help.  Two or three hours later, the computer and the connection would both crash.  Now, after months of physical and psychological wear and tear, I simply accept that technology is stronger and more powerful than me: it works when it wants to, and when it doesn’t, it’s best to sit down and read the paper or go for a walk, and just wait until the cables and the telephone links are in a better mood and the computer decides to work again.  I am not, I have discovered, my computer’s master: it has a life of its own.

I try a few more times, but I know from experience that it’s best just to give up.  The Internet, the biggest library in the world, has closed its doors to me for the moment. …”

Quotes of the Week

The computer allows you to make mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exception of handguns and tequila.
~ Mitch Ratcliffe

Entertainment

Thanks to PCGuru Newsletter.

Feedback

Some comments from the recent PD  in Nedlands, Perth

I learnt some new ideas to use such as with parachute and ribbons. It was very good, especially for early childhood teachers.

I enjoyed learning how to use the rainbow ring. The workshop was worthwhile for uni students especially if they don’t have a strong base of children’s songs.

The most useful thing I learned today was the easy, effective movements matched to songs the children would love.

The most useful thing I learned today was what to do with a rainbow ring.

About The Author

Marlene Rattigan B.A., Dip. Ed. (ECS), CELTA

Marlene Rattigan is an Early Childhood teacher, a teacher of English as a Second Language, and from 1987-2000 was a nationally accredited fitness leader. Her background is in music education. A keen interest in motor development in children led to the creation of Kidz-Fiz-Biz which she taught successfully for 13 years. Marlene also conducts workshops for children, teachers and parents at schools, in the community and at festivals. She has produced teaching manuals complete with audio CDs which are an extension of her ‘Kidz-Fiz-Biz’ program.

Kidz-Fiz-Biz
PO Box 6894, East Perth WA 6892, Australia
T: +61 8 9325 1204 M: +61 (0) 410 64 2781 E: info@kidzfizbiz.com

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Until next time … continue being a legend in your classroom.

Marlene Rattigan, Editor
Kidz Newz

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