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#1. November 25, 2009
Dear Reader,
I enjoyed this week’s TIME magazine article on helicopter parents called “Can These Parents Be Saved?” by Nancy Gibbs. It looks at the over-parenting trend and an even newer trend of “rebels” that are trying to get parents to just calm down.
When my kids were in elementary and middle-school, I remember those dioramas that looked as if they were prototypes for a Smithsonian museum exhibit. Ummm… no… actually I don’t think your child did that! Ha ha!!
Anyway, the following quote really stood out, because my youngest is a high-school senior and is just wrapping up her college applications.
“And senior year [of high school] is the witching hour: ‘I think for a lot of parents, college admissions is like their grade report on how they did as a parent,’ observes Madeleine Thyneer, dean of students at Willamette University in Oregon.”
To which I add, not only for the parents, but also for the kids themselves who feel their ENTIRE life is being graded by which colleges say yes, which say maybe, and which just flat out say no.
I, for one, am glad to see the parenting pendulum swing back to a more laid-back style. What do you think? Have parents gotten too protective? Has it gotten harder for parents to let their kids fight their own battles, or even (oh, no, don’t say it!) fail once in a while?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can post a comment here:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/a_parents_report_card.html
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here are some online Thanksgiving games the kids might enjoy while the turkey is cooking:
https://www.surfnetkids.com/games/Thanksgiving/
See ya on the Net,
Barbara J. Feldman
"Surfing the Net with Kids"
https://www.surfnetkids.com
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#3. Active and Passive Voice
by Barbara J. Feldman
https://www.surfnetkids.com/active_and_passive_voice.htm
Active and Passive Voice Printable (** for premium members only)
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables/files/printables-club/active_and_passive_voice.pdf
The passive voice is frowned upon by many teachers. Or should I say, many teachers frown upon the passive voice? Today’s sites illustrate the differences between active and passive voice, bust some common grammar myths, and will help you write with more clarity.
Elements of Style: Elementary Principles of Composition
“Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White is one of my favorite books on writing. This online edition is the one Strunk published privately in 1918 as a Cornell professor. In 1959, White (one of Strunk’s students) revised it and re-published it as a co-author. Of interest today is item eleven, which teaches us although the passive voice is called for in some situations, the “habitual use of the active voice makes for forcible writing.”
Guide to Grammar and Writing: The Passive Voice
The Guide to Grammar and Writing gives us detailed examples of the passive voice. For example, only verbs that take objects, known as transitive verbs, can be used in passive voice. Be sure to take the quiz (link at the bottom of the page) on revising passive constructions. “WARNING! Some of these sentences do not use passive verbs or are better off left in the passive, so this exercise will also engage your attention in recognizing passive constructions and in using them when appropriate.”
OWL at Purdue: Active and Passive Voice
This seven-section resource from OWL at Purdue University has a table of contents at the bottom of every page. To print all seven sections at once, click on the Full Resource for Printing button in the green nav bar just below the Summary. This lesson offers illustrated examples of active voice, showing you the subject acting upon the object (arrow points to the right) versus the passive voice, where the arrow from the object points to the subject on the left. My favorite click is the Further Suggestions section which offers tips such as “Avoid starting a sentence in active voice and then shifting to passive.”
… Click to continue Active and Passive Voice .
#4. Printables Club Members Also Get …
Surfnetkids Printables Club Members also get the following printables to use in the classroom, the computer lab, the school library, or to send home with students:
Active and Passive Voice Printable
Grammar Printable
Prepositions Printable
Diagramming Sentences Printable
*** Are you curious? Get your own ten-day trial membership:
https://www.surfnetkids.com/printables-club.htm
#5. Surfing the Calendar
Sojourner Truth Died
Nov 26, 1883
Thanksgiving Poems
Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Fun
Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving
Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Crafts
Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving: Games
Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving: Pilgrims of Plymouth
Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving: Pocahontas
Nov 26, 2009
Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks
Nov 26, 2009
Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” Published
Nov 26, 1865
National Flossing Day
Nov 27, 2009
Louisa May Alcott’s Birthday
Nov 29, 1832
#6. Quote of the Week
“Children learn to smile from their parents.” ~~ Shinichi Suzuki (October 17, 1898 – January 26, 1998) inventor of the international Suzuki method of music education. Click here for more parenting quotes.
#7. Subscription Management
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