positivity July 2018
Our Days in Cancun
Whenever someone mentions the word vacation, I picture Cancun. After you set foot in Mexico, there’s something about the weather and atmosphere that pulls on you all year. My wife and I visited a few years ago, and we left feeling so relaxed and rejuvenated even after we returned home. We have pictures on our wall at home, and they’re a constant reminder of that world.
– Don Sevcik This summer, we’re not planning any trips away from home, but I turn to the great memories from Mexico anytime I want to get away. One couple we met was from Ireland, and the husband was probably one of the most energetic people I’ve ever met. He was just so positive and happy to be alive — one of those people who you only run across once out of every 10,000 people you meet. We played volleyball with him and his wife, and it was interesting to hear about their experiences in Ireland. We seriously considered booking a trip after meeting them, but we prefer vacations that involve sun and beaches. We spent plenty of time on the beach and visited an incredible aquatic reserve that was home to manatees and dolphins. It was nice to see this area dedicated to preserving and protecting marine life. The staff were very careful about not doing anything that could harm the animals — only certain sunscreens were allowed in the water, and we had to take our shoes off before getting in. They didn’t want to upset the balance. While we were visiting the reserve, we watched as one woman fed carrots to a manatee. Unfortunately for the unsuspecting woman, the manatee had to sneeze, and as it did, it sprayed carrots all over her face. She took it in stride, though, and just laughed at the encounter. It’s hard to imagine someone having the same reaction anywhere else on Earth. The default mood there is happy.
As soon as you land in Mexico, the stress melts away. The weather is outstanding. It rains for short bursts, then the sun comes out to shine on the green, plush environment. Even the fruit tastes better in Mexico. The mangoes are juicier, the bananas are more flavorful, and the papayas are sweeter. There’s always a warm vibe whenever you walk past people on the streets. Even if they don’t speak a word to you, there’s always a positive feeling emanating from them.
The place we stayed in Cancun had a private pool where no kids were allowed, complete with a swim-up bar. One of the best parts of that resort was meeting people from all over the world — the U.K., Spain, China — and it was cool to meet people from different cultures when we weren’t all that far from home. There were so many people our age taking a break from work and the “real world” to relax in that tropical setting.
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Mentally St imulat ing Act i v i t i es for Summer
In one study, when asked to imagine themselves as a stereotypical male, females performed much better on mental rotation tests. In another study, participants in male and female gender groups were given a test. After completing it, testers either told participants that their gender group scored higher or told participants that the opposite gender group scored higher. Then, the participants were tested again. As you probably guessed, the women who were told men did better on the test performed much worse, and the women who were told women did better on the test did much better. The results showed the same influence of perception across genders — men performed worse when they were told women did better on the test and better when told that men did better on the test. So far into the research, the perception of an ability seems to be just as, if not more, influential as actual ability on performance. As Kaufman concludes, “What we believe to be true matters.” If a student believes they have strong math skills, they’ll probably do better in math. If an athlete considers themselves talented, they might score more goals in a game. Of course, training and effort have an impact on performance. But the results of these studies highlight how important confidence is too. So, want to do better? Try believing you can. Does Conf i dence Have On Performance? fun. Encourage your older children to take the reins for preparing regular meals throughout the summer. You can pick guiding themes, like “a trip to Mexico” or “pasta party,” but let them choose the recipes and prep the meals on their own. FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: AN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP Field trips always inspire excitement in students, and you’ll find the same goes for your family members. You can tailor your destination to the interests of your kids for maximum engagement. If you have a family of art lovers, head to a museum for some inspiration and discussion. Kids who prefer the outdoors will enjoy a nature walk or hike. You can bring along a field guide to identify flora and fauna. These trips may not pack the thrill of a water park, but they’re fun in an entirely different way. FOR TEENAGERS: FAMILY DINNER PARTY Cooking teaches so many important skills: math, science, nutrition, concentration, cultural understanding, following directions, creativity, time management, and more. Even better, it doesn’t feel like learning; it feels like
Every summer, parents across the country have to deal with the same delicate problem. They want to make sure their kids continue to learn without feeling like they’re being assigned tasks. After all, summer homework
is every child’s worst nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on math problems and book reports to keep your child’s development from taking a two-month
vacation. Here are a few mentally stimulating activities that are as educational as they are fun.
FOR LITTLE ONES: HOMEMADE BUBBLES
Bubbles fascinate young children, so why not spend a day making your own solution and experimenting by blowing different types of bubbles? The formula is simple: 1 part dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best) to 10 parts water.
Optionally, you can also include 1/4 part glycerin. The process of making the solution will teach ratios, and finding creative ways to blow bubbles fosters problem-solving skills and creative thinking.
Gender stereotypes have persisted for a long time. The idea that men are more capable in math and science than women, for example, is one that still, even if subliminally, manifests in society. And in some areas, the differences have even been documented. In spatial tests involving the mental rotation of geometric shapes, results show a large variability between how men and women performed. Scientists have puzzled over these results for many years, trying to pinpoint the factors that created the gap. Is it biological? Is it psychological? Maybe we can blame outdated perceptions, like women having a lowered spatial awareness, for the results. Scott Barry Kaufman, Scientific Director at the University of Pennsylvania, points to more recent studies that show the influence of confidence on ability. According to Kaufman, “Recent research suggests that the difference in performance may not have to do so much with actual ability, but perceptions of that ability.” If performance is related to how well you expect to perform, and you’ve been told since you were a kid that you wouldn’t do well in one subject, it begs the question, what would happen if that perception changed?
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“I learned matrix multiplication. Look, Mom, I can understand this!” he told her. This was a subject he wouldn’t be covering for another year, and after five minutes on the site, he’d grasped the basics of matrix multiplication. The mother turned back to me. “You have a gold mine here, for how simple and in-depth your site is.” It’s one of the main values of Math Celebrity: Your student can jump a grade level and learn the math that they’re ready for. They can start practicing calculus instead of being stuck in an algebra class that doesn’t challenge them. Imagine the benefit for a senior who’s got a year to go until college but is ready for college-level math. They can access the level that suits them, have fun learning again, and build on their skills with Math Celebrity. If you give a capable student access to advanced learning, they will go far. They’ll gain knowledge and the confidence to propel them forward. Learn more at MathCelebrity.com.
A few years ago, Math Celebrity took a trip to Long Beach for a home-school conference. Going to home-school conferences has shown me how wrong the stereotypes are. It’s incredible to see how home-school parents are so proactive with their children’s education. These kids are exposed to real- world skills that they don’t teach in traditional classrooms. They’re learning in real-time, not just from a book, and they can work at a pace that fits their learning style. On the second day of the conference, a mother came by at the recommendation of some of the families who’d been to our booth. They told her “No matter what you do on day two, you have to visit the Math Celebrity booth.” So she stopped by with her 16-year-old son. He immediately hopped onto our website at our booth station. I gave him a quick introduction and then began talking with his mom. Suddenly, he exclaimed to his mom, “You have to come over here!” She was concerned at first. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
– Don Sevcik
bra in puzzles
Ki elbasa Kabobs
Inspired by Good Housekeeping
Ingredients • 2 pounds fully cooked smoked kielbasa • 2 large onions • 2 green bell peppers
• 3 red bell peppers
• 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 cup olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
directions 1. Heat grill to medium. 2. In a small bowl, combine oil, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. 3. Cut pepper, onion, and kielbasa into 1-inch chunks. 4. Thread onto skewers, alternating ingredients. 5. Brush with oil mixture and grill, covered, 10–12 minutes. [NOTE: If using bamboo skewers, soak in water for 30 minutes before threading to prevent burning.]
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Our Days in Cancun
Summer-Worthy Learning Opportunities
How Confidence Influences Test Scores
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The Advantage of Self-Paced Education
Kielbasa Kabobs
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Battling the Summer Sun!
What’s the best way to step out of the sun for a few minutes? Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing are great ways to shield yourself from UV rays, but it’s important to avoid being in direct sunlight for long periods. Taking a break from the sun gives your body the time it needs to recuperate and helps prevent sunburn and heatstroke. COMMON MYTHS ABOUT SUN EXPOSURE Many people think that a tan is better than a sunburn, but the result of tanning is still sun damage. When your skin tone changes due to the sun, regardless of whether it tans or turns red, it’s a result of the epidermis reacting to damage caused by UV rays. Both are symptoms of harmed skin. While vitamin D is important, the sun does not contribute to its creation as much as you might think. Doris Day, a New York City dermatologist, explains that if your skin were to constantly produce vitamin D from being in the sun, it would reach toxic levels. Vitamin D is the only vitamin that your body can produce on its own, through a common form of cholesterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol. Spending time in the sun does help vitamin D form, but you need far less exposure than you think.
To many people, summer is all about heading outside to enjoy the weather. But getting too much sun can be dangerous. To have a fun-filled summer with your family this year, remember that it’s essential to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. COVER UP Covering your skin is one of the best ways to avoid skin damage. Wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants or skirts can protect your skin from direct exposure to UV rays. While this tactic protects you from the sun, it offers poor defense against the heat. So, if you opt for cooler attire, it’s important to cover all exposed skin with a copious amount of sunscreen. Be sure to reapply every two hours for maximum skin protection. SPEND LESS TIME IN THE SUN If you’re planning to spend a significant amount of time in the sun, consider your environment. Will there be plenty of shade? Will you have to bring your own?
Knowing how to protect yourself from UV rays is the first step to having a safe, fun-filled summer!
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