Displacement Before And After

Last year my pre-k program was moved to another elementary school in my district. I had a choice to move with my program or teach a different grade level at the current school. I chose to move.

Since it was a district decision to move the program, they provided staff to physically move all of the boxes and furniture, but I was responsible for the packing and the unpacking.

When I walked into my classroom after the movers had all of the boxes placed, I knew I had my work cut out for me. This is one of the before shots:

Clearly, I had to figure out a plan of attack to get everything organized and ready for the first day of school. I started with my necessities: iPod, coffee and Gatorade and then got to work.

I organized my actions by prioritizing what HAD to be in place for the first day of school and what materials I would be using. I keep most of my units of study in large Rubbermaid tubs with labels. You don't see it in the picture, but in one corner of the classroom is a storage room.

I needed to to get some space in the room to move the furniture, so I started by taking all of the tubs for my units and organizing them in the storage room. Once that was done, I could push the tables to the middle of the room, put all of the other materials on and under the tables and start working on the physical layout of the perimeter of the room. Here's the start of that:

Thinking about the physical layout is HUGE! Your physical layout in the classroom can either help you diffuse problems or can actually make the problems worse. The following are some of the things I think about as I set up a new room:

What is age/grade appropriate?

What areas need to be included?

Where are materials stored for the teacher, assistant, students?

How are materials accessed? Does it support independence?

Is there a quiet space when needed?

Where are the electrical outlets and computer drops?

Traffic patterns to and from:

• bathroom and fountain
• backpacks and lunchboxes
• time out, chill out chair, etc (if needed)
• teaching tables and support materials
• fire exit and alternate routes
• line up

And most importantly,

• Do I have visual supervision of all areas at all times?

At this point, I started moving centers around, figuring out how to address all of those questions regarding the physical layout and then unpacking materials that belong in each center.

It finally came together like this:

After living with it for a year, there are some changes that I'll make when I go back into school next week. But, I have found by thinking about the physical layout questions, I can address the most important issues first and do so efficiently....without having to do tasks twice because I "forgot" I needed to have a computer table near the computer drop or that I needed a wall for my housekeeping unit because it is too high to see over.

Moving and organizing a new room takes an enormous amount of energy and time. (That's why this post did not get posted last year when I actually moved! I was too busy attending to other things.) Make sure to ask your principal, department chair or mentor what is your responsibility and what the school/district provides. In the course of fifteen years of teaching I probably had to move classrooms 6 or 7 times before I found out that the district would provide boxes and I earned a comp day for moving. It took 3 days to organize my classroom last year. While the district didn't pay me for every bit of time I spent in there, it sure was nice to enjoy that day off that I did earn!

If you are moving or re-organizing your classroom this year good luck!

Education in Sweden - Universities System

The Sweden universities system is one of the best regarded academic systems in in Northern Europe. Sweden has approximately five-hundred masters degree programs in the English language, everything from law to humanities. Programs are put together to meet enrollees needs. One good thing is that overseas enrollees are welcome and grants is also present. At present the public back universities charge no tuition a practice which is good public relations for the country. Why? Because it makes students who would otherwise study someplace else attend university there. As a lesser known fairly isolated country, this is wise to address. Swedish Universities History The right tuition free college or school is often found in Europe, where this educational scheme has a long and successful history. One example of a tuition free college is the University of Gothenburg or Karolinska University -see best-in-class list if colleges in Finland opportunities here.

Other schools in Norway and Finland also exist. For instance, located in Finland, the University of Helsinki is one of the best known institutions of higher learning in Finland with dozens of popular subjects to study. Also, a head campus in the capital Oslo, the Norwegian counterpart - University of Oslo - has much to offer as well. Located in beautiful Northern Europe, the University of Helsinki thriving city environment and has certifications in economics, business administration and political science studies . B.A.s, masters, and doctoral degrees are conferred as part of their education program listings, and many of the courses are in English.

The school is medium-sized, with a total enrollment of over 1,000 of students, of which a number are international students. And just like the school mentioned above, many other tuition free colleges have strong English support due to the large amount of international students. Not all of these academic establishments focus on business though. There is a wide range of degrees and programs offered around the world, including computer science, IT, and engineering degrees. Additionally, such high quality programs as medicine and neuroscience are offered. In order to participate in free study abroad programs at universities in Norway, be aware that a list of prerequisites awaits you.

To apply and attend free study abroad at list of free colleges, universities in Europe - it's required need to contact the consulate of his or her native to acquire a student visa. Secondly, make sure to check with the university regarding any entry exams or grade requirements. All in all, the ambition of attending college shouldn't be hampered with tuition, and in the case of the many tuition free universities around the world, it doesn't have to be. Learning more about these colleges offers you outstanding opportunities the fortunate few know about. There's more info on Swedish colleges and universities in Scandinavia.

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By B Von Ahlin

B Von Ahlin is a former teacher with advanced degree training in business and education. Learn more about sweden universities options and find interesting resources to learn more about universities in Sweden today.

Find the Right Nursing College

If you're thinking of nursing as your future career, then you should know the importance of finding the right college for your nursing assistant training. There are plenty of factors to consider, namely cost, syllabus content and accreditation. You'll have to take into account all of these before entering a course you might regret joining later.

Bear in mind that a nursing assistant college education is not cheap. The cost of a nursing assistant training course in most institutes can range anywhere from $2500 to $6000, excluding the study material and other fees, which may amount to over $2000. Some places, more often than not, offer attractive packages which seem cheap at a first glance, but when you peel back the layer of promotions, you'll find hidden fees and extra charges. So, it's imperative that you scrutinize the fine print to make sure the course is financially viable.

Aside from the cost, the content of the nursing assistant training program you're joining should be properly considered as well. Any typical course should encompass the basic fundamentals of a nursing assistant college education. Most courses are basically divided into two parts. The first being the theoretical portion, which will be easy provided that you've hit the books and studied hard enough.

The second portion however, gives you hands on training. This gives you the chance to demonstrate the abilities you've learned in the classroom, such as the handling of medical devices, the measurement of the patient's vitals and etcetera. This also builds up the spirit of teamwork, since you'll have to work in groups of two or more.

Another factor you'll have to look out for before paying up is whether that course has been accredited with the proper governmental bodies. In this age of technology, it is simple to go over to the website of the appropriate organization, type in the name of the institute and check if it's legit. Make it a point to check it yourself, instead of relying on the literature sent by the college. After all, the future of your nursing assistant college education rests on your ability to ensure everything goes the right way the first time around.

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By Sturat Mitchel