Academix

A Non-profit Organization to Help Students Study, Explore, and Engage

K-2
Kindergarten
grade 1
grade 4
grade 5
grade 6
grade 7
grade 8
grade 9
math 10C (gr 10)
math 20-1 (gr 11)
math 30-1 (gr 12)
Postsecondary
Financial Literacy
Help a book find a home campaign

Health Class

ON THIS PAGE (in alphabetical order):

A Theory of Human Motivation - Maslow's Pyramid of Needs

Diabetes

Grief   This page is sponsored by
Sharp Book Series
 

Addiction to sugar - what does it do to your brain?

Disabilities, Support

Irlen Syndrome

Adolescence, Various Things

Disaster Resources

Learning Disabilities

         

Alcohol and Drug Prevention

Dyscalculia

Online Safety

Anger

Dyslexia (see also Stealth Dyslexia)

OCD

Anxiety and Stress

Eating Disorders

Sexual Health

Autism and Asperger's

Gaming Disorder

Williams Syndrome

Bullying

Giftedness

Working Memory

Conflict Resolution

     Giftedness and ADHD

 
   

Psychological Services, Alberta

Is There Something Really Wrong?

AHS
Need to go public? Go public and tell your story...
  Distress Centre Calgary, Facebook page.
General Articles
Live simulation to analyze medical reports  
Articles/Videos by Foothills Academy Society  
Click here for a list of presentations that are happening across Calgary and open to the public.
Child Who is Consistently Tired Despite Adequate Sleep Should Be Evaluated by Physician
Teenage Survival Guide
How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime
Character Development Lab

 

Sexual Health

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http://kidshealth.org/

How the body works for kids: http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/center/htbw-main-page.html?WT.ac=k-nav

Sexual health for teens: http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/sexual-health/?WT.ac=t-nav

For Teens: How to Make Healthy Decisions About Sex

From the Boston Children’s Hospital: Making Healthy Sexual Decisions

Talk to your sons about sex the way you would about table manners: often, says author

 

 

Bullying

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What is Bullying

Cyber bullying

Violence, Bullying and Abuse Prevention

Kids Help Phone, 1-800-668-6868


Additional Tips and Tricks:
Business leaders are very much equipped to deal with bullying because the problem has been studied and documented for so long.
There are many books written for business environments that are applicable to the classroom. You will find interesting scenarios and practical advice, read these books with a parent and try to figure out what's applicable to you.

Powerful Phrases for Dealing
With Difficult People
How to stop a bully  
 
Why Do Kids Become Bullies? "Most children who become bullies have been shown, somewhere during their development, that conflict is the best way to achieve recognition and reward. Often (though not always) these kids come from high-conflict homes and/or they have not been taught the moral skills that they need. They also tend to be socially ostracized and suffer from low self-esteem. "
Read more...
 
Cyber bullying Understanding harassment, mean behavior, trolling, etc.
 
  https://www.commonsense.org/education/toolkit/audience/family-engagement-cyberbullying
       

 

Conflict Resolution

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Arguing:

- Strawman Tactics

- Ad Hominem Attack

- Black and White Fallacy

- Authority Fallacy

- No True Scotsman Fallacy

   
   
       
Check out this book:
Confident Conversation
by Bechtle, Mike
  Communication is an art, and anyone--whether shy or outgoing--can improve his or her conversational skills. Dr. Mike Bechtle offers a straightforward guide to making good conversation that works for any personality type.

 

 

Alcohol and Drug Prevention

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https://medicine.wright.edu/sites/medicine.wright.edu/files/page/attachments/Prevention_Curriculum_Guid_Grades_1-3.pdf

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms Include (read more about OTC and Opioids):

  • muscle and bone pain
  • sleep problems
  • diarrhea and vomiting
  • cold flashes with goose bumps
  • uncontrollable leg movements
  • severe cravings

National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens

Codeine Addiction and Abuse

Cough Medicine Abuse by Teens, Effects of Abuse

Concerns of Mixing Alcohol with Other Drugs

Teenage Survival Guide

 

Pandem-Sim

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Pandem-Sim™ is an intense and immersive learning experience that engages your students in a live simulation to analyze medical reports from around the world.

Students quickly diagnose and treat an array of infectious diseases, study the data trends, and issue recommendations for prevention and control through public health alerts. With the help of computers, the Internet, and a video conference or webcam connection, students interact with a "Chief Epidemiologist" at the Challenger Learning Center® in Wheeling, WV.

Together, teams of students use their critical thinking skills and scientific knowledge to resolve disease outbreaks and try to prevent epidemics. During their mission, students become part of an emergency epidemiology team assembled to help resolve worldwide outbreaks. Stationed in a simulated Pandem Disease Center (PDC), students receive alerts from health officials in the field and must respond quickly to help prevent further disease cases.

Find out more...

 

Learning Disabilities

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Working Memory (WM) is an issue with many learning disabilities.

Click here for Working Memory (WM) Training
 
  Strategies:  https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-with-working-memory-issues/
 

Auditory Recall Comes in Last: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140312-auditory-memory-visual-learning-brain-research-science/
 

 

 
       
- Can Computer Programming Boost Your Brain Power?.
- How Coding Develops Focus and Organization
- Can Coding Improve Your Child's Writing Skills?

Research
The Cognitive Benefits of Learning Computer Programming: A Meta-Analysis of Transfer Effects
Excerpt, Conclusions: "Positive transfer to situations that required creative thinking, mathematical skills, and metacognition, followed by spatial skills and reasoning existed..."


Solutions for Ages 8 - 13
MIT Scratch is a free visual tool that introduces children to coding concepts to program video games. Learn how to code with your child and gradually replace passive screen time gradually with active learning.

Math anxiety "eats up" your Working Memory


 
Make It Stick offers techniques for becoming more productive learners, and cautions against study habits and practice routines that turn out to be counterproductive

 

Dyscalculia (Math Dyslexia)

What are the signs of Dyscalculia? https://www.dyslexia.uk.net/specific-learning-difficulties/dyscalculia/the-signs-of-dyscalculia/   Grades PK-2
A Hands On Approach to Early Math
and
Conceptual Learning
Types of Memory Procedural Memory and Declarative Memory   overcome Dyslexia Kindergarten math
Treating Dyscalculia https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/101104-electric-current-brains-math-science-health

Up to 7% of elementary school students have dyscalculia. Research suggests it's as common as dyslexia -- a reading disorder -- but not as well understood. In fact, kids and parents sometimes call it “math dyslexia,” but this can be confusing because dyscalculia is a completely different condition. Your school or doctor may call it a “mathematics learning disability” or a “math disorder.”

Read more: https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/dyscalculia-facts#1/
Make sure it's not just boredom! https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/ed/17/01/bored-out-their-minds     Kindergarten math
       
Can Schools Say "Dyslexia"? (U.S. Department of Education Interview)
 
   
Resources          

 

Dyslexia

Understanding Dyslexia

How dyslexia evaluations  look like  (20 min video)

Dyslexia, Psychology Today

 

Practical Advice for Dealing with Dyslexia

Change the font if you are reading digital material, whenever you can.

If the font cannot be changed then use software that reads the text along with you.

Ask your teacher to record an audio of exam questions and provide the recording to you during exams.

"Natural Reader" software can create the audio file directly from the text, to make it easy on the teacher preparing these materials, and there is a free version for non-commercial use.

 

 


How a font can help people with dyslexia to read

The font is explained here: https://www.dyslexiefont.com/en/typeface/

see  also OpenDyslexic Font for Chrome
 
 
Software for Reading Emails and Articles (Free version available for personal use).
Teachers can use this software to prepare audio files for tests to help the dyslexic child.
Natural Reader Software
see also Procedural Memory

Dyslexia: Teaching Approaches
The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity - Yale School of Medicine

   
Math and Dyslexia: Dyslexic Advantage Talks to Stanford and Georgetown Experts Tanya Evans and Michael Ullman (read more...)   "Because there is a high overlap between dyscalculia (math disability) and dyslexia, a better understanding of science of dyscalculia may inform useful strategies for teaching."

Dyscalculia may coexist with dyslexia.

 
Fighting dyslexia with computer science
     

see also:

Stealth Dyslexia

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https://www.2enewsletter.com/article_eides_stealth_dyslexia.html

http://www.davidsongifted.org/search-database/entry/a10435

https://www.3dlearner.com/uncategorized/stealth-dyslexia-not-typical-dyslexia/

 

 

Giftedness

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Sponsored Content, Math Enrichment

 

  

The first person to use the term gifted Leta Hollingworth

 


Personality-Shaping Through Positive Disintegration, by Kazimierz Dabrowski
Watch the 1970 Dabrowski UAlberta Interviews on YouTube
(6 videos)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhe1CudvJrBaZU7b71QiUrhkhNbtzjIXn
 
   
I Grew Up Gifted, But My Life Didn’t Turn Out The Way I Expected
 
https://www.cbc.ca/parents/learning/view/i-grew-up-gifted-but-my-life-didnt-turn-out-the-way-i-expected
The unique inner lives of gifted children - Linda Silverman
 
A Practical System for Identifying Gifted and Talented Students
 
https://gifted.uconn.edu/schoolwide-enrichment-model/identifygt
Sponsored Content,
Chemistry Enrichment



Sixteen things parents of gifted kids are sick of hearing (and what they’re thinking when they do)
https://www.laughingatchaos.com/sixteen-things-parents-of-gifted-kids-are-sick-of-hearing-and-what-theyre-thinking-when-they-do
Gifted Program vs. Attending Regular Streams:

Podcast: Cuts to gifted classes spark debate over value of program
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/cuts-to-gifted-classes-spark-debate-over-value-of-program-1.3836289

Congregated Gifted Program, Calgary Catholic School District
https://www.cssd.ab.ca/Programs/ProgramSupports/DiverseLearning/DiverseLearningSupports/Documents/Congregated_Gifted_Brochure.pdf

OCDSB vote on gifted program angers parents Social Sharing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ocdsb-gifted-program-vote-1.4885101

Pragmatic Examination of Gifted Behavior:
Giving students opportunity to be creative, improving motivation and working developing skills.

Avoid loosing potential, and how to become a gifted learner.
Create a library of "how to" books so you can find out that your student can master various skills.


Research happening at the University of Connecticut: https://gifted.uconn.edu/funded-research/.
See also Renzulli Learning for Talent Development.

 

Giftedness and ADHD

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Before Referring a Gifted Child for ADD/ADHD Evaluation

Exceptional and Special Needs

What Really Works for Gifted, Twice Exceptional Kids with ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, or Learning Disabilities

How to avoid a misdiagnosis when a child is young for his class

 
Uncomfortable Truths About the ADHD Nervous System

 

 

Grief

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Books to help children cope with loss and grief
   
What to Do When I'm Gone
A Mother's Wisdom to Her Daughter
Hopkins, Suzy Graphic Novel - 2018
 
Hallie asked her mother, writer Suzy Hopkins, to record step-by-step instructions for her to follow in the event of her mom's death. The list began: "Pour yourself a stiff glass of whiskey and make some fajitas" and continued from there, walking Hallie through the days, months, and years of life after loss, with motherly guidance and support, addressing issues great and small--from choosing a life partner to baking a quiche. The project became a way for mother and daughter to connect with humor, openness, and gratitude. It led to this book.
Guidance to adults who are supporting children grieving an expected death or a death that has already occurred. https://kidsgrief.ca/
Helping Grieving Children and Teenagers
 
       
How can you help a teen who is grieving?
 
       
How Teens Deal With Grief      
Teens Talk Grief,
Hospice Calgary

Through the Children's Grief Centre, families with children aged 19 and under are supported as they adjust to the changes in their lives when someone close to them has died. Using individual, family counseling and group support, we work with children, teens, and their families to help them gain the tools they need to face grief.
     

 

 

Irlen Syndrome (Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome)

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Know the signs of Irlen Syndrome

 

 

Interview with Helen Irlen discovered Irlen Syndrome over 20 years ago (1h:10min):

 

Solutions to Irlen Syndrome: https://irlen.com/what-you-can-do/

see also: https://irlen.com/success-stories/

Irlen Syndrome Foundation: What the printed page looks like

https://www.irlensyndrome.org/what-is-irlen-syndrome/

 

 

Gaming Disorder

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WHO Q&A About Gaming Disorders

 

Center on Media and Child Health

Center on Media and Child Health

How do I know if my tween has “gaming disorder”?

South Korea rehab camp for Internet-addicted teenagers

Ask the doctor a media related question

 

Articles

How the Internet, Dopamine and your Brain are Working Together to Screw Your Potential (by Anthony W. Richardson)

Click here for similar articles.

The brainwaves of gamers

Neural Basis of Video Gaming: A Systematic Review

Risk-taking outside of the video game environment following game play

 

Books

Korea’s Internet Addicts



The Neuroscience of Internet Addiction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjJYvLH_FGw 




 

 

Eating Disorders

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Calgary Eating Disorder Program

 

Articles

Immediate effects on learning and a common misdiagnosis

"The “inability to focus and concentrate,” which is almost universally reported by our young patients and their observant parents, is a direct result of their eating disorders -- not a separate condition, such as attention deficit disorder. Mistaking the poor concentration of semi-starvation for ADD or ADHD frequently leads to the prescription of stimulant medications which, unfortunately, can cause counter-productive appetite suppression. This highlights the critical importance of accurate diagnosis, which is greatly (though imperfectly) supported by the new DSM-5, and the critical importance of prompt, even aggressive, re-feeding."
Read more...

 

How Malnourishment Affects the Brain: Research on Anorexia and Neurobiology

For example, excessive weight loss can cause shrinkage of the brain’s gray matter.

Also, people underweight due to this eating disorder scored higher for depression, anxiety, and obsessiveness than those with anorexia who had restored weight. All of these symptoms, including loss of brain mass, improved with weight restoration.

Read more...

 

Anorexia & Loss of Cognitive Ability

 

 

Anxiety and Stress

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Library books that may help dealing with people who cause you anxiety:


Powerful Phrases for Dealing
With Difficult People

My Age of Anxiety
Check out these digital books from the Calgary Public Library. The app to use is OverDrive.
Here is a short intro to how to use OverDrive: https://sharpseries.ca/res/res.html#OverDrive

 

Five strategies for overcoming test anxiety.

 

Sometimes anxiety and stress is due to trauma, and can be very difficult to deal with.

Here is one approach: Choose the story you want to tell, change the past...

 

Articles

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/hide-and-seek/201210/coping-anxiety

https://adaa.org/tips#

 



How Stress Affects your Brain - Epigenetic Changes


 

University of Calgary:

What’s the difference between shyness and social anxiety? UCalgary experts on the inexact science of recognizing anxiety disorders in schools

Read More...

 

 

Strategies For Parenting Kids Who Have Anxiety

 

 

Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

 

 

Parents talk about 10 Early Signs of Autism

 

  

A Theory of Human Motivation - Maslow's Pyramid of Needs

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Maslow studied the healthiest 1% of the college student population.
The largest, most fundamental needs at the bottom and the need for self-actualization and self-transcendence at the top.

Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will strongly desire (or focus motivation upon) the secondary or higher level needs. Maslow also coined the term "metamotivation" to describe the motivation of people who go beyond the scope of the basic needs and strive for constant betterment.
Read more...

 

 

Disaster Resources

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AHS Website Disaster Resources – Mental Health Resources

Helping Your Child or Teen Prepare Emotionally For Disasters or Emergencies

Responding to a Disaster or Emergency

Recovery after a Disaster or Emergency

Calgary: Getting prepared for emergencies (72-hour kit, Emergency action plan, Alerts and Notifications).

 

Diabetes

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Reversing Type 2 Diabetes



What is Glycemic Index (GI) - eating foods with a low GI, will help you manage your diabetes.

 

Sugar Addiction

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Slideshow: The Truth About Sugar Addiction

 

How to end your sugar addiction.

Anger

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Helping your Angry Teen,
by Abblett, Mitch
Check it out from the Calgary public library.
 
     
Davidson Institute: Tips for Parents: Anger Management for Your Gifted Child

Russell Kolts; Anger, Compassion, and What It Means To Be Strong:

 

Anger—How We Transfer Feelings of Guilt, Hurt, and Fear
 

 

Online Safety

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from
Common Sense Education
Family tips on cyber bullying, parent concerts and understanding online harassment.
    A list of TV Shows (K - 2) That Inspires Empathy
 
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/tv-that-inspires-empathy
Safe Online Behavior
 
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/cyberbullying/what-should-i-teach-my-kid-about-safe-online-behavior
 
4 Ways to Help Teens Avoid Digital Harassment https://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/4-ways-to-help-teens-avoid-digital-harassment



 
Childnet International, a non-profit organization working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children.   https://www.childnet.com/

see also Playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/childnet/


Internet Safety Laws, Online Protection Tools, Parental Supervision of Online Activities
 
  https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/net-safety.html?fbclid=IwAR3eEqVKlh9Hc4xwmO0-ahYYOLSwWYkHgj1ppdH-3DcQfSo2mz4frAvuvXo
Being Smart with Your Smartphone
(designed for teachers)
 
  https://www.childnet.com/resources/being-smart-with-your-smartphone
NetSmartz offers free, multimedia Internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences — parents and communities, tweens, teens, and younger children.
 
  https://www.netsmartz.org/presentations?fbclid=IwAR1T-dwfa1Yl0UosCOpB3FIOL0jrVtQwGcP_r1iExzBZU7QwqoMKRIDK3Lw
The Dangers of Online Gaming   - How can I keep my child safe whilst they chat in games? What tools are available to help?
- How do I know which games are appropriate or suitable for my child?
- Do games have parental controls?
- How can I report inappropriate behavior by other users?
- How long should I let my child play games for?
https://www.childnet.com/ufiles/Online-gaming-an-introduction-for-parents-and-carers-2017.pdf


 

 

see also the general Bullying category.

 

Williams Syndrome (the opposite of Autism)

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This Rare Medical Condition Makes You Love Everyone   https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/07/williams-health-love-genetics-books/
     

 

OCD

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How to beat OCD without drugs
 
  https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/think-well/201406/how-beat-ocd-without-drugs-its-simple-not-easy
Strategies for Treatment-Resistant OCD
 
  https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/strategies-treatment-resistant-ocd
 
     

 

Adolescence, Various Things

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The Teenage Brain
CBC Podcast
Teenagers can be erratic and emotional. Sullen one moment and ecstatic the next. All this could drive the most level headed parent or teacher to distraction. But recent science may just have the answer to the question of why teenagers are the way they are. And it's not just about hormones. This new understanding is changing the way some societies see teens and it may just lead to us to redraw the boundary between teenager and adult. Aired: Jan. 31, 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/15758492-inside-the-teenage-brain-how-science-is-helping-us-understand-adolescents

see also:
Brain and Development Research Center
https://brainanddevelopment.nl/
       

 

 

 

Academix: Study, Explore, Engage...