Wednesday, February 27, 2013

 INCREASING READING THROUGH FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

     It seems like reading is always a vital part of education.  I believe that reading can be incorporated into each and every content area.  This includes Family and Consumer Sciences.  Reading doesn't always have to be textbooks, there are many different mediums for reading to occur.  So what exactly are the reading mediums for FACS classes? It really varies from class to class because FACS encompasses multiple content areas.  Below are some of the typical texts used in classes related to FACS. 

  • FOODS & NUTRITION:
    • Recipes 
    • Food Labels 
  • FAMILY, CONSUMER, AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
    • Children's Books
    • Growth Charts
  • INTERIOR DESIGN:
    •  Blueprints
    • Sketches
  • SEWING: 
    •  
    • Patterns  
    • Technique Tutorials
  • CONSUMERISM: 
    •  Bank Statements
    • Tax Forms
      Of course there are more than this list, this is simply a list to get you thinking of all the possibilities.  In my own high school experiences, I personally enjoyed using case studies as part of my literacy experience.  We learn through the experiences of others, I really was able to experience certain disorders, situations, and other elements that I was being taught through these experiences of others.  It was very beneficial for me to retain the things that I knew.
      As an educator, I plan to reinforce my students' reading abilities by ensuring they get enough practice in various mediums.  Exposing them to these things through repetition will enforce the taught concepts.  I will choose materials that I believe will be found interesting to high school students.  I am excited for the opportunity to reinforce literacy skills through FACS. 



Thursday, February 21, 2013

Why I love FACS...You Can Love it Too!


I realize that not everyone is as passionate about Family and Consumer Sciences as I am, but I believe that even they don't realize it, everyone is benefited by FACS.  Everyone wears clothes, right? Everyone eats food, needs to manage finances, communicates with people, and at some point generally have children in their lives in some way or form.  I could extend this list to go on and on, but to sum things up I will say that FACS are ALL about LIFE.  Everything that we do in life can be related to FACS, and all that is taught in our classes has a direct impact for an everyday life.  



Do you want to know something else that is great about FACS, we have the only national student organization in which the focus is on the family.  Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is amazing.  It focuses on FACS and gives students the "Ultimate Leadership Experience!" In FCCLA, students get to meet new friends from around the nation, challenge themselves through competitive events, attend conferences all throughout the nation, participate in many activities and service projects, and have so much fun! You can learn more about FCCLA by going to this link here

Did you know that if Julia Roberts didn't go into acting, she would have gone into FACS Education? Cool, right?! She said it herself in an interview with Fox News.  I love her movies, but she would have been a great teacher also! 



I will leave you with this...at least until the next post! :) Here is an image gallery of some fun things (as well as some funny things) that you can learn in FACS classes.  Enjoy!