Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Repost: The Complete Visual Guide to Generation Z

The Complete Visual Guide To Generation Z

There’s always discussion happening out there about generational differences, especially when it comes to internet and technology usage. Much of this discussion tends to divide people into two (very rough) groups – of older and younger, superusers and reluctant users, and a very very large grey area in between. That’s not to say that there’s nothing out there that breaks it down more, but for the most part, we don’t see as much detail as we see generalizations. So I was interested when I came across this detail of Generation Z which this particular infographic defines as folks who were born between 1995 and 2009. Keep reading to learn more about one of the youngest generations.

Generation “Z” Facts and Figures

  • The average Gen Z-er will have 17 jobs and 15 homes in their lifetime
  • Their average earnings in 2063 (around the age of retirement) will be $222,000
  • The average home price (in a capital city) at that time will be about $2.5 million
  • 1 in 2 will be university educated – compared with 1 in 3 from Gen Y and 1 in 4 from Gen X
  • They spend about 10 hrs, 19 minutes using technology per day
  • 77% of men and 61% of women from Gen Z are predicted to be obese by the time they reach adulthood
Commonly named life stages have been broken down into more categories than in the past. What used to be defined as childhood, teenager, and adulthood has now been broken down into:
  • Childhood
  • Tween
  • Teenager
  • Young Adult
  • Kippers
  • Adult
  • Career-Changer
  • Downager
Generation-Z-Infographic
Katie was a teacher, graduate student, and is now the lady who makes sure Edudemic is as useful as possible. She oversees the editorial process and is basically a Swiss Army Knife of solutions.

Playing with LucidPress


Monday, September 9, 2013

Emma's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Emma's first day of kindergarten.  All told, I was definitely more nervous than she was.  But, as expected, she coasted through the day with grace and style.  She wasn't nervous and she can't wait to go back tomorrow.

I tried to learn about her day, but I've learned that it isn't only teenagers that won't talk about what they do in school.  It was almost impossible to figure out what she did.  But I scrounged these little tidbits...


  • One of the girls in her class has the exact same lunchbox as she did.  This apparently means they are now instant best friends.  
  • She has library on mondays!
  • The librarian uses echoes as a classroom management tactic.  Emma seemed to really like echoing with the librarian.  
  • Mrs. Zegarski, Emma's teacher, read her three books.  One was about a mouse that went to school.
  • Emma rode a bus for the first time today and she loved it.  It was "really big."  And she doesn't have to buckle herself in if she doesn't want to.
  • Mrs. Zegarski wore green today; Emma's favorite color.
  • Emma is not happy that she's not allowed to take her shoes or socks off in class.
  • Raising your hand with a bent pointer finger means that you would like to go to the bathroom.
  • The bathroom has two sinks, one on the outside and one on the inside.  They are both small enough for her to use by herself!
  • Emma was not happy that the day had to end and she can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Today was Emma's first day of Kindergarten.

She was a little excited...
Posing with her new backpack.  
Emma standing in line to be picked up at the end of the day.
She was NOT happy to see me.  She didn't want to go home!
Inside Emma's big new school.
Outside Benjamin Franklin Elementary School!
C'mon Mom, let's go play!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

The Princess & The Adventure by Emma

Mike suggested that we shoot a movie with Emma this summer.  Emma wrote the movie, and here is the result!

The story stars Princess Ella and her mother, Queen Cleana.  The Princess is bored and has decided she wants to try adventuring for the first time.  She convinces her mother and they set off.

The first time they leave they forget food and have to turn back.

The second time they have food, but forgot to change their clothes.

The third time they have the right clothes, but lost the food on their way home the last time!

The food is found by the evil magic lion who gobbles it all up, gets the scent of the princess, and tracks her down.

He finds her looking for the food in the forest and chases the queen and the princess all the way back home.

They both decide that that is enough adventuring for the day!

Enjoy.  Apologies, we are rather hard to hear...

Blowing Lights

Carina: The light blew out in the stove hood, Mike.

 Emma: What blew out?

 Carina: The light.

 Emma: How?

Carina:  Very well.

Emma:  Can you blow it back in?

Flashlights, Galoshes, and Family!

I was looking through my pictures and realized that August 22nd was quite an exciting day...

It started with an enormous dragonfly visit, while brushing our teeth.


Then a storm hit and we lost power.  Nothing like breakfast by candlelight!



You can never have too many candles, according to Emma.



Without electricity, we put candles around the tropical fish tank to keep them warm.



I am batman!  (Zen by flashlight...)




I'm not afraid of the dark!  (River by flashlight...)



Zen, guarding Emma in the dark.




Eventually the sun came out, but with no iPad or backyard...the kids got restless.



Time to hit Alstede farm and do some puddle jumping!



Yay, we have power!  Time for dirty laundry leaping!


For a day without power, we sure did a lot.  It's always nice to be reminded about the things that really matter:  flashlights, galoshes, and family!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Warm Furry Wonderful

River is the only dog I've met that sleeps this way.  It's always so funny.  Still, she always manages to squirm herself over to keep my feet warm.  She does her job, even when she isn't fully awake to know she's doing it.  It's so pleasant to sit reading a book and then suddenly your bare feet are covered in warm furry wonderful.  I can't imagine a better way to relax.

A Piratical Morning

Emma:  Mommy, I wrote a word for you.

Emma:  Now how do I spell, "Mateys?"

Monday, August 5, 2013

Acting Like a Beautiful Fairy Princess in the Forest

This girl is "a barrel of fun pretty," according to Emma.
Emma and I had just gotten out of the shower and she was getting dressed...

Emma:  Mom, did you get me socks?

Carina:  No.

Emma:  Hmph!

Carina:  (with a stern look) You can get them yourself.

Emma:  Ok mommy.

Carina:  Thank you for being a good girl Emma.  I love it when you act like a good girl with a good attitude.

Emma:  Yeah, like being a beautiful princess.  

Carina:  Yes, like a beautiful princess.

Emma:  That's a fairy in the forest.

Carina:  Like a fairy in the forest.

Emma:  Like galloping shoes...

Carina:  What?

Emma:  Like on the ranch...

Carina:  Emma, what are you talking about?   

Saturday, July 27, 2013

The Situation

We were driving on a bad road...

Emma:  Wow, this is a bumpy situation.  And I don't even know what situation means!

Mike and Carina:  (laughter)

Emma:  Put this on Facebook!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Miss Perceptions

Emma:  Mommy, look at my painting.
Carina:  That's beautiful Emma!  Look at that hair.  Is that Rapunzel?
Emma:  No, it's an anaconda being crowned queen.
Carina:  Oh, of course.  How could I have confused the two?

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Bedtime!

Emma:  Night, Daddy!
Mike: Goodnight, Emma. Sleep well.
Emma: I will! Bedtime is calling my name!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Light of Shadows

Some of you may know this.  Some not.  But we have been trying to have a second child for quite a while.  For some reason, most couples keep this kind of thing a secret.  While the details are obviously a private matter, the support that somebody needs during a time like this shouldn't be.  I never understood why people would want to keep hidden their struggles - whether it's a miscarriage, a job loss, or a divorce - we all fall down occasionally.   But isn't that why all of you are reading this?  Isn't that why we blog or facebook?  It's because we needs friends and family; a support network to keep cheering us on so we don't lose hope.

The reason for today's post is because I found out today that - yet again - I'm not pregnant.  But here's the beautiful dichotomy.  While I'm on one side of a door trying to hold it together; trying not to end up sobbing on the bathroom floor, my daughter is on the other side of the door vibrating with excitement.

That's because, for Emma, today is the best day in the world.  Today Emma went an entire night in actual "big girl" panties with no accidents.  She is over-the-moon with pride and practically ambushed me when I woke up this morning.  She was so excited to tell me about this important milestone in her life.  It's also her last day of swimming lessons and she's determined to "swim" today.  She feels empowered.  She has no idea that she just lost the chance for a little brother or sister again.  She has no idea that mommy and daddy are tremendously sad.

In her little world everything is bright and shiny and perfect.

So I guess the lesson here is that there's always hope and a positive perspective.  There's always a silver lining.  Or I guess more specifically, there has to be light in order to make shadows.  It's not always easy to find that light.  Especially for me.  I am definitely a pessimist.  (Although we pessimists always swear that we're actually just all realists *wink*).  Therefore, I figured I would put this out there.  I figured I would share and see what you all have to say.  I know we're not the only people going through something like this and I think it's silly for us all to be suffering alone in shaded corners.

What's your story?  What shadows are you struggling with right now too?  Let's pool our candles together and make something bigger and brighter.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Why you should set soft goals for your classroom this year



via Cool Cat Teacher Blog http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2013/07/why-you-should-set-soft-goals-for-your.html

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Adorable

Emma:  Mommy, did you say "Grammy," when you were a little girl?

Carina:  No.  I said "Grandma" actually.

Emma:  Did you say it like really adorable?

Carina:  (Lol)  I guess so?

Monday, June 3, 2013

Contrary, Even in Sleep

You can't make this stuff up!  Here is Emma, asleep, facing the wrong way, spread eagle ON TOP of her blankets.  Hilarious.


Thursday, February 14, 2013

Lov

Emma: How do you spell "I Love You"?
Carina: Well I love you starts out with an I, then Love is spelled l o v.
Mike: E,     l o v e ...
Carina: Right.  Wow.

Essay Rewrite

Quote of the Day:
Student speaking to parent about my English class: So my English Teacher had us write an essay, then rewrite it, and then rewrite it again! UGGH!
Parent: I like this teacher. Glad I didn't have him...

Sad Song

Emma: This song makes me sad.
Theresa: Why?
Emma: It reminds me of someone I'm going to marry some day.
Theresa: Who?
Emma (wistfully): I don't remember, but I love him very much.

Somebody's been watching too much Disney. I mean, that's so sweet!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Small Print

Emma : Ma B can you play with me?
Ma B: Not right now , we have to go get my new glasses.
Emma: Why do you need new glasses? 
Ma B: So I can read the small print better.
Emma: Oh, that's ok, we can can play big!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

S H O W E R

Mike to Carina: Does Emma need a S H O W E R? (I spelled it out)
Carina: No.
Emma: No, I took a bath at Bella's.
Mike: (Looking incredulously at Emma) Emma, what does S H O W E R spell?
Emma: I don't know.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Beautiful Brain

Emma: I think the rails of this toy should be wood.

Carina: What?

Emma: The rails of this toy should be wood, not plastic.

Carina: Why?

Emma: Because if it were wood, it wouldn't break if I dropped it.

Carina: I love your brain.

Emma: My brain?

Carina: You have a beautiful brain.

Emma: Yes, it's full of flowers.

How Lucky Am I

Carina: I love you.
Mike: I love you too.
Carina: That's awesome.