Spoons Anyone?

Well!, I found this YouTube post of me teaching a lesson in playing the spoons. I am by no means a master spooner, but I think this impromptu video can get the basic player off to a good start. (The videography does have small twist to it.) Get a few spoons and give it a try.





http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=ODzSkdM40dA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DODzSkdM40dA%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata_player

Tutor and Educational Consultant


Jeffrey S. Melcher, M.Div., CMT, EFT 2
Tutoring ~ EFT ~ Educational Consulting
JMelcher@Circlemaker.org, (510) 847-8219
Berkeley, CA

Tutoring in: math, social studies, language arts, art, calligraphy, music, movement, comparative religion, science, study skills, and test preparation. Grades K-12.

Educational Consulting: I define educational consulting by including the entire system in which the learner is immersed: school, teachers, family, IEP, academic goals, and life goals. As I have experience as a teacher and an administrator, I am familiar with the language of the profession.

As an Educational Consultant I support the learner and his or her system of support. I help the students, family members and teachers understand the student's learning styles and to make best use of educational theory. We propose alternatives for each specific learner that can produce greater academic results and a happier situation for everybody in the system.

I bring knowledge of current systems and alternatives. My experience ranges from teaching in a public school near Detroit, to a comprehensive school in Totton, England, to a one room schoolhouse in the mountains of Oregon, Brietenbush Community School, where I had eight students grades 1-6 in the Waldorf tradition. My time teaching at The Phoenix School of Roseburg (OR), where the school population was “gifted underachievers”, taught me much of what I bring. This small private school focused on building the inherent skills of each student while helping each learn better coping skills to succeed in the school system or community college.

Examples - For early reading, writing and penmanship issues: 
1) I use a hands on approach shaping letters from clay  and co-create a story with the student to really study the shape.
2) I have also found that calligraphy works very well to renew or develop an interest in writing. It is more like art, a careful and deliberate attention to detail. It even works with ADHD boys!

Teaching Philosophy: If we lift up a student’s natural desire to learn and do useful work in the world, supporting their process, a joyful lifetime learner can emerge; ready to meet their challenges. Along with subject content, when we learn about the learning process, so much opens up to greater possibility.

A student is never reduced to only the subjects with which they are struggling. We are all full of capabilities waiting to open up. For a learner to move past the blocks of subject matter, a wider approach is often needed.

It may be possible a student is missing a key piece of information or a step in the process, yet just as often there is a subtle emotional component or learning strategy deficit that can be addressed. My use of Emotional Freedom Technique™ for test anxiety and NLP™ (Neuro Linguistic Programing) for learning strategies go deeper than basic tutoring, supporting a student's self-concept as a learner for life.

Sample start-up package for weekly engagement -- $180:
Four hours tutoring in two sessions
One hour EFT
Half hour Educational Consulting
                                                        
Fee Schedule
Tutoring: $30-$50 per hour -- Individual and Small Group
Educational Consulting: $60-$80
EFT Coaching: $60
Let's talk and we can create a learning package for your student.

For Educators:
If you are a tutor, a small group leader, or a community organizer who would like to learn more about implementing some of this in your work, please contact me about upcoming workshops.


What parents have to say about my work with their children:
"Jeffrey Melcher has been tutoring my daughter since Nov 2011. His work with her has been fabulous. She was hating schoolwork and doing very poorly in several subjects, math especially. Not only did her grades turn around, but her attitude toward schoolwork in general. She went from being a procrastinator to a student who liked working ahead in her math book so she could stay a step ahead. Also, Jeffrey's use of the Emotional Freedom Technique, EFT, got my daughter over her test anxiety and math phobia. It is amazing! 

We also had him start with my 3rd grade son this summer. My son enjoys the tutoring so much, he bounces with anticipation of his tutor's arrival. Jeffrey's friendly personality, and love of life and teaching supports both of my kids in liking to learn. He brings a broad experience of teaching and children. He gets results. I highly recommend Jeffrey as a tutor."                     ~ Marisela C.

"Our son, Thomas, was having a considerable amount of trouble with his 5th grade academic progress. ... In the 4th grade, our son was told by his teacher that he was “un-teachable”. ... he began to think of himself as “un-teachable”. ... Jeffery was willing and ready to start working with not only our son, but us as well."  (see more of this)     ~ Kathleen & Ernie M.

Study: Income of Wealthiest 1 Percent Tripled over Last Three Decades

Q: What is all this talk of inequality in earnings? Don't we all get what we deserve, receive pay for our work?

A: Besides the fact that women and people of color earn less than a white male doing the same job, wealth for the wealthy has tripled over the last three decades while earning power for most people has remained the same or decreased.

 Take a look at this study:
Study: Income of Wealthiest 1 Percent Tripled over Last Three Decades


A colleague and church elder is in this video exposing offshore money laundering.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnwRodMiBwA

 

Single Payer- CA SB 810 - Good/Bad News

The Single Payer health care reform bill in CA died in the California Senate on Tuesday Jan. 31, the deadline for the Senate to move it on to the State Assembly for its turn to wrestle over the bill.

It was short two votes. Four CA democrats ABSTAINED from the vote, effectively killing it. They deserve a concerned phone call or two or a thousand. (see info below)

SB 810 did, however surprise many pundits by passing the Senate Appropriations Committee, giving it a green light on the monetary side of the issue. Your calls made a difference. Thank you for anything you did to support this.

But, some kind of politics stopped the bill from moving forward. Now we will not know if Gov. Brown would or would not have signed the bill. More organizing for our own welfare as a people against the corporate greed is called for.

This issue is far from over. Single payer bills have passed both houses in the past to be vetoed by the sitting Governor (Arnold). It will be reintroduced again.

We have other good health care reform bills to work with this Spring. We can move more reform together in the next few months. If you want to learn more, look to these websites for information:
Single Payer: www.californiaonecare.org/
CA Healthcare reform: www.health-access.org/
For various updates: http://jeffreymelcher.blogspot.com/


SB 810 voting record:
NO vote: Dem. Calderon and Dem. Correa

ABSTAIN: Dems. Padilla, Vargas, Wright and Rubio.

Contact information:
Alex Padilla (Pacoima/LA area)
Capitol – 916-651-4020
District – 818-901-5588

Rod Wright (Los Angeles area)
(916) 651-4025
(310) 412-0393

Juan Vargas (San Diego area)
Sac: (916) 651-4040
Dist: (619) 409-7690

Michael Rubio (Fresno/Bakersfield area)
Sac: (916) 651-4016
Dist: (661) 395-2620

Ron Calderon (Los Angeles area)
Sac: (916) 651-4030
Dist: (323) 890-2790