Article by Will Laughlin

“Least restrictive environment” is a term used in the special education world to describe the ideal setting for students requiring accommodations. This term, and related legislation, is designed to keep students with special needs in as normalized and “real” an environment as possible. The idea that learning and growth occur most powerfully in a real-world environment was somewhat radical when John Dewey proposed it over 100 years ago in his theory of experiential learning. But nowadays, most educators and mental health providers take this notion for granted.

The Vive! model is based on the idea that the least restrictive environment that a child can safely and successfully handle is the best environment for learning and growth. What we really mean by “least restrictive” is “most authentic.” That’s why Vive! works with teens and young adults exclusively in their real-world environment-i.e. in the context of their home, community and family. Until new social, coping, and self-management skills can be mastered in this environment, they are not likely to be sustained over time. Post-treatment relapse and recidivism rates tend to be extremely high, and Vive! believes that this is largely due to inadequate aftercare and transition support in the young person’s home environment.

Highly restrictive environments, such as those provided by residential treatment programs, hospitals, and therapeutic boarding schools, are often necessary for safe and effective crisis intervention. The changes achieved in these settings, however, can become quite fragile once the young person leaves. This is because those changes have occurred in an artificial setting, one in which certain environmental triggers and influences have been systematically removed. Once a young person leaves such an environment, their work must continue in the home setting in order to ensure that skills learned in treatment transfer to the real world. This kind of intensive, real-world aftercare ensures the highest probability of sustainable change.

So while it is often necessary to resort to more restrictive environments for the initial treatment of acute emotional, behavioral, and substance abuse problems, there is always a strong case to be made for continuing that therapeutic work in the young person’s natural environment. Young people whose emotional and behavioral issues have not escalated to a point yet requiring residential treatment can also greatly benefit from intensive work in their home and community. In general, then, the most authentic environment that a child can safely and successfully handle tends to be the best option for lasting change.

Article by Girlie Nuqui

Green Tips for Creating your Promotional Tools

Many businesses are now supporting the green revolution by selling eco-friendly products, following green business practices and partnering up with environmental organizations. Going green does not only help protect the environment, because this also allows your business to project a good image to your market. You can go all out in supporting the green revolution by creating promotional materials in the most eco-friendly ways possible. Eco-friendly print materials complement your eco-friendly business and strengthen your effort in supporting green living.

* Maximize the use of your promotional tools. Use your promotional tools for dual purposes. For instance, you can announce a sale using postcards and use the back of the cards as a discount coupon. Instead of printing discount coupons on a separate paper, why not use the back of your cards as your discount coupons? This lessens the amount of paper to be used for printing which is very beneficial to the environment. Doing so also helps you to cut back on your marketing expenses.

* Proofread the content. Imagine the amount of paper that you will waste if you print your promotional tools twice because of typographical errors. Think about it. The rejected brochures that you ordered will go straight to the trash can, because you didn’t proofread. This delays the distribution of your print materials and costs you a lot of money too. Always make sure to proofread your print materials before having them printed online to save you from inconvenience.

* Choose eco-friendly printing. A green printing company like UPrinting can be your reliable partner in producing eco-friendly promotional tools. Your business will benefit a lot if you work hand in hand with an online printer that shares the same value like yours. The printing service of an eco-friendly printer has a low impact on the environment, making them the ideal company to produce your print materials.

Article by Aaron Meredith

Many people who are building home based internet business and work from home never take the time to consider their work environment and the condition that it is in. Your work environment is very important as this is where you will either get important tasks done and meet with success or struggle to complete the essential tasks and meet with failure. There are some things you can do to set up your work area that make it much more conducive to you being productive and will allow you to ensure you get important tasks finished. When you are able to complete key important tasks in your business, you will have more success, it’s that simple.

First and foremost, you want to ensure that your work environment is comfortable. If you are working in an environment that is not comfortable, you are less likely to spend extended periods of time in that environment completing the tasks that need to get done. I personally enjoy my work environment and as a result of its comfort I have no problem spending hours on end in my office hammering out the work that needs to be done to grow my business. The more comfortable and the more you enjoy your environment, the more likely you will be to spend the time there working and getting everything done. This might not seem like a big deal but trust me it is. By increasing the level of comfort and actually enjoying my surrounding, my productivity increase by leaps and bounds.

You want your workspace to be set up in a location that allows in a lot of natural light. Just think about this, do you think you would be more successful working in a dark gloomy basement or in a room/office with nice large windows where you can let in plenty of air and light? Having decent amounts of natural light available in your work area will up your productivity by making your environment more enjoyable. If at all possible, set your office up where you can get some natural light.

As for the office area itself, you want to operate in a clean and organized environment. There are a couple of reasons for this. First by having a workspace that is clean and organized you feel more professional and more in control. This will increase your self-esteem and because of this you will do better work. By feeling professional and in control, you become professional and in control and subsequently act and perform in a manner consistent with those thoughts and feelings.

Second by having a neat and tidy work environment that is free of clutter, you can put one task in front of you and focus on in single-mindedly. By being organized and putting one and only one task in front of yourself at a time, you can work through that task fully before moving on to the next. This will make you more efficient and productive, allowing you to get more done. When you are able to accomplish more of the activities that are critical to your business, you will meet with more success.

Your work environment can have a serious impact on the level at which you achieve in your home based internet business. Take the time to evaluate your work environment and ensure that it’s set up in a way conducive to you being productive and successful. The more you can enjoy and feel comfortable in your work environment, and the more organized you can be, the greater will be your productivity and level of success.

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Article by Erica Ronchetti

Pennsylvania residents know that the heat of summer is right around the corner, if not already here.The best defense against the sweltering heat and humidity is an organic layer of mulch that’s applied and maintained carefully.Mulching flowerbeds, around trees, and vegetable beds keeps plants in good condition and encourages their survival against the extreme summer temperatures.Chester County mulch is available to suppress weeds, keep soil moist, moderate soil temperatures, and ensure the health and vitality of plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs all summer long.

Early spring, we encourage Chester County residents to prune and fertilize their plants before the onset of summer heat, and then prepare flowerbeds with mulch.The more you know about Chester County mulch, the better decisions you’ll make regarding mulch application and what types of mulch are effective for your landscape.

Chester County Mulch:Weed SuppressionMulch suppresses the growth of weeds. When applied around flowerbeds, mulch effectively blocks out the light and prevents weeds and unwanted plants from germinating. Once the light is prevented from reaching seeds, far fewer will grow and you’ll only have a few weeds to deal with. Although mulch doesn’t stop all weeds from growing, a few weeds is a manageable situation and can be handled with a minimal amount of weekly attention.

Chester County Mulch:Keeping Soil Temperature StableWhen soil is bare, it can suffer from extremes both over the course of a single day and during the summer months.When covered in a layer of mulch, the soil is shaded and maintains a much cooler temperature.In the winter, the mulch keeps soil warmer-mulch is effective during any month and any season, moderating extreme conditions and keeping soil temperature constant.Chester County mulch is essential for the health of your soil, and all microorganisms, microbes, and earthworms that contribute to soil quality.Temperature control keeps their environment hospitable.

Chester County Mulch:Soil MoistureMulch slows the evaporation of water in your soil, preserving moisture.This makes life easier, as you’ll need to water less frequently and you’ll be conserving water as well.When watered regularly, plants aren’t subject to as much drought-related stress and benefit from improved health.

There are many types of mulch available, such as root and stump mulch that are highly effective in water retention, sterile mulch for use on playgrounds, organic mulch, non-toxic mulch, and aged mulch.Before buying, consult with a professional who’ll be happy to recommend the Chester County mulch most appropriate for your back yard and landscape.Mulch is both effective and aesthetically pleasing-to encourage healthy plants and deep root growth, mulch your flowerbeds, shrubbery, small trees, and plants this summer.

Here is a song I created to help my 6th grade students study. I hope you enjoy. This one’s about you and me, the plants and the trees We’re all right where we should be The food web is wide, food chain in a line And it’s made up of all you see Decomposers, consumers It starts with producers Any kind of green plant that is making food from sunlight, uh Using energy to make sugar, glucose like a syrup Making wood, roots, and bark, leaves in the trees Producers photosynthesizing growing reproducing, uh From the soil nutrients decomposing action Need plants for ecosystems being thrilling Providing all energy photosynthesis it kills me I swear that plants start the whole process moving Then there are the consumers, you see They are any organism that is feeding to live up The main thing they can’t do is making their own food Excuse me they will eat producers they’re feeding And pardon me but they can eat fish and all kind of dish Poppin bits and pieces in their mouths or what will fit Some eat some of both take your pick not the opposite Consumers stay the same, cause eating food depends on teeth You know it when I tell you something Cause it is herbivores that do the snacking on plants, trees, leaves Cuz they’re special stomachs, adapted for digesting Grains, grasses, fruit-bearing and vegetables Omnivores how they do it, why they do it Was it cause they have molars, incisors inside their head Can wait for things to drop dead, eat it Or is it cause they feast also on plants …
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Article by Neal Hamou

The buzz word “green” has become increasingly popular in the last few years, and people all over the world are beginning to realize the importance of replacing the dependence on coal and oil with the independence of renewable energies. While some folks are still skeptical about global warming, science and obvious changes in the environment are making most countries take the threat very seriously.

One country that seems to be leading the way in the renewable energy revolution is the small island of Iceland. They have fully embraced geothermal energy and hydropower, and 82% of their primary energy consumption comes from renewable sources. The country has managed within one generation to ween itself from dependence on coal and oil to a system almost completely based on sustainable resources.

Another country leading the way to a greener planet is Sweden. Approximately 25% of Sweden’s energy consumption comes from biogas. Biogas is power that is created from sewage. In the Swedish city of Linkoping, all of the garbage trucks and buses run on biogas, and there’s even a biogas-powered train line! The government in Sweden has even converted confiscated alcohol into biofuel for green applications.

In 1973, the country of Denmark became independent of fossil fuel imports. Since that time, the country has continued to embrace green technologies, and now boasts the world’s first profitable offshore wind park. Over 20% of Denmark’s power consumption is derived from wind power, and that’s after exporting 90% of their wind production outside of the country. Denmark is also using solar power to run heating plants as well as other applications, and they are also working on using rapeseed oil as a new type of biofuel.

Costa Rica is one of many countries that is working to become the world’s first carbon-neutral country. They incorporate several green energies including geothermal, solar, wind and the burning of sugarcane waste. Their biggest source of clean energy is hydroelectricity, and more than 82% of Costa Rica’s energy is provided by its hydroelectric dams. A quarter of the nation of Costa Rica is also devoted to park preservation.

In the United States, the green revolution has faced opposition most notably from the giant oil companies. Americans are just now beginning to realize the very real threat that global warming poses, and many are now willing to look at alternative energy sources. In recent years, the U.S. has become the world’s fastest growing wind power market, and several major turbine manufacturing plants have either been opened or announced their intentions. Recently, the government has instituted tax credits, rebates and other programs to encourage Americans to purchase energy saving appliances, vehicles, etc. New homes and businesses are being built with environmentally friendly products and energy sources, and owners are receiving significant tax breaks for using green technologies.

There are many other countries implementing green technologies with the hope of saving the planet and making the world a better place – let’s hope they succeed.

Article by Lorna Mclaren

The environment that surrounds your child matters. The early care of children has long-lasting effects on them and they are particularly sensitive to the atmosphere and their immediate surroundings. It is therefore important that the environment that children find themselves in has all the right ingredients to allow them to grow and to thrive.

The term environment includes everything that children are exposed to in terms of a lifestyle, such as opportunities for indoor and outdoor play, a healthy diet, the adults that surround the child, hazard-free surroundings and the amount of attention and support that they receive. Even before birth the environment that the pregnant mother finds herself in is important.

Children learn in a variety of different ways and adults who are active and are involved with the child and have an understanding of when to interact and when to step back are an essential part of the child’s environment.

Babies and young children need environments that are stimulating and yet safe, they need to be allowed to explore and discover their surrounds on their own yet remain safe and they need to be able to creatively express themselves within their environment.

The adults within the environment of the child need to be able to respect the child’s needs and listen when these needs are being expressed. This allows that child to feel valued and trustful of their needs being met. The environment should give the child confidence and a sense of belonging, they should feel protected but not over restricted and they should be able to learn how to make healthy lifestyle choices such as what to eat and when to put on a coat.

When a child becomes part of your family you will almost automatically and unconsciously alter the environment to become child friendly and your parental instincts will subtly change your behaviour to accommodate the growing needs of your child. Imagine you are the parent of a two-year-old explorer. One of the first things you will almost certainly do is to place a stair gate at the bottom and perhaps at the top of your stairs. You will instinctively know that the stairs represent a hazard and should only be climbed with supervision. This is you altering your environment to suit the needs of your child.

The way you speak with your child is an important part of the environment you are providing as, even for very young babies, the tone of your voice has great meaning for them. Calm, even tones will be soothing and may result in a confident and even tempered two-year-old whereas a baby exposed to a lot of shouting may be a nervous toddler.

As you can see the surroundings and those adults in it have a great deal of influence over the very young. In order to have confident and happy children who feel valued and have developed a positive sense of self it is important that the environment in which they live is one likely to foster effective and confident development.

Related Environment Articles

Article by helen mae quinn

The trees can provide a good shade and attracts cool air. This is the beauty of nature in making us feel relaxed. Having a tree at home can provide you with a lot of benefits. It can give you shade and protects you from experiencing the effects of too much exposure of the sun. It also permits natural air to get inside your home. Aside from that, they add beauty to every home especially with its beautiful green leaves and attractive flowers. Magnolia trees are one of the most beautiful trees in the world and you can try to plant them at home.

If you want to plant magnolia trees in your own residence then you have to choose the perfect site that is good for its growth. First of all you must choose the location where it gets enough supply of sunshine and of course shade during the afternoon. The soil must be rich and moist for it to get enough nutrients. You must also select the place where it will not affect the structure of your home and it will not go beyond the property of your neighbor.

Once you have already chosen the site, you can prepare the seedling of the tree. If you already have one at home then it is just fine. However, if you have none then you can also ask from your neighbors or just buy from the store a seedling of this kind of tree. You can buy as many as you want if you have a larger area for magnolia tree gardening at home. You can also choose to start planting one just enough for your small house.

If you have the necessary things ready for planting like the seedling and your gardening tools then you are already fit to dig a hole. In digging the hole, you must make sure that it is very deep. You will know that you have dug enough soil because when you place the seedling, all the root part is under the soil. Usually it would b best to dig as deep as three times the size of the root part. This ensures strong foundation of the tree that even with very strong rain, it will not be eroded.

Moreover, when you take care of magnolia trees, you must make sure that you have given just enough water for it. You can do it daily along with checking its growth. Place organic fertilizers also so that it will become a strong, sturdy and beautiful tree someday. It may take some time to grow but you will be able to witness all your efforts are worth it once you see how the tree has beautifully grown.

There are many types of magnolia trees and they can vary on the type of flowers that it produces. They have unique and beautiful flowers that are very appealing to the eyes. That is why when you have a magnolia plant at home, you must know how to take care of it so that it will become a beautiful tree.

Your attention and time is needed in the care of magnolia trees. Just like any plant, they need enough sunshine, water and fertilizer in order for it to grow. Learn more about how to do it at http://magnoliatreeearthcenter.org/.

Article by Steven Simoneschi

Global warming and climate change have become popular sources of debate throughout the American, and in fact world community. Some of us aren’t convinced it’s happening, others are, and some just don’t care. In any case, it is important to understand how the green revolution is affecting the new purchase of homes. Even more so, it is vital to understand that the government is beginning to implement programs designed at providing us incentive to go green. No more is this more apparent than in the purchase of new homes. Green homes can provide a new homeowner invaluable benefits. For starters, new technology has shown us ways to construct homes that are actually cheaper to heat and cool. This is based off of the initial design of the building. By constructing a house a certain way, and using particular designs, we can now use this technology to lower the costs of both heating and cooling a home. Additionally, another prime aspect of this is the way in which the walls of a home are insulated. Strong insulation can exponentially lower heating costs and cooling costs, and are also safer for your family. But this green revolution affects homes in other ways as well. The government is currently providing important rebates and incentives that homeowners can cash in on by making their home cleaner and more environmentally friendly. These range from appliances to many other types of things that are common in a home. Thus, when you are looking to purchase a new home, you should seek out environmentally friendly homes. These will continue to save homeowners money as being green becomes more and more important as legislation changes and we head into the future. Going green, as you can see, can help not just you, but the environment as well. There are innumerable ways to raise the value of your home, lower its costs, all while helping the environment in the long run. Consult with your real estate company to see what green homes are available for purchase in your area.

Article by Fergal Collins

A green revolution is quietly changing our drinking habits. Savvy consumers no longer swig designer bottled waters, but carry their own eco-chic stainless steel drinking bottle filled from their home filtered water.

Pure water is essential to our health. Most of us know that. We carry water with us when we go out and try to get through our daily recommended amount. But if you grab a bottle of mountain spring water to go with your sandwich at lunch, are you really getting the healthy pure water that your body needs for optimum health?

A huge industry has grown up around bottled water. We are sold images of crystalline alpine waterfalls, idyllic sparkling springs. Water from these sources is purer, better for us than our tap water, they promise. Perhaps if we could drink direct from the spring it would be, though even that is not necessarily the case. But when we drink that water it has been sitting in a plastic bottle for a time, perhaps exposed to heat and light on a shelf for weeks. What they don

Article by jekky

Recently, news came from the Zhejiang Forestry College, the University of Colorful flowers and trees and cultivating experts, Professor Kang Tong and then a group of well-bred Colorful flowers and trees will be sent to Beijing for decorating the Zhongnanhai environment. Professor Kang Tong again is the first selection of experts to carry out one of Colorful flowers and trees, he Claustrophobia, Colorful flowers and leaves of non-leaves into the Yangtze River Delta region, to Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other provinces as well as a significant part of the city of the country able throughout the year to wear beautiful clothes.         Back in the late 20th century, Professor Kang Tong and task force member of another study found that people with social development and review         U.S. interest in the improvement of public places to beautify the environment, often requires a lot of colorful potted plant, potted one-off, however these have withered flower to make these public places must be replaced potted plant, decorative high cost. Meanwhile, the degree of greening is now major cities continues to grow, many parts of the landscaping requirements are also rising, which of the various colors of ornamental plants a huge demand, especially in the garden building, all kinds of color leaves of plants has also increased demand.         Since 1999, child health, and his discussion group and then to Xiaoshan as experimental, demonstration and promotion points, edge introduction testing and demonstration, introduction and use of varieties of new varieties of the method of combining, in just 7 years, has a large number of breeding new varieties of Coleus, and features a variety of ornamental plants are named: Photinia, gold Ilex, Colorful Hypericum, contact the stone mosaic, gold leaf Barberry, Berberis dragon, 6 large wooden flower, safflower 6 in dozens of new varieties of wood. Some of these new varieties of color with the seasons change, some change color with temperature, and some met the light will change their color. Breeding out as Berberis, will automatically change their degree through the light color, the more the light, the color the more light, light up the leaves on the formation of a white. In the middle of the tender branches? Is red, the growth of light at the bottom of the leaves as small, green leaves show the ordinary. Thus, there is a stone mosaic contact red, white, green, three-three colors, in visual form a colorful, just like a flower with green leaves as a foil. Photinia breeding success is also quite amazing. This plant will change color with the change of seasons, summer, it’s like white, and the next day, it’s like a fiery red, the new variety also has strong anti-pollution, bright colors, etc., on the road hedges building and construction of various colored belts will have a lot of room.         Currently, research new varieties of Coleus flowers have been in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian and other provinces and cities to actively promote, in all other non-pilot sites Xiaoshan self-promotion of new varieties has been more than 5 million, to create a direct economic benefit of 5,000 units million. Re Kangjie Shao Tong said, the current general an acre of land can be planted 20,000 seedlings of Colorful flowers and trees, even if the market two yuan a minimum, per-mu yield value has reached 40,000 yuan. Ningbo farmers to plant 34 acres in some areas of Colorful flowers and output value of more than 100 million. Should be said that the development of the current market Colorful flowers are very promising.         It was explained that this achievement belongs to the public welfare of the agricultural extension projects, therefore, Professor individual child, and not much economic benefit, but to see this project in Zhejiang Province and greatly boosted the development of flowers and plants surrounding areas makes a large number of farmers took to the road of poverty alleviation, Professor Tong said that year than he is also pleased to comment on the professor.