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Paying It Forward: The Kids Are Alright!! Mason Middle School Science Fair

By Liz and Bill Spear

Real Estate Agent with Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com SAL.2002007747

February 04, 2011 12:54 AM

Paying It Forward: The Kids Are Alright!!

The media keeps reporting how much trouble we're in, that the kids are losing ground against the rest of the world and we've lost our edge in math and science.

Based on my experience yesterday, I think the rumors of our demise are greatly exaggerated!

The Mason Middle School held their annual science fair yesterday and I had the good fortune to be one of 40 judges who helped judge the 100+ projects presented by these 7th and 8th graders. We worked in pairs, talking to the kids, hearing how they got to their project ideas, how they developed their methods to prove or disprove their ideas. You could see the sparks light up in their eyes as they discussed their projects! Most were centered on things that impact their daily lives & some went into some pretty technical avenues. Just a few examples I saw:

Performance of brand name vs. generic goods
Best deodorant brand
Are sports drinks the best to drink after sports?
Testing digestion of protein based on portion size
The effect of electricity on pH

Not having kids ourselves, it blew me away that these kids are doing Powerpoint slides and Excel graphs as a normal part of their work load! Some of these projects were clearly performing work at levels several years ahead of their grade level.
Mason Middle School Science Fair
I didn't see anywhere near as many projects as I might have liked, but after 2.5 hours time was up! One project in particular was just exceptional....work on beta blockers and according to that project's judge, the kid is working with the University of Virginia on his project! Whoa!!! baby shades

So while we may be worried about the kids playing too many video games and watching TV, there ARE plenty of future doctors, scientists and engineers starting to develop! I enjoyed my time judging the projects, and look forward to doing it again!

The kids are alright! The future's so bright they gotta wear shades!!

So looking to get your kids into some of the best schools in the region? Please give us a call and we'll help you buy a Warren County home in a school district that fits your needs!

A quote from our friend in North Carolina:
"I do not share my stories of paying it forward for recognition. I share them so that others might be inspired to do what they can, when they can, where they can. No more, no less." Tish Lloyd, North Carolina REALTOR®

Serving Warren County's residential real estate needs,
Liz and Bill aka BLiz

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Melissa McKinney

Everything Pines Partners Fayetteville - Fayetteville, NC

Realtor, www.LivingFayetteville.com

BLiz~ I bet you had GREAT fun with those kids!! Glad to hear there is still hope for the future...LOL I always knew with the doom and gloom that their was, heck my 13 yr old can run circles around me and I think I am pretty smart with the computer...

Feb 04, 2011 01:05 AM

Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Science fairs..video them and post them for your local community. 7700 folks watched this one for ideas with their projects I am told.

Feb 04, 2011 01:21 AM

Tammy Pearce

Haute Realty 214-994-6474 - Dallas, TX

Tammy Pearce

Bill - I knew you would love it! Did you have any favorites that weren't quite winners but really got your attention?

Feb 04, 2011 01:28 AM

Laura S. Baker

First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI

Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

Bill, you knew I couldn't miss this one! Excellent post my friend. What a cool way to spend the afternoon! Amazing projects they worked on.

Feb 04, 2011 01:36 AM

Cinnamon Wright

Wilmington Real Estate 4U 910.547.1446 - Wrightsville Beach, NC

Assistant to Tish Lloyd

We hear so much negative about "kids today", what a nice change to hear how they are already working to change our world!

Feb 04, 2011 02:25 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Melissa, It was certainly fun and they're a pretty outgoing bunch of kids :)

Andy, I had some concern about videotaping minors so didn't bring the videocamera. As it turned out, I had no extra time from start to finish judging 7 projects. Got done just as they were turning the public loose into the scene!

Tammy, Things have changed since I was a kid. No 1st, 2nd, 3rd place ribbons. All those getting at 36 or higher on a 40 point scale advance. I didn't really get to look too much at any of the other projects other than the ones I judged. Probably could have found plenty more good ones given time!

Laura, Thanks! Sharp kids for sure.

Cinnamon, They've probably been saying the same thing for generations. The world adjusts and we move along pretty well!

Feb 04, 2011 02:31 AM

Anita Clark

Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA

Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Right up your alley Bill! Glad you had a great time and especially good to hear the kids are going to be alright!

Feb 04, 2011 02:44 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Anita, They certainly are :)

Feb 04, 2011 02:55 AM

Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

Ha! I read that headline and immediately thought of that classic Who song. So funny when I kept reading that you'd posted it here!

Feb 04, 2011 02:58 AM

Dawn A Fabiszak

Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO

The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Bliz ~ I was just wondering about that fair. Sounds like the kids are really stretching their brains.

Feb 04, 2011 03:04 AM

Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528

Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY

Real Estate Salesperson

Bliz, THere's nothing I love more than watching the creativity that these kids can display and come up with. I'm sure they enjoyed you as much as you enjoyed them.

Feb 04, 2011 03:55 AM

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Liz & Bill … kids today get technology … they seem to have it in their DNA. It’s how they use it that matters. Sounds like a few of them are leading their way to greatness.

Feb 04, 2011 04:32 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Karen, I batted around the title and associated songs to go with it. Of course Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me with Science" would have worked too :)

Dawn, They're doing well, and learning how to be even better for next year.

Leah, It was definitely obvious that some of them really had a lot of fun with it!

Kathleen, Even more so that I suspected on the technology use! And they are applying it well!

Feb 04, 2011 05:16 AM

Christine Smith

Buyers Brokers Only LLC - www.BuyersBrokersOnly.com - Canton, MA

Exclusive Buyer Agent & Attorney, Canton, MA

Bill....thanks for posting some positive things about kids & education! Too often we only hear the negatives. As the mother of three girls (who all know how to put together a PowerPoint presentation, lol) & a supporter of public education, I thank you!

Feb 04, 2011 08:07 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Christine, It's good to know our property taxes are being well used :)

Feb 04, 2011 08:12 AM

Cindy Marchant

Keller Williams Indy NE 317-290-7775 www.marchantteam.com - Carmel, IN

"Cindy in Indy" , Realtor, Fishers Real Estate

Kids are the hope of our future; I am constantly amazed at what my own kids discuss, create, and accomplish.

Feb 04, 2011 11:03 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Cindy, On one hand, they have more distractions than ever, but on the other hand, they have more access and opportunity to learn and use what they know! I think it will ultimately be good!

Feb 04, 2011 11:20 AM