FCS FLASH ISSUE Number 94: November 25, 2008
Now thru November 26: Davis: Textile Exhibit
Now thru December 5: Throughout California: CCCECE Fall Regional Meetings & Other Important Dates
Now thru January 4: San Diego: Kimono as Art Exhibit
December 3-4: Sacramento: 2008 Joint Special Populations Conference
December 4-6: Charlotte, NC: ACTE Convention & Career Expo
January 23: Monterey: CCCECE Winter Institute: Technology in Our Teaching
January 25: Los Angeles: Autry National Center: Cut from a Different Cloth
January 30: Los Angeles: CCCECE Winter Institute: Technology in Our Teaching
February 6: Cajon: CCCECE Winter Institute: Technology in Our Teaching
February 20: Rocklin: CCCECE Winter Institute: Technology in Our Teaching
March 15-19: Las Vegas: Joint Conference National Council on Aging/American Society on Aging
March 26-28: Sacramento: CAEYC Conference California Association for the Education of Young Children
April 22-24: Lake Arrowhead: 2009 Workforce Leaders Institute
September 25-26: Sacramento: CSA Western Region, 2009 Symposium “Costume in the American West” Call For Papers

Especially for FCS … There are two new Job Opportunities in Fashion: Fullerton College is seeking an adjunct faculty to teach Fashion Merchandising for Fall 2009. Contact Janet Gregg, jgregg@fullcoll.edu. Santa Monica College is seeking a part-time instructor to teach Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising. Contact Fereshteh Mobasheri, Mobasheri_Fereshteh@smc.edu. There are four new, interesting, and timely articles posted for you to review. They include: Older Drivers: Exploring Available Online Resources, Cynthia Schlesinger, MS, Education Program Specialist, Workforce Development; Connecting With the Community: Three Success Stories, Roger Gerard, Hospitality Management, Shasta College; Why Chores Matter, Lisa Ledeboer, Consumer Science, Mt. San Antonio College; The Stuff of Urban Legends, Dana Wu Wassmer, Nutrition, Cosumnes River College.

FCS FLASH Activity: Relax to Learn
We have collapsing financial markets, unprecedented housing foreclosures, an energy crisis, fire dangers across the state, and final exams looming large. There is no doubt about it there are plenty of problems right now and your students are probably feeling pretty stressed out. Unfortunately, our brains are not designed to handle long-term stress, and they do not function as well in these stressful environments. Stress diminishes our memory, reduces our ability to solve problems, makes us less effective decision makers, and impairs our health. The biggest part of successful stress management involves overcoming the feelings of helplessness and getting control back in one’s life. Talking about stress and figuring out strategies to reduce it will help students feel more in control. Before you begin the activity below, watch this Brain Rules video for more insight into stressed brains.

• Ask students questions about what things are stressing them out and if appropriate, list them.
• Circle the things on the list that students have some control over and discuss some of their options.
• View this video on stress and college students.
• Distribute This too Shall Pass activity and have students complete it.
• Discuss students’ responses and their advice to others.

FYI: This too shall pass.