Meditation and sensory awareness increases academic achievement!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAo_ZSmjLJ4&feature=player_embedded
Finally!  We have documented research on the effects of Social Emotional Learning on student achievement that includes relaxation, meditation and breathing techniques as well as other tools, all in a short (15 lessons) curriculum, developed Goldie Hawn.
This technique was developed collaboratively through the Hawn Foundation specifically to address the well being of our children as they struggle to learn in today's evolving curriculum. With a passion for the children of our society and their success for our future, Goldie Hawn has collaborated with many experts in the fields of neurobiology, positive psychology, and pedagogy to find ways to reduce the stress and increase the focus and attention of children in school.
I am sure you will be as excited about this as I am.  check out this video segment and blog your thoughts!

Julie

Back to School Blues

by Julie Merchant

Key points:

•   Attitudes flare
•    Kids view this as the end of all fun
•   Calendaring for the semester fosters independence,        accountability and clarification
•  Parents can help by looking through all handouts and teacher provided documents with your students and asking questions.
• Calendaring all assignments, quizzes, tests, reports, projects etc. in different colors keeps confusion down.
•  There are many questions parents can ask that help stimulate thought and encourage early clarification
•  Miscommunications at the beginning of a new class or new semester  are very common and should not be chastised, but praise for seeking clarification should be high.

If you're a parent, chances are your kids have just returned to school and you are witnessing the Back to School Blues. You are dealing with an attitude of overwhelm, short tempers, exhaustion and a strong desire to just sit and 'veg' over this long holiday weekend. These behaviors are very natural as the kids attempt to settle in to a new year, new classes, new instructors  and different expectations.  It seems as though it should be easy, unless your kids are transitioning to a new school, but - as you can see there are many things that are not the same.  

It is especially hard to return after a summer break, as they have become accustomed to very little cognitive stimulation over the past 10 weeks.  At this point your kids are mourning the end of video games, television time and other electronic stimulation.  All they want is that one last chance to play their game or 'do nothing', when in reality, now is the time to get organized so that they are set up for success and can occasionally have some game or do nothing time.  This is very difficult for kids to see, but as parents , the best thing we can possibly do for them is to sit down this week and comb through their syllabi, review all of the information that was handed out or verbalized, and put as much as possible into a calendar for the semester. 

If they are in an online class, there are many tabs and areas of information to get into and extract this information from.  helping them to find the information and expectations will enable them to have a much clearer picture of their semester and increase accountability. In class, hopefully the teachers have given out semester expectations in the form of a syllabus, or access to a classroom web site.  If you have not seen anything yet, it is time to ask.  If your students do not have anything, it is very appropriate to email or send a note to the teacher asking what their expectations are and how you can access them.  Once your students have found this information, encourage them to calendar the following:

•     All assignments by title and due date
•     Any rough draft or proposal due dates                  
•    All Exams and quizzes

*Color coding by class/subject or assignment type can be helpful.

As parents, the best way to support this process is to be there as they go through their papers and ask questions .  You do not want to do their work for them, as that will not help them.  the goal here is to teach accountability and there is no  better way to foster a sense of accomplishment and independence than for your kids to get themselves organized at the beginning of a semester.  Help them by asking questions about particular classes - such as;

•  What did the teacher say you would be studying over the course of the  semester?         Help    them to categorize units or subject topics that enable them to see the general         outline for the semester
  
•  How many exams will you have?  what format will they be (multiple choice, essay, True        - False or a combination)?  Will they be cumulative, comprehensive, or restricted the   current unity of study?
  
•   How do you plan on preparing for the types of testing expected?
  
•    Are there any projects, presentations or reports?
  
•    How does the instructor grade all of your work?
  
•    Are you graded on in class participation? 

All of these questions should help to stimulate thought in your student, as they look at each class in terms of the entire semester.  By doing this work up front, students have set themselves up for success, they are committing to a semester plan and with you involved, they are also publicizing their commitments.  This is very helpful for students who struggle with self discipline, asking for help, and understanding expectations. 

Often new teachers present information in a way that students are not accustomed to and it is very common for students to misunderstand instructions, assignments and overall communication at the beginning of a semester.  This is not something to get upset with them about, nor is it something that they should be upset with themselves about, but they should be encouraged to ask clarifying questions.  Many students are intimidated by their new teachers and therefore do not ask questions, but they must realize that if they did not understand something, it is very likely that many others are also confused and someone needs to ask!  Asking questions for clarification can be done via email or in class, either way the teacher is made aware of the need for clarification and will experience less frustration down the road. If the teacher is savvy, as most are, they will clarify for the entire class and the other students will also experience less frustration later on.

Setting themselves up through this kind of proactive planning, enables students to get a firm grasp on their entire semester from the beginning. It enables parents to keep up with their students, by checking in periodically and  when students start to slip up, it is much easier to catch.  By committing to this small task and disciplining ourselves to check in on a weekly basis, we are doing our part to help close the achievement gap. 

I hope that everyone  finds this to be a useful tool and that by trying it out, you experience the peace of mind that this simple organization tool can bring to the family each semester.  

Online learning: Hot picks

Online learning: Hot picks

I promised you some online school research a while back. Here is some research that shares some really helpful sites. Some are completely dedicated to online schooling and some are meant to be collaborative, in other words they will supplement learning and serve as a tutoring resource.

I am especially impressed with Khan Academy - which I have already shared and Grockit for this purpose. Check them out.

My only caution and partial reason for not offering you more in complete online education programs is the whole accreditation issue. I have not found much information on college acceptance from these online institutions yet, but I am sure they are scrutinized in a similar fashion to home school programs. Does anyone have any experience with this that they can share?

A new tutoring tool!

As we prepare to start another school year we begin thinking of the coming challenges, what we struggled with last year and how we will prevent some of the road blocks that ran up against.  Personally, I am working with several students and parents right now to complete learning evaluations and get some new tools/ strategies in place for the coming year.
  Here is a new (to me) site that I came across. This site is not only free for students, but educators as well, which makes it even easier to grow.  The site contains over 2400 teaching videos, with many different approaches. This means that learners of every style can find help here.  There are many different subjects from a basic level through advanced high school, if not college levels.
PLEASE check it out, preferably with your student(s) and leave some feedback. I can't possibly get to all of the different areas and videos segments, so that's where you all come in.  If you find something that is particularly helpful, please share it with us!
P.S. It's not too late- if you are needing some help preparing for this fall we can complete an evaluation (online if you are not local) and set up a learning plan, just contact me through my email- lifeisgr8.julie@gmail.com

Julie

In Search of Freedom

This was written with the many graduates that I know in mind.  There are so many things to think about as we prepare for a new stage in life.  It seems to me that the goal of every young person however, is ultimately freedom..whatever that means. 

In Search of Freedom

Freedom is often defined at the personal level as a way to get away from something rather than progressing toward something. On a deeper level freedom is finding independence from our fears and moving toward true happiness.

Each transition that we make is presumably to better ourselves and our circumstances, thus it is important to ask and answer the question; how is this going to better my circumstances?

If you are considering a change in your life it is important that you understand why you need this change, what key factors have driven you to this point?  Is it about money or security, and how will this change improve your life?  Or is it about love or adventure and if so how is this going to improve your life? 

There have been many changes is my life that I have made thinking they were going to make things better, but in the long run the improvements that I thought I was going to see did not happen.  This is not to say that I can’t look back on every change and see that good things came from them, for I believe that there is something to gain from every event in our lives.  Some of our best lessons come when we least expect them and from our biggest challenges.  There comes a time in life when we just don’t have as much energy to put into these lessons however. This is when we start to apply wisdom and skill – obtained through previous experiences.  I like to compare life to a court sport; the key to establishing and maintaining control, thereby preserving our energy, is to stay centered and let our opponent do all of the running.  To predict and be where the ball is going, rather than chasing it is much smarter and more efficient.  This skill applied to life requires the application of wisdom obtained through experience and proactive analysis of the game, your opponent, your own abilities, strengths and weaknesses before making your move.

So often we seek change because we are not satisfied with the world around us, we want to change things, so that life will be easier. Many of us want to help others and in so doing we make changes that are not beneficial to ourselves. Creating more hardship for ourselves is the very thing that ends up exhausting us and killing our plan. So again, I ask you as you to contemplate your move – what specifics will you gain and toward what goal?  In what ways will this change make you a better and stronger person, someone that you will admire and with this change in yourself, how will you improve the world around you? I encourage you to sit down and make a list of the things that you are hoping to change and why. After you have put these concerns into concrete words and you have had the chance to succinctly identify what is keeping you from happiness - your freedom, apply your contemplated change and reevaluate each concern.  Through this process, you will discover the changes you truly need to make in your life at this time. Ultimately- this will lead you to your freedom. 

Congratulations to all, as you complete whatever stage you are in and Best of Luck.   

Julie

Most successful young people don’t look inside and then plan a life.

It’s Not About You - NYTimes.com


This is an interesting view on what today graduates are facing.  Are they prepared for the real world?  This author doesn't think so.  What do you think?  
I do find his final comment - "The purpose in life is not to find yourself. It's to lose yourself." to be somewhat enlightening, but you'll have to read the article to get his point.   :)

Online schools??

Are you rethinking schooling?  Is the threat of deep cuts - again causing doubt in your child's eucation?  I know it is for me.  As much as I want to hang in there and support the staff of my child's school, I can't help but think about what is best for my child.  I don't feel like I can afford private school, but then I haven't looked into them at all.  

This week I have decided that I must commit to some research on this topic. I will share what I find with you all, so you can ride along with me.  

This link is to an article on evaluating online schools, something I

have not seen yet.  There are now many online options however and it is time that we consider their value for our children as well.  

Online classes: A choice for your middle or high schooler? - Managing ADHD | GreatSchools

Check out his article and share your thoughts - please.  I can think of many questions that should come up as a result of this.  I will share them with you this week as well.  

Cheers, 

Julie

Children in need

Today I found an awesome organization (that I am actually applying for a position with - wish me luck!) that exists solely for the children!  They have such great goals and values, all focused on children who are in need of support and empowerment just to exist.  There are so many children, to include those who live in poverty in rural parts of the United States, who need assistance because their own governments and families (due to extreme socioeconomic conditions) are failing them.
Check them out: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6146405/k.C7E9/About_Us.htm?__utma=1.734010751.1271082600
This link takes you straight to their 'about us' page.  If it doesn't go to www.savethechildren.org  and tell me what you think.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

The current buzz is all about parenting styles and in particular, we are all comparing ourselves to Tiger Mom - Amy Chua.  Are we like her?  Should we be like her?  Is she a terrible mom or a great mom?
These are all questions that everyone is pondering and no one will know until we see the outcome of her children.  Many of us disagree with what we have heard and read about her parenting, especially here in the United States - but why is this?
It is my philosophy that parenting should be approached with intention, something that Chua alludes to as well. The outcome is what we need to keep in mind. What do we want for our children as they emerge into adults?
In the article featured in Time Magazine,  Chua states that her focus is on her children's happiness, but that is something that will come in the future, not now. I think this is what is difficult for most westerners, as her philosophy  rob's her children of their 'childhood'.  Am I right?
What I see in the unstated outcome of this scenario, is that mom, being the crouching tiger, trying to control her daughters every move as they grow up has backfired.  What she did not realize is that her children, like all children are not to be controlled.  To attempt to control children leads to rebellion, the smarter the child, the more rebellious they become.  In this case, the youngest daughter, Lulu is the hidden dragon, the unrecognized autonomous intellect, that is not to be tamed.  She is determined to become her own person and develop her own interests.
To set an intention of happiness for our children is certainly not a bad thing and it is not as limiting as choosing a career path or marriage partner for them, but pushing them to the extent that this mom does is what is uncomfortable and questionable.
What do you think of this position?  Is there any room for this kind of pressure and what will the outcome of this pressure manifest into?