Kids

For all you out there in my reading audience, I wish to impart some wisdom from this 50+ brain of mine. So if you hate hearing such things read no futher.
First my basis for my statements. Teaching young ones for about 12 years, raising four of my own, having my nephew for five years, and most of the research now coming out about young ones. So now my thoughts.
The first five years of a child's life can either give that child wings or cripple them for the next five. Day care (defined as one worker to six or more kids in an institutional setting) is the bane of a young child's development. Infants and pre-fives need face time with a loving parent, lots and lots of time. It is very difficult to see what difference it makes while that little one is still so tiny, the difference begins to show at five. Sons of mine, marry women commited to being the mothers of your children, or if they are not, marry someone who is willing to support you while you raise the babe...just don't put them into an institution for 30 to 60 hours a week from the age of six weeks. The complex development of the human brain is so beyond our knowing and needs careful tending. Even with careful tending things go wrong, how much more so when handed over to a stressed, underpaid, non emotionally invested woman or man, (no matter how well intentioned) in an enviroment with minimal stimulation. For futher reading on this subject I recommend, "High Risk, Children without a Conscience".
When one is young; career, living up to one's potential, making an impact in the world, seem paramount, raising a baby can seem so unimportant compared to these things, when one gets older, one realizes the most important and only eternal thing in this world we deal with are other people and the most important are the children we bring in this world. So that is what I wanted to say, not original nor even the best stated, but from the heart. MOM

BM continues

see takauji link...Puppy poo

Time to navigate away from BM

Well I just read all my comments, then re-read my post, it is really funny, thanks guys, needed a good laugh after a long trip and conflict ridden trip to Wheaton. What is it that is so refreshing about laughter? I think it must release alot of endomorphs or something....much love to all ... mom

School

Monday is my first day of the new school year with students. I have spent the last week preparing. The preparation was fun!
I got to unpack all my neato, art supplies that I will be using this next year, plus play around with some of the 'new for me' stuff. (did you know that crayola has come out with some metallic oil pastels that are designed to not roll off the table?)
The school also offered an insightful continuing education series on behavior modification and teaching. It basically uncovered a huge flaw in the whole approach. While BM (don't you love those initials?) can create immediate results, used alone it does nothing to change ultimate heart issues and therefore fails. Once the external structure is removed ( and who can sustain it forever?) the child returns to the previous behavior because their heart is not changed. The BM manipulation technique is very effective in dealing with cattle and dogs but limited in dealing with children. In dealing with older children, it can be downright harmful. It can even create a cynical atmosphere infused with the miasma of anger. The manipulator sets himself up as supremo environment controller and behavior evaluator. The object of his BM technique, the spiritual child, (who feels manipulated) may then set their intellect to trumping or manipulating the manipulator....interesting stuff. BM was really pushed during the ancient days of my education, is it still being trumpeted as louldly?
My favorite BM technique was strong on carrot, weak on stick... To get my excited, talking students to quiet down and focus on their art I would have them play the quiet game. All who remained quiet would get a lifesaver, the talking ones would not get one -plus they have the ignominy of losing the game. It really will motivate those second graders for about a month, then some of them start to think that missing that lifesaver wouldn't be as bad as missing their conversation...or they will just bring their own candy and who needs yours anyway? There were a few, however, that learned being quiet and focused was the first step of entering that wonderful creative zone where time disappears and the joy of making happens. Maybe I will keep that quiet game after all...just have as my focus the creativity of the spiritual child who really needs his heart changed, not just the behavior.

Sleeping Sarah

I had the privilege of meeting Sarah last time I was in Pittsburg. While there, I was able to take some photos. Since it was Sarah's birthday I thought I would post a couple of them, however she has her eyes closed in EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!! I will say this, I remember her as a wide-awake, fun-loving girl, these photos do not do her justice. Happy Birthday Sarah