Goodness versus Greatness

It's been a great few weeks for me. I've met so many parents in the last few weeks that I feel that I am having my own series of "Parent-Consultant" Teacher Conferences all in the months of November and December. What I have found is an extremely wonderful set of moms and dads that I can welcome to my practice.

The many parents that I meet are quite exceptional. What I find most intriguing and admiring about them is that they never stop looking for resources to help them with their child. As we sit across from each other or discussing options in their living rooms or over coffee at the local coffee house, I see their eyes wide open with curiosity and an eagerness to learn as I give them the type of information - I would want them to know if they were my sister or brother (of which - I have four of so this happens quite frequently when I see urgent text messages that say - "call me back. It's really important.")

I know that this was something that my late father implored very early on. Before he would ramble about how I should study and become a member of the nursing profession. Later on, his chant started to be something different. "I want you to be someone who will help people. You are good at helping people in need - and they will listen to you. Whatever you do in life, make sure that you serve them before you serve yourself. Be unselfish - there are enough people that are selfish in this world."

Everyday I wake up to his voice in my head. When I meet mothers and fathers who may be in tears because they do not know what to do and are afraid - I make sure that everything that I tell them - whether it be one of the 1000 techniques that I have learned or one of the thousands of books that I have read - makes a difference in their lives. The only gift that I know is that down the road, I (hope) that they will remember the "tireless tutor" that worked day and night to help them as a parent go from "goodness" to "greatness". No greater satisfaction comes from appreciation and making a difference. It's what I believe, and what I look forward to each and every day.

So - if you are one of the many parents that I have worked with in the last few years - I want to take the opportunity to tell you "thank you" for all of your hard work. I know that sometimes it is hard, but your time and your love in your children is an investment that cannot be taken away.

I Can't Believe She Scored In The 90th Percentile...and More JATP news!

Recently, one of my clients called me telling me about what has been happening in her life. Some good news, and some bad news. We had discussed private school options in Atlanta and had talked in great detail about her child who I have always said, "Raises my self-esteem when she walks in the room." This child is so amazing that I have asked that when they become of age - to run for political office.

As the conversation started to dwindle, my client told me that she had gone ahead and scheduled the JATP test. I was driving at that time and was hoping that the news would not be too disturbing because I was afraid that I would start tearing up (if the news was bad). She then told me a set of numbers that I was completely enthralled by... "It's in the 90's - but I don't know what that means!". I told her that it means that all of your hard work has paid off - and it is time to celebrate!

As a provider of Early Childhood Development Programs, I was very happy to know that this young child is well-prepared for the challenging education that lies ahead. I hope to make a difference in the lives of more children in the years to come!

Love Our Libraries!

Here's a picture of the Smyrna library:)

More Updates on JATP...

I am very pleased to learn that a school in Cobb County has been added to the JATP panel. The most recent addition is The Walker School, located on 700 Cobb Parkway North, Marietta GA 30062.

For many months the families that I have encountered who have asked for consultative assistance have a definitive path to success. Many of the students have made significant academic and cognitive gains that sometimes I have had to stop and ask, "how old are you". When a three year old tells you that they are making sandwiches out of paper and foam - and explain that it is an expression of abstract art, I have to remind myself that there is a certain optimism that I have for the future.

This is my public thank you to those families who have worked very hard in these last few months. I know that we have accomplished a great deal in the last few months and I am very proud of your children and yourselves in keeping up with this path to educational excellence. Your children have been such a pleasure to work with and I expect nothing but the best results because of what we have done - together!

Here's to the last stretch..........

If You're Smart and You Know It (Don't Just) Clap Your Hands...

Every week I encounter at least one parent who brags about how intelligent their child is. I know what this sounds like because my mom had bragged about each and every one of her five children to anyone who was not hard of hearing. She would tell complete strangers about all of us.  Stories of my oldest brother - "The Businessman", myself, "Miss Resourceful", my younger brother, "The Righteous Man", my little sister, "Social Smartie" and my youngest brother, "The Fact Checker" would travel through the sidewalks of my hometown. Nobody brags more professionally than my mother, or at least that's what I thought.

When my mom (or anyone else in my family) would brag - we would always wait until there was some type of tangible accomplishment received that was worthy of the "bragging". For me, it was rows and rows of certificates, letters of commendation, and a bastion of statues that were won for a "job well done". At a young age, I learned to never bragged about what I could do because bragging was looked down upon in the eyes of my father. It was compulsory for us to always do our best - which inevitably meant the best grade possible. Like many students in my generation - I had a great deal to be proud of. I was unusually quick when it came to matters that were difficult for other students and remained quiet in the classroom. I didn't need to prove to everyone in the class that I knew the answer by raising my hand - I just showed it off to my parents at the end of the grading period. As a result, my teachers never - ever had anything negative to say about me. Even my high school principal knew me by name and took me out to lunch because of the type of "status" I had in my community.

What I am noticing now is that students do not have the same motivation to succeed, on their own. Instead of parents showing me what their child has accomplished, they instead show me what their IQ is (which really doesn't tell me much). As an educator, an IQ is an indication of what an individual can accomplish, if that is what they want to do. There are many individuals who have been classified as "gifted" but sometimes parents have been "enabling" them to rest on their laurels and allow them to not accomplish what they could accomplish. Trying to complete an essay on your own or a set of math problems without the assistance of mom or dad can never hurt. When students are young, they should view homework as a time that they can "problem solve" and learn "self-reliance". It should not be a time where they fight with their mom and dad to tell the teacher that they had other, more trivial things to do.

My opinion is if your child is intelligent - please encourage them to prove themselves in each and every task that they encounter. They will feel more accomplished as a result.

"Learning Center Itis"

When I was a public school teacher, I had a conference with a parent that was "praising the Gods" about a particular learning center's approach to academics. She said that this program was the reason why her son was doing so well in math and reading and that he attended the program religiously each and every week.

After the conference, I shook my head back and forth multiple times because he was failing all of his classes. I am sure that the program has merits in whatever it is that they do well, but what boggled me was that a great deal of what he was learning did not carry over to the everyday rigor of his school work. If the program is so good, why are his grades "so bad"?

One reason why is that the program is good at what it is intended to be good at: providing a program. Many of the places that have been open for many years exist because they have a format to follow. Some of them are flexible - most of them are not. Some of them have teachers on staff - most of them may not. Regardless of what it is that you are looking for, it is rare to find the person who is at the head of the learning center an individual who understands not only the curriculum that is being taught at the schools today, but also well suited to reverse engineer a lesson that did not sink well with a student.

On a personal note, I have actually worked in these centers (on my own expense). I know what they are capable of doing - and not doing. To be quite honest with you - some of these learning centers have even approached me to help train their staff and (more comically) work with their children. I do not know if their motive is the same as mine - to make a difference in the lives of each child that you can touch, but I can certainly tell you that they do not have the same fervor for education that I do.  They went into this business to make a quick buck. It's insulting to me because nothing that you do well should ever be for money. Education  and health medicine  are fields where you do not want the person who is helping you to be the one that is doing it for the money. Trust me - I know. I have been misdiagnosed by many, many ER doctors because they are out to make a buck. I know that I was made to work with kids. Whenever I have free time and I am out in a public place, like a restaurant, or the office supply store, or the library, parents watch their kids gaze at me wondering who I am. They realize after the 4th glance that I am no ordinary stranger - I am an educator who has always had a certain magnetism when working with kids. I speak their language, know their story. I didn't need to buy into a franchise to become that because I live it every day.

The main difference between these learning centers and me is I stand behind what I do - and think about what lasting impressions my curriculum choices and methodologies are. What good is it if your student can solve complex algebra problems - but have an aversion to a word problem?  I want to develop a humble, well-rounded and highly talented individual, not a parrot.

Self-Advocacy at 10 years old...

I remember it like yesterday. It was my first day of sixth grade and I received my schedule of classes for the school year. In comparing the schedule with my friends - I noticed that I was in a math class that I did not think that I belonged in. Rather than being upset - or worse, talking to my dad (who would oftentimes blame my teachers, but never in their face) I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Naturally talented in "math facts", I went up to my teacher on the first day and asked how I can move up to the "accelerated math class" that all of my industrious friends were placed in. I mentioned to her very politely, "I think that there was a mistake. I am a very good math student. What do I need to do in order to be in the accelerated math class with the other students?". Her abrupt response to me was "You need to have a 100 average in order to move up to the next level."

One-hundred? Very well. For me, that was something that did not require just an extreme amount of pressure, but self-determination - and precision. Each and every single math problem that I did needed to be perfect. Not just  "perfect";  but almost a work of art. Enough to show my fellow students, teacher, teachers, department, and school how math was done. I remember at the beginning of each class the teacher would hold up my work and show the entire class what your math homework needed to look like. What I did was no secret - I listened in class (very intently), did my homework, lined up each step as if it was drawn by Picasso. Eventually the papers that were handed back were filled with more 100's than a stack of Benjamin Franklin bills. It was not a matter of pride or revenge - it was the policy that the math department had set in order for students to move up. Yes, I was upset, but my frustration with the situation was leveraged with my own sense of self-worth. Years later, my grandfather reaffirmed the notion by telling me, "You can accomplish anything that you put your mind to." My quiet response to him was "I think that I already have...".

Each quarter of that school year I was in a different math class. I noticed that with every group that I was in, I would observe the amount that was demanded of each student and was glad to move up at the end of every quarter. A new class meant new teachers and friends - something that my curious mind was always observant of. I never mentioned this to my father or mother - they always knew that out of their five children - I was not one to give them any problems when it came to school. There were times when my dad would plug the phone because teachers would call him during his morning coffee to tell him how great of a student I was. (Sorry Dad, I know how important that time is to you. They should have written you a note that I may have kept for myself..)

In school, I learned to do what I knew I could do and was expected of me - I used the system to my advantage and never had another conversation with a teacher about what I had to do. I did it all on my own and the success of my accomplishment was landing in the very last "accelerated" class with the rest of my friends. (To my disappointment, it wasn't as difficult as I had imagined. It had a label of accelerated, but not the work or the expectation.)

When I look back, I realized that back then my drive to succeed was way beyond anyone else's in the school - because nobody had accomplished what I had. My mother has always said that it is a rarity for me to ask someone to help me learn things - like reading, writing, doing math, or even riding a bike (I have the scabs to prove it.). I share that story with many of my students so that they know that sometimes the person that you can look to when things get a little complicated is right in front of you. Your parents have done such an excellent job with you - that sometimes all it takes is just listening to what they have been telling you all your life.

In the words of my mother, "Work hard, very hard. What you accomplish on your own nobody can take away from you. No matter how hard they try."

What Expectations Do You Set For Your Children?

As I have watched the news unfold about education - I have become even less detached with the idea of standardizing education. Many parents look to the schools to set standards for education. What I have noticed now more than ever is that students are becoming less and less prepared for the world that they will be living in when they are done with college.

Unlike today's generation - our generation has been raised with the idea that when you give students a template of ideas and concepts to learn from - they will use those skills to build something even more comprehensive. The system as I have seen it has been more tactical in the approach to help students rather than strategic. Focusing on test-taking is not as important as understanding the subject material. Having good grades is futile if application is not part of the process. Shifting blame rather than taking personal responsibility shows lack of determination and interest in what is truly important.

The bottom line is that as a parent - it is ultimately you that determines how successful your child is both in and out of the classroom. Good grades are great in showing how your child navigated through the curriculum during a certain time frame, however, isn't it more important to show how they are able to apply the information that they have accumulated through the years. What benefit is it for your sixth grader to be a straight A student in math if they are unable to apply a real-life word problem to see how many invitations they will need to buy for a birthday party? Or how a kindergarten child is able to go through five study guides in math but cannot articulate what those numbers actually mean. In the words of a very close family member: "Set expectations higher than what is expected. You will never feel disappointed when you reach them."

What's the Problem With Kids and Math?

Over the last few weeks, I've worked with some students trying to understand their thought process as it pertains to math. For some reason, the "wonder of math" has slowly started to slip away from the classrooms and has been replaced by technology devices that are to fit in the palm of your hand.

It is really a shame that students do not enjoy math - like my generation did. For some reason they fail to see that math is all around them. From the moment that they wake up in the morning to the time that they fall asleep - a math problem is abound in their heads. The misplaced priorities has given way to countless errors in logical and critical reasoning that guides many of our decisions later on in life.

This is why I support bringing math on the agenda by offering a Math curriculum to your student. As an avid fan of math - I use this curriculum to help your child not only understand math like they did before, but also to have an appreciation of the process. If you would like to know more about this math program, you can view the information on my website.

JATP Admissions Preparation Update

I am so excited to see that so many families that I have seen over the past few months are ready to begin the admissions process for the JATP. Many of these families have spent precious hours of their day guiding their child onto the path to success by helping them understand what lies ahead in the next few months. Great parents have learned to manage situations by alleviating any type of anxiety for their child which in turn - sets them up for success!

Many parents often ask, "why should I prepare my child for this test?". In this day and age, there are many parents that want the best for their child and will work as hard as they can to help their child succeed in whatever endeavor. Sometimes it means finding the best art teacher to help them develop their understanding of how the color wheel works. Sometimes its finding the best nanny to care for them when they are at work. Sometimes it is finding an educational consultant who is experienced in working with Atlanta families that has the experience and the clarity to help your family understand what they can do to help your child be successful.

To my families that have worked so hard in the last few months - we are almost there, and I am so proud of your children. Nobody can be as proud of what you have accomplished as parents more than I am (okay, maybe your in-laws, but I need to recognize your efforts as well!). Thank you so much!

Group Learning Versus Individualized Learning?

Many parents look for different types of solutions for different types of problems. In some situations, there are classes that are offered for students that are best suited for a group approach. Other subjects are geared more for the individual approach - where the student has to demonstrate their true potential in front of the instructor.

This has been something that I have been critiquing for many years. I remember a number of years ago, I decided to take some dance classes in order to understand and be well versed in the art of classical dance. My experiment consisted of taking private dance classes in a studio - and taking group classes where there were other individuals who were in the same situation as I was. The results were quite astounding.

When taking the private dance classes, I was given immediate feedback on my timing and sequencing of different moves in the different areas of dance that I was learning (classical ballroom, foxtrot, salsa, tango - and so on). In the group class, the experience was a little less "feedback" driven and the instructor did not really have the time to give an individualized analysis on what I was doing. As my mother stated to me when I was really young in life, "It is important that when you are developing a skill, you have the proper foundation, or all of your efforts will be futile." It is through these and other experiences that I am able to guide individuals on what options are best suited for their child. Sometimes a class is what your child needs - other times it may be that individualized support that would be beneficial as well.

If you have any questions on which learning style would work best for your particular learning situation, please feel free to contact me at any time! 

It's Not About Having It All, It's About Sharing All of What You Have

I am a firm believer that children should have less - but more. They can have less of the material aspect of life - if you trade it in for more of the social experiences that they are craving for when they are younger.

Recently, I was at the library putting together a curriculum for a community center in the metropolitan Atlanta area. It was in the middle of the afternoon and there was a flurry of children that had surrounded me and the different stacks of manipulatives and lessons that were set for deployment. Scissors, glue, play doh - you name it, it was on my table for all of the children to gawk at. When I turned around, I noticed that they were given books and activity sheets to work on...all by themselves.

As an adult, I look at each and every child with a different perspective on what experiences we can provide to them to enrich their quality of life. I find it very disheartening to see a child being given activity books - but no guidance on how to interact with the book. I see that children surround me not to ask me for things to write with or draw on, but to converse with them on how their day is or to engage in some type of meaningful conversation. It is hard for me to ignore what these children really need from us because they need to feel special - even though they may appear to "have what they need".

I know that we have given them the tools, we have shown them how the tools work, but we should also be there with them to share those experiences in learning. Education is not merely giving the student a book to read from or a workbook to put various pencil marks in. Education is meant to draw out or carve an experience that will change your perspective for a lifetime to come. 

Parents Who Read - Know More Than Those Who Do Not..

Looking at the coffee table of some  families that I work with gives me a little bit of perspective on how serious they are about their children. Some of them have photo albums, while others have copies of Southern Living where their house was the featured article. What lurks under some of those magazines are copies of the newest parenting book that is helping to guide many of their parental decisions in the next five years.

My favorite parents are those that are constantly giving themselves more information than their carpool buddies will ever share. For some reason, parents seem to hide many secrets from each other: who their housekeeper is, who their nannies or babysitters are, or in my case - the educational service provider that has helped their child gain 30 IQ points in the last year (it was a long year - but it was accomplished nonetheless). Parents keep many secrets - and many of them are actually found in the public library.

It is no surprise who these parents are. When problems come their way they seem to have a great deal of insight and will always have that sinister grin on their face where they hide all of their strategies of intervention. Sometimes they wait to meet up with other important advisors such as their friendly neighbor who is an Early Intervention Specialist or even the retired psychologist that is in their neighborhood. Whatever their secret to success is - it is still a secret that only the well read are inclined to know.

Experiential Learning - Is There Any Other Way?

For some reason, the students that I work with get younger and younger each year (actually, they stay the same age, I suppose that it is me that is getting older and older). What I notice with each passing school year is that students are expected to learn so much more - before they enter school that it causes many parents to hyperventilate knowing that their five year old needs to finish a mini-dissertation for their Kindergarten exit exam.

My only saving grace when working with this new generation of "wired kids" is that they still like to have fun. This older article from Time shows a different approach to teaching that I have come to embrace more than the dose of coffee that is in my hand when I am working with a student.

"Experiential learning" as defined by Wikipedia, is:

"the process of making meaning from direct experience.^[1] Simply put, Experiential Learning is learning from experience. The experience can be staged or left open. Aristotle once said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."

I am a very intuitive learner and learn by emotion. The classes in college that I enjoyed the most were the ones in which I knew my professors were in it to help us become better individuals. They came to university with the intention of enriching the minds of young people - and I am very happy to say that they accomplished their task. When I work with a child, that is the one thing that is constantly on my mind as I become fixated on solving their educational challenges.

One student of mine was working on some high level analogies when she had to determine what the relationship between a circle and a sphere was. It was the perfect opportunity for us to learn something right there and then. Instead of drawing a one dimensional picture on a piece of paper, I had her stand up and we walked over to where I had placed my lunch and I pulled out an orange. I showed her that the shape of the orange is not a circle, but rather a sphere however, if you pay attention closely and slice the orange - it is in the shape of a circle.

Given that my students allow me the privilege of learning with them (over and over again), I stop to see the "A-ha" moment in their eyes as they understand the concept. Learning is not boring if done correctly. She learned something more than shapes that day. She learned how to enjoy the act of acquiring knowledge in an active way!

When You Hear, "I Can't Do That"

I always work in the vicinity of parents, grandparents, and other caretakers during my sessions. There is nothing that I hide when I work with a student (except sneaking in an occasional piece of gum to a kindergarten student..That always seems to do the trick!). They oftentimes listen to what I have to say - and sometimes I even notice that they are taking notes in the background after hearing some of my useful strategies.

What one parent heard today was rather discouraging on his end of the room. His daughter was expressing what most students express when they are unable to do something "perfectly". When given an essay to write, she repeatedly chanted, "I can't do that. I am not good at this.". He did not hear the conversations that we have had each and every session in which we would discuss how someone becomes great at something - and we all gain proficiency in time, and in critiquing our work. Her father was a little more subjective. He immediately looked at her and said, "You should stop saying that you can't do that. You have not even tried."

Many times our students give up too easily. I fear that as an adult, we do the same thing. If there is a problem that you are confronted with the best way to show your child the skill of problem solving is by persevering through the situation. It is not a matter of doing something perfectly or skillfully; it is about making a decision and following through on it.

Give your children the opportunity to learn a new skill and convey to them that learning is a process. Sometimes it happens immediately, other times it make take a little longer. Regardless of what it is, you should take the time to really focus and enjoy the experience.

What Separates Teachers From Non-Teachers?

Recently, I've had the pleasure of speaking to a student who has enrolled in a local test-preparation course for a college entrance exam. He debriefed me on some of the areas of the test-preparation facility that would be of interest to me. One of the stories that he had shared with me was the environment that was apparently unfriendly compared to what he is used to.

After attending several sessions, he stated that some of the hired "tutors" made him feel stupid (I dislike this "s" word and spent several minutes even contemplating using this banished term from my blog) because of some of the mathematics concepts that he has not been exposed to. Another iota that was shared during the discussion was the amount of teaching (or lack of) that he was receiving during the test-preparation sessions. I know the price that his father has paid for this service - and to hear that a professional service provider would be doing this is something that upsets me more than any parent can imagine.

Before I became I teacher - I was definitely a great facilitator both in businesses that I had started at the age of 19 and in the various national companies that I have worked for. I recall that when it was time to study for a certification exam, crowds of newly hired employees would surround me to listen to me "teach". Even when I was in high school, my teachers would call on me to take over class discussions and offer my (very polarized) opinion on what the topic was.

Education - and the psychology of learning by leadership (and a certain knack for commerce) was handed down in my family. I come from a long line of "know it alls", but being humble and not imposing on a student's self-confidence has always been a priority for me. Insulting a student because they do not know the answer to a question is not a poor reflection on the student, but on the person that is requesting for that task to be performed. A true educator is one that demands more from themselves - than their own students. If you have not found the right switch to turn on, then you are probably in the wrong place.

Whenever you talk to your child about their tutoring session, ask them how effective their teacher is in helping them understand the information. Teaching is not about writing information on a piece of paper, blackboard, whiteboard or orange board. It is about providing an environment and experience where students will understand the information - naturally. There are many people that are teachers out there, but it takes a special person to help someone learn.

Adult Learning Success Happens... One Student At A Time..

Beginning in February of this year, I had an adult learner approach me with a situation that was quite unique in scope, "Help me study and pass an important medical board examination." Given my track record of helping adults with test preparation examination, I was quite excited and intrigued at the thought of working with a medical professional on a project as important at this. I took the challenge like I do many things in life - with caution and a high degree of planning. The end result - you will learn about later.

My adult learner was what I consider to be someone who was highly motivated - and in extreme need of structure. I utilized many strategies that were customary to learning and also incorporated solutions that fit to his unique learning style. My experience "working with subjects with one eye tied behind my back" has always given me the advantage to dig deep within a content area in order to understand the information as if I were the student. For some reason, it is in this experience that I have been most effective when working with groups of individuals for testing preparation.

Weeks of preparation had led us to a road that had a very difficult fork in which my client had one of two choices: proceed with an unwavering degree of commitment to success, or continue working the way that you are with no certainty of what the outcome could be. As my client showed signs of fatigue in this process, I quickly reminded him of two things: "You have worked incredibly hard for this. Failure is not an option." It was this statement that caused him to change his tempo.

After I made that statement, I noticed that he took light of the "plan" and followed it. He did what he did best - created an environment of learning by using the resources around him - making it easy to access and remember the information. The hours of consultation and phone conversations that I had provided to him were starting to all come together. All I had to do now was wait for him to take the medical board examination.

He took the test on a Saturday - and I remember waking up that day wishing him the best of luck all day long. When I checked my phone, he had messaged me telling me how he felt about the test and that he will hear back in six weeks. Six weeks is such a long time for anyone to wait, but I did...patiently as I always do..

And there it was - a confirmation six weeks later stating, "I passed the test. Thank you so much." I have worked with many adult professionals in my lifetime but this is an experience that I will never forget. Through hard work - and dedication, I was able to accomplish this (and will continue to accomplish a whole lot more!)

Best Time To Teach Your Child?

One of the things that I learned after not being in school is this, "just because you are talking, does not necessarily mean that I am listening." Fortunately, for one of my favorite young students, her mother was able to demonstrate the antithesis of this today.

For months at a time, I work with a handful of parents in teaching them some pretty important strategies and techniques which bridge the gap between good parenting - and great teaching. My parents humbly tell me that they are willing to let go of some styles that may border on "bad teaching practices" in favor of "positive learning outcomes". Whenever I hear this I know that this parent is on the path to being a good parent - and also a true partner in education.

Earlier today, my client told me that her daughter had broken something that was very valuable to her - a toy of some sort. This event had caused quite a stir in their house because she was trying to explain to her daughter the idea of personal responsibility and good citizenship. Her conversation was based on a short character lesson where her daughter was asked to define good citizenship. Giving her the example of taking care of things and owning up to the consequences of your actions was difficult for any individual - most especially a four year old. Her parenting lesson ended with the mother stating that, "If you continue to not take care of things, you will not be able to replace them because mommy and daddy will not have the money in our budget to purchase these items over and over again." This is where she had her daughter's attention - all the way to the edge of her chair. The next question was one that intrigued the little one, and my client as well. "Mommy, how do you and daddy make more money?"

When a child looks up to you and asks a question, any question -  they are searching for answers that they want to hear and learn, from you. Many times they will remember these experiences for longer than you can ever imagine. In my case, I distinctly remember the first time that I had to go to the doctor's office for my immunization shots that were required for school. I asked my father what the shots would feel like - and as he gave me the answer , I looked at his face so that I can mimic the same response.  I recall my father saying these exact words, "The injection will not hurt. The shot will feel like an ant dancing around your skin, like this." Needless to say, I was a brave five year old entering first grade when they had given me the shot. I copied what my father did when he showed me how little pain I would feel (to this day, I still make that same face when I have shots). What did not occur to me was that the shot made me pass out...

Back to my story - my client normally would have given her daughter the abbreviated answer if she had not met me for parenting advice, but found that this was the chance for her to be a good parent and put her best foot forward. Instead of driving home and giving her something to think about, she made good use of that time and became the parent that she knows - will go the extra mile for her children.

A Great Deal of Who You Are - Is What They Were...

I work with a great deal of parents in the community - and it always helps to talk to them after my sessions in order to have a greater understanding of who their child is - and is capable of being.

When I was a young girl - my parents had inspired me by the mere demonstration of who they are as people. Some conversations were substituted by how they live their life - social studies was rooted in everyday lessons of living a life of a good citizen; concepts of math were ingrained with how resources were economized in our family of seven; reading was instilled by watching my mother and father read the newspaper and sneak in magazines and books when we were quietly playing and entertaining other siblings. Our life was simple and filled with a thirst for knowledge and purpose. We were one in the same.

As children get older - they become more like their parents than they care to admit. After working with a four year old, I have noticed that there is a certain degree of shyness and insecurity that is shown when she performs in public. Sometimes I wish that I had time to talk to the mother about situations in her own life where she was once this way. Another young girl I have likes to have concepts explained to her in one or two sentences. When explaining this to her mother, she instantly connected the similarity that her husband has when he is dealing with people. She called it their shared "ADHD", I referred to it as "a family trait".

As my mother has always told me, your actions around your children are a performance for which they mimic. "Monkey see, monkey do." My mother showed me that it is often harder to take the high road in life - but sometimes when you accomplish something that is difficult, there is nobody that can take that away from you.

What lessons can you teach your child today?

If you have any questions regarding educational solutions or parenting tips, feel free to contact me at christine@learningridge.com or you can visit www.learningridge.com for more information.

Parents Are Good At - Being Parents:)

Today I was working with one of my young students helping her prepare for the big K: Kindergarten. It happens every time we are in the magical world of the library. Parents and their children circle around me to see what magic takes place in the hour that I am working. My student stands up to complete some of the assignments, she sits and problem solves through others. Regardless of what we are doing - I notice that these activities always catch the eye of onlookers each and every week.

On this day, I noticed a parent that was working right next to us. She was trying to mimic some of the different techniques that many parents use when working with their child. She was a younger parent and had so much enthusiasm - that her daughter slowly started to drift her attention to us. Her mother was asking questions and explaining things that her daughter (to be quite honest) was just not interested in. As a professional educator, I see how parents struggle, and at times ask them to step aside.

I've worked with many children and have even had the privilege of working with the children of teachers. When I say that parents are good at being parents - I mean just that. For the most part, your child really looks up to you to teach them many important things about life. In my household, my mother emphasized the importance of character and reputation each and everyday. When I asked my mother "why don't you know how to sew", she told me that "there are some things that we grow up not  being - a seamstress I am not." When I think of the best parents that I have worked with - the quality that they all share is knowing and identifying when it is time to seek outside help.

Nobody can take the place of the warmth that you provide to your child, or the permanent listening ear that you lend when your child needs someone to talk to. However, there may be a time where your child may need to learn how to read or calculate math facts from someone else. If that does happen, know that you have the signs of a good parent when you exercise parenting intuition.

Test Preparation - Do Your Kids Need It?

I can say that our generation was very fortunate when it came to learning. We were not spoon fed information from our teachers and parents and any information that we learned - we earned either by reading it or obtaining a degree.

When I was in 5th grade, the school that I attended had teachers give us a course in study skills. In this class, my teacher gave us some truly valuable advice on learning strategies that have helped me in my education and also in helping others.

What I have noticed is that this trend of setting people or children up for success is slowly starting to fade away. Children at a very young age are inundated with a variety of activities that take them away from the learning process. I have seen students walk out of private pre-school classes unable to transition to mainstream kindergarten. There are many reasons why this may be occurring but the fact of the matter is, there is so much time wasted on remediating rather than indoctrinating students with the proper way of learning something the first time around.

Test preparation - just like anything else in life, needs to be given a specific priority for your child. Try to take the time to help ease your child into understanding what the expectations are - and they will be successful in their attempts.

If you have any questions on test preparation or the private school admissions process - feel free to contact www.learningridge.com.

How Can We Equalize Achievement in America's Schools?

There are many critics in education today. Regardless of whether you are, were, or need to be in the classroom - I am sure that you have an opinion on what changes need to take place in order for our education system to improve.

One area that many individuals have looked at is in technology. By providing all children access to technology  - we will be able to strive for educational equity in our society. Is this something that can be done? Is technology the key to academic success in America's school system?

Equalizing Schools In the United States

Technology and the individuals responsible for the administration of it are constantly at odds. My hope is that more time will be spent helping educators become more proficient in the needs of educating the students of this generation. I do agree that many of the technologies that we are exposed to now did not exist when we attended school, but it is imperative that we learn to adapt to the growing educational needs of our young leaders for tomorrow.

Stephen Covey

Author of "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" has died. He was an influential person in the self-help industry and has been read by millions. For more information, click on the link below:

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/17/overheard-on-cnn-com-stephen-covey-inspired-highly-effective-lives/?iref=obnetwork

Fun Activity for the Day!

I know that those of us here in Atlanta are having a really difficult time with this heat. So you are asking yourself, what can you do to have a great time with your children? Here's my suggestion: a Sponge and Bucket Race!

Object of the Game:Move water from one bucket to another using a sponge

Variations of the Game:
Use plastic bowls or cups in lieu of sponges

Game Play:
Give each team one bowl of water, an empty bowl and a sponge.
Say, "Ready, set, go!" and instruct the students to
- Fill the sponge with water
- Run to the empty bowl
-Squeeze water into it.

How do you know who wins?
The first child to transfer the water from one bowl to the other wins!

Math Variation:

Time the event and calculate the difference in time for the students who come in at first, second and third place!

Student Achievement Tastes So Sweet!

Here are a few highlights for students at Learning Ridge:

High School Freshman earns a "5" on AP Exam!

7th Grade Student Exceeds Expectations on all "5" of his CRCT's.

7th Grade Student Has a 100 point gain on CRCT exams in two subjects!

3rd Grade Student is able to answer U.S. History questions - at a 6th grade level.

Pre-School Student is able to solve complex cognitive thinking questions - two years ahead of her time.

I am so proud - and I know that their parents are too!

3 Ways To Help Your Child With Logical Thinking

Does your child have problems with logical thinking? Is it difficult for them to come up with logical solutions? Here are a few suggestions to help your child think a little more reasonably!

1. Give your child responsibilities that require logical thinking


Example - watering plants and providing a watering can and a glass..

2. Provide your cild with problem solving situations which require logical thinking

Example - "A stranger takes you by the arm in a department store. What do you do?"

3. Follow through on consequences of inappropriate behavior so that your experiences it

Example: Your child will understand that if they misbehave, they will be given a negative consequence; if they behave well, they will be given positive consequences

If you would like more information on how to help your child with logical thinking, please feel free to contact Learning Ridge at 404-964-8533 or you can send an email to info@learningridge.com.

Great Multi-cultural Book: All For the Better: The Story of El Barrio

In this time of economic change, it is important to highlight the accomplishments of young people and how at a very tender age - they are able to be the change that we need to have in this world.


Evelina Lopez Anonetty is an example of change. When presented with hardship in Puerto Rico, she had decided to move to the United States with her aunt so that her mother and sister could have a better life. She begins to immerse herself in the culture and has some challenges with the local girls. After learning that many of her neighbors are without food and are too proud to ask for help, she organizes them in an effort to support the local community.


This book is about the impact that a young individual can have due to their sheer willingness to help the community. I hope that you enjoy reading this book as much as I have!

Can Good Handwriting Have Positive Effects?

To my chagrin, students are only practicing penmanship for only an average of one hour each week, according to a study quoted by the Wall Street Journal. However, as students begin to practice their handwriting more and more - their brain functions are shown to improve over time.

For more information the article, please click on this link.

A Nursery Rhyme to Teach Rhyming!

Hi Parents!

Are you having a difficult time trying to find ways to teach your child how to rhyme? Here is a nursery rhyme to help you out...

A Hunting We Will Go

A-hunting we will go,

A-hunting we will go,

We'll catch a fox

And put him in a box

And then we'll let them go.

One Activity To Help Teach Similarities

An important skill that children will need to learn early on is how to sort and classify. Many times, the influence of technology and modern day activities may not be the environment conducive to learning these skills. Before your child starts kindergarten, consider playing this game when you have some free time.

Introduction: Tell your child that this activity is called the "Similarities Game".

FINDING THINGS THAT ARE SIMILAR

 1. Grab a few empty shoeboxes and tell your child that you will be collecting objects that are similar or alike in some way. 

2. Describe the kinds of things that you will be collecting. (socks, pencils, plastic silverware, toys).

LABELING THINGS THAT ARE SIMILAR

1. With your child, label the box with the attribute or characteristic that you have selected.  An example of this could be "things that go on your feet" or "things that you wear on your neck".

2. Start hunting for the items that you are describing. Model the behavior by saying, "Look, I've found a sock, that is something that goes on your feet. Which box does this go in? We can put it here in this box."

DISCUSSION TO PROMOTE COGNITIVE AWARENESS

1. Facilitate your child's understanding of the process. This can be done through constant feedback and discussion.

Example: Why did you choose to put this toothbrush in the box where it is labeled "hygiene"? If he/she says, "because a toothbrush helps you clean your teeth - and that shows that you have great personal hygiene", you can follow up with the statement by saying - "That is correct, when you brush your teeth that is showing that you have personal hygiene. What are some other things that can promote personal hygiene?"

2. Repeat this activity with other objects that have similar attributes. Once they understand this concept, it will be much easier to transfer the information to other more abstract concepts. 

If you would like more information on how to help your child with developing cognitive skills, feel free to contact Learning Ridge at 404-964-8533 or you can also email us at info@learningridge.com.

It's Important to Know Who To Ask for Help..

I've seen some parents ask advice from their friends, their family, and their various providers (personal trainers, therapists) on advice about their children. I often see that many people have an opinion on education but may not have the insight on what to do. Here is what I have observed in the last few months:

Case 1:

One parent called me several months ago describing problems that her child was having in school. There were multiple areas of concern and she had reached out to me to help with one of the mentioned concerns that was more skills based.  The advice of her therapist caused her to not receive the services that her son needs and now he is more than 2 years behind in a specific skill.

Summary: When parents are decisive, they are able to obtain the results that their student is needing in certain skills which will help your student become more confident in other areas as well.

Try to not delay receiving help for your child - this may result in months, if not years lost in their normal cognitive development.

Case 2:

One parent was eager to begin a targeted remediation program in reading. After compiling all of the paperwork, it was determined that her son would benefit from the reading program that would help him become more fluent and effective in reading comprehension and fluency. The advice of a family friend has prompted her to enroll him in a non-related cognitive skills class that has proven to have no significant educational benefit to her son. As a result, the school has decided to retain her child as he is shown to be almost 3 years behind his peers.

Summary: When presented with a problem, it is important that parents act upon the best interest of the child and correct the problem that is at hand. If one is trying to circumvent the issue and correct other unrelated problems, there may be delayed to no remediation that takes place. Similar to taking a prescription from your doctor - once they have made the prognosis, it is important to seek treatment immediately (or the problem may still linger).

If you, or anyone else you may know may benefit from highly effective educational solutions, please feel free to contact us at Learning Ridge. We guide students onto the path to success!

10 Tips To Help Your Child Stay In An Area

Is your child having a difficult time staying in their assigned area for a specified period? Here are some tricks to help your child out:

1. Have your child question any directions, explanations, and instructions that he/she does not understand.

2. Evaluate the appropriateness of requiring your child to stay in the area for the specified time period.

3. Separate your child from the peer(s) who stimulates inappropriate behaviors.

4. Be consistent in applying consequences for behavior.

5. Provide organized activities for the child to participate in before, during and after school.

6. Have your child take responsibility for a younger sibling or friend in the assigned area.

7. Make certain your child knows where he/she is expected to be at all times.

8. Provide the child with a timer or a watch to help him/her remain in the assigned area for the specified time.

9. Set up physical barriers or boundary markings in order to help the child remain in the area.

10. Provide adequate supervision in assigned areas. 

10 Common Methods In Modifying Academic Tasks

As we have progressed in education, so has our methods in evaluating an individual's understanding of the curriculum. Some students may have a difficult time with producing the same results with the standard assessment models. 

Here are some common modifications used to see if your student understands the information that has been presented to them.

1.  Reduce the number of questions or problems assigned to the student. 

2. Highlight key words, phrases or sentences for the student to read.

3. Remove workbook pages and present them to the student to reduce their anxiety.

4. Read tests/quizzes aloud.

5. Rearrange information and/or problems on a page (for example - create more space when needed in math)

6. Rewrite directions at a more accessible level

7. Allow additional time to take tests

8. Use graph paper for math - developmentally appropriate writing paper for handwritten assignments

9. Tape record directions

10. Have peers give directions or paraphrase explanations

10 Tips For Students Who Have Limited Memory Skills

Do you think that your child has limited memory skills? If so, here are some easy to use tips and strategiest to help them remember things a little more easily!

1. Have your child question any directions, explanations or instructions that they do not understand.

2. Ask your child to review their morning and afternoon activities and then have them repeat the sequence.

3. Play concentration games (such as Memory or Pairs - a card game) with a limited number of symbols. Increase the number of symbols as they show success.

4. Reinforce successful demonstration of remembering to have materials such as pens, pencils, paper and textbooks.

5. Use multiple modalities when presenting information (auditory, visual, kinesthetic).

6. Practice dictation for the 21st century!  Record a message on tape or your phone and then ask  your child to write the message. Increase the length of the message gradually.

7. Ask your child to practice repeating information to increase short term memory skills by using family phone numbers, names, dates of events, etc.

8. Give your child an object to play with for a few seconds - take it away - then ask your child specific attributes of that object (shape, size, color, etc.)

9. Deliver directions in a clear manner and at an appropriate pace for understanding.

10. Have them take notes if they cannot remember.

Overachiever - or just great genes? A doctor by 21..

I had an amazing educational experience - minus the one year that I skipped when I had entered elementary school. It's a story that my mother tells me that I can't remember, one that involves my dad enrolling me in school and fibbing to the school registrar that I had already attended Kindergarten. 

Little did he know that they put me in a first grade class and I had to learn everything that a typical first grader had to learn, in one month. I shake my head to this day thinking that I could have had a totally different life experience if I had graduated a year later and had entered college at the age of 18 instead of 17.  Regardless of what had happened when I was younger, the experience has lent itself to developing the person that I am now.

As I looked at this article, it is apparent that this individual was destined to be a doctor at the ripe age of 21. No matter what was told to him in his life, he had the skills and motivation necessary to become a professional at that point in time. His parents did not drive him to be successful; it was something that many successful people will say, "came naturally".

Can your child prepare for the JATP?

Many parents in Atlanta - and outside areas ask themselves, "Can my child prepare for the JATP?". If you happen to be one of the parents that find yourself in this group - the more important follow up question would be: "What would happen if my child did not prepare for the JATP?"

As I have worked with many parents, caregivers, and school administrators, it has been apparent that many children lack the skills that are needed in order to enter kindergarten - let alone a private school. In one conversation that I have had with several parents I have adamantly told them, "Your school is doing the best job that they can do - and that is to be a school. The skills that your child will need in order to be prepared for the JATP is an entirely different process."

It is rather saddening for me to hear that a student did not get into a school because of the day that they walked into the office to be tested and felt "tricked". My goal is not to give them answers to tests, but to help the student feel more at ease in the process. Whether the task is to give parents the right direction when they go to the bookstore, or to help them with an outline on how to be a more engaging parent - those that really want the best outcomes in preparing for the JATP will actually, seek help.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help with your child's private school educational goals, please feel free to contact me at christine@learningridge.com.

From Zero to Gifted...

Parents have it tougher now more than ever. When I was growing up, we had enough television to keep us plugged in for 24 hours. If something happened at school, the only way that you would learn about it was "word of mouth" - and I mean that literally. The most technologically advanced item that my school had at that time was a scanner - and it took me years to figure out what that fine piece of technology was.

As we progress in society- I feel for parents who have the dream of watching their children exceed their expectations. They buy them applications, video games, and devices in hopes that they can become the next Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Donald Trump. However, it seems that the more that some parents give, the less their children perform.

This is not always the case. In one parent that I have observed over the last few months - her children have gone from shy, indecisive 3rd graders to resilient, completely confident 4th graders. Her son had come to me with problems in spelling and in handwriting. Through hours of targeted instruction and a listening ear, he has become a changed young man with the skills of a child years ahead of his time. The younger daughter was so quiet and timid when I had met her that I thought it would take years to come up with a breakthrough. After just a few months, her true personality came shining through and as a result - she had become accepted into the Gifted and Talented program.

I am so happy to know that I was part of this process and am proud to see these children grow in this last year.

How Does Your Occupation Influences Your Parenting Style?

As many of you know, what you do outside of your home has a direct or indirect impact on what you do inside your home.

Take for example a family whose head of household (the father) was a graduate of West Point. If your father was trained to follow structure, order, and a code of conduct that has been existence for a few decades, one can expect that their children will follow in the same suit. In one of the families that I have worked with - I'm still thinking that the father (and mother) had invisible earpieces and night vision glasses that help keep track of their family of ten...

Another example that I have is of an entrepreneur. Many entrepreneurs are engaged in a multitude of tasks and can determine the value (or lack of value) of a particular project. If your mother is an entrepreneur and  has a predisposition to looking at the costs and benefits of a particular project or employee, do not be surprised if she takes away your allowance for a month because your report card was not where it should be. My mother - the entrepreneur that she is, would cut out programs and hobbies that she knew we had no "talent for". My oldest brother had electric guitar lessons canceled after a month when she realized that he was...tone deaf.

Lastly, if your parent(s) are constantly switching from plan A to plan D in the course of one hour - your life is destined for a whirlwind of change as well. When encountering a high performing physician in Atlanta, it was no surprise that this individual could out multi-task even the best of us. In reviewing the status and progress of her child's education, it was definitely a given that you had to make your point - in 15 minutes or less. Her children are soon to follow in those same footsteps as they begin and end tasks within 15 minutes.

The views of this blog post are strictly the opinion of the writer and are intended for comedic purposes/relief.

"Whose handwriting was that?"

I can't believe it sometimes (and neither can my pint size students). They work so extremely hard - and have made such incredible gains in what they have accomplished that there are times when they are in complete denial over what they had done just  a few months prior.

One of these most recent occurrences happened with a student whose mother stated that "he needs help with his handwriting.." We started him in a research based program over five months ago and each week - focused on one skill (and a few letters at a time) that would help him with not only his penmanship  - but with his confidence. We even had a  very adult conversation about penmanship where I told him that even though he does not think it now - it is important to have good penmanship. He asked me, "Well, what do you mean? Why do I need to have good penmanship?". I told him that penmanship was like spelling - "you take it for granted unless you see someone that it really bad at it.." After that quick conversation, it was if his penmanship took a life of its' own.

Many weeks went by where he would practice- and practice different strokes until he became more cognizant of what good penmanship was like. Just a few weeks ago, he even made a comment that the class was taking a crash course in penmanship and even compared his own letters with that of his teachers. Normally I expect this critical nature out of the middle school and high school students that I groom for success - but I don't mind having them start just a few years ahead of schedule.

As we were wrapping up a working session, I looked into my binder to look for a few samples of what his writing looked like before. I try not to look at these artifacts as it might hinder my perception of how far along a student has come. Before I showed the student the "drafts" I grinned aimlessly knowing that he would not be able to recognize "himself". I turned to the left and said, "Look at this. What do you make of this person's writing?". He was rather apathetic when he reviewed his own writing and said, "Whoa - this person has no attention to detail - look at the horrible lines and lack of spacing that he has from letter to letter. I can't believe that this student wasn't able to write his own name."

When he was done talking, I asked if he knew whose writing that was. He said to me, "How should I know - his name isn't even on the piece of paper. His handwriting is so sloppy." I laughed and said, "Stop insulting yourself - this was you five months ago!"

"The best value is the one - that gives you the results that you are looking for..."

Whenever I am in my car - I always listen to "intelligent radio" or "smart programming" from my iTunes library. I listen in on what the current trends are in the world - either socially, technologically, or intellectually.

One day - I was listening to a business consultant talk moderate a discussion on prices in the market for a particular product/service. It seems pretty evident that to many of us - the most expensive price should always be the best price. That is entirely not the case 100% of the time.

A long time ago - a person very, very close to my family had consulted with an attorney over a pretty difficult situation. This attorney was the best in his class and was revered by everyone in the industry. His consultation fee was above what any person in my family could ever imagine since many of them are white collar professionals who draw a respectable salary each and every month. When the attorney was finished with the case, the family member went to the bank and moved the money that they had saved for the last ten years to pay him for his services. His response in helping her win his case was, "this is the last case that I will argue before I retire - I am happy to do this for free."

Many parents that I talk to are good parents - they look to do the very best for their children and sometimes put themselves in awkward financial situations in hopes that their child will benefit from the programs/services that they have endured for weeks/months. The sad thing is - not every program that is available to parents has a viable outcome and as a result, the parents end up with the same issues that they had prior to receiving any type of remediation. It is a great waste of time/money/ and energy to involve your student that may hinder their educational and social development during a time that is so important.

Whenever you are looking at a specific program to help your child - make sure that you have done the research needed to support the investment. When it comes to education - there is no simple solution in helping remedy any one problem that a student has. The key to helping your child is to focus on long-term progress - not a promise that all of the problems that your child once had will all go away in the matter of weeks. As with most things in life - long term changes occur incrementally, and not overnight.

Why - is education so important?

As I grow older, I have learned to listen to what individuals and groups have to say about education. I have also observed how the media has portrayed the  United States in failing to prepare this new generation for their future. This blog is not meant to mark my opinion on what the current party line on education is;  this blog is meant to deliver my own personal opinion on education.

When I was a young girl, I associated a "good education" with a "good future". My grandfather, a former United Nations representative and small town boy -  grew up to be a distinguished attorney and professor. This very fact made it very difficult to  fight the fact that education was a primary focus in our family.

For many years, I worked until the daylight hours to learn everything that I could about subjects that mattered not only in school, but outside of school. I was the type of student that at 13 years old, could assess a situation and discuss a solution not only with my parents, but with other adults that were around me. Education for me was not confined to the four walls that surrounded the brick building where I attended school. Education was embedded in the different social activities that I was involved in - as well as the experiences that I have been personally been privileged to have that give me a better insight on what the world is about - and more importantly - what people are about. My mother has always taught me how to be a good and conscientious citizen, but it is through the education of my own life that has taught me to be tough, uncompromising, and resilient in any situation.

Sometimes when I see young children struggle in school because of something that they had absolutely no  control over - it saddens me. I know that when I was young - there was nothing more enjoyable than to watch my teacher's face light up as she taught us a lesson on fractions as if it were the next big toy at Toys -R-Us. I personally remember a situation when I was in third grade where I knew - no matter what I did, I would not be able to master the art of subtraction. There were several days where the teacher would hand back the assignment that was filled with a sea of red noting that "you need to improve in this concept". My true disposition is to not ask for help, but to figure it out. I watched the class with a different perspective one day and noticed that in one of her attempts to show us subtraction - she showed us how to check if the answer was correct. I was immediately saved by the end of this class and realized that at that point in time, there was always a different path to reach the same destination.

In looking at what is happening with student's today, I hope that student's understand that regardless of what happens in their schooling, there will be ample opportunities for them to observe and hold in high regard the experiences that they have to learn from. Education is not a building, but a collection of experiences and lessons from which to help pave a path for your future. If I did not struggle in that particular math lesson that day, I would not have realized my own potential. Sometimes, allowing your child to see what is wrong will help them make things right in the years to come. 

How Learning Ridge Helps Parents Sleep At Night

It all started with one follow up question that I wanted to ask a high school student that I have worked with for over three years. My anxiety was overwhelming when I had thought of that request that his father had asked of me several years prior.

"Can you teach my son some study skills?" I thought that was a very interesting question considering that his son was a Straight A student. I couldn't imagine teaching him anything that he did not already have in his repertoire of skills and habits that led him to that point. As a good provider - I humbly agreed and said that I will do my best to help him think more independently in terms of his study habits.

A few days ago, I approached the son and asked him why his father had made such a confusing request. "Oh, that whole thing about study skills?" he said with a sheepish look on his face. "It wasn't so much about me not studying, it was the fact that my dad would be up late at night and I had to study with him."

I was unaware that this father was up until the wee hours to work with his son when he said, "Well, now it is the complete opposite. My father goes to bed early and I think that he is just so lonely because he doesn't study with me anymore."

Okay, if you are a parent and reading this - I hope that you can understand that this entire conversation really tugs at my heart. Some of the best experiences that parents have is feeling empowered when they are able to help their children - and it is the best of parents that sacrifice blood, sweat, tears (and also - sleep) to help their young ones in school. But when they don't need you anymore, I think that is when you've realized that they are all grown up.

Yes, it's bittersweet - I help many of these young students not only with their homework but also help their parents sleep at night. With some of the report cards that come across my desk, I am very proud to know that I can be the reason why!

Sign of a Good Parent - Great Listening Skills

It's true, you don't have to be a doctor or a lawyer to be a good parent, just a good listener. A good listener to your child, his/her teachers, and the professionals that work around him. The other important aspect of good parenting is listening to something that many individuals may not be attuned to: your instinct.

One of the parents I know has a very wonderful relationship with her son. There was one time where I know that he was being pushed in all directions - pushed at school, pushed at baseball practice, pushed at home, and last but not least, pushed by me.

It was really hard to see him so overwhelmed with different responsibilities until one day, he just caved. He looked at his mother and said, "Mom, I can't do all of this, I need a break." I've never seen such a strong statement from a six year old but for one second, I looked at the mom and she told him, "I hear you. I know that is is hard for you buddy. Let's just take a break from this right now and we'll work on it together."

I never thought that I could hear a mother be so very diplomatic and compromising. She surprised me with her response to her youngest child and later on told me something that I never thought I would hear a parent say, "If you do not respect your child, how can you expect them to respect you?"

Amazing statement - from a parent that takes the time to listen.

Let Them Write In Cursive...

"You are not allowed to write in cursive. Start over and write that all in print!".

- I never thought that I would hear this statement from an educator. It pains me to think that students are not allowed to write in the style that they feel most comfortable with.

When I heard a student tell me this, I was in disbelief. I didn't think that it was a crime to write in cursive; it was English - not Cyrillic, Farsi or Hiragana. It was English. Also, I fail to see how not writing in cursive would be something that a teacher would even bring up in class.. It's completely ludicrous in my opinion. 

He's just practicing his penmanship - in hopes to improve his fine motor skills. Nothing more, nothing less..

Some Qualities of ADHD Individuals?

If some of you have never thought that there was a benefit to having ADHD - then you were mistaken. Here are just a few of the benefits to having ADHD:

1. Artistic

Many individuals who have ADHD are able to think "outside of the box". It makes sense that they would in turn be creative!

2. Can do many projects at once

Individuals with ADHD have an innate talent in drawing projects in and completing them. Many entrepreneurs can run multiple departments in a productive and efficient manner because of the activity levels in their brain.

3. Constantly evolving

Change is not a bad word for individuals with ADHD. They crave change and are constantly on the move.

4. Dedicated

ADHD inviduals would like to make sure that they can be relied on for whatever assignment or task comes their way.

5. Good at problem solving

Problem solving is a constant for individuals who have ADHD. It is important that they tackle things immediately and do not let anything rot.

6. High Energy

When they burst into a room, you will notice that the energy intensifies with all of the enthusiasm that they bring with them.

7. Idea Generator

Never a dull moment with these individuals as their brains are always on the go!

8. Lots of interest

Whether it is a sport, a hobby or a craft, they know and are able to do many things.

9. Optimistic

Everything in life is about attitude - and these individuals have a positive one!

10. Resourceful

If you ask them a question - they will indefinitely know a who, what, where, how or why to get you the answer that you are looking for!

Bilingualism - is it useful in this country...

Whenever people ask me what my first language was, I always tell them "gibberish".. For years my mother has told me that despite that I potty trained myself at 11 months and taught myself how to read (and ride a bike), I didn't really spoke coherently until I was almost 5 years old. If you really get the chance to know me, you will realize that I have made up for lost time 100 fold.

According to a recent NY Times article entitled, "Why Bilinguals Are Smarter", writer Yudhijit Bhattacharjee asserts that bilinguals have the distinct advantage of using parts of their brain that really enhances cognitive skills and delays any onset of dementia that may come along later on in your life.

In one of the first Spanish classes that I had taken while in high school, my late Spanish teacher explained to us the importance of taking a foreign language. She had known that Spanish was the third language that I had under my belt by age 13 and always smiled when I would rattle off the answers to her preguntas cada dia. The fact of the matter is, when you learn another language, you do not just "learn words". You become an ambassador of that culture by learning and respecting their culture and values - and sometimes making them your own.

On a personal note, we live in a multi-lingual household. Between the members of my household, we can fit the number of languages that we speak on one hand and are always looking for opportunities to learn - and incorporate more. Language is not just words on a page, but the breath of life that every people holds dear. There are some words that exist in my native language that do not exist in other languages because we hold it sacred as a people to keep those words. In English, there are many words that have that same importance and reverence - and are noted on many of the upper level graduate exams such as the GRE and LSAT.

So, if you think that taking that Spanish, French or Chinese class is hard, think of the many positive effects that learning the language will have for you. It's never to late to embrace another culture!




Bilingualism

Education - adapt or......

As an avid Ted viewer, I was extremely excited to see Sir Ken Robinson discuss how changing just a few viewpoints on education would have a remarkable impact on the future of our children. It has always been a concerning facet of the educational institution to allow the methodology of teaching become very teacher-centric and not student centric.

For more information on this topic, feel free to view the video using the link below.



The changing face of education

Se habla Espanol? How can learning Spanish (or another language) make your student smarter...

As I was growing up, I was bilingual. When I finished high school, I was tri-lingual. Now that I am an adult, I have shopped around for another language (or two) that I can speak in the comfort of my own home. 

When I saw this article, it made me think of the advantages that many of us have in learning and understanding more than one language. Having the ability to relate not only in other languages but to other customs gives individuals an edge in society.

If you would like your elementary or middle school child to learn Spanish, feel free to contact me at any time!

Bilingualism makes kids smarter

Sensory Friendly Films For February 25: Journey 2!

The Autism Society has announced the Sensory Friendly Films for February. They will be featuring Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

AMC theaters have teamed up with the Autism Society to present films for children to view in a safe and accepting environment. This program has been a great contribution to the community as it promotes inclusion of all individuals and is also a regular monthly event.

If you would like more information about this event, you can view the page link found below. If you have questions about any educationally relevant events, please be sure to leave a comment:)

Sensory Friendly Films

Educational Outreach for students with ADD/ADHD in East Cobb? Contact CHADD..

As a fellow East Cobber, we would like to mention one very resourceful agency that interfaces with many organizations that provides support to our students. East Cobb CHADD, with it's wonderful coordinator -Cappie Suttle, has worked tirelessly to build a consortium of resources that work with students that are having problems in their current educational setting.

They have helped countless parents find support for IEP meetings and link them with other parents that are experiencing similar challenges in their child's education. Additionally, they will be holding an Exceptional Children's Expo on February 25, 2012 from 6-7:30pm at East Side Elementary in Cobb County, Georgia.

For more information, please click on the link below.

East Cobb Satellite CHADD

Introverted Or Extroverted? Success Lies In Both...

Coming from a large family with three brothers and two sisters, it was always important that you not only knew how to be heard, but how to survive. As a young child, it was quite fascinating for me to observe the world and the people around me rather than interact. It seemed that the less I spoke, the more I would say in my body language. I realized after watching my younger sister grow up that I was definitely not as "social" as her and preferred not to be the center of attention. Fast forward to today, not much has changed as I still prefer to have engaging one-on-one conversations rather than expose myself in a group of more than four.

The reason why I am sharing this is because after reading the featured article of this week's Time Magazine, I've come to realize that introverts and extroverts have worked together to not only make this world not only better, but more interesting. You cannot have a Bill - without the Hillary; the Simon, without the Garfunkel. In my example, the Bill - without the Steve.

Maybe it's best to that I illustrate that last example so that we can put things in perspective.
Before we do that, here is some background information:

On a personal note, I have met the "Man Behind Microsoft" many many years ago when I lived in Seattle. I remember meeting him at a charity auction in the middle of spring in 1999. Most of the individuals who were at the auction had purchased extravagant gifts for themselves and their families such as cars, boats, and items that many of us would find rather fascinating. When Mr. Gates put in a bid, he won an auction for a trip to 4 to the great travel destination of the world - Mexico. I never thought that someone of his financial size and stature would settle for a trip to Mexico, but then again, why shouldn't he?

The late Steve Jobs,  on the other hand, is quite the polar opposite of Mr. Gates. Although I never met him, he seemingly finds the time to make sure that he is always front and center whenever an Apple product that would revolutionize technology was announced. He created a culture of "show me simplicity" as it pertained to the personal computer and created a following of consumers - one of which is yours truly. I admire the man for what he has done for technology, however in finding out what he has contributed to the betterment of society is something that has yet to be established.

As children grow older, they learn to become more comfortable in their own skin. It is important that  children understand that it is okay to be shy - as much as it is important to be friendly (during socially appropriate times). Allow children to understand the power of having your own convictions and they will thank you for it later on in their life.

A Personal Reflection of My Mother and Father...

My mother and late father were as different as night and day. My dad loved to be the center of a party; my mother would rather be found at  the center of church. My father liked to use his hands to restore old cars; my mom liked to keep her hands busy by flipping through pages of books until she would need a new prescription for her glasses. I never really thought of my parents as being such an odd couple  - but I guess now that I look back, I guess that they really were.

I was  four years old when I saw the  big difference "parenting difference" between my parents. It was time for me to go to 1st grade (the story in my family goes that I conveniently "skipped" kindergarten...) in September. One major event that needed to occur before I could enter the classroom was the infamous "shoe tying class" with my mom and dad. For some strange reason, they did not communicate to each other on who would actually teach me how to tie my shoes. So  for several days (or maybe even weeks, I can't remember) I would oscillate between my father and mother trying to figure out how to tie my shoes.

What I learned from those two stuck with me for the rest of my life. My dad never gave me clear "instructions" on how to tie my shoes. My gigantic father (everybody is a giant when you are five years old) sat in front of me and showed me how to make both shoe laces turn into bunny ears and then voila - a tied shoe. I practiced and practiced and to no avail, I never got it. My mother on the other hand, gave me the step by step tutorial on how to tie the shoe. She gave explicit instructions on what to do to make sure that it was on correctly, and then did it again until I finally showed her how I could do it. After that event, my perception of mom and dad was quite simple, "mommy tells, daddy shows"; no matter what situation came about it always boiled down to that simple truth.

Because my parents had two fundamentally different ways of communication, I have learned to really adapt to situations that may at times, seem very challenging. From my father I have learned that sometimes it is in what you do not say that you communicate the most. He never had a conversation with me about how my day was at school or what I would be struggling with in my life. The simple fact that he was a great provider for the family and that he would wake up at odd hours to take me to school showed me more than him saying a few words. He emphasized that it was always in the actions of people that I learned more about them than what they would try to tell me. The same story goes for my mother - the matriarch of our "Party of Seven". She never really had the time to be around me as much as my father had when I was growing up, but when she was there,  an important "lesson" was always imparted on me. Sometimes it would be a story  about finding hope in the most desolate of times, other times  it would be a story on how patience is the one virtue that you could just not have too much of. Those conversations that I have with my mom are truly precious, and I cherish them - much like the times that I cherished my father's times with the "man of much action, but very few words."

Not All Kindergartens Are Taught Equally

As a matter of fact, I have seen many discrepancies from different kindergarten classrooms through the years. In some classrooms, they begin teaching the alphabet - one letter at a time. In other classrooms, the expectation is that students already know how to read, and write before they even walk through the door. Why the vast difference in expectations? Isn't there supposed to be one standard by which all schools must adhere to?

Apparently there is, according to the Georgia Department of Education. Many of the standards are found on the Georgia DOE website, but what is taught to your children is actually determined before they walk into the classroom. Depending on what cognitive skills your student has, there may be more (or less) that your student will be learning this year than what you had expected.

If you have any questions about Kindergarten and live in the Atlanta area, feel free to contact me at learning ridge@gmail.com.