"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