Mixed messages

Knowing when to just give a hug...sometimes it is hard to remember when a kid is a whirling wall of anger and calling you names...this is code for: I am scared, protect me, I just need a hug.

Why Finland's public schools are so successful.

The Sunday Edition CBC: Micheal Enright speaks to Finland's education guru, Dr Pasi Sahlberg, about how the country's egalitarian, low-stress model has helped Finnish students reach for the top.

photo: Teemu Vehkaoja

Dr. Pasi Sahlberg, "...children's job is play...to be good in play means that you have a mind, you have an imagination, you have power that you can use through these things, you also have to have time to practice these things...Early Child Development Services be...non educational or non instructional, it is filled with music, and play, and drama...learning to be with other people rather than learning letters and numbers and school like things..."

Cookie and self regulation.

I showed this video to a group of kids today. I could see they got they bit about standing up tall and taking a breath (they copied Cookie when it came round in the song the second time). I also think they could relate to Cookies impulsiveness and what it took for him to sing the whole song before he had a cookie. For the rest of the afternoon there were references to Cookie Monster when they were making an effort to wait. Made me smile.

Preceived power

Calvin and Hobbes often have a situation that is reflective of my job as a teacher of the quite young and creative. The young people I work with try to gain power over situations they feel powerless in. As the older people we need to remember that it is important for them to feel the power and for it not to become a power struggle. How do we meet their needs and our needs without crushing spirit? How do we direct the over all situation and give them control of a part? Something to keep in mind.

"Every minute outside and awake is a good minute."