“Take time to breathe deeply.”

It is calming to take deep breaths during the day. You need something to remind you to do this. Have a special photo or object and each time you look at it, take 3 deep breaths and then go back to what you were doing.

Do the same thing for children. Have a special bell. Ring it at random times during the day. When the bell rings, everyone takes 3 deep breaths and then goes back to what they were doing.

Deep breathing relieves stress and stimulates brain cells. It will help create a more relaxed classroom.

Have a wonderful day and a wonderful week-end.

Maryln

“There are gifts that weigh much less than a box of chocolates.”

Love is weightless. Yet it can fill a child up more than eating a box of candy. It fills the heart, the mind, the soul.

Knowledge also is weightless. Yet it can change a life.

You give both those gifts to students—love and knowledge. You are a difference maker.

Have a wonderful day.

Maryln

“People can be soooooooooo fine.”

I recently had a friend who lost a family member. Several of us got on the phone to make some calls to get together a team of people to help this person. I was one of the people making calls. I was amazed at how people wanted to chip in to help this person. I kept hearing as I called, “What can I do to help?”

It made me think about children. They also need to be taught to reach out and help others.

You reach out and help others every day. You are a difference maker.

Have a wonderful day.

Maryln

“Your voice is one of your most powerful teaching tools.”

Here are some ways you can use your voice to capture and keep the attention of students:
1) Speak in a lower voice.
2) Speak in a deeper voice.
3) Alternate your voice tone, sometimes speaking rapidly and sometimes, slowly.
4) Speak enthusiastically.
5) Speak dramatically.
6) Speak clearly.
7) Speak confidently.

Have a wonderful day.

Maryln

“Love is so much more than giving things.”

I sat next to another passenger on an airplane recently who told me that his adult daughter would not talk to him or his wife. When she was growing up, they gave her everything she asked for. They kept giving and giving and giving. And she kept taking and taking. They bought her several cars. They gave her credit cards. When she lost jobs and got into monetary difficulties, they bailed her out. Finally, when she was thirty years old, they decided it had to stop. She did not know how to do anything on her own. Instead she expected them to keep giving to her. She became very angry and felt they were wrong. They had a huge fight, and now she has not spoken to them in a long time. The man said both he and his wife missed her very much.

Love is so much more than just giving things. It means also setting boundaries and following through; providing structure; providing wisdom; being a role model; creating an atmosphere of respect mingled with fun and love; and taking time for children so that they always know they have someone who loves them and will listen to them. It does not mean always bailing them out, but it does mean listening, and helping the child to explore options in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere.

Have an awesome wonderful day and a wonderful week.

Maryln