You wear different hats.

Last week, I wore a middle school hat speaking at the National Middle School Association on Response to Intervention and then another hat, co-leading with my son, Marty, a seminar for early childhood. This past week, I wore another hat as a grieving mom mourning the loss of my daughter. That hat will be part of my life. Today I am wearing one more hat, my preschool hat, speaking at the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s annual conference on Autism and Asperger Syndrome—Strategies for Success. I decided to wear that hat even though it will be tough because I am a featured speaker, and I didn’t want to let the association down. When I return, I will wear another hat, and that will be a hat to relax and take care of myself and be there for my family.

You too wear different hats for work and for your personal life. You too go on with new hats at times that you may wish you could only wear one hat. My message to you today is to never forget the hat of taking care of yourself too. You are an important person in the lives of children. The more you take care of yourself, the better you will feel and the more you will be able to help others and wear your other hats.

Have a wonderful day and a wonderful week-end.

Maryln

"Thank You, Thank You, Thank You"

It is a gift to say, “Thank you.” Those are awesome words to say to a student when the child remembers to do something appropriate. Too often children are told what they do wrong, but are not told “thank you’ for what they do that is right. Today, try to say “thank you” at least ten times. You will find that the more you say it, the more things there are to be grateful for. It’s like starting a “gratitude virus.”

I want to say “thank you” to you. There are so many of you who have expressed your sympathy, prayers, and condolences during this time. There are still others who may not have written or called, but I feel your caring. You are so special to me. I feel as though I know you. Thank you for who you are and what you do. You make a difference.

Have a day filled with joy and gratitude.

Maryln

Put aside differences and usher in respect.

Today you are receiving two thoughts for the day. I wrote the one about the survey last week prior to my daughter’s passing away. So today you get a bonus, as you receive a second one.

Last night history was made in the United States with the election of President Elect Obama. The United States has been involved for a long time in a hard-fought election for President and for other offices. Now, it is time to start thinking about the future. It is time to put aside differences and usher in respect and rebuild.

It is the same in the classroom and in the home. Children learn from what they see. The more they see respect for others, the more they will learn to treat each other with respect.

This past week in honoring my own daughter’s death, many individuals came together who had great differences. We came together in honor of my daughter. It was an act of love. This world needs to see more love and respect for diversity. Respect for others does not mean giving up who you are and what you stand for! It means honoring that others are different and are entitled to have their own opinions. It means speaking to and about others with respect. It means saying what you mean but in a way, that always preserves the dignity of others. That is what you can teach students every day. You are a difference maker.

Have a great day.

Maryln

“Time out” may mean “Time in.”

I was shocked to read an article in the Houston Chronicle about an Iowa student with Autism being sent to a converted storage area under a staircase at her school for three hours for a time out. According to the article, 8 year old, Isabel, wet herself before she was allowed to leave. “Time out” for Isabel sounds like it was “time in” a frightening setting and experience. The article went on to talk about people who are experts and their views on time-out. You can see the article at
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/moms/6065193.html

I want to know what your view on this subject is so we at ATi have launched a new survey at www.atiseminars.org to hear your opinions on this subject. You can also comment here on my blog.

I understand that working with some students can be extremely frustrating. I also know that the more a student acts out, the more that student is screaming for help. In this case, Isabel, may have been on sensory overload which can happen with autism. Sometimes, putting a pair of headphones on the child with autism to block out noise can help that child to get calm. The goal is to always help students. They are our future, and you are the ones who help build our future. You are a difference maker.

Have a wonderful day.

Maryln

Make your voice heard.

Here it is, the day that the United States has been leading up to, for months and months. It is Election Day. It is a chance to make your voice heard by voting. I urge you to take time to vote today. Every voice counts. We are so fortunate to be living in a democracy in which we are given the opportunity to vote. There are many who do not get that opportunity.

I will not tell you for whom to vote. I can only say to vote. My prayer on this special day is that when Americans go to the polls to vote, that together, we will choose wise leaders for our wonderful nation, people with integrity, wisdom, and the capacity to lead and preserve our democracy. May God bless America now and always, land of the free and the home of the brave.

And on this special day in our country, it is a special day in a different way for me and my family too. It is the day of my daughter, Tobi’s burial. Thank you to all of you who have taken time to write and offer your sympathy. Just as you so often tell me that my words help you, I want you to know that your words also help me and our family. You are all so special in our hearts.

May God bless you and our fine country now and always.

Maryln

In tough times, you often find people who care.

Dedicated in loving memory to my daughter, Tobi

My son and I were in Denver this past week. I did a session on RTI for a national secondary association, and then on Saturday, we did a seminar for early childhood. During the seminar I received a phone call that my daughter, Tobi, had passed away in her sleep. She had been ill for a long time and more seriously ill in the past month. She had a bad staph infection and had to have surgery because of it. She kept a positive attitude throughout this last battle. She was a fighter!!!

We ended the seminar early so we could go home to Texas to be with our family. There is no easy way to go through grief and the loss of a child, but I will tell you this, I have never seen a kinder group of people than people who work with children. We had nearly four hundred people, and so many lined up to give us hugs and prayers. Instead of being upset that we were ending early, their hearts went out to me and to Marty! What a fine group of people!!! When times are tough, that is truly when you find out how much people care, and it is my belief that all of you who work with children, and are involved in education, are givers!! You care so much for others. And although my heart is heavy as I write this, my heart and soul are also filled with gratitude for all of you, you who make a difference in the lives of students and in my life too. You are truly the difference makers of the world.

Have a good day and a good week and in memory of my daughter, Tobi, give some extra hugs to those in your life that you love.

Maryln