Take time to remember.

Today ushers in the Memorial Day week-end. It is America’s time to honor those who have given their lives building our country and keeping it safe. We at Appelbaum Training Institute, also honor those builders of our freedom. While you are not soldiers on a battlefield, every day, you too, help build our country and keep it safe. You do this with the important work you do, building futures. Thank you for the important work you do.

Have a wonderful day and a wonderful week-end. There will not be another thought for the day until Tuesday, May 26th.

Maryln

Be careful to not make power struggles worse.

Don’t make power struggles worse. Beware of the “things to never do.”
The first one is never ever argue with the student. As soon as you argue, you are in a battle of wills, and that means that someone will win and someone will lose. Even if you win, you lose because of the resentment the student will have.

The second thing is to never ever defend yourself. You are the teacher and you are in charge. You do not have to give a long list of reasons that you are making a request.

The third thing to remember is to never get sarcastic and say things that you will regret. At all times, even strong-willed and argumentative students need to keep their dignity.

And fourth, do not every lose your cool! When you lose your cool, you are totally hooked, and it’s hard to think rationally and say the right things.

Have an awesome day.

Maryln

Get the attention of your class quickly with a buzz word.

Have a buzz word. A buzz word is a special word that you say that is a signal for everyone to stop talking and moving, and to just listen. Change it every week. Involve students in coming up with the new buzz word for the week. Before you use it, be sure to have it written on the board so they can see it as a reminder that it is the new buzz word to get their attention.

Have an awesome day.

Maryln

Students who tap their pencils and pens.

Some students are tappers. They tap their pencils driving you and everyone else around them crazy with the noise. Cut up an old computer mouse pad and tell students to tap the mouse pad with their pens or pencils rather than their desks. They still get to tap, which may be helping them focus, and you get to have the room quieter.

Have an awesome day.

Maryln

What happens to 'spoiled children'?

I was on an airplane going to do a talk. When the airline stewardess heard what I was going to do, she got really excited. She said, “Tell them to never spoil their children.” She then went on to tell me that she was in her early 20’s, and her parents had always spoiled her, given her everything she wanted. She said that they even gave her a credit card, and they paid all her bills. She shared with me that when she turned 21, they cut her off, and they told her it was time to make it on her own. She said that her life was miserable. She took her “spoiledness” into her relationships and expected everyone to do things for her, even a boyfriend, who had broken up with her. She said she was struggling now to work, to pay her bills, and to learn a new way of acting. I told her I would share her story.

I am launching a new survey today on our website, called, “What happens to spoiled children?” Do you think it is a problem? Go to www.atiseminars.org and make your voice heard.

Help children by giving them a framework in which they can learn to be responsible. Give them little jobs to do so they learn the satisfaction of a job well-done. Stay in charge. There is a sense of security in knowing that there is someone in charge who cares, someone who is consistent, and cares enough to say “No” when that is needed.

Have an awesome day and a wonderful week.

Maryln