We are strong.

On 9-11-01, our country was directly attacked, and thousands of our citizens lost their lives. The world stood still in horror on this day in 2001. Our Pentagon was attacked, the Twin Towers were attacked, airplanes were used as weapons of mass destruction, and innocent people gave their lives. We were attacked, but we were not defeated. War was declared on terrorism.

Today eight years later, we are still battling terrorism. Our armed services fight daily overseas to make us stronger while we go on with our lives. We have rebuilt. We have changed the course of our history to show that we as a people, go on. And you as people who work with children are strong too. You fight the battle for enriching the minds, lives, and hearts of children every day.

Pat yourself on the back today and every day. And on this special day in our history, talk to your students, and remind them that the United States is strong, and that they are part of a strong country, a country that perseveres, and that is what they each need to do too—to persevere, to be the best they can be.May God bless America, our families, our children, and especially you, the ones who build bridges with your work to a brighter future for all.

Have a good day and a wonderful week-end.

Maryln

I wanted to write a little more about my personal feelings about these reality shows. Every day there is a new headline about the Gosselin family. I read the dad is saying he no longer loves his wife, has a girlfriend, and I read talk about his drinking. It just made me wonder about those poor children. How are they handling all this being in the limelight? Not only that, how will they handle it years later when they are grown and people remember who they were and what was seen on television about their families all over the world. Are children being exploited? It is my personal feeling that we have to protect our children. I am not against children being on television, but it's the manner in which it happens that can have devastating long-term effects.
Whose fault is it? Is it the networks who are looking for ways to make money? Or is it the parents who agree to put their children on shows that may not be in the best interests for their children? Fame does not always spell success in life. The one thing I know is that it is not the fault of young children who are on these shows. They may get caught up in the excitement of being on live television, but they deserve to have their privacy protected. Someone needs to stand up and talk about protecting our children.

Reality shows and children.

I have a concern I want to share with you today. That concern is about children appearing on reality shows. I wonder about the effects of intense competition, even with adults; being depicted misbehaving; and having your home life aired for the entire world to see.

How would your students handle it if someone came into your classroom and said, “Let’s start filming.” What about Nathan who is shy? How would that make him feel? What about Emma who has Autism Spectrum Disorder who rocks back and forth? What about Christopher who is constantly getting into trouble? What about Jenna whose parents are going through a divorce, and she is having problems just coping with school and life right now? How will this affect these children now and in the future when people are still talking about the programs? These are all things to think about.

This past week-end, we had a television station come to cover a Houston seminar that my son Marty and I were doing. It was fun to be interviewed, and to know the cameras were rolling, but I can tell you for a fact, that it was definitely distracting. How would that feel if I was a child? As a child, what would my peers say if I had a “bad hair day” or botched up something I said?

I am curious about your opinion on this very relevant topic, so I am launching a new survey today. Go to www.atiseminars.org and tell us how you feel about it. If you want, leave your comments here, and I will respond. It will be neat to hear what you have to say.

I am very grateful, as I write this, that you do what you do. You strive every day to make a difference for children. You think about their futures. You plan, and work, and strive, and together, we all make a huge difference for children.

Have a wonderful day.

Maryln

Get in tune.

When you go to a symphony, before it begins, the musicians are busy rehearsing. They cannot just play their parts, but they have to get in tune to the music all around them so that it comes out a perfect blend. When they finally start the concert, everyone has their part, and the program comes out so well. So too is it with classrooms. You are the teacher, the conductor. It is your job to make sure that each of your “musicians” knows their parts. That means paying special attention at different times to each student. Tune in to their needs. Let them know your needs. Be simple and direct. Give extra attention to those children who need it most. The end result will be that together, you play the music of learning, growing, and harmony.

Have an awesome day.

Maryln

Your body language speaks louder than your words.

It is a new school year, and one of the most important things to do is to connect with each student. All children relate to your body language. If they see you are confident, happy, and enthusiastic, they listen better. Watch your posture, your facial expression, and your voice tone. They are dead giveaways for how you are feeling. Children can walk into a classroom and know right away if their teacher will be a pushover, just by checking out your body language.

Practice in front of a mirror. Watch yourself. Listen to your words. Afterwards, ask yourself, “Would I want to hear what I have to say if I were a student?” Practice, practice, and practice some more. You make a difference.

Have an awesome day and a wonderful week.

Maryln