Teaching is the only profession that teaches all the other professions.

It all starts with you. Those children you teach, whether they are little tots, elementary students, or teens, will all have their own careers some day. Your impact spans decades into the future.

Have a great day and a wonderful week-end.

Maryln

Boogie on down.

Children love it when you are spontaneous. Today as you teach, take a moment to “boogie on down” and do something silly with children. Dance around the classroom. That sure will be a great attention-getter. Have fun. Do it all within the structure of the classroom so that children know their teacher is having fun teaching them.

Have a great day.

Maryln

Spanking is back in the news.

In recent weeks I have read all kinds of articles about spanking. One article cites a study that says spanking lowers IQ’s. Another article talks about the fact that spanking is outlawed in Sweden. The latter article talks about it as positive, while also citing that some children are out of control as a result.

This is a very controversial issue. There are those who do not spank or use any form of discipline, and their children are wild and out-of-control. There are others who do not spank with their hands, but they spank with their words using put-downs and shaming. There are some parents who call “beating” a spanking. Then there are other parents, who balance love and limits and never use spanking and have well-disciplined children.

I’ll bet most of you taking this survey, can remember your own times of getting spanked or disciplined. I sure can! Think about that and your own views about spanking and then go to www.atiseminars.org and take the survey about spanking.

I believe that all children need structure and limits as well as love and independence. They need to be treated with respect and dignity. And they need to be taught how to treat others with respect and dignity too.

Have a great day.

Maryln

P.S. ~ Here are some articles about spanking:



http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20091005/wl_csm/osmack



http://pubpages.unh.edu/~mas2/Cp98D%20CP%20%20IQ%20world-wide.pdf

Protect and defend children.

You have such important work. You get to provide a secure haven for children when all kinds of “crazies” may happen at home. A great point is what has been happening with the Heene family, the “Balloon Boy” story. I hope and pray that the children in that family have wonderful teachers who will help them feel secure while in their classrooms, teachers who will protect them from other children making fun of them.

Many of you have written to me on my blog about difficult situations in the homes of your students. What comes through in every posting, is how much you care about children. While you can’t always control what is happening at home, you sure can and do make a huge difference in the lives of children you reach and teach. And you make a difference with all the wonderful families who are loving and nurturing too, when you work as a team helping their children. You are a difference maker.

Have a great day.

Maryln

The memories are in the 'dash'.

Yesterday was a very special day. One year ago on November 1st, my daughter Tobi passed away. I think one of the hardest things I have ever done was to order a grave marker for my daughter. The marker has her name, some sweet words of love, and it has the date she was born, then a dash, and the date of her passing from this world.

Yes, that first date, the day of her birth was very important—the day I got to hold my tiny baby in my arms for the first time. And yes, the date she passed away is important. That was the date of her last living breath. But it’s in the dash that the memories are made. The dash holds all the special memories of her life. That “dash” has her trip home from the hospital, her first words, her first smile, the first little tiny bow in her hair, her first best friend, her first date, her first loves, and then her final love. It holds also, her special moments when she gave birth to each of my grandchildren, the joy and pride and love in her voice, birthday parties for her children, her battles with illness, her saying, “I hope I live until my children are eighteen.” That dash holds the memory of the last time I saw her alive, our last big hug that day, and every phone conversation from that week. Her life is all in the “dash.” That’s where hopes and dreams come true, where love flourishes, where there is laughter and tears.

So today I am writing for you to create your own special memories in the “dash” with all those you love, and with the children you teach. Every moment of life is part of the “dash” so live it to the fullest.

Have a great day.

Maryln