Weekly Series — Behavior Made Easy When working with challenging kids it is important to have a guiding philosophy. A philosophy sets the stage for how we interpret and respond to unexpected behaviors. A philosophy enables us to approach student problems in a...
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Developing Higher Mental Functions
Developing Higher Mental Functions Weekly Series — Developing Young Thinkers The alarm goes off. Five year old Johnny rolls over, blinks his eyes a few times. He counts to three, slides the covers and springs out of bed. As his feet hit the floor he already knows the...
Developing Higher Mental Functions – What not to do!
Weekly Series — Developing Young Thinkers The goal for working with emerging learners is to help them develop mental tools that develop higher mental functions. The new students were sitting on the carpet. The teacher facing them, asks who can tell me which shape is...
“Specialized, not Special”
Weekly Series — Developing Young Thinkers He has Special Skills. I felt my anxiety rise as we were called into the meeting. We were sitting at the end of the table, surrounded by the professionals bracing ourselves for the report to follow. Much of the rest of the...
How Kids Learn: “First they Belong then they Try”
Weekly Series — Behavior Made Easy The three year old’s were walking in already looking for their spot at the circle. They each rang the bell as they joined the group. Their coach was at the front to greet them with a smile, eye contact and a high five. “Glad you are...
On the Importance of Play
Weekly Series — Developing Young Thinkers Time Traveler #1 “What is your position? over” Time Traveler #2 The dinosaurs are getting closer, I’m running into the trees now” Time Traveler #1 “Find your nearest base camp and put on your invisible shield” Time Traveler #2...
Harness your Child’s Superpower with the Pygmalion Effect
Weekly Series — Behavior Made Easy “Assume the best with a positive expectation and you will see all the good around you.” Kindness is my Superpower — what’s yours? Stop. Close your eyes, think of one thing that makes your child a “superhero”. Do it now! What did you...
Developing Young Thinkers – Mastering Written Speech
Weekly Series — The five ways to help children master written speech. “Tell me about it” Drawing is the beginning of writing. Learning letters is not the beginning of the writing process, but does supply the final component to move a young learner from drawing speech...
Parents and Home Learning – Reduce your stress in 3 simple steps.
Weekly Series — Behavior Made Easy “Mom, can you help me with my math assignment?, It is due tomorrow. Oh’ and I forgot about the project I needed to do for Science, can you help me with that too?”, “Susie, I’m on a conference call right now, can you schedule...