Teaching children the 3 Rs (and it’s not what you think)

Reading. Writing. Arithmetic. These are the basic academic skills. There are also three R’s that are important to our leadership abilities: Respect, Responsibility and Resourcefulness. I would like to give credit to the person who initiated this phrase, but when I did a search for these 3R’s on the educational research data base (ERIC), I […]

Montessori teachers’ credo: ‘To be a help to life’

“No man is free who is not master of himself.”—Epictetus A flower begins with a seed sprouting from the earth with the seed leaves coming out of the ground first.  The plant grows a stalk, and sends out more leaves.  On the stalk or branches of the plant, small buds form and are protected by […]

Extend an olive branch for children’s sake

The troubling nature of censorship is clearer when it falls on the very young.  A certain kind of silence, that which comes from holding back the truth, is abusive itself to the child. The soul has a natural movement toward knowledge, so that not to know can be to despair.  In the paucity of explanation […]

ADHD: Teach children to pay attention, instead of paying for drugs

Attention deficit to attention abundance Nine million prescriptions were written last year in the United States for school aged children for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).  In 1975 roughly 150,000 children were taking Ritalin.  In 2003, the latest figures available, about 6 million American children took Ritalin. Drugging children to get them to behave seems […]

Know the three C’s of motivation

“The manager’s job, then, is not to motivate people to get them to achieve; instead, the manager should provide opportunities for people to achieve so they will become motivated.” – Frederick Herzberg    Charlie walked over with the teaching clock.  “I’ve learned to tell time.  Do any time and I can tell you.” Five-year-old Charlie sat […]

Seven alternatives to punishment

Six-year old Bobby walks into the kitchen from playing soccer.  Bobby’s dad, Tom, had asked Bobby to take off his muddy shoes before entering the house.  Red Georgia mud dotted the new hallway and den carpet.  When Tom sees the footprints, he is furious about the mess and that Bobby had disobeyed him.   “Bobby,” Tom […]

Change behavior by changing rules, environment, attitudes

“Lisa is so different from Grace.  Grace never broke anything when she was this age.  Lisa breaks something every day,” Meg told me at our playgroup with our one-year olds.  Meg, a long-time friend, was over 30 when she had her first child.  Five-year-old Grace lived up to her name.  Grace was gentle and content to […]

Prepare a place for your child

“Pretend that you just found out that you’ll have to be in a wheelchair for a year, possibly longer.  What adjustment would you have to make to your home to accommodate this change? ” the instructor asked us. “ This week, crawl around your house, through every room, and make a list of changes that you would make.  That’s […]

Don’t be a ‘dolt’

“I can’t tell you ‘cause you’re a dolt,” Kenny said through his sniffles. “A dolt?” I thought.  What did I do to be called a dolt by a kindergartner in my Sunday school class?  I took a deep breath and ventured into unknown territory. “Kenny, what do you mean, a dolt?” “You know, a grown-up.” “Oh, […]