You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar

We've heard the above saying about kindness, but sometimes I think we need to be reminded of it.  One area we as parents try to teach our kids is to be kind to others.  Our daughter is often heard saying “Share,   you need to share” while talking to our granddaughter.

Working with teenagers, we realize they are very egocentric and are not always kind to each other.  However, it’s important we teach them when things don’t go their way, they still can practice kindness.  In order to teach our kids, we need to model it for them.  The students who succeed are those who see adults modeling positive values.

Be a good role model. Let your kids see you practice kindness this week.  It really does go a long way.

Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.

Dennis Prager

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Aesop

Do you know Monday, January 26th, is known as Blue Monday?  It's considered by some to be the most depressing day of the year. This is the day when the credit card bills come due from Christmas, the weather is cold, etc.  This week I'm thinking about encouragement.  I found the following ways to encourage your teens.  Although they won't tell you, they are seeking your approval and encouragement.

Words of Encouragement and Praise

Children thrive on positive attention. Children need to feel loved and appreciated. Most parents find that it is easier to provide negative feedback rather than positive feedback. By selecting and using some of the phrases below on a daily basis with your child, you will find that he will start paying more attention to you and will try harder to please.

Yes    Good    Fine    Very good    Very fine    Excellent Marvelous   At-a-boy Right

That’s right    Correct    Wonderful    I like the way you do that    I’m pleased with (proud of ) you

That’s good    Wow    Oh boy   Very nice    Good work    Great going    Good for you    That’s the way

Much better       O.K.    You’re doing better    That’s perfect Good idea    What a cleaver idea

That’s it    Good job    Great job controlling yourself    I like the way you ______

I noticed that you ____      Keep it up    I had fun ______ with you

You are improving at ______ more and more    You showed a lot of responsibility when you ______

Way to go    I appreciate the way you ______    You are great at that    You’re the best

Good remembering    That’s beautiful    I like your______

I like the way you ______ with out having to be asked (reminded)

I’m sure glad you are my son/daughter    Now you've got it    I love you

You can SHOW them how you feel as well as tell them:

Smile    Nod    Part on shoulder, head, knee Wink

Signal or gesture to signify approval    High five    Touch cheek

Tickle    Laugh (with, not at)    Pat on the back    Hug

One Final Touch

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement he learns to be confident.
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love.
If a child lives with recognition, he learns it is good to have a goal.
If a child lives with honesty he learns what truth is.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him.
If a child lives with friendliness, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live to love and be loved.
(Anonymous)

Read more: http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/how-to-be-a-parent/communication/#ixzz3PrcYK66S
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A Man and His Dream

When I was teaching, I would tell my students you are here for a purpose.  You are here to make a difference in our world.  I would often get the “Yeah, right” look.  That would lead us in discussion of how one person can make a difference.  Think about Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. each changing the world for the better.

I ended the class by showing MLK giving his I Have A Dream speech in Washington DC then asking the students what is your dream for our country? For our community? For our school?  For yourself?

How can you, “Be the change you want to see in the world”? — Mahatma Gandhi

To me Martin Luther King Day is not just a day off.  Instead it’s a day to reflect.  Change is hard.  Making a difference is hard.  Changing the world (community, school, ourselves) is hard.  Those people who persevered are the ones we look up to today.  They made a difference in order to give me a chance to make a difference.

“Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world”.  – Harriet Tubman

Use this week to reflect and plan how to change a small part of our world!

http://www.biographyonline.net/people/people-who-made-a-difference.html

http://www.biographyonline.net/people/people-who-changed-world.html

A march and special program is planned to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 19, in downtown Georgetown. The MLK, Jr. Day march is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at Georgetown College. A memorial program will then be held starting at 5 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 317 East Main Street.

Marchers are to assemble outside of Cralle Student Center on College Street. They will walk to Military Street, turn left to Main Street, then go on Main Street to Broadway, left on South Broadway to College Street, and left on College Street ending up at the Student Center.

The Scott County High School Chorus Ensemble and the Gospel music group “Unashamed” from Frankfort will join others for the program at First Presbyterian Church. A student from each of the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades in Scott County will read an essay in remembrance of Dr. King entitled “My Dream of Tomorrow: Equality & Fairness.”

A reception is planned immediately following in First Presbyterian’s Fellowship Hall.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Program is sponsored by Georgetown/Scott County NAACP’s MLK Committee in conjunction with the Georgetown College Office of Diversity and Inclusion, First Presbyterian Church and the local Georgetown and Scott County governments.

First week back

This week we will be finishing MAP testing.  We test students in reading and math three times a year looking for growth.  After our first testing session, teachers helped students set goals.  This midyear assessment lets us know how close we are in reaching our goals.  Be sure and ask your student how she/he did.  If you have any questions about MAP, feel free to contact Jonda.tippins@scott.kyschools.us.

Welcome to 2015!

I just love a new year.  It’s a time for a “do over”.  I love how we can start anew; set goals, decide how to have a better year, how to lose weight J, and how to be successful.  For many of us that means writing our goals down and keeping it in front of us as a reminder.

Mr. Ellison has asked our students to list their college choice and any extra activities they are involved in.  We will put those on posters and hang them around our school.  We want to keep the ultimate goal, college and career ready, in front of us.

My personal goal/New Year’s resolution is to Be Active.  I want to Be Active in mind, body, and spirit.  I love to read, but have gotten out of the habit.  Over the break I picked up a book on my shelf titled Write Better, Speak Better.  Now who can’t benefit from that?  Look out, this blog my experience a ‘better written’ message as we go throughout the year.  I ALWAYS want to improve my body.  What female doesn’t?  I say this every year, but I want to write it down and plan to be intentional.  As far as being active in spirit, I always strive to be closer to God.  This year I want to be intentional serving others.  More details will follow, but I’m so excited to hopefully serve on a Habitat build.   One of our custodians will be receiving a Habitat house.  They are supposed to start breaking ground in March.  I’m hoping we can have a 9^th Grade School Day to help.

If you haven’t asked your student what his/her goals are, be sure and do that.  Over the next few weeks, I will be inviting parents to meet with me to develop a plan on how to help their student reach their goals.  Feel free to contact me if I can be of help to you and your student.

Happy New Year!  Let’s make this a great one!

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Helen Keller