13 Common Sayings to Avoid - Modern School (for teachers)

Ez a cikk főleg nevelőknek, szülőknek szól, mert arról már sokat beszéltünk, hogy a diákok hogyan viszonyuljanak és álljanak hozzá az élet és a suli ügyes-bajos kérdéseihez.  És ugye nem titok, kettőn áll a vásár. Szeretek beszélgetni a szülőkkel is. Sokat tanulhatok tőlük! És ugye nem is olyan meglepő már, de a diákoktól is! :-)

Ez jött szembe, akkor, amikor kellett, megosztom veletek:


Social and Emotional Learning

When I was a new teacher in middle school several centuries ago, I occasionally said things to students that I later regretted. In the last few years, I have witnessed or heard teachers say additional regretful things to students. Recently I asked students in my graduate courses (all practicing teachers) if they ever told their students anything they regret. After hearing these regrets and talking with children about what teachers said that bothered them, I compiled a list of things that never should be said.
I've narrowed my list to 13 representative items. Some of these are related to control issues, others to motivation, and still more to management. All reflect frustration and/or anger. Let's start the upcoming school year by wiping these sayings out of our vernacular.

1. "You have potential but don't use it."

Students feel insulted when they hear this, and while some accept it as a challenge to do better, more lose their motivation to care. Instead, say in a caring way, "How can I help you reach your full potential?"

2. "I'm disappointed in you."

Of course we occasionally are disappointed in things that our students do. In addition, the result of openly expressing that disappointment depends as much on the way we say it as the words we use. But students have told me that they hate hearing a teacher say this. The problem with this saying is that it looks to the past. A more helpful approach looks to the future. The alternative might be more like, "What do you think you can do to make a more helpful decision the next time you are in a similar situation?"

30 Questions to Ask Your Kid Instead of “How Was Your Day?”

Ez itt most nekünk, szülőknek...


When I picked my son up from his first day of 4th grade, my usual (enthusiastically delivered) question of “how was your day?” was met with his usual (indifferently delivered) “fine.”
Come on! It’s the first day, for crying out loud! Give me something to work with, would you, kid?
The second day, my same question was answered, “well, no one was a jerk.”
That’s good…I guess.
I suppose the problem is my own. That question actually sucks. Far from a conversation starter, it’s uninspired, overwhelmingly open ended, and frankly, completely boring. So as an alternative, I’ve compiled a list of questions that my kid will answer with more than a single word or grunt. In fact, he debated his response to question 8 for at least half an hour over the weekend. The jury’s out until he can organize a foot race.

Questions a kid will answer at the end of a long school day:

1. What did you eat for lunch?
2. Did you catch anyone picking their nose?
3. What games did you play at recess?
4. What was the funniest thing that happened today?
5. Did anyone do anything super nice for you?
6. What was the nicest thing you did for someone else?
7. Who made you smile today?
8. Which one of your teachers would survive a zombie apocalypse? Why?
9. What new fact did you learn today?
10. Who brought the best food in their lunch today? What was it?

6 Signs You Are Not Living The Life You Are Meant To

By Claire Dorotik-Nana, LMFT
~ 5 min read

Photo by h.koppdelaney

It was Abraham Maslow who introduced the need to be “self actualized,” and what he identified is that people have an inherent need to realize their potential. It’s part of our very fabric — when the challenges we face seem to fit perfectly with our strengths, we feel fully engaged, absorbed in the task. It’s when we don’t question ourselves, and what we are doing has purpose and meaning larger than ourselves. And, it’s when we feel most alive, most fulfilled, and probably, most happy.

And yet, so many of us go about our daily lives, and never seem to be able to fully answer the question: Is this really the life I’m meant to live?

So, to help answer the question, here are six signs that the life you are living is not meant for you.

You Numb Your Feelings. Drinking too much, working excessively, shopping excessively, overeating, gambling, and yes, too much time on the internet, are all ways we can numb our feelings. And the reason we do is that we are trying to feel something other than what we are feeling in the moment. Because what we are feeling is discomfort, dissatisfaction, a feeling of unrest. And it’s a sign — a sign that something is not right. The need to distract from the discomfort, however, is a way to avoid facing it, and facing the reality that this is not how you want to be feeling, and this is not the life you want to be living.
The Fix: Stop numbing and start listening. Listen to what is really under the surface. Is it a longing for connection? Is it a need to feel that your work matters? Is it the desire to make a difference? Is it the desire to create something? To feel more challenged? Whatever the feeling is, listen to it until it’s crystal clear. Once you know exactly the way you want to feel, you can begin scripting the life that will get you there.

Signs from the Universe in Your Everyday Life

Recognize the Signs from the Universe that You Encounter in Your Everyday Life

Everyone of us, at some point in our lives, have been in a situation where we really wanted to know whether or not we were making the right decision or if our choice was right, or in what direction our life would change if we took certain action.

The good news is that you do not need to visit a psychic or a fortune-teller to get a prediction of the outcome of certain choices actions and decisions. There are pretty unambiguous signs that life itself gives you to direct warn or encourage you.