EDUCATION: part 2 "The Value of Fresh Starts in Education"

Did you know that the month of January was the time to celebrate International Creativity? A time to spread the use of imagination and expression in all things creative. When I think of the month of January as I look at my calendar, I think of new beginnings, a time to start over and begin a new cycle of ideas, habits, learning new things and setting time aside to plan, prepare and perform with the possibilities of the power to take on new routines.

When it comes to learning and being inspired to start over and commit to a new year of success, one of the things parents and educators can do to create excitement in children for reaching success is by establishing activities that naturally enhance and motivate the mind to learn. Using techniques like "brainstorming" to generate ideas, time to doodle with relaxing music and calming thoughts, using writing prompts such as a question of the day that offers deep thinking responses, and time for music therapy to engage in rhythm and count which encourages an awareness in math.

Benefits of a fresh start in education

Once you begin to realize the good you will feel from changing into a routine that provides positive outcomes, your mindset is ready for change. Establishing new routines are easier than most people think. One of the best things I ever did for my family while my children were in school was to invest in a large white board and wipe off markers. Since there was five of us, we had to divide the board so that we each had ample room in our own sections for schedules so it made it super easy to look at the weekly/daily responsibilities we had to fulfill. This board was hung in the mudroom next to the interior garage door entrance so as we entered the house, it was right there as a reminder. From that simple routine, came a solid habit for each child to take responsibility for their own daily routine.

Tips for Parents and Educators

If your children are actively involved in sports or academic clubs, then some downtime at home that is fun and creative is a perfect way to engage and learn at the same time. Family game night is a great way to have fun and connect with your children on a personal level. Each child can choose a game or activity and be the leader or MC to role play and be in charge.

As your youngster begins to grasp more independence, it is important to set small achievable goals. When children have a structured routine, they put more energy into their work which will yield improvements across the board. One of the most important things to remember is to have a positive and supportive learning environment for children. In order for them to explore what they are capable of, they need a secure place to develop. Having a "no screen" day, with the exception of completing homework, or create a variety of activities to include reading, writing, math and a form of Kinesthetic (body in motion) activities to prevent boredom. It is also helpful to use a timer so they don't feel as if school never ended. Learning should be fun and engaging to achieve the highest success, and it helps to use activities that utilizes the senses.

Examples from Anita's Experience

When my children were young, I often sat with them and worked on the assignments alongside of them to show them I was "learning" what they did that day or week in school. I used my own notebook and did some math and writing to show them how to engage in their work without the typical "pulling teeth" to get assignments done. As they got older and more independent in their work, I offered to look over what they completed then we would read together before bed to continue our time of connecting through the books they picked and enjoyed. Since I had three children, I worked it out to let them free read one book they were required for class and I would read a chapter each night from a more advanced book such as "Harry Potter" or similar genres. This made our family time enjoyable.

The benefit of this idea is to get the work done and accomplish time for comprehension and discussion. Our routine was the same for many years; bath, book, and bed and as my children go to upper elementary and middle school, they had established a successful schedule of school and home life balance at an early age.

Conclusion

When it comes to educational creativity and making fresh starts, the old addage "there's no time like the present," is a good motivator to begin. I love the idea of short, but impactful ways to Imagine, Explore, Create, Play and Share so that children are able to follow simple instructions and learn how to pick what interests them so they are not part of a "cookie cutter" philosophy in learning and doing. Once they are feeling like they have choices that are meaningful, whatever new things come along to learn they are more likely to opt for solutions that give them they most reward and positive results.

Parenting- part 3, "Helping kids set goals for the New Year"

What is motivation and how can we use it to accomplish our goals? If you have ever wanted to be your best at something or learn how to be fluent in a foreign language, learn to tackle a hobby like knitting or something more physical like swimming across one side of a pool and back in a fast time span, you probally heard the word "motivate" in the process. Simply put, to be motivated is to be driven by an internal desire to achieve something. It is basically why someone does something.

When I was sixteen and wanted to take Drivers Education with all my friends from school, my Dad told me I had to wait until I was older. As the youngest of five, I was very disappointed and felt left out since everyone I knew was taking the course. After being angry then dealing with it, I put it aside until I celebrated my eighteenth birthday. I had saved the money I earned from babysitting and went to our local driving school and signed myself up to learn to drive! I was motivated by the fact that all my friends were driving and it was time for me to learn. I had made that my main goal once I turned eighteen. When I finished my three month driving lesssons and written course, I successfully passed my road test on the first attempt on a snowy day in January back in 1979. Perhaps it was best that I waited but thinking about how I was not given a choice to take it back in high school made me think how children are affected by parent decisions, good and bad.

When my oldest was ready to learn to drive at sixteen, I was prepared to move forward

and give her the opportunity to learn at a time when it was important for her to become independent and responsible. The goal I set for this moment was to make sure she understood that even though she would be driving with a permit, it did not mean there were no rules. The motivation for my daughter was to become a driver, the motivation for me was that she would learn how being a driver means so much more that starting a car with a key and stepping on the gas pedal to go.

Why goal setting matters for children

Children need goals in order to be held accountable for their actions and it teaches them how to develop confidence while on the way to gaining knowledge in things they are doing for the first time. When parents help their children set goals, they become forward-thinkers and are able to self-reflect in their own actions. Saving money by working at a part-time job, or volunteering in Church or a community organization often helps prepare children to become leaders in school and in the community. These all require goals to lay the ground work for future aspirations.

Steps for goal-setting with kids

In order to set achievable goals, one that can be met by a step by step approach, it is important to first identify the areas that are of interest. Using the anagram SMART (SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, RELEVANT, TIME-BOUND) goals will yield a successful outcome. Parents can also work together with their children to see the way it works for parents on a daily basis. If you are a stay at home Mom or Dad, allowing your child to help with a budget for food, entertainment, etc. when planning meals and social events gives children the chance to see the results at the supermarket or restaurant, bowling alley, etc. By breaking goals into smaller manageable steps, children will be able to stick with then long enough to feel the results working.

Practical Examples

My children came home from school with a folder containing papers everyday. The homework sheet went into one bin for each child and all other correspondence went either on the refrigerator or in a clear folder to be signed and returned to school. Each month, I would go over their class requirements and we would create a schedule which went on the large white board we used in the mudroom for our planning. This helped to avoid having the refrigerator crowded with papers. We agreed to setting Academic, Personal and Creative goals that they used to work on during the month. An Academic goals could be: read ten books by ( fill in month or week depending on how you set it up). Personal goals could be: help with chores three times a week; and Creative goals: complete one new art or writing project a month. The creative goals can be school related or personal depending on grade and activity of the child.

Make it Fun!

There are many tools to use along with the creative part in goal setting such as charts, stickers and worksheets to enhance the growth experience as the weeks turn into months. Charts can be a way to compare progress and using multi-colors to highlight each stage of the process makes it look like an Art project. Have fun with it and be creative!

Conclusion

When children see parents modeling goal setting and begin to realize their own success comes from the discipline of a regular routine and are properly prepared to achieve their own successes, they are more likely to stick with setting goals on a regular weekly/monthly basis.

If there is one important piece from my teacher training, both in school and on the job, it is consistency always wins no matter what it is you do. The more preparation you make for whatever it is that you are striving for, the better the outcome no matter how small. Every success is a new milestone to be celebrated!