STEM is the wave of the future!

STEM, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, is the future.  As I always laugh about, the geeks of the world will take over the world...and they certainly are!  How can we excite kids about science and technology?  How can we spark that enthusiasm and curiosity for learning?

Hands on methods and connecting to student's real life work.  The Boy Scouts STEM-NOVA project seems to be doing that by connecting Merit Badges and Technology and Career Expos for their ranks.  I'm very curious to check out these Expos, especially since they're not too far from my house.  I also am constantly looking for outlets for my own older scout, who's not the 'sportsy' or 'outdoorsy' guy, but is coming into his own - as he's finding things he connects to... he's constantly surprising me, and himself!

But vs. And

In my new venture to improve my communication skills, I have discovered the book Tongue Fu at School by Sam Horn.  I'm only 4 chapters in and it has struck me as very user-friendly and I have already applied several of the tips in only a few days.  I hope to add some of my own comments to each of the strategies, and how I have used them as both a teacher and a mom.

The first chapter is simply to avoid argumentative words - simply to avoid canceling what has been said.  This is primarily by eliminating the word BUT any conversation and replace it with AND.  'And' both acknowledges someones comments or situation and advances the conversation.  'But' contradicts anything that was initially said and stops the conversation.  I have found myself running into this situation several times, trying to avoid excuses for either a behavior or an event and having the student focus on their accountability.

I'm looking forward to reading (and blogging about) the rest of the book, and applying it to not only my own job and family, but also extending it as life lessons for both my students and my kiddos.

What's the word, hummingbird?

It's such fun to motivate children in the early morning on the day of state testing. Sad to see my younger son STRESSED OUT about his 3rd grade testing. As a teacher, I understand getting the kids to take it seriously, but as a mom, I don't like the way that kids can internalize things like this.

He's worried. And that worries me.

But now he's asking if my childhood dog was reincarnated into our family dog... so something tells me that he's moving on...