Emotional Training Helps Kids Fight Depression : NPR.

This is a brilliant effort at nipping the downward spiral in the bud when children are at their most formative, and it is definitely running parallel to what I am trying to work on with my son.

» Continue reading “Emotional Training Helps Kids Fight Depression : NPR”

I was daydreaming just now, thinking about a conversation I had earlier with another parent. We were discussing the issues his son was having in school, how amotivated his child was and their struggle to get him to make an effort. It got me to thinking about what motivates our children to achieve and then mentally, automatically rephrased it as what motivates our children to make an effort.

» Continue reading “An Open Letter to My Children”

A Push For Colleges To Prioritize Mental Health : NPR.

When I was diagnosed as bipolar in 1997, I was diagnosed by a college psychiatrist. My first real experience with a psychiatrist and navigating the ins and outs of having a diagnosis and trying to find a treatment plan that would allow me to function was a key defining moment in my life. Reducing these services will only result in more students dropping out or opting out of college as an option. At this stage in life, at this age, university mental health services are often the only option students have for ever-increasing emotional problems.

» Continue reading “A Push For Colleges To Prioritize Mental Health : NPR”

Maine Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage : NPR.

I hope full marriage equality happens in my lifetime.

Two Families Grapple with Sons’ Gender Preferences : NPR.

I have a friend grappling with the fact that her young child identifies as transgender. She will have many decisions to make in the comings days, months, years, not the least of which is how to treat her child right now, this moment. Does she respect the preferences her child is expressing, or does she try to redirect her child to more “appropriate” forms of expression that validate the child’s physical gender?

» Continue reading “Link of the Day: Gender Identity”

Iowa High Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban : NPR.

I will never understand the fear and loathing surrounding the issue of gay marriage. If you don’t want one, don’t get one. Why shouldn’t love in all forms be celebrated? Aren’t the values embodied by marriage exactly the values we want to espouse? Separate is not equal.  I hope I get to see true marriage equality in my lifetime. God loves us all exactly as we are.

Does Getting Angry Make You Angrier? : NPR.

I must admit, I have noticed this kindling effect. If I nip my angry response in the bud, I am far more likely to calm down in a reasonable amount of time and objectively respond in an appropriate way to the trigger. If I give in to the angry response, it is much more difficult to regain composure and I may spend the rest of the day stewing in my own juices.

» Continue reading “Question of the Day”

Compare…

A.I.G. Planning Huge Bonuses After $170 Billion Bailout

and contrast…

More than a year ago, a handful of homeless people staked out the site on the northern edge of downtown Sacramento. Now there are more than 100 tents and anywhere between 300 to 400 people living without running water or sanitation. Their only protection from the elements is nylon tents and plastic tarps.

» Continue reading “Compare and Contrast”

When I first read the headline for this article, I assumed they were clicker training these kids.

In Search Of Answers, Teachers Turn To Clickers

Now, I think this idea is a better one than my idea for clicker training. A lot of classroom participation is hindered by issues with confidence. Providing a way for students to posit an opinion or respond to a question, removing the judgment from the process, and providing an anonymous way to navigate a classroom of people with different abilities is a great, non-confrontational way to increase participation, improve student comprehension, and build student confidence. The process is both real-time and offline, allowing teachers a way to direct their attention to the subject areas requiring the most clarity for the class as well as direct their attention to specific areas where individual students are struggling. It cuts through the guess work to pinpoint areas that need improvement and does so in a way that is immediate and valuable. This idea is particularly appropriate, given the prevalence of the use of handheld devices and video games in this generation. By including a connection between hands and heads, this teaching method is instantly more engaging.

» Continue reading “Signs You Spend Too Much Time with Your Dogs and Dog Friends”

There is an interview available on NPR.org. She gives her recipe for peas!