GIVEAWAY!!! Teaching Character Traits Curriculum/Activities

by Mary Ann on April 16, 2012

If you missed the article about George Roger’s wonderful character building curriculum better check it out! The big give away ends Wednesday at 6:00pm. Then I will be drawing a name and sending the whole deal to the winner. It could be you!!!

Just leave a comment and you will be entered into the drawing. Good luck!

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Teaching Character Traits Curriculum/Activities

by Mary Ann on April 12, 2012

The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly

 Teaching Character Traits Curriculum/Activities

“The ability to think rightly lies at the root of all human happiness and well being. It is the fundamental character trait on which all other character traits rely for their development. In turn, the ability to think rightly is dependent upon what Daniel Goleman calls emotional intelligence and social intelligence coupled with a set of highly developed thinking skills.” These are the words of a friend of mine, George Rogers.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I wanted to share some resources that I have found that I think are worth sharing. Here is number three.

Recently Don and I had lunch with George and his son, John. We talked about children, teaching and home school. George has developed set of parent-teacher directed activities, games and stories designed to help young people develop the emotional, social and thinking skills essential to making sound, responsible choices through character traits curriculum/activities. They’re published in a two book set titled “The Seven C’s of Thinking Clearly”, grades 2-6 and 5-9. It has been used in both public and homeschool settings throughout the U S and other countries for about ten years.

Teaches your child to think clearly while teaching good character traits

I really liked George’s program! It teaches your child to think clearly while teaching good character traits. A combination of biographical sketches, familiar and original stores coupled with reinforcing activities provide parents and teachers abundant opportunities to engage their young is conversations about things that matter most.

His goal is to empower young people with the tools and skills necessary to safely navigate the troubled waters of a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging world by providing their parents/teachers with the resources necessary to teach them.

Benjamin Franklin

The philosophy that George followed when he was creating his program comes from Benjamin Franklin –

“There can be no happiness but in a virtuous and self-approving conduct.”

“. . . .as the happiness or real good of man consists in right action and right action cannot be produced without right opinion, it behooves, us above all things in this world to take care that our own opinions of things be according to the nature of things. The foundation of all virtue and happiness is thinking rightly.”

If you are a parent who just wants some guidance and some great stories and activities to go with them that will help you help your children develop greater thinking skills, as well as emotional and social skills then I suggest that you take a look at what George has to offer. You can learn more about this character based learning resource at Choice Skills.

GIVE AWAY!

I want to give away a set of The Seven C’s of Thinking Clearly – Book 1, Grades 2-6 and Book two, Grades 5-9. If you would like to have this wonderful curriculum then just make a comment in the comment box and I will enter you for a drawing on April 18. Good luck. I know you’ll like it.

George Rogers

George has informed me that he will also offer a 25% discount to anyone in my tribe that wishes to purchase any of his products at his website. The promotion code to enter at checkout is MAJ.

George Rogers is the the founder and President of ChoiceSkills™.

PS I am NOT being paid to tell you about this curriculum. I just like it and I like George too. : )

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Monday – How to Mentor Difficult Books with youth

by Mary Ann on April 10, 2012

Learn to mentor difficult books!

Recently I have been following a conversation on a home school Yahoo group, TJEDMuse. It began with a discussion of The Chosen by Chaim Potok . I wrote to say that I had read the book and hadn’t liked it.  I knew when I read the book that because I lacked good reading strategies and skills I wasn’t getting the full story. At the time I had no one to discuss the book with. That has been well over 20 years ago. I have never stopped thinking about the book on occasion and wishing that I understood more about it.

I found it hard to follow the online discussion because I cannot read every day or every comment even when I am online. There just is not time in my day. So I missed a lot. It left me wishing for an actual conversation about the book.

Later this conversation began to talk about other books with difficult topics and evolved into a discussion on the Hunger Games, a book I had not read (I have no youth in my home and work with children under 12). I did recognize the title because I had begun to see trailer for the movie. I was astonished at the fire storm of comments both pro and con for letting youth read the book.

Through a divine : ) twist of fate I received a call from Olivia Votaw. She is an amazing woman who is an expert on telling our own stories, the value of classics and how to mentor a book. I loved our conversation and in the end expressed my desire to know how to better read a book and how to mentor a difficult book. I asked her to offer a class and I was prepared to pay to take it!

FREE online class – How to Mentor Difficult Books with Youth

Well, dear Olivia is offering a FREE one time class for adults who want to be able to mentor a book (trilogy) like the Hunger Games. (This class will take place on April 12, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 PM MDT. )

Whether you like the hunger games or not, whether you think youth should read it or not, learning how to mentor difficult books at the feet of Olivia – How to Mentor Difficult Books with Youth – is worth your time.

This class is coming up in just a few days and I hope that many of you will take the opportunity to learn from a master teacher/mentor and gain some new skills of your own.

Good Mentoring Matters

I just finished East of Eden. I didn’t like the book at first and knew I was not going to get past chapter three. There were just so many allusions to torrid behavior and so much conflict in the lives of the main charters. I was reading it because my son in law had said it was one of his favorite books (he is 23). So I talked to him about it. He pointed out that it was the best book on choice that he had ever read. So I kept reading. I never adjusted to the nastiness of some of the characters and felt so bugged by the conflicts; however, I was absolutely mesmerized by the truth of his words. It is a powerful statement on choice and that we all have choice and can wield it for good or bad no matter where we come from, what our parents were like or our life circumstances. The illustration of Cain and Able in the book was so striking that I had to copy the whole thing out on my computer because I know that I will use it in many a lesson to come.

So here is a book that of itself I would never have read; but some good mentoring kept me at it and in the end I felt that it was worth reading. This book changed my perspective on choice.

That is the point I am making, that without good mentoring, then books about controversial subjects, violence, conflict etc. may not be good to read. But with some good mentoring they can be life changing, as East of Eden was for me.

Click here to get more information on the upcoming class by Oliva Votaw and to register. This class will take place on April 12, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 PM MDT.  I will be there!

Olivia Votaw

Olivia Saavedra Votaw is a passionate advocate of freedom. Since discovering Thomas Jefferson Education, she has striven to promote a freedom mindset in her home, her work as a mentor and her community. She believes that receiving a leadership education is crucial to understanding and embracing freedom. When she isn’t working on her own education, she can be found reading with her two wonderful children, working in the garden with her husband, or bottling Dove chocolate. Olivia is proud to mentor the students of Leadership Education Academy.

PS I am NOT being paid to promote this class. I just love Olivia, love the topic and want to learn!!

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Two Easter books for kids, toddlers, children – EVERYONE!

by Mary Ann on April 7, 2012

I recall one Easter in my large family of origin. There were nine of us children and my mom and dad lived on a shoe string. This particular year my mom couldn’t afford baskets and so she made a nest of Easter Grass (very cheap) for each of us. To make it more exciting she hid the nests all over the house. I recall mine was in the bathroom shower. : )

I have another memory of Easter. I remember reading a great Easter book for kids, The Country Bunny by Du Bose Heyward. My mom never took us to the library. I just learned to use it by myself and for the most part I walked. So although this is a book for younger children I was probably in third or fourth grade when I read it. I didn’t care. I loved the book.

I remember that I really liked the pictures. They were just plain interesting.

I also loved the story. I really wanted to be that mother bunny. I love that little mother bunny; her wonderful helping children, her outwitting of the swift-footed, pompous hares, & her tender perseverance. I did grow up to have 7 children! (Heaven forbid 21!)

I was intrigued by the golden shoes. I wanted some. I knew that someday I was going to make one of those fabulous sugar eggs that she delivered with the help of the golden shoes.

I also had a question which has never been answered: How did they decide which children got regular eggs, chocolate eggs and those beautiful sugar eggs? Hmmmmmm!

Your kids will like this book and they might like making some beautiful sugar eggs.

Henri, Egg Artiste

Here is another very readable Easter book that is new to me this year, Henri, Egg Artiste by Marcus Pfister’s. I liked it because it is about art!

Henri is a true artist who has grown tired of decorating his eggs in the same old way. Your children will be led on an exploration of the art world as Henri creates beautiful works in the styles of celebrated painters of the past,Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, and Claude Monet are just a few of the geniuses who inspire Henri, Egg Artiste.

This is a delightful way to introduce children to a world of masterpieces. The book has applications that extend far beyond the obvious Easter promotions.

Put some books in your Closet that show more paintings by these artists. Have the materials for your children to paint a few of their own eggs. Then let them create an exhibit in their own back yard and invite the grandparents and neighbors over to enjoy their work.

What are your favorite Easter book and traditions? We would love to have you share!

For more ideas on inspiring your children through the educational tool, the Closet, check out the Rockin Closet Idea Packets, sent to you monthly via email. Take the stress and time out of inspiring!

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