Category Archive:
Leadership

Seven Traits That Destroy Lives

seven traits that destroy lives

Ever notice how a word, a phrase, a quote or a book title keeps popping up? The following Gandhi quote keeps showing up in my studies. Every time I read these seven statements I am astounded at the wisdom conveyed in so few words. Gandhi is attributed with saying that these seven characteristics are the […]


Three Gifts of the Human Being

three gifts of the human being

From birth we are given at least three gifts to create positive change in our lives. When these gifts are nurtured, we can become the creative force in our own lives. The gifts allow us to become the writer, the director and the actor in the production called ”Our Life.” Choice. From the beginning, choice […]


Put The Big Stuff In First

put in the big stuff first

An Ukrainian folktale called The Mitten relates the story of a lost mitten and a bear. The children in my class enjoyed this story, and they even turned it into a play. There are various versions of this story, and one goes something like this: One day a bear takes a walk in the woods […]


Punishing with Rewards

punishing with rewards

A fishbowl full of candy sat on the third-grade teacher’s desk. ”When you’ve finished your math assignment you can choose a piece of candy,” Ms. Marsh said as she handed out worksheets. All but two of the students went to work. Tamika and Jennifer looked out the window, math sheets untouched. Tamika began her calculations […]


Sharpen the Saw

sharpen the saw

“The adult is the most important part of a child’s environment,” my Montessori professor told us. “We need to make sure we remain healthy, well-rested and interesting people. Only then can we be of true service to the child.” “Remember this,” she continued, “when you’re tempted to stay up late to do a project for […]


To Foster Cooperation, Give Choices

to foster cooperation give choices

Most of the conflicts we have with our preschool-age children involve getting them to do something they don’t want to do in a reasonable amount of time. Eating, getting dressed, going to bed or taking a bath may be familiar conflict areas. In parenting class, I was introduced to the idea of giving choices to […]


Chores Make Children Feel Important

chores are important

Chores make children feel important. Family is about giving us a sense of belonging. Whatever ups and downs we have in life-changes in jobs, money or health-family is where we know we can always go, and the door will be open. Strong families create powerful ties to their family and to each other through sharing […]


How Do We Want To Be?

How do we want to be

Each of us has a picture in our minds of how we want our personal world to be. This vision of our perfect planet contains the people most important to us, along with favorite activities, feelings, foods, decorations, surroundings and more. Conflict arises when our vision of perfect collides with someone else’s version of perfect. […]


I Dream Of A World

I Dream Of A World

For Martin Luther King Day 2017 I dream of a world where every person sees their own greatness and reaches for the vision they have for themselves. I dream of a world where each parent gives power to their children’s dreams and has faith in their children’s journey. I dream of a world where deep […]


How To Use Open-Ended Questions

open ended question

As adults we are the most significant part of a child’s environment. Whether we are aware of it or not, our words, concerns and emotions are reflected into our children’s world and absorbed at an unconscious level by the child. We need to choose our words carefully and frame our questions even more so. Inadvertently […]