Saturday, March 24, 2012

Our culture says, "EAT THE MARSHMALLOW," but....

"It's the kids' job to push against the limits; it's our job to set the limits." --Dr. David Walsh

Click HERE to learn more about the famous 1972 Stanford experiment that showed the strong correlation between a child's ability to delay gratification and her future success in college, friendship, and popularity.

That's right, kiddos--if you can wait for good things, your life will likely be happier than those who are ruled by their impulses. Reason over nerve endings, I say.

The first project I ever made at Teacher School was a little sign that said, "Grandma's Rule: First eat your dinner--then you can have dessert." I had never heard of the Marshmallow Test, but I was right on: Grandma was teaching us an awesome life lesson.

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." --Ps 27:14


Sunday, March 18, 2012

Texting in 1774?

As I was teaching about Samuel Adams and the Committees of Correspondence, I compared the committees to realllly old school texting, noting that without copy machines or the internet or cell phones, the C. of C. was a relatively quick and clever way to keep the rebels "in the loop." After class, J. slips me a note:













(In case I haven't mentioned it in the past five seconds and it slipped your mind, teaching > pretty much anything.)

Friday, March 9, 2012

Who will be our next PEZident?


Flying my geek flag:
I bought presidential PEZ
(everyone's jealous)

Monday, March 5, 2012

The Sanitation Crew, Harper Lee, and My Daddy

My dad is nicer than your dad. For instance, every week on trash pick up day, my dad leaves bottled water atop the bins so the sanitation crew can have some refreshment. (He's also a ten gallon blood donor and buys Girl Scout cookies from whomever comes to the door, plus dogs and babies love him. There's more, but you get the idea.)

He also brings home used copies of To Kill a Mockingbird, my favorite book, so I can give them to special students just because.

Tonight I found a new copy of The Moon Is Down at a used bookstore, and I am gonna have a drawing for it, inspired by my daddy.

His kindness is a constant education for me; I hope to pass on his lessons and legacy.


Sunday, March 4, 2012

COMPLETE TRIUMPH of the WEATHER over RESPONSIBILITY.


Bucket of essays,
You lose: it's 80°--
You'll just have to wait!!!