Giving Kids What They Need

Dec 21, 2011 Posted by Bob Sullo In Featured, Gurus, Intro to Choice Theory Tagged choice theory, learning Comments 1

The holiday season is upon us and kids everywhere are telling parents what they want. For a moment, let’s focus on what your kids truly need to be happy. It won’t cost you a dime. It only requires time and effort to raise your kids to be happy, responsible, and productive.

Here are the things your kids really need:

• Love & Belonging. Every child needs to be loved and to develop a strong sense of connection within the family. Make sure your home is a place where every family member feels loved and connected, not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year. You undoubtedly love your kids. Do you regularly show them how much they mean to you?
• Power & Competence. Everyone wants to feel successful. Help your kids develop competence. Kids who don’t feel competent and successful are more likely to engage in power struggles with you or be mean, especially to younger siblings. Kids gain power and competence by …

Testosterone, Aggression, and the Power to Change

Sep 23, 2011 Posted by Bob Sullo In Choice Theory, Featured, Gurus Tagged brain, choice theory Comments 0

I came upon a study recently that caught my eye for three separate – but related – reasons: first, the study was fascinating in and of itself; second, it provided even more evidence that the concept of “total behavior” proposed by William Glasser is valid; and third, it offers potential avenues of intervention when we are faced with unwanted aggressive behavior in school like bullying. …

Perseverance and The Relentless Pursuit of McNuggets!

Jul 21, 2011 Posted by Bob Sullo In Choice Theory, Educators, Featured, Gurus, Parents, Rewards - External vs. Internal Motivation Tagged choice theory, internal motivation, teachers Comments 0

A person who has been in several of my workshops over the years and is well acquainted with my feelings about the negative impact of external rewards, recently wrote to me about an awards ceremony at her child’s school. She asked to remain anonymous but wanted her story shared with others. Here’s what she wrote:

I couldn’t help but think of you, Bob, when I went to an awards ceremony at my daughter’s school a couple of months ago. I know you aren’t a fan of school-wide events where the “winners” sit on the stage while the “losers” sit in the audience. But this one seemed different and I thought to myself, “Even Bob might not object to this format.” My daughter was being recognized for demonstrating perseverance, a character trait the school was promoting with children. The ceremony was only attended by the students being honored and any family member who could attend, So instead of having “winners” and “losers,” every kid there was being recognized.

…

Cheating on High-Stakes Testing: Can You Believe It?

Jul 15, 2011 Posted by Bob Sullo In Choice Theory, Educators, Featured, Gurus, Opinions, Parents Tagged choice theory, education news, standardized testing Comments 0

Another cheating scandal, this one in Atlanta, Georgia, where 178 teachers and administrators have been accused of cheating to raise student scores on standardized tests. Despite numerous revelations of cheating in recent months (and accusations and suspicion in other high-profile districts), the public remains “shocked” and “appalled” each time a new scandal comes to light.

I’m in no way excusing those who cheat. Cheating is flat-out wrong. But I’m neither “shocked” not “appalled.” Did you know that ten states use test scores as the most important variable in teacher evaluation? Did you know that other states offer teachers bonuses of up to $25,000 if students do especially well on standardized tests? Did you know that principals can lose their job and entire schools can be shut down if test scores are not high enough?

…

Natural Learning Principles – Critical for Education

Jun 16, 2011 Posted by Renate Caine In Brain Based Learning, Educators, Featured, Gurus Tagged brain based learning, curriculum, learning Comments 1

Have you ever heard the word “research based” and wondered what exactly it means? Today, research based tends to mean that someone used a particular strategy and demonstrated that students were able to recall more information and do better on tests.

But hidden in that definition of research based are deeply held beliefs, biases and assumptions about what it means to learn. And if you look closely, there is no real definition of learning here. From our point of view, the meaning of learning is assumed.

…

Using Natural Learning to Teach Basic Math

Jun 16, 2011 Posted by Geoffrey Caine In Brain Based Learning, Educators, Featured, Gurus, Parents Tagged brain based learning, curriculum, geoffrey caine, natural learning Comments 0

One way to substantially raise standards across the board is to identify and tap into learning capacities of students that are not already being used. Natural learning (formerly “brain based learning” as we originally defined it) is beautifully positioned to provide guidance. The reason? Natural learning takes for granted that a learner is a whole person – a living system – and that every aspect of a person contributes to his or her learning. Body, brain, and mind are all interacting (though they may not be operating every effectively). What does this mean in practice? Let’s look at basic math as an example. We will take it step by step, from the very general to the quite specific. …

The Three Elements of Great Teaching

Jun 15, 2011 Posted by Geoffrey and Renate Caine In Brain Based Learning, Educators, Featured, Gurus Tagged brain based learning, curriculum, geoffrey caine, learning Comments 0

The 12 Brain/Mind Learning Principles describe several processes that are all happening at the same time. The body is active. Senses are engaged. Students are searching for meaning and trying to understand. The way that they connect with others powerfully influences what they are thinking and feeling. And so on.

Notice that the Principles rely on teaching that is dynamic, i.e., experiential, project based, challenging and largely student directed.

There is just too much going on for each element to be addressed separately by teachers as they teach. However, some general patterns emerge from the principles that become a very useful frame of reference for teaching. We just refer to them as the three core elements of effective teaching. Here they are.

…

Books by Renate and Geoffrey Caine

Jun 3, 2011 Posted by Funderstanding In Brain Based Learning, Educators, Gurus, Parents Tagged Books, brain based learning Comments 1

Below is a list of books published by Funderstanding contributors, Renate and Geoffrey Caine. The Caine’s books are available for purchase through Amazon by clicking the below links.

Criminal Minds: The Misrepresentation of Dr. William Glasser

Jun 1, 2011 Posted by Bob Sullo In Choice Theory, Educators, Featured, Gurus, Parents Tagged choice theory Comments 3

I recently watched an episode of Criminal Minds. Near the conclusion, there is a shot of the airplane taking the team home and a voice-over begins with the words, “William Glasser wrote.” As a senior faculty member of The William Glasser Institute and someone who writes about and teaches choice theory, I was curious to hear how Dr. Glasser’s words would provide closure to the story I had just watched. Here’s what I heard: “William Glasser wrote, ‘What happened in the past that was painful has a great deal to do with what we are today.’” …

Books By Bob Sullo

May 23, 2011 Posted by Bob Sullo In Choice Theory, Gurus Tagged Books, choice theory Comments 1

Funderstanding Contributor Bob Sullo has written the following books, available for purchase through Amazon.

Review Category : Gurus