In a split second

I was on my way to work, driving the speed limit, doing everything right when the next thing I knew I was on the shoulder of the road, then in the ditch, and then flying over a crossroads, and then back in the ditch.
Why? Because as I came over a hill a car was stopped in the road and I chose to evade a rearend collision.

It all happened in a split second while driving the speed limit. I wasn't texting. I wasn't changing radio stations or adjusting the CD player. I was attentive, though obviously not quite attentive enough.

My last thoughts before swerving to miss the stopped car? I think those red flags should be blue.

That's right. I was looking at a set of three flags waving across the entrance of relatively new subdivision and for a split second imagined the red flags were blue.

That split second of less than perfect attention to the road compounded by a car with no tail lights stopped in the road just over a hill, resulted in what will probably be a totaled car.

I am thankful no one was hurt. But I am also thankful to be able to share with my students the seriousness of driving will distracted.

What if I had been texting? What if I had been adjusting the radio or CD player? What if I had been speeding?

I dare say my reaction time would have been delayed and I would not be typing this right now.

Taking a difficult moment and making it a teachable moment is another example of how simple it is to do what is best for kids!

Grow where planted

A neighborhood cat loves to dig in my petunias and take naps. Unfortunately, this does little to enhance the beauty of the petunias. More often than not, the petunia stems are dug up by the sleeply feline and tossed from the container to make room for a doze.

The other day, I found a tossed petunia stem and simply placed it back on the dirt in the container. I was hopeful it might survive to some degree.

Imagine my pleasant surprise when a day or so later, I found a blooming flower on the damaged petunia stem.

There it was, a beautiful pink flower, hanging on to life by a thread, but surviving--determined.

We all have seasons in our lives when we feel like we have been dug up and tossed aside. I am thankful to have friends and family who care enough about me to pick me up when this has happens and help place me back in my container or even into a new container where I can continue to thrive and bloom.

Our kids deserve that same type of support. They may not know how to tell us they feel like they have been dug up, let alone tossed, but as their parents and teachers, as the ones who care, it is up to us to be there when our kids need to be replanted.

Kids deserve to bloom.

Communicating with teachers Part I

For most of us, the new school year has started and classes are underway. You may have attended an open-house to meet the teachers already. Regardless, it is never too late to communicate information about your student to the teacher.

You have several options. You can call for an appointment for a face-to-face meeting or chat over the phone. You can send an email or a handwritten letter.

As a teacher, I will accommodate my parents and my preference is whatever the parent prefers.

The fact is, though, scheduling an appointment at a time that is convenient for all involved can be difficult for both parent and teacher. So, usually, an email or a letter will get the job done.

What should your letter say?

Regardless of the purpose of the letter, the overall tone should be as positive as possible. A positive letter can make all the difference in the parent/teacher and teacher/student relationship.

No one knows your child better than you do, so the letter can be as detailed as you want regarding learning or health issues. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan, be sure and include this information in the letter. Include information about the child's hobbies and past successes so the teacher has  extra resources for developing positive reinforcement for your child.

Leave the details of difficult family issues for a face-to-face meeting and, then, only if necessary. Simply saying in the letter that the family is dealing with difficult issues should be enough. Teachers are professionals. If a student's classroom progress regresses, you will be contacted. The fact you have sent the letter will open the door of positive communication.

The idea

I am a teacher and this summer the idea came to me to use the world wide web to share my ideas about doing what is best kids.  After all, I've raised four pretty cool kids and have more than a few years of teaching experience under my belt as well as an extensive education to back up my ideas. I also thought it would be a great way to collaborate with other people who share my passion about doing what is best for kids. We can exchange ideas and maybe even come up with some truly helpful thoughts.

This blog is for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. This blog is for the soccer mom, the home-school family, the public school student, the private school teacher, or the single parent.

This blog is for kids everywhere and those who love them and want what is best for them!

This blog is for you!

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