The brain went splat but didn’t splatter

Part two of the body parts adventure. I must note that I am overwhelmed with the vast number of texts, emails, and calls of concerns about my mental and emotional welfare from friends who follow my pinterest. It would have gone totally unnoticed if it was October. Really, who pins such horrors year round? uh, me. All those who truly know me would never be shocked at anything I pin but then again it is like Facebook, an open window to my soul – ha ha!!!!! or should I say, BAHHH HAAAAA HAAAAA!!!!

Young Frankenstein opens this week. Took the brain to the theater for a test run. Folks, this was not an easy task. I was assigned to create a brain that would go splat but not splatter. The gummy bear version with the mega packets of gelatin would not hold up to the steamy stage lighting. Splat…splatter…mush…oops- clean up on the path to the castle!!! Silicone is the key to the ultimate splat but not splatter of matter. Must add here that one must choose one’s words wisely when going into the prop creation shop called Home Depot.  When asked what I needed caulking for, without a slight thought I responded, “for a brain.” That was definitely not what the home improvement specialist had in mind as one of the multi uses of silicone caulking. Talking about a priceless moment. The nice man got me the best pseudo brain matter compound available and continued to pick my brain for other creative ways to use the common household items to be found in the vast aisles of the behemoth store. Towards the end of the grand tour of Home Depot via the eyes of a prop jock he asked how in the world did I get so creative.

I pondered that thought as I was moving about the lab creating of glowing golp and ogre dandruff (yep, that one got your attention didn’t it?). My conclusion is that I wasn’t forced to read at a second grade in kindergarten nor was I adding double-digit numbers. I learned to socialize, open my own milk carton, and got to run free for extended periods of time on the playground. If I didn’t have something, no one would buy it for me I just had to make it or make do. I wasn’t glued to the television or a gaming system though Atari was popular back then. I grew up on a farm so the woods and pasture gave me a million story moments as I built forts, played spy, and blazed trails late into the night on weekends. I wasn’t doing homework until midnight. I learned manners. Read books for pleasure on topics I enjoyed without taking some computerized test to prove I read it for some paper award and party at the end of the year. Yes, I will say openly that I do believe Accelerated Reader is one of the worst things to happen in the schools. I was a free learner who tapped my creative mind to design, draw, make, imagine, etc.  Off my soapbox now.

A student asked me how I came up with the splat not splatter matter. My response was I just put a little thought on the problem and sorted through a couple of thousands of scenarios until something was within my budget and looked like fun to do, that is how that happened. You would have thought I spoke some foreign language. Then came the worse response, “I could never do that.”

I do believe there will be some mischief on the set to get these kids’ minds in gear. Stay tune to part three – The Brain does Matter!!!

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Frustrated Artist, BEWARE!

Frustrated artist! Beware of sudden out bursts of creativity, random splashes of color, and sudden moments of AWE-YES!!!

One of my pastime hobbies is designing sets for local theater productions. This is a challenge. With a limited budget and a huge space to fill which cannot overshadow the cast but must enhance the performance, the initial process can lead to a lockdown. During moments of creative blocks, which are very much like writer’s blocks, I will begin my piddling to trigger an AH HA moment. This time I made little felt birds. Why? I cannot answer that other than that is what got stuck in my head to do. But the intense process of figuring out how to turn the concept I saw on pinterest to an actually little creature did get the wheels turning. After an hour a prototype was made and several assorted little friends appeared to dance about on my work desk.

This alternate creation trigger the wheels to start moving in a creative and imaginative way. Within a few hours I was busting out set ideas. Why did I share this? Many people will stay so focused on project to the point they cannot move on. It is in switching the gears that often trigger solutions to the initial project which was causing the creative process to stall out. This works well with kids and homework. No where does it state you must do all 50 math problems at one time. Switch up between homework assignments if your child is “locking down.” You might find that a few minutes working on science might be the trigger needed to get the math thing going once again. Don’t be afraid to take a break and work on something else. Hmmmm, now what to do with all these little birds?

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WHY drug your child?

Was sadden today day to learn a young mother chose medication to treat her 6-year-old daughter’s ADHD. As a special educator for some 20+ years, I am going to be blunt about this, very few young children are truly ADHD. Yes, this is a not so creative vent but a tidal wave of pent-up frustration directed to young parents who feel their rushed lives are more important than taking time to truly parent. Before you “youngsters” get all huffy at me, I have  daughter who is ADD with learning challenges plus a son who could have been classified as ADHD at a young age, but more what most elders would classify as all boy. Add to that I have a husband who is a football coach which means he is OCD which seems to happen seasonally and … well, he is a jock. So if you wish to debate a wild household, yeah, bring it on because I lived in chaos as well as taught it all day.

I refused to medicate my kids. I used occupational therapy and some good old fashion parenting to manage. If you look back over time all mothers gained grey hairs, had bad days where tears flowed, and found themselves snapping a time or two at their kids. Hey, that’s normal. All kids explore, make messed, yell, scream, run around, ask 50 million questions, and refuse to do things. Just normal and a very important part of learning. Kids were not designed to sit unless hours in front of TV and computers. Kids were meant to be active, that is actively learning about their environment, exploring, challenging limits, and developing skills by trial and error. It also takes discipline. Life is the biggest and best teacher… as well as parents.

Once upon a time parents read books to their kids, not plugged them in. During such sessions there was questions and interaction. Parents took their kids to the park or played outside together with them. Here kids felt safe to explore because parents during those old days allowed their kids to climb trees and play in the dirt. Parents allowed their kids to help in the kitchen, even at the age of 3. The kitchen is a mecca of math. Yes, kids spilled things and often meals were not as tasty but there was a lot of pride as well as learning that happened as a result. McDonald’s was a rare treat not a daily must in a rush. Kids had regular bedtime, not at 10pm on week nights. Kids colored, painted, had play dough, and assorted offer interactive toys. Kids played!

My house wasn’t the model home for Southern Living. My meals were kid-friendly and not found in Happy Meal boxes. My kids enjoyed playing in the dirt, treehouse, clubhouses in the dining room during rainy days, and they played with their food. Activity was a must to grow dendrites. During melt downs, we worked through them but never gave into them. During frustration times, we discovered alterative learning styles. We learned that music, art and drama are key players in homework and learning. Was it a lot of work? Yes! But as a result I have children who are success college students who have learned to cope with their uniqueness and never had side effects or developed a need for drugs. They also are advocates for learning, learning un unique ways to which they share with others. They know that music can calm or stimulate just depends on the need and tempo. They know that crunchy foods can increase alertness, so can gum. They know that certain colors effect learning and mood. They know if you hit a road block get up and walk because it can jump-start the brain. Sometimes you just have to move to stimulate recall and increase memory. Yes, we do promote the Wii in the college environment. The gym can work those large muscles which also can create calming effects. Ok, my list is long but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the options.

I just encourage parents to try alternatives before jumping to the meds. If your life is too hectic, you might seriously want to take look at your true focus. Yes, jobs are important, we all have bills to pay but look at your schedule closely. The time you spend now while your babies are young will be an investment that will reap what you sow later in life. I have proof that difficult children can meet success without meds, it just takes patients, time, and a bit of creativity. My rant and venting is now finished. BUT, if you have such a child and need some suggestions, just ask and I will send you a ton of great and fun activities that can take those wild and crazy times down a notch.

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Can you visualize that?

Wabi-Sabi of learning

Wabi-Sabi, a fun word to say, an even better way of thinking. SO what is Wabi-Sabi? In regard to learning and improving the mind, to me it means to find the simplicity in things and appreciating the process that comes with time. Though computers and high-tech gadgets are great, sometimes we need to reflect back upon the objects or events we are learning or studying. If your kid is studying about trees, don’t go to the internet go outside and touch a tree. Examine all the many imperfections and the aesthetics of the tree. Dig down to check the roots. Compare the leaves, not just the color but the structure and how no two are alike. Smell a tree!  How many of you have ever done that? Take time to explore the subject your child is learning about beyond a text-book, iPad or internet. Go outside, down the street, to a museum, to the real place if it is about an event near by. Have you and your child ever walked on a battle field? Makes a world of difference and a lasting memory trying to figure out how large cannons were rolled up hills and dragged up mountains. Take back learning to the bare minimum by actually going to the source of all possible. Take in the aging and decay that has enhanced the object or place. Take in the sensory package. Then, sit and draw or write about all you felt, saw, heard, and smelled. I bet if you ask your kids about the topic they will rattle of so many details you will be amazed!

If you have a child with learning challenges or is deaf, interaction and experience are the key to learning. You must take your child beyond the paper, book, and lecturing of the classroom to make the topic real. Words, both spoken and on paper are nothing more than just that. What do you think when you read the word tree? What do you think when you have touched a tree? How much different is the concept of tree from a picture to standing in a forest of many different trees? Wabi Sabi, get back to the simplicity of the concept of tree, go experience a tree and watch your child’s learning explode into an awesome knowledge base that goes way beyond the four walls of the classroom.

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Rock & roll and magic markers! Let’s do homework

 

If you can’t get them to do their homework, they will find a way to amuse themselves.

School bells are ringing once again!

Life is busy. Parents work all day. Kids come home with loads of homework. No one feels like studying or sitting down to fight the battle of trying to figure out homework either. Let’s focus on how to get your kids excited about homework or even just studying.

Let me add that not everything works for every child or parent or teacher.  This is all about discovery and what can get your child from boredom to learning. I doubt any teacher will challenge the alternatives if your child’s grades go up because so will test scores. The administration is all about raising the scores because who wants to be on the bad list of schools not making progress?

A good tempo, the pace of the music, actually can help a child study. How many times have you turned on the radio or CD player to listen to music while you work? Hard rock probably won’t work but some  good classic rock & roll will. Find some current tunes that flow the same way and let your kid study with the music on.

Is there a rule that homework must be done in blue or black ink? Some kids will get more excited if they can use multiple colors when doing their homework. Math? use erasable color pencils. The advantage here is that you can even color code words or topics. That develops a memory cue which can help a child’s recall during tests. You can take it a step further to add scented markers. Aroma therapy while doing homework!

When there is a lot of reading homework, don’t confine your child to the table. Do you read while sitting up straight in a chair at a table? Chances are no. Bean bag chairs or even outside in a hammock are great reading places. The more comfortable, the better retention and getting lost in the moment.

More suggestions coming your way tomorrow.

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