Kwic Gifts

Did you ever have one of those teachers? You know, the one that had a bad name around the school for being mean. You were scared to death to step in that classroom on the first day of school. But then you discovered something. This teacher could actually teach! Discipline reigned in the classroom, so everyone could get down to the business of learning. You also discovered that this teacher could be a lot of fun, as he/she found new and unusual ways to get the point across.

I was blessed with more than one such teacher in my days. I still remember some Shakespeare and calculus thanks to them, even though I don’t use it every day! My daughter has a severe disinterest in science and was scared to death of her science teacher this year. She has now found out that if you work hard, there’s so much to be learned from this teacher. My daughter is finally inspired by science!

Our teachers are such a gift, especially those really good ones! Be sure to let them know how much you appreciate their hard work, sacrifice, and love of teaching.

Have you ever noticed how people react when you negatively respond to a negative behavior? Unfortunately, they often become defensive. Invariably, If I yell at one of my kids, she blames her sister instead of taking resopnsibility for her own actions. “But she made me do it!” (We are working on changing this behavior.) Sadly, often adults react in much the same way.

Consider the flip side. What’s the reaction when you positively affirm a positive action? You usually get positive behavior that continues for an extended period of time.

Can you tell I’ve had some experience with this? My younger daughter is very high energy and passionate. This can get her into a lot of trouble. Over the years, she has had teachers that deal with this in a negative way, which sends her (and her parents) into a downward spiral. She has also had teachers that have worked to reinforce the positive. When she has this type of teacher, she consistently puts her best foot forward and does all she can to please that teacher.

As her mom, you would think I would practice the “emphasize the positive” form of discipline on a regular basis. Sadly, I’m not that perfect. There are so many times when I loose patience, and there are times that require “punishment”. But after a week or so of downward spiral, I finally remember to take a deep breath, find something that she is doing well, and make a huge deal over it. Instantly, the tone of the household changes.

If only I could remember that when dealing with the adults in my life!

Today is the last day of school for my kids. My counters are full of pencil boxes, papers, artwork, and workbooks. My kids are hyper and have fought bedtime for two weeks. But all-in-all it was a successful year. We moved to a new city mid-year, and despite the upheaval, they adjusted well and earned good grades.

Our family tradition is to do something special or give a small gift as a reward for a good school year. Last year we went to the drive-in movie. This year, the girls get their favorite meal, and a trip to the zoo. As a child, I remember my mom taking my brother and I to the local five and dime to pick out a toy. I picked out a hula hoop, and played with it all summer long.

Regardless of what the reward is, it’s a great way to mark the end of a good school year and the beginning of summer.