Jan Thomas of CereCore Institute called me a “Time Optimist.” I love that term…such a wonderful respite from the negative descriptors of disorganized, clueless, and chronically late. I don’t use it as an excuse. Being a “time optimist” means that I think that I can do a lot of things in a limited amount of time. I assume that I can make my daughter’s lunch, grade ten student papers, call my Grandma, and take a shower within a thirty minute time slot at the crack of dawn. The “diagnosis” (and I say that tongue-and-cheek) doesn’t absolve me of the responsibilities of being on time to a class, a meeting, or a dinner date with a friend. Nor does it mean that I don’t have to finish grading all my students’ papers. I have to do all those things…I just have to do them within a realistic time frame even though I operate from an optimistic view of the passage … [Read more...]
Is Your Child Oblivious To Deadlines, Due Dates, and the Passing of Time? How to Help.
Imagine that you went to work this morning at the same time that your child went to school. A Monday morning routine at your house, but this time something is different. You feel relaxed. You didn’t raise your voice once this morning in an attempt to rush your child out of the house. The domino set that your daughter likes to play with during breakfast is put away in its box – not strewn all over the floor like most mornings. You get in your car, pull out of the garage, and are delighted to hear that your favorite radio program is actually still on the air. This was the morning for my client Diane. A welcome respite in the rushed world of today’s parents….especially for parents whose children and teens never seemed to have grasped the concept of time. I want to share one of the tricks she is now using with her children in the morning – and at homework time, chore … [Read more...]
Friday Dump Day: Help Your Child Get Organized!
It never ceases to amaze me…the things we take for granted, including the skills teachers assume students have mastered, so don’t teach them. Organization ranks high on that list. One of my favorite things a colleague and I did with our students was to host a “Friday Dump Day” each week. We required certain students to attend, including the ones who forgot their work that week or had ripped papers sticking out of their notebooks and backpacks. We extended an open invitation to their peers as well. Many guests joined us, and not one student complained about it once we got rolling. I encourage parents to do the same thing: Friday Dump Day! Add M&Ms and your child’s favorite music to the mix and you’ve got a fun Dump Day Party. The materials required are: 1. A laundry basket. I prefer the plastic rectangular ones with holes in them. The ones that … [Read more...]
