The average person can hold his breathe for 2-4 minutes.  The world record is 17 minutes—recently documented and set by magician David Blaine. How about the average 7 year-old struggling on a spelling test?  Or the average 15 year-old responding to an essay prompt? The average 17 year-old giving a speech to the entire school? It’s time to give breathing its due.  There is no magic bullet in the world of teaching and learning, but breathing is such a tremendous tool for stress release that I am often left wondering: why not teach it to our kids?  Sure, stress can be a vital tool of inspiration, giving us a boost of energy to meet a deadline or recall just the right bit of information to solve a problem.  But too much of it is disastrous.  You reach a difficult question on a test, for example, and you start saying “I don’t know this.”  Unless you’ve adequately trained … [Read more...]

It’s out….another Parenting Book.  This time it’s one that’s chock-full of research and real-life stories.  Mind in the Making is getting rave reviews, and deservingly so.  I’m only part way through it, and while it’s wonderfully dense with information about the science of early learning, I already see that it needs a Next Edition.  The first hint was in the sub-title: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs.  These seven skills, which you get to read about on the backside of the book too, are: 1) Focus & Self Control; 2) Perspective Taking; 3) Communicating; 4) Making Connections; 5) Critical Thinking; 6) Taking on Challenges; 7) Self-Directed, Engaged Learning.   I love this list…and whole-heartedly agree with it.  Except for one important thing.  It’s missing an absolutely critical skill that all children and teens need for survival…and for success.  … [Read more...]