Love & Logic is my favorite methodology for raising healthy kiddos! They send out an emailer that has awesome tips to keep us reminded of those good parenting (and teaching) skills. Go to their website to sign up - its FREE! www.loveandlogic.com

This week's email is on shaping self-concept and I have posted it here:

Shaping Self-Concept, one of our most popular audios, teaches a very special type of love. It's the type that allows our kids to struggle... lets them work thruough their trials...and guides them toward independence instead of insecurity.

This love can be expressed daily by:
Allowing kids to wrestle with tying their shoes...instead of automatically jumping in and doing it for them.
Letting them dress themselves...even if the clothes they choose don't match.
Teaching them how to talk to their teachers about problems at school...rather than always doing it for them.
Expecting that they speak up and order meals for themselves...instead of ordering for them.
Having them call the insurance company and arrange for their own car insurance...instead of doing it all for them.
Letting them do most of the work required to fill out their college applications...rather than preparing all of the paperwork for them.
Remembering that the more things they learn to do for themselves, the stronger and more confident they will become!

Isn't it ironic that our kids have to face some tough times in order to live confident, joyful lives?

Dr. Charles Fay
Love & Logic Institute

Welcome to a new year! I have neglected the blog and I was inspired by Anh Cao to make a commitment to keeping it updated. She is one of my favorite teachers, always looking at ways to improve her craft (and she shares that energy with everyone around her!)

We kicked off this school year with lots of changes, we have a new Principal and a new Assistant Principal and we are excited about all of the new possibilities.

The Character word for September is Responsibility. Students will be talking about what it means to be responsible and at the end of this month, each teacher will nominate one student from their class to have lunch with me in the great hall.

I will be in Kindergarten and First grade classrooms once a week for 5 weeks starting September 19. In Kinder we will be naming feelings and identifying facial expressions. In First grade we will start with Kelso's Choice - Conflict Management for Children.

Summitt was named a No Place For Hate school last year and we are going for it again! All students are asked to sign the Resolution of Respect and we will be rolling out our first school wide intervention at the end of September - more information to come!

I will be presenting Love & Logic at PTA meetings - so be ready for some fun!

Its going to be a great school year!

Cheers!