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1. What I've Learned So Far
These excerpts are from "Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul"
When you're confused, sit down and think it through.
Ignore people who put you down.
Never, ever, ever give up on yourself.
Andrea Gwyn, 12
If nothing is in the refrigerator, don't eat dog food.
Never cheat because it's not worth it.
Samantha Jean Fritz, 9
When your dad or mom slams the door when they come home from
work, it is best to stay out of their way.
If you don't care what grades you get, and do badly in
school, the main words in your vocabulary will be, "Do you
want fries with that?"
Michelle Nicole Rodgers, 10
Never ask your dad to help you with a math problem. It will
turn out to be a three-hour lesson.
If you have a problem or secret, share it with your mom.
KT Adnoff, 13
Check if there is toilet paper before you sit down.
Don't make a bad impression on your neighbors when you first
move in.
Laugh at your parents' jokes.
Natalie Citro, 12
When my parents are talking, not to interrupt but wait until
later. Unless, someone is bleeding or something.
Alle Vitrano, 8
Read the book before you have to go in front of the class to
give a report.
Never leave your little sister alone with your stuff.
Amanda Smith, 12
If you wear a child's extra large in clothes, an adult small
is too big.
If someone dies, think about the good, not the bad. The bad
will make you feel worse.
Don't judge people by their looks. Someone could be the
ugliest person in the world and still be nice.
Ashlee Gray, 9
When your mom is mad, hide the stuff that you don't want
thrown away.
Katie Fata, 10
When you tell a lie you have to keep telling a lie.
When your parents get divorced, you have to move on.
Ronnie Evans, 10
When you take off your sweatshirt your shirt comes up.
Ben Hall, 10
You only have one life. So be careful.
When your friends do something stupid, you don't have to follow.
If you think something will taste bad, it will. If you think
something will taste good ... it might.
Maria McLane, 9
If you write somebody's name wrong, it makes them feel bad.
Benjamin Mitchell, 10
From Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul
Copyright 1998 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty
Hansen and Irene Dunlap
http://www.chickensoup.com/kids/index.htm
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2. Caring Teachers
I found this article by Kelly Short while doing research on caring
on the web.
How do students define a caring teacher? This is the focus of a
study
at the Center of Adolescent Studies.
Darren Smith, a former teacher working on the project, said the
data have
been "most encouraging. Students want to be cared for and want
the
opportunity to care." Smith and others have been conducting
personal
interviews with sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. The students
participating in the study come from two Indiana schools: a suburban
and an
inner-city school.
The interviews show that students have very complex ideas about
what makes a
caring teacher. The students frequently divided the attributes of
a caring
teacher into two categories: personal and academic. Personal attributes
centered around the teacher's ability to talk to students, to listen
to them
and to help with personal problems. Academic attributes include
helping with
school work, tutoring students individually, setting student goals,
and
talking to students about their behavior.
Some differences between males and females were noted. Female students
frequently mentioned the personal aspects like "helps you when
you need help
including personal problems." Male students concentrated more
on the academic
aspects. For example, several male students said caring teachers
"take the
time to make sure you understand."
"The students have a more sophisticated definition than one
might assume,"
said Smith. The attributes students mentioned ranged from the basic
"gives
everybody a fair chance" to the insightful "takes the
time to talk to parents
and tells them what the student needs to do to succeed."
Quotes from kids:
Student responses when asked to "Describe a caring teacher"
* Doesn't want you to get C's and D's in your report card, and get
grounded
and not get an allowance.
* Takes the time to talk to parents and tells them what the student
needs
to do to succeed.
* Don't yell when you are the only one who does not understand something.
Instead takes you aside and helps you understand.
* Is on your back a lot - tells you what to do, tells you to straighten
up
* Will notice when something is wrong with you.
* Is like my math teacher who always stays after school to help
people on
their math because we always have trouble with it.
* Says 'Good job!' when you do well.
* If you are bad in school, s/he calls your parents because s/he
cares
about our behavior.
* Teaches you in a fun way and you learn more.
http://education.indiana.edu/cas/tt/v1i1/caring.html
This document was last updated 5/30/97 by Chandra Hawley.
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3. Why do kid's love school? - student interviews
In the third edition of "Freedom to Learn" by Carl
Rogers - with added work by Jerome Freiberg, students were interviewed
regarding what it was that they liked about school. Here follows
the name of these areas as well as an example in each. These interviews
were conducted by Jerome Freiberg in the early 1990's, approximately
five years after Carl Rogers died. Carl Rogers is known for client
centered psychotherapy. He is renowned for this loving attitude
and listening skills he used towards those he worked with. Jerome
Freiberg contributed to the second edicion of "Freedom to Learn,"
and was asked to help produce the third edition published by Merrill
press.
1- Students want to be trusted and respected.
A senior at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in
Houston said "They talk to us and with us, which is, as you
know a lot different than talking down to us."
2. Students want to be part of a family.
An eighth grader in Chicago say "They treat you like family."
Another high school student in Houston said, "This is just
really our home. I mean, I am here more than home."
3. Students want teachers to be helpers.
An eighth grader in Houston says "On a personal basis, they
[the teachers] go to each individual and ask how you are doing."
4. Students want opportunities to be responsible.
Here there is not a direct quote from a child listed, however the
words of Jerome Freiberg describing the situation will be of value
to read. "I watched students attend town meetings to decide
on issues that affected the entire school, defuse conflicts that
in the past led to fist fights, help each other and their teachers
in class and leave something behind when they graduated. In each
case, the school, its faculty, and its staff trusted students enough
to allow them to be active participants and citizens in their learning
communities."
5. Students want freedom, not license.
A senior in Houston says "I think our freedom is more freedom
of expression than just being wild and having no self-control. It's
like we have a purpose, and so our freedom is freedom to express
ourselves."
6. Students want a place where people care.
A seventh grader at O'Farrell Community school in Houston says "Most
of the teachers here really care about me. They help not just with
the subjects they teach, but with other subjects and personal things."
7. Students want teachers who help them succeed, not fail.
A twelve year old in Chicago talks about how a teacher motivates
him to be successful. "She'll give you a chance. When you do
something wrong, she'll let you do it over again until you get it
right ... (in) other schools you don't get a chance, they would
keep yelling at you. They just tell you that you are suspended.
They won't even talk to you. You know, Ms. Jones, she'll never let
you give up."
8. Students want to have choices
An eighth grader in a New Orleans school says "This school
has internships as we can leave [the school] to work ... like I
work with children in the Children's Museum ... That's an internship.
Every Thursday, I work at the museum half a day, and I come back
to school to finish the rest of the day. I found it helpful. It
is working with children, and I like working with children."
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