 Welcome to Oralingua's CHATTERBOX... where friends share information on how to bring a little peace into our crazy lives! If you come across helpful information you'd like to share, drop me an email at gtdecuir@yahoo.com. We'll be updating the sight to include new CHATTERBOX tips on a quarterly basis. I look forward to hearing your comments! Geisele Decuir Oralingua Development |
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One of my favorite magazines is Real Simple. They have terrific information and present it in truly "simple" terms. It's easy to read and contains lots of "food for thought." Recent, Real Simple feature 2010, featured a "live & learn" section where teachers shared their tricks for keeping kids on track. Here are a few helpful tips that work at school and at home... Tip #1 "If you want kids to listen, lower your voice instead of raising it. This forces kids to focus. Whisper... "If you can hear me, touch your nose." After a little while, everyone does it." Mary Satchwell, Chicago Try it at home: Need to corral a bunch of six-year olds at a birthday party? Whisper..."If you want cake, hop on one foot." Goofy jumping is bound to be contagious. Tip #2 "Kids who don't write over school breaks lose their sharpness by the time they get back. Encourage them to write at least a sentence every day." Try it at home: If you have a reluctant writer, help him/her out by acting as a pen pal of sorts. Write notes to each other, leaving them on pillows or taped to the bathroom mirror. Tip #3 "To get students to calm down and refocus after lunch, I dim the classroom lights which does the trick." Amber Koonce, Charleston, S.C. Try it at home: Are the kids wired this evening? Try eating dinner by candlelight, or reach for the dimmer switch. 
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