A Post by a Friend

Ashley is a fellow educator and friend of mine. I'm old enough to be her mother, but despite the generation gap, I consider her a kindred spirit. When she lived closer, we used to get together over lunch and share ideas about teaching or just about life. She's taught me a lot about how to live healthier over the years and at the same time I have given her a few tidbits of "motherly advice". I love reading her blog, and I want to share a blog post with you that she made yesterday after hearing the news of the bombings in Boston. Way to tell it like it is, Ashley! READ HERE her post titled "I refuse to remain silent anymore".

"Out of the Blue"

I teach science and my curriculum includes the study of space, so I found this story to be fascinating. I can't remember another news story during my teaching career that a meteor of this size entered the earth's atmosphere. This happened today over Moscow, Russia and the sonic boom it created broke windows and injured more than 500 people. The fragments (meteorites) that actually made it to the ground left a 20 foot crater. Another significant space event today is the passing of an asteroid close enough to be in the ring of synchronous weather and communications satellites, but not close enough to collide with earth. (Well, that's good news!)You can read all about this and other things happening in space on NASA's official website.

Simple Self-Control

I have a saying that hangs in my room that says, “The less you discipline yourself, the more someone else has to.” I much prefer students that have self-control and can self-assess and self-correct than a student who I always have to be involved with correcting and redirecting bad behaviors. Research has shown that people who have good self-control do better in school, earn higher salaries, are well liked, and are less likely to get in trouble with the law. Adults who have high self-control have fewer psychological problems and form stronger peer relationships.

I am intrigued by a study that was done at Stanford University beginning in the 1960’s called “The Marshmallow Test”. In this research, preschool aged children were taken into a room where a marshmallow or some other treat was placed on a table. The children were told they could choose to eat it now or wait 15 minutes before eating the marshmallow and then they would get two. Those who were able to wait focused on things other than the treat. Some even turned around so they couldn’t see it. The interesting part of the study, however, isn’t necessarily those that waited the 15 minutes then…when they were 4…..it was the results of the study years later when the majority of those that did wait had less problems with drug abuse, obesity, or problem behavior during high school than those in the study that didn’t wait. Does that mean you are doomed if you can't put off instant gratification for something better later on? Of course not, but the study shows that people who learn to exercise self-control early usually avoid problems down the road. Think about all the ways having self-control can help us in all aspects of our lives. It is truly a gift that we can give to ourselves and to our children. If you want an interesting read about the benefits of self-control go here: and also here Here is another interesting take on self-control vs. self-esteem by Dennis Prager in regards to the recent school shootings.