If you are a teacher or a parent looking to break through a teenager’s screen addiction, nothing is more important than avoiding device hypocrisy yourself.
Technology is everywhere. Digital communication (and the reliance on the devices that go with it) has become a crucial part of the professional and personal lives of most adults. Teenagers see this and are quick to use it to justify their own compulsions to constantly stay logged into their own digital lives. Continue reading
Sean Covey made a big splash in the world of self-help writing with his best-selling 1989 book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Often placed on a pedestal next to other classics like Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, Covey’s 7 Habits… created a recipe for personal and professional success that has transformed the lives of those who have read and followed its sage, yet practical advice.
The concepts are simple ones, yet can take on powerful meaning with the right perspective.
Covey has followed up on the success of 7 Habits… with a variety of other books built around numbered lists of habits, decisions, and reflections. One of the best of these follow-ups is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Back at the beginning of May, I wrote a piece about the positive impacts of music as an educational tool in the classroom. As school is winding down, I couldn’t help but reflect upon how influential music has been in my life. In most of these cases, what I learned from music came from moments outside of school.
Whether it’s singing karaoke, rocking out with a guitar, or pounding away on a cow bell, playing music can be a powerful experience. It can spark emotion, foster creativity, increase student engagement, and even make you smarter!
However, there is truly a magical quality to playing music when it is done with others. While playing music involves instruments and developing some fundamental skills, even novices can reap the benefits of finding ways to harmonize and create together.
Growing up in a musical family, I’ve always had access musical instruments and the encouragement to learn to play them. I spent hours in my room practicing for my clarinet lessons, noodling around on keyboards, and teaching myself guitar. While these efforts were personally rewarding, they pale in comparison to the experiences I’ve had playing music with others.
Any teacher will tell you, it is impossible to teach a student who is not in the proper head-space to learn. Thankfully, there are things educators can do to make their environments more focused and peaceful places to learn.
Promoting mindfulness skills with students doesn’t require any complex curriculum or extensive professional development. You can start creating a more mindful space for learning by following 3 simple steps…
Music is an amazing force.
It can rev you up and it can calm you down.
It can make you feel and it can make you think.
Bringing music into the classroom isn’t a new concept, but there is much more to unleashing its power than just hitting “Play”. Here are 5 practical ways educators can bring music into the learning experience in creative, productive, and engaging ways:
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