Browsing CategoryAttitude

There are 2 perspectives regarding questions, the ones students ask and the ones we ask. In this post I am focusing on the questions we ask. Asking the right question is half the answer “Why can you get A’s in math and not in history? It must be because you aren’t trying hard enough.” “Why can you sit for hours reading books you’ve taken out, and yet can’t crack open your science book? It must be because you are irresponsible.” These kinds of questions are judgemental. While it may seem like you have the answer, the opposite is true. By …

A friend of mine, in discussing the COVID-19 quarantine and its social, emotional, educational and financial impact, expressed it so eloquently.  “WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT … I heard that we are in the same boat. But it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.” This is the best I have ever heard it expressed.  I may be drowning, surviving or thriving. Afterall, you don’t even know what kind of boat I am on and what condition it is in.  And if you don’t know, then you don’t know how …

The following question was posed, “Thoughts on cursing at work, most of us do it, some more than others. BUT is it really ok?” Some of the responses included the following (italics): A: “Personally, I have no issue with it. I generally find people who curse to be EXTREMELY genuine. But I do know it rubs some people wrong and I do want people to feel comfortable around me. While it does depend on the culture, I find people who curse to be real straight shooters which I like.” B: “I wouldn’t curse in front of someone I don’t know …

Once upon a time it used to be more common for employers to provide employees with a cell phone. Now imagine your boss gave you an iPhone, much to your delight. 3 years pass and you decide you need another phone. You approach your boss and he agrees to order you a phone. You wait with great anticipation; you have heard about all the newer features on the latest edition of the iPhone and can’t wait to have one. The following week you find a package on your desk and it is an Android phone. How do you feel? Disappointment, …

Treatment always involves an investment of time and money. The return on investment (ROI) has to be worth it. There are a few questions that must be answered to help assess ROI. Handicap (see previous post) is not a simple measure. Physiological (Functional) Considerations You need to identify the areas that may be impacted by the disability and then check those areas to see if they are affected in this particular instance. You also need to consider that certain diagnoses are termed “presumptive” because research has taught us to expect handicap down the line. A child who is born with …

Perhaps the worst consequence of judging rather than observing is that the person judged tends to live up to the label given them.  Common labels given to students are “lazy”, “sloppy”, “stupid” or even “class clown” or the like.  Thus, the judgement does nothing to help solve the problem but rather makes it more complex to identify since a behavioral component has now been added to the actual underlying issue. Behavioral psychologist, Dr. David J. Lieberman, points out that children have no sense of self.  As a result, children tend to identify with the message of their primary care giver.  …