Growing "Give-N-Take" Kids: Power Traits for Life™

A couple of months ago Edie Lanphar and I (Mariaemma) did an episode called Talking in Class - It's Essential for Learning. The topic of feelings and needs came up toward the end and we promised to do a follow-up to continue that conversation.  Students come to the classroom - or homeschool - with various needs (as do the adults!), depending on what is going on in their circumstances. For real learning to take place - both academically and emotionally - it is critical to keep in mind the importance of exploring those needs, the feelings those needs bring up, and their impact on behavior and learning. The feelings and needs tool we discuss in this episode is called the No-Fault Zone Game and is available at: http://thenofaultzone.com Edie is a social-emotional, learning, and behavioral coach who has changed the lives of countless students and their families over the  years. She focuses on improving and enhancing relationships between young people, their parents and teachers, in the classroom and at  home. She is available for school and family consultations, relationship  coaching, workshops, and seminars. For questions, contact Edie at  805-459-0853 or elanphar@gmail.com. Or contact Mariaemma Willis at 805-648-1739, m@learningsuccesscoach.com or visit schoolathomemadeeasier.com copyright 2021 Mariaemma Pelullo-Willis

When adults meet in a class or group it is understood that time is needed for greeting each other, for processing information through discussion and questioning, and for conversations that facilitate the application of learning to the participants' lives. These activities keep adult learners engaged. Well, young people need this, too! Mariaemma and guest Edie Lanphar discuss the importance of making time for these conversations in the classroom or homeschool, and they share ideas for making it happen. Not only do these activities increase student engagement - they also lead to deeper learning. Edie is a social-emotional, learning, and behavioral coach who has changed the lives of countless students and their families over the years. She focuses on improving and enhancing relationships between young people, their parents and teachers, in the classroom and at home. She is available for school and family consultations, relationship coaching, workshops, and seminars. For questions, contact Edie at 805-459-0853 or elanphar@gmail.com. Or contact Mariaemma Willis at 805-648-1739, m@learningsuccesscoach.com or visit schoolathomemadeeasier.com copyright 2021 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Solution-focused kids are much more likely to feel capable in any situation, including learning, while blame-focused kids are often afraid, withdrawn, resistant, or rebellious. Kids who are raised with solution-focused problem solving instead of consequences or punishment develop the ability to keep going in the face of setbacks. Find out how to be a solution-focused model for your children and/or students! Adapted from the book, Discover Your Child's Learning Style by Willis & Hodson. For more information or questions: email m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit schoolathomemadeeasier.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Is this even possible? Mariaemma shares how to make it happen! For more information or questions: email m@learningsuccesscoach.com or call 805-648-1739 copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Interests are our #1 Motivators yet adults often used them as punishment. What do I mean by that? Have you ever heard a parent or teacher take away a child's interest until they improve in a school subject? For example, Memorize the math facts and you can go back to art classes. No dancing until your spelling improves. Bring your grades up if you want to play tennis. But we never hear anything like, NO SPELLING until your dancing improves or You CAN'T DO MATH until tennis improves! Mariaemma discusses how to use Interests, not only to boost motivation and self-confidence, but also to improve academic skills. For more information or questions: email m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Do kids experience trauma or can they just shake off scary experiences? What kinds of trauma do kids experience? Can changes in behavior and learning be signs of trauma? How can we best help our kids process and move on from traumatic experiences? And is it possible for a child to have experienced trauma without the adults around him/her realizing it? Edie Lanphar joins me, Mariaemma, in discussing this important topic.  Edie is Director of Curriculum & Instruction at The Knox School of  Santa Barbara. Her background includes special education,  social-emotional learning, and family dynamics, as well as classroom  teacher, principal, and curriculum developer for preschool - college.  She can be contacted at e.lanphar@knoxschoolsb.org For more information or questions contact me, Mariaemma Willis at 805-648-1739, m@learningsuccesscoach.com or visit schoolathomemadeeasier.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

How  is the pandemic affecting our kids and us? What are the negative  effects? Are there any positive effects? What can we do to lessen the  negative effects and promote mental health and well-being for ourselves  and our kids, during this difficult time? Edie Lanphar joins me, Mariaemma, in discussing this important topic.  Edie is Director of Curriculum & Instruction at The Knox School of  Santa Barbara. Her background includes special education,  social-emotional learning, and family dynamics, as well as classroom  teacher, principal, and curriculum developer for preschool - college.  She can be contacted at e.lanphar@knoxschoolsb.org For more information or questions contact me, Mariaemma Willis at 805-648-1739, m@learningsuccesscoach.com or visit schoolathomemadeeasier.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

How is the pandemic affecting our kids and us? What are the negative effects? Are there any positive effects? What can we do to lessen the negative effects and promote mental health and well-being for ourselves and our kids, during this difficult time? Edie Lanphar joins me, Mariaemma, in discussing this important topic. Edie is Director of Curriculum & Instruction at The Knox School of Santa Barbara. Her background includes special education, social-emotional learning, and family dynamics, as well as classroom teacher, principal, and curriculum developer for preschool - college. She can be contacted at e.lanphar@knoxschoolsb.org For more information or questions contact me, Mariaemma Willis at 805-648-1739, m@learningsuccesscoach.com or visit schoolathomemadeeasier.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

In this episode Victoria and Mariaemma discuss the value and importance of tracking successes rather than failures. Tracking successes leads to increased motivation, confidence, and focus. People who learn to track their own successes experience how uplifting this is, spurring them on to setting goals for their next accomplishments. This is true for the kids and for the adults who care for them! For more information or questions: call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

When kids feel overwhelmed and under pressure, they are not able to focus on learning because they are preoccupied with fears of failure. For some students these feelings are the result of not being ready developmentally for a certain concept, or for the next stage of an academic skill. For others, it might be various circumstances, such as the COVID epidemic we are experiencing at this time, or a combination of circumstance and developmental readiness. Victoria and Mariaemma discuss how to take the pressure off to relieve anxiety and stress and promote healthier, more positive situations for the kids, parents, and teachers! For more information or questions: call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Lighting, Sound, Color, Body Position - they all matter and can greatly affect the ability to focus, learn, and get work done. Whether we are talking about students at home or on campus, or adults on the job, we need to pay attention to these four elements if we want to maximize learning as well as productivity. In this episode, Mariaemma gives simple options for making the best use of these environmental influences. For more information or questions: email m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Join Victoria & Mariaemma as they discuss the value of identifying goals - for yourself, your kids, your family, your school, your group! Kids who have goals and can imagine a positive future are more eager learners than young people who are discouraged and don't see possibilities for themselves. Learn some of the ways to encourage goal-setting and the importance of breaking big goals into small, do-able steps. For more information or questions: email m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Join Mariaemma & Victoria as they discuss the value of focusing on solutions. When you practice solution-focus, your kids learn how to problem-solve from you. Their confidence will grow as they realize that they can learn from mistakes and affect outcomes. Solutions offered by kids are solutions they are willing to try and to support - so always involve them in problem solving issues that involve them. Interactions that are focused on solutions bring out the best in the individual, the family, or any group. For more information or questions: email m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Did you know that it takes  about 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain unless it is done with play, in which case it takes only 10-20 repetitions! (stated by the late Dr. Karyn Purvis, co-founder of the Karyn Purvis Institute of  Child Development at Texas Christian University). In this episode Mariaemma talks with guests Carolyn & Martin Forte about their Game Curriculum. Carolyn & Martin are the owners of Excellence in Education Resource Center. A former public school teacher, Carolyn often used games to teach her students in the classroom and her own daughters at home. She created the Game Curriculum for those students who learn best when they are having fun and have materials that provide movement and hands-on activities. You, too, can add fun AND efficiency to learning through the power of play! Check out gamecurriculum.com or call Carolyn or Martin for questions or advice at 626-821-0025. Also, use their discount link to purchase the Self-Portrait™ Power Traits Assessment - for $5.00 off the regular price - to find out how YOUR kids or students learn best! https://aselfportraitonline.net/store/default.asp?promo=EIE100 For more information or questions about LearningSuccess™ Institute and Power Traits for LIfe: email Mariaemma - m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com  copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Did you know that it takes  about 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain unless it is done with play, in which case it takes only 10-20 repetitions! (stated by the late Dr. Karyn Purvis, co-founder of the Karyn Purvis Institute of  Child Development at Texas Christian University). In this episode Mariaemma talks with guests Carolyn & Martin Forte about their Game Curriculum. Carolyn & Martin are the owners of Excellence in Education Resource Center. A former public school teacher, Carolyn often used games to teach her students in the classroom and her own daughters at home. She created the Game Curriculum for those students who learn best when they are having fun and have materials that provide movement and hands-on activities. You, too, can add fun AND efficiency to learning through the power of play! Check out gamecurriculum.com or call Carolyn or Martin for questions or advice at 626-821-0025.  Also, use their discount link to purchase the Self-Portrait™ Power Traits Assessment - for $5.00 off the regular price - to find out how YOUR kids or students learn best! https://aselfportraitonline.net/store/default.asp?promo=EIE100 For more information or questions about LearningSuccess™ Institute and Power Traits for LIfe: email Mariaemma - m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com  copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

If you've been on an airplane you've heard the instruction, "In case of emergency put your oxygen mask on first, then help your child or others." Self-Care is like putting your oxygen mask on first. Victoria and Mariaemma discuss: 1) the importance of parents and teachers taking care of themselves by making sure they get their own needs met;  2) the value of modeling self-care for young people. For more information or questions: call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Do students really lose most of what they've learned during summer vacation? Is summer school a good idea or do students need a break? What are some valuable things students can do in the summer?  For more information or questions: call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Schooling is not the same as learning. In this episode Victoria and Mariaemma talk about the amazing opportunity parents have during the virus lock down to facilitate real learning in the home that is fun and engaging. These concepts and practical examples are just as valuable beyond the lock down, whether it's helping with homework, home schooling, or applying these principles in the classroom. For more information or questions: email info@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Victoria & Mariaemma discuss the importance of identifying feelings and needs to have more effective communication, improve relationships, and create more harmony. Victoria describes a tool that facilitates this process, called the No-Fault Game. For more information or questions contact Victoria at 805-701-0789 or victoria.hodson@sbcglobal.net, or visit http://thenofaultzone.com. copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC

Victoria presents our LearningSuccess™ F.I.T.T.T. Principles to help school at home be easier and more fun: To contact Victoria - victoria.hodson@sbcglobal.net, 805-701-0789 Special discount offering during this Coronavirus school-at-home  time: our Power Traits Assessment is $10 off the regular price of $35 -  use this link: https://aselfportraitonline.net/store/default.asp?promo=corona2020 For more information or questions: email m@learningsuccesscoach.com, call 805-648-1739 or visit powertraitsforlife.com copyright 2020 Reflective Educational Perspectives LLC