Imagine the truth radar as something similar to the radar screens of air-traffic controllers. There is a core, or center area, and this is absolute truthfulness. The farther you move away from the core, the farther you move from the truth.
Imagine the truth radar as something similar to the radar screens of air-traffic controllers. There is a core, or center area, and this is absolute truthfulness. The farther you move away from the core, the farther you move from the truth.
Posted at 10:40 AM in Parenting Tips, Teen Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Most people who come to a Biggest Job workshop are honest people. We all want our kids to be honest, yet we begin to move away from the truth when the desire to get along takes over. That's when harmony comes in.
True harmony is a wonderful thing, and in some cultures is that state of being where everything comes together. The only problem is that we usually do not attain that "harmony" without a commitment to first work through the truth.
Where is the weight of your foot in your family? Is it in the desire to get along? Or is it in a commitment to the truth? When the weight of our foot is in truthfulness, harmony will eventually follow. Ask your kids, do you think I am a totally honest person? If they say no, ask them where they see dishonesty in you. And then listen, without defending yourself.
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By Pam Hardy, as taken from this month's The Biggest Job/Parenting Expert eNewsletter. Sign up to receive the eNewsletter at http://www.hyde.edu/about-hyde-school/hyde-email/ and choose "Parenting Expert."
Posted at 01:18 PM in Parenting Tips | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Executive Director of Hyde Schools Laura Gauld on how to prevent bullying
Posted at 08:33 AM in Education Today | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Posted at 08:34 AM in Education Today, Parenting Tips | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Parenting expert and author Laura Gauld will present a workshop geared to parents, educators, and professionals interested in learning ways to parent effectively. Members of the community are invited to attend The Biggest Job Workshop on Thursday, October 27th, 2011 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Kennebunk Town Hall Auditorium, 1 Summer Street in Kennebunk, ME. Gauld’s interactive presentation is high-energy, compelling, and often humorous; it is based on the 10 Priorities outlined in her book The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have: The Hyde School Program For Character-based Education and Parenting (Scribner).
Laura Gauld is Executive Director of Hyde Schools, a network of public and private schools whose pioneering philosophy has been profiled on 60 Minutes, 20/20, Today, PBS and NPR. Widely known for her success in setting up families, children, and business communities for success, she draws on more than three decades of experience as an education and parenting expert.
The workshop is focused on how to raise and teach children effectively. Its messages are straightforward: the way adults live their lives must be consistent with the way they raise and teach children; principles are the most powerful force in influencing children in a positive way; and parents should focus on personal growth to allow their best parenting instincts to emerge. Participants learn specific ways to strengthen child-adult bonds and family relationships, to inspire children to fulfill their highest potential, and how focusing on attitude over aptitude, truth over harmony, and principles over rules can lead to success in efforts to positively influence children and teenagers.
“Parenting is the biggest job we’ll ever have,” says Laura Gauld, emphasizing that “It is hard; it is doable, and it is never too late to raise adults with strong character who can be leaders and make solid contributions to the world.”
To register for the workshop, or for more information, contact Jill Miller, 207-468-8682 or millerkennebunk@roadrunner.com. This event is free to the public. For more information about the workshop schedule or the Hyde Schools, log on to its Web site at www.hyde.edu.
Posted at 08:25 AM in Parenting Tips, Teen Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Darien, CT—For the high-school graduate—and for the parents supporting the graduate—the prospect of starting college can seem as daunting as entering a foreign country. But leading educator Malcolm Gauld, president of the Hyde Schools, has some straightforward advice for them in “College Success Guaranteed: Five Rules to Make It Happen.”
He will talk to parents and students about his book at 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, at Darien High School, 80 High School Lane, in Darien. The event is sponsored by the Parent Awareness Network of the YWCA Darien/Norwalk.
Written with honesty, insight, and a touch of humor, “College Success Guaranteed” originated from a speech that Gauld delivers every spring to college-bound seniors. Gauld expanded on his talk by interviewing college students and recent graduates about their experiences. The result is a book that includes candid feedback from students and graduates of dozens of colleges and universities in the United States, with a focus on the simple things to “do” after enrolling in college, as opposed to the “don’ts,” or negative actions to avoid.
Using a frank, occasionally irreverent approach, Gauld breaks his plan down into five rules: go to class, study, commit to an activity, get a mentor and don’t procrastinate. The rules may seem simple, but Gauld uses the words of actual students and recent grads to deliver essential information. Under studying, for instance, he analyzes the pros and cons of listening to music, how to “rip the guts out” of any book in two hours, group versus individual study and why three hours a day, five days a week is a basic formula that works.
“I have taught and coached teenagers for more than three decades and watched thousands of them go off to college,” says Gauld. “Some just take off like rockets from the get-go. Others either fail to launch or crash and burn before midterms. Independent time-management is the key.”
Gauld will also offer parents five rules to follow as they help their college-bound students transition from the nest to adulthood. His message to parents will form the core of his forthcoming book.
Gauld is president of the Hyde Schools, a network of public and boarding schools and programs dedicated to the development of character in students and families, with locations in Bath, ME, Woodstock, CT, New Haven, CT, and Bronx and Brooklyn, NY. An educator for more than three decades, he is co-author of “The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have,” written with his wife, Laura.
Admission is free. For more information about this event, contact 860-963-4721. To preorder the book, go to Amazon.com.
Posted at 08:40 AM in Current Affairs, Education Today, Teen Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Darien, CT—For the high-school graduate—and for the parents supporting the graduate—the prospect of starting college can seem as daunting as entering a foreign country. But leading educator Malcolm Gauld, president of the Hyde Schools, has some straightforward advice for them in “College Success Guaranteed: Five Rules to Make It Happen.”
He will talk to parents and students about his book at 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, at Darien High School, 80 High School Lane, in Darien. The event is sponsored by the Darien YWCA.
Written with honesty, insight, and a touch of humor “College Success Guaranteed” originated from a speech that Gauld delivers every spring to college-bound seniors. Gauld expanded on his talk by interviewing college students and recent graduates about their experiences. The result is a book that includes candid feedback from students and graduates of dozens of colleges and universities in the United States, with a focus on the simple things to “do” after enrolling in college, as opposed to the “don’ts,” or negative actions to avoid.
Using a frank, occasionally irreverent approach, Gauld breaks his plan down into five rules: go to class, study, commit to an activity, get a mentor and don’t procrastinate. The rules may seem simple, but Gauld uses the words of actual students and recent grads to deliver essential information. Under studying, for instance, he analyzes the pros and cons of listening to music, how to “rip the guts out” of any book in two hours, group versus individual study and why three hours a day, five days a week is a basic formula that works.
“I have taught and coached teenagers for more than three decades and watched thousands of them go off to college,” says Gauld. “Some just take off like rockets from the get-go. Others either fail to launch or crash and burn before midterms. Independent time-management is the key.”
Gauld will also offer parents five rules to follow as they help their college-bound students transition from the nest to adulthood. His message to parents will form the core of his forthcoming book.
Gauld is president of the Hyde Schools, a network of public and boarding schools and programs dedicated to the development of character in students and families, with locations in Bath, ME, Woodstock, CT, New Haven, CT, and Bronx and Brooklyn, NY. An educator for more than three decades, he is co-author of “The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have,” written with his wife, Laura.
Admission is free. For more information about this event, contact 860-963-4721. To preorder the book, go to Amazon.com.
Posted at 11:19 AM in Current Affairs, Education Today | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
by Malcolm Gauld
President, Hyde Schools
Author, College Success Guaranteed – 5 Rules to Make It Happen
As summer draws to a close, hundreds of anxious teenagers anticipate the transition from high school to college. Whether heading out of state or staying close to home, a brand new world awaits.
Having taught high school students for 35 years, I’ve watched thousands of kids make this transition. I’ve also observed that some return to visit a year later with the aura of conquering heroes while others look and feel, well, pretty bummed out. I recently wrote a book intended to help more students complete Year #1 as a member of the first group.
Relax… I avoid the “don’ts” that your parents, relatives, teachers, and coaches have no doubt already covered. I also resist the temptation to lay a guilt trip over how much it costs. (That’s because I’m trying to figure out how to pay for the college expenses of my own kids!)
Instead, I offer five simple rules for success that come highly recommended by the scores of college students I interviewed for the book. Rules may not be cool, but consider the notion that the biggest threat to first-time college students is the danger of drowning in free time. You’re about to be thrown into the deep end of the pool. Maybe a few simple rules can help you find your stroke in the early going. Here goes:
Rule #1: Go to Class!
Whenever students and/or parents first hear this rule, they invariably respond with “Duh!!!” Back in high school, if you just stopped going to class, you’d likely find yourself in hot water within 24 hours. In college, chances are good that no one knows or cares if you are going to class at all. All of the students I have known who have failed out of college have shared one thing in common – they didn’t go to class. Conversely, I have never met a student who went to all of his/her classes who flunked out of school. If you honor the simple commitment to attend all of your classes, a number of good things will fall into place. Furthermore, a whole host of bad ones will never visit your door.
Rule #2: Study 3 Hours Times 5 Days Per Week
Just as you need to go to class, you need to study. (I know… “Duh!!!”) Many students struggle with the idea of transitioning from “homework” (a term you will never hear in college) to “studying.” Whereas your high school teachers might tell you your assignment for the next day, your professors might present you with a semester-long syllabus on the first day of class. You may have nothing due for six weeks. Before you exclaim, “College is awesome; let’s party!” Think again. It can be hard to make yourself study when nothing is due for a month and a half. So, rather than focus on assignment completion, commit to studying for a set amount of time each and every weekday regardless of what is due. I’m not promising that you’ll make Dean’s List, but if you can commit to a minimum of 15 hours per week, you will be a student in good standing. You will also minimize the anxiety many of your schoolmates will face as papers and exams come due at the end of the semester.
Rule #3: Commit to Something
I have heard many parents urge their students to refrain from athletics and extracurricular activities in the first year. I disagree. When I was in college, I played a spring sport. I also did better academic work in the spring than I did in the fall. I had to keep a schedule. My coach would check up on my grades. I couldn’t split for long weekends because I had to go to lacrosse practice. If sports aren’t your thing, try out for a campus theatrical production, write for the paper, get involved with campus recycling, get a work-study or off-campus job. Not only will a regular commitment to something connect you with constructive and maybe even lifelong friendships, my experience says that your participation will enhance (and not detract from) your academic performance.
Rule #4: Get a Mentor
Whether a professor, coach, dean, or off-campus employer, seek out people with life experience who can give you both support and a kick in the pants when you need it. In high school, teachers are expected to look out for you and lend a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on when you need it. While you don’t need these things any less in college, assume that the burden lies with you to take the initiative and seek them out.
Rule #5: Procrastination Kills
In one group interview, I asked, “What is the one thing you would tell a kid starting college tomorrow?” One student responded, “Procrastination Kills.” Then everyone in the room began sharing their procrastination stories, unknowingly serving up an assortment of tricks and techniques, many of which found their way into my book. While these were all over the park, they had something to do with doing something… Right Now.
Look at it this way, there are 168 hours in a week. The above five rules will tie up less than a quarter of them, leaving you with 120+ for purposes of sleep, leisure, and recreation. (Yeah, college is awesome indeed!) I don’t promise that you’re about to experience the best four years of your life. But there’s gotta be a reason why so many people say so. Good luck and… Go To Class!
Posted at 07:26 AM in Education Today, Parenting Tips | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Malcolm Gauld is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on character education and parenting. His character development program, delivered at the Hyde schools, has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, and much more. A natural storyteller, Malcolm uses humor and personal experience to convey his practical, insightful, and timely messages on parenting, character, and leadership to a wide mainstream audience. "LIKE" College Success on Facebook.
Posted at 03:46 PM in Education Today, Teen Issues | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
For the high-school graduate, the prospect of starting college can seem as daunting as entering a foreign country. But leading educator Malcolm Gauld, president of the Hyde Schools, has some straightforward advice for them in “College Success Guaranteed: Five Rules to Make it Happen.”
He will talk about his book at 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 8, at the New Canaan Library. Event co-sponsor Elm Street Books will sell copies of the book, which will be available for signing.
Written with honesty, insight, and a touch of humor, “College Success Guaranteed” originated from a speech that Gauld delivers every spring to college-bound seniors. Gauld expanded on his talk by interviewing college students and recent graduates about their experiences. The result is a book that includes candid feedback from students and graduates of dozens of colleges and universities in the United States, with a focus on the simple things to “do” after enrolling in college, as opposed to the “don’ts,” or negative actions to avoid.
Using a frank, occasionally irreverent approach, Gauld breaks his plan down into five rules: go to class, study, commit to an activity, get a mentor and don’t procrastinate. The rules may seem simple, but Gauld uses the words of actual students and recent grads to deliver essential information. Under studying, for instance, he analyzes the pros and cons of listening to music, how to “rip the guts out” of any book in two hours, group versus individual study and why three hours a day, five days a week is a basic formula that works.
“I have taught and coached teenagers for more than three decades and watched thousands of them go off to college,” says Gauld. “Some just take off like rockets from the get-go. Others either fail to launch or crash and burn before midterms. Independent time-management is the key.”
Gauld is president of the Hyde Schools, a network of public and boarding schools and programs dedicated to the development of character in students and families, with locations in Bath, ME, Woodstock, CT, New Haven, CT, Washington, DC, and Bronx, NY. An educator for over three decades, he is co-author of “The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have,” written with his wife, Laura.
Admission is free, but reservations are recommended – call 203-594-5040 or email programs@newcanaanlibrary.org. To preorder a book, call Elm Street Books at 203-966-4545.
Posted at 11:23 AM in Current Affairs, Education Today | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
