Children Full of Life

This is an award-winning documentary where a fourth-grade class in a primary school in Kanazawa, northwest of Tokyo, learn lessons about compassion from their homeroom teacher, Toshiro Kanamori. He instructs each to write their true inner feelings in a letter, and read it aloud in front of the class. By sharing their lives, the children begin to realize the importance of caring for their classmates."

A total of 5 clips, but each packed with insights into effective character and social education. Try out some of his approaches and you'll probably find your own rhythm in no time.

Do leave some comments on your thoughts on these videos.

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

I guess I do agree with him.

Watch and experience how Sir Ken Robinson disarms you with his wit and wisdom. A truly remarkable talk given by a remarkable man.

I loved the story he told about Gillian Lynne. That really provoked me deeply to consider the tremendous power I have in helping my students fulfill their destinies. This power is a double-edged sword. You have this power too.

And also, the thought of how all education systems apply the same hierarchical valuation in terms of subjects was a tremendous revelation. Imagine all the breakthroughs in educational research on Multiple Intelligences, Learning Styles, Brain Research, etc had SO LITTLE impact on the education world!

What would it take for you and your school to do the right thing?

Keep your school Bully-Free!

My school is running a two-week emphasis on Bully-free education. Research has shown that some cases of absenteeism are related to victimisation as a result of bullying.

Be on the look out for the following tell-tale signs that your student may be bullied:

• Drop in grades to poor school attendance
• Loneliness and poor social relationships
• Physical ill-health
• Lowered self-esteem and depression
• Suicide talk or tendencies
• Self-harm
• Revenge leading to violent juvenile behaviour
  

The anatomy of a bullying experience:


The following video is a stark reminder that bullying cannot be taken lightly. Parental guidance is advised.


I believe that one of the most effect ways to create a bully-free environment is to make bully-free look cool. In this way, it is likely that victims are well-informed on proper responses to bullying and bullies have full expectations of the consequences of bullying. Schools must also take up stringent measures to curb bullying and mete out harsh punishments for school bullies. However, having said that, the most powerful kind of incentive is the moral incentive. We must educate our students that all forms of bullying are inhumane to say the least. After all, they wouldn't want the same (form of bullying) to be done to themselves, would they?

A few more videos to help you with your quest to make your school bully-free!

link to final video (not possible to embed)

And finally, a link to help you and your students go deeper into this campaign:

http://www.bullyfreecampaign.sg/

Many thanks to Khusni for inspiring this post!

Cyberbullying

It is increasing. It is rampant. It is...stoppable!

Do your part to educate and empower your students how they can ward off attacks from peers or strangers.

VISIT http://stopcyberbullying.org/

If not, the following video could be a reality for someone near you:





You can teach them to:

• Stop cyberbullying.
• Not write it.
• Not forward it.
• Save evidences.
• Report the cyberbullying or cyberbully.
  

Mind Mapping for effective living

Have you always wanted to remember better and remember more?

Have you ever wanted your students to learn effectively by getting into your mind?

Would you like your class to learn 10 different pockets of knowledge within the hour and still remember what they learnt?

Would you like to boost your students interest and success in their studies within a week?

All these are possible with Mind Mapping. Don't stop at watching this video, get the book as well. And all the above will become very probable.

Well, it worked for me.