Education - The Seed of Truth

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out; a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment.  Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated.  Thus, everyone’s task is as unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.” 

Victor Frankl

Everyone, no matter their lot in life, will act a part in the play called life.  When viewed against the vastness of space and time, our lives are but grains of sand on an infinite stage.  Some lives in this performance are seemingly insignificant while others seem to play leading roles.  The factors that determine our lot in life are guided by our views of truth and dictated by our larger view of the production for which we are cast.

Contained within every soul and locked within every human experience, truth abounds yet hides itself, patiently waiting to be found in its correct form and on its own terms.  Truth, after all, is the ultimate end pursuit of all conscious efforts and the motivation for our movement forward in time.  Housed in this tiny piece of real estate, we search, eking out our existence, patiently waiting for tiny moments of discovery that can fill our void and expand our view of the universe. 

The unsatisfied thirst to understand and know truth is what plagues our existence.  Yet, our finite existence contains potential for an infinitely marvelous array of possibilities when shadows of truth are humbly understood and applied to our efforts and struggles.  Sadly, our truths are but the mere edges of ultimate universal truths that are waiting to be discovered. 

Found within our souls and within our intellect, we hold the capacity to know and understand.  We lack only the proper insights and connections for truth to be realized fully in our lives.  As we seek to discover new understanding, truth observes our progress and waits.  Eons of time have passed since truth began its work, anticipating moments in time to reveal its purpose and expand our dimly lit view. 

Nations struggle and wars rage, all in the name of truth.  Contradictions to truth abound, yet truth remains constant, shining amid our turmoil and strife.  We rage and fight to proclaim our knowledge of truth, yet truth patiently waits to reveal its purpose.  We arrogantly boast that we possess truth, yet truth patiently waits for us to humble our souls. 

Truth cannot be contained by a mere fleshly vessel.  Knowing this is our first step to know more of what the immutable laws of truth offer.  Truth cannot allow itself to be used for false purposes.  Knowing this is our second step to understanding our reality and allowing truth to fill our need.  Truth will not be used to manipulate or alter what is true.  Knowing this allows us to humbly accept what truth sets out to accomplish.  Truth patiently waits.

Our ways are not yet the ways of truth.  Our thoughts are not yet the thoughts of truth.  Our sense of justice is but a glimpse of what truth demands.  The edges of truth are barely visible when seen through our dimly lit reality.  We can be assured in our pursuit of truth if we will only humble our thoughts and patiently seek the glories of what truth will bring to our souls. 

Truth moves about, quietly whispering in the ears of those who will listen.  It speaks throughout the ages of what is right and good and pure.  It gives a voice to the humble philosopher and shines a light for the seekers of knowledge.  Passed along from generation to generation, its illuminations multiply.  Called by many names, it quietly proclaims its wisdom, allowing us to grow in our understanding and control.

Truth asks only one thing of us: to humbly set our minds in the midst of knowledge and toward the pursuit of bettering others and ourselves.  Truth patiently waits for us to seek and discover the rewards it has waiting for a generation that will plum the depths of its boundless and abundant seeds of potential.  

Truth is the pursuit, but meaning is the reward.  The rewards of meaning and the pursuit of life are the answer to the ageless questions that have haunted man since truth first began its work; who am I and what is my purpose?  Before truth fully answers these questions in your heart, it has one expectation.

As you gasp your last breath of life, what will run through your mind?  What thoughts will you have about your life and the purpose for which you were formed?  The two questions truth will answer in our lives--who am I and what is my purpose?--will become startlingly clear to you at this moment, the final humbling moment of physical life.  As you have your last thought, this will be the moment at which you realize the impact you had on others, the moment when you realize that you either lived your purpose on this earth or you missed your purpose completely.

Until this moment, truth hesitates to answer our questions.  It waits patiently, eagerly, hoping it can bring the answers to light before our light fades and our eyes close for the last time.  For a select few mortal souls, the seekers of knowledge, the meaning to these two questions will be answered before this moment arrives.  Truth will gladly answer these questions but has an expectation which is hidden in an ancient riddle, the parts of which have been scattered in full view since truth first began its work.

The first part of the riddle is this:  no matter where we go, there we will be, and until we realize that we can only be where we go, we will only be where we are.  Going is the only way to travel along the path of truth.  Just as the apprentice must stay with his master, truth will accept no less than this from us.  We realize at this moment that answering the riddle starts with the journey.

The journey with truth starts with the first step and is the second part of the riddle.  The first step in the journey is the most important step and cannot be taken in the wrong direction.  It is at this point that most souls will stumble and lose their way along the true path.  Without taking the proper steps in the proper directions, truth will continue without its apprentice.  As  sojourners with truth, we are bound to the path of truth and thus begin our journey in life.

Our journey begins when we enter through the gate of life at birth and lasts until we finally move through the portal of death.  It is between these moments that truth forges our destiny in the crucible of life.  It is at this moment that truth decides our fate, the one purpose that we were formed from nothing to accomplish.  What happens between these two moments, birth and death, will decide our fate.  Truth, with its friend fate, decides our future destiny and dictates our purpose as we walk the path of life.  Discovering purpose in life starts with the first step and ends with the last.  Where we go, there we are, together with truth, stepping forward toward our destiny. 

What, then, does truth require of the knowledge seeker along the journey?  To discover the answer to this question, we must first learn humility.  Truth will not reveal itself until we are humble before it.  This may happen along the path or will finally happen when we exit this life through the portal of death.  We are powerless against the eventuality of humility, so pushing ourselves beyond self will be the first step to understanding what truth requires of us.

To gain humility, we realize that our soul is unique to the purpose for which it was created.  We choose our path through free will, and the choices we make along the way define who we are and will further define the unique steps of others.  The value we see in others will be reflected in the value we place on ourselves.  Free will is, therefore, the determining factor in our choice to be humble or to be selfish and self-centered.  Free will can lead us away from the self-deception that separates us from truth, or it will ultimately lead us away from the true path.  We are free to travel the paths of truth when our self-will is removed and we humble ourselves by seeking the good of the many.

Truth is simply the destination of a random and unpredictable journey.  As our soul walks to the grave, the steps taken along the way are dictated by free will.  Whether we seek evil or good, all paths end at truth.  For the seeker of knowledge, reward is gained and continues beyond the grave.  For the seeker of self, reward is pursued but never gained, ending at the grave.

This life is fleeting.  At our essence, we are souls trapped in a decaying corpse, a corpse moving about in time.  Will the precious time we have on this earth be lived for our own selfish ends, or will we take each step forward for the betterment of others?  Discovering our purpose for this movement in time is then reduced to these two choices and will define who we are when the end finally comes.  No matter where we go, there we will be, and until we realize that we can only be where we go, we will only be where we are.

Higher Level Thinking? As Easy As A Question

“Questions, I’ve got some questions” is how a Jack Johnson song from the Curious George Soundtrack begins. From the beginning of our lives, we are always questioning something. They start as simple things at first as we explore our new, vast world and the complexity grows as we mature. One of the most amazing faculties afforded to us as humans is the ability to think. The problem for teachers is how to get our students to utilize this amazing skill to the best of their abilities. We all know that students who are constantly involved in the learning process will thrive and grow the most academically.
So, here is the situation. Questions are being asked all day and every day in schools, offices, homes and elsewhere around the world. But, what kinds of questions? Do they always work? Do we get the answer we were looking for? Are our students engaged in the learning process? Do we use questioning enough? You can figure out the answer for your specific instance very easily.
Think about your daily lesson, work or social life. If you just completed a project in class with your students, do you ask, “What did you think about the project?”. You will most likely hear lots of “Yes’s.” and “It was OK.” and responses like that. These are short answers that make students feel like they are appeasing you.
Imagine being at work and asking your employees or co-workers, “How did you think the meeting went?”. Again, you will hear quick responses that have little to no thought involved in them. This will happen for a variety of reasons.
The same thing will happen with friends, family and basically any other situation you are in. Sometimes we hear people talking about “digging deeper” to find out more information about something. What does “digging deeper” really mean? It means, asking the right question.
When trying to elicit a response from anyone, we need to use the proper start to every question. Simply asking “How was your trip?” will never work. The answer could just be “Good.”. Not exactly what you were looking for if you plan to take a similar trip to the same location. You need to get more information. The question starter “How was….?” was very insufficient in promoting conversation. Promoting conversation is the key to making the mind think. Simply asking, “How could you summarize your trip to…?” would work better. This person would then describe and explain the major parts of the trip and you can guide the conversation in the direction of your curiosity.
How does this relate to the classroom? In the classroom this means that the student has to think about prior learning and come up with an organized response to the question. Higher-level thinking questions do just that. They do not allow for one-word or short answers. The student must become engaged in a conversation. This may mean that they are interpreting data, defending an opinion, coming up with a solution to an issue or any other variety of responses that cause students speak their thoughts aloud.
Now, how is this done? Higher-level thinking questions have beginnings that are well defined. They automatically cause individuals to “ponder”. Many times they will relate to opinions that individuals may have formed so that they want to express themselves. Here are some examples of question starters: “How can you explain why…?”, “How would you compare…?”, “In your owns words, what is…?”, “How could you simplify…?”, “What is the significance of…?” (Kagan, 1999). Right away you can see how the gears start working and the process of being involved begins. Students, or anyone for that matter, begin to think! When you get immersed in it, you can have the students use the “starters” to come up with questions regarding a topic. Again, making them a part of the experience keeps that involvement at a high level.
We have all heard of the value of good questions somewhere in our lives. Dr. Spencer Kagan has developed sets of these “question starters” along with entire books devoted to specific topic areas. This way of thinking and teaching stresses the development of thinking skills along with higher-level thinking, such as creative and critical thinking. By utilizing this type of questioning in you daily lessons and lives, you can help individuals to become more intellectual, creative and involved than they ever have been. Dr. Kagan has devoted his life to Cooperative Learning in the classroom and has a wealth of resources available. Check out Kagan online or search for Kagan on Amazon and see what the buzz is all about. I could say, “What are you waiting for?”, but I can make you really consider it by asking, “What differences might you see in your students if you apply this type of questioning strategy?”. Good Luck!!!

Education and the Changing World

How important really is the teacher in the education sector? Many people rely heavily on the teacher at schools for the education of their children. At the same time, educational institutions also take pride of their teachers’ capabilities to impart knowledge on the youth. They invest heavily on recruiting the best teachers to be part of their staff. It seems, therefore, that these educators play a central role at schools and in the education sector, in general. In this article, the characteristics of a good teacher and his/her responsibilities will be discussed in an in-depth manner

Teachers are an integral part of a learning institution. You cannot find one school that has no teacher in its staff. Of course, it cannot be called a school if it does not have teachers. A teacher is a person who is responsible for conveying knowledge to the students to prepare the latter to become productive and competitive members of the society. As amply called, a teacher teaches the students on the relevant information, skills and experiences they need in accordance with the established curriculum.

A good teacher has the quality and capability of effectively conveying knowledge and wisdom to the students. This is important as the teachers are the trainers of the new generation of citizens, who will be the heirs to the society. It is the task of the teacher to train well and prepare the youth to face the challenges that will come upon them once they have graduated from school. A teacher has the responsibility of passing the knowledge from generations pass to the future caretakers of society. These tasks have been made greater by the development of society and the advancement of technology.

As society and technology progresses, the challenges that are facing the teachers are also becoming enormous. They must be able to cope with up with the rapidly advancing technology along with their teaching methods. At present, more and more students are hooked up with the Internet. Thousands of information, a number of which are harmful to the students, are posted on the web. This could prove detrimental on the learning process of the students. Teachers must be able to screen, or at least find a way to screen, these things or give clarifications on these unwanted information.

On the other hand, teachers can take advantage of the technological innovations. They can also use this technology to improve their teaching methods. If they are linked with other schools, they can use the convenience of the Internet to communicate with other teachers to share experiences, methods and information on effective teaching.

It can be said, therefore, that teachers are very important in the development of society. Without them, the passing of knowledge, accumulated from the past generations, to the new generation of caretakers of the society will not be possible. This responsibility bestowed upon their shoulders is an enormous task. The profession of teaching is one of the noblest professions in society. As the great philosopher Aristotle once said, there are only three true professionals in society; they are the lawyers, the doctors and the teachers.

Tips To Develop Your Child's Mental Skills

When a children is exposed to new ideas or knowledge, their brain will absorb these like a sponge.

This is crucial to the child's development both mentally and emotionally. Having an environment favorable to learning access to everything that can help a child learn new things are crucial in his mental development.

Today, we are lucky that we have things that are available that can help us achieve this. Here are a few: 1. Books- It is undeniable that children of any age enjoy reading books especially those which have colorful pictures and pop-up pages. Even children who are barely a year old are very eager to listen to bedtime stories. You should encourage your kids to read often. Take them along with you when you go to the bookstore. And when it's time, start teaching him how to read. It is through reading that a child can have the opportunity to see the world from many different angles. Reading can give the child the chance to learn new things, explore the world without traveling and most of all, he can be able to explore different cultures. This is not only a fun but this is a very inexpensive hobby.

2. It's common to pregnant women to be advised by their friends or relatives to listen to classical music. This is because it has been reported that exposing children to classical music before birth will have a greater appreciation for this when they grow up. You can introduce different genres of music as your child grows and for those who can afford, enrolling your kids to piano, violin or guitar classes will help.

3. Children, just like some of us, don't enjoy numbers that much. You can include math in your kid's daily activities like making them count their toys or their fingers or anything that can be counted. The challenge is to make math fun to learn. If it is fun, the child will have a greater chance of remembering each lesson he learns.

4. CAD for Kids- Every child has an artist in him. Children have different methods in expressing art. They may scribble, draw, sculpt, write or paint. Parents should encourage the child so that his creativity will be enriched. You can do this by giving them the opportunity to express themselves. CAD is software used by design professionals such as architects and engineers. CAD for kids, however, was designed to help children see the artist in him and help him learn to express this artistry through drawing on a digital medium. Who knows? Your child could be the next big thing in architecture for the future generations. When you help your child develop his mental ability, you are not only helping him be excellent in academics.
It has been proven that kids who explore different learning avenues grow up to be a more secure person than those who are always left with nannies and spending the entire day watching TV.

It Is Never To Late To Learn

There are people who do not pursue college education during their early days. For those who do, some of them do not continue with graduate education immediately after completing their first degree. These people have several reasons for not pursuing their studies at that time.
Firstly, they may lack the financial support for their study. Secondly, they may not be able to meet the entrance criteria set by the college. Thirdly, they may lack the interest to study. Fourthly, they may not be able to find their desired course in any of the colleges. Hence, they started looking for a job with whatever qualification they have, eventually found a job and began to work.
After working for some time, some of these people start to show interest in pursuing their education to a higher level-something that they did not do previously. They are keen to pick up where they had left off. There are several compelling reasons why they want to do this.
Firstly, they now have the financial capability to take up the course. After working for a period of time, they could have saved a substantial sum of money and want to invest in their education. Secondly, their learning ability could have improved and they have succeeded in meeting the entrance requirement set by the college. Some people excel in their studies later. Thirdly, they could have developed interest in a particular subject during their course of work or personal encounters. Sometimes, certain encounters in our life may uncover our deep rooted passion or interest in a certain subject and we want to further our knowledge in that area.
Fourthly, these people could have been promoted to a higher position after working in the industry for a period of time and they need to acquire more knowledge in the field they are working. When a person is given a higher position, the demand for knowledge in a certain subject also increases. Hence, he or she needs to learn more about that subject in order to perform his or her duties efficiently. For example, if an engineer is promoted to be a chief engineer, he or she should increase his or her engineering knowledge. Perhaps, in another case, if an engineer is promoted to be the head of the engineering department, he or she should learn more about management skills. In either case, the person has to acquire more knowledge in order to perform the new responsibilities well.
Is it too late for these people to learn again? The answer is no. It is never too late for them to learn as long as they have the means and the opportunity to do so. If they are interested to learn, and have the money and time to do so, they should take the chance to learn.
As long as they can apply the new knowledge, they should go forth and take up a course. They should not deprive themselves from enjoying the benefits of learning. Moreover, with so many distance learning programs available, they can study without having to quit their jobs. Many colleges provide distance learning programs for various disciplines specifically for working adults who want to study but do not wish to leave their jobs.
Distance learning programs provide people the flexibility and freedom to study at any place and any time. These programs are gaining more popularity and credibility. Some research studies have shown that distance learning education can be as effective as campus-based education and distance students can perform as well as or better than campus-based students.
Are you keen to further your education? If you are, then there is no reason why you should not proceed to take up a course and learn. At any point of your life, it is always not too late to study a course and gain additional knowledge. Besides, with distance education, learning is made possible now for those who want to study as well as continue working. You can carry on with whatever you are doing and learn at your own pace and at any place. Furthermore, with so many courses available, you will definitely be able to find the course you want to study. You can get a free catalogue and find out more about the courses that interest you at Distance Learning Degree.

Parenting tips for special needs kids with math disabilities

How often has your child said, “I don’t like math!” “I just don’t get math!” I can’t learn math!”

Compared to reading, parents are more tolerant of problems in math. But math is very important in children’s lives and future careers. Many of the fastest growing occupations require math through algebra and even calculus.

Math is the most cumulative subject in school. Therefore, if your special needs child falls behind, he is particularly prone to developing “gaps” in knowledge that will haunt him in future years.

Elementary teachers do a poor job of teaching math

Math is the most poorly taught subject in school, particularly in elementary school. Research has proven that elementary teachers are uncomfortable with math—not only with teaching math, but with using mathematical principles in their own lives. In fact, many elementary teachers suffer from math anxiety themselves. Therefore, most elementary teachers are not good influences on the mathematical learning and attitudes of their students.

The combination of a teacher’s poor understanding of mathematical concepts, inadequate knowledge of teaching methods in mathematics, and limited knowledge about modifying teaching approaches to reach learners with atypical learning profiles can create dismal results for special needs children.

Tip #1

Stress to your children the importance of mathematics in their lives and careers.

Jobs in science and technology require a strong knowledge of math, and play a vital role in the advancements that give us our standard of living. Students who understand mathematics have dramatically more career opportunities than students whose math abilities are weak.

The level of math sophistication is much greater for today’s students

Because the nature of math education has morphed dramatically since most parents went to school, often parents find themselves beginning to struggle with math concepts when their child reaches middle school.

If a special needs child has struggles with math, parents need to face the harsh truth that they may not stand in the ideal position to help their child themselves, particularly when math becomes conceptually difficult. Due to the history in the US of poor math teaching, parents may have limited knowledge of mathematics and may not appreciate the central role math plays in the lives of today’s citizens.

Tip #2

If you are finding that you do not completely understand the work your child is bringing home, you should bow out of the “direct teaching” role. Direct teaching involves explaining concepts and procedures to your child, much as a teacher or tutor would. If you don’t fully understand the math you are teaching your child, you and your child run the risk of ingraining inaccurate beliefs and inefficient habits that can take months to undo.

Math anxiety is rampant in the U.S.

Did you know that at least 66% of adults have strong negative feelings about math! This is largely due to poor teaching adults received in school. These negative feelings are easy to communicate to your child. When children feel negative about a school subject, they unconsciously engage in self-sabotaging behaviors such as tuning out in class, not doing their homework, not asking questions when they don’t understand, and not practicing the concepts and skills enough to make them automatic.

This starts a vicious cycle of failure…as the student “back away” from learning math, he or she begins to fall behind in learning, and this creates even more dislike and avoidance. Eventually, what’s called learned helplessness sets in.

This enemy robs a child of their power. This beast whispers in a child’s ear phrases such as “you’re stupid” “you’ll never learn this stuff” “who are you kidding, you don’t need this” and the ever-present “this is boring”

These self-destructive messages tear at a child’s resolve, limit what he or she can learn, and reduce future educational and career options.

Tip #3

If you have negative feelings about math, make a conscious effort to change these feelings, and encourage your children to feel positively about math. Praise your child’s efforts, especially when the going is tough.

Math has to “make sense” in order for your child to want to learn it

Students respond to a program that puts understanding and enjoyment into math. They benefit from meaningful learning experiences that overcome frustration with “math that just doesn’t make sense.” They learn concepts and computation more quickly from real life situations.

Tip #4

Show children how math is used in their lives.

At stores, have them develop mental arithmetic skills by adding up the cost of a few items, by estimating sales tax, or by figuring out the cost of one can of soda from the price of a six-pack.

Put some fun into math by playing games while riding in the car or standing in line. For “Guess My Secret Identity,” give your child clues such as, “When divided by three, I’m equal to your age,” or “If you add 22 to me, I’m the length of a football field.” Be playful and creative and have your child make up riddles for you to solve.

“Summing in all up”

Special needs kids want to succeed in life and their parents want to do everything possible to help them succeed. If you are among the majority of parents who have negative attitudes toward math, feel your math skills are inadequate, and express your feelings opening to your child, I urge you to make every effort to eliminate these tendencies from your parenting repertoire!

Even if you have, up until now, suffered from the power-robbing demon of math self-doubt, your children can learn math skills and can appreciate the wonderful role math plays in their lives. But they can’t do it without your support and encouragement!

Acupuncture

Acupuncture

A practice of inserting hair-thin needles into specific body points to improve health and well-being, a traditional method originated in China more than 2,000 years ago as a component of Chinese medicine. It is based on theories about the body’s “vital energy” (chi), which is said to circulate through meridians along the surfaces of the body. The theory holds that illness and disease result from imbalances in vital energy that can be remedied when therapy is applied to certain points along the meridians. The goal of acupuncture is to rebalance the flow of energy, promote health and prevent future imbalances that lead to physical and mental ill health.
According to a survey conducted in 2002 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the practice had been used by 8.2 million American adults, and an estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults had used acupuncture in the previous year. The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being “widely” practiced, by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists and other practitioners, for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only. Acupuncture has been used in clinics to help with substance abuse disorders through detoxification, to relieve anxiety, to treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children, to reduce symptoms of depression and to help people with physical ailments such as backaches and osteoporosis.
An acupuncture practitioner who is licensed and credentialed is the best choice. About 40 states have established training standards for acupuncture certification, but states have varied requirements for obtaining a license to practice acupuncture. Proper credentials indicate that the practitioner has met certain standards to treat patients with  acupuncture techniques.