Entries Tagged 'Teaching' ↓

…the most powerful lessons come from our own triumphs and errors.

Being wrong can be deadly as in the case of a sky-diver not knowing how to fold a parachute. It’s important to understand the risks of what you are doing and whether they could be serious. The mistakes I’m referring to here aren’t the serious type. They are the choices we make everyday. Accumulated over years these seemingly trivial choices become significant in their impact on your life.

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Is there only one “right” answer to this question? Perhaps for some people there is—you chocolate fiends know who you are—but for most of us the choice depends on multiple factors. Many questions in life are like this one. They don’t have only one right answer.

Compulsory education in America trains children to look for one right answer. The approach makes their job easier. It works with their testing systems. It helps them justify their existence. Nonetheless, it doesn’t work for children when they become adults. So what should we do about it?

Like many questions we face as adults, there isn’t only one right answer. Focusing on teaching using the only one solution approach isn’t right. I offer these alternative approaches, one or more of which may be the right answer for you and your children:

• When you teach problem solving, make determining the likelihood of there being only one right answer a step in the process
• Be aware of problems your child encounters that have multiple right answers, point them out, and help them learn ways to choose
• Encourage your child to look for other right answers when it appears there is only one

I’m not suggesting you say, “Yes, that’s right!” to plainly incorrect answers like some people do. I’m recommending you foster the multiple right answer perspective because it increases creativity and open-mindedness. It also informs children that there are at least thirty-one right answers to the question, “What flavor ice cream would you like?”

Have you ever been aware of a shortcut, but repeatedly not taken it because you hadn’t used it yet? I have, but I tried a shortcut last week and it was so efficient and effective it became part of my regular route. The shortcut will help you understand any subject more thoroughly and quickly and can be used by anyone who can write. This is the story of the first time I took this shortcut. Continue reading →

…enhance your life by reducing stress and improving decision making.

Your life is the result of actions taken in a series of present moments. What you do in the current moment is what matters. The past is gone and cannot be changed. As I covered in Being Wrong, you should spend enough time thinking about the past to learn from errors, but dwelling there, like obsessing over the future, is a waste of present moments. Additionally, when you perseverate over the past or future you are likely to beat yourself up or succumb to fear. Avoid this mental self-abuse by cultivating the ability to bring yourself back to the present moment where your choices and actions have meaning.

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