Here are a few favorite subjects I've learned about in the past couple weeks:
WHAT CHILDREN NEED
I re-watched Rosemary Wixom's great talk from Conference about how to build up our children and be kind but strong influences in their lives. Loved her points about being more fully present with our children and our lives as we commit to disconnect with technology regularly (that helped prompt the big promotion we're doing on Power of Moms of Screen-Free Week next week).
IMPERFECT FAITH IS OK
I love Elder Holland's talk on holding fast to what we know and standing strong until additional knowledge comes. Faith and knowledge never start out perfect. The size of our faith is not the issue - it's the integrity we show towards the beliefs we do have. Do not start with what you don't know. Start with what you do know and build on that. Here's the link to watch it:
MOTIVATION
I thought a lot about what really motivates me (and my kids and those I work with at Power of Moms and in other capacities) and how to increase motivation as I watched this TED talk by Dan Ariely: What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work
Here's a little description: Why do we work and attempt to accomplish hard things? Contrary to conventional wisdom, it isn't just money. But it's not exactly joy either. It seems that most of us thrive by making constant progress and feeling a sense of purpose - plus we need to feel that our attempts are appreciated and acknowledged. Behavioral economist Dan Ariely presents two eye-opening experiments that reveal our unexpected and nuanced attitudes toward meaning in our work.
HOW SCHOOLS SHORTCHANGE KIDS
And I really liked thinking back to my days at Harvard Education School while watching this humorous talk by Sir Ken Robinson about how schools are shortchanging our kids in many ways and how important it is to nurture our kids' creativity: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Schools are set up to produce college professors based on the curriculum covered and methods used. But not everyone wants or needs to be a college professor! We need dancers and artists and inventors and organizers - none of which is promoted by the current curriculum in most schools.
3 comments:
I also feel like I need to do better at focusing on my own learning and growth. I feel like I read and watch other people learning and growing and just don't take the time to find out what I'M learning. Thanks for your great thoughts!
great post Saren! you are the master!
I've listened to that Ken Robinson talk at least 20 times, and it it one of the reasons I am moving to a new school to teach. Kindling children's creativity is so important!
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