Category Archives for "School"

How to help a child or teen with trouble concentrating

ethan 23 asks: Our son is ambidextrous, with possible dyslexia, and has real trouble concentrating, I am looking for methods to help him build up his concentration levels at school and in sports.

Hi ethan 23 –

I’m not sure what you’re saying about your son being ambidextrous – that just means he can use both hands equally well, and that’s a great thing (especially to someone like me, who doesn’t have any hands at all!).

But the trouble concentrating is, of course, a real problem.  Now I also have lots of trouble concentrating.  But that’s kind of normal for a dog (Have you seen the movie “Up”?  That dog in that movie is a great depiction of the unfocusedness that all dogs have, at least while they’re still young.).  And so, when I went to Training Class, the teacher did a great job of working with the lack of concentration in all of us.  He had our humans do two things.  Firstly, to carry a can with some rocks or coins in it, so when the dog isn’t focused on you, you can shake it.  It’s far kinder than hitting or scolding the dog, and focuses us just great.  Then secondly, they’d carry a bag of meaty treats in their pockets.  You wouldn’t believe what that does for a puppy’s focus!

And with your son, I’d really suggest trying to do the Continue reading

1 Why don’t we feel the earth’s motion?

Danish asks: Why don’t we feel the earth’s motion directly?

What a great question, Danish!  I’ve never thought about this, so I had to look it up.  And the answer is fascinating!

 

The easy way to answer you is to ask what you feel when you’re in a car or an airplane.  Have you ever noticed that you feel it when it accelerates or turns, but never at all while it’s Continue reading

Should teenagers have jobs while in school?

Adnan asks: In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Can you please tell me if you think this is a good idea?

Hi Adnan –

 

Great question.  Although I have to admit, I don’t know what countries don’t have teenagers who work while being students.  I think it’s a great idea, and have nothing against it.  With a couple of exceptions.

 

Firstly, I’m a big believer in education.  And it’s impossible for a teenager, or anyone else, to carry a full high-school or college courseload and do a fulltime job. Something has to give.  So if it’s financially possible, I’m all for having the education be the full-time commitment, and the job be part-time.  But if it’s absolutely necessary that the kid work full-time, then I’d want the education to be spread-out.  In other words, maybe they could cut their class-load in half, and just take two years to do what other students do in one.  It does no good for a kid to do a full courseload and only devote half the time they need to each of their classes.  Better to put all the work you need into history this year, and into algebra next year, for example.

 

Secondly, most of us live in a very fortunate time, when child labor has been outlawed.  But it still exists in some parts of the world.  Children can be enslaved, forced to do backbreaking work for little or no pay, because they have no power to fight back the way adults would.  This is morally wrong, and I’m completely against that.  So when you ask about “teenagers having jobs,” and I say I’m all for it, I mean jobs like helping out on the family farm, flipping burgers and waiting tables (that’s the job I’d like best!), counseling in camps or teaching sports, office or store jobs – something that is appropriate for their age.  And I especially want their parents to check the job out, and make very sure their kid is being treated fairly.  Otherwise, it’s exploitation – a big word for taking advantage of the weak.

 

Having a job can build self-esteem, and teach all sorts of great values to a teenager.  I just want to make sure we’re talking about that sort of job!

 

Great question, thanks!

Shirelle

 

3 How to create a radio show

Aanand asks: Hi, I am asking a question to you for the first time. In school, I have to do a radio show as a Project. Do you have any ideas? Are there any sites for that? Please help me.

Hi Aanand –

 

What a cool assignment!  All they had me do in school was sit, stay, and heel.  They never asked me to do a radio show.  And hey, I wouldn’t have been the first canine on the air – there were famous deejays in the past named Moondog and Wolfman Jack!  Ah-WOOOOOOOO!

 

You can definitely find out stuff about this online.  If you go to a search engine and type in “making a radio show,” you’ll get some Continue reading

How to help teenagers who drop out of school

Dianne asks: How can I help children who drop out of school?

Hi Dianne –

 

What a good person you must be!  Because kids who drop out of school definitely need help.

 

Now I need to admit a bias here – unless there’s a really strong reason (say, a kid lives on a farm and he needs to leave school to help work the fields and keep his family alive; or if the school is truly dangerous), I’m really against kids dropping out.  There aren’t a lot of things that our societies give to kids, and school is one of the greatest.  Even in a lousy school, kids can learn so many things that will help them later in life, and make friends who’ll Continue reading

How to deal with having insulted a friend.

Brittany asks: I just started summer vacation, and I’m excited. There was this girl in my class who wears make-up and dyes her hair (we’re talking about fifth grade here). I also have a YouTube channel, and I made a video of me and my friend doing random stuff. At one point in it, I told that girl to jump off a cliff. I was just playing, but when this kid in my class found it, everyone saw it. It was a while ago when I posted it, but people started taking it seriously. Near the end of the year, her mom came on a field trip, and I got chewed out. She told me to take it off of YouTube before she told the principal, but I couldn’t and it never came up again. The girl also said she was moving, but she’s still one of my Facebook friends. Should I be happy, scared, or ashamed right now?

Oh Brittany, this is a lot!  Let me divide it into three answers:

 

First, about your posting that video.  This is a huge problem, as you probably know.  Nobody who ever lived before now ever experienced anything like the Internet.  It used to be you could say something like “That mutt across the street stinks like he rolled in a litterbox,” and even if everyone in the neighborhood repeated it, we’d be talking about relatively few ever knowing about it.  But today, something goes online, and it’s instantly viewable around the world, and hundreds, thousands, millions, billions could watch it.  So the good news is that you got this experience at a very early age, and so can learn the big lesson:  Be really careful about what you post online.  Especially if you say anything against anyone, you’ll have to live with what you Continue reading

How can school teach children about jobs

1 asks: I’m a teacher in primary school. I want to know how I can give guidance to children about jobs.

Hey 1, good for you!  So many teachers avoid talking with young children about jobs, and only teach them official subjects.  But kids want to know about jobs, and it really helps for them to see how their book-learning applies to the work they’ll be doing in the big world some day.

 

At the same time, because you’re teaching Primary school, you’re going to face a lot of kids who (correctly) have dreams that extend beyond their Continue reading

How should a teenage girl dress?

Charis asks: I don’t know what has gotten into me, that makes me feel so self-conscious these days. I used to be unbothered with what I wore, only caring about whether or not it’s comfortable. But now, I think of how people would think about me, and whether my so-called fashion sense would allow me to fit in with my other friends. However, my friends said that I have a very ‘Auntie’ style. I usually wear long jeans with a sweater. To me, it’s just being conservative so as to avoid giving guys the wrong impression. But, to my friends, I am being a coward by being scared to show some skin. I tried to shop for slightly-above-knee dresses, but I felt uncomfortable in them. I can’t take it anymore. What do I do?

Well Charis, here’s the good and bad news:  Welcome to Teenagerhood!  It’s great that you got to spend your childhood being a sensible girl who cared mainly about comfort, practicality, and safety.  Now here all that intelligence goes – whoosh – out the window!!

 

Now am I saying you’re not intelligent anymore?  Of course not.  In fact, in many ways, you’re smarter than you’ve ever been.   But now that you’re a teenager, some things matter that never mattered before.  Like just how important other people’s opinions are, and whether or not you’re attractive to the people you’re attracted to.  And especially Being Continue reading

How to prepare for cumulative exams

Angelbrat asks: I’m supossed to do my IGCSE exams in November, and yet I don’t feel like I’m ready! I’m always babysitting my little brother and at times I don’t have time for my studies! What should I do? Do you have any method of studying that can help me? I’m counting on you, please!

Hi Angelbrat –

 

It sounds to me like you’re dealing with two issues.  As far as the question about study methods, I’d refer you to CaNdAcE’s question about school tips for teenagers.  I threw some good stuff in there, if I do say so myself!

 

But I think you have a bigger problem than just study techniques.  And that’s called Time Management.  It’s hard for teenagers to manage time anyway, and you’re supposed to be babysitting your little brother – so how can you possibly get everything done?

 

The answer is the most boring word any teenager ever hears:  Continue reading

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