Stilwell's Learning Center AZ

 Encouragement and Persistence "Be like a postage stamp. Stick to it until you get there.” Harvey Mackay This week two things reminded me of the importance of both encouragement and persistence. I was helping a 2nd grade girl with penmanship and sound-blending words. She had many learning difficulties and found writing and following instructions very difficult. As we do with all of our students, I kept encouraging her to form the letters correctly and make the sounds of the words without stopping her voice. After awhile she began to succeed. A glow came over her when she realized she had finally spelled the words correctly by sounding them out and writing them correctly. It was only her second day at Stilwell' Learning Center and she was already feeling more confident. Another time this week, while I was in the grocery store, a parent of a former student proudly told me her son was now taking pre-med courses at the university. This student had also needed much encouragement an...

Hugs Harold (Harry) Hugginton at Stilwell's Learning Center SV location "A hug is two hearts wrapped in arms." - Unknown Author Even cows like hugs. When I (Chuck Stilwell) was a boy, we lived on a ranch.  My father would milk our cow, and we would have wonderful creamy  milk and butter. The cow and my dad didn't always get along. She  would often wait until the bucket was nearly full and then kick it over.  This would greatly anger my dad.  Then, to make matters worse,  Bessy, the cow, would get halfway through the gate to return to the  pasture and refuse to move until she received a hug from my father.  She would not be budged. Finally, my dad would cool off and  give her a hug and tell her she was a good cow and she would moo  and amble off to the pasture.  Sometimes as parents and grandparents  we can become frustrated or angry with  our children's immature actions.  Yet, a hug, a word of encouragement and the...

Spring Break and Vacations are GOOD      Parents often ask me if they might continue to have their child come during a Spring Break or other one or two-week time when there is no school.       It sounds like a good idea, but I have found it counter-productive. One of the reasons for the break in the first place is to give students an opportunity to rest their brain and get ready for the next step in learning.      During the week off, it would still be good not to start bad habits of binging on TV or video games or just sleeping all day. Those habits are hard to break, even after only a week. Here are some suggestions:  If one parent is not working outside the home, you could plan each day to do something special you could not do during the school day.  Go to the river, hike in the mountains, visit some historical sites, have game competitions, ride bikes around the city or other places.  Take walks together and talk about...

When I was growing up our family usually had oatmeal for breakfast during the week, with our own fresh goat’s milk or fresh cow’s milk and fresh fruit. On weekends we would have pancakes or waffles and eggs. At times we would also have eggs and toast or French toast during the weekdays. Living on a farm with a cow and goats we always had fresh cream for our cereal as well as fresh milk to drink. The milk, cream and butter were packed with good enzymes, so we never got fat. Oatmeal, eggs, and whole grain pancakes with good bacon were standard breakfasts when I was growing up. It was a great way to start the day! We remained healthy and alert all day. We usually packed a lunch for school. We would have an orange, apple, or banana with a whole grain bread sandwich. Sandwiches were often made with leftover chicken, roast or turkey with mayonnaise and mustard. Sometimes we had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Our thermoses were usually filled with milk or watered-down grape juic...

As parents and grandparents these days, we are going to have to become even more responsible for our children and grandchildren. We cannot leave our children’s education to the schools any longer. Visiting the principal and teachers and the classrooms on a regular basis is a necessity. Knowing exactly what they are being taught is crucial.  It should be one of our goals to know that our children are safe and really learning correct and valuable information. We must ask if they are learning how to learn and how to cope in this very complicated society in which we find ourselves. Children growing up in homes where two parents who have been married continuously are less likely to experience a wide range of problems (academic, social, emotional, cognitive), not only in childhood but later on in adulthood as well (Amato; Howard & Reeves,) Here are a few tips for parents and students: Healthy learners in both elementary and secondary settings need   good food   and   g...

I do not have pets now, unless you consider the javelina or coyotes passing through the yard as pets. We used to have cats and dogs. They are quite a study in opposite lifestyles. Our dogs were always very active and loving and appeared to take their duties of companions and protectors as priorities. Our latest cat had a totally different understanding of life. His priority seemed to be to sleep. However, he did have a routine. He dutifully awakened us at 5:00 a.m. sharp and in case we didn't respond within the next 10 minutes he would start sharpening his claws on the chair which he knew   would elicit a response. The cat would then direct one of us to the utility room where he would indignantly show the empty food dish. Having eaten whatever he chose from the replenished food, the next item of the day was to wait at the glass door in our bedroom to be let outside. He selected me for that activity. When I opened the door, it...