The Author

Motto:

The student must learn in order to live and learn how to live. Life must enter school through all its doors and windows, inspiring students and teachers to exceed themselves, not in order to receive merits, but to reach their dreams, whatever they may be. (Marcelo Rodrigues - LIFELIKE PEDAGOGY)

We often complain that in Romania the students are not motivated enough. In his educational project LIFELIKE PEDAGOGY, M. Rodrigues suggests connecting the school to the world so that students and teachers can create and discover by themselves.
To read about the author go to: The Author

Here's an excerpt from his book. Which of the types of teachers described below will best help our children reach their goals in life?

"Schools nowadays are boring! They discourage everyone, be they students, teachers or principals. They manage to discourage even the parents, who do not feel encouraged  to take part in their children’s activities, contributing with the very important affective aspect, which would help students grow as students and people. The current learning model used in schools is inefficient and fake. Most students do not remember what the test they had the day before was about, even after receiving a satisfactory grade. The subject is not interesting to them and they only feel pressure from society as a whole to get the expected grades and evaluations. What could be expected from a professional that studied out of obligation? What evolution may be expected from a person who believes that learning is boring and difficult?

            That is the reason why we see so many adults, in unfortunately increasing numbers, interested only in celebrity magazines and futile subjects. Or, on the other hand, they are fully, and blindly, focused on the unstoppable search for more and more money, as an attempt to attribute meaning to their empty lives, forgetting themselves, their families, their friends, always complaining about their lack of time and quality of life, without making any effort to change their life style.Let’s be better than that! Let’s teach our students that there is a whole world out there, and we can do that by bringing this world to the classroom and, at the same time, taking the classroom to the world out there. Let’s bring the world to our lives.

The expectant-teacher

The role of the teacher must change radically. Instead of dispensing knowledge, hoping that students absorb something, In my experience, what motivates anyone to become a teacher is the affectionate involvement that emerges from the relationship with other human beings and the pride taken in their personal evolution and achievements. But how is it possible to reach these two sources of satisfaction if the students are passive in the whole process? How is it possible to develop an affectionate connection in a relationship based only on authority? How can one be proud of achievements when the student doesn’t even show the desire to struggle? Or could we consider a high grade on a test as a personal achievement?

The stimulating teacher

Like a coach, who yells at the team the whole time, stimulating them to give their best and to believe in victory, teachers should show their students that they believe in them, that they support them, that they will assume the risks with them in order to reach their goals and dreams.

The guiding teacher

As a wise person, the teacher must offer advice, showing the possible threats and opportunities that may be found along the way, but the teacher must never make a decision on the students’ behalf. No one can learn in life following scripts. Taking risks is something necessary and teachers must guide their students during their journey, helping them face obstacles, so that they can get to know themselves and face the situations with courage and strength.

The provocative teacher

Many feelings may come from a teacher’s provocation. The teacher must prod their students so that they move, think, ask, question, and argue: all valid actions in the discovery of life and the world.

The challenging teacher

This doesn’t mean challenging in the sense of stirring up opposition towards their students. Teachers should suggest chal lenges to be met together with the students. The teacher should show that they can do more, can go beyond what they think they can and that their teacher believes in them to the point of suggesting that they advance.

The collaborative teacher

A partner. This term can describe the teacher who collaborates,who does their share, who works together with their students, hands on. Not in the sense of replacing the students, but

doing with the students, being part of the group.

The facilitating teacher

Students are not always ready for a challenge that arises. The teacher must be the regulator of the challenge, so that it doesn’t become a factor to discourage the students, being too easy or too difficult. In certain situations, as it would defeat the purpose if the students didn’t manage to advance, the teacher may facilitate some passages."

For more information on the book go to:  http://www.lifelikepedagogy.com/book/

MIRROR NEURONS

1. Do parents care about how children are doing in school or about the rest of their lives? 

2. Do Moms and Dads get relationally connected to their child in different ways? 

3. How can Moms and Dads help their child to be a better and happier person?

As an employee who’s been working with a language school for 17 years I’ve been in touch with lots of parents and have often been asked many questions. Parents need a little advice every now and then and some even ask for help and support. There are solutions different sciences and experienced educators can offer to all the problems parents are faced with. Briefly, here are a couple of tips on handling everyday situations.

1. Parents focus on their child’s well-doing from day one: his crawling, his saying the first words (how many and how well pronounced), his singing, drawing and the ability to recite poems. Later, school success matters most and the parents’ life becomes a struggle for the best kindergarten, best school, expensive language courses, dance and sports training. Everyday is a busy day. Does this mean that parents help their child become a better person? Not at all. Some children can’t sing or draw well. Few win competitions. Fewer have a chance to become Members of Mensa. Still, many of these children have a high chance to be successful in life. They are the children whose parents realize their job is to stay involved and use their capacities for companionship and communication; a year-round job, a job for a lifetime, not a day off work from infancy to adolescence.

2. Usually, mothers have no problem to stay connected to their children. The child is born connected to his mother, while a father must learn how to build this connection. Men are interested in how their children perform, and hate to admit emotions, to acknowledge and express them. Until recently, men have been blamed for that. Scientists consider that most Moms have a high level of empathy to care for and protect their baby. Their capacity to express love is innate, but most learn the art of communicating love, and are willing to develop it. This is what makes a child feel like a human being. Unlike women, men don’t do much effort to practice empathy.

Scientists seem to have found an answer to these two differences: mirror neurons. They are considered as the physiological basis for empathy. Although still a controversial aspect, recent research has proved a gender difference in the human mirror neuron system. Women seem to have a stronger activation of the mirror system for hand actions and emotions.

Another theory argues for personality and education not the sex of the parent. There is proof that both men and women can be overly performance-focused and the focus on fathering has increases over the years.

3. Ideally, both parents should be physically and psychologically there for their children to mentor and encourage. Otherwise, children of absent parents usually look for models and connections outside their family. This can be very harmful; strangers can become dominating and start influence children’s behaviour, morality and their plans for the future. To say nothing of other dangers some girls and boys will be faced with: to be sexually exploited or … However we are not discussing worst-case scenarios and their tragic consequences. We are interested in everyday normal situations that parents should focus upon if they want their children’s well-being, not only their well-doing. It’s possible and not hard to apply. 

There is one single rule – BE POSITIVE! Here are a couple of tips for parents to be relationally focused:

• start by controlling your anger 

• don’t be critical. Let the child try and fail.

• don’t be violent. Teach your child right from wrong, teach him appropriate behaviour and in case the child fails, find discipline alternatives to spanking. Don’t punish. 

• avoid conflicts. Treat such situations as a chance for your child to ask you questions, to discuss and understand what they’ve done wrong. 

• spend time with your child and expose them to different activities: read to them, play different kinds of music to them. 

• build something together, learn together, give them time alone, but watch them. 

• build character traits such as: responsibility, dedication, determination, diligence, enthusiasm. • ask “How are you doing?”, “How are you feeling?” as many times as you can. Say “I love you.” everyday.

Your child’s well-being depends on your ability to:

BE POSITIVE

BE EMPATHETIC 

SHOW THAT YOU CARE

If you fail, who is to blame? Mirror neurons?

1 CLICK, A CHANCE FOR 72 MIL. CHILDREN

A mai ramas putin timp pentru a creste sansa la educatie a celor aproape 72 mil. de copii analfabeti. Doar un click, niciun RON!

Hi,

Did you know I’m a member of the biggest squad at this World Cup – one that boasts 201 world-class football stars, 63 clubs and associations, 31 celebrities and world leaders?

It’s the 1GOAL Squad, and it’s been formed to kick the most important goal at this World Cup: education for every single child in the world. That means convincing world leaders to provide education for the 72 million children currently not in school, missing out on the opportunities an education provides.

The good news is the 1GOAL Squad is recruiting – and our 1GOAL scouts have told me they would love to have YOU on the team! Just click here to sign with the 1GOAL Squad:

http://www.join1goal.org/1goal_squad.php

As teams line up for the World Cup Final, our squad is sending a message to world leaders meeting there that we want education for the 72 million children that don’t have it. Sign up to the Squad today to join us and kick that goal!

Thanks!

 Mioara  Iacob

SHAKIRA SINGS FOR EDUCATION

This is the perfect opportunity, as the campaign for the World Cup ends, to focus on the campaign for universal education.You can still vote for education:

www.join1goal.org/r/yellowcard

THE LEARNING REVOLUTION

You might have watched the previous post. A 12 year-old girl delivering a speech during a TED conference to a large audience of adults. On her website, many visitors expressed their doubt whether she had produced the speech herself; the doubters suggested the young speaker was nothing but a marketing product of her ambitious parents. Maybe. But maybe not. I’ve watched her several times: her facial expression, the tone of voice, posture, gesture, her timing and pace, and the way she managed to establish eye contact with her audience. It takes genuine intelligence to use nonverbal communication techniques. Moreover, You must have observed the young girl's ability to draw the listeners to her. This is what her parents must have worked upon: developing her ability to identify, use, understand and manage her emotions in a positive and constructive way. Adora’s other activities with children her age proved she could communicate clearly, inspire and influence the others and even work in a team, although she was thought at home by her parents.

In her case, personalized teaching created excellent conditions for her talents to develop. Watch Sir Ken Robinson’s plea for the learning revolution. If it ever happened, would the new system produce prodigy children? Or just better citizens?

PRODIGY CHILD vs. ADULTS

ONE GOAL - EDUCATION FOR ALL

Recent am descoperit cu placere pe Twitter o postare despre Cupa Mondiala FIFA care isi leaga numele de o campanie decenta si eleganta - "Fotbal pentru educatie". Afla detalii si transmite stirea mai departe. DE CE? Pentru ca 72 mil. de copii inca nu stiu sa citeasca. Pentru ca doar prin educatie se poate scapa de saracie. Si pentru ca NU trebuie sa donezi bani.

http://www.join1goal.org/

140

What's in 140 characters? The whole world. Last week I started my online journey from Bucharest, Romania, and in just a couple of days I found myself on Twitter Planet, via the USA, Brasil, Canada, India, Craiova in Romania, the UK.
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Hello every single one of you!

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