Failure: How to Bounce Back from Your Next One

March 20, 2013 By 3 Comments
FaceFirst

Failure. You are planning to experience it again aren't you? Some years ago I added this line to my life mission statement: "Embrace failure as the only path to success." [ Tweet this! ] I've had to remind myself of it far too often of late. How to Bounce Back A recent failure reminded me of a family scene from a few years ago. We were vacationing in sunny Charleston, SC. It was our kids' first experience with ocean surf. At the time, they were toddlers who had trouble walking on solid … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christian Living, Family, Leadership Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

How to Talk to Your Kids: 3 Simple Steps to Success

March 18, 2013 By 3 Comments

It shouldn't be that hard to do, should it? To talk to your kids? To carry on a conversation with a 5, 7, or 12-year-old? You'd think we wouldn't have to give it too much attention to make it happen. After all, we drive and talk all the time. You can multi-task when trying to talk to your kids can’t you? Well, sometimes. Maybe. But we're not likely not have much success, and certainly not much intentional growth. [ 5 Steps to More Intentional Living by Faith ] Maybe we should take … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christian Living, Family Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

School Choice: The Internet, College Education, and the Local Church

January 31, 2013 By 1 Comment
Innovation-illustration-1024x634

National School Choice Week 2013, which runs from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, shines a spotlight on the need for education opportunities for all. In only its third year, this bipartisan, grassroots effort features more than 3,500 events spanning all 50 states. This is a guest post be Amanda Sanchez, an integral part of the CaCHE movement exploring how to connect college education, the Internet, and local churches around the world. While school vouchers, alternative educational options, and tax … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church, Culture, Guest Posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

See Why Parents Choose School Choice in Ohio

January 30, 2013 By 3 Comments
cropped-SCO-logo-3-color1-300x114

National School Choice Week 2013, which runs from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, shines a spotlight on the need for education opportunities for all. In only its third year, this bipartisan, grassroots effort features more than 3,500 events spanning all 50 states. This is a guest post by Sarah Pechan of School Choice Ohio. You can connect with them on Twitter & Facebook. This week in Columbus, Ohio, parents from across the city came to explore their school options at a community “school … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Family Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

School Choice Week: Why Homeschool Is the Best School

January 28, 2013 By 11 Comments
homeschooling20works

National School Choice Week 2013, which runs from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, shines a spotlight on the need for education opportunities for all. In only its third year, this bipartisan, grassroots effort features more than 3,500 events spanning all 50 states. This is a guest post from Steven Horwich, teacher, writer, director, and founder of Connect the Thoughts, providing resources and training for homeschooling. You can follow him on Twitter @Homeschoolcurr and Facebook. There is a great … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Guest Posts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 11 Comments

Marriage Retreat: How to Plan a Weekend Getaway

January 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Fifteen years -- and counting. I know. Ours is not the longest marriage on record. But it is the happiest. I have the certificate to prove it. Somewhere. It's right --  well, it's not important now. I'll look it up later. Right after we get the six kids to bed. Now that we've covered Why You Should Plan a Marriage Retreat, let's get practical and talk how to plan a weekend getaway. Well, it doesn't have to be a weekend getaway, as you'll see, but it would sure help. One excuse I've heard … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christian Living, Family Tagged With: , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Here’s a Quick Way to Destroy Your Kids

January 4, 2013 By 5 Comments

Our kids have never been good at following the crowd or "sheepwalking" as Seth Godin calls it. Or following the signs at local parks that read: "Stay on Prepared Trails" When I was a kid at the same parks, there were no signs. There were barely paths. The whole point of going was to get off the trail. Explore a mysterious cave. Jump across a tricky precipice. Race up the side of a cliff that was likely to cause a bruise or scrape or both. No, I didn’t wear a helmet. There was one thing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Family, Leadership Tagged With: , , , , , 5 Comments

To All Those Who Want Safer Schools in Newtown

December 20, 2012 By 6 Comments

I get it. Really, I do. We're repulsed by the utter horror of the tragedy in Newtown. Our hearts ache at the thought of such insane bloodshed. I've already shared my own experiences with such issues and my prayer for them as a former principal who still knows and loves so many similar teachers and kids. And I have few little guys of my own. So I get our urge to make schools safer. I understand why we want to do all we can to make sure no one ever hurts like that again. But there is a subtle … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: , , , , , , 6 Comments

Self Esteem Test: How Would You Describe Yourself in Just One Word?

November 28, 2012 By 4 Comments

Annoying. My six-year-old son recently began describing himself with that one word -- annoying. He took some pride in it, in fact. Maybe it was because he'd been watching Dennis the Menace a few times too many. He does resemble Dennis a bit, come to think of it. More likely it had more to do with his siblings labeling him as just that on far too many occasions. You'll be happy to know he has now switched to another, more fitting word -- handsome. Take a simple self esteem test. How would … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christian Living Tagged With: , , , , , 4 Comments

Why Schools Should Get Rid of Almost All Homework

September 7, 2012 By 19 Comments

I hate homework. Not as much as I hate yellow-jackets, but that's another story. As a successful K-12 school leader and principal for a dozen years, I bring a unique voice of experience to this relatively new educational nuisance we call homework. Schools should get rid of almost all of it. It's evil. That's right. Evil. What else should I call something that robs us all of that most precious resource -- time --and often gives nothing but hatred for learning in return? Before too many of my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Culture, Family Tagged With: , , , , , 19 Comments