Stress!!! Is it Good or Bad?

STRESS! We have all had our experiences with it. It seems to be a common everyday malady.  To hear, “I’m really stressed out!” or “This is making me totally stressed.” seems to be heard almost every day. When we feel this way, we probably are worried or uncomfortable about something. As a result, we may also experience feeling bad. Stomach aches and headaches are well known symptoms. Being “stressed out” occurs in our students’ lives, too.

Often we think of stress as being a bad thing. However, there is such a thing as good stress. Good stress can help us get things done and/or done better. Times when we feel good stress might be when we have a report in school, are called on in class, or are going up to bat in a ball game. This stress can urge students to prepare better for the presentation, do homework more thoroughly, or practice batting more. 
Bad stress can happen when the stressful feelings keep going over time. When this happens, the stress won’t help us and actually can make us sick. The good news is that there are things we can do to control and help us when we are “stressed out”.

Newsletter "Ready, Set, Go for Learning"

My newsletter "Ready, Set, Go for Learning" which I was published for the school year 2009-2010 is being continued this school year.  At that time there were four volumes, so this fall I began with volume 5.  Issue 1hit the airwaves via email last Thursday and issue 2 will be out this Thursday, September 27th.  It contains information, tips, quotes, etc for parents, teachers, and interested others.  Some of the posts here reflect articles that were in these first four volumes.  My purpose is to share these things with you in a simple and easy to read manner.  

If you would like to receive the newsletter, please message me your email address.  

September-A Time to Evaluate Routines and Be More Successful

There are several times a year that are natural times to evaluate where we are, where we are going, and whether we are on track to get there.  The first of January is a common one, for some July 1st is the beginning of  the year, and another is the beginning of something new.  The beginning of the school year is that for those who are in school or live with those who are. 

"This year I am going to ..." is often said as we think and plan for a new year.  I believe that each of us wants to be more successful in the things we do.  Some times just a few simple changes, additions, etc can make a big difference.  Check out "Success in School" on this blog for some suggestions on how to be better with some easy, simple suggestions!