Why All Kids need YOU!

As an educator or a parent or a grandparent or even a friend you can have a special impact in the life of a child.  We many times take it for granted the fact that we have the opportunity to make a difference. Each and every kid deserves the chance to SHINE!  Each kid deserves a chance to be their best and have someone believe in them.  BE THAT PERSON.  

Many people spend their day complaining about things that are out of their control many times.  They complain about other things such as politics, money, and what they don't have.  Is this you?  If it is then STOP.  Be the best for your kids.  If you are an educator you have to leave your problems at the door and be the best teacher, coach or leader you can be. 

All of us have our problems.  All of us have issues that we deal with each and every day of our life.  We have to rise above them if we want our kids to become great people.  They need our best each and every day.

As a parent how do you want your kids to act?  How hard do you want them to work in school?  Don't you want them to not make the same mistakes that you made? Do you want them to appreciate what they have and not be mad because they don't have?  I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old and it is so hard to get them to be thankful for what they have.  It is so important to me for them to understand that they are so blessed to have what they have-a bed to sleep in, warm clothes to wear, etc.  

The easiest way to show kids how to act, how to be a better person is to Be There for them.  Model how you want them to act.  As a baby all kids learn from their surroundings-mimicking what others are doing-Surprise, It doesn't change as they get older!  

All kids need you.  They need me.  They need a friend, someone who cares for them.  As we get closer to the end of the first semester and move towards the Christmas season, Remember that all kids need you.  They need you to be their rock, support and role model.  Are you up to the challenge?

Here are 10 great ways to be THE Role Model for your child..

You are your children's most important example. They learn by observing you, even when you don't know it. Here are 10 ways to be a great role model.

(1) Share your values with your children.
Don't assume your children know your family's values about drug use and other subjects. Talk about these topics often. Offer guidance to teach your children other important values such as being honest, reliable, and responsible.

(2) Demonstrate your own sense of self-respect and self-esteem.Take good care of yourself by following a healthful diet, exercising regularly, and making time for relaxation. You'll provide valuable behaviors for your children to imitate.

(3) Show that you value your independence.
Let your children know by your words and your actions that you don't have to "follow the crowd" but prefer to make your own decisions.

(4) Set a good example when using medications.Be cautious about how you use prescription drugs and even over-the-counter medicines. Show that you can deal with mild pain or tension without turning to medications. Instruct your child never to take any medication without your permission.

(5). If you drink alcohol, demonstrate responsibility.Use alcohol in moderation and avoid using excuses for drinking, like having a rough day. How you use alcohol will influence your children. They will tend to have the same drinking habits you do when they become adults. Never allow children to mix drinks or serve them to guests, and never serve alcohol to children, not even beer or wine.

(6) Model the traits you wish to cultivate in your child. 
Show respect, friendliness, honesty, kindness, and tolerance. Do things for other people without expecting a reward. Express thanks and offer compliments. Above all, treat your children the way you expect other people to treat you.

(7) Share your successes and failures with your children.Perhaps you're trying to lose weight, quit smoking or adopt a healthier lifestyle. When you're making an effort to change your own behavior, talk about it openly with your children. It's OK to let them know when you've failed or fallen short of a goal and it may make it easier for them to tell you when they've made a mistake. You're also conveying an important message: Change isn't easy and mistakes are opportunities for learning.

(8) Show that you love and value each member of your family.Let your children know that spending time together is something you look forward to. Make plans ahead of time to do special things such as going to a movie or museum. Also enjoy spur-of-the-moment activities -- going out for ice cream or taking a walk after a rainstorm.

(9) Discuss how the media portray alcohol, tobacco and drugs.Talk with your children about images and messages conveyed by television, music, movies, billboards, and other media that glamorize alcohol and other drugs. Let them know what you think and guide them in recognizing the other side of what appears to be glamorous.

(10) Take a genuine interest in your children's school and your community.Support school and community programs that benefit children. Give your time as a volunteer. Attend functions to show your children you're interested in their activities. When your time is limited, make an effort to keep in touch with other parents to share ideas about how adults can set good examples for our children.

- See more at: http://www.thechildrenstrust.org/parents/library/best-parenting-practices/163-good-role-models#sthash.iUTHXPlS.dpuf

Have a Safe and Blessed Holidays

Happy Finals Week!

- Jarred 

@jfuhrman3932

                         BLHS News

Wednesday--Green 1, 2, 3 Finals

Thursday--Gold 1, 2, 3, Finals

Friday--Green 4, Gold 4

  School is out at 11:15.  All Bus Riders will have to ride the bus at the normal time.  They will be in the library until 2:45 if they need to ride the bus.  

January 3rd is Teacher workday

First day back of 2nd Semester-January 6th, 2014

Let Parents Parent(and Study Tips also!)

One of my goals as a leader when I am dealing with discipline is to always let the parents know what is going on.  As a parent myself I want to be informed about my child when they are misbehaving, not getting the information or not being friendly with other kids or teachers.  I want the opportunity to be a parent.  I realize that as an educator many times we spend more time with kids than their parents do, but they are still influenced most by what they see at home from their parents.

Always give the parents the opportunity to be parents!

Another goal of mine this year has been better parent and community communication.  I have worked extensively in this blog to help with that.  Constant communication home to parents can help in many ways: 1. Back to letting parents be parents 2. Strengthen the trust between teacher and parent  3. Allows the teacher to really use the parent as a support in the education of their child.  

Always, always, always communicate with parents.  Make sure however there are positive comments also.  I can't tell you how cool it is as a leader to make a positive phone call home and hear a parent almost burst into tears because they are so proud of their child.  

Many educators become frustrated because of lack of support and trust they get from home from parents.  Many times it can all be avoided with communication.
                  Our teachers at BLHS have worked hard this year to improve communication with parents and keeping them updated on what the kids are doing.  Making them aware of upcoming tests, missing assignments, etc.  I feel so lucky to work with such a great group of educators.--Please thank them for what they do!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break-Christmas is almost here!

Jarred

@jfuhrman3932

Dates to remember

BLHS Finals

December 18,19, 20th- schedule to come!

Here are a few tips to help your student study for his/her Finals:

Great link: http://teenadvice.about.com/od/schoolscolleges/tp/10-High-School-Study-Tips-For-Students.htm
Article by Holly Ashworth

Having trouble getting serious about studying for a test?  These high school study tips will get you in the right mindset to get prepped for your final exams, or just for your average, everyday quiz.

1. Study Alone

Unless you've got a couple of friends who are super-serious about getting down to business, stay away from group study sessions because they tend to get off-topic pretty quickly. Save the social time till after you've handed in your test.

2. Create Your Perfect Study Area

The place where you study should be quiet, comfortable and free from distractions.  Go to your room, close the door and kill as many distractions as possible - like music, television, and even the internet and your phone.  If you don't have your own room that you can sneak away to, consider studying at the library instead.

3. Get it All Out

Your study materials, that is. Before you dig in, make sure you have all your books, notes, study guides and writing utensils in front of you. Don't give yourself another excuse to get up and rummage around.

4. Turn Your Notes into Flash Cards

Now that you've got all your notes in front of you, open up a pack of index cards.  As you read through the important facts, rewrite them in Q&A form on the cards.  For instance:  to study historical facts, write the historical fact on one side of the card and the key details on the other side.  To study geometry formulas, right the name of the formula on one side and the formula itself on the other side.

5. Snack Healthy While You Study

If you want to stay sharp while you study, stay away from junk food.  Instead, snack on studying-friendly foods like dark leafy greens, whole grains, peanut butter, milk and seafood.  Feeling sluggish?  Caffeine or energy drinks won't help you in the long run.  Get your energy boost instead by eating a banana or an apple.

6. Narrow it Down

If you try to study every single thing your teacher's ever said, you'll go crazy. Instead, focus on the most important topics. If you're not sure what those are, read the study guide (if there is one), or ask your classmates. Once you've nailed down the important stuff, if there's still time left before the test, you can move onto the finer details.

7. Take a Break

Your brain can only take so much hard work at one time. For every hour that you study, take about 15 minutes to do something mindless, like taking a walk, listening to music or playing a computer game. (You can even take a 15-minute nap, if you're confident you can wake yourself up at the end of it.) It'll keep your stress level down and give your brain a chance to let all that information sink in.

8. Put Yourself to the Test

Once you've got your set of flash cards, test yourself with them.  If you don't trust yourself not to cheat, give the cards to your parents and have them test you.  Don't stop till you've made it through the whole stack without any mistakes.  And be sure to bring your flash cards to school with you on the day of the test:  you'll be amazed at how much more you can retain if you run through the cards right before your teacher hands out the test packet.

9. Get Some Sleep

You might be tempted to pull an all-nighter, but if you do, you'll only be hurting your chances of getting an A.  Get a full 8 hours of sleep so your brain is in good shape on test day. 

10. Study All Semester Long

It's tempting to hold off on studying till the last minute, especially if you tell yourself that anything you try to memorize earlier on won't really stay in your brain.  That's not true.  Take some time throughout the semester to review all of your notes and re-read important passages in your text book.  It might seem tediou