Pushing Your Imagination to the Limit…

A good old-fashioned cuddle, say the scientists, can reduce heart disease, cut down stress and promote longevity. The researchers even advise nervous public speakers to indulge in a bit of hugging before they go on stage to face their audience….

… At the heart of it is a so-called “cuddle hormone”, oxytocin, a chemical associated with a range of health benefits, which shows a marked increase in the blood supply after just 10 minutes of warm, supportive touching.

Read the whole article HERE.

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Welcome back!

October 26th, 2009

Hi everyone,

I hope you had a wonderful and regenerating mid-term break.

We’re officially into the 2nd half of the semester now, and boy is time going to just fly right by us!

We’ve got a full week of activities lined up this week in Appreciation of the Arts week. Check it out HERE.

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Have a good break!

October 16th, 2009

Hi kids,

We’re at the halfway point of the semester, and a well-deserved break!

We have lots more fun and interesting activities coming up right after the break!

Until then, have a safe and fantastic holiday.

~Ms Shimona.

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Mathivation

September 30th, 2009

In my own words…., some of the thought-gems thrown out during the Mathivation Workshop (for Grades 3-5) on Wed morning:

Those who struggle become strong & wise because there will be growth through adversity. (Lifting 5g weights never made for good muscle.) Challenge yourself to sit with problems – weather them through and find a solution. Create new ideas and solutions.
Never let someone tell you that you’re bad at something. Prove them wrong by struggling to become good at it!
True for Math.
Especially true for LIFE.

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Morning Assemblies are Fun and Interesting!

September 17th, 2009

I love morning assemblies at Wells!
We get to stand together as a united school body, and learn cool things!

Take today for example…
After singing the National Anthem,
kids got to learn a new Word of the Day -- Balance.
Check it out:

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How to Care for Introverts

September 16th, 2009

Dear parents,

Introverted people are often misunderstood (especially by extroverts!).

If you took the personality test we recommended you take (HERE), and discovered that your child is an introvert, you may be wondering:

if this is a good or bad thing.
how to connect with an introverted child.
how to support and facilitate an introvert’s learning experience.

Well, first and foremost, I must stress that being introverted is NOT a BAD thing. It is merely a personality trait. Introverts are just as capable of being socially adjusted and happy in life as extroverts.

Here are some tips and idea on how to care for introverts:

Respect their need for privacy.
Never embarrass them in public.
Let them observe first in new situations.
Give them time to think. Don’t demand instant answers.
Don’t interrupt them.
Give them advance notice of expected changes in their lives.
Give them 15 minute warnings to finish whatever they are doing before calling them to dinner or moving on to the next activity.
Reprimand them privately.
Teach them new skills privately rather than in public.
Enable them to find one best friend who has similar interests and abilities. Encourage this friendship even if the friend moves.
Don’t push them to make lots of friends.
Respect their introversion. Don’t try to make them into extroverts.