New Year Resoultions

Every year, around the end of December, or the beginning of January many people make the mistake of making "New Year Resolutions".  Why is this a mistake you ask?  Well, most resolutions tend to be very specific.  "Lose 20 pounds" "Stop smoking" "Organize my life".  What if, instead, everyone on the planet simply vowed to do better than they did before?  And why do we have to wait for January 1st to make this commitment?

What if we all tried to be a better person than we were yesterday? A better teacher/parent/co-worker than yesterday?  Then even if we "slip" for a day or two, it's just as easy to begin again.  For example, if I was to try to exercise "better than I did before" than anytime I take a walk around the block I'm good.  You have to assume (and you would be right) that I basically haven't exercised in years.  So if I'm trying to do better all I have to do is more than I have in the past.

Just for a minute imagine if everyone-everywhere saw each and every day as a new opportunity to do better, be better, live better?  So this is my challenge, to you and to myself-do better than you have before!

Watch Dogs!

Have you heard of the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) program?  If you have this at your school you know how lucky you are.  If you don't have this program you should really check out their web site  http://www.fathers.com/watchdogs/http://www.fathers.com/watchdogs/ and learn all about it.  In a nutshell someone in your school (usually the counselor) oversees the program.  Dads, or other male role models, sign up to come to school for a day.  They then spend their time not only with their own student (our Watch Dogs come for siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and so on) but also with other classes/grade levels.

In our schools the "Dogs" spend time in classes with their own student, but also work with other students, eat lunch, go to recess, patrol the perimeter of the school (read smoke break for the Dogs that need it) and get to learn all about the school day.  Since the Dogs have a schedule and do many different things during the day they really feel that they have "made a difference" with the time that they have taken to be at the school.  They also gain an insight to the school-day that many males never see.

Since I have every student in the school in my class, I have an unique opportunity to have many Watch Dogs in my classroom.  I can't even begin to tell you how much of a positive experience the program is not only for the "Dogs" but also for all of the kids that they come into contact with!

If you work with children you should really check this program out and see if you can bring it to your school!