My Interview for GCPS-TV on Parent Engagement!

I've had some great opportunities to encourage parents during several interviews over the last few months. Each has been in Spanish, my second language. I just got the chance to finally do an interview in English! Phew...no more worries about possibly inventing a word due to limited Spanish vocabulary, although I've been known to invent a few in English as well (just less likely)! 

Please let me know what you think! =)

The Blessings of Serving Others

Magic Moments That Come From Serving Others: Sharing a Happy Memory

Lessons we never expect
Many years ago I was interpreting for a family attending a school I worked at. They were one of many families that I've helped along the way, yet I never saw them again. I had hoped that someday I would get the chance to help them again, but you just never know for sure in these circumstances. You just do as you can and try to be at peace. This post is just my experience with one of those situations that ended up coming around full circle...a family I meant in one brief moment...a moment that lasted longer than I ever thought it would.

Supporting Families Affected by #FAS: A NEW partnership between Emory University and NOFAS Georgia!

Department of Psychiatry,
Behavioral Science and Pediatrics

“What lies behind us & what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” 
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I find it so surreal. I almost cannot believe this is happening, but it is and it's only going to get better. Our meeting at Emory went great!! Tracy and I are so happy in our role of strengthening NOFAS Georgia (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome). We are even more honored to take part in a new partnership between NOFAS Georgia and Emory University that will allow us to offer support for families affected by ‪#‎FASD‬! Our hope is to quickly begin work in the Metro Atlanta area and then expand this network of support throughout the state so we can impact as many lives as possible!





Before now, NOFAS Georgia has held on by a string, thanks to the herculean efforts of Melissa Cook (a parent volunteer facing the same challenges as us) and the folks at Emory University. Tracy and I have joined Melissa, and the three of us have pledged ourselves to lead a parent initiative, through NOFAS Georgia, that will offer families in our state the support they so desperately need. Great things start from humble beginnings. Our goals are very modest...we just want to change the world!!! I just love a good fight. That's just me...challenge accepted!!!


Our Family's Story:

The girl that stole our hearts

My wife and I actually talked about adoption on our first date. We knew from the beginning that we had found a similar spirit in each other. I sincerely believe that divine providence lead our lives in that very direction. Our hearts led us first to become foster parents. I was an educator, with a particular love for early childhood education and Tracy would be a stay at home mom. We had been prayerful and saw this as the role we were meant to fulfill. We still wanted to adopt someday, but we put that on hold to answer the call of serving children and families in need. We went through the training, orientation, and evaluation that goes into becoming foster parents and soon had our very first placement. God blessed us with Aniah!

I held her in my hands...now she holds my heart in hers.

Aniah's birth mother had tried to do the right thing. She attempted to curb her drug use during pregnancy, but tragically turned to consuming greater amounts of alcohol instead. Aniah weighed a little over two lbs when she was born prematurely. We could cradle her in a single hand. Thankfully due to the close relationship we formed with her birth mother, we were made aware of so many details regarding the pregnancy. Aniah will struggle with FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) her entire life. FASD is often referred to as the invisible disability. Thankfully, we knew what we were up against. This knowledge can be a unique blessing for any child suffering with FASD and we were determined to make the most of it. 

What is FASD?

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a group of conditions that can occur when a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy. FASD is a disability that lasts a lifetime.

Sept. 9th is now Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day in Georgia!

Georgia NOFAS (National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) is set to start moving mountains! September 9th is now ‪#‎FASD‬ Awareness Day thanks to the efforts my friend Melissa Cook (the author of this proclamation signed by our Governor) and her efforts on behalf of families dealing with FASD! So glad to be part of this revitalized GA NOFAS team, that includes the smart and talented Tracy Rodriguez! 

The effects of FASD have had a huge impact on our family. I've been blessed with so much information that has helped us and now we just want to offer our support to others. Once upon a time, I would have thought that despite my good intentions, my efforts wouldn't really make that much of a difference. I'm so glad to have left that thinking far behind me where it belongs. Wayne Gretzky was quoted as saying "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." I'm not sure how much we will be able to accomplish, but I truly believe the three of us are going to be getting a lot done. I am POSITIVE that it will be more than we ever expected, especially if we had just convinced ourselves not to act! This is just the beginning!

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Feeding Your Brain AND Body: Our Family's Journey

**This is a guest post by a VERY special guest poster...Tracy Rodriguez!!! I am hoping she will accept a very low paying position as a regular commentator on nutrition and clean eating here at WiseLearners! Welcome Tracy!

Feeding our children well is so important for the development of their bodies and brains. When I say "well", I don't mean what taste good. What I mean is food packed with nutrition and healthy fats. I use to think I fed my family well. The boxes of food said things like "whole grain", "all natural", "fat free", "multigrain" and a whole host of other labels that are misleading. It turns out that I wasn't feeding my family well at all because I wasn't feeding them actual food. I'd like to share with you a little about how we went from eating processed products to real food. 

The 4 types of parental involvement: Is there such a thing as too much?

Is that even a serious question?

When it comes to limits on parental involvement, I believe honestly that there is NO LIMIT at all! In fact, give me all you got! Where things seem to go wrong comes from the focus we sometimes place on some types of involvement to the exclusion of others. I don’t think we do this on purpose, but the effects are deleterious. This is where that sense of hopelessness first begins with parents that are so desperate to help their children, yet feel lost in regards to how and where to begin.  This may not make me popular, but teachers often do make this situation worse without even meaning to. Let me break it down the how and why.

3 Superpowers Your Kids Can Possess

BunnyGirl, IronRunt, and FrankenBro

Superheroes are cool!
Wouldn't it be great if we had super powers? I love superheroes, in fact my kids are pretty darned convinced that I may be one (and who am I to dissuade them). I think this is where my fascination with learning and the brain first started. Here you have these larger than life characters that are just beyond extraordinary! Some had superpowers that you just can't ever dream of duplicating, but others LEARNED how to become awesome! In fact, it is their brain that makes them truly standout! That's within OUR reach!

Mindfulness: How children can develop self-discipline!

Like a boss!

This summer I've been teaching summer school. It's been a really great experience so far. They gave me specific standards to cover, but all the freedom in the world to get this accomplished! That was a huge win-win in my estimation! To make things even better, I've had the opportunity to also share some brain-based learning strategies with this great group of kids over the last three weeks. Hrmmm, so I guess it's a win-win-win (and here I thought it couldn't get any better).

The Three Phases of Genius

I find it amazing just how big computers used to be. Considering all the advances that have occurred, it is even more fascinating to consider just how complex the human brain is. The process by which our brains operate is so elegantly described in the Three Phases of Genius. I just love the way that sounds. In a nutshell, these phases are a simple way for us to look at the needs of our students (and ourselves) in order to help develop the cognitive assets needed to succeed. The best part is that this applies to ALL learners. It doesn't matter if they struggle coping with their special needs (like my littles ones with FASD) or if they are tackling advanced academic challenges...it all works this way.

No Need to Sugarcoat: Keep it Real

Oh my Aniah! How I love this girl! She (using her own words) "owns my heart" and I could not agree more with that statement. Since she was a baby and I first held her in my hand (yes my hand...she weighed 2lbs when she was born), she has had me wrapped around her finger. My daughter is nine years old now and she battles daily with the effects of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. To put it simply, it is brain damage caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol, an incredibly potent neurotoxin. I only mention this because of a simple exchange we had today that I want to share with anyone that has children, especially those with special needs.

Upcoming Workshop for Foster Parents at Georgia AGAPE

I'm really looking forward to the next presentation I'll be doing this summer for AGAPE of GA, a private foster and adoption agency that is full of love. My wife and I worked with this amazing organization for over 8 years as foster parents, and even though we've "retired" now, I'm so pleased to still have an opportunity to contribute in some way. Because of AGAPE, our lives will be changed forever. Aniah and Tristan...my treasures...my heart transformed forever....thank you to the special folks at AGAPE (past, present, and future). I hope this workshop ends up being a blessing for the foster parents in attendance. You will always have my very best effort.

Parent Outreach: What a GREAT Discussion of Parent Involvement on LaRaza 102.3 FM in Atlanta

Well my interview on the radio went absolutely great! When I stepped in the studio, I was feeling more excited than nervous. I've rarely gotten spooked by speaking to a large audience, but I still had concerns. Those concerns evaporated quickly because....quite frankly....I was talking to a few folks in a tiny square room. There was no huge crowd (that I could see), or any faces that I felt I had to "read" in order to change my message to suit them (I have rushed the occasional workshop at the hint of a tired face). Nope, none of that. It was just a few folks and the Director of Media Relations for the largest school system in Georgia!!! No worries tho. =)

Learning to Appreciate What Is Difficult To Appreciate

Photo courtesy of Christopher Chan

I've always promoted a strength-based approach to the development of any learner, and it is ABSOLUTELY ideal when working with a child. Focus on developing their strengths and go from good to great....from great to extraordinary! In contrast, if all you do is work on your weaknesses, you are basically shooting for mediocre. That is just not my style, and when it comes to learning it shouldn't be yours. It is flat out inefficient. You put a heck of a lot of effort into very poor results that way.

What if Students Could Ask Vince Lombardi How To Succeed!

Is time travel possible? I had a go at it myself recently with some great results! The following is a script that I wrote for our Student Council to present during a parent assembly. They had asked if I could have the students share any good "brain-based" tips or solid practices from positive psychology. To increase the degree of difficulty, they allotted me about 3-5 minutes. Hrmm...share awesome nuggets of information, convey the value and worth of those "nuggets", and do it all fast!!! CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!!!