February 3, 2021
Flexidemics Insights
By: Jennifer Nelson
https://www.Flexidemics.com
To subscribe visit https://www.Flexidemics.com/newsletter
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out.” – Abraham Lincoln
Dear Friends,
Everything on Earth is connected to something beyond the individual experience.
If we all realized how true that is, then perhaps we could take more care to ensure that our connections are healthy, productive, and beneficial for all.
There doesn’t always have to be a grand display in order to embody this. Sometimes this is as simple as having common courtesy for those around us, even if we are having personal difficulties.
Life can bring us many distractions and obstacles to keep us on our toes; yet I feel it’s important to not let that throw us off of our path of creating a better world.
Of course we must take care of ourselves first; but it would be beautiful if we could also remember that we don’t live in this world alone. I will share an example of how this applies to education.
I am not new to virtual teaching, however, many parents and students are new to these types of learning situations. I understand that some people were not prepared for this, they don’t have a lot of space to accommodate their learners, and there can be a host of other issues. Yet that doesn’t change the fact that our actions impact others.
I facilitate a group class three times a week. This is not the first time that I’ve taught such a class, but it’s the first time that I’ve had a parent spend a good part of the class talking on the phone loudly in the background.
I thought that the behavior would self-correct because it seems obvious that if the child is trying to learn, then shouting on the phone while very close to the child isn’t going to be beneficial. But the third week – or seventh class – the behavior was still happening.
I don’t judge this parent who was doing the best that they knew how to do. However, I use the situation as a case study to observe that sometimes people need a little nudge into having some self-awareness.
It was my hope that the parent could see how that action impacted the learning experience. Yes, I was able to mute and unmute the student, but that was a distraction. It was also distracting to the other students who could hear the screaming, and it made it difficult for that child who was trying really hard to grasp the material and contribute to the discussions. The student really wanted to participate!
My overall point is not just about this parent, it’s about recognizing how all of our actions ripple through the universe and create all types of experiences. It is my wish that our ripples be beautiful beams of empowerment, love, and kindness.
The intent of this newsletter is to increase awareness of available educational options in order to encourage environments where students can align to their true gifts and talents.
When people are aligned to their true nature and in touch with their loving hearts, they are able to co-create a harmonious world.
With Love,
Jennifer
Children’s Health Defense and Environment Health Trust vs. the FCC
Every so often I have the opportunity to write about technology usage in the classroom. As I stated in this article, there are beneficial uses but we shouldn’t let the benefits make us blind to the need for caution.
With students being surrounded cell phones, computers, and tablets all day; there’s a need to be aware of the possible health consequences so that proper protocols can be put in place. We don’t have to eliminate technology, but we certainly can implement safety protocols.
Recently an abundance of evidence has been brought forth about the harms of 5G technology. “The evidence referenced in the case shows profound harmful effects and widespread sickness from wireless technology. The evidence (called the “Joint Appendix”) was recently filed and includes 11,000 pages of scientific and human evidence, yet, it is only the tip of the iceberg.”
You can read more here.
May we all find the courage to face the truth with open hearts and open minds so that we can make our classrooms and homes much safer.
Practical Math For The Win!
There are such a variety of experiences with teaching and learning math. I am glad that people are starting to realize the abundance of choices that are available.
One parent describes her process of how she educates her son with dyscalculia. She writes, “When it was clear that high school level, advanced math was just not a good option for him, we made the decision to move to more practical, everyday math. Most of what we covered was basic consumer math including budgets, balancing a bank account, and conversations about interest rates.”
When people can connect what they are learning to their real lives, it can help build enthusiasm for the subject.
Thoughts on Evaluations
This article brings up an interesting point about how schools constantly evaluate students and the harm it can cause.
The author writes, “this business of being constantly scrutinized and compared to others does something insidious to the life of a child. I’ve seen kids drop what they’re doing in an instant when they realize they’re being observed in an appraising way. A wall goes up. The lights go out.”
She also states, “Why is it clear to us that it’s degrading and objectifying to measure and rank a girl’s physical body on a numeric scale, but we think it’s perfectly okay to measure and rank her mind that way?”
That’s food for thought.
Remember to love yourself and to always follow your inner guidance. Therefore, take what resonates and discard the rest.
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Feel free to forward this to anyone that you think will find it valuable.
Flexidemics Insights is published under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
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