MSI Press Blog

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly. #247 Creating the Environment   First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. ~ Napoleon Hill            What is it about the library that makes people want to sit down quietly and get to work? It’s the atmosphere. The library is full of books, reference materials, tables and chairs, computers, proper lighting, and helpful people; all of this creates the proper atmosphere for learning and working. Creating the right atmosphere in your child’s workspace invites your child to learn and can make it so much more enjoyable. Consider your child’s workspace. She probably has paper, pencils, markers and other office-like supplies on her desk. Now, look around her workspace while you consider the sub...

  What is a book jewel? A sometimes-overlooked book with remarkable insight and potential significance. Each month, we share near-daily, or as often as possible, reviews of the monthly book jewel - short, succinct reviews that can be read in 1-2 minutes with links to the reviewer by reviewers whose words are worthy of being heard and whose opinions are worthy of being considered. Sometimes a couple of minutes contains more impressive thought than ten times that many. We will let you decide that. This month's book jewel is  Road Map to Power  by Syed and Darius Husain . Description What is the true source of authentic power? Offering a detour from the dead end of this "buy more, be more" culture, the authors demonstrate why the traditional routes to power are accessible only for an elite few. Wrapping warm, profound stories of empowerment around an extensive body of research, Road Map to Power is your guide to a life of dignity, satisfaction, and happiness. keywords: authe...

  What is a book jewel? A sometimes-overlooked book with remarkable insight and potential significance. Each month, we share near-daily, or as often as possible, reviews of the monthly book jewel - short, succinct reviews that can be read in 1-2 minutes with links to the reviewer by reviewers whose words are worthy of being heard and whose opinions are worthy of being considered. Sometimes a couple of minutes contains more impressive thought than ten times that many. We will let you decide that. This month's book jewel is  Road Map to Power  by Syed and Darius Husain . Description What is the true source of authentic power? Offering a detour from the dead end of this "buy more, be more" culture, the authors demonstrate why the traditional routes to power are accessible only for an elite few. Wrapping warm, profound stories of empowerment around an extensive body of research, Road Map to Power is your guide to a life of dignity, satisfaction, and happiness. keywords: authe...

  Today's tip for parents (from two talented teachers) comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly (yes, those are the two talented teachers). #21 Finding Success Every Day!   The sweetest of all sounds is praise. ~Xenophon   Praise at least one success a day. Even on a bad day, your child exhibits strengths. Look for them. Say them out loud. Remind him of his strengths when he is struggling, and encourage him to press on. Look back at the goals he set and focus on when those (or even parts of those) are reached. Make sure, however, that it counts. Make a conscious effort, then, not to overpraise. Parents, teachers, coaches, and many adults these days think they will “give” children self-esteem if they praise every little thing they do. “Way to take out your crayons!” “Great job on drawing that line!” “You put that crayon back in the box so well!” Of course, these are exaggerations but sometimes not by much. Kids can’t ...