Do You Hear What I Hear?

“The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when someone asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.” ~Henry David Thoreau

The art of listening to another person (I mean truly listening) is a something that takes time to develop, but does more for building relationships than anything else.  We often hear what others are saying, but don’t take the time to truly listen.  Listening and asking questions related to what people are saying shows others we are interested in them as whole people, not just for our own interests.

Do you ask your children questions and listen in a way that shows you are truly interested in what they are saying?  Many parents have realized they ask their children questions about things they (the parents) want to know right away, as opposed to what interests their children first.  Do you truly need to know the answer to how your child did on the math test as soon as he/she gets home or can you ask some questions about the parts of the day you know are interesting to your child and truly listen to the answers?  When we ask those questions first, it puts value on the child as a person and our interest in him or her, not on how the child does on a test or assignment.  When individuals feel we are interested in them as humans, they feel more valued. 

Stephen Covey wrote, “To truly listen means to transcend your autobiography, to get out of your own frame of reference, out of your own value system, out of your own history and judging tendencies, and to get deeply into the frame of reference or viewpoint of another person.”  Try listening to your children and others around you in a new way.  You may find it strengthens your relationships with them by showing them how you value human being over human doing. 

First Graders are working on their writing.  With the weather being so cold, they imagined what they would do if they were trapped in a snow globe.  While living in Minnesota may feel like being trapped in a snow globe to adults in the winter, students had some creative ways to escape their globes (and they didn’t involve flying to a warmer climate).  See the pictures below for a few samples.

Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Baier

Gratitude

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” ~ Melody Beattie

I have often spoken of gratitude.  I truly believe it is what transforms our lives and helps us find the happiness we are always seeking.  At this time of year, gratitude is often acknowledged more and we find those acknowledgements more poignant. However, gratitude is truly important every day the whole year through. 

The beauty of gratitude cannot be denied, especially when it is expressed in the words of a child.  Every year, the School of Grammar students share what they are thankful for with the school community through our “Thankful” wall.  This year the wall is in the Forum by the entrance to the School of Grammar.  If you are in the building, you should take some time to read some of the words of gratitude from our students.  I have posted a few pictures below if you are not able to see it in person.

Have wonderful holiday break!
Mrs. Baier

Developing Virtues

“The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.” ~ Aristotle

We often speak of virtues at Eagle Ridge Academy.  We try to impart virtuous knowledge upon students.  We know there is more to an education than the acquirement of academic skills and understand to be a truly happy person one must also be a virtuous person.  Being virtuous is within us all.  A virtue has been described as a natural ability trained to a pitch of excellence.  Students at Eagle Ridge Academy not only learn to demonstrate virtuous behaviors, but they learn to identify them in others.  They identify them in other students, figures from history, characters from stories, and adults in their lives.  They are also quite capable of figuring out when virtues/virtuous behavior is lacking in an individual. 

We like to celebrate the expression of virtues in our students with Pillar stickers.  It is a simple recognition of the growth of a virtue for a student.  Once a month I draw five Pillar tickets (the back of the sticker) from the jar outside my office and provide a relational reward to the students.  Last month five School of Grammar students took a fall walk outside the building with me.  We enjoyed our time together!  Mrs. Twetan kindly took a picture of us on our lovely walk.  The adults in the building really look forward to these times to build relationships with students.  As we know relationships are the key component in a true Classical Education. 

Friday (11/11) we will be having our annual Veterans Day programs in the gym.  The schedule is below.  Please feel free to join us for one of the programs.  Students should dress in their formal uniforms that day, as we honor our veterans.

Grades 2-5: 8:25 - 8:50 a.m.
Grades K-1: 9:00 - 9:25 a.m.
Grades 6-8: 9:35 - 10:00 a.m. 
Grades 9-12: 10:10 - 10:35 a.m.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier