Articles
Browse every published article connected to Kari Miller, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
Articles
Browse every published article connected to Kari Miller, or search within this exact expert archive.
- The Secret to Productive Routines We all have habits and routines - some of them help us achieve our goals and some don't! Setting up productive new routines can be tough, so it makes sense to use the easiest, most efficient process possible! Fortunately, there are certain habits that make taking charge of your time and your tasks easier. Keystone Habits
Our natural state is happiness, but how often does that get lost in the reality of modern life? All is not lost - we can take control of our happiness, turn a bad day into a good day, improve our mood, regulate our sleep, and as a by-product, get better time and task management - by turning on our "happy" chemicals!
It's all in how you look at it, don't you think! Linda Larson Schlitz is one of my most inspirational friends. You'll see why I admire her so much when I tell you this story! She has ADHD and Hypo-Mania Type II Bi-Polar - and I tell you that because it's important to the whole point of this story! Misplacing or losing things is something Linda accepts as a part of life.
Did you know that research shows it takes an average of 66 days to establish a new habit? Keep in mind, though, that's just an average - some habits can be developed in as little as 17 days and some require 250 days to get firmly in place!
Have you ever read the story, The Little Engine That Could? A heavy train needed to be pulled over a tall mountain. The big engines refused to take on the job, but the little engine decided to take on the challenge. Why did the little engine take on such a huge job? In her own words, "I think I can, I think I can."
I hope when you finish this article you'll feel grateful that you read it because it might help you improve your life! Big promise, right!?! Ok, here goes… Most people have heard about practicing gratitude, and maybe even know that research has proven many benefits from making gratitude a habit in your life. Specifically, how is a practice of gratitude related to improving ADHD symptoms?
Dopamine dosers to your rescue! Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters play a key role in focusing. One of these neurotransmitters is dopamine - the major chemical that regulates focus, motor movements and feelings of pleasure. You can use some clever tricks to capitalize on and "control" the dopamine system in your body. Here are three quick ways to get your brain to "dose you with dopamine" and increase your ability to pay attention and concentrate!
Do you have piles of "stuff" so high you can't find what you need, or sit down to a family dinner at the table because it's covered with piles of papers or - gasp - dirty dishes? Even if clutter is beginning to take over your home, you can bust through the confusion and get your household running more smoothly! I've got 3 tips that will help you do that.
Parents may suspect that their child is gifted, yet be baffled when their smart child has difficulty learning in certain areas. Some intellectually gifted students also have special learning needs such as a learning disability. Gifted students may also have other special educational needs such as auditory processing problems, dyslexia, ADHD or emotional problems. When a highly intelligent child has a learning disability, it is difficult for parents to make sense of the learning and behavior patterns they observe.
Reading is a highly complex, integrated activity that daunts as many as 33 percent of the population. Many children become proficient readers regardless of how they are taught. However, for children who experience difficulty learning to gain meaning from print, reading must be systematically and carefully taught. Mastering the following components of the reading process is essential if students are to become proficient readers. Appreciation and enthusiasm for reading It comes as no surprise that children who are passionate about reading are more skillful readers.
It was a hot, sticky afte oon in Mrs. Hall’s 5th grade classroom. The students were sleepy and Mrs. Hall was convinced they weren’t paying attention. Mrs. Hall knew that listening is an active, conscious process that has a huge impact on learning. She realized there were strategies she could use to wake up the students’ brains, interest and ability to listen. She had them listen to classical music. Classical music by composers such as Mozart and Tchaikovsky encourages the brain to enter a relaxed, focused state which is highly conducive to learning.
A mnemonic, (pronounced ni-mon’-ik) is a device used as a memory aid. The F.A.C.T. mnemonic helps students organize and remember important comprehension strategies. The letters in F.A.C.T. stand for effective, research supported strategies that support comprehension: Focus, Ask questions, Connect, and Turn on the visuals. Focus: Comprehension is only as strong as the student's focus while reading. Encourage focus by using your child's imagination and interests.
Individuals with ADHD and ADD often have difficulty with Executive Skills, also called Executive Functions. These are the skills that help us manage and direct our lives.
Conce ed parents frequently ask how they can help their children become smarter, more successful learners. The surprising news is that research in the area of human emotions provides a blueprint for the kinds of parenting techniques that increase children’s intelligence! Because of the way the brain is wired, emotional states run our lives, whether we like it or not. Emotional states are constantly in flux, and are easily influenced. Learning occurs when brains grow new cells in response to the environment. Emotions such as pleasure and joy encourage brain cell development.
When it "Clicks," all is well in the world of decoding and easy comprehension.
“If you don’t clean up your room right now, you’re grounded!” Ellen yelled at her daughter, Brittany. Brittany rolled her eyes—again—and stalked off toward her room. This running feud was getting to Ellen. She was at her wits end. She began to dread coming home from work because she knew the bickering and yelling would start as soon as she walked through the door. Ellen knew she had lost her way as a parent, and she even began to feel that Brittany didn’t have the same level of respect and love for her that she used to have.
Personal qualities that support academic success Students who have the following personal qualities are much more likely to thrive in college. You can read more detailed descriptions of the qualities that insure college success here. * Self-awareness and self-acceptance * Proactivity as opposed to reactivity * Perseverance * Skill in setting short and long-range goals * Use of effective support systems * Strong emotional coping strategies Understanding a student’s rights in college
Children with special needs have experienced more frustration and academic failure than most other children. Yet, some of them become successful college students who graduate with a specialty in a chosen field. Sadly, most do not. Only about 57 percent of students with disabilities graduate from high school, and only about 10 to 15 percent of those graduating attend college. What are some reasons students succeed in college? How can parents help their child be among those who accomplish this challenging undertaking? Parental expectations are a key factorr
Do thoughts race around in your mind like a swarm of bees? With all those thoughts sprinting around in your mind, you’d think one of them would claim your attention. But none of them seem to “step into the spotlight”! Increasing the right kind of chemicals in your brain will reduce the “clutter” in your mind If racing or cluttered thoughts is a problem for you, biochemistry has got your back! Taking charge of your brain's neurotransmitters is a great way to improve your attention and concentration - even for boring, mundane or irritating tasks.
Children with special learning needs have experienced more failure and disappointment than other children. Parenting children with special learning needs can be difficult, and calls forth from their parents an extra measure of care in "planting the seeds of greatness." Seeds of "greatness" grow into strong, confident children—skilled learners who make bold choices and expect the best for their lives.
Max had dreamed of going to college ever since his father told him, “Everyone in our family goes to college.” Max related well to people. They trusted him. He had a head for business. His manner inspired confidence. Max wanted to major in business. But, in order to be admitted to business college, he needed to pass a statistics class. Max began to have problems in math in first grade. His parents sat up with him night after night as he struggled with his homework.
Apply Brain Research – Raise a Successful Student Techniques to share with parents, teachers and caregivers There are about as many nerve cells in the brain as there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The unique set of connections between neurons that each of us develops determines how we view the world, shapes our future experiences, and indeed, determines who we are. Successful students have developed rich, connected networks of neurons. Many factors encourage neurons to branch and communicate with each other.
One meaning of the term "bracketing" is "to place within." This concept of "placing within" is a helpful strategy that students and adults can use to identify and appropriately deal with distracting thoughts. In stage one, students decide whether their current thoughts are appropriate for the task at hand. If they are not, students can bracket them in stage two. It is very helpful to teach students (and adults) to classify thoughts into three groups:
Too often children and parents experience dissatisfaction and disillusionment in the educational process. Parents can feel frustrated in their efforts to help their child succeed. How can parents help their child be successful and find joy in learning? Parents can help their children thrive in school, and in life, by having realistic expectations of their children’s abilities and by helping them to develop independent work habits.
Children who live with failure experience negative feelings such as shame, isolation, and anger. These students need guidance to develop personal skills that support their success. According to research conducted by the Frostig Center in Pasadena, six personal attributes form the core characteristics that contribute to success for special needs students. Successful individuals do not necessarily have all six of these qualities.
What Is Educational Therapy? 15 million school age children in the US have learning problems that public and private schools can’t solve. There are 72,000 special education students in LAUSD, alone. Every day these students sit unhappily in class, losing hope of ever realizing their dreams. Students are living in pain and shame. They are not learning to be successful students. Their parents are frustrated in their attempts to find suitable education for their child. They’ve tried working through the public schools. They have hired tutors.
Did you read my article last week about getting and staying organized using a powerful, proven process? I hope so. And I hope you've started to put a new habit in place to tame the clutter that is tormenting you! You can read that article here if you missed it! Are you starting to see clarity in your surroundings yet? Even just one surface that was previously hidden from view beginning to come into its own and shine forth is great progress!
Automate your "launch sequence"! Have you ever locked yourself out of your car … or your house? I sure have! I think about all the time I wasted sitting outside my house waiting for my husband to come home to unlock the door or, even worse, sitting on the curb or in a fast food joint a block away from my car waiting for him to come and get me where I was stranded - yuck!!
If you are feeling discouraged about not being able to get things done, or find yourself losing time on activities that are "fun" in the moment but don't fulfill any of your life's ambitions, you need to know more about the true nature of the quality called "willpower"! We used to think we were born with a certain amount of willpower and the amount of willpower we had couldn't be changed. But now science is challenging that old assumption. It's time for a new look at what "willpower" really is, and a fresh start on beating procrastination! What is willpower?
When you look around your home, or office, or car…how do you feel inside - Depressed? Anxious? … or Satisfied? Does it seem that getting organized and clearing the clutter is an impossible dream, never to be? Take heart! You can get organized when you take it step by step and focus on a powerful and effective process. Reality check
"The question isn't who's going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Ayn Rand The term "self-efficacy" has always excited me! It means knowing that you can "get the job done" in your life.
Maybe you're reading this because the title "caught your eye"! Actually it wasn't your eye that got caught - it was your Reticular Activating System (or RAS for short). Humans have a sort of "Beat Cop" in their brains - the RAS - a bundle of nerves in the brain stem that controls what you pay attention to.
Stop Procrastinating - Get Started Now! How do we get started when we have a task we want to - or need to - complete? Well, the hardest part is getting started. Once we actually get started, it's a lot easier to keep going. But oh, my goodness! Getting started can really suck sometimes, can't it!! It's a lot easier to get going when you "set the bar low" and here's what I mean by that. The principle is to set small, very achievable goals, and chain them together, one after the other. Why is "goal chaining" so effective?
Should I? …Will I be able to? ……What if it all goes wrong!!!? How often do we stop dead in our tracks, crippled by indecision? Yet there is so much wisdom in each of us! Decisions would be so much simpler if we could tap into our abundant, God-given wisdom, don't you think! You might find clarity and self-efficacy through this simple jou aling exercise