htucker's blog

Join us for “Adventures in K¹²” Online Summer xPO and discover more about our tuition-free public virtual programs! The adventure begins on Monday, July 11 as Dr. David Pelizzari, K¹²’s Vice President of Content and Curriculum, kicks off the four-day xPO with “The Gym of the Mind.”  Dr. Pelizzari will explore the “Big Ideas” of creating, delivering and sustaining the quality curriculum that is K¹².

Later that evening, Tom DiGiovanni, K¹²’s Senior Director of Product Concept Design, will provide us a glimpse into the innovative and interactive world of K¹².  Tom will share insights about new tools, online activities, interactive lessons and more.

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, 26^th President

Dads, when your children come to you with their dreams, their goals, their “when I grow up” moments, what is your response?  Do you encourage them to pursue these passions?  Or, do you help them understand how difficult their dreams might be?

Let me encourage each of you (and me) to keep the following in mind when talking with our children about their passions.

I was sitting on the couch trying to watch a football game one evening when I couldn’t help but overhear a discussion taking place between my wife and my oldest daughter about her educational experience. It’s funny, I cannot remember who was playing on television but I do remember their conversation. The part that struck me was what my daughter said while comparing her experience with her teachers to those of her friends who attend a local private school.

When talking about one of her teachers in particular, she referred to her as an “educator” not a “teacher.”  To her the difference was that one focused on “educating the student” while the other focused on “teaching a subject.”  Take a moment and let that sink in...

When I was in my late teens to early twenties, finishing high school and college, The Cosby Show was THE show to watch on Thursday evenings.  Cliff, Clair, Sondra, Denise, Theo, Vanessa and Rudy – even those names alone bring back memories.

Half-empty or half-full?  How many of us have heard this question?  I am sure all of us have at some point.

It is used over and over in motivational talks and books on motivation.  In fact, a book I have has it listed as a chapter title.  And, the chapter goes on to talk about how it really is all about how we look at the glass as to whether it is half-empty or half-full.  The insinuation is that if we look at the glass as half-full then we have a positive outlook which means if we look at it as half-empty then our outlook is not so positive.  The idea, of course, is to cause us to look at the glass as half-full.