School's Out Assembly Program

That's actually 2 different topics. School is out for the summer -- Unless you happen to be a school administrator. Then you'll be working pretty much right on through the month. But still, the daily pressure is eased quite a bit. So, go ahead, breathe that sigh of relief. . . That felt good, didn't it?

Now, it's time to get to work. As you wrap up this year, you can't help but think about the next. What areas would you like to improve upon? What do you want to put on the top of the 'pile' for next year's budget dollars? Are there any particular classes or areas of study that need tweaking? Only you can answer that.

I'd love to help in any way I can. And the best way I know how is to put together programs that really meet the needs of schools and the students. So, I'm going to straight out ask. If you are a teacher or an administrator, are there areas that could use a creative kick in the proverbial pants? What type of assembly program would you just love to see next year in your school?

I'm a problem solver, an information provider, and an educator -- and I do it with an eye toward creatively presenting a solution. So contact me this year. Let me know what issues are top of mind for you and your school.

Visit my website. You can contact me from there. See you in the Fall!

Geography School Assemblies

I've been presenting a geography based program for elementary school students for the past 3 years now. It is a popular program, and I do notice that schools are taking notice of the need for things like this. In the US, the average student can't locate Florida on a map. Many can't point to France, or tell the difference between Europe and Asia. And merely locating places on a map is only a part of learning about geography. There is the history of the people, the industry, the agriculture -- basically everything that defines an area.

Schools are doing a better job teaching these things in recent years. That's why I put my "Clue Into Your World" program together. I wanted a fun way to emphasize the vastness of the world we live on. Kids need to understand that there is a rich history beneath every square inch of earth that's been trod upon.

New Season Ahead

Yes! Winter has been beaten back for another year--finally. Don't get me wrong, I like some snow and a little brisk weather. Fresh fallen snow blanketing the countryside is a beautiful site. This year though, I'm really looking forward to spring and summer.

I've been busy putting together a new show which I'll be revealing in libraries throughout Wisconsin and Illinois this summer. It's a fun show that, as always, emphasizes reading. It's called "Goin' Fiction -- Get Hooked on Books" . Think of it as an educational variety show. Magic, music, a game, ventriloquism and plenty of fun. I'm looking forward to the new season. Can you tell?

Get ready, 'cause here I come.

WOW, What a year!!

I'm back after a very long hiatus. It seems that more than a year has passed since my last blog entry. But I've not been sitting around doing nothing. No. I've been building...all sorts of things.

In August of 2008 our home was struck by lighting and subsequently burned beyond repair. While that doesn't seem to be the best way to start the day, it ultimately turned out to be a blessing. In fact, as I watched the flames begin to break through the roof of our home, I turned to my wife and said, "Well, we needed a new roof anyway." And while that story usually gets a laugh, it's true.

So now, after a whirlwind of excitement, moving, false starts, hurried planning, waiting, waiting, and more waiting, building, waiting, moving again and more sweat equity than your average home builder--we are home again. And loving it. Who wouldn't love a new house and all new furniture and accessories. In fact, as I glance around the room I realize the only thing older than one year is my cell phone. That's because the morning of the fire, after I made sure everyone was out of the house, I grabbed my phone to call 911. And while I was at it I grabbed a few cases of props that I use in my shows and hauled them out to my car. That's about all that escaped unscathed that day. All our other worldly belongings either burned, were terribly smoke damaged or had 10,000 gallons of water dumped on them. Not much can make it though that kind of gauntlet.

However, it was only stuff. And stuff can be replaced with other stuff. So we did. Now we have newer stuff, but it's still just 'stuff'. The real treasures in my life were standing next to me that drizzly morning-- my wife and son. Plus an army of caring neighbors and friends and family descended on us in our time of need and literally clothed and fed and sheltered us. We are blessed.

Goin' Green

It's been another great summer -- so far. I've had the pleasure of presenting my Bee Your Best character show in tons of libraries. The real payoff for me is seeing the enjoyment on children's faces during the program. They enjoy it, and learn some good lessons at the same time!

This summer I've also fit in some outdoor activities with my family. One of the fun things we do is camping. No, not in an RV or even a pop-up. We load the tent and the sleeping bags, the cook stove, a cooler filled to the brim with food, and anything else we can think of into the car and head off "into the wild" -- well maybe not the wild exactly. But a nice state park with hiking and fishing and swimming. That makes a great get away. There's something about getting up early in the morning and cooking breakfast in the outdoors--coffee in hand, birds chirping and whistling all around, and the inevitable chipmunk visiting to scrounge up an easy meal of whatever might be on the ground or thrown its way. It just clears the mind and helps set some priorities straight.
It also, helps me realize the wonders all around us. We live in such a mechanized, industrialized, and electronic laden world that the natural things often get pushed out of our everyday thought patterns. Mind you I don't think I want to go back to horse and buggy days, but I'm glad that we can still find places to push a lot of the modern-day clutter out...at least for a time.

That got me thinking. There is a lot of talk about going green these days. In fact the term "green" has suddenly gotten economic clout. You see it in advertising of all sorts. "Green" or "good for the environment" or some variation of these words help sell just about everything these days. Frankly, I've never been much of a green fanatic. Maybe because, as an ideology, it tends to be pushed a bit too far, and the people-part of the equation seems to get left out. However, there is a place for this. Personally, I prefer the term "stewardship". A steward is someone who's job is to take care of another's property. It brings with it the idea of responsibility. That, I believe, is something to take seriously. We need to be stewards of this wide and wonderful world we live in--not just for us, but for our neighbors (both near and far) and for those who will inherit this world after we are a distant memory.

I've been thinking about this. Stewardship is something worth teaching to our children. Doing the "green" thing is nice. But we need to be responsible -- not to the earth -- but to each other. I suppose it all goes back to the golden rule.

Looking Ahead

One of the challenges to what I do is coming up with new and interesting topics to present each year in libraries and schools. There really is no limit, but my goal is to make a difference in children's lives, not just fill in an hour of it. So, I sat back this year and pondered. What is a hot-button for me that would translate well into the lives of kids. Then it hit me. Character!

School after school that I go to is presenting character training. Every school has a different take on the subject. However, the general consensus is that it is best presented from a "whole school" top down approach. That makes sense. Everyone learning the same basic concepts during the same time periods. This allows teachers and students to be on the look out for examples of the character-trait-of-the week if you will.

Our culture needs these lessons to be taught. The men and women who demonstrate strong character and make ethical decisions in the future, need to develop those qualities now.

So, "BEE" on the lookout for a character and reading based show coming to a school or library in your town this year. 'Bee' Your Best Person will be a fun and educational look at developing character in the lives of kids.

I can't wait.

Children Need Our Involvement

I'm always looking for ways to understand people better. Adults and children, to some extent, live in different worlds. That means parents and their children need to actively seek to be involved in each other's world. Children do this automatically. They play "house", ask questions, say things like, "will you play with me?"

Adults seem a bit less adept at this skill though. We get busy with work, paying bills, mowing the lawn, maintaining the house, and even shuttling children from one activity to another. Being active in our children's lives needs to be intentional if it's going to happen on a regular basis. And it needs to. Involvement by parents shapes the way a child sees the world.

Work habits, playfulness, self-esteem and a host of character issues in a child's life are highly influenced by the adults modeling proper behavior. Sometimes, it just takes an adult being actively interested in a child's life to make a major difference. Education is one of those areas.

Several studies demonstrate the importance of parents being actively involved in their child's education. I won't cite them all, but here are some of the things that have been demonstrated.

• When parents involve themselves in the education process at home, the children do better in school.
  

• High achievement in school is more dependent upon a culture of learning in the home than upon income level or educational level of the parents.

• When parents talk to their children about school, it sends a message that school is important. Children respond to this and generally do better academically.

Here are a few ways to stay involved with your children

• Read to your children
• Take time each night to review your child's school work
  
• Stay in contact with the teachers
  
• Limit TV viewing -- Read a book instead
  
• Ask your kids about their day

Children know when we are involved. They sense it -- they crave it. Most importantly, they respond positively to it. To quote an old ad slogan, "Just Do It!"