Chakra Cleansing to mental Self-defense

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Updated: January 13, 2016

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Grand-Master Johwa will be giving a chakra cleansing training on November 29’th.  Learn about your chakras in a completely new way while actually experiencing them and their value in your life.

If you have never attended a workshop with Grand-Master Johwa then this is an excellent one to start with.  Always unscripted and tailored to the present audience, you will leave this training reaching a new level within yourself that always seemed out of reach on your own.  Please do not miss this rare opportunity.  See you there! 

 

With liberty and justice for all: Educational and fun day trip

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Updated: October 27, 2015

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We woke up to hurried excitement and I got no objections when I requested the children brush their teeth to get ready.  They were dressed and down the stairs in a flash. By the time I made my way to the kitchen for breakfast they had already decided what they were going to eat.  On any other day, things would not have gone so smoothly and by then I was certain we would catch our train with time to spare.  Should we be getting ready for a regular school day however, I imagined the level of cooperation would not have been so great. I found even in myself, an extreme focus toward the goal at hand that morning and normally things could get me really distracted while getting prepared for the day.  Things as simple as getting my lunch ready could allow my imagination to roam toward creating some elaborate plan for dinner later that night and before I really understood it, I could be knee deep in an online recipe search that always takes much longer than I had originally anticipated or in choosing attire to wear I could decide to try different combinations of items that might go well together, but then find that 20 minutes had gone by and I would not be dressed.

The point is that I was noticing how nervousness and anticipation over getting to where I needed to that day ON TIME made it happen for everyone that morning and with certainty.  We got to where we needed to with minimal conflict or struggle and it was a terrific day. 

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With children to take care of and a distraction seeking habit like mine, I often find myself struggling in a time jam.  It’s a major flaw because I want to be responsible, caring, and capable.  But I want to be creative and have fun, too.  So I juggle my time between getting really serious important work done and my need to have a moment in curiosity or creativity that usually eats into what I’m “supposed” to be doing instead. 

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Often, I forgive myself the selfishness and try to think up better ways to allow more breathing room in my daily schedule… and then my phone alarm will ring reminding me to get to bed in time for an early start the next day.  I’m almost always surprised to hear it ring so soon and think, “ALREADY???? I guess I’ll just have to continue this task another time?” Then, I hear an inner child-like voice inside me say, “Awwwww…  just ten more minutes? Pleeeaaaassse?!”

Students in High School are sometimes thirsty for recognition for having a good character

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Posted: October 26, 2015

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Come on!  Be honest… you want one too,  right?!  This is the package a student will receive from me when I see distinguished behavior from them.  I select one student per class per week to acknowledge and I do so in a very discreet way.  I simply walk over to their seat while everyone is busy working on something, place it in front of them, smile, and shake their hand.  Sometimes I’ll say something very quietly like “Good job.” or “Congratulations.”
I’ve been telling myself to do this kind of reward system for all my teaching career, (almost 15 years now, in high school mathematics).  This year I FINALLY figured out exactly what I wanted to do and exactly how to do it.  It’s working really well for me and the students and it’s not a lot of extra work. So the effort I put into it is easily more than worth the outcome from it. 
Students get a distinct pencil of somekind,  a homework pass (only one student has redeemed one so far), a lifesaver mint attached to a little business card sized message that reads, “You’re a lifesaver!”, a certificate specifying what they are being recognized for signed by me (I expect they show family and friends),  and a colorful slip referencing one of the Common Core Mathematical practices I’ve noticed they’ve consistently demonstrated.  I think it ties very well together with what I want from my students as young Mathematicians and also with what I want from them as responsible, caring people. In other words, I hope they continue to behave the way they’ve displayed FOREVER. 
I’m finding the sentiment helps the underclassmen transition better into more serious work because they REALLY want to do well overall, and some of the FUN is being sucked out of their day because of the stress that can bring.  Some students are better than others at gauging themselves and managing their emotional state without such a recognition. While others, I imagine, may not hear from others or themselves very often just how much they are appreciated. 
Even as an adult, when I get some level of thanks or results for doing the right thing, it really satisfies my drive and fuels me to work even harder.  In this generation’s current environment with instant feedback and automated interaction online with video game like some-what addictive stimulation, I’m finding students less motivated toward meaningful learning and meaningful tasks.  Part of the reasoning for that lack of drive is because it takes way longer than what they initially expect to get “somewhere” with it.  They don’t know how to keep themselves going and amidst the challenges they face,  they often give up. There can be a push from media and so-called “role models” to do the opposite of work hard, do the right thing, etc. 
I hope this small reward is enough to refocus a student in this kind of dilemma and I hope my contributions can keep the fire going in all of us,  especially myself.