Rafe Esquith, the author of the New York Times Bestseller Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire explains how all children can become extraordinary in Lighting Their Fires: Raising Extraordinary Children in a Mixed-up, Muddled-up, Shook-up World.
The story about a class trip to a baseball game flows smoothly along with examples of tools children need to succeed. He also suggests books, movies, games and activities in Lighting Their Fires to enhance the lessons.
Children Paying Attention
Rafe Esquith explains how children who are involved with long-term projects learn to delay gratification. He makes the observation that many children who don’t seem to be paying attention are slapped with the ADHD label and unnecessarily medicated. He’s aware that ADHD exists, but he also believes it’s over diagnosed.
Hypnotizing television and computer games don’t teach children patience or how to focus. Limiting, timing and scheduling television programming helps decrease exposure.
Children Making Better Decisions
In order to make good decisions children need to learn how to take their time, evaluate options and weigh facts. There are many activities that help children learn how to focus, and Rafe Esquith shares easy ideas in Lighting Their Fires (Penguin Group, 2009, ISBN: 9780670021086).
Other issues Rafe addresses in Light Their Fires include the importance of humility, empathy and punctuality. Parents can help children learn how to share and co-operate with others by teaching by example and involving them in household chores.
Making Time for Children
Turning the television off or discussing programs, playing games and teaching manners all require an adult’s time, which is the most important and often missing ingredient in raising extraordinary children.
Parents can’t always be around, but they can do their best to make sure their children are spending time with a good role model. Rafe can’t fit everyone in his classroom, so instead he’s shared priceless information in Lighting Their Fires for educators and parents to help children everywhere succeed.
More About Rafe Esquith
Not everyone is willing to put in the extra time with children to help them succeed. That’s one of the main differences between Rafe and another teacher or parent that does what’s required and nothing more.
Over 90% of children in Espquith’s famous class at Hobart Elementary School are below the poverty level, but he values these children and believes in them, and so they succeed.
Rafe Esquith is the recipient of Oprah Winfrey’s Use Your Life Award, Parent’s magazine As You Grow Award and People magazine’s Heroes Among Us award. Espquith is also the only teacher to receive the president’s National Medal of the Arts. For more information, see Rafe Esquith and The Hobart Shakespeareans Official Website.
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Dealing With and Disciplining Teenagers
How to Enforce a Child’s Bedtime Routine
How to Help Increase a Child's Self-Esteem
Sandra Williams - Sandra's a book addict and writer from Ontario, Canada. Her interests include cooking, health and personal development, so many of her ...
