Hello Everyone!
It’s been a while since I’ve had time to even look at this website, much less write something for it. I’ve had some life changes, so I am no longer writing books or even much in this blog. However, one of you recently Emailed me and asked me not to forget the website, so I thought I would post a new freebie that I’ve had sitting in my files for a couple of years. It’s titled “Fun Ways Scientists Use Math,” for ages 8-13. I’ve posted a link to it on the Lessons and Activities page of this website. I’ve also gone through the Freebies page and deleted the links that don’t work and added a couple of new ones. My favorite is the one titled “Even More Fun Recipes for Learning” under the Misc. section.
On another note, I’ve had something on my mind lately that I thought I would share with you. It is about how negative criticism sticks with us longer than positive comments. In my new job, I’ve been receiving so much positive feedback that you’d think I’d feel very happy and secure about how I am doing. Then, one person threw some extremely negative comments at me, and all of the positive comments I’d received by multiple people (including my bosses) over the past three years went out the window. I lost my confidence.
This got me to thinking about how the negative sticks with us more than the positive. We cling to past slights so easily–clinging to the negative and forgetting the positive. And that got me to thinking about how I wish I’d had this insight before my children were adults, because, of course, kids do this too. I remember every negative thing a teacher ever told me and very few of the positive things. I am a perfectionist who grew up in a family of perfectionists, and I wonder if I gave my children enough praise growing up, or if in my quest to have them be the best they could be, I neglected to tell them how great they were doing and how proud I am of them.
Of course, it’s never too late to change, and I’m going to work on passing out more positive comments, not just with my children but with my spouse, friends, and co-workers. However, I thought I would share these thoughts with those of you who still have young children at home, since I wish I had thought of it sooner.
I hope you all have a wonderful summer!
Sue
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