Jennifer Mauer has needed more willpower than college students to pursue her goal of earning a nursing degree. That willpower bore fruit when Jennifer graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and became the first in her large family to earn a bachelor's degree.
Jennifer, of Edgar, Wisconsin, grew up on a farm of 10 children. Her dad worked at a job away from the farm and her mother ran the farm with the kids. After high school, Jennifer attended a local technical college, working to pay her tuition( 学 费 ), because there was no extra money set aside for a college education. After graduation, she worked to help her sisters and brothers pay for their schooling.
Jennifer now is married and has three children of her own. She decided to go back to college to advance her career and to be able to better support her family while doing something she loves: nursing. She chose the UW- Eau Claire program at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield because she was able to pursue her four- year degree close to home. She could drive to class and be home in the evening to help with her kids. Jennifer received great support from her family as she worked to earn her degree: her husband worked two jobs to cover the bills, and her 68-year-old mother helped take care of the children at times.
Through it all, she remained in good academic standing and graduated with honors. Jennifer sacrificed to achieve her goal, giving up many nights with her kids and missing important events to study. "Some nights my heart was breaking to have to pick between my kids and studying for exams or papers," she says. However, her children have learned an important lesson witnessing their mother earn her degree. Jennifer is a first-generation graduate and an inspiration to her family-and that's pretty powerful.
At Jenner Park Primary School in Wales, pupils between the ages of seven and nine are writing letters to people of a local care home. The initiative(倡议) sees children and their elderly pen pals exchange updates about their lives, helping to build relationships between generations while also giving the children an understanding of the value of writing letters by hand—an activity that's becoming less and less common.
Laura Johnson, the teacher who balance the scheme at Jenner Park, says," All of our writing is for a purpose. That's the key in getting children to value handwriting.""As soon as you put an audience there, knowing that someone out there is going to be reading it—whether that's parents or another group of children—there's always the real sense of pride to go along with it," says Johnson.
The school keeps a focus on handwriting throughout the years, from dedicated handwriting classes in the pre-school to a calligraphy club offered to the older groups. It has created something called the pen license. It allows younger children to move from using a pencil to pen once they've reached a certain standard. "There's a lot of excitement about reaching that pen licence stage," says Johnson.
Johnson adds that developing students' writing in this way matters for their life after school: "For us, it's important that we create citizens of the future who have a set of life skills that can make them successful." The development of technology is a challenge, she admits, but she also believes both tools have their place. "Obviously we're competing with technology continuously," she says. "And I know there are people there saying you don't need to bother about handwriting because tech is out there. But we don't see it as competing. We're trying to get pupils to realize that there's a place for handwriting, and to know when it's important to use each."
Feeling overloaded by your to-do list can certainly make you unhappy, but new research suggests that more free time might not be the____elixir many of us dream it could be.
In a new study released last week, researchers analyzed data from two large surveys about how Americans spend their time. Together, the surveys included more than 35,000 replies. The researchers found that people with more free time generally had higher levels of subjective(主观的) well-being-but only up to a point. People who had around two hours of free time a day generally reported they felt better than those who had less time. But people who had five or more hours of free time a day generally said they felt worse. So finally the free-time "sweet spot" might be two to three hours per day, the findings suggest.
Part of finding this seemingly tricky "sweet spot" has to do with how people spend the extra time they have, the researchers behind the new study argue. They carried out several smaller online experiments. In one they asked participants to imagine having 3.5 to 7 free hours per day. They were asked to imagine spending that time doing "productive" things (like exercising) or to imagine doing "unproductive" activities (like watching TV). Study participants believed their well-being would suffer if they had a lot of free time during the day-but only if they used it unproductively. Though that experiment was hypothetical (假设的), which is one limitation of the new research, it's certainly in line with other research showing that being in a state of "flow" can be good for people's mental health.
Of course, what feels "productive" is up to you. Many traditionally productive or purposeful activities can be easy and fun. Engaging in a bit of low-key cardio(有氧运动), like walking and jogging, can help burn stress. Free-time activities like reading or cooking are also known to put people in a state of flow.
Research shows that playful teasing (戏弄, 玩笑) between parents and their children can be a way to strengthen relationships, bring up difficult topics, and just have fun. Carol Bishop says, "You need to recognize if they are enjoying it." There are also rules about what is okay and not okay to tease your child about. Instead, tease kids about safe topics, like a messy room, or things that can be easily changed.
Teasing should also be a two-way street. If they go too far making fun of you, be sure not to get angry. Instead, help them to learn limits and what may hurt others.
Teasing about a disappointing grade should only be used as a gentle reminder to study or do homework. It shouldn't be focused on the ability because that could make the situation worse. It's not wrong to say to your child, "I'm disappointed that you got a C." You need to examine if there is a learning disability or maybe they are depressed or being bullied.
From monsters (怪物) under the bed to darkness and noises, fears that may seem foolish to an adult may be very real to a child. In fact, it could make them worse. Teasing a child who is frightened about something is not a way for them to broaden their horizon—you need to make them feel secure.
A. Kids often feel hurt when teased by others.
B. Topics like appearance and weight are not allowed.
C. Laughing or teasing won't help them overcome their fears.
D. But then you must work with them to figure out the cause.
E. But parents need to recognize when teasing becomes hurtful.
F. You have to be willing to let your child tease you about things.
G. Teasing a child about sports performance can cause a child to quit the sport.
Rebecca, who I met at a business conference in Las Vegas, is one of the smartest people I have ever known. So 1 in mind was she that she made a deep impression on me. Even if you were around her for a(n)2 day, you probably wouldn't notice her disability.
She was born with severe dyslexia-a slight disorder of the brain that causes3 in reading and spelling. Due to her learning disability, she had to be in 4 education classes for most of her elementary and middle school years. Despite the challenge, she5 to let dyslexia determine her life. Every day, she worked on6 her disability with the 7 of her parents. Her dad would spend an hour every morning helping her with math. In the evenings her mom would have her read books out aloud and then her mother would8 her on the content.
9 , in her effort, Rebecca's hard work paid off. By high school, she had10 from special education classes all the way to honor classes. When I was young, no one thought I could ever11 college ." she said. Not only did Rebecca end up going to college, but she graduated as the top of her class.
"I always had a vision, "says Rebecca, "of one day being a lawyer. But it seemed like such a12 ambition that I never told anyone." Today, Rebecca's vision is a13 . She graduated from law school and is14 working in one of the largest law firms on the East Coast. Rebecca says, "I wouldn't change a thing. My learning disability still brings challenges to me now, but it also gave me the15 to make my childhood dream come true."
Family meals are important in living with a family. A recent survey (show) that most children and their family share a meal at least four times a week. my point of view, this is a positive sign, because dining together is able to benefit family members.
Firstly, (have) a meal together can help a family stick together, which helps strengthen each family member's sense of belonging and reduce family (tension). Family members can relax together during this time, and enjoy each other's company. Routine communication also helps family members show each other's appreciation which can not only (stress) on Thanksgiving Day.
Secondly, family meals also playimportant part in a child's growth. For example, parents are able to observe their children's psychology(心理)(base) on their deeds and expressions. And studies show that children eating with their families are more likely(get ) high grades in the end than those who do not eat family meals. And such kids are(definite) to be more social and make more friends. Finally, Through family meals, parents can also ensure that their children are eating different foods to have strong bodies. It's because childreneat together with their families can be taught to be not particular about meals.
My dad doesn't write me letters. And he doesn't always remember my birthday or wedding anniversary -- or even how old I am sometimes.
But I only need to look around me to be reminded of his love. He restored a 100-year-old rocking chair after I told him how much I wanted one. When I moved into my first apartment, he spent his weekends in a small space replacing pipes. And when I lost a blue stone from a favorite necklace, he worked his magic with common tools.
The four greatest words I know are "Dad will build it".
I could never forget when I was seven, one day we walked by a toy store window. There in the corner was the most unusual doll house had ever seen. It was shaped like an upturned log. Little oval(椭圆形) windows were cut into it decorated with white curtains and framed by tiny balconies(阳台).
"Oh, Daddy," I said, "isn't it beautiful? Do you think Santa Clause will bring it to me?"
Dad looked at the $100 price tag(标签) -- too high a figure in those days. "I think even Santa couldn't pay for this house," he joked, hiking up his belt, as he often does when he's nervous. "Maybe one day, sweetheart." Dad probably hoped I'd forget about the doll house, but I kept talking about it.
On Christmas morning, I awoke early and raced downstairs. In the faint light, I made out some wrapped boxes under the tree-- but none large enough to contain my doll house.
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Dad could see my disappointment.
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Four months later, a beautiful doll house was in front of me.
