Parent Guide: Nice Kids Finish First

This week in class, we’re reading “Nice Kids Finish First: Study Finds Social Skills Can Predict Future Success” by Audie Cornish.

This interview from NPR’s All Things Considered, hosted by Audie Cornish, discusses a recent study’s findings that children who demonstrate more ‘pro-social’ skills – those who share more and who are better listeners – are more likely to have jobs and stay out of trouble as young adults.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Education & Knowledge and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“What is the goal of education?” and “Why do people succeed?”

Ways to support your child:

Writing Tips from the Lab

What I should do….

Bucky says, “Determining the factors that will be most powerful is on of the greatest pressures.”

Megan says, “Reread to find mistakes like writing you, it, and thing.”

Shustyn says,” Stop generalizing everything at the beginning of the post.”

Chetter says, “Make more debatable topic sentences.”

Sarah says, “ Quit writing (x=x) statement!”

Amie says, ” Write defiant opinions from within yourself. Tie into personal experiences.”

Myles says, “make sure your make contains more voice.”

Justin says, ” Avoid A vs. B in halves.”

Jordan says, “to start putting personal experiences.”

Conor says, “Make better thesis.”

Yarmz says, “Align picture” or “In the life there is a lot of decisions to be made.”

Kaitlyn, “I have been through an experience with cancer, one that I have learned from, knowing the consequences and fears it caused.”

Jacq says, ” I’ve been in my living room for countless hours working on this work of art.”

Brett G. says, “Start with an example of your own voice.”

Owen says, “he had afflicted lost of pain.”

Derek says, “The best way for the boy in the story stains to learn a life lesson.

Aubrey says, “Make your topic sentences.”

Tanner says, ” use your own voice.”

Nicole says, “I have long pondered over an invention that could make me famous.”

Chantal says, ” In my spare time I really enjoy reading stories and novels because they help me to leave doctor mode and just enjoy my spare time

What I need to stop doing…

Bucky says, “Emotion and feelings play.”

Chetter says,” Both John and Jonny attend a banquet.”

Tanner says, “there are any issues.”

Shustyn says, “possessing values is a key part in my life. My everyday decisions are based on my values.’

Megan says,” There are many pressures in the teenage life styles.”

Sarah says, ” There is a way” or “Somehow”

Justin says, ” What their beliefs are.”

Amie says, “The characters in the story.”

Myles says.” ThiS way we can make the right decisions.”

Curtis says, ” There are many similarities, along with many differences.”

Conor says, “There are always.”

Jordan says, “I think.”

Jacq says, “Being surrounded by the people who love them can help the person pull through the tough times.”

Kaitlyn says, “differing life views can affect the decisions made.”

Yarmz says, “stop putting elementary words, start using high school words. start to not put x=x.”

Owen says, “He has to learn from mistakes.”

Brett G says, “Avoid thing all time and places.”

Derek says, “Use words that are grade 10 appropriate.”

Aubrey says, “Don’t argue the obvious.”

Jason says, “stop writing good inconstantly.”

Nicole says, “almost always.”

LOTF: Focus on Voice

Consequences
How do we live with the consequences of our decision making?
Related Questions:

What are the consequences of an important decision that you have made recently?
What are informed decisions? What are uninformed decisions?
What role does foresight play in our decision making? What are the advantages and disadvantages of hindsight?
What is the effect of making a decision when we are uncertain of the consequences? What are the consequences of making decisions which go against what other people think? What price do we pay for each decision we make?
What role does emotion and feeling play in our decision making?

Choose a focus. Write a post. Trackback.

Blogging Tips:
Pay particular attention to your own development of your voice in your style. Attempt to engage your audience to comment critically on issues of your choosing.

When commenting on another’s blog, look for the issues that invite your critical response.

Examine early decisions in LOTF

When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice. -William James

Piggy, Ralph, and Jack make, or do not make, significant decisions in the first 3 chapters of Lord of the Flies. What are the common decisions they are learning to make? What are some of the mistakes they have made related to their decision making? What decisions have they made, or not made, to reinforce their fate? What values are revealed by the decisions they have made? According to Jack, Piggy, or Ralph, what is worth fighting for?

Perhaps you’d like to discuss the little’uns, instead. How have the decisions of others affected them? What role does emotion play in their decision making? Can their “going along with the crowd” be justified?

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