Middle School Guidance

Being able to process several things simultaneously in a media-rich world can be a real skill. When kids are constantly being interrupted by IMs, phone calls, and texts, multitasking can help them keep many balls in the air at once without dropping them.

But there are real costs: A study performed at the National Academy of Sciences showed that even though students thought they were good at toggling back and forth (because that’s really what multitasking is), there were real consequences. Specifically, the study found that kids couldn’t filter -- which means they couldn’t focus on one thing and shut out others. And they were really slow at being able to return to their primary task -- like homework -- once they had shifted their attention to a text, an IM, or a TV show.

Bottom line? Multitaskers understand less of what they’re doing, and they aren’t able to remember what they learned while multitasking the next day.

Posted by Mrs. Olson at 3:17 PM | Permalink

A young boy was walking with his father along a country road. When they came across a very large tree branch, the boy asked, "Do you think I could move that branch?"

His father answered, "If you use all your strength, I'm sure you can."

The boy tried mightily to lift, pull, and push the branch, but he couldn't move it. Discouraged, he said, "Dad, you were wrong. I can't do it."

His dad said, "Try again." This time, as the boy struggled with the branch, his father joined him and together they pushed the branch aside.

"Son," the father said, "the first time you didn't use all your strength. You didn't ask me to help."

This is an important lesson. There are many things we can't do alone, but that doesn't mean we can't get them done. We all are surrounded by resources that can be mobilized to help us achieve our goals, including family, friends, and faith. Sometimes we fail to ask for help because of pride or stubbornness. Sometimes we think it's a sign of weakness to admit we need a hand. And sometimes we don't even think about asking for help. Whatever the reason, it's a waste.

It's important that we learn to use all our strength; this includes inner resources such as discipline, courage, and even love. But it also includes outer resources. Just as we should be willing to help others, we should be willing to ask the help of others. It's one of the great things about being human.

Posted by Mrs. Olson at 9:09 AM | Permalink

As we begin a new school year, we have the opportunity to make new goals or to continue to work on previous goals. Maybe you want to make better grades, work on friendships, improve as an athlete, try out for the talent show, or work on improving your organization! Whatever your goals are, the new year can be a great starting point. I encourage all of you (students, parents, teachers...and myself) to set some goals, create a plan to achieve them (with a time limit), and start working toward them (hint: sometimes we feel more "committed" to a goal if we tell someone about it)! No goal is too big or too small! As my title says (yes, I know I'm a dork), "let's get go-aling"!!

Posted by Mrs. Olson at 11:55 AM | Permalink

We are all so busy with our daily lives and time seems to move along so quickly. The casualty of our fast pace is sometimes the "in the now" moments. Fortunately, Hallmark has given us Mother's Day so we can dedicate an entire day to honoring Mom!
I would like to honor all moms by sharing some responses from contemporary mothers when they were asked, “What’s the most significant or profound thing you’ve learned and felt as a mom?”

Here are some of their answers:

* I learned that my heart beats inside my child. My love and energy are a part of her.

* There’s no limit on the amount of joy or pride or pain you can feel.

* Pick your battles.

* Leading by example goes a long, long way.

* I can never hug, or tell my children I love them, too much.

* Enjoy every single second. They grow up way too fast.

* I’ve learned that I’m capable of far more unconditional love than I ever thought I could be.

Finally, one mom put it simply but eloquently: “I came to experience inescapable, wonderful, beautiful, unconditional love.”

I encourage all of us to take the time to remember special memories of our mom or about being a mom!

Posted by Mrs. Olson at 9:21 AM | Permalink

More words of wisdom from Michael Josephson...

I love maxims, those concise capsules of worldly wisdom. Here are 18 random rules of life worth posting on your mirror or, better yet, using as dinner-time discussion starters.

1. Find the lesson in every failure and you’ll never fail.
2. The likelihood that you’re right is not increased by the intensity of your conviction.
3. Real friends help you feel worthy and make you want to be better.
4. When you’re in a hole, stop digging.
5. Don’t confuse fun with fulfillment or pleasure with happiness.
6. Refusing to let go of a grudge is refusing to use the key that will set you free.
7. Hating hurts you more than the person you hate.
8. Counting on luck is counting on random chance. Your odds are much better when you plan and work.
9. Being kind is better than being clever.
10. Don’t underestimate the power of persistence.
11. The easy way is rarely the best way.
12. It’s much easier to burst someone else’s bubble than to blow up your own.
13. You can’t avoid pain, but you can avoid suffering.
14. Self-pity is a losing strategy. It repels others and weakens you.
15. Shortcuts usually produce short success.
16. Control your attitude or it will control you.
17. It’s more important to be significant than successful.
18. The world is waiting for you to heal it.

Posted by Mrs. Olson at 1:14 PM | Permalink

This is a commentary from Michael Josephson that I would like to share:

If you want to help your children do well in life, there are a few things you can do. A high proportion of high achievers have two things in common: lots of books in their house and an emphasis on reading, and a family tradition of regularly eating dinner together.

Filling a house with books surrounds children with endless and varied opportunities and challenges to explore and learn. Books provide knowledge and seeds of wisdom about morality and character.

Eating dinner together assures that parents have an opportunity to participate in their kids’ day-to-day lives and help shape the way they think and react. Coordinating schedules so everyone eats together requires an effort to elevate family time above other things and instills in children a sense of belonging.

But we can do more than promoting reading and family discussions to offset the bad influences to which our kids are exposed. Everything we do to or in front of our children matters; what we allow, what we encourage, and what we do ourselves teaches our children how to live and conveys powerful messages about values.

So be sensitive with what you say and how you say it, what you read and what you watch on TV. And be careful with how you handle relationships and deal with emotions like disappointment, anger, and frustration. Because what you do is what you’ll get.

Posted by Mrs. Olson at 11:23 AM | Permalink

Friday, August 14th, 10:00-12:00, is New Student Orientation. New students should be dropped off by 10:00 and picked up at 12:00. We will have returning students here to welcome the students and take them on a tour of the middle school as well as answer any questions they may have about Athens Academy.

If you have any questions, please call 706-433-2520 and ask to speak to Carrie Olson or Geoffrey Walton. We look forward to seeing you!

Posted by Mrs. Olson at 9:20 AM | Permalink