Quote

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...
It's about learning to Dance in the Rain"

Author Unknown

Saturday, March 23, 2013

"Research that Benefits Children & Families"



“Research that Benefits Children & Families”
            There are so many research topics of interest.  I have a personal example of a positive result of research.  Several children in our school that have had difficulty sitting still, staying calm, and being able to focus have received some relief.  They are now wearing weighted vests.  They look like nice denim vests which helps them blend in with any outfit.  These vests give the children a sense of security and comfort.  These two children (one in kindergarten and one in second-grade) have done so much better functioning in their classrooms.  In addition, they did not have to use any medications.  One of the older students has been able to ease out of the vest as a result of gaining more self-control and self-confidence. 
I found an article that defined shyness, the possible causes, as well as, the good and bad aspects of being shy (Malouff, 2012).  It also listed strategies for teachers and families to help a child overcome being shy.  I feel this would be a wonderful resource for educators and families to review and use in the classroom or in the home.  I wish my teachers and family had this knowledge when I was a child.
Reference
Malouff, J. (2012).  Helping young children overcome shyness.  University of New England –
            Psychology.   Retrieved from www.une.edu.au/bcss/psychology/John-Malouff/
            shyness.php

Friday, March 15, 2013

My Personal Research Journey


For my research, I have chosen the general topic of "shyness".  My subtopic will be the aspects of resilience in shy children.  This is an area I can relate to very closely.  I was an extremely very bashful child until I was out of high school.  I felt very socially inadequate.  I always felt like I missed out on so much.  Looking back, it was not as bad as I thought at the time.  Academically, I struggled through elementary school.  However, I started doing much better throughout junior high and high school.  During those years, I came out of my shell slightly.  I often wonder how my childhood might have been if I had not been so shy.  I would like to research what strategies might help shy children in my classroom.  Are their opportunities for educators and parents to help children become more confident and build their self-esteem?  I remember specific teachers that helped me feel important and capable of being successful.  I hope to be one of those teachers in a child's life.  In addition, my little girl has been blessed with confidence and self-esteem.  She is smart, happy, and out-going. I hope through my experiences I have been able to instill these qualities in my daughter.  In addition, she has been blessed with awesome teachers and family support.  I look forward to finding answers to these questions.  There is so much research on this topic.  It should be an interesting journey to see what has been researched.  I would also love to hear about stories on this topic from others.  I look forward to working with each of you and learning more about this topic.      

Saturday, March 9, 2013

"Building Research Competency"

Welcome to my Blog - Cindy Rube!

I am looking forward to working with each of you in building our research competency.  This is a topic that is a little overwhelming to me.  However, I am so blessed to be working with my fellow Walden students and Dr. Dartt in this new endeavor.  Best wishes to all!

P.S.  I have corrected my blog link so that readers are able to now post comments.  Sorry for any previous inconvenience.  I learn more with each new experience!  
Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support!  Cindy Rube