Addressing the January Blues

Friday, December 30, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Support Through Rough Patches

Encouragement is the act of giving someone support, confidence, or hope. When we encourage another, we are either trying to stimulate the development of an activity, state, or belief, or we may be trying to persuade another person to do or to continue something.

There are numerous reasons why we may find ourselves desiring or needing any of these forms of encouragement at some point. January is well known as the most depressing month of the year. Why? Some perceive a let down after a festive holiday season. Others are receiving credit card statements and the painful reality of impending payments is weighty. Still others (research shows up to 20%) are  affected emotionally because of the physiological effects of the cold, dark, and often dreary weather that is synonymous with the first month of the year. Add these realities to an already heavy sense of regular responsibilities and one can truly experience a heavy case of the blues.

How can one move out of this condition? Often it helps to evaluate how you usually feel in mid-January. If you know you typically struggle with low mood in January, plan ahead for yourself, for how you will wisely practice self-care. Are the blues you are experiencing abnormal for you? Applying the same measures will help you, too. 

How are you feeling right now?  Are you feeling strong and optimistic, or are you sliding into melancholy or worse, gloom? Are feelings of overwhelm sabotaging your motivation? Try a few of these ideas to help yourself out of the pit of sadness that often accompanies the 31 days of darkness called January. Be sure, however, to contact your health care provider if your feelings of depression are ongoing or if you have ideations of self-harm.

1. If you are experiencing a "SAD January", be determined to be kind to yourself. Practice self-compassion. Reduce responsibilities that may be adding to the doldrums. Is there one thing you do not like to do from which you can take a break for this month only?

2. Be intentional to give yourself positive affirmations. Various scientific studies suggest that positive self-affirmation practices can be beneficial in many ways. Saying positive affirmations activates the reward circuits in your brain much the same way eating a favorite food or winning a prize does. The Neuroscience of How Affirmations Help Your Mental Health

3. Go to the light. Your light might be a vacation to a warm sunny climate. It may also look like daily basking in the light of a "happy light" to enhance your mood, energy, sleep and focus. If using a happy light, begin in early September. It takes some time for the pineal gland to ramp up its production of melatonin, helping you feel more chipper.

4. Try something new. Plan and prepare a new dinner recipe. Sign up for painting or another type of creative class. Take the kids swimming once a week and swim with them. Go to bed earlier and give yourself an extra hour of sleep each night.

5. Clean out one room (or part of a room) each week. Reducing the clutter that accumulates can help you feel much better.

6. Plan three or four low budget, minimal planning required, special family activities: movie and popcorn at home, board-game night, reading an exciting story out loud on certain nights of the week.

7. Practice laughing daily. Laugh with your kids. Tell each other hearty jokes. Listen to an enriching comedian together. Say, "Alexa, tell me a good joke!"

8. Practice daily gratitude habits. Focusing on gratitude as a habit will lift one's mood on a more permanent basis. Write five things daily for which you are grateful. Mindfully note the good that comes from otherwise difficult circumstances. Do you have generally good health for which you are thankful?

9. Be vigilant to make time for daily exercise, optimally outside during the sunniest parts of the day. Even if completed indoors, daily exercise releases at least four different hormones that contribute to overall feelings of well-being and energy.

Reach out to your friends. Chances are they may be struggling with a blue January, too. What can you do to encourage them? No pity parties or griping sessions are allowed. Simply support one another by recognizing together the reality that January is hard right now, but in 31 days it will be over and you both will be feeling better as February and March roll around.

My New Adventure

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Dyslexia Support

I am thrilled to share that I am headed back to school!

For years my heart has ached for kids who struggle to acquire knowledge and academic skills because of neurological conditions affecting that process.

With great excitement, I have enrolled in the Dyslexia Training Institute Certification Program and begin classes in early January. It has been a few decades since I have been the student!

In May, when I have completed the training program, I will be equipped to provide specialized instruction and remediation for children and adults who have dyslexia. I am delighted to have access to this training and soon be able to accept students who need these services. Dyslexia creates a cascade of effects for the affected individuals and their families. The prospect of providing support for these folks excites me!

Stay tuned--I will be sharing nuggets from my own learning with you along the way so that we can more thoroughly understand dyslexia together.

IEW TWSS Writing Classes

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Class Highlight

Parents will ask me, "What is a class session of IEW TWSS like?"

Simply put, TWSS curriculum is a gentle, engaging curriculum that adds simple formulas to the process of writing. The formulas address appropriate structures for different writing purposes along with elements of style that create an engaging written end product. Every skill is practiced in each subsequent piece, providing ample experience to guide a writer from the novice level to more advanced over the scope of the curriculum.

Since students write a short composition every week, we always take time at the beginning of class to read our essays aloud for each other. An element of writing motivation is added to the composition process when one knows that they will be sharing their writing with their classmates. Their thoughts and effort are given a voice! Students also share "Roses & Thorns" about their writing experience, thus practicing self-reflection, evaluation, the celebration of successes and acknowledgment of skills that need more work. Students also experience the encouraging and constructive input from their peers, fostering a supportive, non-threatening group atmosphere.

A new skill is introduced each week. We practice the new skill as a group, then sometimes we practice that skill in the form of a revision on a piece of our own previous writing, ending with opportunities to share with the group what we discovered. Although lessons are primarily focused on the process of writing, elements of grammar, vocabulary, and literature are woven into our practice and conversations, assisting the students in their understand that ultimately, all academic skills are be blended together in various ways.

Finally, students have time to begin their new writing lesson, leaving class with a sense of accomplishment. When students begin the assignment in class, they also have the opportunity to test their own understanding and ask questions that ultimately benefit the entire group.

If your student has been studying IEW Level A on their own and you believe they would benefit from joining one of our groups, we are welcoming new classmates! Reach out to me so we can coordinate how to make the change as stress-free as possible for your young writer!

Math Investigations Using the New Year (2023)

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 by Catherine Gilliland | Unique Learning Opportunities

To acknowledge the new year 2023, consider adding a fun and unique learning project to your month. There are several topics pertaining to years and calendars which you could investigate together with your child or teen. For example, learn about events occurred 100 years ago, 250 years ago, 500 years, etc. How has technology progressed since 1923? 1823? Popular music, art, and theater from 1923? 1823? 1723? Learn about the origins of the modern calendar. What were the ancient methods of keeping track of time? When were hours named? Is there history behind the names of months and days?

    

A plethora of more specific math investigations can be explored together based upon the year numbered 2023.

For younger children:

• Help them memorize the names of the days of the week, months of the year, or the number of days in each month. 

• Assist your child in making their very own calendar.

• Practice counting by sevens using their calendar. Begin with counting by sevens, then challenge them to begin on 1, add 7, seven more, etc. Next, begin on 2, add 7, seven more, etc. 

• Work on double digit addition, on paper and by mental math by adding up combination of months. For example: Add the total days contained in the months January, March, and November.

• Help your child to picture the concept of a half of a year, a quarter, third, sixth, and a twelfth.

• Have fun adding and subtracting from 2023. For example, ask, "What year was it 25 years ago? What year will it be 25 years from now? You can also use this style of question for asking about the date 6 weeks from now, 8 weeks prior to a certain date, etc.

Not only will your children have fun with this practical math, but they will be growing some crucial life skills.

Older children:

• Challenge them further by adding in the concepts of adding hours and minutes. For example, ask, "What time is it now? What date and time will it be in 21 hours and 39 minutes?" and "What date and time was it 17 hours and 59 minutes ago?" If you have a friend over, let the two race each other.

• Challenge your student to factor the year 2023 on paper or mentally.

• Introduce simple and compound interest calculations using the year 2023.Teach about the costs of borrowing vs. the value of saving.

• Calculate wages earned over time using months, years, etc. From those calculations challenge students with some budgeting questions.

Happy New Year! May you delight in learning together!