Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

I was once told. "To be a good teacher you must first be a good student"! How right he was. Grand Master Doc Fi Wong taught me as much about being an istructor as he did about martial arts. I seriously doubt he had that in mind when he took me on as one of his students but it happened none the less. Knowing your subject is great but you can always learn more. Just look how computers have changed our world. You must be able to adapt to situations that can't be forseen, situations you can't control, and show… >>>

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Helping students remember

Remembering course material is alot like getting the body to do what you want thru muscle memory. The only difference is training the brain to do the same thing. If you practice something correctly over and over it becomes familier. You can train the brain to do work the same way. If someone says they hate math it's probably because they weren't taught math properly. You just need to find a way to make it easy and show how the results will help them. Money always gets their attention. I also use money when teaching students how to read a… >>>

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Helpful pretesting

Pretesting if done right can be a great learning tool. As the instructor you already know the course content. Now you just make a test to show the students what they are about to learn. You can also identify who the weaker students might be so you can be prepared to help them. You can also make up some more advanced challenges for the students who could possibly become bored if they are not challanged.

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Tigger - Tiger / Tomato - Tomaato

Perception is reality!! If I can't engage all my students in one form or another they are going to be bored and lose interest in the course. So how do you teach to all the different learning styles? Practice! Just look at their eyes and you can tell if they are engaged or off in lala land. Ask questions of the students who seem to not be getting it and find out how to help them. It may be a math class that is required and some are only there for that reason but find a way to make it… >>>

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

What is concrete and what is perception?

We know perception is reality but is reality concrete? I think it depends on the individual! What I might feel is a waste of time might be anothers way of taking a mental break. If I did not know that person I would be sure they were lazy because my eyes and ears tell me they are not doing anything but sitting there with a blank look on their face. To my way of thinking that would be concrete when in reality what I think I'm seeing is not the total picture. Now if I heard soothing music and the… >>>

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Relaxation is just a trigger away!

You can find a way to help relax by coming up with a relaxation routine. Take a mental break, take a breathing break, whatever you can for a quick break. As a martial arts practioner we are taught to notice when stress starts to set in and have a trigger to start a relaxation process.

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Whooosaa! Relaxation is just a trigger away.

When stress starts to get a grip you need to be able to notice the signs and take a mental break. As a practioner of numerous martial arts we are taught to notice situations and deal with them. When you notice stress you don't even have to stop what your doing to take a mental break. Breathing is a good start, having a trigger to start a quick relaxation period. The relaxation period doesn't have to last that long, just long enough to take the tension away.

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Who is putting on the stress? You are.

Who is causing you stress? You are! If you feel stress from your job maybe you are in the wrong job. If things at home are stressful you need to find the problem and deal with it. You may have to pass on the new car, pool, bigger house you think you need but it's your choice. Don't use stress as a crutch.

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Stress is perceived and to often a crutch

I feel stress is something a person uses as a crutch. Sure most people feel stressful at times but who is really putting on the stress. You just do the best you can and let the chips fall. Maybe you don't belong in the position your in, you made the choice so either live with it or change what ever is bothering you. You may have to forget about getting that new car, pool, bigger house you think you need, but you have the option.

Lauren Thompson

Discussion Comment

Making more time - yeah right!!!

As a type A person I'm always tweaking everything to make it better. Just can't help myself. The envelope must be opened to find out whats inside. I thought that computers were suppose to make our lives easier, get the job done faster and better!! Now we just do more in the same amount of time. The other thing is if you make a little time for yourself someone is bound to come along to give you more to do.