This was a good description of a class I would run into once in a while: Ten kids in the room and not one brain active. This is where I reached into my bag and pulled out the balloons. The parents were put to work blowing up enough for each kid. We did races and games. The best one was to keep the balloon off the floor, kicks only. They did two hundred kicks before they knew what was happening.

Jeff, could you go into more detail on the various drills you did with the balloons? Thanks!

Laura

Hello Marmaduke:

<<If you don't mind being pestered, I'm pass on your comments to him.

Ancient thread worth revisiting IMHV. Just wanted to check back in on this topic, see how things were going for your son? I know we've danced before at times over this type of thing (given your original statement-sentiment re: the money factor aspect apparently we're on the ~same page~ again) merely checking in this time.



Jeff

Hello My Namesake:

<<We did races and games... They did two hundred kicks before they knew what was happening.



Good topic wrong place...

Jeff

Hello Laura:

How bout a thread (a different thread) for this one rather than contamination of Marmaduke's sons plight

Jeff

I beg to differ. I may not have gone into enough depth about how the balloons work but I stand by their effectiveness in certain situations.


So I guess after all my ranting, my question is..how do you controll the uncontrollable? How do you get little kids to behave, listen to you? (when all they do is the complete opposite of what you tell them) As a parent, I can understand not getting forcefull with young kids so their parents don't complain, but geez. Last night I wanted to tell my son to get his Katana.


The trick is in engagement. If you re-direct the attenion of the students to something more fun, albeit productive, they stand a better chance of not wanting to wander off the floor and actually want to do the task at hand. In addition, if you bring the parents into the action, they tend to be happier also.

All in all, Marmaduke, I would view the class, and its attendent frustrations, as a learning moment.

Perhaps I failed to get to the verb. What do the balloons DO to help the situation? I don't think we really control the uncrontollable so much as re-direct it.

Jeff G.

Jeff

Good advice!...esp the "re-direct it" part.

Part of the problem is that sometimes/often people bring their kids to a MA school to learn some "discipline"----problem being of course how you can teach such a thing without hacking off the parents and/or if they don't support the lessons at home.

Puts the teacher in a tough spot.