Out of Words - MGS

I’m out of words to say,
But my mouth keeps speaking.
I’m out of air to breathe,
Yet my heart keeps beating.

I’m out of reasons to explain,
But my mind keeps thinking.
I’m out of time to spend,
Yet my feet can’t walk away.

I’m out of you…
Still, I’m hoping.

Love Grows - MGS

Icings, lollipops, candies, and chocolates
Every morning by my door,
You smile, whispering I need you.
Carnation, tulips, yellow roses, dahlia, and sunflower
Every morning by my window,
You winked, chanting I miss you. 
Teddy bear, pillow, sweatshirt, Chihuahua
Everyday on my bed,
You dance, uttering I love you. 
Veil, cord, arras, candle, and ring
We cry at the church, solemnly promise 
Confessing our first love will last.

 

Love Cycle - MGS

From stranger, we became friends.
From friends, we became best friends.
From best friends, love grew deeper
Then we became lovers.

I am your girlfriend,
And you are my boyfriend.
But it seems we don’t know each other anymore.

A petty quarrel,
Simple tantrums,
Nonsense interrogation
Rooted, misled,
Scars left beyond doubts.

“I have to leave,” you said.
I let you go;
I cried.

Strangers, that’s how we are now,
Decreasing through diminishing
That’s how our love ended.

The Unseen - MGS

In the quiet of mornings, as sunlight breaks through,
She gathers her treasures, a vibrant crew.
With laughter and stories, she opens the door,
To worlds filled with wonder, where imaginations soar.

Each question they ask, she meets with delight,
Encouraging curiosity, igniting the light.
Through struggles and triumphs, she walks by their side,
A beacon of hope, a compassionate guide.

Though the clock ticks away, and the days may feel long,
In the rhythm of learning, she finds her own song.
With every small victory, she knows in her heart,
That the seeds she has planted will blossom and start.

Yet in the still moments, when the classroom is bare,
She reflects on her journey, the weight that she bears.
For the world may not see the love that she gives,
But in the lives she touches, her legacy lives.

So here’s to the unseen, the unsung, the true,
The teachers who nurture, who believe in the few.
In the tapestry woven with patience and care,
Their impact is timeless, a gift that they share.

For every child’s laughter, for every new dream,
They are the quiet heroes, the heart of the team.
Though accolades may fade, and the years may roll on,
In the hearts of their students, their light will live on.

Covid19 Strikes the Marshall Island -MGS

It was an assembly like any other, for it was the final assembly to greet the seniors of MIHS class of 2020. The 2nd period of the day was the start of the assembly where all the Seniors gathered to be commemorated for their journey to college and so on. It was celebrated with a simple token of gratitude for bubble gum necklaces.

The Class of 9A and 10B also sang to the seniors in front of the assembly as a farewell. They were also told a few speeches from the staff and officials. Lastly, at the end of the assembly, the seniors were congratulated by the students and given their farewell, but the classes resumed after lunch, to prepare for our finals.

The largest high school in the country, Marshall Islands High School will have a different graduation unlike any other. As a preparation for the pandemic, the Marshall Islands high school has implemented a contingency plan as a preventive measures for COVID-19. One of the goal in the contingency plan was to set up the graduation for this year via online. Which means there won’t be a large gathering as usual for this year graduation ceremony, instead it will be viewed live on the Internet. Although this has become a great idea for the administration, it also has become disappointing news for the 198 graduates of 2019-2020, who were expecting to have their graduation as a big event like the others before them.

"Who would have thought that it would be like this," said 12 grader and one of the graduates of this year, Tony Kabua. "No Prom, no Graduation, and not even farewell party. Even though this has been great disappointment to us, we rather have a online graduation, than to have none." But for some students, it is a rather a good idea to help save money in their family. " Said a student who is part of this graduation. "It is essential and proper for this decision to be made. Because it's only benefit us physically, but also has benefit us financially." He furthered explain that it save money for her family to spent on their needs, and save her money to go to college someday. But nevertheless, the graduate of Marshall Islands high school 2019-2020 will not let this obstacle overcome their dream and goal for the future. "We have to move on, said Bolden Jr. Elanzo, the Student body president of MIHS. "The future is resting upon each of us, this one those challenges in our life that test our patient and determination to reach the fullness of education. All we have to do, is to stand firm and never give up". The online live graduation is scheduled to be film on May 20, 2020.
As the COVID19 spreads around the world and can possibly spread to the Marshall Islands, the Marshall Island High School (M.I.H.S.) is doing its best to avoid and educate students on how to reduce and not acquire the disease. MIHS staff and teachers are given a week to clean and disinfect the school as a part of the COVID19 contingency plan. In this way, the chances of acquiring the disease are reduced. While students are out for their early spring break, the teachers and staff had to clean and disinfect every single buildings and around the school. Each day the teachers and staff cleaned their building where they’re teaching/working at. They also pick up trash, trim the plants and remove any stains around the school. Corners, ceilings, ground, and grass areas were spotlessly cleaned with no rubbish to be found. This went on every day until the end of the week. On Friday, April 3, the MIHS administrative staff and teachers were doing their final touches and clean-ups before school starts. After all the hard work the staff and teachers have done, they finished off with a celebration by having a big feast. An IT teacher at MIHS “Andro Sanchez” quoted that “The clean up was very difficult because of limited and not sufficient cleaning material provided and especially the source of water. You have to walk from one building to another just to get water to clean your building and classroom. Instead of doing a full clean up, you’ll be tired after an hour”.

During the MIHS assembly, an early spring break was announced by the principal of the school “Barbara Bobby Ned”. The spring break will start from March 30 until and will end on April 3. It was said to best stay at home and not roam around during their spring break. In this way the people of the Marshall Islands will be safe from any disease or other virus that can provoke COVID19. This spring break was given early because the MIHS will be closing early this year due to the corona outbreak. While MIHS students are having their early spring break. MIHS teachers and staff are to stay in work and clean and disinfect the school. The government said it is best to close the school early as possible so when the airport is open for travel. The people of the Marshall Islands will be safe from any possible disease brought by people from outside the country. As the Marshall Islands hear news about corona outbreak from other countries, the people of the Marshall Islands are now more cautious about what they touch and get close too. An MIHS student by the name of Emil Resurreccion said that “I am excited about the spring break because i can do anything without worrying about school, although i can’t roam around because of what the principal said.

Coronavirus is a deadly virus which linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some type of common cold. This virus is very contagious and is currently spreading all over the world. Schools, workplaces, public transportation, shops, and gatherings are to be closed down. They are about 235,000 lives that were loss, with 3.3 millions confirmed cases all across the world. And 1.04 million recovered.

Here in the RMI, is still, however, COVID-19 free but the government decide to close down all the schools earlier than it was supposed to due to the international flights that would re-open on May 5th. Marshall Islands High School is closing earlier than expected which is on May 8th. Despite all these sudden changes, teachers are working really hard to finish up their lessons.

The PPBL is a major project for the last semester and all students are required to do it. Some students had to change their final products materials, since the school is closing down in two weeks time. Most found it difficult to complete everything in just 2 weeks . Many students had gone through restless nights to finish assignments , as well as the PPBL. "I feel angry and lost" said one sophomore student. "It is very exhausting, but still worth for their grades." The COVID-19 truly affects the PPBL which is 20 percent of the students' grades. After all, most are hoping that they can still be able to attend school the next year.

Marshall Islands Marine and Resources Authority(MIMRA) Representative Barab and David, came to our school to display a stunning presentation concerning our ocean and climate change. When the presentation reach it's conclusion, the whole student who were there had tons of questions. One by one till there were no more. "It is was an honor to have come and presented these students about our job here in MIMRA. And we hope to come here someday to spread this helpful information," said MIMRA representative Barab Harris.

he largest high school in the country, Marshall Islands High School, will have a graduation unlike any other in its over 50 years of existence.

As a preparation for the coronavirus pandemic, MIHS has implemented a contingency plan as a preventive measure. One of the goals in the contingency plan is to set up the graduation this year online to avoid crowds gathering, which is a known way of spreading illness.

This means MIHS won’t see the normally large gathering for this year’s graduation ceremony. Instead, parents, friends and schoolmates can watch it live on the Internet. Although this has become a great idea for the administration, it also is disappointing news for the 198 graduates of 2019-2020, who were expecting to have their graduation as a big event like the others before them.

"Who would have thought that it would be like this," said senior and one of the graduates of this year Tony Kabua. "No Prom, no graduation, and not even a farewell party. Even though this has been great disappointment to us, we rather have an online graduation, than to have none."

"Carousel is one of the most complicated musical play ever" said Professor Andrew Garrod whose been directing in many musical plays for more than a decade in the RMI. Different schools came to do auditions to be part of it. The rehearsals took place at the Marshall Islands High School Library. With the help of Music Director Jacob Donoghue, Associate Producer Joseph Collum, alongside Producer Bonny Taggart, and the casts' favorite choreographer, Ilona Bito, who is a talented dancer. They were able to make the cast and it's stage members lively, energetic, and cooperative, throughout the rehearsal and the 3 performances night As hard-working the casts and crews have always been, they were able to make it to the grand stage at ICC. It was held only for three nights, due to a COVID-19 first suspect in Majuro all the way from Washington D.C. Most cast members were shocked to hear that the play was cancelled due this suspected case, what seem like a great start has become a tragic end. "This is not the end, we're hoping to come back next year" Professor Andrew said sadly before he left. "When you walk through a storm, keep your chin up high and don't be afraid of the dark" the casts and crew members sang as the school bus came to pick them up at ICC.

The ASVAB examinations are back and so are the military soldiers we admire so much. The purpose of the examinations is to help students explore their career options and find their interests or what they are good at. Grade 10 takes the exams during the beginning of 3rd Quarter, while 11 and 12 takes it at the end of 2nd Quarter and 3rd Quarter. Even though this helps the students career exploration, it also allows students to be enlisted in the United States military. Being in the army has a lot of advantages, "I get a good amount of salary and the army pays for all of my tuition fees when I was in college and they help out a lot with my financial bills" said Sergeant Sakaio. The army pays for the college fees of any college of choice and provides housing, transportation, and an excellent amount of salary for those who get enlisted in the military. These are amazing opportunities the students can get a hold of to secure the future ahead of them. The exam tests the students' intelligence and their abilities in problem solving. Exams can be pretty boring at some point, but having to look up and see a military soldier in the same room as you, is not something we see everyday. Girls get excited and giggly when they see the military guys in their uniforms and fangirl over them. It is also one of the reasons why girls look forward to the exams, same thing goes to the male students. Although we have handsome and gorgeous military soldiers look after us in the examinations, they encourage us to take this opportunity and make use of it. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program can really help out a student's talents and future.

This is the final quarter of the year for the last PPBL project for MIHS. These past few weeks have been a lot of work for the students in each grade level. This months PPBL project's differ for each grade level, ranging from 9th to 12th grade.

A 9th grader from the A sections says that "Our topic for PPBL in 9th grade is about Taro," confirms Goodwind Silk. "There are 5 groups in each class, and 1 person is the leader to create the best poster to be picked for their presentation," Goodwind Explains "I also learned a lot from PPBL, like how to make Taro Milk, and lots of other things pertaining unto it."

Each group had different plants to research about, and that was for 9A's group

A 10th grader from section A, who's topic is about Non-biodegradable said, "our product is made up of recycled plastic bottles that is converted into a recyclable plastic chair" explains Veianga Silk, "It was an easy project to make, it took about 1-2 weeks, it's made by taping carefully modified bottles together to form a seat, and was covered with cloth sewn together," she further explained. "The PPBL projects was a 50/50 experience, it was very good but at the same time, it was very tiring to do." Veinga Silk explained for how she felt about her PPBL project. 10th grade's topic was all about Bio and Non-biodegradable products, and how they could show ways to improve in the environment.

An 11th grader from section C says that "our project is about coastal erosion, and is mostly talking about the coast and how it is being eroded by the ocean, in each subject we need to have measurements according to distance between the ocean to our buildings'" Rimeal Heran says as an example. He felt mutual towards the PBBL "It's just like any other research, it's a lot of research but it's easy, and we get to learn new things." He explains. 11th Grade's topic for the PPBL is about Coastal erosion, and they research ways that they can prevent coastal erosion.

A 12 grader from section A Says that their topic is about Population Diversity in the Marshall Islands. According to George sale he said, "We have to find out the population here in Majuro, and we have to research, and go around Majuro in each town, such as Rita, and etc. To give out surveys to how people contributes, in their community, to the RMI" George Explains." George also says that this year was better than last years PPBL project "it's more easier, and less complicated than last year because we just have to research, and collect surveys and put the information on PowerPoint, so I'd say this year's PPBL is better." George explains, so the 12 grade's topic for PPBL was about Population Diversity to see how the people of the RMI does for Majuro, and why they're important.

So this is all for the General PPBL at MIHS. What we know is that these projects are important in school for students and their grades, and is one of the hardest part of education here. PPBL topics differ throughout the grades to make things more interesting and spread out more information.

Education week went well for Marshall Islands High School (MIHS), with a Career Day the highlight.

For Career Day, the school invited government departments and non-government organizations to showcase their responsibilities to the students — so that students may learn from them, and get inspiration to one day replace them in their seat. This was actually based on this year’s Education Week theme, “Reach, Educate, and Inspire.”

Many organizations came to the school, including the Marshall Islands Red Cross Society, NCD Coalition, Youth to Youth in Health, College of the Marshall Islands and many more. As the program began, emcee Chimako Anitok called upon the guest speakers of each organization to share their experience — as students of MIHS in the past. Most of the guest speakers were alumni. One of them was Stevenson Kotton who is the vice president of the College of the Marshall Islands.

“I used to walk on these school grounds as you do, I used to walk up and down the school steps as you do,” he said. “And I used to experience the school life as student here as well, as you do.” Many of these speakers gave wonderful and inspiring speeches that were uplifting to the students. From observation, the students even smiled and nodded as each speaker gave their speech.

Following the speeches, the event got more interesting when students and teachers performed songs and dances. Some were solo, and some were all together. After all the performances, the students were now able to go to the booth of all the agency and organization that were invited.

“Wow, I never knew how much contribution these people make to our country,” said MIHS DJ and sound crew Tony Kabua, a 12th grader. “Now I hope I could make my own contribution to his country from all this information I gained.”

Indeed lots of drills and demonstrations were shown to the students at booths, either how to cook or to save some one’s life. After that, lunch was provided and everybody went home with a full stomach and with plenty leftover.

A lot happened that day but from observation, seeing student smiles and having fun was interesting.

“I hope that I could become a doctor one day,” said Marynuia Lenja of 12A. “And from what I learned, I am inspired to reach towards my goal.”

Every student should have that mindset, to work hard, very hard, to reach their goals; “educate” themselves to be better and intelligent people and to “inspire” others to do the same. So that Marshall Islands can be well equipped through the hands of the future generation who will rise and replace the older generation, in becoming the leaders, the workers, and the facilitators of this county. And set the course for a brighter and prosperous tomorrow.

Surely, education week might be one of the most tiring moments of high school. But the prize that comes afterwards might be the reason why we enter in the first place, or maybe it was all part of our grade. With all the math and science competitions completed, the last day was for Debate. Our school's debate team worked late nights and early mornings for their speeches and not to mention the sacrifices made. Though they came third place, that didn't mean that they didn't achieved anything. Both teams made it to the semi-finals and annihilated any chance for CO-OP to make it to the finals.

"The debate was terrifyingly exhilarating ." claimed Victoria Kilma of 12C. "Although it was a very stressful , it was indeed a wonderful experience !" Who has would known that being a part of the debate would mean getting a more in-depth knowledge of the topic at hand ? It was evidently my first time and I'm glad I took the chance to do something out of my comfort zone . The debate was challenging , especially once we got to the competitions . Every group had different points of view and that's the most amazing part . But overall , the debate was educational . Wouldn't you agree ?" she asked after replying to our question on her the experience of the event.

We also asked her on how she felt about her being the best debater," Now how do I feel about winning one of the top best debaters ? Proud . It's true what they say, "no pain no gain" and that recognition surely paid off for all the late-night researches and hours spent with preparations . Not recognition , but achievement ." Truth be told, the feeling after the competition is amazing because after a hard week's work. You 'll feel like you accomplished something that not only be good for your future but it's a great opportunity to meet other people from other schools. And those are what most a grateful for, not to forget the headaches and delicious food during, after, and before the event.

One of the most interesting activities that took place during the education was Quiz bee; it is one of the events held in schools to test the intellectual capabilities of students in different subjects such as science, mathematics, social science, current events, and general knowledge.

For this competition, all grade level from each different section was involved. Teachers pick each representative from their respective class from each of the grade levels to be part of a team. The teams were divided into science, Math, English Language Art, and Social Studies. Each team has either 3 or 4 members in their team.

So each team were given 5 questions per round, for the easy questions, hard, and difficult questions.

"It was great because I and other students were communicating with the difficult questions and help each other to solve the problem,” said Julius from 10A, one the representative of 10 grades.

Round after round, question after questions each team member worked together side by side trying to make sure they got each answers correct. When the question got even tighter and harder, team after teams were starting to get eliminating. Till the very last one, the math team. The members in the math team were Ressmer Tallur, Judah Katwon, Edlina Felix, and Julius Muertetgue. Though the other team lost, they are still winners in the their own way. But for this competition, the math team proved to be the real champion.

A Toxic Work Environment - MGS

Toxic work environment?

Toxic is a redundant word from unhappy working people. 
Are you being suffocated by this common toxic? 
Being surrounded by disguise/mask coworkers the workplace becomes toxic. The feeling of being uncomfortable, unmanaged, unhappy, unfocus are signs of your workplace is toxic. A toxic working environment can make you unproductive, What causes a toxic workplace? 

Reflection 8

1. Having a toxic working environment has something to do with "who's" leading. Poor leadership from a leader can create a toxic working environment derived from how the leader treats their colleagues. How the leader can take advantage of their power, and make their colleagues feel inferior by bullying them. Working with a leader who’s a bully and/or tyrant and there’s lack of intelligent leadership experience well, that’s certainly toxic," 

2. The unprofessional co-workers. If you have a co-worker that doesn't take their job seriously or they love to spread rumors rather than being productive at work, It can be hard for you to work in an environment properly. Being in a team but you cannot get support from them is worst and can cause anxiety. 

3. A credit grabber coworkers These colleagues who throw you under the bus take credit for your work, and constantly gossip also constitute a toxic work environment," 

4. Being with hypocrite coworkers (stage actors and actresses, clowns, pretenders, deceivers) all these categorize "hypocrites. One rotten tomato is all it takes to destroy harmony at work. Hypocrite's coworker gives illness not only to the body but to the mind as well. The long hours we are spending at work is like half of our home time. We spend 8 - 10 hours with this hypocrite's coworkers is like one foot on the ground. 

With all these IGNORE and MOVE FORWARD is the key to stay FOCUS at work. 

The unrecognize -MGS

In a quiet classroom, where dreams take flight,
A teacher stands ready, from morning till night.
With passion ignited, and heart open wide,
She nurtures young minds, a steadfast guide.
Her lessons are woven with care and with grace,
Each child a bright star, she helps find their place.
With patience like rivers, she flows through the day,
Yet shadows of doubt often cloud her way.
She crafts every lesson, each word like a seed,
Watering hopes, tending to every need.
But whispers of praise seem to fade in the air,
As the world rushes by, unaware of her care.
The late nights she spends, grading papers with love,
The dreams that she nurtures, like wings of a dove.
Yet accolades elude her, like stars out of reach,
In the silence of struggle, she continues to teach.
For every small triumph, she celebrates loud,
In the eyes of her students, she’s fiercely proud.
Though recognition may falter, her spirit won’t break,
For the love of her calling is the path that she’ll take.
So here’s to the teachers, whose efforts go unseen,
In the tapestry of learning, they weave every dream.
Though the world may not notice, their impact is clear,
In the hearts of their students, they’ll always be near.

A preacher or a Dreamer? - MGS

I am neither anti-church nor anti-religion, but I believe that being a Christian and a true follower of God should not be based solely on the emotions associated with attending church or following a pastor. Many people come to church to hear sermons from priests, pastors, reverends, or church leaders, but we must be careful not to be blind to the idea that who we serve is who we believe in, who we follow is what we become. Don't doubt me but I respect these preachers of the good news, but too often I see many churchgoers who admire these men to the extent of giving away their wealth just to satisfy them. Isn’t that alarming? It is concerning to see such excitement over these "anointed ones" while forgetting that we have direct access to the heart and teachings of the Messiah.

Sincerity is often lacking, and I think we need to make it a practice to step back and evaluate whether the message of the gospel is being preached with genuine intent. Nowadays, many pastors live luxurious lives, driving expensive cars and residing in mansions, while their church members struggle to meet up the tithes. Even with their limited salaries, these members remain faithful in giving 10% to their church.

Do I have a problem with pastors having money? No, but if there are many struggling people, they should not be burdened with providing for a wealthy pastor. If that same pastor turns away members in need and returns to a comfortable life, I find that troubling. I have witnessed these things. Even in the Old Testament, a portion of the tithe was meant to support the poor and widows (Deuteronomy 26:12).

Lt me share you this, a church member shared her perspective with me just a couple of weeks ago. She said, "I love God's kingdom and want my money to go to a good causes, but not for one person's gain." That’s a valid point, and at least she is thinking critically. The lack of transparency in many churches regarding their funds is a significant issue.

What I am highlighting here is the importance of transparency and the dangers of blind faith, which can make the masses easy to deceive. God is not materialistic, so I feel a deep protest in my soul when I see pastors or priests equate material prosperity with gold as if it were a measure of faith. I wonder how much human desire has crept into that line of thinking. Consider that Jesus had nothing on the cross but rose with all power. 

Being a pastor or a priest is being a servant and a servant don't live in luxury! Serving God and loving money don't go together. You cannot serve two masters at the same time; it will always be a struggle to love God above all else in the absence of money, especially when it occupies such a significant space in our lives. We must focus on our heart and our faith first, rather than on what the pastors are saying or showing. No one can truly understand "faith" unless we model it ourselves.

Reflection:

My reflections raise important and thought-provoking questions about the relationship between faith, church leadership, and the financial dynamics within religious communities. I know, but It’s clear that my advocating for a more sincere and transparent approach to faith, one that prioritizes the teachings of Jesus and the well-being of the congregation over material wealth and status. Highlighting a critical issue: the disparity between the lifestyles of some church leaders and the struggles of their congregants. This disparity can lead to feelings of disillusionment and mistrust among church members, especially when they see their contributions being used to support a lavish lifestyle rather than addressing the needs of the community. I also mention of the biblical principle that a portion of tithes should support the poor and widows underscores the importance of social responsibility within the church. The call for transparency in financial matters that I think is also significant. Many congregants want to know how their donations are being used and whether they are truly contributing to the mission of the church or simply enriching its leaders. This desire for accountability can foster a healthier church environment where members feel valued and respected. 

I am pointing out about the need for individuals to evaluate their faith independently of their leaders are crucial. For me, a blinded  faith can lead to manipulation and exploitation, while a thoughtful, personal understanding of faith encourages genuine connection with God. It’s essential for believers to engage with the teachings of Jesus and to cultivate their own spiritual practices, rather than relying solely on the interpretations of others.

In addressing pastors and priests, my questions about their congregations and lifestyles invite reflection on their roles as spiritual leaders. It’s important to consider how their actions align with the teachings of Christ and the needs of their communities. A focus on service, humility, and genuine care for congregants can help bridge the gap between leadership and the community.

Ultimately, this message advocates for a faith that is rooted in sincerity, compassion, and accountability. It encourages both church leaders and members to reflect on their values and priorities, fostering a community that truly embodies the teachings of Christ.

Paradigm - MGS

It takes a paradigm shift, a change of heart, and a lot of reminding yourself in the moment, but once you realize that children learn absolutely everything else by being taught how to do it, and then are given lots of time and opportunities to practice, you realize that punishments are completely unnecessary to teach a child what to do.

Understanding the Paradigm Shift
The first step in this journey is recognizing that traditional methods of discipline, often rooted in punishment, may not be the most effective way to foster learning and growth in children. This requires a significant shift in perspective—a paradigm shift. Instead of viewing discipline as a means of control, we can begin to see it as an opportunity for guidance and support.

The Importance of a Change of Heart
This shift is not just intellectual; it involves a change of heart. It requires us to embrace empathy and understanding, acknowledging that children are not inherently misbehaving but are instead navigating a complex world. By fostering a compassionate mindset, we can better appreciate the challenges children face and respond to their needs with patience and encouragement.

The Role of Teaching and Practice
Children learn best when they are taught explicitly how to behave and interact with their environment. Just as they learn to walk, talk, or solve problems through instruction and practice, so too can they learn appropriate behaviors. This means providing clear guidance on what is expected, modeling desired behaviors, and then allowing ample time for children to practice these skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Creating Opportunities for Learning
Instead of resorting to punishment when a child missteps, we can focus on creating opportunities for learning. This might involve setting up scenarios where children can practice social skills, problem-solving, or emotional regulation. By providing constructive feedback and encouragement, we help them internalize these lessons, making it more likely they will apply them in the future.

The Ineffectiveness of Punishment
When we understand that children learn through teaching and practice, it becomes clear that punishment often does more harm than good. Punishments can create fear, resentment, and confusion, which can hinder a child's ability to learn and grow. Instead of fostering understanding, they may lead to avoidance or rebellion. By eliminating the need for punishment, we create a more positive and effective learning environment.

Reminding Yourself in the Moment
Finally, it’s essential to remind ourselves of this approach in the heat of the moment. When faced with challenging behavior, it can be easy to revert to old habits and instinctively respond with punishment. However, by consciously reminding ourselves of the principles of teaching and learning, we can pause, reflect, and choose a more constructive response that aligns with our new understanding.

Reflection 7

In summary, embracing this paradigm shift involves a commitment to teaching through guidance rather than punishment. By fostering a supportive environment where children can learn through practice, we empower them to develop the skills they need to navigate the world successfully. This approach not only benefits the child but also enriches the relationship between the caregiver and the child, creating a foundation of trust and mutual respect.