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How to Take Your Children from Dependence to Independence

At the end of this month, I’m back to school (literally) for some continuing education.  I do this to maintain my certification as a part-time snowboard instructor at Mt. Hood Meadows. There’s a lot of similarity between the methods I use when teaching/tutoring here at Basic Skills and the way I instruct on the mountain. …

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Why There Are No Shortcuts to Mastering a Skill

When my dad saw that I was interested in playing golf, he gave me a book to read written by Ben Hogan. Ben was one of the all-time greats in professional golf in the 1940’s and ‘50’s. Critics attributed his success to two things: a repeatable swing and an unstoppable work ethic. That would support…

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The Most Neglected, But Powerful, Educational Tool

In this current time of “educational enlightenment,” the use of repetition as a learning strategy is sometimes scoffed at. We’re led to believe that technology has replaced archaic practices such as memorizing, drilling, and reciting. This idea couldn’t be more wrong. My thinking on this subject was challenged a few years ago at a continuing…

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You’re the Decision Maker

If you were asked, “What will you teach this morning,” you might answer something like, “Math, spelling, vocabulary, penmanship, and reading.  That answer is a start, but math, spelling, vocabulary, penmanship are simply content areas.  What specifically are you going to teach this morning?  In other words, what part of the above content are you…