Vine Academy

How and why do we choose our friends?  Most of us probably haven't given much thought to the answer to this question.  However, I'd like to suggest that it is one of the most important questions that we should consider, and so I'm devoting this blog to it.   I recognise that for the majority of people, most of our friendships have been made already, but I also recognise that we all go through transformational seasons.  When this happens, our friendships should and usually do change as well.  My first thought would be that like-mindedness is a prerequisite for making friends.  This does not mean same-mindedness.  Only connecting with people that agree with you all the time is akin to cultish behaviour, but there needs to be a fundamental agreement of values.  To be able to choose friends on this basis, means that you need to be able to readily state your core values.  Knowing yourself well, is key to knowing others. So, do you...

Learning is all about making connections.  The more cognitive connections that our minds make is the more knowledgeable we are.  One of my most successful teaching tools is to create positive connections between the learning material and the students' environment.  I have found that just about anything can be learned if it has positive associations attached to it.  Take Maths, for instance, unless you are a natural mathematician, algebra can be difficult.  Now although we're not all trying to get perfect scores, it would be helpful for our students to at least like doing maths.  So, what's the one thing that most kids like and could safely, easily and memorably be used to create positive connections?  The answer, is food! Yes, food.  As simple as it sounds, learning difficult or boring material while munching on deliciously healthy treats makes a connection in the brain between hard work and rewards; and that my friends is what we, as...

Proverbs 12 verse 5 - "The thinking of principled people makes for justice; the plots of degenerates corrupt." (MSG) Both theologians and psychologists agree that our thoughts influence our actions, as well as our feelings.  As a teacher, I have made good use of this knowledge in my personal life, the classroom and while homeschooling my children.  It has helped me to stay positive during challenging seasons, and it has reminded me of the creative power of our minds.  In the classroom, I have seen children with learning differences emerge from low self-esteem when they habitually speak out positive thoughts like, 'I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.'   Allowing children to take charge of their destinies by thinking and speaking positively is a game-changer.  I've always encouraged my children to speak back to negative thoughts.  So, if the media says, 'You need this product to make you beautiful,' we shout back, 'DEFINE B...

Throughout my life and career, I have noticed three main parts of society that make the most impact on a person's life.  Namely, family, school and places of worship.  I call these places the building blocks of society because really, I can't imagine what society would be like without them.  Also the capacity for influence in these areas is huge.  One, because the influencers - family members, teaching staff and faith leaders - are quite autonomous.  Two, because the learning that goes on behind the closed doors of the home, the classroom and the place of worship is dynamic and constant.  And three, because all of the stated groups have the impressionable minds of children and young people as their responsibility.   My blogs therefore, are focused on tips, tools and techniques that have been designed to ensure that families, schools and places of worship are equipped to leave a legacy of agency and excellence in this world.  Legacy - because ...