ANDREW C. GERMAIN

Posted on 10/21/09

I have invested most of my time and energy, (as a Teacher and
Life-Skills Songwriter/Performer), in Evidence-Based,
Best-Practices.

Here are some 'golden nugget' Life-Skills that help me ensure
valuable words, phrases, conversations, and gestures, (as
opposed to "inappropriate" behaviors.

1) The only way to make life better is by learning better
with others. 2) If you are using offensive language and
gestures, you are promoting an untrustworthy image of
yourself. 3) If others cannot trust you, they cannot learn
with you. 4) If others cannot learn with you, you quickly find
yourself in valueless relationships (social networks) that
lead to fewer choices in your life, and less power in your
life. 5) In addition, I always tell my students that, "If you
can't control yourself, you will be controlled." I don't
know of anyone that wants to give up their freedom in life,
and be controlled. 6) Your world will shrink or expand,
depending upon how well you can learn with others.

These Evidence-Based, Best-Practices, (Life-Skills), are not
based in religion, or philosophy, nor are they based in
opinion, or personality. It is this knowledge that allows me
to maximize my 'Learning with others' spaces, in and outside
of my classroom. My students find these highly valuable,
highly practical tools to be irresistible. Then I write them
into songs, and we have a blast singing about these
Life-Skills.

I hope this helps! What do you think of these ideas? What
about these ideas does not work for you? What about these
ideas does make sense for you?

Best Andrew C. Germain (The Institute for Life-Skills Music)
"Because thriving in 21st century America is really something
to sing about!" (310) 922-2213

On 10/19/09, KL wrote:
> One thing I've always been complimented on is my classroom
> management- though for the last 3 years I've never had more
> than 22 kids on my roster. This year, due to budget cuts,
> they decided to put several classes on overload- meaning our
> cap is at 28 and I have 29 students. Seven extra bodies
> makes a difference! The one issue that my teaching partner
> and I are struggling with is extremely inappropriate language.
>
> Our 5th graders are using very sexual words and mimicking
> some sexual actions. Of course the consequence is going
> straight to the principal (legally this has to be our first
> recourse). You'd think this would eliminate some of the
> words and behaviors, but kids come right back from the
> principal and start saying lewd things about their body parts.
>
> We don't have a school counselor, so assistance from a
> mental health professional is not an option. If it was just
> one kid instigating it, I would report possible sexual
> abuse- but it's many kids, usually boys, demonstrating these
> behaviors. We're wondering if it has to do with puberty and
> noticing bodily changes. We can't teach human growth and
> development until May though- so addressing that is not an
> option either.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas about how we can teach our kids
> that this is inappropriate behavior? So far we've
> disciplined with the principals, had class and individual
> discussions about sexual harassment, have shown the kids our
> district discipline matrix, and have talked to parents.
> None of it has been effective; it's actually gotten worse.
> I am so open to any ideas right now! I don't want another
> day of this in my classroom (actually out on the playground,
> reporting behaviors in the classroom).
>
> Thanks!
> KL

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