Is Yo-Yo Ma Right? 10,000 Hours of Practice?

Yo-Yo Ma is a world renowned cellist who began playing at the age of four. His general rule of practice to become successful is 10,000 hours every five years. Could this be applied to any profession and/or skill? Writing is a passion, but could the skill be honed? Yes, I believe it can! 10,000 hours might seem daunting, however, if you think about it and break it down, it amounts to about 5 hours per day. Some of you reading this are thinking, "There is no time in my schedule for 5 hours of writing." Do not fret... I can help. How to Hone Your Craft- Children/adults interested in writing, should be writing in a journal - not a "What I did Today" Journal, but a compilation of different writing techniques. Write about what inspires you or does not. Try writing about what you wish for or what you thin you need. Try writing a family recipe with an explanation of its meaning. What should your journal look like? Generally, it could be any size, shape, or color, but must be written in each day. Handwriting is the most effective writing strategy because it allows the brain and hand to work together and flow. Print vs Cursive Arguments can be heard by educators from both sides. Research proves, however, that the most productive form is cursive. If you are interested in the research, check out this article Inspiration If you are stuck and staring at that blank page... try these! writing prompts I hope this blog post helped you in your writing quest!

Classroom Discipline 101

As a seasoned teacher in a changing profession, I am always looking for tools to assist me in teaching my students.  One of the keys to successful, inspiring lessons is classroom management or discipline. Otherwise, no one is listening to receive the benefits of your message.  Classroom Discipline 101 has been proven successful in even the most challenging classes.  Try it out and post your comments!  http://www.classroomdiscipline101.com/cd101.html?hop=trythis124

Welcome!

Welcome to the Advanced Learning Academy of America blog! I have been dreaming of this company for many years. It is a chance for me to teach the subjects I enjoy most-Writing and History! In order to teach writing, modeling, or as I refer to it, Practice, must be done each day with your students in some fashion. students crave examples of good writing but they also want to share in the passion. Write WITH your students to maximize their motivation and inspiration. Now, I know this may seem like a daunting task and some of you may be thinking, "I don't have time," or "I wasn't a good writer myself in school." I am here to help you and to tell you that it is perfectly acceptable to not be perfect. To learn writing you must endure not only the celebrations, but the tribulations or growing pains. The first step is to choose a subject you wish to write about, whether fiction or non and just begin to write. If you are looking for a topic, try this: write about your first holiday memory. Write it in a journal, random paper from your desk drawer or type it into your computer. When you are finished, let me know how this exercise made you feel. Would those feelings be important to tell your students? What advice would you give your young writers? I can not wait to hear from you!