A Single Idea Can Change a Child's Life

It's True!

For example:

The idea to play Hide N Seek in the trunk of a car
The idea to experiment with such things as alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, and sex
The idea you can build yourself up by tearing others down
The idea that its ok to steal or cheat to get something you want
The idea that school is boring and isn't worth the effort
The idea that no one cares
The idea that there is nothing to live for
The idea that having fun is the only thing that really matters
The idea that . . . .well you get the idea

So What Does This Have To Do With The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly

Well, there are good ideas and bad ideas. Both can change the life of a child. Just as the above ideas can potentially ruin the life of a child, good ideas can help children climb to otherwise unachievable heights of happiness and success.

Each of The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly books contains over 120 character based learning activities specifically designed to help you teach young people how to recognize bad ideas and discover good ideas; foundational ideas on which they can build happy and fulfilling lives.

Whether you teach in a classroom or home school, whether you are a counselor or a youth leader, you will find these great stories and activities that will help you teach your children and students powerful life forming ideas that can and have changed children's lives for the good.

For example:

The idea that learning how to read and write could free him from slavery changed the life of Frederick Douglass when he was only eight years old.
The idea that words have meaning changed the life of Helen Keller at the age of seven.
His mother's idea that he could only watch three TV programs and had to read two books a week enabled Ben Carson make the transition from a failing fifth grader to one to the top brain surgeons in the United States.

Could these ideas help the children you teach? Are they not powerful enough to influence the life of anyone who seizes upon them? Would you like help in teaching them? These are just a few of the many activities and stories in The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly that can help you teach young people the idea that indeed knowledge is power.

Following are a couple of responses by third grade students from Eden Prairie, MN to a little quiz they received following a brief lesson on idea of respect using the "Crayons Are Like People" activity and the story of "Mac and Zach From Hackensack."

Student One

Why do people sometimes treat other people unkindly? Because their different
What did you learn from Mac and Zach? Everybody's different
What did you learn from coloring a picture with only one color? It was boring with one color
How are people like crayons? All different
Why is it important to treat other people with respect? Because they might treat you that way
How did you enjoy our discussion on respect for others? I really liked it
Is this something you would like to talk about again sometime? yes!!!!!

Student Two

Because they are different

It is not your talent that counts

It was boring to have one color

Without everyone it would be boring

So they respect you

I think it was important

Yes

Or how would you feel if your students responded to the following question as did these fourth grade students in Waconia, MN?

Question: "We recently discussed some things we can do to gain control of our attitudes. List as many things as you can to tell how you can be in control of your life?"

Student One

Don't judge someone by what they're like on the outside.

If you don't have many natural talents, pick something and practice
Try to make friends
Help people it will make you happier
Remember that you can't have everything
Listen to your parents
Don't go to stupid movies like rated R
Try to be happy and have a positive attitude about things around you

Student Two

Concentrate on the mental and emotional foods you feed yourself

Pick friends that will help you make good decisions
Maybe if you watch no R rated movies
Talk to your family about problems you have
Don't watch too violent cartoons or movies
Like yourself and be likeable
Focus on having a good attitude

Would the above ideas on knowledge, respect,and attitudes benefit your students as well?
If so we invite you to try The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly risk free for 90 days.

What about the idea, "No one can make you feel bad about yourself without your consent," found in the biographical sketch of Eleanor Roosevelt titled "First Lady of the World."

Or this powerful idea from The Aesop fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" rewritten in verse,

And so he learned that fateful day, those who are most deceived

Are those who do not tell the truth and cannot be believed.

Or perhaps, this significant idea from "The Emperor's New Clothes," also retold in verse:

"Is that he likely believes,
"In invisible thread.

Or could any of your students benefit from discussing this riveting idea contained in "The Mighty Genghis Khan."

"Never in anger will I strike again,

"Said Mighty Genghis Khan."

Would any of your students be motivated to improve their behavior if they truly understood the idea that there attitudes lead to behaviors, and that behaviors cause consequences as taught in "The ABC Sequence"?

"a million maddening reruns of the scene"

The Martyrdom of Andy Drake

Or what if they knew about the unforeseen consequence of an early death experienced by Leonard Bias as he celebrated getting a multi-million dollar NBA contract by sniffing cocaine?

Better yet, how might they be motivated by the story of Zoe Koplowitz, the handicapped runner who gained fame by running the New York Marathon in twenty-one hours and thirty-five minutes. And, if perchance your students should happen to ask, "What makes an athlete out of some who takes that long to run a marathon?" You might invite them to consider what is required of a person to run for twenty-one hours and thirty-five minutes.?

For Zoe, the consequence was to release her from the victim mentality that had held her hostage for seventeen years. For dozens of others, the consequence was to give them the idea they also could run in this grueling marathon and finish.

Students who truly understand the ABC Sequence are far more motivated to take ownership of their attitudes and behaviors than those who do not.

Ideas are the most powerful things in the world.

To be sure, ideas such as honesty, responsibility, and respect, may be difficult to teach as they sometimes run contrary to natural inclination, but the human experience of over hundreds of years is on your side, and much of this experience is contained in The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly for you to draw upon.

Every activity and story in The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly teaches a significant idea that may make an important difference in the life of a child.

Whether you teach in a classroom or home school, whether you teach in a formal character education or life skills training program, or in some other setting, The Seven C's of Thinking Clearly can help you teach young people life enriching ideas in fun, interesting, and memorable ways.

Teach these powerful ideas to your students risk free for 90 days and see how they respond.

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