CelebrateCalm was in Eden Prairie, Minn.

A friend in Minneapolis attended Kirk Martin's Celebrate Calm event last Monday evening. I had told her about him and had suggested she attend. As the date neared, I urged her to attend and also to take her 15-year-old son with her. And then, the day before, I "told" not to skip the event.

And here is what she wrote, after attending (I took the liberty of changing their names):

"Thank you so much for the 'push' you gave me yesterday about not missing Kirk's presentation!! I was looking for ways of getting out of going for many legitimate reasons, but I went because I knew I wouldn't be able to face you again if I didn't. He was fantastic, and both Tony and I got soooooooooooooo much useful information from him. I went up when we took a break and introduced myself as 'a friend of Gus Philpott's from Woodstock, IL', and he said "Oh, you're Melissa!" He then spent the rest of the break talking to Tony, and relating to him in a way I don't think anyone other than you has related to him. During the second half of the presentation he included Tony in a few of his examples as an example of the intelligent and creative kids that will be very successful. You should have seen Tony's face!!! I don't think they needed the overhead lighting that was being used because the light in his eyes would have light up the entire room! ... I'm hoping (to) purchase (his tapes soon). I think they would be priceless in helping Tony to achieve success with his peers, school, and any other personal or professional relationships he will have in his life, and give him a lot of direction to help him find his way. And it will probably help me live to see another 10 or 20 years!!!"

Check out www.CelebrateCalm.com I think you'll be glad you did. Kirk travels throughout the eastern half of the U.S. His events are listed on his website.

Celebrate Calm was in Huntley

Kirk Martin, Director of Celebrate Calm, presented a fast-paced, informative workshop for parents of children with special needs this morning in Huntley. If you were waiting for him to come back to this area, you missed him. He had practical information for building relationships with children who are often classified by their diagnoses, rather than by their behaviors.

Kirk kept the large audience engaged for two hours, and many parents stayed after the scheduled 11:30AM closing to hear more and to ask questions. Kirk and his son, Casey, are Minneapolis-bound this afternoon, after presenting a three-hour workshop this afternoon for teachers.

I urge you to visit www.CelebrateCalm.com and to sign up for Kirk's free e-newsletter. His workshops on CDs are great, too.

Kirk truly makes a difference in the lives of those who show up for his workshops. Check out his travel schedule. When you know someone who lives along the path of Kirk's workshops, why not do them a real favor and let them know about Kirk's workshops? And let teachers know, too.

CHADD on April 20

Seems like it has been a while since McHenry County had an active CHADD group and now it does. What is CHADD? Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

The April Parent CHADD meeting's guest speaker will be Cari Levin, LCSW, who will speak on the topic of "How to manage a stressful life: Survival Kit for Parents of Special Needs Children". Scheduled for Monday, April 20th at 6:45PM, the meeting -- which is open to all -- will be held at Family Service's 3rd floor community room. Free childcare services are provided.

Family Service is located at 4100 Veterans Parkway, just east of Route 31 and south of Gary Lang Auto Group. Questions? Call Sherry Blass at 815/385-6400.

I visited a CHADD group in about 1997, when I was first learning about mental health issues. I was the "token male" at the meeting, and one of the woman mentioned a special education rights advocate from Crystal Lake. She had had significant problems at her child's school, and she said the advocate from Crystal Lake was one mean (well, I'll leave out her exact words). I made sure I got his name and phone number from her, and he was immensely helpful in dealing with District 200.

I hired him to attend an IEP, and it lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes - without a break. The attorney for the school district was there, because she heard he would be there. In the last 15 minutes I rejected everything they offered. The attorney asked what we wanted, and I named four accommodations. Her response? "No problem."

If he hadn't been there, we wouldn't have gotten any of them! And so I'll always thank that CHADD group, whoever they were at that time. I don't even recall where that meeting was held - somewhere in McHenry, I think.

Check out the national group's website at www.chadd.org

School and chess

What does chess have to do with school?

Last night I watched the 2005 movie, Knights of the South Bronx, starring Ted Danson and Keke Palmer. If you care about kids and believe in them, this is a must-see movie.

Danson portrays the type of teacher so desperately needed in our schools today. Teachers who care and show it. We have a lot of teachers who "say" they care. OK, I'm going to ruffle some teachers by challenging them to "show" that they care.

How many teachers have ever gone to a student's home to see the conditions in which he lives? Maybe then they'd understand why the student comes to school in a bad mood or dirty or hungry.

When a teacher asks, "How's everything at home?" and hears, "Uhhh, okay" and never follows up. he or she will not have a clue about what goes on at home.

I've had more than one school administrator tell me that their responsibility stops at the curb in front of the school building. Well, that's not so. They have the obligation to understand everything that affects the student's ability to learn, and sometimes they are just going to have to leave the comfortable confines of the school building and go on a little field trip to a student's home.

April 18 - Celebrate CALM - for teachers

Are you a teacher of children with special needs?

Are you ever frustrated by students who fidget, constantly need to be redirected and distract others? Do you have a handful of students who demand all your time? Ever wonder why certain students struggle with anxiety and anger?

Save the date and plan to be in Huntley for "10 Brain-Boosters - Interventions for the 21st Century Classroom." Kirk Martin returns to our area for a powerful, three-hour, humorous (Yes! there can be humor in all this!), practical workshop. Kirk was in Woodstock last fall, and many parents and educators drove miles to hear him.

* 15 practical interventions to improve attention and retention.
* Behavior plans that build confidence and work long-term instead of reinforcing negative behavior.
* The correct way to calm an angry, frustrated or violent child.
* How to turn distracting, impulsive students into classroom leaders.
* Transfer ownership of academic and behavioral success to students.

Kirk will be available afterward to answer specific questions.

When? Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time? 1:30pm - 4:30 pm (arrive early for a good seat!)
Place? Faith Community Pre-School, 10547 Faiths Way, Huntley, Illinois
Information? www.CelebrateCALM.com

See separate article for information about the morning afternoon program for parents.

April 18 - Celebrate CALM for Parents

Are you a parent of a child with special needs? How about a grandparent of one? Or a teacher of one (or more)?

Save the date and plan to be in Huntley for "10 Keys to a Stress-Free Home & School". Kirk Martin returns to our area for a powerful, two-hour, humorous (Yes! there can be humor in all this!), practical workshop. Kirk was in Woodstock last fall, and many parents and educators drove miles to hear him.

* Create a calm home - eliminate yelling and arguing.
* Improve focus, attention and behavior in school.
* Build confidence & social skills.
* Create stress-free morning routines and discipline.
* Relieve anxiety and sensory integration issues.

Kirk's workshop is FREE. No need even to register.

When? Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time? 9:30am - 11:30am (arrive early for a good seat!)
Place? Faith Community Pre-School, 10547 Faiths Way, Huntley, Illinois
Information? Call (224) 569-6512
More? www.CelebrateCALM.com

A professional development program for educators will be offered in the afternoon, same location. 1:30pm - 4:30 pm. The afternoon program is for teachers. See separate article for information about the afternoon program.

Parents: come to the morning session.

B.A. vs. Ph.D. - No difference?

What would you think of a school board member who thinks there is no difference between a school district superintendent with a Bachelor's degree and one with a Doctorate?

Or a school board member who didn't even know what a Ph.D. is?

Maybe in a third-world country? Maybe in Wyoming? Maybe in Mississippi? What about right here in McHenry County???

Any guesses as to what district? Be nice.

Advocating for your kids

Learn how to advocate for legislative change to positively affect the future for our children.

Sometimes you have to go screaming to the top of the food chain to make change happen for the betterment of your kids' education. Or many other things.

But one voice at a time is not likely to cause change. What you must know is how to get things done.

This Wednesday, April 8, 2009, Families etc., (formerly known as the Parent Empowerment Group and, before that, the Parent Council) of the Family CARE Project will hold its monthly meeting (2nd Wednesday of the month) at the office of the McHenry County Mental Health Board, 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake. Google it. It's near 176 & Pingree (or, if you prefer, near Terra Cotta and Terra Cotta; how's that for confusing?).

Mark your calendars now.

The time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., 620 Dakota Street, Crystal Lake

The topic? Legislative Advocacy

The speaker? Dawn Melchiorre, Senior Policy Director, Voices 4 Kids Illinois
Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved!!(Childcare and a light dinner is provided) The program is free, but reservations are recommended. For more information, to reserve a place or to indicate a need for childcare, please contact Mary at 815-566-0710 (mary@familiesetc.org) or Michelle at 815-566-0709 (michelle@familiesetc.org.)

This announcement is also posted on www.woodstockadvocate.com